Ultra-Stretchable Monofilament Flexible Sensor with Low Hysteresis and Linearity based on MWCNTs/Ecoflex Composite Materials

Wearable human–computer interaction equipment is a common technology, which can improve the comfort, convenience, and safety of the human body, and also can monitor human health. The flexible and wearable tensile sensor can be conveniently installed on clothes or directly connected to the body. This provides a convenient, timely, and portable solution for the detection of human motion. Therefore, wearable electronic equipment is gaining more attention. In this paper, a highly stretchable, flexible, and sensitive strain sensor which is based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Ecoflex nanocomposites is reported. A monofilament tensile sensor obtains good linearity (10.77%), low hysteresis (1.63%), good stability (6000 cycles under 100% strain), and ultra-high strain range (ε = 1300%). This ultra-stretchable sensor has potential applications in human motion monitoring, medical rehabilitation, health monitoring, human–computer interaction, and soft robots.     

Zirconium-Embedded Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Containing Phosphaphenanthrene-Substituent Group Used as Flame Retardants for Epoxy Resin Composites

A zirconium hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane derivative (Zr–POSS–bisDOPO) is synthesized by the corner-capping and Kabachnik–Fields reactions. It is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and then used as a flame retardant in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) to endow epoxy resin (EP) with flame retardancy. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the cured EP/Zr–POSS–bisDOPO composites are investigated. The results show that when Zr–POSS–bisDOPO is added by 5–7 wt%, the EP/Zr–POSS–bisDOPO composites pass the UL-94 V-0 rating test. In addition, they have a better flame-retardant effect than pure EP. The combination of Zr atom embedded in the Si O cubic cage and the two phosphaphenanthrene substituent groups in one corner of cubic cage is expected to realize the Zr/Si/P ternary intramolecular hybrid synergistic effect and achieve the possibility of dispersing metal–POSS cages at a sub-micrometer-scale level into polymer matrix. It also proves that Zr–POSS–bisDOPO produces phosphorus-containing free radicals and terminates the chain reactions in gas phase. Meanwhile the Si O Si and Zr O units are retained in the solid phase, which promote the char formation and enhance the flame retardancy. This kind of Zr-doped POSS will be helpful for developing the new metal–POSS hybrid flame-retardant and polymer composites.     

Preparation of Iron Filler-Based Photocomposites and Application in 3D Printing

The introduction of metallic fillers to polymers via the photopolymerization approach can endow the composite materials with some unique properties, but the relevant research is still scarce due to the issue of light penetration and inner filter effect. Herein, for the first time the fabrication of photocomposites based on fine iron powder (i.e., a typical kind of metallic filler) is reported in this work. The free radical polymerization of two different acrylate monomers, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate, is performed in the presence of iron filler under mild conditions (i.e., light emitting diode (LED)@405 nm irradiation at room temperature under air). And the real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals remarkable photopolymerization kinetics of acrylates with high final conversions and fast polymerization rates despite the increasing contents of iron filler in the composites. Interestingly, the 3D printing technique is applied to the iron filler-based composites to produce tridimensional patterns with excellent spatial resolution. This work not only paves the way for the investigation of photocomposites based on metallic fillers through photochemical methods, but also broadens the potential application prospects.     

Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation: A Review on Investigating Mesoscale Properties of Polymer Systems

Polymer systems have typical multiscale characteristics, both in space and time. The mesoscopic properties of polymers are difficult to describe through traditional experimental approaches. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a simulation method used for solving mesoscale problems of complex fluids and soft matter. The mesoscopic properties of polymer systems, such as conformation, dynamics, and transport properties, have been studied extensively using DPD. This paper briefly summarizes the application of DPD to research involving microchannel flow, electrospinning, free-radical polymerization, polymer self-assembly processes, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and biomedical materials. The main features and possible development avenues of DPD are described as well.     

Supplementation with Docosahexaenoic Acid and Vitamin E Improves Hepatic Triglyceride Accumulation Induced by High-Fat Diet in Mice

The study aims to investigate the effect of combined supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3, DHA) and vitamin E (VE) on the oxidative stress and liver triglycerides (TG) accumulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. C57BL/6J mice are fed either a control diet or an HFD for 8 weeks. Animals are supplemented with DHA, VE, or DHA + VE, respectively. Supplementation with DHA alone shows significant improvement in oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis in mice. Supplementation with DHA significantly reduces the liver TG and total cholesterol contents, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, compared with the HFD. Supplementation with DHA also significantly decreases the mRNA expression level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1C. However, supplementation with VE alone does not show improvement in oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis. DHA + VE supply obtains a superior effect in alleviation of hepatic steatosis than DHA supplementation alone in mice fed by HFD. The efficacy of DHA potentiated by VE can be due to that VE enhances the effect of DHA in decrease of ALT and AST levels and increase of antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione level in mice fed by HFD. Practical Applications: Supplementation with DHA significantly improves the oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis induced by HFD in mice. The efficacy of DHA in the alleviation of hepatic steatosis induced by HFD is potentiated by VE. These findings may provide a rational basis for the use of DHA and VE co-supplementation in patients with liver steatosis.     

