A Tensile Strain Hardening Test Indicator of Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance

Environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) is an important indicator of performance for high density polyethylene (HDPE) in structural and polymer pipe applications. The commonly used test for determining ESCR of HDPE can be time consuming and rather imprecise. A tensile strain hardening test was recently proposed to offer a faster way to characterize ESCR of polyethylene. In this paper, a practical approach is adopted whereby the test is extended to room temperature and shown to relate reliably to the ESCR of HDPE. Several HDPE resins (including pipe‐grade resins) are analyzed at strain rates of 0.5 mm/min and 7 mm/min to compare the effect of strain rate. Comparisons between the conventional ESCR test method and the strain hardening test show that strain hardening can be used to rank ESCR of HDPE in a reliable fashion. In our study the more direct measure of “hardening stiffness” is used to compare resins instead of strain hardening modulus. Because no true stress‐strain measurement is needed, this is a much simpler test method than other methods previously suggested. In addition, the use of the natural drawing ratio (NDR) as ESCR ranking indicator is examined. Results show that NDR can also be employed as a strain rate‐independent indicator of ESCR of HDPE. The test proposed herein is practical, simple and precise, and hence a more reliable indicator of ESCR performance of HDPE.     

Synthesis of a Dithiocarbamate Chelate Resin and Its Oxidized form and Their Adsorption Properties for Heavy Metal Ions

A series of macroporous dithiocarbamate chelate resins, III and V, and an oxidized resin, VI, with high adsorption capacity were prepared. The influence of various reaction conditions of amination, dithiocarboxylation, and oxidation were examined. The structure and the conversion of functional groups of resins were confirmed by IR spectra and elemental analysis. The adsorption capacities of Resin II for Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ are 4.40, 2.44, 1.77, and 1.36 mmol/g, respectively. The adsorption capacities of Resins V and VI for Cu²⁺. Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co³⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Au³⁺ are 4.07–0.51 and 3.81–0.59 meq ion/g, respectively. The adsorption rate and the influence of pH on the adsorption percentage of the resins for metal ions were examined. Noble metal, transitional metal, and heavy metal ions can be quantitatively adsorbed by the resins. The adsorbed Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co³⁺, and Ni²⁺ can be quantitatively eluted with 5N HNO₃, and the presence of large amounts of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Al³⁺ did not interfere.     

Enantioselective Recognition for Carboxylic Acids by Novel Chiral Macrocyclic Polyamides Derived from L-/D-tartaric Acid

The enantioselectivity of chiral macrocyclic polyamides 1–3 derived from L-/D-tartaric acid was investigated by using ¹H NMR. All the macrocycles exhibited certain chiral recognition towards the enantiomers of the racemic carboxylic acids we had chosen. As a chiral solvating agent, the compound 3 has the excellent enantiomeric discriminating ability for mandelic acids and its derivatives, containing an α-OH at the chiral carbon, while the compound 2 has the best enantioselectivity towards dibenzoyltartaric acid. The molar ratio and the association constants of the compound 3 with each of the enantiomers of some guest molecules were determined by using the Job's plots and a nonlinear leastsquares fitting method, respectively. The effect of the structure of the hosts or guests on the enantioselectivity of the compound 1–3 has been explored.     

Thermal decomposition properties of guanidine nitrate and basic cupric nitrate

Characterized with a large gas production and low combustion temperature, the guanidine nitrate (GN) gas-generating agents are studied and applied widely. The determination factors of thermal decomposition properties of guanidine nitrate and basic cupric nitrate (GN/BCN) gas-generating agents for airbag application was investigated by the thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry–mass spectrmetry–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-DSC-MS-FTIR) and automatic calorimeter. Five different mass ratios were concerned. Our study showed that the onset reaction temperatures of GN/BCN mixtures were lower than that of individual GN and BCN. The thermal decomposition of GN/BCN mixtures could be divided into three stages, including the dissociation and escape of crystal water, solid (GN)-solid (BCN) phase reaction, and liquid (GN)-solid (BCN) phase reaction. When mass ratio of GN/BCN was 62.24/37.73, the largest value of the reaction heat was measured to 3152.7 J g^?1, with N₂ and H₂O as the major gases during thermal decomposition.     

