Dense and core-rim structured B4C-TiB2 ceramics with Mo-Co-WC additive

B₄C-TiB₂ ceramics (TiB₂ ranging 5~70 vol%) with Mo-Co-WC as the sintering additive were prepared by spark plasma sintering. In comparison with B₄C-TiB₂ without additive, the enhanced densification was evident in the sintered specimen with Mo-Co-WC additive. Core-rim structured grain was observed around TiB₂ grains. The interface of the rim between TiB₂ and B₄C phases demonstrated different feature: the inner borderline of the rim exhibited a smooth feature, whereas a sharp curved grain boundary was observed between the rim and the B₄C grain. The formation mechanism is discussed: the epitaxial growth of (Ti,Mo,W)B₂ rim around the TiB₂ core may occur as a result of the solid solution and dissolution-precipitation between TiB₂ phase and the sintering additive. It was revealed that the fracture toughness increased as the content of TiB₂ content increased, alongside the decreased hardness. B₄C-30 vol% TiB₂ specimen demonstrated the optimal combination of mechanical properties, reaching Vickers hardness of 24.3 GPa and fracture toughness of 3.33 MPa·m^1/2.     

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives

The incursion of microbial growth on polymeric products can deteriorate their performance and lead to the development of undesirable staining and odors. A growing trend in the industry has aimed to reduce microbial populations on high-touch surfaces via the use of antimicrobials to protect material aesthetics and durability or to prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, a variety of plastic substrates (30 unique polymer compounds), including poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(etherimide), various thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), poly(carbonates), and poly(amides), were screened for susceptibility to microbial attack using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G21 (fungi susceptibility), Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z2801, and modified ASTM E1428-15a (bacterial susceptibility) test standards. TPEs were determined to be most susceptible to microbial attack under the appropriate environmental conditions. Subsequent studies assessed the use of an antimicrobial additive, zinc pyrithione (ZPT), for potential efficacy in a variety of TPE blends for diverse target market applications. ZPT proved to be very effective in protecting TPEs, reducing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli populations by 99.9% or more in JIS Z2801 testing and inhibiting fungal growth (rating = 0) according to the ASTM G21 standard.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of α/β-Si3N4 composite ceramics with novel ternary additives prepared via spark plasma sintering

In this study, α/β-Si₃N₄ composite ceramics with high hardness and toughness were fabricated by adopting two different novel ternary additives, ZrN–AlN–Al₂O₃/Y₂O₃, and spark plasma sintering at 1550 °C under 40 MPa. The phase composition, microstructure, grain distribution, crack propagation process and mechanical properties of sintered bulk were investigated. Results demonstrated that the sintered α/β-Si₃N₄ composite ceramics with ZrN–AlN–Al₂O₃ contained the most α phase, which resulted in a maximum Vickers hardness of 18.41 ± 0.31 GPa. In the α/β-Si₃N₄ composite ceramics with ZrN–AlN–Y₂O₃ additives, Zr₃AlN MAX-phase and ZrO phase were found and their formation mechanisms were explained. The fracture appearance presented coarser elongated β-Si₃N₄ grains and denser microstructure when 20 wt% TiC particles were mixed into Si₃N₄ matrix, meanwhile, exhibited maximum mean grain diameter of 0.98 ± 0.24 μm. As a result, the compact α/β-Si₃N₄ composite ceramics containing ZrN–AlN–Y₂O₃ additives and TiC particles displayed the optimal bending strength and fracture toughness of 822.63 ± 28.75 MPa and 8.53 ± 0.21 MPa?m^1/2, respectively. Moreover, the synergistic toughening of rod-like β-Si₃N₄ grains and TiC reinforced particles revealed the beneficial effect on the enhanced fracture toughness of Si₃N₄ ceramic matrix.     

蓝藻基生物降解共混膜的力学性能

以聚乙烯醇(PVA)和水华蓝藻为主要原料,通过溶液铺膜法制备了蓝藻/PVA共混膜,采用万能试验机,研究了不同助剂对蓝藻/PVA共混膜力学性能的影响。结果表明,蓝藻的添加显著降低了共混膜的力学性能。当添加比例为PVA的1/2时,膜的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率分别比无藻处理下降了65.89%和79.57%。甘油、尿素显著提升了蓝藻/PVA共混膜的断裂伸长率,当添加比例为蓝藻的1/2时,分别能使共混膜的断裂伸长率提高73.20倍和62.02倍。虽然柠檬酸、硅烷偶联剂能够提升蓝藻/PVA共混膜的拉伸强度,但只能在低剂量时促进断裂伸长率的小幅提高,当柠檬酸添加比例为蓝藻的1/40时,膜的断裂伸长率能提高4.41倍,而当硅烷偶联剂添加比例为蓝藻的1/20时,膜的断裂伸长率能提高1.49倍。尿素与甘油复合增塑,更有利于提升共混膜的断裂伸长率。硅烷偶联剂与甘油复合增塑,更有利于提升共混膜的拉伸强度。     