Effect of Bio-Based Cobalt Alginate on the Fire Safety and Mechanical Properties for Epoxy Resin

There is a growing demand to develop epoxy resins (EP) with smoke suppression as well as satisfactory flame retardancy. Herein, bio-based cobalt alginate is successfully fabricated and incorporated into EP to prepare EP/Cobalt Alginate composites with better fire safety performance. The addition of cobalt alginate reduces the thermal-decomposition rate, temperature at maximum weight-loss rate of EP, whereas obviously improves the thermal stabilities at a higher temperature range. Furthermore, the addition of cobalt alginate substantially reduces the fire hazard of EP, resulting in 56.2% reduction in peak heat release rate, as well as 17.8% and 56.3% reduction in total smoke production and peak smoke production rate, respectively, compared with EP matrix. Moreover, the presence of cobalt alginate increases smoke-suppressant properties, according to the smoke density test. Additionally, the incorporation of cobalt alginate has no obviously destructive effect on the mechanical properties of EP, while EP/Cobalt Alginate-3 exhibits a 27.0% improvement in impact strength. In prospective, this study may provide a significant method for producing eco-friendly flame retardant EP.     

Effect of SiC nanowhisker addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of regenerated cemented carbides by low-pressure sintering

The hardness and toughness of regenerated cemented carbides, in general, are contradictory. Therefore, it is critical to explore regenerated cemented carbides with both high hardness and high toughness. In this study, regenerated WC-8-wt% Co cemented carbide with SiC nanowhisker were prepared by low-pressure sintering. The influence of SiCw contents on the microstructure and mechanical properties of regenerated WC-8-wt% Co cemented carbide was investigated. The results indicated that the hardness, density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of regenerated cemented carbide first increased and then decreased with the addition of SiCw. The Vickers hardness, density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness could reach 1575 HV, 14.6 g/cm³, 2204 MPa, 16.85 MPa·m^1/2, respectively, with SiCw content 0.5 wt%, which were increased by 14.4%, 0.7%, 12.2%, and 17.3%, respectively, when compared with the regenerated cemented carbide without SiCw. The lowest friction coefficient and the best wear resistance could be also reached when 0.5-wt% SiCw was added. The fracture mechanism of the regenerated cemented carbide contained both transgranular and intergranular fracture through the microscopic observation of fracture surface via scanning electron microscope.     

Adsorption Mechanism and Electrochemical Properties of Methyl Blue onto Magnetic CoxCu(1–x)Fe2O4 Nanoparticles Prepared via an Alcohol Solution of Nitrate Combustion and Calcination Process

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Magnetic CoxCu(1–x)Fe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared via an alcohol solution of nitrate combustion and calcination process....     

喷气燃料微生物ATP荧光检测酶反应体系研究

荧光素酶反应体系是利用ATP生物荧光法检测喷气燃料微生物污染的关键.为了获得最佳的酶反应体系,本研究以ATP标准物质为研究对象,考察了荧光素酶、荧光素和Mg2+的最佳使用量.结果表明:荧光素酶、荧光素和Mg2+的最佳使用量依次为0.05 mg·mL-1、0.08 mg·mL-1和5 mmol·L-1.通过考察Mg2+与ATP相互作用对荧光反应的影响发现,ATP在与荧光素酶之前预先与Mg2+结合,可以提高荧光反应的效率,使相对发光强度有所增加.相比于传统的培养法和HY-LITE JET A1燃料试验,优化的荧光素酶-荧光素反应体系提高了检测效率、大幅度降低了检测成本.     

不同晶型纳米二氧化锰制备及对亚甲基蓝吸附性能

以高锰酸钾（KMnO₄）为氧化剂、硫酸亚铁铵[（NH₄）₂Fe（SO₄）₂]为还原剂,用水热氧化还原反应制备了层状δ-二氧化锰和隧道型α-二氧化锰纳米材料。用X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）和氮气吸-脱附技术对产物的晶型、形貌及孔结构进行了表征。实验结果表明,δ-二氧化锰呈花状微球形貌,具有介孔结构（平均孔径为3.4 nm）,BET比表面积为219 m²/g;α-二氧化锰呈纳米线束形貌,具有部分介孔结构（平均孔径为35.7 nm和154.6 nm）,BET比表面积为26 m²/g。研究了不同晶型纳米二氧化锰对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能。实验结果表明,在相同条件下α-二氧化锰的吸附性能优于δ-二氧化锰,且在碱性环境下吸附效果较好。当反应时间达到120 min时,α-二氧化锰和δ-二氧化锰对亚甲基蓝的去除率分别为84.4%和82.9%。