Tuning of shear thickening behavior and elastic strength of polyvinylidene fluoride via doping of ZnO-graphene

ZnO rice like nonarchitects are grafted on the graphene carbon core via a rapid microwave synthesis route. The prepared grafted systems are characterized via XRD, SEM, RAMAN, and XPS to examined the structural and morphological parameters. Zinc oxide grafted graphene sheets (ZnO-G) are further doped in β-phase of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to prepare the polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) via mixed solvent approach (THF/DMF). β-phase confirmation of PVDF PNCs is done by FTIR studies. It is observed that ZnO-G filler enhances the β-phase content in the PNCs. Non-doped PVDF and PNCs are further studied for rheological behavior under the shear rate of 1–100 s⁻¹. Doping of ZnO-G dopant to the PVDF matrix changes its discontinuous shear thickening (DST) behavior to continues shear thickening behavior (CST). Hydrocluster formation and their interaction with the dopant could be the reason for this striking DST to CST behavioral change. Strain amplitude sweep (10⁻³% -10%) oscillatory test reveals that the PNCs shows extended linear viscoelastic region with high elastic modulus and lower viscous modulus. Effective shear thickening behavior and strong elastic strength of these PNCs present their candidature for various fields including mechanical and soft body armor applications.     

Excellent destabilization effect and ideal desorption temperature in the hydride Mg2FeH6 substituted with yttrium; a first principles study

We investigated some properties of the hydride Mg₂FeH₆ substituted with yttrium by a first principles calculation. Some experimental results showed that 4d transition metal, yttrium serves as a good catalyst for magnesium based hydrogen storage alloys, but there are a few theoretical studies about magnesium based hydrides substituted with it. Mg₂FeH₆ is regarded as a cheaper material than pure MgH₂, while it is crystalized into Fm3m structure (space group 225). Although it has high hydrogen storage capacity, many investigations have not been devoted to it due to its extremely high thermodynamic stability. The yttrium substituted Mg₂FeH₆ exhibits very low energy of formation, and its desorption temperature, 75 °C is very suitable for practical hydrogen storage applications. Our results showed that Mg₂FeH₆ is destabilized effectively by yttrium substitution and introducing vacancy defects has additive effect to the improvement of dehydrogenation performance.     

Detailed study on fusion characteristics of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) nanocomposites: The comparison of using multiple regression analysis and artificial neural network

Fusion behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compounds plays an important role in the development of physical properties of processed material. The fusion characteristics in PVC processing are governed by material variables that affect the fusion with some interactions. In this research, the aim was to characterize the effects of formulation ingredients on fusion characteristics of PVC. Four material parameters, including the contents of nanoclay (NC), azodicarbonamide, calcium stearate, and processing aid, are proposed as affecting variables. The fusion time (FT) as well as fusion factor (FF) are considered fusion indicators and are experimentally determined in some different levels of affecting parameters. The multivariable regression analysis (MRA) and the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling are considered as two analytical methods. The regression analysis result for the FT denotes, in part, significant linear and quadratic effects of NC and also its significant interactions with azodicarbonamide and calcium stearate, whereas that of FF indicates only a linear effect of NC. ANN modeling is performed with a three‐layer (input, hidden, and output) neural network. The results of the comparison of the MRA and ANN predictions with experimental values are reported as the correlation coefficient (R²), mean‐square error, and mean absolute percentage error for both FF and FT parameters. The obtained values clearly denote that the ANN results are more precise and especially more general than those of MRA. However, in the case of FT, improvement of the ANN modeling is much greater than that of FF. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:147–155, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

High areal capacitance of FeOOH-carbon nanotube negative electrodes for asymmetric supercapacitors

The relatively low capacitance of negative electrodes, as compared to the capacitance of advanced positive electrodes, poses a serious problem, since this limits the development of asymmetric supercapacitor (SC) devices with a large voltage window and enhanced power-energy characteristics. We fabricate negative SC electrodes with a high capacitance that match the capacitance of advanced positive electrodes at similar active mass loadings, as high as 37?mg?cm^?2. Cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge-discharge data and the power-energy characteristics of the asymmetric SC device exhibit good electrochemical performance for a voltage window of 1.6?V. Our approach involves the development and application of particle extraction through liquid-liquid interface (PELLI) methods, new extraction mechanisms and efficient extractors to synthesize α-FeOOH and β-FeOOH electrode materials. The use of PELLI allows agglomerate-free processing of powders, which facilitates their efficient mixing with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and allows improved electrolyte access to the particle surface. Experiments to determine the properties of FeOOH-MWCNT composites provided insight into the influence of the electrode material and the structure of extractor molecules on the composite properties. The highest capacitance of 5.86?F?cm^?2 for negative electrodes and low impedance were achieved using α-FeOOH-MWCNT composites and a 16-phosphonohexadecanoic acid (PHDA) extractor. This extractor allows adsorption on particles, not only at the liquid-liquid interface, but also in the bulk aqueous phase and can potentially be used as a capping agent for particle synthesis and as an extractor in the PELLI method.     

