Direct shear behavior of gravel-rubber mixtures: Discrete element modeling and microscopic investigations

In this paper, a newly developed 3-dimentional discrete element model (DEM) for gravel-rubber mixtures (GRMs), namely DEM4GRM, that is capable of accurately describing the macro-scale shear response (from small to large deformation) of GRMs in a direct shear box apparatus is presented. Rigid gravel grains are modelled as simple multi-shape clumps, while soft rubber particles are modeled by using deformable 35-ball body-centered-cubic clusters. Mixtures are prepared with different volumetric rubber content (VRC) at 0, 10, 25, 40 and 100%, statically compressed under 30, 60 and 100 kPa vertical stress and then sheared, by closely simulating a reference laboratory test procedure. The variation of micro-scale factors such as fabric, normal and tangential force anisotropy is carefully examined throughout the shearing process and described by means of novel micro-mechanical relationships valid for GRMs. Moreover, strong-force chains are scrutinized to identify the transition from rigid to soft granular skeleton and gain insights on the load transfer and deformation mechanisms of GRMs. It is shown that the development of the fabric and force anisotropy during shearing is closely related to the macro-scale shear strength of GRMs, and strongly depends on the VRC. Besides, strong-force chains appear to be primarily formed by gravel-gravel contacts (resulting in a rigid-like mechanical behavior) up to VRC = 30%, and by rubber-rubber contacts (causing a soft-like mechanical response) beyond VRC = 60%. Alternatively, at 30% < VRC < 60%, gravel-rubber contacts are predominant in the strong-force network and an intermediate mechanical behavior is observed. This is consistent with the behavioral trends observed in the macro- and micro-mechanical responses.     

天然橡胶/顺丁橡胶/丁苯橡胶自润滑喷蜡橡胶材料的性能

在天然橡胶(NR)/顺丁橡胶(BR)/丁苯橡胶(SBR)为基体的自润滑喷蜡橡胶材料中加入芥酸酰胺,考察芥酸酰胺作为润滑剂时对NR/BR/SBR自润滑喷蜡橡胶材料的硫化特性、力学性能、门尼黏度、摩擦系数及耐老化性能的影响。结果表明,与未加芥酸酰胺的胶料相比,当芥酸酰胺用量为10份时,胶料转矩减小,焦烧时间和正硫化时间缩短,扯断伸长率从388%增加至523%,拉伸强度降低了21.36%,邵尔A硬度、压缩永久变形分别下降5.56%和8.74%,动、静摩擦系数分别减小23.46%和24.82%,门尼黏度降低20.89%,耐热氧老化性能下降。硫化胶拉伸100%停放5 min后,表面出现明显的白色润滑膜,胶料流动性变好,各组分分散得更均匀,断面更光滑。     

New ways to improve the damping properties in high‐performance thermoplastic vulcanizates

The incorporation of viscoelastic materials represents an effective strategy to reduce the vibratory level of structural components. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a special type of viscoelastic material that combines the elastomeric properties of rubbers with the easy processing of thermoplastics. In the present work, we propose innovative ways to improve the damping properties of high‐performance TPVs by using rubbers with carboxylic functionalities. For that, TPVs from physical blends of carboxylated hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XHNBR) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared. The chain dynamics of different mixed crosslink systems containing peroxide, metal oxides and hindered phenolic antioxidants were investigated in order to find the most suitable strategy to design a high‐performance TPV system with upgraded damping properties. The results indicate that the damping performance of the TPV system can be tailored by controlling the type and magnitude of the bonding interactions between the mixed crosslink system and the XHNBR rubber phase. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of TPV systems containing carboxylic rubbers as high‐performance damping materials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

