Enhanced mechanical properties of unidirectional basalt fiber/epoxy composites using silane-modified Na+-montmorillonite nanoclay

This study explores the effects of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (3-GPTS) modified Na-montmorillonite (Na-Mt) nanoclay addition on mechanical response of unidirectional basalt fiber (UD-BF)/epoxy composite laminates under tensile, flexural and compressive loadings. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) data confirmed the reaction mechanism between the silane compound and Mt. It was demonstrated that addition of 5 wt % 3-GPTS/Mt resulted in 28%, 11% and 35% increase in flexural, tensile and compressive strengths. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) clarified the improvement in the adhesion between the basalt fibers and matrix in the case of Mt-enhanced epoxy specimens. Also, a theoretical route based on a Euler-Bernoulli beam-based approach was employed to estimate the compressive properties of the composites. The results demonstrated good agreement between theoretical and experimental approaches. Totally, the results of the study show that matrix modification is an effective strategy to improve the mechanical behavior of fibrous composites.     

Phase field modeling precipitation of β-phase and mechanical properties change in Zr–Nb alloys under neutron irradiation

ABSTRACT

We study microstructure transformation in Zr–Nb system under neutron irradiation and its mechanical properties change under mechanical loads in a form of shear deformation by using phase field methodology. The developed phase field approach takes into account defects dynamics based on reaction rate theory and elastic contribution to study mechanical properties change. A numerical modeling is provided in three stages: sample preparation, irradiation of the prepared sample and mechanical loading of the irradiated sample. A precipitation of β-Niobium particles of the size of several nanometers is discussed. Results of phase field modeling indicate that β-Niobium particles grow slowly during irradiation due to point defects rearrangement. Statistical analysis of dynamics of radiation-induced microstructure transformations is provided. Simulation results of shear deformation of pre-irradiated and post-irradiated alloys are discussed. Maps of local distribution of strain and stress and strain–stress curves are obtained. Results are verified with experimental data.     

Microstructure evolution of room-temperature-sputtered ITO films suitable for silicon heterojunction solar cells

Thickness influence on structural, optical and electrical properties of sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) with thickness ranging from 60 up to 430 nm films has been studied. At the increase of the film thickness crystallinity degree and grain size increased, whereas tensile structural distortion as well as resistivity decreased. It was observed that a microstructure evolution takes place: the initial amorphous layer evolved in polycrystalline phase, with a grain–subgrain surface morphology. Carrier concentration increased at the increase of the film thickness and a general relationship between electrical characteristics and structural distortion has been found. In thinner films larger tensile distortion allowed to include larger amount of interstitial O and/or Sn atoms in the lattice. An appreciable impact of the thickness was also observed on electro-optical properties in terms of changes in energy gap, resistivity and optical absorption. Silicon heterojunction solar cells have been produced and J_sc as high as 33.0 mA/cm² has been obtained.     

Insight into the enhancement of photovoltaic properties of Ti-doped Copper(I) oxide via: Modified spray pyrolysis technique

For years, the human race has awaited a more convenient, greener, and largely efficient material for energy conversion and electronic applications. Cu₂O thin films produced by spray pyrolysis meet the economic viability and cost requirements, and it is widely assumed that they will lead to the production of functionally viable technologies. The spray pyrolysis method was used to added titanium into copper (I) oxide thin films with a deposition temperature of 200 °C and annealing for 2 h at 200 °C in this study. The Ti-doped Cu₂O's optical, surface morphology, and photovoltaic characteristics have all been thoroughly explored. The best characteristics were obtained at 3% Ti doped Cu₂O. The near-band emission of Ti-doped Cu₂O was moved from 385 nm to 400 nm. The bandgap was reduced from 2.35 to 1.98Ev at 3% Ti doped Cu₂O. As a result, Cu₂O (Ti)-based solar cells' short circuit current density and open circuit voltage were greatly improved. It has been demonstrated that adding Ti to p-CuO/n-Si solar cells enhances their photovoltaic performance.     

复合卤氧化铋纳米材料的合成及其光催化性能

采用低温沉淀法合成了一系列Bi OMxN1-x(M,N=Cl、Br、I)(0X1)复合材料,通过XRD、FESEM、TEM、EDS、UV-vis和PL等一系列表征和对有机物罗丹明光催化降解性能的研究表明:通过对复合材料合成过程中卤素离子含量的控制,使得此类固溶体具有独特的微观形貌和可控能带隙,使其在可见光下具有独特的光催化性能。在相同的光照条件下,Bi OCl0.5Br0.5、Bi OCl0.75I0.25和Bi OBr0.75I0.25相对于其他同系列的Bi OMxN1-x(M,N=Cl、Br、I)(0X1)微球样品而言,具有最好的光催化性能。     

Synthesis of polybutadienes with controllable microstructure by a novel binary Nd(3-NBSO3)3/alkylaluminum catalyst system

The polymerization of 1,3-butadiene was examined by using a novel halogen-free neodymium m-nitrobenzenesulfonate(Nd(3-NBSO3)3·donors)/alkylaluminum binary catalyst system. The catalyst showed fairly high activity and controllable selectivity. The microstructure of the resultant polymer was adjustable by variation of electron donor and/or the alkylaluminum. 13C-NMR and thermal analysis demonstrate that the produced polybutadienes have stereo-block chain structures of cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 segments with adjustable Tm and Tc. The neodymium sulfonate-based catalyst is believed to be significant in regulating the chain structure of polydienes and in exploring 1,3-diene polymerization mechanism.     

