Preparation and balanced mechanical properties of solid and foamed isotactic polypropylene/SEBS composites

This study presents a self-designed foaming apparatus and routes to manufacture foamed isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends with uniform and dense cells, using styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer as toughening additive. The addition of SEBS can clearly enhance the impact strength of solid iPP, iPP blends with a 20 wt% SEBS has obtained high notched impact strength of 75 kJ/m², which is ca. 16 times larger than that of neat iPP. Relatively fine microcellular iPP-SEBS foams with the average cell size of several micrometers, and the cell density of 10⁹ cells/cm³ were fabricated using a batch foaming procedure. Moreover, using our self-designed mold and compression foaming method, iPP-SEBS foams with balanced mechanical properties were produced. With the increasing of SEBS, tensile strength and flexural strength were slightly decreased, but the impact strength was increased clearly. The balanced mechanical properties between stiffness and toughness were achieved after compression foaming.     

Dual-responsive shape memory hydrogels with self-healing and dual-responsive swelling behaviors

Shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) can fix the hydrogels in a provisional shape and restore the initial shape under external stimulation. Herein, a dual-responsive shape memory hydrogel with dual-responsive swelling and self-healing properties is presented in this work. The SMHs were fabricated by one-step emulsion copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc), acrylamide (AAm) and stearyl methacrylate (SMA). Sodium alginate (SA) was introduced as an interpenetrating polymer in the network. With ionic cross-linking between -COO⁻ and Fe³⁺ or saline-reinforced hydrophobic association, the hydrogels can be fixed in a provisional shape, which can be restored by immersing the hydrogels in vitamin C solution or pure water, respectively. When the as-prepared hydrogels were immersed in FeCl₃ solutions, additional ionic cross-linking between Fe³⁺ and -COO⁻ could be formed, thus constructing the dual physically cross-linked (DPC) network, which endows the hydrogels with excellent fracture stress (2.6 MPa) and toughness (5.47 MJ/m³). Besides, the reversible physical cross-linkings endowed the hydrogel with outstanding self-healing capability. Furthermore, the pH and saline responsive swelling properties of the SMHs are additional fantastic properties. Therefore, we believe that this simple strategy provides a great opportunity for the preparation of SMHs with multiple intellectual performances.     

Achieving superiorly high heat-dimensional stability,high strength,and good electrochemical performance for electrospun separators in power lithium-ion battery through building unique condensed structure based on polyimide and poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide)

It is still a challenge for simultaneously achieving high heat resistance, high strength and outstanding electrochemical performance for separators in power lithium-ion battery (PLB). Herein, new high performance electrospun separators are developed through building unique structure based on polyimide (PI) and poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA). Orthogonal tests (4⁴) show that the magnitude order of electrospinning factors on the morphology of membrane is concentration>injection rate>receiving distance>voltage. With the optimum factors, the electrospun membrane (PI/PMIA) was prepared, which was further pressed at 100°C for 10 min to get treated membrane (H-PI/PMIA). Interestingly, the comprehensive performance of PI/PMIA is not a simple combination of those of PI and PMIA; instead, PI/PMIA has much better thermal and mechanical properties than both PI and PMIA, proving that PI/PMIA has a synergistic effect. PI/PMIA and H-PI/PMIA not only have good ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, but also have superiorly high properties including dimensional stability (thermal shrinkage temperature>300°C), tensile strengths (24.1 MPa for PI/PMIA, 34.3 MPa for H-PI/PMIA) and capacity retentions (97.9%, 99.2%) compared with electrospun membranes for PLBs reported in the literature so far (SCI database). The mechanism behind these attractive performances is discussed from condensed structure of membranes.     

