Hybrides nano /micrométriques de nanotubes de carbone (NTC) greffés sur microparticules d’alumina, microplaques de SiC ou nanoplaquettes de graphène (NPG) ont été utilisés comme renforts multifonctionnelles dans les composites à matrice polymère. Le NTCs utilisés étaient généralement sous forme de six branches symétriques et orthogonales sur microparticules sphériques d'Al2O3, mais d'une ou deux branches alignées verticalement sur les deux côtés de microplaques de SiC et de NPG. L’introduction des structures hybrides dans une matrice époxy permet d’améliorer la dispersion des NTC et l'interaction interfaciale entre les renforts et la matrice. Les propriétés mécaniques des composites ont été fortement améliorées avec une faible concentration de hybrides. La résistance électrique in situ des composites a atteint d’abord à sa valeur maximale et puis diminue avec la présence d'une déformation irréversible. Ce phénomène observé est complètement différent par rapport à ce des composites renforcé par NTC, c’est-à-dire, une augmentation monotone de la résistance jusqu'à leur rupture final. Les propriétés mécaniques et les comportements de self-sensing des composites dependent fortement de l'élancement de NTC de leur organisation et aussi des substrats. L'introduction des hybrides dans les composites renforcés par des fibres longues (verre) a démontré un grand potentiel pour développer des composites multi-échelles. Les études réalisées sur la matrice époxy renforcée par les hybrides bien dispersés avec une faible fraction ont montré des améliorations importantes des propriétés de flexion à 3 points et des propriétés thermo-mécaniques. Les réseaux conducteurs formés par hybrides nano/micrométriques permettent de suivre in situ l'évolution de l’état de dégradation des composites à matrice époxy renforcés par des tissus de verre sous contrainte appliquée. / Nano/micro multiscale hybrids with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on the Al2O3 microparticles, SiC microplates or graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) could serve as multifunctional reinforcements in the composites. The CNTs generally form into symmetric six-orthogonal branches on the spherical Al2O3, but vertically align on the flat surfaces of the SiC and GNP. The introduction of hybrids into the epoxy matrix endows uniform dispersion of CNTs as well as improved interfacial interaction between the reinforcements and matrix. Significantly enhanced mechanical properties of the composites were achieved at low hybrid concentration. The in situ electrical resistance of the composites initially increases to its maximum value and then begins to decrease with the appearance of irreversible deformation, which is different from the pristine CNTs filled composites only with monotonic increase of the resistance until their catastrophic fracture. The mechanical and self-sensing behaviors of the composites are found to be highly dependent on CNT aspect ratio, organization and the substrates. Besides, the introduction of hybrids into the traditional fiber-reinforced composites shows great promise in development of the high-performance multiscale composites. The epoxy matrix is toughed by the well dispersed hybrids at low fraction, resulting in improved flexural and thermomechancial properties. Besides, the conductive networks provided by the hybrids could be utilized as in situ damage sensors to monitor the damage evolution in the glass fabric/epoxy composite laminates under tensile loading.

The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect in conductive polymer composites (CPC) are still poorly understood with the thermal expansion of the polymer matrix accepted as the main cause. This thesis aims to study a model system able to explain the effect of the filler size and shape on the PTC behaviour of CPCs. Silver coated glass spheres and flakes are used as conductive fillers due to the ease in controlling uniform size and shape. In a controlled system it was demonstrated that the PTC intensity increases with increasing filler size and with decreasing filler content, both for conductive fillers. Combinations of different conductive fillers were investigated to explore the possibility to obtain both low percolation thresholds and high PTC intensities. Model systems in which at least one of the two conductive fillers is of relatively homogenous size and shape were used to facilitate unravelling some of the complicated relationships between (mixed) conductive fillers and the PTC effect. The PTC intensity of mixed fillers composites were dominated by the filler with the lowest PTC intensity, even at very low volume fractions. The PTC intensity was not only influenced by the conductive particle size but also by its size distribution. The effect of difference in linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of conductive fillers and polymer matrix based on a change in filler core on PTC behaviour was investigated. Damage to the particles due to the poor adhesion between the silver coating and the PMMA bead lead to the composite behaving like mixed filler composite. Hybrid polymers filled with silver coated glass flakes was also examined in order to enhance the PTC intensity. The PTC intensity of the composite increased with increasing PPE content but the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) effect was observed in all the composites.

Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP) was incorporated into polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix by melt compounding method and the enhancements in the properties of the nanocomposites were studied. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to assist in the study of processing conditions in melt compounding. RSM analysis revealed that the GNP concentrations to be the most significant term to affect the tensile modulus and crystallinity followed by the screw speed whereas the residence time was found to be non-significant. GNP with 5 Î1⁄4m (G5) and 25 Î1⁄4m (G25) were used in the GNP aspect ratio study. The average flake size of G5 and G25 to was measured to be 5.07 Î1⁄4m and 22.0 Î1⁄4m, respectively with the G5 distributed narrowly whereas the G25 exhibit broad distribution. TGA analysis shown that HT25 is more thermally stable compared to G25 due to some remnants lost during thermal treatment and this was confirmed by EDX and CHNS analysis. XRD profiles of the PA6-G-NC illustrate typical peaks of PA6 crystals phase as well as pure graphite characteristic peak. PA6-G25-NC observed to exhibit slightly higher peak intensity compared to PA6-G5-NC suggesting more formation of PA6 crystals. Similar improvement was observed on PA6-HT25-NC compared to PA6-G25-NC indicating more formation of PA6 crystals due improved dispersion of HT25. DSC on PA6-G25-NC showed higher cooling temperature and crystallinity compared to PA6-G5-NC due to larger surface area of the G25. Similarly, PA6-HT25 showed better improvement in crystallinity over PA6-G25-NC due to increase nucleation sites by the HT25. The thermal conductivity of PA6-G25-NC is slightly higher than the thermal conductivity of PA6-G5-NC but not significant considering the G25 is 5 times larger than G5. Instead, no significant difference was observed between PA6-HT25-NC and PA6-G25-NC. Addition of GNP increased the thermal stability of the PA6-G-NC systems under both nitrogen and air atmospheres regardless of the GNP aspect ratio. The viscoelastic properties showed insignificant difference between PA6-G5-NC and PA6-G25-NC. The inefficient improvement by G25 might be due to agglomeration formed during processing. The storage modulus and tan Î ́ of PA6-HT25-NC decreased but the Tg significantly improved compared to PA6-G25-NC. This was assumed to be because of improved dispersion of HT25 but reduced interfacial interaction after the heat treatment. The shear storage modulus, G’ and complex viscosity, |η*| were observed to increase with increasing GNP content with more pronounced improvement seen on PA6-G25-NC compared to PA6-G5-NC. However, no network percolation threshold was observed until 20 wt.% of GNP. The poor interfacial interaction of HT25 resulted in lower G’ and |η*| compared to G25. Tensile test results showed typical improvement with PA6-G25-NC having higher tensile modulus compared to PA6-G5-NC. Further enhancement was obtained with PA6-HT25-NC suggesting improved dispersion and volume of constrained chains mobility despite the poor surface interaction. Comparison with Halphin-Tsai modulus revealed that the effective modulus to be 150 GPa for G5 and 200 GPa for G25. The water uptake measurement results showed that GNP reduced the water uptake percentage and diffusion coefficient especially with G25. The test conducted on saturated PA6-G-NC results in improved thermal conductivity due to the high thermal conductivity of water but the viscoelastic and tensile properties severely reduced due to plasticisation effect.

