Polypyrrole-multiwall carbon nanotube (PPy-MWCNT) nanocomposites were chemically synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole. Ammonium peroxydisulfate and p-toluenesulfonic acid were used as an initiator and surfactant dopant, respectively. The molar ratio of monomer unit to initiator and dopant was 1:1:1, and the percentage of MWCNT in PPy varied from 1 to 10 wt.%. PPy-MWCNT nanocomposites were characterized to study chemical structure, morphology, thermal, electrical, and surface properties. To accomplish this, the samples have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, four probe resistivity method, and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that PPy-MWCNT nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization method, and also, electrical conductivity of nanocomposites was increased when the content of MWCNT increase.
The effect of microstructure on corrosion behavior of a solid-state explosion welded Ti-Cu bimetal is investigated by means of alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) electrochemical measurements, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM). The results indicate that the titanium regions in the welding interface, local melted zone (LMZ), and LMZ-Cu interface are potential sites for initiation of corrosion attacks. SKPFM mapping clearly shows that before exposure of the sample to a 3.5% NaCl corrosive solution and at the beginning of the exposure, the Cu side of the bimetal has a higher Volta potential in comparison to that of the Ti region, and thus acts as a cathode. Electrochemical measurements also confirm that titanium acts as an anode and copper as a cathode, in the first moments of immersion, in accordance with macroscopic observations and SKPFM results. However, by growing a passive layer of titanium oxide and titanium hydroxide on the Ti side after about 1 h exposure to the corrosive medium, the titanium side becomes nobler and the polarity arrangement in the galvanic couple reverses.