Pravin Bhalerao Thakare

https://doi.org/10.64823/ijter.2606009

Industrial wastewater contains significant quantities of toxic heavy metal ions that pose serious environmental and health risks. Conventional treatment methods often suffer from limitations such as low selectivity, sludge generation, and high operational costs. Composite cation exchange materials have emerged as effective alternatives due to their high ion exchange capacity, chemical stability, selectivity, and regeneration ability. In the present work, a zirconium phosphate–polyaniline (ZrP-PANI) composite cation exchanger was synthesized through a sol-gel precipitation technique followed by in-situ polymerization. The synthesized material was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques. The ion exchange capacity, thermal stability, and metal ion removal efficiency were evaluated. The composite exhibited an ion exchange capacity of 2.15 meq g⁻¹ and demonstrated excellent removal efficiency for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions from industrial wastewater. The results indicate that composite cation exchangers are promising materials for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Abstract The development of smart materials for advanced applications has become an important area of research in materials science. In this work, a composite material based on Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) reinforced with Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) and Graphene is experimentally investigated for potential 4D Printing applications. PVDF is a well-known piezoelectric polymer with good flexibility and chemical stability. The addition of PZT particles enhances the dielectric and piezoelectric properties, while graphene improves electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. The composite films were prepared using the solution casting technique followed by mechanical stirring and ultrasonic dispersion to ensure uniform particle distribution. Structural, morphological, and electrical characterizations were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that the incorporation of PZT and graphene significantly improves the piezoelectric and dielectric performance of PVDF composites, making them suitable candidates for smart sensors, actuators, and adaptive structures used in 4-D printed devices.

The development of smart materials for advanced applications has become an important area of research in materials science. In this work, a composite material based on Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) reinforced with Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) and Graphene is experimentally investigated for potential 4D Printing applications. PVDF is a well-known piezoelectric polymer with good flexibility and chemical stability. The addition of PZT particles enhances the dielectric and piezoelectric properties, while graphene improves electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. The composite films were prepared using the solution casting technique followed by mechanical stirring and ultrasonic dispersion to ensure uniform particle distribution. Structural, morphological, and electrical characterizations were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that the incorporation of PZT and graphene significantly improves the piezoelectric and dielectric performance of PVDF composites, making them suitable candidates for smart sensors, actuators, and adaptive structures used in 4-D printed devices.[4][5]