Effect of IR-laser treatment parameters on surface structure,roughness, wettability and bonding properties of fused deposition modeling-printed PEEK/CF

In this study, laser surface treatment was applied to alter the surface texturing and chemical compositions of fused deposition modeling (FDM)-printed PEEK/CF samples to improve the deficiency of inert surface of PEEK as adherend substrate. The influence of IR-laser parameters including treatment gaps, single pulse energy and pulse widths on surface properties and shear bond strength were discussed. The results indicated that surface roughness was enhanced with decreasing treatment gap or increasing pulse energy, which reached the highest value of Ra = 32.44 μm at 0.4*0.4 mm² treatment gap and 300 mJ single pulse energy. By adjusting laser pulse width, surface wettability changed from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity. After micro-second laser ablation, the texturing structure was changed and acted as mechanical interlocking effect, and therefore make the shear bond strengths improve from 3.28 to 6.42 MPa compared with the untreated groups. On the other hand, functional groups on substrate surface were activated after nano-second laser ablation, which contributes to an enhancement of shear bond strength through chemical interaction between adhesives and substrates. Therefore, our work highlights an efficient method of laser surface treatment on the adhesion property of FDM-printed substrates.     

Effect of modified layered double hydroxide on the flammability of intumescent flame retardant PP nanocomposites

The dodecyl sulfate intercalated CaMgAl-hydrotalcites (layered double hydroxides [LDHs]) were successfully prepared by co-precipitation method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectra [FT-IR]), thermogravimetry (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscope, and Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET). The prepared LDHs were added to the intumescent flame retardant (IFR) polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites, and the limiting oxygen index method (LOI), vertical combustion method (UL-94), cone calorimetry (CCT), and other test methods were used to study its thermal stability and combustion performance. The results showed that when the flame retardant was composed of 23 wt% IFR and 2 wt% O-SDS-LDHs, the LOI value of the material was increased to 31.5%, reaching the V-0 level, and the flame retardant performance was significantly improved. The results also showed that there was a significant synergistic effect between IFR and O-SDS-LDHs, which could improve the thermal stability and graphitization degree of PP nanocomposites. In addition, the peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke production of the PP/IFR/O-SDS-LDHs system were 177 kW/m², 101 MJ/m², and 15.4 m², respectively, which were 82.2%, 51.0%, and 23.0% lower than those of pure PP, respectively. These improvements could be attributed to the presence of dense and continuous char layer formed by the synergistic effect.     

Antibacterial self-healing anticorrosion coatings from single capsule system

It is highly desirable to develop self-healing anticorrosion coatings with enhanced antibacterial function to prevent the scratched area to be fouled or corroded in harsh environments. Herein, we report antibacterial self-healing anticorrosion coatings via the simple incorporation of the easily synthesized single polymer microcapsule system. Well-defined polymer microcapsules containing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as a healing agent and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (DCOIT) as antibacterial molecules were synthesized by one-pot polymerization. The diameter and core fraction were around 30 μm and 90%, respectively. The active DCOIT content in the core material could be precisely controlled by adjusting the DCOIT/IPDI feeding ratio. The DCOIT/IPDI microcapsules-embedded protective coating exhibits an adaptive self-healing anticorrosion property, as shown by electrochemical test under the condition of the salt-water immersion. Furthermore, the self-healing coating showed efficient antibacterial function against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is due to the released active biocide molecules on the damaged surfaces. In contrast to other systems, this single capsule system without any catalyst is perspective for extending the service time of the antibacterial self-healing materials in harsh environment.     

High-thermal conductivities of epoxy composites via p-phenylenediamine interfacial modification and process intensification

High loadings of fillers are usually needed to achieve high-thermal conductivity (TC) of polymer-based composites, which inevitably sacrifices processability and meanwhile causes high-cost. Therefore, it is of great significance to achieve high-TC composites under low-filler loading. Here, a novel p-phenylenediamine (PPD) modified expanded graphite (EG-PPD)/epoxy (EP) composite with high TC and low-filler content was successfully prepared via pre-dispersion and vacuum assisted mixing strategy. With the improved interfacial compatibility between EG and EP by PPD, the prepared EG-PPD/EP composite exhibited excellent thermal management performance, resulting in the TC of which reached 4.00 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ with only 10 wt% (5.59 vol%) of EG-PPD, which is approximately 19 times higher than that of pure EP. Meantime, the interface thermal resistance of EG-PPD/EP composite between EG-PPD and EP is reduced by 33% compared with EG/EP composite. This composite with excellent TC property is expected to be used in thermal management field.     

