Organic Nano-Montmorillonite for Simultaneously Improving the Flame Retardancy,Thermal Stability,and Mechanical Properties of Intumescent Flame-Retardant Silicone Rubber Composites

The flammability of room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTVSR) composites filled with melamine phosphate (MP) as intumescent flame-retardant additives was characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test, and cone calorimeter. In addition, the thermal degradation of the composites was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, in order to relate to actual application requirements, the comprehensive performance of the RTVSR/MP composites was optimized by adding organic nano-montmorillonite (OMMT) as a partial substitute for the MP. The as-prepared intumescent flame-retardant RTVSR/MP/OMMT nanocomposites were characterized by LOI, UL-94 test, TGA, cone calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical tests. The residue morphology formed after the burning of the nanocomposites was analyzed by its SEM and digital photographs. The results showed that the flame-retardant nanocomposites filled with 10 phr OMMT and 35 phr MP displayed the best comprehensive performance in terms of the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and heat stability at low cost. It is expected that the intumescent flame-retardant silicone rubber composites with simultaneously improved flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties will meet more requirements of the increasingly complex applications.     

Quantification of the Particle Size and Stability of Graphene Oxide in a Variety of Solvents

The exceptional solution processing potential of graphene oxide (GO) is always one of its main advantages over graphene in terms of its industrial relevance in coatings, electronics, and energy storage. However, the presence of a variety of functional groups on the basal plane and edges of GO makes understanding suspension behavior in aqueous and organic solvents, a major challenge. Acoustic spectroscopy can also measure zeta potential to provide unique insight into flocculating, meta‐stable, and stable suspensions of GO in deionized water and a variety of organic solvents (including ethanol, ethylene glycol, and mineral oil). As expected, a match between solvent polarity and the polar functional groups on the GO surface favors stable colloidal suspensions accompanied by a smaller aggregate size tending toward disperse individual flakes of GO. This work is significant since it describes the characteristics of GO in solution and its ability to act as a precursor for graphene‐based materials.     

Cu、Nb对Sanicro 25钢结构稳定性及力学性能影响的第一性原理研究

奥氏体耐热钢Sanicro 25由于其优异的组织稳定性和高温力学性能,有望用于630-650 ℃等级超超临界电站锅炉的关键材料如过热器和再热器中.Sanicro 25钢合金元素种类多,含量高,合金元素对其组织稳定性和力学性能的影响复杂,难以从实验过程直观分析,因此根据Sanicro 25钢的主要化学成分,以Fe-Cr-Ni体系为基础,利用第一性原理计算方法分析了以沉淀硬化作用为主的元素Cu、Nb对Sanicro 25钢结构稳定性、热力学稳定性和力学性能的影响.形成能、结合能、吉布斯自由能计算结果表明Cu、Nb在Sanicro 25钢中具有较好的结构稳定性,且在630-650 ℃使用温度下结构稳定性更好.通过分析弹性模量,发现Cu、Nb会降低Sanicro 25钢的强度、抗压缩能力、抗剪切应变能力和刚度.泊松比、B/G和派纳力计算结果表明Cu会降低Sanicro 25钢的塑性和延展性,而Nb会提高Sanicro 25钢的塑性和延展性.     

Milling of Organic Solids in a Jet Mill. Part 1: Determination of the Selection Function and Related Mechanical Material Properties

The particle size distribution of pharmaceutically active materials and other fine chemicals determines the performance of the final product to a large extent. Often milling of these particles is necessary. It is not possible to determine the milling conditions solely on the basis of the particle size distribution of the starting material, because the (mechanical) properties of the material also determine the desired milling conditions. It is often not possible to optimize milling conditions experimentally because the amount of material available is frequently highly limited. A theoretical approach towards predicting the best milling conditions is needed. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to predict the desired milling conditions given a specific (organic) solid material. The selection function and the breakage distribution function are usually the starting points in modeling the milling process. The selection function is the parameter that includes the material and mill properties. Dimensional analysis made it possible to correlate the selection function with material properties. A set of theories available in the literature enable prediction of the material properties. For different compounds (lactose, paracetamol, a steroidal compound, and two heterocyclic compounds) the selection functions were calculated. The calculations predict differences: lactose reduces slowly in size, while one of the heterocyclic compounds shows the most intense fracture.     

Optimization of Thermal Stability of High-Density Polyethylene Composite Using Antioxidant,Carbon Black and Nanoclay Addition by a Central Composite Design Method: X-ray Diffraction and Rheological Characterization

The thermal stability of high-density polyethylene, as characterized by an Oxidation Induction Time (OIT) test in the presence of the three additives, antioxidant, carbon black and nanoclay, was investigated. The twenty experiments used were designed by using the Central Composite Design (CCD) method, and the effects of the main parameters and their interactions were analyzed. The results of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the antioxidant, nanoclay and carbon black contents, the antioxidant-nanoclay interaction and the antioxidant-carbon black interaction, had significant effects on the thermal stability. By optimization of the percent compositions used, the best composition was obtained, 0.26%, 2.21% and 4.69% for antioxidant, carbon black and nanoclay, respectively, to achieve thermal stability equal to the targeted value of 60?minutes. X-ray diffraction confirmed a weak polymer-nanocaly interaction in the optimal sample structure. The rheology frequency sweep test showed an increase in the elastic and viscous modulus in the optimal sample relative to the control samples. The Melt Flow Index (MFI) test for an optimum sample showed a pseudo-plastic structure with the lowest melt flow index of 0.2614 g/10 min, which was consistent with the results of the complex viscosity, with the optimal sample having the highest value (128500?Pa.s). The density test indicated the most crystalline structure for the optimized sample, with the highest value (0.976?g/cm³) compared to the control samples (0.962 and 0.957?g/cm³ for the polyethylene/nanoclay and the polyethylene/carbon black sample, respectively).