Effects of compression cycles and precompression pressure on the repeatability of piezoresistivity for carbon black‐filled silicone rubber composite

We studied the influences of the compression cycles and the precompression pressure on the piezoresistivity of carbon black‐filled silicone rubber composite. The experimental results show that if the load pressure is less than the maximum pressure in the precompression cycle, the repeatability of the piezoresistivity is improved with the increase of the compression cycles. Once the load pressure surpasses the maximum pressure in the precompression cycle, the piezoresistivity of the composite is changed distinctly. The experimental phenomena are explained and described qualitatively by analyzing the changes in the composite resistance under the zero pressure and the slippage of the molecule chain during the compression. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1050–1061, 2008     

Changes in electrical resistance of carbon‐black‐filled silicone rubber composite during compression

We studied the changes in the electrical resistance of carbon black filled silicone rubber composite, which is the sensitive element of the flexible force sensor, as a function of time during compression. The experimental results show that there is a sudden increase of the electrical resistance along with the sudden increase of the stress immediately after the compression. When the sample strain is kept constant, the electrical resistance and the stress both decay with time. The data of the stress relaxation and the resistance relaxation both can be fitted by the linear combination of two exponential functions. Based on the shell structure theory, the experimental phenomena are explained from the view that the uniaxial pressure induces the changes in the effective conductive paths. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2700–2706, 2007     

Development of internal fine structure in stretched rubber vulcanizates

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) pattern and tensile stress during relaxation of stretched rubber vulcanizates (synthetic polyisoprene) were measured simultaneously at room temperature and at 0 °C. The samples were quickly stretched to the prefixed strain and then allowed to relax for 1 h. In every SAXS pattern, the intensity distribution was elongated along the equator, indicating the formation of structures elongated in the stretching direction. The so‐called two‐spots pattern corresponding to the long period of stacked lamellar crystals did not appear even when the critical strain to induce crystallization was exceeded. On the other hand, even below the critical strain, additional development of equatorial streaks was detected in the differential SAXS patterns. This result suggests the growth of the density fluctuation elongated in the stretching direction, which is not directly related to strain‐induced crystallization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Effects of thinner on RTV silicone rubber nanocomposites reinforced with GR and CNTs

The effects of thinner on rubber specimens with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphitic nanofillers (GR) was studied for robotics applications. Rubber specimens were prepared by dispersing GR, CNTs and thinner in room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber through solution mixing. Microscopic studies have confirmed occurrence of swelling in polymer chains due to migration of thinner. It results an increase in topological depth from 40 nm (no thinner) to 120 nm (40 phr of thinner). An elastic modulus of ~4.4 MPa (without thinner) was higher than 2.8 MPa (10 phr of thinner). At 100% strain, the lower dissipation losses of 110% (without thinner) and 70% (40 phr of thinner) were obtained. The resistance increases from 4.6 kΩ (without thinner) to 5.7 kΩ (10 phr of thinner). At 0.4‐mm‐thick elastomer slab, an actuation displacement of 0.81 mm (without thinner) was obtained which increased to 1.1 mm (60 phr of thinner). Thus, the thinner can be useful for easier processing, controlled stiffness, minimizing dissipation losses, increasing the actuation displacement and decreasing the cost of the device. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of functional graphene oxide on the properties of phenyl silicone rubber composites

Graphene oxide (GO) was treated with two types of surfactants, i.e., silane coupling agent (KH550) and 4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), incorporated into phenyl silicone rubber at a low concentration (≤0.2 wt%), and cured by the room temperature vulcanized method. The effects of functional graphene oxide on the dielectric behaviour, thermal conductivity, optical transmittance and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that the particle size changed after modification and that the modified GO dispersed well in the phenyl silicone rubber. The composites with MDI modified GO exhibited better electrical insulation and lower light loss in the ultraviolet–visible region than the composites with KH550 modified GO. However, composites filled with KH550 modified GO present better thermal conductivity.     

