Reduced‐scale test to assess the effect of fire barriers on the flaming combustion of cored composites: An upholstery‐material case study

Herein, we describe a reduced‐scale test (“Cube” test), measuring the fire performance of specimens including a fire barrier (FB) and a flammable core material, which acts as the main fuel load. The specimen is intended to reproduce a cross‐section of a composite product where heat/mass transfer occurs primarily in a direction perpendicular to the FB. The Cube test procedure and benefits are discussed in this work by adopting residential upholstery furniture as an exemplary study. One flexible polyurethane foam, one polypropylene cover fabric, and 10 commercially available FBs were selected. They were used to compare the fire performance of FBs, measured in terms of peak of heat release rate, in the ASTM E1474‐14 standard test and the newly developed Cube test. Edge effects severely affected the performance of FBs in the ASTM E1474‐14 standard test but not in the Cube test. Furthermore, appropriate test conditions were determined in the Cube test to measure the so‐called “wetting point,” that is, the time and value of heat release rate measured when flammable liquid products were first observed on the bottom of the specimen. The relevance of the “wetting point” in terms of full‐scale fire performance and failure mechanism of FBs is discussed.     

三维石墨烯-碳纳米管/水泥净浆的压敏性能

为了探索三维石墨烯-碳纳米管(G-CNTs)/水泥净浆的压敏性能,采用四电极法研究了荷载作用下GCNTs/水泥净浆的电阻率变化,并分析不同G-CNTs掺量、加载幅度、加载速度以及恒定荷载对电阻率变化的影响。研究表明:随着G-CNTs掺量的增加,电阻率呈先减小后稳定的变化趋势,在G-CNTs掺量由0.2wt%增加至1.6wt%时,电阻率下降51.8%;电阻率与温度呈负相关;G-CNTs掺量高于0.8wt%时可以显著提高水泥净浆的压敏性能,且电阻率变化率与应力应变有明显的对应关系,1.2wt%G-CNTs掺量下试件的应力灵敏系数和应变灵敏系数分别为2.3%/MPa和291;G-CNTs/水泥净浆电阻率变化率幅值随着加载幅度增大而相应增加,其电阻率变化率曲线在不同加载速度以及恒定荷载作用下均与应力-应变曲线一一对应,具有良好的压敏特性。     

Weighted regularized extreme learning machine to model the discharge coefficient of side slots

In the current research, a modern learning machine algorithm named “Weighted Regularized Extreme Learning Machine (WRELM)" is implemented for the first time for the simulation of the coefficient of discharge of side slots. For this purpose, an effective variable on the coefficient of discharge of side slots is firstly introduced, then five distinctive WRELM models are produced by it for the estimation of the coefficient. In the next stage, a database is created for verification of WRELM results. it should be mentioned that 70% of the data are utilized for training the WRELM models, while the rest (i.e. 30%) for testing them. After that, the optimal number of hidden layer neurons as well as the best activation function of the WRELM algorithm are chosen. In addition, the best regularization parameter and also the weight function of the WRELM are achieved. By conducting a sensitivity analysis, the most effective variable for the simulation of the coefficient of discharge along with the WRELM superior model is introduced. The WRELM superior model estimates values of the coefficient of discharge with the maximum exactness and the highest correlation. For instance, the estimations of the correlation coefficient and scatter index for this model are computed to be 0.930 and 0.051, respectively. The sensitivity analysis shows that the ratio of the side slot crest height to its length and the Froude number should be considered as the most important input variables. A comparison between the WRELM with the ELM displays that the former works much better. Furthermore, an uncertainty analysis is executed for both models. Eventually, an equation is suggested for the estimation of the coefficient of discharge and a partial derivative sensitivity analysis is performed on it.     

无黏土相盐水储层钻开液体系构建及其抗污染性能评价

采用NaCl/KCl/HCOONa复配欠饱和盐水作为钻开液的基础液相,自研的聚合物VIS-B作为流型调节剂,可酸溶的改性淀粉STA作为体系的降失水剂,Dua及Jqw作为暂堵材料,构建了一套无黏土相钻开液体系。该体系在密度1.10~1.28 g/cm^3间稳定可调,抗温可达130℃,具有较高的低剪切速率黏度和较好的润滑性能,且能有效抵抗各类储层污染物的污染,满足了Missan油田不同储层段的作业需求。     

Y4.67Si3O13-based phosphors: Structure,morphology and upconversion luminescence for optical thermometry

How to improve the sensitivity of the temperature-sensing luminescent materials is one of the most important objects currently. In this work, to obtain high sensitivity and learn the corresponding mechanism, the rare earth (RE) ions doped Y_4.67Si₃O₁₃ (YS) phosphors were developed by solid-state reaction. The phase purity, structure, morphology and luminescence characteristics were evaluated by XRD, TEM, emission spectra, etc. The change of the optical bandgaps between the host and RE-doped phosphors was found, agreeing with the calculation results based on density-functional theory. The temperature-dependence of the upconversion (UC) luminescence revealed that a linear relationship exists between the fluorescence intensity ratio of Ho³⁺ and temperature. The theoretical resolution was evaluated. High absolute (0.083 K⁻¹) and relative (3.53% K⁻¹ at 293 K) sensitivities have been gained in the YS:1%Ho³⁺, 10%Yb³⁺. The effect of the Yb³⁺ doping concentration and pump power on the sensitivities was discussed. The pump-power–dependence of the UC luminescence indicated the main mechanism for high sensitivities in the YS:1%Ho³⁺, 10%Yb³⁺. Moreover, the decay-lifetime based temperature sensing was also evaluated. The above results imply that the present phosphors could be promising candidates for temperature sensors, and the proposed strategies are instructive in exploring other new temperature sensing luminescent materials.     

