High‐performance polymer‐supported extractants with phosphonate ligands for scandium(III) separation

As the market demand for scandium has grown, a great deal of interest has been generated in its recovery. To substantially simplify the process and provide a green alternative for scandium separation, novel polymer‐supported extractants containing di(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphonate and bis(2,4,4‐trimethylpentyl) phosphonate, [D201][DEHP] and [D201][C272] are proposed because they demonstrate improved adsorption capacity and selectivity toward scandium(III). Scandium(III) adsorption is significantly affected by the solution pH, with the maximum adsorption occurring at a pH of approximately 0.78. The batch adsorption data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. A combination of the Fourier transform infrared and XPS spectra suggest that the complexation of oxygen atoms in phosphate groups with scandium(III) is the predominant adsorption mechanism. Additionally, the two resins were used to recover scandium from leaching liquor of nickel laterite ore. [D201][DEHP] exhibits unusual selectivity for scandium and low competitive behavior with other metals, thus increasing its market potential. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2479–2489, 2016     

Identification of cell‐nucleation mechanism in foam injection molding with gas‐counter pressure via mold visualization

The mechanisms of cell nucleation and growth are investigated in foam injection molding (FIM) using gas‐counter pressure (GCP). An in‐situ mold visualization technique is employed. The application of GCP suppresses cell nucleation, and prevents the blowing agent from escaping during mold‐filling. The inherent structural heterogeneity in the regular FIM can be improved because of the uniform cavity pressure when employing GCP. The cavity pressure profiles show much faster pressure‐drop rates using GCP, because the single‐phase polymer/gas mixture has a lower compressibility than the two‐phase polymer/bubble mixture. Therefore, both the cell nucleation and growth rates are significantly increased through a higher pressure‐drop rate on the removal of the GCP. The effect of GCP magnitude on the cell morphology is explored. When the GCP is lower than the solubility pressure, bimodal foaming occurs. As the GCP increases above the solubility pressure, the cell density increases because of the higher pressure‐drop rate. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4035–4046, 2016     

Synthesis and Characterization of NiO Nano‐Spheres by Templating on Chitosan as a Green Precursor

In this study, nickel oxide was prepared through the calcination of extrusion dripped chitosan/nickel nitrate beads. The morphology and structural properties of the products were studied using various characterization techniques. Uniformly distributed nickel oxide was formed as observed from the studies of surface morphology where the processing parameters play a huge role on the resulting morphology. TEM results have shown that nickel oxide with crystallite sizes of 10–30 nm was obtained. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectra studies show an intense peak at 525 cm^?1, which is attributed to the vibration of Ni–O bond. Furthermore, the XRD results show NiO diffraction peaks correspond to (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) which indicates that a bunsenite structure with a face‐centered cubic phase was produced in this study. The usage of 500°C as the lower limit in this study is justified due to the complete removal of the templating material as seen in the thermalgravimetric analysis studies. Furthermore, it was obtained that the largest surface area of nickel oxide synthesized using this technique is 48.024 m²/g with pore sizes of 19.843 nm. The usage of chitosan as a green template for the synthesis of nanoparticles has shown promising results which allows a more economical and sustainable approach for the fabrication of nanomaterials.     

Direct Ink Writing of a Preceramic Polymer and Fillers to Produce Hardystonite (Ca2ZnSi2O7) Bioceramic Scaffolds

The direct ink writing of an ink composed of a preceramic polymer and fillers was used to produce hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇) bioceramic scaffolds. Suitable formulations were developed for the extrusion of fine filaments (350 μm diameter) through a nozzle. The preceramic polymer was employed with the double purpose of contributing to the rheology of the ink by increasing its viscosity and of forming the hardystonite phase upon heat treatment by reacting with the fillers. A control of the rheology is essential when spanning features have to be produced, and therefore the main rheological characteristics of the inks were measured (flow curves, dynamic oscillation tests, viscosity recovery tests) and compared to models reported in the literature. Highly porous scaffolds (up to 80% total porosity) were produced and heat treated in air or in nitrogen atmosphere. The influence of the heat‐treatment atmosphere on the morphology, crystalline phase assemblage, and compressive strength of the scaffolds was investigated.     