The main aim of this work is to examine fracture toughness improvement mechanisms of a composite material containing tough interlayers modified with large thermoplastic particles. ¶ Various vinyl-ester (VE)/ poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends were used for the interlayer-toughening of a VE/glass fibre composite to increase delamination resistance of the material under mode I and mode II loading. Dry ABS powder was mixed with the liquid resin in four different weight ratios: 3.5, 7, 11 and 15 phr (parts per hundred parts of resin) while the layer thickness was varied from 150 to 500um. Firstly, the tensile and mode I fracture toughness properties of the VE/ABS blends were assessed, and, by using the Raman Spectroscopy technique, a chemical reaction was discovered which occurred during ABS/VE mixing. This reaction consisted of butadiene dissolution from the ABS particles into the VE. Also, butadiene saturation within the VE was achieved at a composition of around 7% ABS particle content. Both mode I and mode II fracture toughness of the composite were significantly improved with the application of interlayers. Mode I fracture toughness GIc was found to be a function of interlayer thickness and ABS particle content variations, with the latter dominating GIc after the saturation point. Mode II fracture toughness was found to be independent of interlayer thickness and only moderately influenced by particle content. The toughening mechanisms that were the most influential within this interlayered material were plastic deformation and micro-cracking of the layer materials. Evidence of both mechanisms was found using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ¶ A numerical analysis was conducted, using the experimental results from this study, to further explain the basic toughening mechanisms and fracture behaviour in the materials. The aim of the analysis was to examine the influence of the particles on the plastic zone size that develops in front of the crack tip, and the interaction between the particles and the crack tip. For this purpose FEA elastic-plastic crack propagation models were employed. Good agreement with the experimental data was found.

Polymer composites are engineered materials widely being used and yet not completely understood for their dynamic response. It is important to fully characterize material properties before using them for applications in critical industries, like that of defense or transport. In this project, the focus is on determining dynamic fracture toughness property of fiber reinforced polymer composites by using a combined numerical- experimental methodology. Impact tests are conducted on Split-Hopkinson pressure bar with required instrumentation to obtain load-history and initiation of crack propagation parameters followed by finite element analysis to determine desired dynamic properties. Single edge notch bend(SENB) type geometry is used for Mode-I fracture testing and similarly end-notched flexure (ENF) type of geometry is proposed to test the samples for Mode-II type of fracture. Two different linear elastic fracture mechanics approaches are used- crack opening displacement and strain energy release rates. Dynamic fracture toughness values of around 50 MPa[square root of m] and 100 MPa[square root of m] in Mode-I, whereas, around 40 MPa[square root of m] and 6 MPa[square root of m] in Mode-II are observed for carbon-epoxy and fiberglass-epoxy composites respectively. To provide a better estimate of material response, Hashin damage model is employed which takes into account non-linear behavior of composites. As observed in previous studies, values estimated using a non-linear response of composite laminates are nearly three times as high, therefore, using a linear elastic material model could underestimate a material's capacity to sustain dynamic loads without failure. It is concluded that fracture initiation toughness property is rate dependent and is higher when subjected to dynamic loads. Microscopic examination of damaged samples and a higher value of dynamic fracture toughness for fiberglass-epoxy laminates as compared to carbon-epoxy laminates suggest that dynamic fracture toughness is also a function of many other variables like mode of fracture, dominant damage criteria, manufacturing process, constituent materials and their ratios.

