Flame retardancy and smoke suppression of magnesium hydroxide filled polyethylene

In this work, halogen‐free, flame‐retarded polyethylene was investigated to study the effect of inorganic fillers on the improvement of flame retardancy and the suppression of smoke density. Through analyses on the thermal stability and smoke density, it was found that the flame retardancy developed by magnesium hydroxide could effectively be increased by the additional incorporation of zinc borate and talc. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed when zinc borate and talc were incorporated together. This result was confirmed by the observation of fire performance with cone calorimetry. A morphological study supported the idea that the improvement in the flame retardancy and the suppression of smoke density was due to hard and compact charred layers formed by the interactions between polymer and inorganic fillers. The charred layers provided a good thermal and flame barrier. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 936–944, 2003     

Studies of fly ash using thermal analysis techniques

Improved thermoanalytical methods have been developed that are capable of quantitative identification of various components of fly ash from a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustion system. The thermogravimetric procedure developed can determine quantities of H₂O, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, CaSO₄ and carbonaceous matter in fly ash with accuracy comparable to more time-consuming ASTM methods. This procedure is a modification of the Mikhail-Turcotte methods that can accurately analyze bed ash, with higher accuracy regarding the greater amount of carbonaceous matter in fly ash. In addition, in conjunction with FTIR and SEM/EDS analyses, the reduction mechanism of CaSO₄ as CaSO₄+4H₂ CaS + 4H₂O has been confirmed in this study. This mechanism is important in analyzing and evaluating sulfur capture in fluidized-bed combustion systems.     

Determination of arsenic in fly ash by hydride generation in a slurry

We have studied the generation of arsenic hydride on a fly ash slurry from a thermal power plant burning lignite. The conditions for the formation of the slurry were optimized and the influence of the presence of various surfactants on the formation and stability of slurry (particle size-analytical signal ratio) were investigated.The As content in the ash was 78.7 g/g, with an rsd of 5.6% and a detection limit of 2.8 ng. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of arsenic in a certified ash sample (BCR-38). This method was applied to fly ash from a thermal power plant burning anthracite.     

Coal fly ash decomposes diethyl phthalate

Decomposition of diethyl phthalate (DEP) exposed to a coal fly ash has been investigated in water by measuring UV-VIS spectra and GC-MS. Alkaline constituents eluted from the fly ash in the liquid phase gradually hydrolyzed DEP to produce monoethyl phthalate and/or phthalic acid. These products were adsorbed on the fly ash and decarboxylated into ethyl benzoate and benzoic acid, respectively, followed by decomposition into benzenes and/or the other compounds of lower molecular weight. The fly ash acts as not only an adsorbent but also a decomposer.     

Fast physics-chemical characterization of fly ash

This paper analyzes the effect of fly ash chemical character on early Portland cement hydration and the possible adverse effects generated by the addition of gypsum. Behaviour was analyzed for pure Portland cements with varying mineralogical compositions and two types of fly ash, likewise differing in chemical composition, which were previously characterized under sulphate attack as: silicic-ferric-aluminic or aluminic-silicic ash in chemical character, irrespective if they are in nature, siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials according to the ASTM C 618-94a. The experimental results showed that water demand for paste with a normal consistency increased with the replacement ratio in fly ash with a more aluminic than silicic chemical character, whereas it declined when silicic-ferric-aluminic ash was used. On the other hand, the differences between the total heat of hydration released at the first valley and the second peak also clearly differentiated the two types of ash. While the relative differences increased in the more aluminic than silicic ash, they declined in the more silicic than aluminic. In another vein, the findings indicate that within a comparable Blaine fineness range, the reactive alumina (Al₂O₃^r−) content in pozzolanic additions has a greater effect on mortar strength than the reactive silica (SiO₂^r−) content, at least in early ages up to 28 days. Finally, the adverse effect generated in the presence of excess gypsum is due primarily to the chemical interaction between the gypsum and the C₃A in the Portland cement and the reactive alumina (Al₂O₃^r−) in the fly ash.     

