Enhancement of radiation‐resistant effect in ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers by the formation of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers/clay nanocomposites

Ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers/clay nanocomposites, prepared by using nonreactive organophilic clay and reactive organophilic clay, were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The influence of gamma irradiation on the structure and properties of the pure EVA and EVA/clay nanocomposites was systematically investigated. In the presence of gamma radiation, the clay can effectively restrain the increase of the storage modulus of EVA/clay nanocomposites, which was supported by dynamical mechanical analysis. Gamma irradiation had almost no effect on the thermal properties of EVA/clay nanocomposites by using nonreactive organophilic clay, but it obviously improved the thermal stability of EVA/clay nanocomposites by using reactive organophilic clay. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2532–2538, 2005     

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan/sodium montmorillonite hybrid films

Carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan (CKGM)/ sodium montmorillonite (MMT) hybrid films of various compositions were prepared by casting from a polymer/silicate water suspension. The structure and properties of the hybrid films were investigated by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests. The results from WXRD and TEM indicated that an intercalated CKGM/MMT nanocomposite film was obtained by polymer solution intercalation. WXRD and DSC showed that the high‐T_m crystal phase was induced by the presence of lower MMT loading, but the T_m of the hybrid films became weak with the increase of MMT content due to the polymer confinement. The hybrid films showed higher thermal stability and mechanical properties than that of the neat polysaccharide due to the strong interaction between hydroxyl and carbonyl group of CKGM and the silicate layer of MMT. Furthermore, the degree of swelling of the hybrid films was investigated in acidic buffer solutions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2954–2961, 2007     

Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites

Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation in an intermeshing corotating twin‐screw extruder. The effect of molecular weight of PP‐MA (maleic anhydride‐ modified polypropylene) on clay dispersion and mechanical properties of nanocomposites was investigated. After injection molding, the tensile properties and impact strength were measured. The best overall mechanical properties were found for composites containing PP‐MA having the highest molecular weight. The basal spacing of clay in the composites was measured by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Nanoscale morphology of the samples was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallization kinetics was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy at a fixed crystallization temperature. Increasing the clay content in PP‐ MA330k/clay, a well‐dispersed two‐component system, caused the impact strength to decrease while the crystallization kinetics and the spherulite size remained almost the same. On the other hand, PP/PP‐MA330k/clay, an intercalated three‐component system containing some dispersed clay as well as the clay tactoids, showed a much smaller size of spherulites and a slight increase in impact strength with increasing the clay content. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1562–1570, 2002     

Preparation and properties of styrene–butadiene rubber based nanocomposites: The influence of the structural and processing parameters

Rubber‐based nanocomposites were prepared with octadecyl amine modified sodium montmorillonite clay and styrene–butadiene rubber with different styrene contents (15, 23, and 40%). The solvent used to prepare the nanocomposites, the cure conditions, and the cure system were also varied to determine their effect on the properties of the nanocomposites. All the composites were characterized with X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD studies revealed exfoliation for the modified clay–rubber composites. The TEM photomicrographs showed a uniform distribution of the modified clay in the rubber matrix. The thickness of the particles in the exfoliated composites was around 10–15 nm. Although the FTIR study of the unmodified and modified clays showed extra peaks due to the intercalation of the amine chains into the gallery, the spectra for the rubber–clay nanocomposites were almost the same because of the presence of a very small amount of clay in the rubber matrix. All the modified clay–rubber nanocomposites displayed improved mechanical strength. The styrene content of the rubber had a pronounced effect on the properties of the nanocomposites. With increasing styrene content, the improvement in the properties was greater. Dicumyl peroxide and sulfur cure systems displayed similar strength, but higher elongation and slightly lower modulus values were obtained with the sulfur cure system. The curing of the samples at four different durations at 160°C showed that the cure time affected the properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 698–709, 2004     

Effect of montmorillonite on the swelling behavior and drug‐release behavior of nanocomposite hydrogels

A series of nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared from various ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and organic montmorillonite (MMT). The influence of the extent of MMT in the NIPAAm/MMT nanocomposite hydrogels on the physical properties and drug‐release behavior was the main purpose of this study. The microstructure and morphology were identified by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the swelling ratios for these nanocomposite hydrogels decreased with increase in the content of MMT. The gel strength and Young's modulus of the gels also increased with increase in the content of MMT. XRD results indicated that the exfoliation of MMT was achieved in the swollen state. Finally, the drug‐release behavior for the gels was also assessed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3652–3660, 2003     

