Catechol‐Functionalized Polyolefins

The incorporation of comonomers during ethylene polymerization can efficiently modulate important material properties of the polyolefins. Utilizing bioresourced comonomers for the generation of high‐performance polyolefin materials is attractive from a sustainability point of view. In this contribution, bioresourced eugenol and related comonomers were incorporated into polyolefins through palladium‐catalyzed copolymerization and terpolymerization reactions. Importantly, high‐molecular‐weight catechol‐functionalized polyolefins can be generated. The introduction of different metal ions induces efficient interactions with the incorporated catechol groups, leading to enhanced mechanical properties and self‐healing properties. Moreover, the catechol functionality can greatly improve other properties such as surface properties, adhesion properties, and compatibilizing properties. The catechol‐functionalized polyolefin was demonstrated as a versatile platform polymer for accessing various materials with dramatically different properties.     

Toward Uniform Optical Properties of Carbon Dots

Carbon dots possess versatile optical properties that have prompted their investigation in applications including photocatalysis, photovoltaics, imaging, and drug delivery, among others. However, the preparation of these nanodots is accompanied by the formation of fluorophores and intermediates, which can be difficult to separate. In the absence of thorough purification protocols, the reported optical properties are often heterogeneous, which hinders understanding of their physicochemical and optical properties and concrete application development. Here, two hydrophilic carbon dot systems starting with citric acid and diethylenetriamine are prepared. The impact of purification, including dialysis, ultrafiltration, and organic washes, on the properties of the dots is demonstrated. It is shown that monitoring the purification endpoint using near-infrared, fluorescence, and absorbance spectroscopies is possible. Moreover, it is demonstrated that fluorescence quantum yields can be a reliable tool to determine the purification endpoint. This work shows that even carbon dots derived from the same chemical precursors can have different purification profiles and purification requirements. However, the developed approach can be used to determine the proper purification procedure and endpoint for any carbon dot system regardless of the starting materials. Finally, it is envisioned that this work can be easily extended toward the purification of other hydrophilic nanomaterials.     

The recent progress of functionally graded CNT reinforced composites and structures

In the last decade,the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composites(FG-CNTRCs)have attracted considerable interest due to their excellent mechanical properties,and the structures made of FG-CNTRCs have found broad potential applications in aerospace,civil and ocean engineering,automotive industry,and smart structures.Here we review the literature regarding the mechanical analysis of bulk CNTR nanocomposites and FG-CNTRC structures,aiming to provide a clear picture of the mechanical modeling and properties of FG-CNTRCs as well as their composite structures.The review is organized as follows:(1)a brief introduction to the functionally graded materials(FGM),CNTRCs and FG-CNTRCs;(2)a literature review of the mechanical modeling methodologies and properties of bulk CNTRCs;(3)a detailed discussion on the mechanical behaviors of FG-CNTRCs;and(4)conclusions together with a suggestion of future research trends.     

NO分子宏观气体热力学性质的理论研究

采用量子统计系综理论,研究了基态NO分子宏观气体摩尔熵、摩尔内能、摩尔热容等热力学性质.首先应用课题组前期建立的变分代数法(variational algebraic method, VAM)计算获得了基态NO分子的完全振动能级,得到的VAM振动能级作为振动部分,结合欧拉-麦克劳林渐进展开公式的转动贡献,应用于经典的热力学与统计物理公式中,从而计算得到了1000-5000 K温度范围内NO宏观气体的摩尔内能、摩尔熵和摩尔热容.将不同方法计算得到的摩尔热容结果分别与实验值进行比较,结果表明基于VAM完全振动能级获得的结果优于其他方法获得的理论结果.振动部分采用谐振子模型对无限能级求和计算热力学性质的方法有一定的局限性,应当使用有限的完全振动能级进行统计求和.     

Initial boundary value problem for a class of strongly damped semilinear wave equations with logarithmic nonlinearity

This paper deals with the initial boundary value problem for strongly damped semilinear wave equations with logarithmic nonlinearity $u_{tt}-\Delta u-\Delta u_t={\phi }_p\left(u\right)log\left|u\right|$ in a bounded domain $\Omega \subset {\mathbb{R}}^n$. We discuss the existence, uniqueness and polynomial or exponential energy decay estimates of global weak solutions under some appropriate conditions. Moreover, we derive the finite time blow up results of weak solutions, and give the lower and upper bounds for blow-up time by the combination of the concavity method, perturbation energy method and differential–integral inequality technique.     

