Shape-Memory Polymers Based on Carbon Nanotube Composites
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe review written by da Silva and colleagues concerns a very specific type of CNT composites, i.e. shape-memory composites. The proposed work can be considered a comprehensive overview of the research conducted over the past years on the design and production of SMP/CNT composites based on both thermoset and thermoplastic matrices. The manuscript is logically divided into very accurate and absolutely comprehensive sections. The technical quality of this work can be considered as very good. An undoubted advantage of the manuscript is the fact that the text is accompanied by photographs, diagrams, and comparative tables. In my opinion, this contribution provides valuable perspective on the scientifically important area of research and will attract a wide range of readers. I have just one concern. The authors frequently use abbreviations. Given the length of the work, a list of abbreviations could be helpful for the reader. Of course, all designations are explained within the text, but finding one sometimes requires an excessively long search through the text. In my opinion index of acronyms and abbreviations used in the text can improve the readability.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor editing of English language required.
Author Response
The authors are thankful for the revision and the positive opinion. The reviewer is quite right, a list of abbreviation should be included. We included the following list of abbreviations:
Abbreviations List:
ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
AFM - Atomic Force Microscopy
AR - Acrylic Resin
BR - Benzoxazine resin
CAD - Computer-aided design
CB - Carbon black
CE - Cyanate ester
CF - Carbon fiber
CNSL - Cashew nut shell liquid
CNT - Carbon nanoubes
CTE - Coefficient of thermal expansion
CW - Carnauba wax
DA - Dopamine
DLP - Digital Light Process
EM - Electromagnetic
EOC - Ethylene-α-octene copolymer
EPAc - Epoxy Acrylate
ER - Epoxy resin
ESO - Epoxidized soybean oil
et-SMP - electrothermal shape-memory polymer
EUG - Eucommia ulmoides gum
EVA - Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)
fCNT - Functionalized carbon nanotubes
FDM - Fused Deposition Modeling
fMWCNT - Functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes
fu - furan grafted
Gr - Graphene
HBPU - Hyperbranched Polyurethane
hCNT - hybrid carbon nanotubes
hMWCNT - Hybrid multi-walled carbon nanotubes
hSWCNT - Hybrid single-walled carbon nanotubes
IR - Infra-red
LCE - Liquid crystal elastomers
LDPE - Low-density polyethylene
mPE-g-AA - Acrylic acid-functionalized metallocene polyethylene
MW - Microwave
MWCNT - Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
NIR - Near infra-red
NR - Natural Rubber
P(AM-co-OA) -Poly(acrylamide-octadecyl acrylate)
PAEK - Polyaryletherketone
PANI - Polyaniline
PBS - Poly(butylene succinate)
PCL - Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)
PCL-Py - Pyrene containing Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)
PCO - Polycyclooctene
PE - Polyethylene
PEG - Polyethylene glycol
PEGDMA - Polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate
PEO - Polyolefin elastomer
PEU - Polyester urethane
PK - Polyketone
PLA - Poly(lactic) acid
PNIPAAm - Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)
POE - Poly(ethylene-co-octene)
POP - Palm oil polyol
PPC - Poly(propylene) carbonate
PS - Polystyrene
pt-SMP - Photothermal shape-memory polymer
PU - Thermoset polyurethane
PVA - Polyvinyl alcohol
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
PVDF - Polyvinylidene fluoride
PW - Paraffin wax
rDA - retro Diels-Alder
RF - Radio frequency
Rf - Shape fixity ratio
rGO - Reduced graphene oxide
RPSM - Reversible plasticity shape-memory
Rr - Shape recovery ratio
SBS - Poly(styrene-β-butadiene-β-styrene)
SIS - Poly(styrene-β-isoprene-β-styrene)
SLA - Stereolithography
SME - Shape-memory effect
SMP - Shape-memory polymers
SWCNT - Single-walled carbon nanotubes
TC - Thermal conductivity
Tg - Glass transition temperature
Tm - Melting temperature
TPI - Trans-1,4- polyisoprene
TPU - Thermoplastic polyurethane
t-SMP - Thermal responsive shape-memory polymer
Ttrans - Transition temperature
UHMWPE - Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
UV - Ultra-violet
Vis - Visible
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors conducted a very comprehensive review of research carried out in recent years on the production of SMP/CNT composites using both thermoset and thermoplastic matrices. The review focused on the distinct contributions of CNT to the nanocomposite's response to external stimuli.
1. The review is well-written
2. The title accurately represents the content of the paper.
3. The abstract adequately summarizes the study.
4. The introduction adequately provides a brief overview of the topic, including its significance and relevance in the field.
5. The introduction and literature review are well-explained.
6. The review is well organized into thematic sections or subtopics, where the authors have summarized the key findings from the literature
7. Tables and figures clearly and effectively present data visually and are easy to understand.
8. The conclusion summarizes the main findings and insights from the review. The applications of SMP/CNT composites in various fields are well highlighted, including robotics, medical engineering, and MEMS.
9. The authors mentioned briefly life cycle assessment and sustainability in the conclusion. It would be interesting to expand on specific sustainability challenges and how they can be addressed.
9. The article is adequately referenced.
Author Response
The authors are thankful for the revision and the positive opinion. The reviewer is quite right, there is a long way to go, before these composites are produced within a sustainability framework. This topic is challenging, there is so much that can be done, and that should be planned. We expanded a little on the topic, including the sentence:
“Furthermore, addressing critical challenges in improving processing routes by moving towards solvent-free approaches and developing novel methods to facilitate processing of natural polymers and the dispersion of particulate fillers is crucial for the sustainability of these materials. In addition, the recycling of SMP/CNT presents a challenge for developing more eco-friendly options that benefit from the unique properties of CNT.”