High strain rate compressive response of the Cf/SiC composite

Carbon fiber reinforced ceramic owns the properties of lightweight, high fracture toughness, excellent shock resistance, and thus overcomes ceramic's brittleness. The researches on the advanced structure of astronautics, marine have exclusively evaluated the quasi-static mechanical response of carbon fiber reinforced ceramics, while few investigations are available in the open literature regarding elastodynamics. This paper reports the dynamic compressive responses of a carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C_f/SiC) composite (CFCMC) tested by the material test system 801 machine (MTS) and the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). These tests were to determine the rate dependent compression response and high strain rate failure mechanism of the C_f/SiC composite in in-plane and out-plane directions. The in-plane compressive strain rates are from 0.001 to 2200?s^?1, and that of the out-plane direction are from 0.001 to 2400?s^?1. The compressive stress-strain curves show the C_f/SiC composite has a property of strain rate sensitivity in both directions while under high strain rate loadings. Its compressive stiffness, compressive stress, and corresponding strain are also strain rate sensitive. The compressive damage morphologies after high strain rate impacting show different failure modes for each loading direction. This study provides knowledge about elastodynamics of fiber-reinforced ceramics and extends their design criterion with a reliable evaluation while applying in the scenario of loading high strain rate.     

Reduced‐order method for mathematical modeling of multiphase dc‐dc converter

A multiphase dc‐dc converter is effective for miniaturization and achieving high‐power density in a switching power supply. However, its mathematical modeling becomes complex as the phase number of the circuit increases. This study proposes a new modeling method to derive a reduced‐order method in a simple manner. The frequency characteristics of the reduced‐order model are fit to those of the original mathematical model of the multiphase dc‐dc converter. Therefore, the efficacy of the proposed method is validated.     

Inulin-based emulsion-filled gel as a fat replacer in prebiotic- and PUFA-enriched dry fermented sausages

In order to produce fermented sausages with prebiotic fibre and improved fatty acid composition, 16% of pork back fat was replaced with inulin gelled suspension (I) and inulin linseed oil gelled emulsion (IO). Physico-chemical analysis, fatty acid profiles, lipid oxidation, microbiological, textural, colour and sensory analysis were carried out. The fat content was lower in I (31.38%) and IO (35.36%) modified sausages compared to control (44.37%) (P < 0.05). IO sausages had lower SFA and MUFA and higher PUFA content with an improved n-6/n-3 ratio (2.23) (P < 0.05) and α-linolenic acid increment (5.74 g per 100 g). Reformulation led to decrease in springiness, chewiness and hardness and increase in adhesiveness of the sausages. Modified sausages had lower L* and higher a* values, while b* values of I sausages did not differ compared to control sausages. Modified sausages were acceptable regarding all sensory attributes. Lipid oxidation parameters showed higher susceptibility to oxidation and lipolysis in IO sausages.     

Pure and complex nanostructures using poly[bis(triiso‐propylsilylethynyl) benzodithiophene‐bis(decyltetradecyl‐thien) naphthobisthiadiazole], carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide for high‐performance polymer solar cells

Crystallization of poly[bis(triiso‐propylsilylethynyl) benzodithiophene‐bis(decyltetradecyl‐thien) naphthobisthiadiazole] (PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT) was investigated in supramolecules based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and their grafted derivatives. The principal peaks of PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT crystals were in the range 3.50°–3.75°. By grafting the surface of the carbonic materials, the assembling of polymer chains decreased because of hindrance of poly(3‐dodecylthiophene) (PDDT) grafts against π‐stacking. The diameters of CNT/polymer and CNT‐g‐PDDT/polymer supramolecules were 160 and 100 nm. The rGO/polymer supramolecules had the highest melting point (T_m = 282 °C) and fusion enthalpy (ΔH_m = 25.98 J g^?1), reflecting the largest crystallites and the most ordered constituents. Nano‐hybrids based on grafted rGO (276 °C and 28.26 J g^?1), CNT (275 °C and 27.32 J g^?1) and grafted CNT (268 °C and 22.17 J g^?1) were also analyzed. T_m and ΔH_m values were significantly less in corresponding melt‐grown systems. The nanostructures were incorporated in active layers of PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT:phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) solar cells to improve the photovoltaic features. The best results were detected for PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT:PC₇₁BM:rGO/polymer systems having J_sc = 13.11 mA cm^?2, fill factor 60% and V_oc = 0.71 V with an efficacy of 5.58%. On grafting the rGO and CNT, efficiency reductions were 12.01% (5.58%–4.91%) and 9.34% (4.07%–3.69%), respectively. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Remarkable Antibacterial Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide Functionalized by Copper Ions

Despite long-term efforts for exploring antibacterial agents or drugs, potentiating antibacterial activity and meanwhile minimizing toxicity to the environment remains a challenge. Here, it is experimentally shown that the functionality of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through copper ions displays selective antibacterial activity that is significantly stronger than that of rGO itself and no toxicity to mammalian cells. Remarkably, this antibacterial activity is two-orders-of-magnitude greater than the activity of its surrounding copper ions. It is demonstrated that rGO is functionalized through the cation–π interaction to massively adsorb copper ions to form a rGO–copper composite and result in an extremely low concentration level of surrounding copper ions (less than ≈0.5 µm ). These copper ions on rGO are positively charged and strongly interact with negatively charged bacterial cells to selectively achieve antibacterial activity, while rGO exhibits the functionality to not only actuate rapid delivery of copper ions and massive assembly onto bacterial cells but also result in the valence shift in the copper ions from Cu²⁺ into Cu⁺, which greatly enhances the antibacterial activity. Notably, this rGO functionality through cation–π interaction with copper ions can similarly achieve algaecidal activity but does not exert cytotoxicity against neutrally charged mammalian cells.