Effects of partial replacement of silicone rubber with flurorubber on properties of dynamically cured poly(vinylidene fluoride)/silicone rubber/flurorubber ternary blends

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), silicone rubber (SR) and flurorubber (FKM) were prepared via peroxide dynamic vulcanization. The effect of FKM loading on the morphology, mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of the PVDF/SR/FKM ternary blends was investigated. A “network” was observed in the PVDF/SR binary blends, which disappeared in the ternary blends, but a core-shell-like structure was formed. The mechanical properties were significantly improved. The Izod impact strength of PVDF/SR/FKM blend with 19 wt% FKM was 18.3 kJ/m², which was 3–4 times higher than the PVDF/SR binary blend. The complex viscosity and storage modulus of the PVDF/SR/FKM blends decreased with increasing FKM content, hence the processability was improved. The increase of FKM content seemed to show a favorable effect on the crystallization of the PVDF component. It promoted the nucleation process of PVDF, leading to increased polymer crystallization rate and higher crystallization temperature. The glass-rubber transition temperature of the PVDF phase moved to a lower temperature.     

Role of ionene in composition of porous structure of template-synthesized silicas

Effect of the presence of I-4 Me-Ph ionene in the supramolecular template (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) on formation of porous structure of silicas has been studied. As-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by using thermal analysis. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy were applied to determine adsorption-structural characteristics and morphology of particles of the mesoporous templated silicas prepared in basic media.     

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on unfilled butadiene rubber

The ultrasonic treatment of unfilled butadiene rubber (BR) gum with a grooved‐barrel ultrasonic reactor was carried out, leading to changes in the structure and physical properties. The ultrasonic treatment of BR gum led to gel formation, with the amount dependent on the amplitude. The rheological and mechanical properties of the ultrasonically treated samples and their vulcanizates were measured and compared with those of the virgin samples. Gel permeation chromatography measurements of the sol part of the virgin and the treated samples were carried out. Rheological property and molecular weight measurements indicated the creation of a branched structure and the occurrence of degradation in ultrasonically treated BR gum. Because of degradation, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of treated BR were lower than those of untreated BR, whereas the elongation at break was practically intact. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves at a high‐temperature range showed exothermic peaks with enthalpy reduction in the treated BR, indicating a decrease in the number of double bonds due to gel formation. DSC curves at a low‐temperature range indicated increased crystallinity in the treated samples. Competing reactions of gel formation, branching, and degradation occurred during the ultrasonic treatment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2959–2968, 2003     

Influence of diluent composition on the porous structure of methacrylate copolymers

The porous structure of copolymers obtained by suspension polymerization has been investigated. Three different copolymers were synthesized—styrene‐divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene, and 1,4‐phenylene dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene. All the copolymers were porous. As a pore‐forming diluent, the mixture of toluene (good solvent) and n‐dodecane (nonsolvent) was used. The influence of the composition of two‐component diluent on the porous structure of the copolymers has been examined. Surface areas, pore volumes, pore size distributions, skeletal and apparent densities, and swellability coefficients were determined for the copolymers obtained in the presence of 0, 15, 50, 85, and 100% (v/v) toluene in the mixture with n‐dodecane. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3079–3085, 2002     

高温下热解温度对煤焦孔隙结构的影响

利用高温沉降炉在1500K～1800K制备京西无烟煤煤焦,使用化学吸附法测定不同热解温度下煤焦比表面积及孔容积与孔径的分布特征,并采用SEM观察煤焦颗粒表面的形态,分析了高温下热解温度对煤焦孔隙结构的影响规律。结果表明,煤焦的比表面积主要由孔径小于10nm的微孔和中孔构成,而其孔容积则主要由孔径为2nm~50nm的中孔构成。高温下煤焦比表面积和孔容积随热解温度的升高,呈现先增大后减小的非单调变化现象,转折温度约为1600K。出现这种变化的主要原因是煤焦在热解温度超过1600K后开始烧结,产生较为光滑致密的表面结构,部分孔隙封闭。     

The effect of annealing on the local structure of glassy polycarbonate

Annealing of polycarbonate glasses at temperatures belowTg leads to an increase in yield stress and a drop in the impact strength. Although such behaviour may be related to the corresponding reduction in free volume upon annealing, variations in the wide-angle X-ray scattering curves indicate some modification to the local structure. The area of an intrachain peak at s 0.7 Å^–1 is monitored with respect to annealing temperature and time. It is proposed that the variations may be described by an increasing level of interlocking or (nesting) between neighbouring chain segments, a process which is a natural consequence of the molecular shape of polycarbonate.     