Speciation of chromium in Australian fly ash

The concentrations of chromium (III) and (VI) in fly ash from nine Australian coal fired power stations were determined. Cr(VI) was completely leached by extraction with 0.01 M NaOH solution and the concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). This was confirmed by determining Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the extracts of fly ash that had been spiked with chromium salts. These analytical measurements were done using a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and ICP-AES. The elutant was 0.05 M HNO₃ containing 0.5%-CH₃OH. When the column was operated at a flow rate of 1.2 ml min⁻¹ and samples were injected by use of a sample loop with a volume of 100 μl, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in sample solution was exclusively separated within approximately 10 min. The detection limits (3σ) were 5 ng for Cr(III) (0.050 mg l⁻¹) and 9 ng for Cr(VI) (0.090 mg l⁻¹), respectively. A relative standard deviation of 1.9% (n = 6) was obtained for the determination by IC-ICP-AES of 0.25 mg l⁻¹ Cr(III) and Cr(VI).     

Flame retardancy and heat resistance of phenol-biphenylene-type epoxy resin compound modified with benzoguanamine

The flame retardancy and heat resistance of a phenol-biphenylene-type epoxy resin compound, which forms a self-extinguishing network structure, were increased by the inclusion of a benzoguanamine-modified phenol biphenylene resin. The benzoguanamine-modified phenol biphenylene resin contains a benzoguanamine unit to release non-flammable nitrogen substances during ignition and to increase the resin's reactivity toward epoxy resins, and biphenylene units to keep the resin's thermal degradation and water resistance. The addition of the benzoguanamine-modified phenol biphenylene resin in the epoxy resin compound improved the epoxy resin compound's flame retardancy and heat resistance, and also increased its glass transition temperature while maintaining its water resistance and mechanical properties. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of PVC/fly ash composites

In this study, the kinetics and mechanisms of thermal degradation of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) composites reinforced with class-F fly ash are studied experimentally and numerically using Flynn–Wall model. The addition of fly ash to the polymer matrix results in a decrease in the primary degradation temperature and an increase in the secondary degradation temperature. The metal oxides in the fly ash act as acid absorbers, which results in the destabilization of PVC during its dehydrochlorination process. However, they also react with the chlorine free radicals, which prevents the formation of HCl during degradation. In addition, it is observed that calcium and iron oxides, present in fly ash, are more reactive to the chlorine radicals rather than the silicon and aluminum oxides. The effect of fly ash chemical composition on the degradation of PVC composites was studied by comparing the thermal properties of composites containing two different classes of fly ashes, class-F and class-C, at similar levels. Thermal stability of the composites is found to be dependent on the chemical composition of fly ash. Higher dehydrochlorination rate is observed in the case of composites filled with class-F fly ash than those reinforced with class-C fly ash.     