Developing renewable materials to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel as a feedstock for a wide range of applications is becoming increasingly acknowledged as important in society. Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature, is an ideal candidate for diverse applications because of its remarkable properties, such as abundance, renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, chemical functionality, and high stiffness and strength. Despite these inherent advantages, chitin is currently still underutilized mainly due to its strong molecular interactions, which make it insoluble in common solvents. Currently, its major applications are limited to biomedical engineering, such as tissue engineering, wound dressing and sutures. This thesis aims to explore and enable the potential utilization of chitin in other fields where it may serve as a renewable functional advanced material. Here, a number of novel chitin-based materials were developed successfully without employing chitin dissolution. These include chitin nanofibers (CNFs), porous chitin with tunable structures, chitin-reinforced polymer composites and chitin-stabilized aqueous foams. Moreover, the properties of these materials including interfacial, optical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics were determined, and their potential utilizations were demonstrated. Briefly, in chapter 2, CNFs with diameters of ~20 nm were successfully extracted from crab α-chitin by a high pressure homogenization process. The produced CNFs were dispersed well in water without forming strong network structures due to their electrostatic repulsions. The obtained CNF film has a high residue amount (40%) when heated up to 1000 ˚C. Meanwhile, it exhibited high optical transparency as well as great gas barrier properties. In chapter 3, on the basis of the obtained CNFs in chapter 2, versatile porous structures including oriented sheets and three-dimensional aperiodic nanofiber networks were achieved by using a freeze drying technique. Since the formation of nanofibrous structures cannot be predicted by the widely-used particle encapsulation model, a modified structure formation mechanism was proposed. In chapter 4, the structure-property relationships of the CNF/poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) nanocomposites were established. We demonstrated that the CNFs formed network structures in PEO matrix and had hydrogen bonding interaction with PEO. The CNFs can greatly enhance the mechanical properties of PEO, such as elastic modulus and tensile strength. In chapter 5, the aqueous foams stabilized by high-aspect-ratio CNFs were developed. The created foams exhibited strong hindrance on film drainage, coalescence and disproportionation. The fibrillated CNFs alone were not able to stabilize air bubbles, but the addition of small amounts of valeric acids in CNF dispersion can make chitin foamable. The results clearly showed that valeric acid modified CNFs reduced the surface tension of aqueous dispersion and were attached at the air-water interface. Overall, this research has provided many new insights for the fabrication, characterization, and utilization of chitin, and has built a solid foundation for further exploiting chitin for diverse applications.

In this dissertation, we determine how the dispersion, network formation and alignment of carbon nanotubes in polymer nanocomposites affect the electrical properties of two different polymer composite systems: high temperature bismaleimide (BMI) and polyethylene. The knowledge gained from this study will facilitate optimization of the above mentioned parameters, which would further enhance the electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites. BMI carbon fiber composites filled with nickel-coated single walled carbon nanotubes (Ni-SWNTs) were processed using high temperature vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) to study the effect of lightning strike mitigation. Coating the SWNTs with nickel resulted in enhanced dispersions confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). An improved interface between the carbon fiber and Ni-SWNTs resulted in better surface coverage on the carbon plies. These hybrid composites were tested for Zone 2A lightning strike mitigation. The electrical resistivity of the composite system was reduced by ten orders of magnitude with the addition of 4 weight percent Ni-SWNTs (calculated with respect to the weight of a single carbon ply). The Ni-SWNTs - filled composites showed a reduced amount of damage to simulated lightning strike compared to their unfilled counterparts indicated by the minimal carbon fiber pull out. Methods to reduce the electrical resistivity of 10 weight percent SWNTs -- medium density polyethylene (MDPE) composites were studied. The composites processed by hot coagulation method were subjected to low DC electric fields (10 V) at polymer melt temperatures to study the effect of viscosity, nanotube welding, dispersion and, resultant changes in electrical resistivity. The electrical resistivity of the composites was reduced by two orders of magnitude compared to 10 wt% CNT-MDPE baseline. For effective alignment of SWNTs, a new process called Electric field Vacuum Spray was devised to overcome viscosity within the dispersed nanotube polymer system, and produce conductive MDPE-SWNT thin films. Polarized Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis on the samples showed an improvement in SWNT -- SWNT contacts and alignment in the polymer matrix. The resistivity of the samples processed by this new method was two order magnitudes lower than the samples processed by hot coagulation method subjected to electric field.