凹凸棒石粘土悬浮液的悬浮性研究

研究了凹凸棒石粘土尺寸、悬浮液浓度、分散时间等因素对凹凸棒石粘土水和乙醇悬浮液悬浮性的影响,试验结果表明:凹凸棒石粘土水悬浮液的悬浮性显著高于乙醇悬浮液的悬浮性;水悬浮液中凹凸棒石粘土长度在38μm和71μm之间对悬浮性影响不大;使用50 W功率的超声波发生器分别分散10 min和15 min可以使凹凸棒石粘土分别在水和乙醇介质中充分分散;悬浮剂浓度为5 g/150 mL时水悬浮液的悬浮性最好。     

Chlorophyll adsorption on acid-activated clay

An acid-activated clay (Çanakkale montmorillonite from Turkey) was used to adsorb chlorophyll from hexane solutions. The phenomenon seems to be mainly driven by the interaction of chlorophyll with acid sites. The adsorption of chlorophyll on Brönsted acid sites was indicated by a characteristic infrared band for the -OH group at 3671 cm^?1. The variations in the structure of clay mineral and chlorophyll during adsorption have been examined by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy of the activated clay before and after adsorption of chlorophyll. Oxidation of adsorbed chlorophyll was completed at quite a high temperature.     

Synthesis and dielectric properties of polystyrene‐clay nanocomposite materials

Polystyrene‐clay nanocomposite (PsCN) materials were synthesized and their properties of crystallinity, thermal behavior, and dielectric characteristics were investigated. A polymerizable cationic surfactant, [2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]triphenylphonium bromide, was used for the intercalation of montmorillonite (MMT). The organophilic MMT was prepared by Na⁺‐exchanged MMT and ammonium cations of a cationic surfactant in an aqueous medium. Organophilic styrene monomers were intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts followed by a free‐radical polymerization. Exfoliation to 2 wt % MMT in the polystyrene (PS) matrix was achieved as revealed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were also studied. The dielectric properties of PsCNs in the form of film with clay loading from 1.0 to 5.0 wt % were measured under frequencies of 100 Hz–1 MHz at 25–70°C. A decreased dielectric constant and low dielectric loss were observed for PsCN materials. The dielectric response at low frequency that originated from dipole orientation was suppressed due to the intercalation of clay materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1368–1373, 2004     

深厚覆盖层上高心墙坝地震惯性力动态分布系数研究

对于强震区坐落在深厚覆盖层(深度超过50 m)上的高土石坝,通过拟静力稳定分析结果初步判定其抗震稳定性是抗震设计的主要内容,其中水平向地震惯性力沿坝基覆盖层至坝顶的动态分布系数是关键。然而,现行《水工建筑物抗震设计标准》(GB 51247—2018)中地震惯性力动态分布系数多基于坐落在基岩上的高土石坝的动力响应规律确定,现有动态分布系数忽略了深厚覆盖层和地震动强度对地震动传播规律的影响。因此,以坐落在深厚砂砾石覆盖层上150 m级高黏土心墙堆石坝为研究对象,结合现行土石坝设计规范和国内已建高土石坝实例,基于统计平均的方法确定了坝顶宽度、坝料分区、坝坡坡比、覆盖层材料的静、动力特性等关键参数,深入探讨了150 m级高黏土心墙堆石坝在小震(0.1 g)、中震(0.2 g)和大震(0.4 g)规范谱地震动作用下不同深度砂砾石料覆盖层的动力响应分布规律,进而总结归纳出不同深度覆盖层下150 m级高黏土心墙堆石坝的水平向地震惯性力的动态分布系数,将其引入到拟静力法稳定分析中,最后基于最危险滑动面和最小安全系数与现行规范所得结果进行对比分析。研究结果表明,小震(0.1 g)和中震(0.2 g)下采用文中推荐的考虑深厚覆盖层和地震动输入强度影响的水平向地震惯性力动态分布系数时将得到更符合工程实际的评价结果。研究成果可为深厚覆盖层上的高土石坝抗震设计提供参考依据。     

细菌对红黏土抗剪强度的影响

为了探究土壤原生细菌对红黏土强度的影响,通过对红黏土中天然赋存的原生细菌进行富集培养,并在红黏土重塑试样中添加培养后的细菌菌液,通过土工试验和电镜试验分析红黏土物理力学性质和微观结构的变化。结果表明:随着细菌的掺入,三轴试样的破坏峰值和压缩模量都有所提高,并且随时间的增长,呈现先增大后减小的趋势;同时从电镜图像上来看,细菌的掺入使得红黏土中粉粒含量有所增加,相应的黏粒含量下降。研究结果可为进一步研究单一的细菌种类对红黏土物理力学性质和微观结构的影响提供参考。