Bio-silica incorporated barium ferrite composites: Evaluation of structure,morphology, magnetic and microwave absorption traits

A series of bio-silica incorporated barium-ferrite-composites with the composition of (x)Bio-SiO₂:(80-x)γ-Fe₂O₃:(20)BaO, where x = 0, 1, 2, and 3 wt% were prepared using the modified solid-state reaction method. The influence of different bio-silica (extricated from sintered rice husk) contents on the surface morphologies, structures, and magnetic characteristics of these composites were assessed. The relative complex permittivity and permeability were resolved using the Nicholson-Ross-Weir strategy in the frequency range of 8–13 GHz. Meanwhile, the reflection loss was estimated through the transmission/reflection line theory to assess the MW absorption properties of the composites. Incorporation of the bio-silica in the barium ferrite composites generated a new hexagonal phase (Ba₃Fe₃₂O₅₁) and a tetragonal phase (BaFeSi₄O₁₀) which led to a decrease in the saturation magnetization and significant shift in the MW frequency absorption peak positions.     

Identifying the viscoelastic properties of soft matter from the indentation response of a hard film-soft substrate system

The indentation technique is widely used in measuring the mechanical properties of soft matter at the microscale or nanoscale,but still faces challenges by these unique properties as well as the consequent strong surface adhesion, including the strong nonlinear effect, unclear judgment of the contact point, difficulties in estimating the contact area, and the risk of the indenter piercing the sample. Here we propose a two-step method to solve these problems: lay a hard film on a soft matter, and obtain the viscoelastic properties of this soft matter through the indentation response of this composite structure. We first establish a theoretical indentation model of the hard film-soft substrate system based on the theory of plates, elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle and Boltzmann superposition principle. To verify the correctness of this method, we measure the mechanical properties of the methyl vinyl silicone rubber(MVSR) covered by a Cu nanofilm. Finally, we test the effectiveness and error sensitivity of this method with the finite element method(FEM). The results show that our method can accurately measure the mechanical properties of soft matter, while effectively circumventing the problems of the traditional indentation technique.     

核电结构土-结相互作用分析分区混合计算方法

土-结构相互作用分析是核电结构进行抗震设计和安全评估的重要环节.在核电结构的土-结相互作用分析中,阻尼和非线性是影响结构反应的重要因素. 若采用频域分析,可以方便考虑阻尼,但需通过等效线性化来考虑非线性,不适合于强震作用下的土体非线性.若采用时域分析的逐步积分方法,适合于考虑非线性,但材料阻尼一般采用瑞利阻尼模型,除了紧靠指定阻尼比的少数几个振型外,其他振型的反应将受到瑞利阻尼模型所确定的大阻尼所抑制,造成地震反应与真实情形有较大差异.若采用时域分析的模态叠加法,可合理计入阻尼效应,但模态叠加法不能考虑非线性.因此,如何合理考虑阻尼和非线性是核电结构土-结相互作用分析需要关注的问题.基于此,本文提出一种模态叠加和时步积分结合的土-结相互作用分区算法.其中,出于安全性考虑,地震作用下核电主体结构一般不允许进入非线性,因此结构可采用模态叠加方法,以便合理考虑结构阻尼;土体和基础采用显式时步积分法,可考虑土体非线性;通过人工边界条件考虑无限域的影响 (辐射阻尼).通过简单算例对该方法进行了验证,并用于CAP1400核电结构的土-结相互作用分析中,对比分析了采用模态阻尼和瑞利阻尼时核电结构和场地反应的差异,结果表明结构阻尼模型对场地的反应影响不大,但对结构反应影响明显,在实际工程中应合理选取阻尼模型.      

基于内聚力模型的快速荷载下CFRP-混凝土界面剪切剥离模拟

鉴于纤维增强复合材料(Fiber Reinforced Polymer, FRP)已在混凝土结构加固中普遍应用, 能有效提高结构的承载和变形能力. 为揭示动载作用下FRP-混凝土界面的剥离机理, 本文基于ABAQUS平台, 采用内聚力模型模拟CFRP-混凝土界面层, 实现了快速荷载下CFRP-混凝土界面剥离的高效模拟. 结果表明: CFRP表面应变在加载过程中由加载端向自由端方向传递, 随着加载速率的提高, 界面承载能力也随之提高; 界面峰值剪应力也存在显著的应变率效应; 模拟结果与试验结果基本吻合, 说明了新方法的有效性.