This paper presents the reuse process of post-consumer printed foils made of glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETG). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and a scanning electron microscope confirmed that these foils consist of PETG and PS layers. Firstly, foil pieces were immersed in the organic solution to remove all prints and after washing and drying they were extruded into regranulate rPETG pellets. Three types of PETG/rPETG blends were fabricated with the addition of 10, 20 and 30 wt% of virgin PETG. Microscopic analysis of the blends confirmed their homogeneity, as was also shown by the fact that there was only one glass transition peak in the heating curve given by differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, in the presence of fresh PETG the degradation temperatures of rPETG improved significantly, and the viscosity of all blends was reduced as a result of shortened macromolecule chains in rPETG. Mechanical analysis of the materials showed that all blends have comparable tensile strength and a Young’s modulus that is higher than rPETG but lower than virgin PETG. Elongation at break decreases together with the content of rPETG.

Polyamide 11/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite fibers with weight fraction 2, 4, and 6 wt.% and diameter 80 μm were prepared with a twin screw mini-extruder. The morphology and degree of dispersion of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the fibers was investigated by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In turn, the molecular structure was indicated by using wide-angle x-ray scattering and correlated with thermal analysis. It was found that carbon nanotubes lead to the formation of α phase in the fibers and they show medial level of alignment within the length of the fiber. Mechanical analysis of the fibers shows that apart from the crystallinity content, the tensile strength is strongly dependent on the macroscopic defects of the surface of the fibers. Nanocomposite fibers based on polyamide 11 with carbon nanotubes can be used as a precursor for non-woven or woven fabrics manufacturing process.

In this article, the novel type of dielectric elastomer made of polydimethylsiloxane, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and carbon grease is presented. The aim of the study was the development of compliant electrodes with ability for large deformation under applied voltage. The largest deformation of 47% was obtained for electrodes made of 2 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and 20 wt% of carbon grease. Electrical conductivity achieved for this material was 4.8 S/m. Good dispersion of conductive fillers within silicone matrix was obtained by calendaring technique. It was found that electrical percolation threshold for the compound was below 0.05 wt%. The structure of the material and its mechanical properties were determined. It was described that both properties, electrical conductivity and stiffness of the nanocomposite, have a significant influence on the extent of the electrode deformation. Two actuator designs are presented as the examples of application of developed material.

The lack of resistance of plastic objects to various pathogens and their increasing activity in our daily life have made researchers develop polymeric materials with biocidal properties. Hence, this paper describes the thermoplastic composites of Polyamide 12 mixed with 1–5 wt % of the nanoparticles of zinc, copper, and titanium oxides prepared by a twin-screw extrusion process and injection moulding. A satisfactory biocidal activity of polyamide 12 nanocomposites was obtained thanks to homogenously dispersed metal oxides in the polymer matrix and the wettability of the metal oxides by PA12. At 4 wt % of the metal oxides, the contact angles were the lowest and it resulted in obtaining the highest reduction rate of the Escherichia coli (87%), Candida albicans (53%), and Herpes simplex 1 (90%). The interactions of the nanocomposites with the fibroblasts show early apoptosis (11.85–27.79%), late apoptosis (0.81–5.04%), and necrosis (0.18–0.31%), which confirms the lack of toxicity of used metal oxides. Moreover, the used oxides affect slightly the thermal and rheological properties of PA12, which was determined by oscillatory rheology, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry.

The study aimed to investigate the effect of processing temperature and the content of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the rheological, thermal, and electrical properties of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)/MWCNT nanocomposites. It was observed that the increase in MWCNT content influenced the increase of the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus. The microscopic observations showed that with an increase in the amount of MWCNTs, the areal ratio of their agglomerates decreases. Thermogravimetric analysis showed no effect of processing temperature and MWCNT content on thermal stability; however, an increase in stability was observed as compared to neat PPS. The differential scanning calorimetry was used to assess the influence of MWCNT addition on the crystallization phenomenon of PPS. The calorimetry showed that with increasing MWCNT content, the degree of crystallinity and crystallization temperature rises. Thermal diffusivity tests proved that with an increase in the processing temperature and the content of MWCNTs, the diffusivity also increases and declines at higher testing temperatures. The resistivity measurements showed that the conductivity of the PPS/MWCNT nanocomposite increases with the increase in MWCNT content. The processing temperature did not affect resistivity.