Finite element optimization of sample geometry for measuring the torsional shear strength of glass/metal joints

Assessment of mechanical properties of glass/metal joints is a challenging process, especially when the application relevant conditions of the joints have to be considered in the test design. In this study, a finite element method (FEM) is implemented to analyze a torsional shear strength test designed for glass-ceramic/steel joints aiming towards solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cells application. Deviations from axial symmetry of the square flanges (ends) of respective hourglass-shaped specimens and also supporting and loading sockets of the test set-up are included in the model to simulate conditions close to reality. Undesirable tensile stress and also shear stress concentration appear at the outer edge of glass-ceramic layers, which are less for the hollow-full specimen. The simulation results show that for a specimen with either 9 mm thick square- or 6 mm thick triangular-flanges, locally enhanced tensile stresses almost disappear, resulting in a symmetric shear stress distribution. The difference between the analytically derived nominal shear strength and the real critical shear stress derived via simulation reduces with decreasing the fracture torque.     

New ways to improve the damping properties in high‐performance thermoplastic vulcanizates

The incorporation of viscoelastic materials represents an effective strategy to reduce the vibratory level of structural components. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a special type of viscoelastic material that combines the elastomeric properties of rubbers with the easy processing of thermoplastics. In the present work, we propose innovative ways to improve the damping properties of high‐performance TPVs by using rubbers with carboxylic functionalities. For that, TPVs from physical blends of carboxylated hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XHNBR) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared. The chain dynamics of different mixed crosslink systems containing peroxide, metal oxides and hindered phenolic antioxidants were investigated in order to find the most suitable strategy to design a high‐performance TPV system with upgraded damping properties. The results indicate that the damping performance of the TPV system can be tailored by controlling the type and magnitude of the bonding interactions between the mixed crosslink system and the XHNBR rubber phase. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of TPV systems containing carboxylic rubbers as high‐performance damping materials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fast Chemo‐Responsive Shape Memory of Stretchable Polymer Nanocomposite Aerogels Fabricated by One‐Step Method

A new type of stretchable poly(caprolactone)/graphene oxide (PCL/GO) aerogel with fast chemo‐responsive shape memory effect is fabricated by one‐step method of a sol‐gel procedure. The PCL/GO aerogels show uniformly circular and interconnected pores formed by twisted PCL nanolayers. GO platelets improve the crystallinity of PCL and increase the fracture stress and strain by 150% and 300% respectively, although the GO loading is only 0.5%. The dramatic increment of break strain is attributed to the uniform and circular pores that can afford large deformation and the interaction of GO and PCL. The aerogels can be programmed by external stress at ambient temperature without heating and recover upon ethyl acetate (EA) in 1 s. The fast chemo‐responsive shape recovery is ascribed to the fast wrinkle of the PCL nanolayers that decrease the diffusion time greatly and the interconnected micrometer pores that are in favor of penetrating for EA molecules.     

Supramolecular Poly(cyclotriphosphazene) Functionalized Graphene Oxide/Polypropylene Composites with Simultaneously Improved Thermal Stability,Flame Retardancy,and Viscoelastic Properties

A novel crosslinkable supramolecular poly(cyclotriphosphazene) functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) is synthesized and melt‐processed with polypropylene (PP), which results in a PP composite with simultaneously improved flame retardancy, smoke‐suppression, and thermal and viscoelastic properties. The cone‐calorimetry test results reveal that the peak heat‐release rate and total heat release of the composite (2 wt% FGO) are reduced by 39.7% and 29.9%, respectively, compared to those of the neat PP. Meanwhile, the total smoke released and total smoke production of PP are significantly (42.7% and 34.9%, respectively) reduced after composite formation with 2 wt% FGO. Similarly, the PP/FGO composite shows an improved maximum weight loss temperature of 392.4 °C, compared to that of neat PP (361.4 °C). Thermogravimetric Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (TG‐FTIR) analysis further confirms that the composite reduces the evolution of the flammable components and toxic gases, especially CO gas, indicating that the FGO significantly decreases the fire hazards of the PP. The thermomechanical and melt‐rheological analyses reveal that the composite has higher mechanical stiffness and viscoelastic properties than the neat polymer. In summary, FGO is shown to have potential as an advanced additive to obtain PP composites with multifunctional properties; however, higher FGO loading would be needed to improve UL‐94 rating from V‐2 to V‐0.     

Size-dependent separation of graphene oxide by deformation of packed-gel in a chromatographic column

ABSTRACT

A deformable gel-packed chromatographic column was used to separate as-synthesized graphite oxide with different sizes. The synthesized gel (56 µm) was deformed by pressure of the fluid flow and the gaps in the gels showed a range of sizes. A suspension of graphene oxide (0.1 g/L, 10 mL) was injected, and graphene oxide in the elution had a size at 0.56 μm and 0.14 μm, whereas in half upper and bottom domain of the gel layer graphene oxide had a size at 33 µm and 2.9 µm, respectively, demonstrating that graphene oxide suspension was separated by size through gel layer.     

