MICRO-PHASE SAEPARATION IN EPOXY RESIN WATERBORNE PARTICLES DURING CURING PROCESS

Sub-micron sized phenolic epoxy resin waterborne particles were prepared by phase inversion emulsification. Micro-phase separation occurred during the curing process at high temperature. The as-prepared samples possessed one glass transition temperature （Tg） and two exothermal processes during DSC heating scannings. After being thermally treated above the exothermal peak temperature, they possessed two glass transition temperatures with the disappearance of exothermal peaks, whilst a core/shell structure was formed. This was likely related with the outward diffusion of reactive oligomers to the outer layer of particles.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Bioglass-Modified HA–ZrO2 Biocomposites

Hydroxyapatite (HA) being the main mineral constituent of human hard tissues is highly bioactive. Good chemical bonds can be generated between HA and natural bone. However, the low strength and inherent brittleness of HA restrict its application usually to non-load-bearing conditions. In this work, production of a new kind of HA–ZrO₂ composite by hot-press sintering method is described. Bioglass which has been widely used in reconstruction of damaged or diseased tissues was added into HA–ZrO₂ composites. Comparing with pure HA ceramic, this type of composite possesses better mechanical strength and retains the bioactivity of HA as well. The liquid phase generated by bioglass has been effective in improving the sintering process of HA–ZrO₂ composites. The phase composition of HA composite was characterized by XRD and their fracture surfaces were observed by SEM. The XRD results show that introducing a small amount of bioglass into HA–ZrO₂ composite cannot enhance decomposition of HA. The SEM images show that there were fewer pores on the fracture surfaces of HA–ZrO₂–bioglass composite than in the HA–ZrO₂ composite. The flexural strength and toughness of HA–ZrO₂ composite containing 2 wt% bioglass were 157 MPa and 1.63 MPa·m^1/2, respectively.     

DYNAMIC RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF POLYPROPYLENE FILLED WITH ULTRA-FINE POWDERED RUBBER PARTICLES

Dynamic rheological characteristics of polypropylene (PP) filled with ultra-fine full-vulcanized powdered rubber (UFPR) composed of styrene-butadiene copolymer were studied through dynamic rheological measurements on an Advanced Rheometric Expansion System (ARES). A specific viscoelastic phenomenon, i.e. “the second plateau“, appeared at low frequencies, and exhibits a certain dependence on the amount of rubber particles and the dispersion state in the matrix. This phenomenon is attributed to the formation of aggregation structure of rubber particles. The analyses of Cole-Cole diagrams of the dynamic viscoelastic functions suggest that the heterogeneity of the composites is enhanced on increasing both particle content and temperature.     

TOUGHENING OF POLYCARBONATE WITH PBA-PMMA CORE-SHELL PARTICLES

The miscibility, mechanical properties, morphology and toughening mechanism of PC/PBA-PMMA blends were investigated. The dynamic mechanical results show that PC/PBA-PMMA blend has good miscibility and strong interfacial adhesion. The Izod impact strength of blend PC/PBA-PMMA with 4% (volume fraction) PBA-PMMA core-shell modifier is 16 times higher than that of pure PC. The core-shell volume fraction and thickness of the PMMA shell have effect on the toughness of PC/PBA-PMMA blends. As PMMA volume fraction increases, the toughness of PC/PBA-PMMA blend increases, and reaches a maximum value at 30% volume fraction of PMMA or so. The tensile properties of PC/PBA-PMMA blend with a minimum amount of PBA-PMMA modifier show that brittle-tough transition has no significant variance in comparison with that of pure PC. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation indicates that the toughening mechanism of the blend with the pseudo-ductile matrix modified by small core-shell latex polymer particles is the synergetic effect of cavitation and shear yielding of the matrix.     

