Effects of EG and MoSi2 on thermal degradation of intumescent coating

An intumescent flame retardant coating was prepared with resin, solvent and flame retardant system composed of ammonium polyphosphate-APP, pentaerythritol-PER and melamine-MEL. The modifiers such as molybdenum disilicide (MoSi₂) and expandable graphite (EG) were used to improve the performances of the APP-PER-MEL coating. The effects of EG, MoSi₂ and MoSi₂/EG on the fireproofing time and char formation of the coating were investigated by using heat insulation test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electric microscope (SEM). The results showed that by adding modifiers, the fireproofing time was prolonged and char formation rate was evidently enhanced. The largest improvement was achieved with 9 wt.% MoSi₂/5 wt.% EG, XPS analysis indicated that the performance of anti-oxidation of the coating was improved by adding EG and MoSi₂, and SEM images showed that a good synergistic effect was obtained through a ceramic-like layer produced by MoSi₂ covered on the surface of “open-cellular” structural char.     

Effect of P/Si polymeric silsesquioxane and the monomer compound on thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposite

The unique polymeric silsesquioxane/4,4′-diglycidyether bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy nanocomposites have been prepared by sol-gel method. The structure of nanocomposites was characterized by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and solid state ²⁹Si NMR. The characteristic intensity of trisubstituted (T) structure was higher than that of tetrasubstituted (Q) structure from solid state ²⁹Si NMR spectra of 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPTS) modified epoxy. The activation energies of curing reaction of epoxy system and IPTS modified epoxy system are 28-66 kJ/mol and 57-75 kJ/mol, respectively, by Ozawa’s and Kissinger’s methods. The triethyoxysilane side chain of IPTS modified epoxy might interfere the curing reaction of epoxy/amine and increase the activation energy of curing. The thermal degradation of nanocomposites was investigated by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The char yield of nanocomposites was proportional to the 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyltriethoxysilane (DPPETES) moiety content at high temperature. A higher char content could inhibit thermal decomposition dramatically and enhance the thermal stability. Moreover, the nanocomposites possess high optical transparency.     

Thermal degradation and fire resistance of unsaturated polyester, modified acrylic resins and their composites with natural fibres

The thermal degradation and fire resistance of different natural fibre composites were studied. Unsaturated polyester (UP) and modified acrylic resins (Modar) were used as matrix composites. The smoke emission of the materials was also analysed, as well as, the performance against the fire of the biocomposites and glass reinforced composites was compared. Thermal degradation indicated that the Modar matrix composites were more resistant to temperature than the composites with UP matrix. Flax fibre, due to their low lignin content, exhibit the best thermal resistance among the natural fibres studied.From the results obtained about the thermal and fire resistance of the composites it is possible to conclude that the flax fibre seems to be the most adequate to be used, due to the long time to ignition and the long period prior to reach the flashover. On the other hand, the jute fibre composites showed a short duration but a quick growing fire with the lowest smoke emission. The low smoke is an important advantage, which reduces one of the main hazards of fire.     

The absorption and thermal behaviors of PET-SiO2 nanocomposite films

In this paper, to improve properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in thermal stability and barrier to water, the films of PET, PET with micronmeter Silica/Polystyrene (SiO₂/PS) composites (SPET) and PET with nano-SiO₂/PS composites (SNPET) are prepared and their water absorption and thermal stable behaviors are investigated.In the samples, silica load is optimized as 2 wt%, at which silica not only disperses well but also forms the tough morphology in PET as investigated by SEM. The nanoeffect and thermal degradation behaviors of SNPET are firstly presented.The water absorption experiments for the samples show that the maximum absorption water weight percentage (C_∞) and the pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D) of water reduce with SiO₂ particle size varying from 440 nm to 40 nm, and the barrier property to water of SNPET is superior to those of pure PET and SPET. At the minimum silica size of 40 nm, the C_∞ and D of SNPET approach the minimum values that are 0.946% and 7.075 × 10⁻¹³ m² s⁻¹, respectively. Fixing SiO₂ size at 40 nm, with un-modified SiO₂ and modified SiO₂, the core-shell SiO₂/PS nanocomposite particles are more effective on keeping PET from absorbing water. With the increase in nano-SiO₂ load, the C_∞ and D of SNPET films reduce, proving that the nano-SiO₂ particles can inhibit water absorption. When amorphous SNPET films are annealed at 130 °C, their C_∞ and D quickly decrease with the increase in annealing time, stating that the crystallized SNPET also retards the water absorption or diffusion in PET. Under oversaturated oxygen atmosphere, the C_∞ and D of amorphous PET and SNPET, and crystallized SNPET samples are higher than those of corresponding samples without flowing oxygen, showing that oxygen promotes the films to absorb water.TGA results show that SNPET keeps similar thermal degradation behavior under the conditions of with and without both water and oxygen. But SNPET is more thermally stable than PET.     