Influence of Fe‐MMT on crosslinking and thermal degradation in silicone rubber/clay nanocomposites

In this article, silicone rubber (SR)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized by a melt‐intercalation process using synthetic Fe‐montmorillonite (Fe‐MMT) and natural Na‐MMT which were modified by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). This study has been designed to determine if the presence of structural iron in the matrix can result in radical trapping and then enhance thermal stability, affect the crosslinking degree and elongation. The SR/clay nanocomposites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Exfoliated and intercalated nanocomposites were obtained. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical performance were applied to test the properties of the SR/clay nanocomposites. The presence of iron significantly increased the onset temperature of thermal degradation in SR/Fe‐MMT nanocomposites. The thermal stability, gel fraction and mechanical property of SR/Fe‐MMT were different from the SR/Na‐MMT nanocomposites. So the iron not only in thermal degradation but in the vulcanization process acted as an antioxidant and radicals trap. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flame retardant effects of organic inorganic hybrid intumescent flame retardant based on expandable graphite in silicone rubber composites

In this work, an organic inorganic hybrid intumescent flame retardant (functionalized expandable graphite, FEG) was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The flame retardant effects of FEG in silicone rubber (SR) composites were investigated by cone calorimeter test (CCT), and the thermal stability of SR composites was studied using TGA. The CCT results showed that FEG can effectively reduce the flammable properties including peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), smoke production rate (SPR), total smoke release (TSR), and smoke factor (SF). An improvement of thermal stability of SR/FEG was also observed. Compared with EG, FEG can further reduce THR, SPR, and TSR of SR/FEG composites in combustion process. Moreover, there is a more obvious intumescent char layer formed from the sample with FEG than the sample with EG at the same loading in SR composites. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of size reduction of crosslinked rubber particles on phase interface in dynamically vulcanized poly (vinylidene fluoride)/silicone rubber blends

In this paper, the influence of rubber particle size on the phase interface in dynamically vulcanized poly(vinylidene fluoride)/silicone rubber (PVDF/SR) blends without any modifier is discussed through the studies of specific surface of crosslinked SR particles, crystallization behavior and crystal morphology of the PVDF phase, interfacial crystallization, melt rheological behavior and mechanical properties of blends. A series of decreased average particle size was successfully obtained by control of rotor rate. It was found that properly high rotor rate helped to achieve a reduced particle size and a narrowing size distribution. The reduced SR particle size enlarged the PVDF/SR interface which has a positive effect on the interfacial crystallization and the melt rheological behavior. At high SR content, the negative effect of the poor interface interactions played the dominate role on determining the mechanical properties. However, the blend exhibited a unique stiffness-toughness balance at the PVDF/SR = 90/10. We hope that the present study could help to lay a scientific foundation for further design of a useful PVDF/SR blend with promoted properties to partly replace the high-cost synthetic fluorosilicone materials.     

Effects of stereo-defect distribution on the crystalline morphology and tensile behavior of isotactic polypropylene prepared by compression molding process

In this study, the aggregation morphology, tensile behavior, and morphology evolution during the tensile test of two isotactic polypropylene (iPP) samples with similar molecular weight and average isotacticity but different uniformities of stereo-defect distribution are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), two-dimensional wide angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the uniformity of stereo-defect distribution of iPP determines the crystalline structure and aggregation morphology, and further influences the tensile behavior and morphology evolution during the tensile test. For PP-A with less uniform stereo-defect distribution, its ability of crystallization is stronger compared with PP-B, resulting in smaller spherulite sizes, higher melting point and degree of crystallinity, and narrower distribution of lamellar thickness of the compression molding specimens. During the tensile test, mainly the inter-spherulite deformation takes place at the early stage for deformation, which further results in drastic deformation of lamellar and high degree of reorientation at the strain increases, exhibiting higher yield strength and elastic modulus, and lower elongation at break compared with PP-B; for PP-B with more uniform stereo-defect distribution, larger spherulite sizes, lower melting point and degree of crystallinity in its compression molding sample are observed. During the tensile test, intra-spherulite deformation mainly takes place, which can disperse the tensile stress more uniformly. As the strain increases, lower degree of crystalline destruction and reorientation of the crystallites take place. The yield strength and elastic modulus of PP-B is lower than PP-A, and its elongation at break is higher.     

