Transparent and flexible films of new segmented polyurethane nanocomposites incorporated by NH2-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles

In this work, TiO₂ nanoparticles are surface modified by NH₂-terminated organic moieties arised from 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). These nanoparticles are incorporated into ether-based segmented polyurethane (SPU) matrix. MDI is utilized as monomer together with poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) comonomer for preparing the final polymer as well. The NH₂-functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles are covalently linked to the NCO terminals of the resulting SPU macromolecules during film preparation stage. Therefore, in addition to butylene glycol, these surface modified nanoparticles with enhanced organophilicity could play the role of the second chain extender of NCO-capped SPU macromolecules through formation of urea linkages. Optical and thermal behaviors of the transparent and flexible film (SPU/TiO₂–MDI) is compared with those of unmodified TiO₂ (SPU/TiO₂) and TiO₂-unloaded SPU films. Though the particle loading is only 5 wt.%, incorporation of TiO₂ and TiO₂–MDI nanoparticles into the SPU polymer enhances significantly the light absorption in UV region at 300–400 nm. SEM images of the prepared films clearly show a considerable decrease in particle aggregation for TiO₂–MDI into SPU matrix compared to that of unmodified TiO₂. TG analyses indicate a one-step decomposition pattern with onset temperatures of about 360 and 380 °C for neat SPU and SPU/TiO₂–MDI, respectively. Moreover, DTA thermograms of both nanocomposites show obviously two exothermic phase transitions in the thermal range of 330–440 °C.     

An additive manufacturing-based approach for carbon fiber reinforced polymer recycling

The vast Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) waste accumulated is pressing for its recycling. A novel recycling approach, which integrated carbon fiber reclamation and composite additive manufacturing, is proposed to process the CFRP waste into three Dimensional (3D) parts. In the experiments, the CFRP waste was recycled by supercritical n-butanol to yield reclaimed Carbon Fibers (rCFs). The rCFs were ground by a ball mill, mixed with Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK) powder and then extruded to the composite filament. The filament was fed to the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer to fabricate 3D parts. Mechanical and electrical properties of the parts were investigated and compared with that of pure PEEK. The results illustrate that the additive manufacturing-based approach offers a potential strategy to reuse the CFRP waste and rapidly fabricate the rCF reinforced plastics with complex geometry and function.     

Temperature- and frequency-dependent hysteresis scaling behaviour and phase transitions in a [001]c 0.73Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.27PbTiO3 single crystal

The dielectric properties and bipolar polarization-electric field (P-E) and strain-electric field (S-E) dynamic hysteresis of a relaxor [001]_c 0.73Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.27PbTiO₃ (PMN-0.27PT) single crystal were investigated to reveal more details of the temperature-induced phase transitions. Different linear scaling relations for ferroelectric hysteresis area <A>, coercive field E_c, saturation polarization P_s and remnant polarization P_r versus temperature τ were measured in different temperature regions. For each measurement frequency f, all hysteresis parameters were found to decrease linearly with temperature in the temperature range of the single rhombohedral (R) phase or tetragonal (T) phase, and the rate of decrease in the T phase was observed to be much larger than the corresponding rate in the R phase. In the temperature range near the R-T phase transition, the exponent α in the power law <A>∝f ^α for the R phase was found to be smaller than that for the T phase, and the magnitude of α depended strongly on temperature when the crystal was in the R-T coexisting phase state. Our experimental and theoretical results indicate that the difference in the activation energy and dipole moment in the R and T phases may lead to the observed discrepancy for the P-E and S-E hysteresis behaviour in different temperature regions.     

Enhanced graphitic domains of unreduced graphene oxide and the interplay of hydration behaviour and catalytic activity

Previous studies indicate that the properties of graphene oxide (GO) can be significantly improved by enhancing its graphitic domain size through thermal diffusion and clustering of functional groups. Remarkably, this transition takes place below the decomposition temperature of the functional groups and thus allows fine tuning of graphitic domains without compromising with the functionality of GO. By studying the transformation of GO under mild thermal treatment, we directly observe this size enhancement of graphitic domains from originally ≤40 nm² to >200 nm² through an extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. Additionally, we confirm the integrity of the functional groups during this process by a comprehensive chemical analysis. A closer look into the process confirms the theoretical predicted relevance for the room temperature stability of GO and the development of the composition of functional groups is explained with reaction pathways from theoretical calculations. We further investigate the influence of enlarged graphitic domains on the hydration behaviour of GO and the catalytic performance of single atom catalysts supported by GO. Additionally, we show that the sheet resistance of GO is reduced by several orders of magnitude during the mild thermal annealing process.     

Experimental investigation of the normal spectral emissivity and other thermophysical properties of pulse-heated Ni-Ti and Au-Ni alloys into the liquid phase

1. Introduction Metal working industry needs accurate thermo- physical properties of liquid metals and alloys as input data for different simulation routines to im- prove the performance of their products. Within this paper we continue the systematic investigation of the dependence of emissivity of binary alloys on the relative concentration of the constituent elements (for a previous paper see [1]). 2. Experimental method A fast ohmic pulse heating technique is applied to heat metallic wire-s…     

基于人工智能的钛合金热变形工艺参数优化

在深入分析热变形工艺参数对Ti-15-3合金显微组织及成形载荷的影响的基础上,以变形温度、变形程度和变形速率等热变形工艺参数作为设计变量,以显微组织和成形力的最佳综合为目标,建立了该合金热塑性成形工艺参数的多目标优化数学模型。以显微组织参数和成形力的人工神经网络预测模型作为优化算法的知识源,将人工神经网络与修正的遗传算法相结合,对Ti-15-3合金的热塑性成形工艺参数进行优化。结果表明,提出的修正的遗传算法是有效的,采用将其与人工神经网络相结合的方法对钛合金的热塑性成形工艺参数进行优化是可行的。     

SiCp/Al复合材料的自发熔渗机理

以Mg为助渗剂,采用液态铝自发熔渗经氧化处理的SiC粉体压坯的方法,制备出高增强体含量的SiCp/Al复合材料.通过考察铝液在SiC粉体压坯中的渗入高度与温度、时间的关系来研究铝液的熔渗机理,并对SiCp/Al复合材料进行X射线衍射、能量散射谱和金相分析.结果表明:在熔渗前沿发生的液-固界面化学反应促进两相润湿,毛细管力导致铝液自发渗入到SiC多孔陶瓷中;熔渗高度与时间呈抛物线关系.熔渗激活能为166 kJ/mol,这表明渗透过程受界面反应控制.经氧化处理的SiC粉体均匀地分布在金属基体中,其轮廓清晰.在SiCp/Al复合材料中未发现Al4C3的存在.     

杯形件等温压扭复合成形模具失效分析及改进

为解决7A60铝合金杯形件等温压扭复合成形实验中凹模的早期失效问题,借助DEFORM有限元软件,从工艺特点、应力分布及模具结构等方面详细探讨和分析失效原因,应力集中、冷热循环热应力以及高温模具氧化是导致凹模转角处发生早期破裂的主要原因.基于"未裂先分"的方法对凹模结构进行改进,结果表明:模具改进效果较好,等效应力极值降低30%,有效避免了凹模的应力集中;杯形件成形效果较好,宏观上无明显缺陷,表层金属流线清晰可见.