Surface and structure characteristics of commercial K-Feldspar powders: Effects of temperature and leaching media

This study presents morphological and structural variations of K-Feldspar mineral after acid treatment. Both organic and inorganic acids such as C₂H₂O₄, HCl, HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ were employed for this purpose. Another aim of this study was to find an optimum experimental condition for iron (Fe) removal with a minimum damage on the structure of K-Feldspar in which high whiteness index is obtained. The effect of different parameters such as concentration, pH and temperature on the final structure of this mineral was investigated. To find out the chemical composition of powder, XRF was utilized. FTIR, XRD and SEM were employed to study the structure of mineral. Spectrophotometry was chosen to analyze whiteness index of powder after acid treatment. It was found that O—Al—O bond at 647 cm^-1 for H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ treated sample disappeared. However, HCl and C₂H₂O₄ were ineffective at this band. In addition, the results revealed an increase in K-Feldspar content, a decrease in Fe content, an increase in whiteness index and no significant structural change for C₂H₂O₄ leached sample. Whiteness index of 91% was obtained for C₂H₂O₄ leached sample with the pH of 2.5 to 3 at temperature of 50℃ and during 1 h.     

Sulfur resource recovery based on electrolytic manganese residue calcination and manganese oxide ore desulfurization for the clean production of electrolytic manganese

An environmentally friendly and resource-conserving route to the clean production of electrolytic manganese was developed, in which the electrolytic manganese residue(EMR) was initially calcined for cement buffering;then the generated SO_2-containing flue gas was managed using manganese oxide ore and anolyte(MOOA) desulfurization; at last, the desulfurized slurry was introduced to the electrolytic manganese production(EMP). Results showed that 4.0 wt% coke addition reduced the sulfur of calcined EMR to 0.9%, thereby satisfying the cement-buffer requirement. Pilot-scale desulfurization showed that about 7.5 vol% of high SO_2 containing flue gas can be cleaned to less than 0.1 vol% through a five-stage countercurrent MOOA desulfurization. The desulfurized slurry had 42.44 g·L~(-) Mn~(2+) and 1.92 g·L~(-1) S_2 O_6~(2-), which was suitable for electrowinning after purification, and the purity of manganese product was 99.93%, satisfy the National Standard of China YB/T051-2015.This new integrated technology fulfilled 99.7% of sulfur reutilization from the EMR and 94.1% was effectively used to the EMP. The MOOA desulfurization linked the EMP a closed cycle without any pollutant discharge, which promoted the cleaner production of EMP industry.     

湿法氧化锌种类和用量对天然橡胶性能的影响

研究湿法氧化锌种类和用量对天然橡胶(NR)性能的影响。结果表明:与添加普通氧化锌的胶料相比,对于未填充炭黑NR体系,减半用量的湿法氧化锌混炼胶的焦烧时间和t90较短,Fmax较大;硫化胶的定伸应力、拉伸强度和剪切模量(G′)较大,拉断伸长率、损耗模量(G″)和损耗因子(tanδ)较小。对于填充炭黑NR体系,减半用量的湿法氧化锌混炼胶的门尼粘度、G′和G″较大,tanδ较小,焦烧时间和t90较短,Fmax较大;硫化胶的密度稍低,硬度和定伸应力较大,耐老化性能较好,玻璃化温度较低,tanδ较小,其他物理性能变化不大。湿法氧化锌FF的性能优于湿法氧化锌HR。     

氧化石墨烯杂化分子印迹复合膜制备及性能研究

采用改进的Hummers法,通过冷冻干燥制备了氧化石墨烯(GO)。以辛弗林盐酸盐为模板分子,水溶性的丙烯酰胺为功能单体,离子液体(溴代1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑)为致孔剂,把GO加入聚合液中,制备了GO杂化的分子印迹复合膜(GO-MIM)。利用透射电镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射和红外光谱等方法对GO及GO-MIM进行了表征。通过将分子印迹膜技术与GO相结合,明显提高了分子印迹膜的力学性能。吸附及渗透实验表明,GO-MIM可在纯水溶剂体系,对辛弗林盐酸盐具有很好的选择性吸附能力和优先透过能力,体现了明显的分子印迹效果。     

高性能碳基储能材料的设计、合成与应用

电化学储能器件的性能很大程度上决定于其电极材料。碳材料具有来源广泛、化学稳定性好、易于调控、环境友好等优点,被广泛应用于各类能量存储系统,但仍存在能量密度低、倍率性能差等问题。本文从碳材料孔结构调控、杂原子掺杂、与金属氧化物复合三个角度,综述了构建高性能碳基储能材料的设计合成策略,介绍了其在锂/钠离子二次电池、超级电容器等领域的研究进展,对几种方法策略的优缺点进行了总结,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。本文对高性能碳基储能电极材料的设计开发具有积极意义。