In situ prepared PBSu/SiO2 nanocomposites. Study of thermal degradation mechanism

A series of nanocomposites consisted of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) and fumed silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) were prepared using the in situ polymerization technique. The amount of SiO₂ used directly affected the final molecular weight of the prepared polyesters. At a low SiO₂ content (0.5 wt.%) the molecular weight obtained was higher compared to neat PBSu, however at higher concentrations this was gradually reduced. The melting point of the matrix remained unaffected by the addition of the nanoparticles, in contrast to the crystallinity, which was dramatically reduced at higher SiO₂ contents. This was mainly due to the extended branching and cross-linking reactions that took place between the carboxylic end groups of PBSu and the surface silanols of the nanoparticles. Thermal degradation of the PBSu/SiO₂ nanocomposites was studied by determining theirs mass loss during heating. From the variations of the activation energies, calculated from the thermogravimetric curves, it was clear that nanocomposites containing 1 wt.% SiO₂ content had a higher activation energy compared to pure PBSu, indicating that the addition of the nanoparticles could slightly increase the thermal stability of the matrix. However, in PBSu/SiO₂ nanocomposite containing 5 wt.% SiO₂ the activation energy was smaller. This phenomenon should be attributed to the existence of extended branched and cross-linked macromolecules, which reduce the thermal stability of PBSu, rather than to the addition of fumed silica nanoparticles.     

A two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopic study on the thermal degradation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)-co-methyl methacrylate/SiO2 nanohybrids

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) correlation spectroscopy was applied to study the structural changes occurring in the decomposition of PHEA-co-MMA/SiO₂. Complicated absorption spectral changes were observed in the heating process. 2D IR analysis indicates that during heating, covalent bonds, (Si-O-C), between the polymer and the inorganic moiety were formed, which was the main factor in the improvement in thermal properties of the hybrids such as the decomposition temperatures (T_d). The thermal stability of the hybrids was also studied by solid-state ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy and TGA tests. Their results complemented each other well.     

Enhanced overcharge behavior and thermal stability of commercial LiCoO2 by coating with a novel material

Commercial LiCoO₂ has been modified with MnSiO₄ as a novel coating material. The structures, morphologies, overcharge behaviors and thermal stabilities of the pristine and MnSiO₄-coated LiCoO₂ materials were studied. The MnSiO₄-coated LiCoO₂ had initial discharge specific capacities of 181.1 and 232.2 mAh g⁻¹ within the potential ranges 2.75–4.5 and 2.75–4.7 V (vs. Li⁺/Li), respectively. It was found that the overcharge tolerance of the coated cathode was significantly better than that of the pristine LiCoO₂ under the same conditions – the discharge specific capacities of the coated cathode at upper charge cutoff voltages of 4.5 and 4.7 V were as high as 168.7 and 154.3 mAh g⁻¹, respectively, after 50 cycles. Moreover, DSC showed that the coated LiCoO₂ had a higher thermal stability than the pristine LiCoO₂.     