Comparison of xylo-oligosaccharides production by autohydrolysis of fibers separated from ground corn flour and DDGS

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are known to have beneficial health properties, and are considered to be functional food ingredients. The objective of this study is to compare corn fibers separated from ground corn flour and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for XOS yield and optimum autohydrolysis conditions. Based on the initial xylan content, the fiber separated from ground corn flour (FC) resulted in higher XOS yield (71.5%) than the fiber separated from DDGS (FD) (54.6%) at the maximum XOS production conditions. XOS produced were mainly xylobiose and xylotriose. Based on total initial material also, FC resulted in higher XOS yield (8.9%) than FD (8.0%), based on total original masses. Thus, fiber separated from ground corn flour would be a better feedstock for production of XOS than fiber separated from DDGS. The conditions for maximum XOS production from FD and FC were 180 °C with 20 min hold-time and 190 °C with 10 min hold-time, respectively.     

V2O5/RGO/Pt nanocomposite on oxytetracycline degradation and pharmaceutical effluent detoxification

The cover image is based on the Research Article V₂O₅/RGO/Pt nanocomposite on oxytetracycline degradation and pharmaceutical effluent detoxification by Mohan, H et al., DOI: 10.1002/jctb.6238 .

     

Low-temperature hot-press sintering of AlN ceramics with MgO–CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass additives for ceramic heater applications

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is used a ceramic heater material for the semiconductor industry. Because extremely high temperatures are required to achieve dense AlN components, sintering aids such as Y₂O₃ are typically added to reduce the sintering temperature and time. To further reduce the sintering temperature, in this study, a low-melting-temperature glass (MgO–CaO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂; MCAS) was used as a sintering additive for AlN. With MCAS addition, fully dense AlN was obtained by hot-press sintering at 1500 °C for 3 h at 30 MPa. The mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and volume resistance of the sintered AlN–MCAS sample were evaluated and compared with those of a reference sample (AlN prepared with 5 wt% Y2O3 sintering aid sintered at 1750 °C for 8 h at 10 MPa). The thermal conductivity of AlN prepared with 0.5 wt% MCAS was 91.2 W/m?K, which was 84.8 W/m?K lower than that of the reference sample at 25 °C; however, the difference in thermal conductivity between the samples was only 14.2 W/m?K at the ceramic-heater operating temperature of 500 °C. The flexural strength of AlN–MCAS was 550 MPa, which was higher than that of the reference sample (425 MPa); this was attributed to the smaller grain size achieved by low-temperature sintering. The volume resistance of AlN–MCAS was lower than that of the reference sample in the range of 200–400 °C. However, the resistivity of the proposed AlN–MCAS sample was higher than that of the reference sample (500 °C) owing to grain-boundary scattering of phonons. In summary, the proposed sintering strategy produces AlN materials for heater applications with low production cost, while achieving the properties required by the semiconductor industry.     

Synthesis of Cellulose-Based Macromolecular Coupling Agent and its Utilization in Poly (butylene succinate)/Wood Flour Composites

A long fatty side chain was introduced into the macromolecule of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) via esterification reaction. The hydrophobicity of hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester (HECLAE) was enhanced in comparison with HEC. The obtained HECLAE was used as macromolecular coupling agent in poly (butylene succinate)/wood flour composites and exhibited a positive influence on improving the mechanical performance of composites. Besides, HECLAE plays a role as a hydrophobic agent in composites. A significant increase in storage modulus (E’) was observed upon the incorporation of treated wood flour. SEM images showed that the dispersion of treated wood flour in PBS matrix was improved.     

一种可替代漂珠的低密度材料

漂珠低密度水泥浆由于密度低、强度高、体系稳定而在油田低压易漏层及低压油气层长封固段固井作业中获得了广泛的应用。但近年来,由于漂珠的产量越来越少,油田低成本要求急需开发代替漂珠的新型减轻材料,以满足配制低密度水泥浆的需求。开发了BCL-10S低密度混合减轻材料,其物化性能与漂珠相当,用它作减轻剂配制的低密度水泥浆性能与用漂珠作减轻剂配制的低密度水泥浆性能相媲美,并已经在长庆油田获得了应用。     

非渗透抗压钻井液处理剂KSY的研究与应用

非渗透抗压钻井液技术是解决钻进压力衰竭地层、裂缝发育地层、破碎或弱胶结性地层、低渗储层及深井长裸眼大段复杂泥页岩和多套压力层系等地层的压差卡钻、钻井液漏失和井壁垮塌等复杂问题以及油气层损害问题的关键技术，其核心是非渗透抗压处理剂。研制开发了非渗透抗压处理剂KSY，并进行了钻井液性能评价和泥饼结构分析，结果表明，KSY加入钻井液后，对钻井液流变性影响小，滤失量明显降低，形成的封堵膜薄，易于返排，封堵强度高，能够有效提高地层的承压能力和破裂压力，保护油气层效果好。现场应用表明，KSY能够显著提高地层承压能力，防止井壁坍塌，保持井径规则，有利于固井和完井作业。