Spinless Matter in Transposed-Equi-Affine Theory of Gravity

We derive and discuss the equations of motion for spinless matter: relativistic spinless scalar fields, particles and fluids in the model of gravity recently proposed by A. Saa with covariantly constant volume with respect to the transposed connection in Einstein-Cartan spaces. A new interpretation of this theory as a theory with variable Planck constant is suggested. We show that the consistency of the semiclassical limit of the wave equation and classical motion dictates a new definite universal interaction of torsion with massive fields.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Multi-layered Core/Shell Particles by Sequential Emulsion Polymerization

A series of core/shell particles were prepared by sequential emulsion polymerization. The core/shell particles consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) core grafted with using rubbery layer [poly(butyl acrylate)co-(styrene)] and then glassy layer [poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-(ethyl acrylate)] were prepared. The conditions which led to controlled particle size and morphology were discussed. A highly cross-linked structure was formed in both the cores and the shells by using a cross-linking agent, which could prevent the migration of hydrophobic shells to the inside of the particles. The core/shell particles were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid state ¹³C-NMR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to determine the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the core/shell particles, respectively. Results of the particle size analysis indicate that particle sizes were decreased when there is a rubbery layer as outer layer (0.44 μm) whereas it increases when there is a glassy layer as outer layer (324 μm). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also confirms the multi-layers formation in the polymer.     

Hybrid polymer-inorganic materials: multiscale hierarchy

The paper describes a new approach to producing hybrid composite materials with multiscale morphologies. We doped polymer submicrometer spheres with semiconductor or metal (CdS or Ag, respectively) nanoparticles and used these doped microspheres as the functional building blocks in production of hybrid periodically structured materials. The preparation of hybrid polymer particles included the following stages: (i) synthesis of monodisperse polymer microspheres, (ii) in situ synthesis of the inorganic nanoparticles either on the surface, or in the bulk of the polymer beads, and (iii) encapsulation of hybrid microspheres with a hydrophobic shell. We demonstrated that by changing the composition of the polymer beads good control could be achieved over the size of the nanoparticles.     

COORDINATION CROSSLINKING OF NITRILE RUBBER FILLED WITH COPPER SULFATE PARTICLES

By incorporating copper sulfate(CuSO_4)particles into acrylonitrile butadiene rubber(NBR)followed by heat pressing,a novel vulcanization method is developed in rubber through the formation of coordination crosslinking.This method totally differs from traditional covalent or non-covalent vulcanization approaches of rubber.No other vulcanizing agent or additional additive is involved in this process.By analyzing the results of DMA,XPS and FT-IR,it is found that the crosslinking of CuSO_4 particles filled NBR was induced by in situ coordination between nitrogen atoms of nitrile groups (-CN)and copper ions(Cu~(2 ))from CuSO_4.SEM and EDX results revealed the generation of a core(CuSO_4 solid particle)- shell(adherent NBR)structure,which leads to a result that the crosslinked rubber has excellent mechanical properties. Moreover,poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC)and liquid acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber(LNBR)were used as mobilizer to improve the coordination crosslinking of CuSO_4/NBR.The addition of PVC or LNBR could lead to higher crosslink density and better mechanical properties of coordination vulcanization.In addition,crystal water in CuSO_4 played a positive role to coordination crosslinking of rubber because it decreased the metal point of CuSO_4 and promoted the metal ionization.     

MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION OF POLY（St-co-BuA）/SILICA NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES SYNTHESIZED BY EMULSION POLYMERIZATION

Poly（St-co-BuA）/silica nanocomposite latexes were synthesized via conventional emulsion polymerization in the presence of 3-（trimethoxysilyl）propyl methacrylate modified colloidal nano-silica. The effects of surface property, particle size and content of colloidal nano-silica as well as the concentrations of monomer and surfactant on the morphology of nanocomposite latex particles were investigated by transmission electron microscope （TEM） and scanning electron microscope （SEM） in detail. Various interesting morphologies such as grape-like, Chinese gooseberry-like, pomegranate-like and normal core-shell structures were observed. Droplet nucleation mechanism competing with micelle nucleation mechanism was proposed to explain the morphological evolution of the nanocomposite particles.     

非晶态合金作催化材料的研究IV. 超细非晶态Ni-B催化剂的制备及催化性能研究

采用化学还原法制备了非晶态Ni-B超细粒子催化剂, 所含两种粒子的粒径分别为5~20nm和150nm左右。对环戊二烯常压液相加氢反应的活性测试结果表明, 该催化剂具有很高的活性和选择性, 并且在加氢反应中具有替代Raney Ni和Pd/C催化剂的工业应用潜力。动力学测量表明, 在该催化剂上, 环戊二烯选择加氢生成环戊烯的反应为零级, 环戊烯生成环戊烷的反应为近似一级。