One-step fabrication superhydrophobic sand filter for capillary-driven separation of water-in-oil emulsions

The efficient separation of water-in-oil emulsion is of significance in environment and energy filed, and it has become a world-wide challenge. Herein, we have presented a one-step, facile and low-cost approach to prepare superhydrophobic sands for efficient separation of water-in-oil emulsion. The as-prepared sand layers possessed a water contact angle higher than 151°, demonstrating their superior superhydrophobic property. Besides, the as-prepared sand layers could separate water-in-emulsions with separation efficiency up to 99.7%, which is superior to both traditional and superwettable filtration membranes. The effect of thickness of sand layer on separation performance was also investigated. The results showed that the filtration flux decreased with the increased of filtration thickness while the separation efficiency increased. The as-prepared sand layer proposed by this study is a processing candidate for separating water-in-oil emulsion in practical industry. Additionally,the as-prepared superhydrophobic sand fabrication method also provides an alternative for desert water storage.     

In-depth investigation on the factors affecting the performance of high oil-absorption resin by response surface method

A series of high oil-absorption resins with low cross-linking degree were synthesized by suspension polymerization using stearyl methacrylate(SMA), 2-Ethylhexyl methacrylate(EHMA), and styrene(St) as monomers.Response surface methodology(RSM) with central composite design(CCD) was also applied to determine the optimal parameters that are mainly known to affect their synthesis. Thus, the effects of the monomer mass ratio(EHMA:SMA), the rigid monomer(St) dosage, the porous agent(acetone) dosage, and their pairwise interaction on the resin's oil-absorption capacity were analyzed, highlighting PSES-R_2 as the resin with the optimum performance. The pure oil-absorption rates of PSES-R2 for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene were 11.19 g·g~(-1),16.25 g·g~(-1), and 14.84 g·g~(-1), respectively, while the oil removal rates from oily wastewater were 98.82%,65.11%, and 99.63%, respectively.     

Formation of Proto-Kranz in C3 Rice Induced by Spike-Stalk Injection Method

Introduction of C4 photosynthetic traits into C3 crops is an important strategy for improving photosynthetic capacity and productivity. Here, we report the research results of a variant line of sorghum–rice (SR) plant with big panicle and high spikelet density by introducing sorghum genome DNA into rice by spike-stalk injection. The whole-genome resequencing showed that a few sorghum genes could be integrated into the rice genome. Gene expression was confirmed for two C4 photosynthetic enzymes containing pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Exogenous sorghum DNA integration induced a series of key traits associated with the C4 pathway called “proto-Kranz” anatomy, including leaf thickness, bundle sheath number and size, and chloroplast size in bundle sheath cells. Significantly, transgenic plants exhibited enhanced photosynthetic capacity resulting from both photosynthetic CO₂-concentrating effect and improved energy balance, which led to an increase in carbohydrate levels and productivity. Furthermore, such rice plant exhibited delayed leaf senescence. In summary, this study provides a proof for the feasibility of inducing the transition from C3 leaf anatomy to proto-Kranz by spike-stalk injection to achieve efficient photosynthesis and increase productivity.     

Toward Largely Enhanced Toughness and Balanced Strength in PA1012/EPDM Blends via Synergistic Effect of Sacrificial Bonds and Network Structure

Here, zinc-neutralized ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) ionomers with different neutralization levels are prepared through melt blending, and are then incorporated with polyamide 1012 (PA1012) to fabricate PA1012/EPDM ionomer blends. Interestingly, complex crosslinking networks are formed in the blends due to the construction of sacrificial bonds (Zn²⁺-carboxyl, Zn²⁺-amide). The as-formed network structure and sacrificial bond endow the PA/EPDM blends with largely enhanced toughness (16 times higher than that of neat PA), as well as balanced strength and stiffness. Meanwhile, the rheological behaviors of PA1012/EPDM ionomer blends indicate their relative low melting viscosity, which can avoid the processing shortcomings of plastics toughened with rubber. Moreover, PA1012/EPDM ionomer blends show obvious gelation behavior, and a maximum notched Izod impact strength exhibited at the gel point, in which unique double network structure can be observed obviously, indicating that there is a corresponding correlation between the rheological and mechanical parameters. Furthermore, the supper-toughening mechanism of PA1012/EPDM ionomer blends at gel point is explored, which origins from the large deformation and cavitation of rubber particles and the destruction of special double network morphologies. This study provides a novel and effective strategy to fabricate PA materials with outstanding toughness and excellent strength simultaneously.     

