Study of oxygen plasma pre-treatment of polyester fabric for improved polypyrrole adhesion

In this work, we have systematically studied the improvement of binding of polypyrrole with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) thin films and fabrics using low pressure oxygen plasma. A range of plasma treatment times were employed to investigate plasma induced effects on surface roughness, surface chemistry and hydrophilicity. Modifications of PET films were studied with respect to surface morphology by means of atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. Chemical effects of plasma treatment were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results showed that both the increase in surface functionalisation by carboxylic groups and formation of nano size roughness contributed to improved adhesion and conductivity.     

Enhancement of Corrosion Resistance Properties of Electrodeposited Ni/nano-TiC Composite Layers

This paper presents novel results on the effects of the dispersion of titanium carbide nanoparticles (50 nm mean diameter) into a nickel-plating electrolyte on the corrosion behavior of the nanocomposite layers obtained. The Ni/nano-TiC layers are compared with pure nickel layers obtained at the same electrodeposition parameters with 60 mA·cm⁻² current density and 10 min deposition time. The comparative corrosion performances are investigated using a three-electrode electrochemical cell in a solution (mixed boric acid with lithium hydroxide), which simulates the primary water circuit of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Open circuit potential measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed as the electrochemical methods, using an electrochemical workstation connected to an electrochemical cell, as well as a PC with software to drive the experimental work. The results clearly revealed enhanced corrosion properties for the Ni/nano-TiC hybrid layers as compared to the pure Ni layers. The significantly improved corrosion behavior can be attributed to the TiC nanoparticles embedded into the Ni matrix, which have the effect of insulating centers at the composite layer/corrosive solution interface.