Inorganic–organic hybrid materials with zirconium oxoclusters as protective coatings on aluminium alloys

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials are attracting a strong scientific interest mainly for their outstanding inherent mechanical and thermal properties, which can be traced back to the intimate coupling of both inorganic and organic components. By carefully choosing the experimental parameters used for their synthesis, chemically and thermally stable acrylate-based hybrid material embedding the zirconium oxocluster Zr₄O₄(OMc)₁₂, where OMcCH₂C(CH₃)C(O)O, can be deposited as UV-cured films on aluminium alloys.

In particular, the molar ratios between the oxocluster and the monomer, the polymerisation time, the amount of photo-initiator and the deposition conditions, by using an home-made spray-coating equipment, were optimised in order to obtain the best performing layers in terms of transparency and hardness to coat aluminium alloy (AA1050, AA6060 and AA2024) sheets. Furthermore, it was also evaluated whether the hybrid coatings behave as barrier to corrosion.

Several coated samples were prepared and characterised. Environmental scanning electronic microscopy (ESEM) and scratch test were used to investigate the morphology of the films and to evaluate their scratch resistance, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed in order to evaluate if the coatings actually protect the metallic substrate from corrosion.

In order to measure shear storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the materials used for coatings, bulk samples were also obtained by UV-curing of the precursors solution. Dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was performed in shear mode on cured disks of both the hybrid materials and pristine polymer for comparison. The values of T_g were read off as the temperatures of peak of loss modulus. The length and mass of all the samples were measured before and after the DMTA analysis, so that the shrinkage of the materials in that temperature range was exactly evaluated.     

注射成形Fe-50%Ni软磁合金的研究

Fe-50 %Ni合金是一种典型的高磁导率和低矫顽力的软磁材料,有着广阔的应用前景.本次实验采用注射成形方法制取Fe-50 %Ni,研究了在注射成形工艺中烧结工艺对最终产品性能及微观组织的影响,并分析了影响产品磁性能的一些主要因素.实验表明,烧结温度的提高和烧结时间的延长能够较好改善产品的力学性能;密度是影响产品磁性能的主要因素,杂质(主要指(C、O、N)的含量和晶粒尺寸对剩磁、磁导率和矫顽力也有较大的影响;通过注射成形方法制取的Fe-50 %Ni,其性能要优于采用传统粉末冶金方法制造的Fe-50 %Ni.     

Method to Characterize the Air Flow and Water Removal Characteristics During Vacuum Dewatering. Part II—Analysis and Characterization

This is part II of a study reported earlier on a method to characterize the air flow and water removal characteristics during vacuum dewatering. This article presents experimental data and analysis of results from the use of a cyclically actuated vacuum dewatering device for removing moisture from wetted porous materials such as paper with the intermittent application of vacuum and accompanying air flow though the material. Results presented include sheet moisture content as a function of residence time and hence water removal rate under a variety of process conditions. Also, experimental results on air flow through the wet porous structure and hence the role and importance of air flow during vacuum dewatering are presented. Vacuum dewatering process conditions include exit solids content between 11 and 20% solid under applied vacuum conditions of 13.5 to 67.7 kPa (4 to 20 in. Hg). Regression analysis indicated that the exit sheet moisture content exhibited a nonlinear relationship with residence time with exit solids reaching a plateau after a certain residence time. Final moisture content correlated linearly with the average overall flow rate of air through the paper sample and the basis weight of the material.     

Effect of Wall Surface Properties at Different Drying Kinetics on the Deposition Problem in Spray Drying

Current methods in alleviating the wall deposition problem in spray drying emphasize mainly controlling the stickiness of the drying particles and less attention is placed on the properties of the dryer wall. In this experimental study, the effect of wall surface properties on the deposition mechanism has been investigated. Properties considered in classifying different wall materials were surface energy, roughness, and dielectric properties. The model solution contained sucrose, representing low-molecular-weight sugars commonly encountered in spray drying of fruit and vegetable juices. The effect of wall properties on deposition was explored at different drying rates producing particles of different surface rigidity. Larger surface roughness produced higher deposition fluxes for particles with high impact velocity and moisture. Surface energy and surface roughness were found to have no significant effect for dry rigid particles at the middle and bottom elevation of the drying chamber. However, material with lower surface energy (Teflon) exhibited less deposition for rubbery particles at such elevations. Analysis shows that dielectric wall material (Teflon) tends to enhance deposition of dry particles because of attrition at the surface. Higher wall temperature was found to produce slightly more deposition. The results of this work give a general indication of the effect of wall material on the deposition problem and provide the fundamental understanding for further studies along this line. Proper selection of dryer wall material will provide potential alternatives for reducing the deposition problem.     

