Preparation of epoxidized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and its compatibilization effect on water-swellable rubber composites

In this research, water-swellable rubbers (WSRs) were prepared by the blending of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with epoxidized acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (ENBR), precipitated silica, vulcanizing agents, and polyacrylic acid sodium (PAAS) as superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). ENBR was prepared with a molybdenum trioxide catalyst and a tert-butyl hydroperoxide oxidant through a free-radical reaction under specific conditions and was used as a compatibilizer to improve the interfacial adhesion of the NBR matrix and hydrophilic components of the WSRs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the structure and properties of ENBR. The dispersion of silica and SAPs in the rubber matrix was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The presence of ENBR enhanced the water-absorption properties of the WSRs. The NBR–ENBR composites exhibited a higher mechanical performance after water absorption than that without ENBR. Both the swelling ratio and the absorption rate increased with the ENBR content. When the weight ratio of NBR–ENBR was 25/75, an equilibrium swelling ratio of 172% (13% higher than that of the sample without ENBR) was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the addition of ENBR improved the compatibility between the SAPs and the NBR matrix. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47694.     

Bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed systems around the world - Bed agglomeration and collapse: A comprehensive review

Thermochemical conversion by gasification process is one of the most relevant technologies for energy recovery from solid fuel, with an energy conversion efficiency better than other alternatives like combustion and pyrolysis. Nevertheless, the most common technology used in the last decades for thermochemical conversion of solid fuel through gasification process, such as coal, agriculture residues or biomass residues are the fluidized bed or bubbling fluidized bed system. For these gasification technologies, an inert bed material is fed into reactor to improve the homogenization of the particles mixture and increase the heat transfer between solid fuel particles and the bed material. The fluidized bed reactors usually operate at isothermal bed temperatures in the range of 700–1000 °C, providing a suitable contact between solid and gas phases. In this way, chemical reactions with high conversion yield, as well as an intense circulation and mixing of the solid particles are encouraged. Moreover, a high gasification temperature favours carbon conversion efficiency, increasing the syngas production and energy performance of the gasifier. However, the risk of eutectic mixtures formation and its subsequent melting process are increased, and hence the probability of bed agglomeration and the system collapse could be increased, mainly when alkali and alkaline earth metals-rich biomasses are considered. Generally, bed agglomeration occurs when biomass-derived ash reacts with bed material, and the lower melting temperature of ash components promotes the formation of highly viscous layers, which encourages the progressive agglomerates creation, and consequently, the bed collapse and system de-fluidization. Taking into account the relevance of this topic to ensure the normal gasification process operating, this paper provides several aspects about bed agglomeration, mostly for biomass gasification systems. In this way, chemistry and mechanism of bed agglomeration, as well as, some methods for in-situ detection and prediction of the bed agglomeration phenomenon are reviewed and discussed.     

基于正交试验设计的橡胶沥青性能影响因素研究

将废旧轮胎粉碎后加入沥青中既可以改善沥青的性能,又可以减少废旧轮胎对环境造成的污染。本文基于橡胶沥青的针入度、软化点、延度等技术指标,研究橡胶沥青的材料组成和制备工艺参数对橡胶沥青性能的影响,设计了五因素四水平正交试验,根据试验结果初步确定了最佳橡胶沥青制备参数,并在考虑橡胶沥青加工安全性的基础上对参数进行了优化,最终确定了橡胶沥青原材料的选用原则及制备参数。     

Separation of Trimethyl Borate from a Liquid Mixture by Pervaporation

Four commercial polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes were applied to the pervaporation of an azeotropic mixture containing trimethyl borate, a precursor to boronic acids used in Suzuki couplings and a gaseous anti‐oxidant in solder flux or brazing. The degree of cross‐linking of the chains in the active layer played a crucial role in the membrane process using the membranes PERVAP 4155‐80, PERVAP 4155‐40 and PERVAP 4155‐30. PERVAP 4155‐30 reached the best results from all tested membranes; an impressive selectivity with fast permeation was also achieved with the PERVAP 4060 membrane. Methanol preferentially passed through PERVAP 4155‐30, but trimethyl borate was favorably pervaporated from the mixture by PERVAP 6040, due to the diverse affinities of the membranes.     

Stabilizing effect of the cyclodextrins additive to spray-dried particles of curcumin/polyvinylpyrrolidone on the supersaturated state of curcumin

Although curcumin is considered to have various therapeutic effects, its use as a functional food or supplement is restricted owing to its low water solubility and bioavailability. To increase the solubility of curcumin in water, the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers with a pyrrolidone skeleton was noted to be promising. In particular, the bi-component formulations of curcumin/PVP prepared through spray drying exhibited an amorphous state in powder X-ray diffraction observations and temporally increased the apparent solubility of curcumin to over 5000 times that of untreated curcumin; nevertheless, after 24 h, the solubility decreased owing to the unstable supersaturated state of curcumin. The addition of α-cyclodextrin (α-CyD) in the bi-component curcumin/PVP formulation helped maintain the supersaturated state of curcumin, whereas the addition of β- and γ-CyD led to the collapse of the supersaturated state. The addition of α-CyD can likely help inhibit the nucleation and crystal growth of curcumin, through the interaction among the solubilized units of curcumin/PVP and α-CyD.     

Preparation and properties of high-strength-high-modulus polyimide cords/natural rubber composites

High-strength-high-modulus polyimide (PI) cords reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites are prepared, and the PI cords are treated with resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) adhesive to enhance the interfacial adhesion with NR matrix. The influence of RFL adhesive variables, such as the ratio of R/F and RF/L, on the adhesion between PI cords and NR is investigated. Furthermore, sorbitol glycidyl ether (SGE) and caprolactam blocked methylene diisocyanate (CBI) are adhered to the surface of the PI cords through a dip-coating procedure to introduce epoxy and NCO groups and graft with more RFL adhesive. The H pull-out force of SGE/CBI-RFL treated PI cords/NR composites reaches as high as 193.9 N, which is 580% higher than that of untreated PI ones. Additionally, the SGE/CBI-RFL treated PI cords/NR composites exhibit superior adhesion, aging, and fatigue resistance together with better mechanical properties as compared with SGE/CBI-RFL treated poly(para-phenylene terephtalamide) (PPTA) cords/NR composites.     

Research progress on compounding agent and mechanical test method of fluororubber

Fluororubber (FKM) materials have excellent mechanical properties, and are widely used in automotive and aerospace fields. As fluorine rubber is a typical representative of new special rubber, the formula and mechanical test method of fluorine rubber have become one of the important issues at present. Multi-factor optimization of fluororubber compound plays an important role in the mechanical properties of FKM. Based on the introduction of new materials in FKM compounding agents (reinforcing agent, softening plasticizer, anti-aging agent, accelerator, vulcanizing agent, auxiliary agent and filler), this paper focuses on the research progress of characterization methods and mechanical properties of the composite materials combined with FKM.