三元复合驱体系粘度影响规律研究

为了增加三元复合驱协同效应驱油体系在油层中的有效驱油运移距离并提高最终驱油效果,本文通过室内实验和数值模拟方法,分别研究不同浓度的碱和表面活性剂在含有聚合物的溶液里面,两者对体系粘度的影响。结果表明,表面活性剂浓度对粘度影响很小;碱浓度对粘度影响在碱浓度小于0.5%之前十分明显,但大于0.5%后趋于稳定。     

Preliminary design and analysis of a cubic deployable support structure based on shape memory polymer composite

The deployable structures based on shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have been developed for its unique properties, such as high reliability, low-cost, lightweight, and self-deployment without complex mechanical devices compared with traditional deployable structures. In order to increase the inflatable structure system’s robustness and light the weight of it, a cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC is designed and analyzed preliminarily. The cubic deployable support structure based on SMPC consists of four dependent spatial cages, each spatial cage is composed of 12 three-longeron SMPC truss booms and end connections. The shape recovery of arc-shaped deployable laminates drive the three-longeron SMPC truss booms to unfold, thus realize the expansion of the deployable support structure. The concept and operation of the cubic deployable support structure are described in detail. A series of experiments are performed on the three-longeron deployable laminates unit and the simplified cubic deployable support structure to investigate the shape recovery behavior in the deployment process. Results indicate that the cubic deployable support structure has a high deployment-tgo-stowage volume ratio and can achieve self-deployment, package, and deploy without complex mechanical devices.     

Durable,Washable, and Flexible Conductive PET Fabrics Designed by Fiber Interfacial Molecular Engineering

Conductive fibers and fabrics are an essential part of wearable electronics and devices. How to fabricate durable conductive substrate is still a huge challenge to the application and commercialization of wearable electronics. Here an effective and economic process to obtain conductive yarns and fabrics localized copper plating onto synthesized polymers: poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is reported. The active interface is created via plasma treatment to generate active chemical groups on PET substrate, which react with atomic transfer radical polymerization initiator for the following polymerization. The Pd ion entrapped by polymer brushes are then reduced in situ and the Pd⁰ species act as a catalytic seed layer for following electroless copper nanoparticles growth on the active interface. Scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy are used to characterize the samples in this process, and the copper loading is quantified by weight. The morphology and composition analysis shows that the copper coating on PET fabrics is compact and continuous, which leads to excellent electronic conductivity. The copper coating obtained in this polymer brushes bridged process can pass through the hand washing challenge, and shows excellent adhesion with PET substrate.

     

锂离子电池新型电解液的研究进展

电解液作为锂离子电池的关键材料之一,其在正、负极之间起到传递离子的作用。近年来新型电解液的研究备受关注,主要对高电压电解液、超低温电解液、阻燃电解液和聚合物电解质等4方面进行了简要综述。     

Preparation and characterization of dual-responsive spiropyran-based random copolymer brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) were grafted with the precursor random copolymer of 1′-(2-acryloxyethyl)-3′,3′-dimethyl-6-nitrospiro-(2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indoline) (SPMA) and tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), and SiO₂-g-P(SPMA-co-methacrylic acid (MAA)) was obtained via chemical hydrolysis of the resulting precursor random copolymer in acidic conditions. From transmission electron microscopy, we observed the spherical morphology of monodispersed silica nanoparticles and core-shell structure of SiO₂-g-P(SPMA-co-MAA). Energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polymer had been successfully grafted onto the surface of silica nanoparticles. The dual-responsive properties were characterized by means of ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and dynamic light scattering. The average hydrodynamic diameter of SiO₂-g-P(SPMA-co-MAA) increased from 185.7 to 212.7 nm under ultraviolet light irradiation for 5 min. Also, the particle size of SiO₂-g-P(SPMA-co-MAA) increased with the rising pH value of surrounding condition.