Influence of current density on the distribution of tungsten tracer in porous anodic alumina films

Porous anodic alumina films have been much studied recently due to interest in the application of the self‐ordered porosity in nanotechnological systems. Experimental investigations have identified anodising regimes that generate pores with a relatively high degree of long‐range order. However, the growth mechanism of the films, and its relation to the ordering of pores, is only partially understood. In the present work, the growth processes are studied over a range of current densities for films formed in oxalic acid. The films are formed on sputtering‐deposited substrates containing tungsten nanolayers that provide W⁶⁺ tracer species in the films. The distributions of tracer species are observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopes and the amounts of tracer species quantified by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. It is shown that the tungsten tracer remains within an inner region of the cells, with a tungsten‐free region being present next to the pore walls during the growth of the anodic films. Further, the thickness of the anodic film relative to that of oxidised metal increases with increasing current density, which is associated with an increase in the efficiency of film formation. This behaviour is consistent with the formation of pores by flow of film material in the barrier layer to the pore wall regions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of the porous structure of particles on selectivity in liquid chromatographic systems

The effects produced in liquid-solid chromatography by the heterogeneity of adsorbent particles on the behaviour of a number of substances were studied. As adsorbent silica gels were used which varied

• a) In specific surface area and pore size,
• b) In the diameter of particles of the same microporous structure.

A second series of experiments was conducted at various temperatures. The dependences which were based on measurements of equivalent retention volumes were found to deviate somewhat from those theoretically predicted. However, they confirm and supplement some previous observations [l–5] according to which mass transport may be effected by only a portion of the packing particles if their porous structure is adequately heterogeneous. These observations are in contrast with views expressed by some authors [6, 7] who maintain that differences in mass transport resistance may only result in peak deformation. It has also been demonstrated that the effects of the heterogeneity of particle structure in liquid chromatographic systems can be reduced by increasing the temperature.     

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of hierarchical porous carbons with 3D open-cell structure based on nanosilica-embedded emulsion-templated polymerization

A novel synthesis of hierarchical porous carbons （HPCs）with 3D open-cell structure based on nanosilica- embedded emulsion-templated polymerization was reported. An oil-in-water emulsion containing SiO2 colloids was fabricated using liquid paraffin as an oil phase, resorcinol/formaldehyde and silica sol as an aqueous phase, and Span 80/Tween 80 as emulsifiers. HPCs with macropore cores, open meso/ macropore windows, and abundant micropores were synthesized by the polymerization and carbonization of the emulsion, followed by scaffold removal and further KOH activation. A typical HPCs sample as supercapacitor electrode shows the charge/discharge capability under large loading current density （30 A/g） coupling with a reasonable electrochemical capacitance in KOH electrolyte solution.     

缩醛度与孔隙结构对PVF多孔材料吸水性能与力学性能的影响

采用机械搅拌表面活性剂成孔方法制备了聚乙烯醇缩甲醛(PVF)多孔材料,研究了甲醛(HCHO)与表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)用量对缩醛度与孔隙结构变化的影响,探讨了缩醛度和孔隙结构变化对PVF多孔材料力学性能与吸水性能产生影响的机理.研究认为,缩醛度的提高会引起PVF的亲水性、交联密度、临近分子链间隙、硬段比例、范德华力的改变,这些变化对PVF多孔材料的拉伸强度、断裂伸长率、吸水速率以及吸水率产生影响;孔隙结构的变化导致PVF内毛细管数量、孔的比表面积、持水能力以及相对密度和应力集中改变,进而引起PVF多孔材料的力学性能与吸水性能性能发生相应改变.通过控制缩醛度与孔隙结构可获得吸水性能和力学使用性能良好的PVF多孔材料,吸水率最高可达1627％,湿态下PVF多孔材料具有良好回弹性且质地柔软.