High-efficiency absorption of low NOX concentration in metallurgical flue gas using a three dimensional printed large-flow microstructured reactor

In the process of nitric acid dissolving precious metals, a large amount of NOx exhaust gas will be produced. This research aims at the development of a new method for the removal of low-concentration nitrogen oxides from metallurgical flue gas. In this process, a printed three-dimensional large-flow microstructure reactor and urea solution are used for the removal of NOx, which facilitates the greater efficiency of denitrification(≥94%). Urea plays an important role in the redox of NO₂, such as NO₂ is reduced to N₂ in solution. Both the gas and the liquid phase simultaneously react in the microchannels of the microfluidic reactor. The channels allow the proper mixing of urea and NaClO₂ during the flow which efficiently removes NO_x at low concentrations. The optimum condition for high denitration efficiency is outlined: the urea solution with 3%,temperature of the mixed solution is 293.15 K, gas–liquid flow mass ratio is 1:1, pH value (8.0–10.0), C_NaClO2 = 0.02 mol/L. This work successfully describes the use of a microfluidic reactor to enhance and maintain the denitration efficiency. This work describes how to successfully enhance and maintain the denitration efficiency while using a printed three-dimensional large-flow microstructure reactor.     

基于多孔金结构的三相界面酶电极的制备及高效电化学酶传感性能

界面微环境是影响酶催化反应及酶传感性能的关键因素. 本研究基于三维微纳米结构多孔金基底, 通过调控电极表面的亲水和疏水浸润性, 制备了具有固-液-气三相界面微环境的氧化酶电极, 并研究了界面微环境对酶催化反应动力学的影响规律. 基于所制备的三相界面多孔金结构酶电极, 反应物氧气能够从气相直接快速地传输到酶催化反应界面, 极大地提升了界面氧气浓度及其稳定性, 从而大幅度提高了氧化酶活性及酶电极响应的稳定性. 以葡萄糖为模型待测物, 基于该三相界面酶电极的电化学酶生物传感器拥有宽的线性范围、 高的灵敏度、 低的检出限以及良好的稳定性. 这类独特的三相反应界面设计为高效酶生物传感器的建构以及生物分子的精准检测提供了新思路.     

Modeling and prediction of bulk properties of open-cell carbon foam

The emerging ultralightweight material, carbon foam, was modeled with three-dimensional microstructures to develop a basic understanding in correlating microstructural configuration with bulk performance of open-cell foam materials. Because of the randomness and complexity of the microstructure of the carbon foam, representative cell ligaments were first characterized in detail at the microstructural level. The salient microstructural characteristics (or properties) were then correlated with the bulk properties through the present model. In order to implement the varying anisotropic nature of material properties in the foam ligaments, we made an attempt to use a finite element method to implement such variation along the ligaments as well as at a nodal point where the ligaments meet. The model was expected to provide a basis for establishing a process-property relationship and optimizing foam properties.The present model yielded a fairly reasonable prediction of the effective bulk properties of the foams. We observed that the effective elastic properties of the foams were dominated by the bending mode associated with shear deformation. The effective Young's modulus of the foam was strongly influenced by the ligament moduli, but was not influenced by the ligament Poisson's ratio. The effective Poisson's ratio of the foam was practically independent of the ligament Young's modulus, but dependent on the ligament Poisson's ratio. The effective Young's modulus of the carbon foam was dependent more on the transverse Young's modulus and the shear moduli of the foam ligaments, but less significantly on the ligament longitudinal Young's modulus. A parametric study indicated that the effective Young's modulus was significantly improved by increasing the solid modulus in the middle of the foam ligaments, but nearly invariant with that at the nodal point where the ligaments meet. Therefore, appropriate processing schemes toward improving the transverse and shear properties of the foam ligaments in the middle section of the ligaments rather than at the nodal points are highly desirable for enhancing the bulk moduli of the carbon foam.     

A variational approach to a micro-structured theory of solid-fluid mixtures

Summary In this paper, we present a micro-structured model for describing global deformations of heterogeneous mixtures. In particular, for a saturated solid-fluid mixture, we regard the solid volume fraction as a microstructural parameter so as to enlarge the space of admissible deformations with respect to the classical theory of mixtures. According to the variational approach, the governing equations are obtained as the stationarity of a suitable action functional. The micro-structured model is then forced to establish a second-gradient mixture theory, by introducing among the considered state parameters a suitable internal constraint. Finally, we determine under which (integrability) conditions the additional balance laws, typically employed to close the theory of porous media endowed with the volume fraction, can fit the variational framework. The authors wish to thank Prof. Francesco dell'Isola from University of Rome La Sapienza for his constructive criticism about the variational approach to continuum mechanics and the interpretation of the volume-fraction balance law.