TiO2@Ag修饰的粉煤灰微集料增强水泥基材料光催化性能

自清洁和空气净化能力是绿色建筑发展的两个重要方向,它们不仅使建筑体向功能多样化方向发展,而且为新材料的应用提供了平台.因与大量城市环境污染物(氮氧化物,挥发性有机化合物等)直接接触,具有空气净化能力的光催化水泥基材料引起了人们广泛关注.在过去几十年里,通过使用直接喷洒到浆体表层或与水泥原材料预先共混的方法,国内外已相继将TiO2光催化材料应用到了一些实际工程中.但TiO2光催化剂在水泥基材料中高效和稳定发挥其性能仍需解决两个关键问题:(1)它在水泥基体中分散性和效能耐久性问题;(2)其量子效率和对可见光利用率问题.对于后者,目前的材料制备与改性方法,如金属、非金属改性等已能获得量子效率和可见光活性都较好的TiO2类光催化材料.研究表明,水泥水化产物(氢氧化钙、C-S-H凝胶等)的包覆、后期碳化所致气体和光线扩散孔隙的降低是导致TiO2光催化剂在水泥基材料中耐久性和利用率差的可能原因.我们前期报道了一种将纳米TiO2催化剂预先负载到水泥基材料用的多孔粗集料表面,然后将负载型催化剂整体引入到水泥基体中的催化剂应用方法,发现该法能有效提升TiO2催化剂在水泥基材料中的催化效率和耐久性.微米级活性粉煤灰具有良好的水泥基材料兼容性,通过采用简单的碱激发手段,可形成孔径小于50 nm的介孔和微孔类沸石材料,从而影响光催化材料的催化性能.因此,基于粉煤灰的特征,为了进一步提高TiO2催化剂在水泥基材料中的应用效率和催化耐久性,我们采用碱激发法获得了大比表面和介孔结构的沸石类粉煤灰材料,将其用于负载纳米TiO2催化剂,然后引入到水泥基体中,制备了沸石类粉煤灰/TiO2光催化水泥基材料,同时研究了光还原Ag修饰对沸石类粉煤灰/TiO2光催化水泥基材料的催化性能影响及其催化耐久性.结果表明,具有分级孔结构的沸石粉煤灰载体可有效提升纳米TiO2光催化剂在水泥基体中的暴露度,同时还增加了其对气相苯(200×10–6初始浓度)的光催化去除能力.最佳Ag修饰量(1.4×10–4 wt%)沸石类粉煤灰/TiO2光催化水泥样品对气相苯的光催化伪一级反应速率常数达到9.91×10–3 min?1,分别是沸石类粉煤灰/TiO2光催化水泥样品和纯TiO2光催化水泥样品效能的3和10倍.光催化稳定性结果发现,在3次催化循环后,样品对气相苯的光催化去除率仍能达到96.3%(180 min).考虑到水泥基材料碳化是影响光催化剂使用耐久性的一个关键因素,我们还评估了沸石类粉煤灰/TiO2光催化水泥样品28 d加速碳化后的光催化性能.结果表明,经过加速碳化后,样品对气相苯光催化去除率只降低了11%,相比于同条件下纯TiO2水泥样品性能,其催化耐久性显著提高,表明沸石类粉煤灰载体可有效提升TiO2在水泥基体中的催化耐久性.这可能是由于其高孔隙特性可降低周围水泥水化产物的形成量,如高钙/硅比C-S-H凝胶及氢氧化钙结晶,进而降低了这些水化产物碳化所带来的影响.     

Flame retardancy and smoke suppression of silicone foams with microcapsulated aluminum hypophosphite and zinc borate

The flame‐retardant microcapsules were successfully fabricated with an aluminum hypophosphite (AHP) core. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to verify that AHP was encapsulated in the microcapsules, and thermogravimetry analysis showed that microencapsulated AHP (MAHP) possessed higher thermal stability than that of AHP. Then, a flame‐retardant and smoke suppression system for silicone foams (SiFs) was obtained through a synergistic effect of MAHP and zinc borate (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O). The mechanical properties, flame retardance, and smoke suppression of SiFs with MAHP and zinc borate were tested using the tensile test, limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, UL‐94 test, and cone calorimeter test. The mechanical properties indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break of SiFs could evidently improve with the incorporation of MAHP. Compared with pure SiF, SiF8 with 4.5‐wt% MAHP and 1.5‐wt% zinc borate could achieve an LOI value of 30.7 vol% and an UL‐94 V‐0 rating, the time to ignition amplified almost six times, the peak heat release rate and total heat release were 51.10% and 46.00% less than that of pure SiF, respectively, the fire performance index increased nearly 13 times, and the fire growth index value was only 13.18% of pure SiF. Moreover, the partial substitution of zinc borate imparted a substantial improvement in both flame retardancy and smoke suppression. Especially, the peak smoke production rate and total smoke production of SiF8 were merely 38.46% and 38.84% of pure SiF.     

Reactivity of fly ash in cement paste studied by means of thermogravimetry and isothermal calorimetry

Four paste mixtures with varying replacement level of the cement content by fly ash have been studied. Due to fly ash, the acceleration period decreased and a third hydration peak was noticed with isothermal calorimetry. The total heat after 7 days increased with increasing fly ash content. From 1 to 7 days, thermogravimetry showed a higher chemically bound water and Ca(OH)₂-content for the pastes with fly ash. Between 7 and 14 days the calcium hydroxide started to be depleted due to the pozzolanic reaction. A unique relation was found between calcium hydroxide and total heat development.     