Effect of thermal degradation on rheological properties for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Thermal degradation at processing temperature and the effect on the rheological properties for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) have been studied by means of oscillatory shear modulus and capillary extrusion properties, with the aid of molecular weight measurements. Thermal history at processing temperature depresses the viscosity because of random chain scission. As a result, gross melt fracture hardly takes place with increasing the residence time in a capillary rheometer. Moreover, it was also found that the molecular weight distribution is independent of the residence time, whereas the inverse of the average molecular weight is proportional to the residence time. Prediction of average molecular weight with a constant molecular weight distribution makes it possible to calculate the flow curve following generalized Newtonian fluid equation proposed by Carreau as a function of temperature as well as the residence time.     

Effect of solvent on the gelation properties of a metallo-organic polymer of [Fe(II) (4-octadecyl-1,2,4-triazole)3(ClO4)2]n

In this contribution we report on the preparation of thermally responsive supramolecular gels obtained through self-assembling of metallo-organic polymers of lipophilic Fe(II) complexes of 1,2,4-triazole functionalized with octadecyl chains ([Fe(II) (4-octadecyl-1,2,4-triazole)₃(ClO₄)₂]_n) in three organic solvents: toluene, cis-decalin and trans-decalin. A gel phase is formed in these solvents by cooling the homogeneous complex solutions below a well-defined temperature, the so-called gelation threshold. These gels are reversible as they form homogeneous solutions upon heating above the melting temperature. The systems have been characterized for their thermal and viscoelastic properties through differential scanning calorimetry and rheological experiments, respectively. The effect of the solvent type and concentration on the gelation behaviour of the metallo-organic polymer has been analysed. The results obtained point to structural differences and different gelation mechanisms for the gels prepared in different solvents and they also suggest the possibility to control the spin-crossover transition temperature associated to the sol-gel transition.     

Crystal structures and thermal properties of Ba(1,2,4-t-Bu3C5H2)2 and Sr(1,2,4-t-Bu3C5H2)2: Precursors for atomic layer deposition

Sterically hindered Lewis base free bis(1,2,4-tri-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)strontium (1) and bis(1,2,4-tri-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)barium (2) were synthesized using the common metathesis route and characterized with NMR, MS, TGA/SDTA and XRD. Compound 1 crystallized as a monomer with typical bent structure. Asymmetric unit contains two independent slightly different Sr(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂ molecules with Cp(centroid)-Sr-Cp(centroid) angles of 165.1° and 169.4°. Depending on the way of crystallization two polymorphs (2a and 2b) were observed for Ba(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂. On sublimation Ba(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂ crystallizes as chains in which one methyl group of each Ba(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂ unit interacts with neighboring Ba(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂ unit’s barium atom. Slow crystallization of waxy evaporation residue of toluene solution results in monoclinic crystals (2b) whose asymmetric unit contains four slightly different individual Ba(t-Bu₃C₅H₂)₂ molecules with Cp(centroid)-Ba-Cp(centroid) angles of 161.3-164.9°. Both compounds prepared are volatile, thermally stable and reactive and thus suitable precursors for atomic layer deposition of thin films.     

Nano-Li3V2(PO4)3/C Synthesized by Thermal Polymerization Method as Cathode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

A nano-Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C powder was successfully prepared by a thermal polymerization method. The particle sizes of the intermediate product powder and the final product Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ are all less than 200 nm. The carbon is partially coated on the surface of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ particles and the rest exists between particles with a total carbon content of 4.6wt%. This nano-Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C sample shows a discharge capacity of 124 mAh/g without capacity fading after 100 cycles at 0.1 C in the voltage rang of 3.0-4.3 V. Excellent rate performance is also achieved with a capacity of 80 mAh/g at 20 C in 3.0-4.3 V and 100 mAh/g at 10 C in 3.0-4.8 V. This study suggests that the thermal polymerization method is suitable to synthesize nano-Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C materials.     

