Carbon Nanofibers-Poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates Nanocomposite: Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersion and Thermostructural Properties

Figure 5

FESEM micrographs displaying the effect of sonication power intensity (𝐼) on CNF dispersion (a) 1.1×10³ W m⁻², (b) 2.1×10³ W m⁻², (c) 4.7×10³ W m⁻², and (d) 7.5×10³ W m⁻² (all micrographs were recorded at 5000x magnification). The insets are micrographs of the samples at 10000x magnification; the observed polymer melting (sample (d), inset) could be due to lower 𝑀_𝑣 of polymer matrix due to partial degradation by high sonication intensity.

(a)  

(b)

(c)

(d)