Systematic investigation on the effect of crosslinking agent type and dosage on the performance of TPU/MVQ based thermoplastic vulcanizates

Dynamic vulcanized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared in torque rheometer. The influence of the type and amount of peroxide crosslinking agent on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, micromorphology and melt flowability was systematically investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the TPVs vulcanized by 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (tert-butyl peroxy) hexane (DBPH) first increased and then decreased with increasing the peroxide amount, while for dicumyl peroxide (DCP) vulcanizing system the mechanical properties slowly increased. Besides, the comprehensive mechanical properties vulcanized by DBPH were better than those of DCP group. The results of the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the TPVs vulcanized by DBPH had better heat stability, corresponding to the excellent thermo-oxidative aging performance and the 38% increase in tensile strength after aging. In addition, the MVQ rubber particles showed better dispersing performance for DBPH vulcanizing system. The melt flow rate of the TPVs showed a linear relationship with increasing DBPH dosage and became worse after the amount of crosslinking agent exceeded 1.5 phr. By comprehensive comparison, the TPVs have better performance when use peroxide DBPH as the crosslinking agent and the dosage is 1.5 phr.     

Ionic liquid modified graphene oxide for enhanced flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resin

In this work, to improve its dispersion and flame retardancy, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized by silane coupling agent KH550 and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole hexafluorophosphate (PF₆-ILs), and characteristics of the PF₆-ILs@GO was obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Then, the synergistic flame retardant of GO or PF₆-ILs@GO and melamine pyrophosphate (MPP) were applied for epoxy resin (EP) materials. Specifically, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of EP with 0.1 wt% PF₆-ILs@GO was increased to 29.2% from 27.5% of EP/MPP composites, and the UL-94 test reached the V-0 rating. The CCT results showed that the total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSP) of EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites were significantly 24.4% and 53.4% lower than that of EP/MPP composites. Besides, the thermal behavior investigated by TGA indicated that the char-forming effect of GO and PF₆-ILs@GO was great, the residual char of EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites was as high as 19.5% at 700°C, and its thermal stability was higher than that of EP/MPP composites. On the other hand, the tensile strength of EP/MPP/GO and EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites were increased by 15.6% and 28.3% compared with EP/MPP composites. According to SEM analysis, the EP/MPP/GO composites formed a good protective char layer, which can effectively improve flame retardancy of EP. This research represents a new method of flame retardant modified GO to improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polymers.     

电力系统参数空间暂态稳定边界构建及在线快速更新方法

为适应在线暂态稳定分析与控制,提出了一种电力系统参数空间中的暂态稳定边界构建及快速更新方法.对于给定的关键故障和既定故障前后的网络拓扑结构,首先,基于横向可扩展的宽度学习系统,构建了极限切除时间与电力系统参数之间的映射关系.为提高实际故障切除时间阈值附近的预测准确率,通过构建二次比例因子对临界误差进行修正.然后,结合预设故障切除时间阈值确定相应暂态稳定边界,并评估当前系统的稳定裕度.最后,在保证暂态稳定评估准确性的基础上,基于增量学习方法提出了无须重新训练全部网络的在线快速更新策略.通过对IEEE 39节点测试系统和中国南方电网实例系统仿真分析发现,所构建模型能够对系统暂态稳定性进行准确评估,并具有良好的泛化性能.同时,快速更新策略可在保证预测准确率的情况下,大幅减少模型更新时间,为在线暂态稳定评估提供了支撑.