Evaluating a four-directional benzene-centered aliphatic polyamine curing agent for epoxy resins

A four-directional benzene-centered aliphatic polyamine, MXBDP, with high functionality and low volatility, is used to cure epoxy resin (DGEBA). Herein we originally report the isothermal cure kinetics and dynamic mechanical properties of DGEBA/MXBDP. Differential scanning calorimetry confirms that MXDBP is more reactive than commercial linear metaxylenediamine and branched Jeffamine T-403 and the isothermal curing reaction is autocatalytic. The Kamal model is found to be able to well describe the curing rate up to the onset of diffusion control, and the excellent match over the whole conversion range is achieved using the extended Kamal model. Interestingly, the isoconversional kinetic analysis indicates that the effective reaction activation energy (E _α ) changes substantially with conversion, and ultimately decreases to a very small value (<10 kJ mol^?1) because of the diffusion-controlled reaction kinetics. Then, dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that DGEBA/MXBDP exhibits the higher α- and β-relaxation temperatures and the much higher crosslink density than DGEBA/metaxylenediamine. Our experiment results support that MXBDP has the high reactivity and improved thermal resistance in combination with the advantages of the high functionality, low volatility and decreased CO₂ absorption. Therefore, MXBDP may be especially suitable for room temperature-cure epoxy coatings and adhesives.     

Electrodeposited nanogold decorated graphene modified carbon ionic liquid electrode for the electrochemical myoglobin biosensor

In this paper, a carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was fabricated using ionic liquid 1-hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate as modifier, which was further in situ electrodeposited with graphene (GR) and gold nanoparticles step by step to get an Au/GR nanocomposite modified CILE. Myoglobin (Mb) was further immobilized on the Au/GR/CILE surface with Nafion film to get the modified electrode denoted as Nafion/Mb/Au/GR/CILE. Cyclic voltammetric experiments indicated that a pair of well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks appeared in pH 3.0 phosphate buffer solution with the formal potential (E ^0′) located at ?0.197 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode), which was the typical characteristics of Mb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. Thus, the direct electron transfer rate between Mb and the modified electrode was promoted due to the high conductivity and increased surface area of Au/GR nanocomposite present on electrode surface. Based on the cyclic voltammetric data, the electrochemical parameters of Mb on the modified electrode were calculated. The Mb-modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activities towards the reduction of trichloroacetic acid and H₂O₂ with wider linear range and lower detection limit. Using GR and Au nanoparticles modified CILE, a new third-generation electrochemical Mb biosensor was constructed with good stability and reproducibility.     

Improved electrochemical performance of nano-crystalline Li2FeSiO4/C cathode material prepared by the optimization of sintering temperature

Li₂FeSiO₄/C cathode materials have been prepared using the conventional solid-state method by varying the sintering temperature (650 °C, 700 °C and 750 °C), and the structure and electrochemical performance of Li₂FeSiO₄/C materials are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), galvanostatic charge–discharge tests, respectively. The results show that Li₂FeSiO₄ nano-crystals with a diameter of about 6–8 nm are inbedded in the amorphous carbon, and the Li₂FeSiO₄/C material obtained at 700 °C exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 195 mA?h g^?1 at 1/16 C in the potential range of 1.5–4.8 V. The excellent electrochemical performance of Li₂FeSiO₄/C attributes to the improvement of conductivity and reduction of impurity by the optimization of the sintering temperature.     

Phase Stability and Elastic Properties of Chromium Borides with Various Stoichiometries

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first‐principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB₃ and CrB₄ have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Formation enthalpy–pressure diagrams reveal that the MoB‐type structure is more energetically favorable than the TiI‐type structure for CrB. For CrB₂, the WB₂‐type structure is preferred at zero pressure. The predicted new phase of CrB₃ belongs to the hexagonal P‐6m2 space group and it transforms into an orthorhombic phase as the pressure exceeds 93 GPa. The predicted CrB₄ (space group: Pnnm) phase is more energetically favorable than the previously proposed Immm structure. The mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities of predicted CrB₃ and CrB₄ are verified by the calculated elastic constants and formation enthalpies. The full phonon dispersion calculations confirm the dynamic stability of WB₂‐type CrB₂ and predicted CrB₃. The large shear moduli, large Young’s moduli, low Poisson ratios, and low bulk and shear modulus ratios of CrB₄? PS_C and CrB₄? PS_D indicate that they are potential hard materials. Analyses of Debye temperature, electronic localization function, and electronic structure provide further understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these borides.