Synthesis of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Hybrid Molecular Imprinted Polymer for Ethofumesate Linked by Silane Coupling Agent

TiO₂ hybrid molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) for ethofumesate using methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer and silane coupling agent 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate (KH570) as organic–inorganic connective bridge was synthesized via photo-excitation method. Hydrogen bond was proved to act between MAA and ethofumesate for pre- and post-polymerization binding properties as testified by UV spectrometric method. KH570 modified TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared via sonochemical reaction, which can accelerate hydrolysis, increase collision chance for the reactive system and improve the dispersion of the nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), binding and the adsorption kinetics experiments as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed for characterization. The results indicated that the hybrid MIP revealed a larger surface area and more ordered imprinting cavities with improved thermal stability compared to organic-only MIP. Furthermore, faster adsorption kinetics and enhancive adsorption capacity were achieved, which made it promising in chemical sensor applications.     

Structural transformation of FePt nanocomposite films during annealing and its effects on magnetic properties

Fe100-xPtx(x=30at.%-60at.% ) nanocomposite films were deposited on natural-oxidized Si(100) substrates by magnetron sputtering. The as-deposited films were annealed between 373 and 1073 K. In situ X-ray diffraction shows that the FePt nanocomposite films undergo a phase transformation from a disordered FCC phase to an ordered L10 phase between 673 and 773 K. The coercivity is 306 kA·m-1 whiles the average grain sizes is about 10 nm in the optimized FePt alloy film sample annealed at 673K. The adjustable coercivity and fine grain size suggest that this FePt nanocomposites system is suitable as recording media at extremely high areal density.     

注射成形粘结NdFeB磁体:工艺·性能·应用

综合介绍了几种适于注射成形粘结NdFeB磁体的磁粉制备方法及特点；讨论了粘结剂、改性剂及磁场取向对注射成形NdFeB磁体最终磁性能的影响及其应用市场。在此基础上，指出了今后开展研究工作的方向。     

Effects of different kind of sesame materials on the physical properties of gomatofu (sesame tofu)

Gomatofu (sesame tofu) is one of the traditional Japanese healthy foods and is representative of all shojin (vegetarian) dishes. Gomatofu, one of the mixed gels consisting of kudzu (arrowroot) starch and sesame, possesses an extremely unusual textural characteristic which is soft, smooth, and springy. The textural properties are greatly influenced by preparation, ingredients and roasting conditions of sesame seeds. Hence there are many kinds of sesame materials which can be used to prepare gomatofu such as white, black, huskless or not and roasted or unroasted sesame materials, in this study, the effects of these materials on the physical properties of gomatofu were studied. The sample of Ra-W prepared with unroasted huskless sesame seed had the least hardness, but mouthfeel of this sample were the highest. The samples of Ro-B and Ro-W prepared with roasted husk (black and white) sesame seed were evaluated to have the best palatability because of their superior springiness. It was clarified that different kinds of sesame materials affected the forming of structure and physical properties of gomatofu, because the chemical components were different from varieties of sesame materials.     

Spin Dependent Hopping in Ti Doped La0.67 Ca0.33 MnO3

A systematic investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of Ti doped La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 was reported. The Ti substitution for Mn ions results in a reduction in ferromagnetism and conductivity. The metal-insulator transition temperature is close to Curie temperature which decreases from 274 to 82 K as x increases from 0 to 0.17. The most important effect of Ti doping is to introduce spin clusters in the samples due to the distortion of local lattice and the inhomogeneous magnetic structure induced primarily by the random distribution of Mn ions. A maximum magnetoresistance ratio as large as 90% in 1 T at 122 K was obtained for the sample with x =0. 055, which is four times larger than that obtained for LCMO sample at 272 K. There is a remarkable field-history dependent MR in the cooling process for the doped samples while such phenomenon disappears in the warming run. The resistivity follows well the variable range hopping behavior in paramagnetic state. Both the size effect and spin dependent hopping of carriers between the spin clusters should be considered in this system.