3D Printing Conductive Composites with Poly(ionic liquid) as a Noncovalent Intermedia to Fabricate Carbon Circuits

In this study, a kind of imidazole type poly(ionic liquid) ([PEP-MIM]Cl) is synthesized, which can disperse carbon effectively. [PEP-MIM]Cl is used as an intermediate to coat carbon on the poly(acrylic acid)(PAA-co-MBA) via ion exchange to obtain conductive polymer composite (CPC). A series of characterizations are performed. Experiments show that carbon can be coated on the PAA-co-MBA uniformly, and compared with using carbon as filler, this method requires less carbon to achieve good conductive performance. The carbon layer on the polymer's surface is enriched via the swelling-shrinking properties of PAA-co-MBA according to the SEM images. Furthermore, in combination with 3D printing technology, PAA-co-MBA can be designed into different shapes to achieve various functions such as pressure-sensing element. Finally, a new type of CPC named carbon clad polymeric laminate (CCPL) is prepared by using the carbon coating method and 3D printing technology. It has the potential to replace copper clad laminate (CCL) and printed circuit board (PCB), to a certain extent. This technology expands the preparation method and application of the CPC such as flexible and wearable conductive fabrics.     

岩溶区石灰石矿山溶洞探测分析

江西南城南方水泥有限公司蒋源矿区矿山开采过程中发现了溶洞,并利用空洞仪（一种物探设备）对溶洞探测并采集数据以及使用RTK对溶洞分布情况进行坐标数据采集。经过对空洞仪成像分析,结合现场采集的数据制作出溶洞空间分布图,精确掌握溶洞发育的规模、空间状态,对制定岩溶发育区域矿山开采、爆破施工方案、应急预案,以及确保施工安全起到了非常重要的作用。     

Effects of Ultrasonic Vibration on Material Flow and Thermal Cycles in Friction Stir Welding of Dissimilar Al/Mg Alloys

Comparative experiments are performed in friction stir welding (FSW) of dissimilar Al/Mg alloys with and without assistance of ultrasonic vibration. Metallographic characterization of the welds at transverse cross sections reveals that ultrasonic vibration induces differences in plastic material flow in two conditions. In FSW, the plastic material in the peripheral area of shoulder-affected zone (SAZ) tends to flow downward because of the weakening of the driving force of the shoulder, and a plastic material insulation layer is formed at the SAZ edge. When ultrasonic vibration is exerted, the stirred zone is divided into the inner and outer shear layers, the downward material flow trend of the inner shear layer disappears and tends to flow upward, and the onion-ring structure caused by the swirl motion is avoided in the pin-affected zone. By improving the flow behavior of plastic materials in the stirred zone, ultrasonic vibration reduces the heat generation, accelerates the heat dissipation in nugget zone and changes the thermal cycles, thus inhibiting the formation of intermetallic compound layers.

     

SBTV铁电材料的制备和微观组织结构

采用固相反应法合成了SrBi2Ta2O9(简称SBT)和V掺杂SrBi2Ta2O9(简称SBTV)陶瓷,通过TG-DTA、XRD、SEM、TEM等技术手段研究了材料的烧结工艺、相组成和微观组织结构.研究表明V2O5是一种很好的助烧剂,掺杂后材料的烧结温度可降低200℃烧结后纯SBT均为单一的钙钛矿相SBT;掺杂后2种成型工艺所制备的SBTV除了生成少量Bi4(V2O11)外,仍主要由钙钛矿相组成;同时所有的材料都发生了一定程度的择优取向.掺杂后材料的晶粒形态发生变化棒状转化为片状.同时V掺杂后引起了晶格畸变,产生应变,SBTV材料在透射中观察到具有α-边界特征的90°畴.     

Effect of temperature on anodic behavior of 13Cr martensitic steel in CO2 environment

The corrosion behavior of 13Cr martensitic stainless steel in a CO₂ environment in a stimulated oilfield was studied with potentiodynamic polarization and the impedance spectra technique. The results showed that the microstructure of the surface scale clearly changed with temperature. This decreased the sensitivity of pitting corrosion and increased the tendency toward general (or uniform) corrosion. The capacitance, the charge transfer resistance, and the polarization resistance of the corrosion product scale decrease with increasing temperature from 90 to 120 °C, and thus the corrosion is a thermal activation controlled process. Charge transfer through the scale is difficult and the corrosion is controlled by a diffusion process at a temperature of 150 °C. Resistance charge transfer through the corrosion product layer is higher than that in the passive film.     

Relating the molecular structure and crystallization behavior of polypropylene

The crystallization behavior of two polypropylene (PP) resins as used for biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and general injection mold applications, respectively, has been intensively investigated and compared by means of polarized light optical micrography (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It is found that both molecular weight distribution and isotacticity of polypropylene strongly affect its crystallization characteristics, e.g., the number of crystal nuclei at the initial stage, crystallization dynamics, the morphology, size and perfection of crystals in the final product, and so on. The results indicate an appropriate molecular structure is vital in producing high‐quality BOPP film. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1749–1754, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.