混炼方式对螺旋纳米碳纤维增强天然橡胶复合材料力学性能的影响

采用干法和湿法两种混炼工艺制备了螺旋纳米碳纤维(HCNFs)/炭黑(CB)/天然橡胶(NR)复合材料,通过扫描电镜、拉伸试验机和应变扫描仪分别对所制备复合材料的界面形貌、力学性能和Payne效应进行了测试分析,考察了混炼方式对复合材料宏观力学性能及Payne效应的影响。结果表明,与纯CB填料相比,在干湿两种混炼方式下,添加适量的HCNFs(1～6份)能提高HCNFs/CB/NR复合材料的300%定伸应力、扯断伸长率、拉伸强度和硬度。与干法混炼相比,湿法混炼能明显增强HCNFs/CB/NR复合材料的Payne效应,并提升在HCNFs高添加量(2～6份)条件下的拉伸强度和扯断伸长率,这主要源于湿法混炼能够有效改善HCNFs在橡胶基质中的分散性。     

Development of Minimal Diguanosinyl Motif toward RNA G-Quadruplex-Like Structures in Solution

Among the non-canonical structures of B-DNA, the G-quadruplex is of particular interest because of its well-defined conformation, high stability, and versatility. Herein we report our studies on the development of an amide-linked minimal diguanosinyl motif that forms a G-quadruplex-like structure in solution in the presence of potassium cations; various linear guanosine amino acid dimers were synthesized with linkers of different chain lengths to investigate the optimum flexibility required to form such structures.     

等离子体改性海绵铁活化过硫酸盐处理含酚废水

采用低温等离子体技术对海绵铁表面进行改性，并将其用于活化过硫酸盐（PS）处理含酚废水。通过氮气等温吸附（BET）、X射线衍射（XRD）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）等手段对改性前后的海绵铁进行表征分析。以苯酚为目标污染物，通过静态实验考察催化剂投加量、催化剂/PS摩尔比、pH和苯酚初始浓度对等离子体改性海绵铁活化PS处理含酚废水的影响。结果表明，改性后的海绵铁比表面积、孔容及孔径均有增大，活化PS能力显著提高；在最佳反应条件（等离子改性海绵铁的投加量为0.4g/L，催化剂/PS摩尔比为1∶15，溶液pH为2，苯酚的初始浓度为250mg/L）下，苯酚的去除率可达95%；反应过程符合二级反应动力学，主要是硫酸根自由基和羟基自由基起氧化作用。等离子体技术改性海绵铁活化过硫酸钠可有效去除水中苯酚，为实际含酚废水的处理提供一些思路。     

改型Wollaston棱镜干涉光谱仪的调制度研究

改型Wollaston棱镜(MWP)无需中继,可构建微型傅里叶变换光谱仪。回顾了MWP的基本原理,从调制度定义出发,计算得到准单色光源的复相干度,找到调制度的影响因素——扩展视场、剪切结构、焦面探测等。建立一般的干涉定域分析模型后,由像点逆光路追迹给出MWP的厚度计算公式,代入调制度约束参数得到不同参量的误差容限。通过FRED记录不同视场扩展情况的灰度与辐照度,结果显示,调制度为0.9时,视场与理论估算值1.24°基本相符;不同剪切量的灰度与辐照度变化特性表明,结构角会使定域垂直系统光轴的入射角发生变化,与晶轴倾角共同影响双折射率差;2.5和8μm像元探测采样表现出调制度差异,描述了定域深度或离焦的影响。以准单色光源、复相干度表示调制度,可将不同影响因素统一至约束参数中,相关变量误差容限可作为MWP-FTS的设计依据。     

天然橡胶期货市场回顾及后市展望

2019年天然橡胶期货市场起起落落,沪胶价格继续低位震荡。2020年天然橡胶供大于求的局面仍不会发生根本性改变,由极端天气引发的天然橡胶市场行情变动可能会减小,汽车行业可能会在政策支持下再次振兴,尤其重型卡车市场会成为亮点,轮胎企业继续寻求扩大出口。2020年上半年,天然橡胶期货市场可能还会受到2019年异常天气和病害等的余波作用,胶价会达到一个相对的高点,价格底部抬升,但很难出现持续性上涨的市场行情。2020年下半年,随着天然橡胶产量的季节性增长,胶价可能会再次回落。