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:09:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 donini_ian_me_araiq_parcial.pdf: 182729 bytes, checksum: bdb9579af5c8f6e36e501988b64407ee (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-06-25T13:01:21Z: donini_ian_me_araiq_parcial.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-06-25T13:03:34Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000691030_20160812.pdf: 182386 bytes, checksum: 7e3d4364fb5bfca56e21950fa8331ae7 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2016-08-12T12:00:47Z: 000691030_20160812.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-08-12T12:01:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000691030.pdf: 2912473 bytes, checksum: 41189b2c8ef82b52d4627d9d58e0f0bb (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A celulose bacteriana (CB) é um polímero produzido pela bactéria Gluconacetobacter xylinus, e apresenta diversas aplicações biomédicas e tecnológicas. Recentemente foi desenvolvido o método de inserção in situ, que visa a produção de compósitos via adição de materiais no meio de cultura. Neste trabalho tem sido realizada a inserção de colágeno durante a formação da CB no intuito de melhorar as propriedades osteocondutoras do compósito, formando um scaffold visando o uso em regeneração óssea. A produção de celulose bacteriana foi testada via cultivo da bactéria gramnegativa Gluconacetobacter xylinus linhagem ATCC 23769, em diferentes meios de cultura estáticos e agitado à base de distintas fontes de carbono e adição de colágeno in situ, a fim de avaliar tanto a produção, como as propriedades dos materiais produzidos. Foram utilizados meios da literatura, ou com algumas modificações, sendo o meio com melhor resultado foi aquele utilizado no restante do trabalho, ou seja, na produção de compósitos in situ. As membranas sem adição de materiais in situ foram caracterizadas por FT-IR, DRX, MEV, grau de polimerização, intumescimento e análise térmica, apresentando similaridade com o material disponível no mercado para comercialização. O processo de obtenção das mantas de CB foi acompanhado e estudado através da avaliação do crescimento da cepa utilizada, curva de consumo de açúcares, variação do pH e produção de CB em função do tempo de cultivo, para avaliar qual condição seria ideal para a produção de CB. Foram obtidos melhores resultados utilizando-se o manitol como fonte de carbono e um pH inicial de 4,5, ao utilizar a cepa ATCC 23769. O cultivo agitado mostrou-se mais eficiente ao produzir 5,47 g/L. A produção do compósito à base de CB e colágeno (CB+Col) através da adição in situ, variando a... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico aba / The Bacterial Cellulose (BC) is a polymer produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus bacteria, and shows many biomedical and technological applications. Recently was developed the in situ method of insertion, that aims to obtain composites materials via addiction of interfering substances in the culture medium. In this work, has been performed the insertion of collagen during the BC formation, aiming to improve the osteoconductive properties of composite, making a scaffold to be used at bone regeneration. The BC production was tested by bacterial culture of gram-negative Gluconacetobacter xylinus strain ATCC 23769, in different culture media static and agitated based on different carbon sources and in situ addiction of collagen, to assess the production and the material properties. Literature mediuns were used, or with some modifications, being the best was that used at rest of the work, i.e., in the in situ composite production. The membranes without addiction of materials in situ were characterized by techniques FT-IR, XRD, SEM, degree of polimerization, swelling and termal analysis, showing similarity with the material available in the market for sale. The obtaining process of the BC blankets was accompanied and studied by evaluation of strain growing, sugar consumption curve, pH variation and BC production versus time of cultivation, to assess whats the ideal for BC production. Thus the better results was obtained using manitol as carbon source and a initial pH of 4,5, using ATCC 23769 strain. The agitated culture showed more efficient leading to a production of 5,47 g/L. The composite materials based on bacterial cellulose and collagen (CB+Col) through in situ addiction, varying from 1 to 5% (v/v) was performed at static culture. The final material was characterized regarding its physical-chemistry properties... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Maria Isabel Felisberti / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T14:29:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alexandrino_EvandroMendes_M.pdf: 5484383 bytes, checksum: 6b7a12479a8a08d807230df845e7bd12 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A combinação de polianilina (PAni) com termoplásticos, elastômeros e termorrígidos na forma de compósitos e blendas tem sido amplamente estudada nas últimas duas décadas. Entretanto, a utilização de termoplásticos de alto desempenho térmico em compósitos ou blendas com polianilina tem sido pouco explorada devido às altas temperaturas de processamento destes termoplásticos e no fato de que, nestas condições, a PAni se apresenta termicamente instável de acordo com a natureza do dopante utilizado. A poli(éter imida) (PEI) é um termoplástico de engenharia que apresenta boas propriedades térmicas e mecânicas, porém apresenta altas temperaturas de processamento. Nesta dissertação de Mestrado, PAni foi sintetizada em escala laboratorial através de oxidação química, gerando a PAni dopada com ácido clorídrico (PAni HCl). A PAni HCl foi desdopada e redopada para obtenção de PAni dopada com ácido p-tolueno sulfônico (PAni APTS) ou com um complexo de cobalto com acetonitrila (PAni CoAcn). Foram preparados compósitos de PEI com PAni APTS, com teor de PAni entre 2,5 a 20% em massa, por extrusão em uma mini-extrusora dupla rosca. Compósitos de PEI plastificada (PEIR) com resorcinol bis(difenil fosfato) (RDP) também foram preparados com PAni APTS ou PAni CoAcn, com a mesma faixa de concentração em massa. As PAni sintetizadas e os compósitos foram caracterizados por métodos térmicos, morfológicos, mecânicos e elétricos. Os compósitos apresentam boas propriedades mecânicas e térmicas, principalmente os compósitos com PAni CoAcn, porém eles apresentam características de materiais isolantes / Abstract: The combination of polyaniline (PAni) with thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers as composites and blends has been widely studied in the last two decades. However, the use of high thermal performance thermoplastic in composites or blends with polyaniline has been little explored due to the high processing temperatures of these thermoplastics and the fact that under these conditions the PAni presents thermal instability according to the nature of the dopant used. The polyetherimide (PEI) is an engineering thermoplastic presenting good thermal and mechanical properties, however, it is processed in the melting state at high temperatures. In this dissertation, PAni was synthesized in laboratory scale by chemical oxidation, leading to hydrochloric acid doped PAni (PAni HCl) was dedoped and redoped to obtain p-toluene sulfonic acid doped PAni (PAni APTS) or a cobalt - acetonitrile complex doped PAni (PAni CoAcn). PEI composites were prepared with PAni APTS, in the composition range of 2.5 to 20wt%, by extrusion in a twin screw mini-compounder. PEI plasticized composites (PEIR) with resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP), were also prepared with PAni APTS and PAni CoAcn, at the same composition range. The PAni synthesized and the composites were characterized by thermal, morphological, mechanical and electrical methods. The composite exhibited good mechanical and thermal properties, especially those with PAni CoAcn, nevertheless they still stand as insulating materials / Mestrado / Físico-Química / Mestre em Química

M.Sc. / Millions of inhabitants worldwide are exposed to arsenic contaminated drinking water as a result of natural and man-made processes. Arsenic especially its inorganic forms, arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) have negative effects on human health especially in developing countries. Therefore fabricating low cost and efficient adsorbents for arsenic (III) removal is of great importance. The aim of this study is to use magnetite (Fe3O4) as filler, incorporated into a polymer blend forming composites as adsorbents for arsenic (III) removal. This work presents the fabrication, characterization and application of Fe3O4-EVA/PCL composites for arsenic (III) removal from water. Fe3O4/Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/polyaniline (PANI) and Fe3O4/Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized by melt blending technique using a laboratory mixer (Thermo Scientific Haake Rheomex OS). The composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Thermal analysis was done by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical properties using INSTRON 4443 mechanical Tester. Ability of [EVA (70%) PCL (15%) Fe3O4 (15%)] composites to adsorbed As(III) from water has been investigated through batch experiments. The maximum adsorption was 2.83 mg/g of As(III) ions at 26 ±1°C and pH 8.6. Adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. The process fits well with the Langmuir isotherm. As(III) obeyed pseudo-second order kinetics. The nanocomposites investigated in this study showed good potential for As(III) removal from contaminated water may be due to the dispersion of the magnetite nanoparticles into the polymer blend composites which increases the surface area for the adsorption.