PANI/La2O3复合纳米材料的合成及其电化学降解的抑制作用

作为离子型表面活性剂, 对-甲基苯磺酸可用于氧化镧的预超声分散处理, 同时还可作为质子酸对聚苯胺(PANI)进行掺杂, 从而赋予聚苯胺导电性. 采用化学法合成了聚苯胺/氧化镧复合纳米材料, 用四探针法测定了材料的电导率, 用扫描电镜、电子能谱、X射线衍射、红外光谱等检测分析手段对材料进行了表征. 结果表明, 聚苯胺及聚苯胺/氧化镧复合纳米材料的电导率分别为1.0•和1.9 S•cm^－1, 粒子直径分别约为200和50 nm. 氧化镧的掺杂未降低聚苯胺的电导率, 并使粒径减小. 循环伏安实验结果说明, 氧化镧的掺杂可提高氧化还原峰的电流密度, 并能有效抑制聚苯胺在0.25～2.0 mol•L^－1的H₂SO₄及H₃PO₄水溶液中的电化学降解.     

Preparation of PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites and their solid-phase photocatalytic degradation

A series of polyaniline-anatase TiO₂ (PANI-TiO₂) nanocomposite powders with different PANI:TiO₂ ratios were prepared by ‘in-situ’ deposition oxidative polymerization of aniline hydrochloride using ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant in the presence of ultrafine grade powder of anatase TiO₂ cooled in an ice bath. And the solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposites was investigated under the ambient air in order to assess the feasibility of developing photodegradable polymers. The photodegradation of the composite powders was compared with that of pure PANI powders by performing weight loss monitoring, elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposite powders showed highly enhanced photodegradation and the photodegradation increased with decreasing ratios of PANI:TiO₂. A weight loss of about 6.8% was found for the PANI-TiO₂ (1:3) nanocomposite; however, the weight loss of the PANI-HCl powder was only 0.3% after being irradiated for 60 h under air. The photocatalytic degradation of the nanocomposite powders accompanied the peak intensity decrease in the FT-IR spectra at 1235 cm⁻¹, attributed to C-N stretching mode for benzenoid unit, and the depigmentation of the powders due to the visible light scattering from growing cavities. The elemental analysis and XPS analysis of the composite showed that the bulk and surface concentrations of N decreased with irradiation. A possible mechanism for the photocatalytical oxidative degradation was also mentioned.     

Effect of magnesium dihydroxide nanoparticles on thermal degradation and flame resistance of PMMA nanocomposites

The influence of magnesium dihydroxide (MDH) nanoparticles on thermal degradation and fire behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimeter, and pyrolysis‐combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC) tests, respectively. MDH nanoparticles with either lamellar or fibrous shape have been synthesized via a sol‐gel technique and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction analysis. PMMA–MDH nanocomposites have been prepared by melt blending the recovered MDH nanoparticles within PMMA at different loadings (5, 10, and 20 wt% MDH). According to TGA results, the incorporation of lamellar or fibrous MDH nanoparticles into PMMA leads to a significant improvement in PMMA thermal stability, both under air and inert atmosphere. The results obtained by PCFC and cone calorimeter tests show an important decrease in the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) concomitant with charring during the combustion. Lamellar MDH nanoparticles were found to be more efficient than fibrous MDH nanoparticles. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MoS_2负载量对MoS_2/TiO_2光催化降解苯酚效率的影响及其作用机理研究

通过水解法制备TiO_2纳米颗粒,与经过超声处理后的MoS_2片层纳米材料复合制备MoS_2/TiO_2纳米催化剂,考察不同MoS_2负载量对其光催化降解苯酚效率及路径的影响。XRD、SEM、EDS、FT-IR和UV-vis DRS等表征结果表明,复合催化剂主要由锐钛矿型TiO_2和MoS_2组成;剥离后的MoS_2呈现薄片层状结构,均匀地分散在TiO_2纳米颗粒当中。光催化降解苯酚性能测试结果显示,对于MoS_2/TiO_2催化剂,MoS_2负载量的提高有利于光催化降解苯酚效率的提高;当MoS_2负载量为27%时,复合M o S2/TiO_2纳米颗粒的光催化性能最佳,反应80 min后可将苯酚完全降解。通过对苯酚降解过程中生成中间产物跟踪发现,MoS_2负载量的提高有利于促进中间产物苯醌、对苯二酚以及邻苯二酚的生成,进而提升了MoS_2/TiO_2复合材料的光催化性能。     

Kinetics of thermal degradation and thermal oxidative degradation of poly(p-dioxanone)