燃煤飞灰中铁质微珠的显微结构及其组成研究

选用我国三个典型燃煤煤种的电厂飞灰中铁质微珠,进行显微结构与物相组成等方面的研究。揭示出铁质微珠中存在空心微珠、子母珠和实心微珠三种显微颗粒类型,在这些显微颗粒表面可识别出以微粒状和八面体自形晶两种方式存在的赤铁矿和磁铁矿析晶;元素分析表明,燃烧褐煤电厂铁质微珠主要由Fe、Ca、Al、和Si元素组成,燃烧烟煤和无烟煤的电厂铁质微珠主要由Fe、Al和Si元素组成;物相分析发现,Fe在铁质微珠中以四种存在形式：Fe3O4、α-Fe2O3、γ-Fe2O3和Fe3+-玻璃相。这些物相在三个电厂飞灰中呈现出不同的分布特征,反映出不同的燃煤煤种在锅炉中燃烧温度的差异。随着温度的升高,Fe3O4先氧化为γ-Fe2O3,或γ-Fe2O3与Fe3O4的固熔体,然后再转变为α-Fe2O3,当温度超过 1 400 ℃时,Fe2O3又转化为Fe3O4。     

Determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) was optimized. Most of the experiments were performed on NBS SRM 1633a Coal Fly Ash with a certified value of 160 ± 10 ng Hg g^?1. The main attention was focused on the decomposition of the sample. The efficacy of pressure decompositions in closed silica and sealed Pyrex tubes using various combinations of acids (HNO₃, HCl, HClO₄) was compared with oxidative combustion of the coal fly ash. Notwithstanding the incomplete mineralization of the sample in sealed tubes, the results obtained showed good agreement with the certified value and results obtained by neutron activation analysis (NAA), which suggests that mercury is quantitatively released from the sample into solution. Lower results were obtained using decomposition in closed (but not hermetically sealed) silica tubes owing to losses of mercury by volatilization during decomposition. Interferences from some metal ions (nickel, lead, copper, silver, palladium, zinc and antimony) were also examined. The results showed a serious depression of the mercury signal only when gold, palladium and platinum were present at higher concentrations, which never or very seldom occur in fly ash matrices, and therefore do not represent a limitation of the method.     

Investigations of cement early hydration in the presence of chemically activated fly ash

The paper describes an attempt of chemical activation of fly ash and claims the usefulness of combination of such investigation methods as calorimetry and infrared absorption for investigations of early periods of cement hydration. The research samples were cement pastes made with an addition of fly ash and admixtures of chemical activators, CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄ and NaOH, whereas a cement paste without fly ash addition and a cement-fly ash paste (both without admixtures) were used as reference samples. In order to investigate early periods of cement pastes hydration, the amount and rate of heat release were registered, and IR spectrums were checked at appointed hydration moments. As a result, it was shown that the combination of calorimetric and IR absorption methods in the investigations of early periods of cement hydration was useful. It was confirmed that the use of chemical activators CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄ and NaOH accelerated the hydration of cement pastes containing fly ash additive in early hours after adding water. The action of activators on hydrating cement system is different for each of investigated compounds.     

Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from bagasse fly ash

Activated carbons from bagasse fly ash (BFA) were prepared by one step chemical activation using ZnCl₂ as activating agent, or combination method of chemical with CO₂ physical activation (physicochemical activation). The development of porosity was studied in correlation with the method of activation, activation temperature, and also the chemical weight ratio. A typical sample by the combination method at 600 °C and weight ratio of ZnCl₂:BFA = 2 exhibited micropore volume of 0.528 cc/g, mesopore volume of 0.106 cc/g and surface area of 1200 m²/g. For determining the adsorption capacity of the carbon samples in solutions, phenol and methylene blue equilibrium adsorption experiments were conducted. The properties and adsorption capacity of the synthesized activated carbons has been compared to commercial activated carbon (Norit^® SX Plus).     

