Study of thermodegradation and thermostabilization of poly(lactide acid) using subsequent extrusion cycles

The thermomechanical degradation and thermostabilization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) have been studied using subsequent extrusion cycles under different temperature profiles. Primary and secondary antioxidants were used to avoid degradation process during extrusion. Melt flow index (MFI), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were used to evaluate the degradation and stabilization of PLA. The MFI and SEC analysis show that the main thermodegradation mechanism of PLA is governed by scission reactions. FTIR analysis confirmed the SEC results and showed that the synergetic effect between primary and secondary antioxidant is a suitable way to thermostabilize the PLA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40023.     

New Antibacterial Composites: Waterborne Polyurethane/Gold Nanocomposites Synthesized Via Self-Emulsifying Method

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have a good reputation in antibacterial property, but bad in stability. In order to get the materials which have the continuous antibacterial performance, we firstly try composites which combine waterborne polyurethane (WPU) with Au NPs. The WPU was previously synthesized by the method of self-emulsifying polymerization. Au NPs were added to the emulsion comprising the WPU previously synthesized to yield the composite WPU/Au NPs. On one hand, the obtained composites were characterized by UV–Vis, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to demonstrate the formation of the WPU/Au NPs hybrids and improvement in stability of Au NPs. The results indicate that the size level of the Au NPs which exist in composite present nanometer and spherical structure; the existence of the WPU in composite has certain stabilizing effect to the Au NPs, it also has improved the dispersion. On the other hand, bacteriostatic test has been taken on the composite by using Escherichia coli (E) and Staphylococcus aureus (S), we come a conclusion that WPU/Au NPs composites can be used as antibacterial material.     

Advanced Monte Carlo simulations of the adsorption of chiral alcohols in a homochiral metal‐organic framework

Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations with configurational biasing were used to study the enantioselective adsorption of four alkanols in a homochiral metal‐organic framework, known as hybrid organic‐inorganic zeolite analogue HOIZA‐1. Conventional GCMC simulations are not able to converge satisfactorily for this system due to the tight fit of the chiral alcohols in the narrow pores. However, parallel tempering and parallel mole‐fraction GCMC simulations overcome this problem. The simulations show that the enantioselective adsorption of the different (R,S)‐alkanols is due to the specific geometry of the chiral molecules relative to the pore size and shape. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2324–2334, 2014     

Effects of the electrolyte content on the electrical permittivity,thermal stability,and optical dispersion of poly(vinyl alcohol)–cesium copper oxide–lithium perchlorate nanocomposite solid‐polymer electrolytes

Solid‐polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in the form of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) doped with various amounts (5, 10, and 15 wt %) of lithium perchlorate trihydrate (LiClO₄·3H₂O) and 2 wt % cesium copper oxide (Cs₂CuO₂) nanoparticles were fabricated by a solvent intercalation method. The obtained nanocomposites were evaluated for their chemical structure and microstructural and morphological behaviors via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy methods, respectively. The obtained dielectric behaviors, alternating‐current conductivity, dielectric modulus, and dielectric relaxation of the SPEs depended on the volume fraction of the electrolyte. Linear behavior of the current–voltage characteristics for all of the SPE films was observed with a slight deviation at a higher voltage. The thermal behaviors of the PVA–Cs₂CuO₂–LiClO₄ films were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The refractive index, band‐gap energy, and optical dispersion were examined with UV–visible spectroscopy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45852.     

Two-step pulsed electric current sintering of transparent Al2O3 ceramics

Abstract

Fully densified Al₂O₃ ceramics with fine grain size were obtained by pulsed electric current sintering through a two-step heating profile (referred to as TS-PECS). Highly transparent Al₂O₃ polycrystals with fine grain size (400 nm) were successfully fabricated by the TS-PECS process, namely, sintering at 1000°C for 1 h and followed at 1200°C for 20 min under uniaxial pressure of 100 MPa. Effects of the first step temperature and heating rate were discussed for bulk density, grain size and transparency. The temperature in the first step strongly affects densification and grain growth of Al₂O₃. On the other hand, heating rate, even of 100 K min^?1, in TS-PECS does not give significant influences on densification and grain growth of Al₂O₃. Inline transmittance at 640 nm in wavelength normalised to 1 mm in thickness is increased by decreasing heating rate even in TS-PECS.     

Hydroxyapatite reinforced with Ti–Fe particle: correlation between composition,microstructure and mechanical properties

Abstract

Composites of hydroxyapatite (HA) with 5 wt-% Ti–Fe reinforcing particles were pressureless sintered in vacuum at a temperature range between 950 and 1100°C. It was found that although the decomposition of HA and interaction between HA and Ti occurred, the desirable Ti phase still remained in the composites sintered at all temperatures. The outer Ti shell thickness of the distinctive core–shell Ti–Fe particles was observed to become larger as the sintering temperature increased. It was also found that minor pores appearing near the interface were beneficial to obtain appropriate interfacial bonding between HA matrix and Ti–Fe particles. The composite sintered at 1050°C exhibited superior flexural strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue resistance owing to the remained Ti phase and dense microstructure as well as good interfacial bonding.     

Cathodic disbonding of a thick polyurethane coating from steel in sodium chloride solution

The cathodic disbonding of a thick, pigmented polyurethane coating from steel in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was studied by using an electrochemical AC impedance technique. Double-cylinder electrolyte cells were designed to separate the measurements of cathodic disbonding process from the influence of the impedance of an artificial defect. It was found that for a thick, pigmented polyurethane coating, the more important transport pathway of the reactive species is along the coating/steel interface rather than through the coating. There existed a delay time for the cathodic disbonding process, and cathodic polarization was not a predominant factor in determining the cathodic disbonding behavior in the early stages. The thick polyurethane coating, which was applied on a well sand-blasted steel surface, had excellent resistance to cathodic disbonding.     

The effect of fertilizer placement on nitrogen uptake and yield of wheat and maize in Chinese loess soils

Field trials were carried out to study the fate of¹⁵N-labelled urea applied to summer maize and winter wheat in loess soils in Shaanxi Province, north-west China. In the maize experiment, nitrogen was applied at rates of 0 or 210 kg N ha^–1, either as a surface application, mixed uniformly with the top 0.15 m of soil, or placed in holes 0.1 m deep adjacent to each plant and then covered with soil. In the wheat experiment, nitrogen was applied at rates of 0, 75 or 150 kg N ha^–1, either to the surface, or incorporated by mixing with the top 0.15 m, or placed in a band at 0.15 m depth. Measurements were made of crop N uptake, residual fertilizer N and soil mineral N. The total above-ground dry matter yield of maize varied between 7.6 and 11.9 t ha^–1. The crop recovery of fertilizer N following point placement was 25% of that applied, which was higher than that from the surface application (18%) or incorporation by mixing (18%). The total grain yield of wheat varied between 4.3 and 4.7 t ha^–1. In the surface applications, the recovery of fertilizer-derived nitrogen (25%) was considerably lower than that from the mixing treatments and banded placements (33 and 36%). The fertilizer N application rate had a significant effect on grain and total dry matter yield, as well as on total N uptake and grain N contents. The main mechanism for loss of N appeared to be by ammonia volatilization, rather than leaching. High mineral N concentrations remained in the soil at harvest, following both crops, demonstrating a potential for significant reductions in N application rates without associated loss in yield.