The kinetics of the thermal degradation and thermal oxidative degradation of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Kissinger method, Friedman method, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method and Coats-Redfern method have been used to determine the activation energies of PPDO degradation. The results showed that the thermal stability of PPDO in pure nitrogen is higher than that in air atmosphere. The analyses of the solid-state processes mechanism of PPDO by Coats-Redfern method and Criado et al. method showed: the thermal degradation process of PPDO goes to a mechanism involving random nucleation with one nucleus on the individual particle (F₁ mechanism); otherwise, the thermal oxidative degradation process of PPDO is corresponding to a nucleation and growth mechanism (A₂ mechanism).     

An investigation about the solid state thermal degradation of acetylsalicylic acid: polymer formation

An investigation about the thermal degradation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is performed. It is verified that the thermal degradation of ASA produces not only salicylic acid (SA) and acetic acid (AA) as products but also an ASA polymer, which is transparent and solid. And also verified that the temperature in which the polymer is obtained influences its physical consistence (solid or semi-solid). Furthermore, the ASA polymer is very stable from a thermic point of view, as verified by TG and DSC analysis. X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for the ASA polymer show that it exhibits a low crystallinity.     

Investigation on the thermal degradation of acrylic polymers with fluorinated side-chains

The thermal degradation of poly-2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,7″-tridecafluoroheptylacrylate and poly-2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′,7,7′-dodecafluoroheptylmethacrylate has been studied in isothermal conditions at 450-750 °C using pyrolysis-gas chromatography. The type and composition of the pyrolysis products give useful information about mechanism of thermal degradation. It was shown that the main thermal degradation process for both polymers is random main-chain scission. The major degradation products for fluorinated polyacrylate are monomer, dimer, saturated diester, trimer, and corresponding methacrylate. The fluorinated polymethacrylate gives monomer as the main product of thermal destruction. As a result of side-chain reaction, the thermal degradation of the fluorinated polyacrylate also produces remarkable amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, the respective alcohol is only a minor component among the pyrolysis products of the fluorinated polymethacrylate. For both polymers, the main nontrivial degradation product coming from the alkyl ester decomposition is the corresponding fluorinated cyclohexane. The formation of the fluorinated cyclohexanes may be accounted for a nucleophilic bimolecular substitution pathway.     

Interrupted thermal desorption of TiH2

Structural changes of commercial TiH₂ were studied using interrupted temperature desorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques to understand the mechanism of its degradation under non-equilibrium conditions. Rapid cooling on different stages of temperature-programmed heating allowed to study the intermediate phase compositions that evolve upon cooling from the high-temperature phase βTi(H). The phase transformation sequence is described as a number of consecutive reactions corresponding to the observed desorption peaks. Phases δTiH_2−x, γTiH, and the solid solution αTi(H) were found to be intermediates in the TiH₂ → αTi transformation when the latter is interrupted. Additional evidence for the thermodynamic stability of γTiH is given.     

Preparation Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction/polymer ?ber composites and its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under Xe lamp irradiation

This paper presented the preparation of Bi₂S₃-TiO₂ heterojunction/polymer ?ber composites and their performance of the degradation of methylene blue using Xe lamp irradiation. The polysulphone (PSU)/styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) ?bers were prepared by electrospinning. Bismuth ions were introduced onto the surface of polymer ?ber by the coordinating of carboxyl of SMA, sul?de ions were incorporated to react with bismuth ions under hydrothermal condition. TiO₂ was deposited on the surface of the Bi₂S₃ by the reaction of titanium ions with urea also under hydrothermal condition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images revealed that Bi₂S₃-TiO₂ heterojunction was uniformly distributed on the surface of PSU/SMA ?bers. The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra (UV/VIS) showed that the Bi₂S₃-TiO₂ heterojunction/polymer ?ber composites possess good visible-light response ability. The degradation rate of methylene blue in Bi₂S₃-TiO₂ heterojunction/polymer ?ber composites system was considerably higher than that of Degussa P25 or Bi₂S₃-TiO₂ heterojunction system under Xe lamp irradiation.