Direct determination of Ge in hot spring waters and coal fly ash samples by hydride generation-ETAAS

A method for Ge determination in hot spring water and acid extracts from coal fly ash samples involving hydride generation, trapping and atomisation of the hydride generated from Ir-treated graphite tubes (GTs) has been developed. Hydride was generated from hydrochloric acid medium using sodium tetrahydroborate. Several factors affecting the hydride generation, transport, trapping and atomisation efficiency were studied by using a Plackett-Burman design. Results obtained from Plackett-Burman designs suggest that trapping and atomisation temperatures are the significant factors involved on the procedure. The accuracy was studied using NIST-1633a (coal fly ash) reference material. The detection limit of the proposed method was 2.4 μg l⁻¹ and the characteristic mass of 233 pg was achieved. The Ge concentrations in fly ash and hot spring samples were between 6.25-132 μg g⁻¹ and 12.84-36.2 μg l⁻¹.     

Specific features of adsorption of azo dyes on fly ash

A possibility to utilize fly ash (FA) formed at coal-fired power plants as a cheap adsorbent for the purification of wastewater containing azo dyes methylene blue (MB) and methyl red (MR) was considered. The effect of an FA additive on the adsorption capacity of active carbon was studied. The efficiency of FA as an adsorbent for the purification of aqueous solutions from MB and MR was shown. The adsorption is also fairly efficient when active carbon is partially replaced by FA. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 545–548, March, 2007.     

垃圾焚烧飞灰颗粒的微观形态特征及能谱研究

利用SEM/EDX，观察了垃圾焚烧飞灰颗粒的微观形态特征，探讨了其主要组成元素及其质量分数。实验结果表明，飞灰颗粒形态多样化，其中以不规则形状聚合体居多，球形体、絮状集合体相对较少，少数颗粒为棒状集合体。球形飞灰颗粒很少有重金属分布，不规则形状聚合体或絮状集合体的表面易分布重金属。从飞灰颗粒表面、内部组成元素的质量分数来看，Si、Ca、Al为主要元素。飞灰颗粒表面、内部有重金属Pb、Cu等分布，局部测定点其质量分数可高达16.2%和14.5%。     

Chemical characterization of density separated submicrometer coal fly ash

A new geometrical particle size separation method in the range of submicrometer has been developed for coal fly ash. Coal fly ash particles prefractionated less than 5m in geometrical diameter were fractionated with a coupling of supersonical dispersion in methyl alcohol and filtration through antistatic Nucleopore filter into >1.0, 1.0–0.8, 0.8–0.6m.Submicrometer (1.0–0.6m) and micrometer coal fly ash (25–20m) were separated into six density fractions and their compositions measured by SEM-EDX were compared. For the both size fractions, for the low density fractions (<2.8 g/cm³) consisted mainly of aluminosilicates and the fractions of 2.8–3.2 g/cm³ consisted of oxides of aluminum, silicon and calcium, and in the fraction above 3.2 g/cm³ iron was rich. In submicrometer fly ash, phosphor and sulfur concentrated to the particles rich in calcium. In the heaviest fraction, the particles containing over 30 wt% titanium as oxide observed among the particles rich in iron. These fractions were revealed not as a single component, but as mixtures of several components.     

粉煤灰物化性质对单质汞吸附性能的影响

在固定床实验台上考察了三种不同来源粉煤灰对单质汞的吸附性能,采用X射线荧光光谱仪、X射线光电子能谱仪、激光粒度分析仪、扫描电子显微镜等对不同粉煤灰的物化性质进行了表征,并探讨了物化性质对汞吸附性能的影响。结果表明,粉煤灰对汞的吸附包括物理吸附和化学吸附;粉煤灰中未燃尽碳是影响粉煤灰汞吸附性能的重要因素之一,其中,表面C元素与Ti、Si等元素(M)相互作用形成的"C-M"化学键促进了单质汞的氧化,同时粉煤灰中含有的无机化合物Fe₂O₃等也对单质汞的氧化有促进作用;增大比表面积和减小孔径,及适中的颗粒粒径均有利于提高粉煤灰单质汞吸附性能。