Quasi-static stress fields for a crack inclined to the property gradation in functionally graded materials

Summary.  Quasi-static stress fields for a crack inclined to the direction of property gradation in functionally graded materials (FGMs) are obtained through an asymptotic analysis coupled with Westergaard's stress function approach. The elastic modulus of the FGM is assumed to vary exponentially along the gradation direction. The mode mixity due to the inclination of the property gradient is accommodated in the analysis through superposition of opening and shear modes. The first four terms in the expansion of the stress field are derived to explicitly bring out the influence of nonhomogeneity on the structure of the stress field. Using these stress field contours of constant maximum shear stress, constant maximum principal stress, constant first stress invariant and constant out of plane displacement are generated, and the effect of inclination of the property gradation direction on these contours is discussed. Received September 22, 2002 Published online: May 20, 2003 The financial support of National Science Foundation (NSF) under grant no. CMS 99000138 is gratefully acknowledged.     

Synthesis of new sulphides of transition metal ions in presence of sun light

New sulphides of transition metal ions [M⁺ⁿ = Cu⁺¹, Cu⁺² and Zn⁺²] have been synthesised in sunlight. XRD patterns show that these compounds are not MxSy but are mercaptyl, hydroxyl metal sulphides [M(SH)(OH)(H₂O)₂] which is further ascertained by I.R. spectra showing bands due to T _d-symmetry. ESCA of compound of copper in solid state shows presence of Cu¹⁺ and Cu²⁺ ion. The presence of hydroxyl, mercaptyl, aqua and S^–2 groups has finally been confirmed with TGA, DTA and ESCA. Conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements show that compound of copper is p-type semiconductor and compound of zinc is n-type semiconductor. The production of these low cost materials opens an interesting area of research and development for their use in solar cell devices.     

Electrical characterization of homoepitaxial diamond p–n junction

Electrical properties of homoepitaxial diamond p–n⁺ junction of boron (B)-doped p-type layer and phosphorus-doped n-type layer on Ib (111) diamond single crystal have been characterized. Current–voltage characteristics show a clear rectifying property with rectification ratio of over 10⁵ at ± 10 V. From capacitance–voltage characteristics, it is found that a spatial distribution of space-charge density N_i of the p–n⁺ junction is not uniform and N_i at a middle region of the space-charge layer formed at zero bias voltage is higher than that of other region of the space-charge layer. This peculiar characteristic can be explained by superposition of two effects; one is the deep dopant effect due to B atoms in the p-type layer, which makes to reduce N_i at around the edge of the space-charge layer formed at zero bias voltage. The other is the compensation of B acceptors by impurity atoms diffusing during the p–n⁺ interface and incorporating during the growth of p-type layer, which makes to reduce N_i at the vicinity of the p–n⁺ interface.     

喷射沉积SiCP/Al复合材料及6066铝合金热挤压工艺的研究

作者应用喷射共沉积工艺制备 6 0 6 6 / Si Cp复合材料和 6 0 6 6铝合金锭坯 ,在不同的挤压比、挤压温度下挤压成　　型 ,用金相显微镜观察材料的显微组织 ,并测试了材料的力学性能。结果表明 :Si C/ Al复合材料喷射沉积状态的组织很疏松 ,存在许多的间隙 ,其密度约为理论密度的 86 % ,Si C颗粒在复合材料中分布不均匀 ,喷射沉积铝合金基体的致密度可达 90 % ;挤压过程使 Al/ Si Cp复合材料的大多数空隙消失 ,致密程度随挤压比的增大而增大 ,挤压比超过 14 .7后不会明显变化 ,而铝合金基体的致密程度与挤压比的变化关系不明显 ;挤压温度对材料的致密程度影响不大 ;Al/ Si Cp复合材料性能在挤压比超过 14 .7后变化不大 ;铝合金的性能不受挤压比变化的影响 ;而挤压温度过高使材料性能下降