High effects of smoke suppression and char formation of Ni?Mo/Mg(OH)2 for polypropylene

The Ni? Mo/Mg(OH)₂ (NMM) hybrid as an efficient flame retardancy and smoke suppression composite for polypropylene (PP) was synthesized through Ni? Mo co‐precipitation on the surface of Mg(OH)₂ (MH) hexagonal nanosheets. Compared to PP/MH, PP/NMM exhibited excellent smoke suppressing and flame retardancy on the heat release rate, total heat release, smoke production rate, total smoke production, CO production rate and total CO production with the same loading. The reduced hazard of PP/NMM was mainly attributed to the high physical barrier effect of compact char residues on heat, smoke and combustible gas. The mechanism study indicated that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) generated from the catalytic carbonization of PP by the Ni? Mo compound could play the role of “rebar” to strengthen the char residues, avoid the generation of cracks and form highly compact char layer. Furthermore, MgO could facilitate the production of MWCNTs through changing the pyrolysis process of PP and increasing the reaction time between pyrolysis gas and Ni? Mo compound. Hence, the new Ni? Mo/MH catalyst hybrid may explore the potential for solving the tough problem of the flammability and heavy smoke of the polyolefins system.     

Mussel-inspired polydopamine functionalized recyclable coconut shell derived carbon nanocomposites for efficient adsorption of methylene blue

Relatively cheap or at no cost, easily available, renewable agricultural waste has been given a new purpose. Using coconut shells as the raw material, and being obtained from agricultural, industry by-products, or even waste materials were used as carbon resource. Acid etching coconut shells carbon (AC) rendered micro/nanoscale hierarchical structures and made the surface available for further modification. Then, the surface of acidified coconut shell carbon was engineered via mussel inspired chemistry. The polydopamine functionalized AC composites (AC-PDA) were applied for efficient removal of methylene blue (MB) dye. Further, the surface morphology, and chemical structure were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Through the combination of acid etching and mussel inspired chemistry, organic functional groups can be successfully introduced onto the surface of the coconut shells carbon. The improvement of adsorption capacity of AC-PDA compared with AC is probably due to the increased number of active binding sites resulting from surface modification and formation of new functional groups.     

Cocoa Shell as a Step Forward to Functional Chocolates—Bioactive Components in Chocolates with Different Composition

Chocolate is considered as both caloric and functional food. Its nutritional properties may be improved by addition of fiber; however, this may reduce polyphenols content. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of cocoa shell addition (as a source of fiber) and its combination with different ingredients (cocoa butter equivalents (CBE), emulsifiers, dairy ingredients) on polyphenols of dark and milk chocolates. Total polyphenol (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents were determined spectrophotometrically, identification and quantification of individual compounds by high pressure liquid chromatography and antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Results showed that even though addition of cocoa shell to chocolate results in reduced contents of TPC, TFC, and individual compounds, it is not significant compared to ones reported by other authors for commercial chocolates. Other ingredients influence determined values for all investigated parameters; however, additional research is needed to reveal exact mechanisms and implications.     

Amides and Heparin‐Like Polymer Co‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide Based Core @ Polyethersulfone Based Shell Beads for Bilirubin Adsorption

Excessive bilirubin in the body of patient with liver dysfunction or metabolic obstruction may cause jaundice with irreversible brain damage, and new type of adsorbent for bilirubin is under frequent investigation. Herein, graphene oxide based core @ polyethersulfone‐based shell beads are fabricated by phase inversion method, amides and heparin‐like polymer are introduced to functionalize the core‐shell beads. The beads are successfully prepared with obvious core‐shell structure, adequate thermostability and porous shell. Clotting times and protein adsorption are investigated to inspect the hemocompatibility property of the beads. The adsorption of bilirubin is systematically investigated by evaluating the effects of contacting time, initial concentration and temperature on the adsorption, which exhibits improved bilirubin adsorption amount for the beads with amides contained cores or/and shells. It is worth believing that the amides and heparin‐like polymer co‐functionalized core‐shell beads may be utilized in the field of hemoperfusion for bilirubin adsorption.     

Correlation lengths in quasi-one-dimensional systems via transfer matrices

ABSTRACT

Using transfer matrices up to next-nearest-neighbour interactions, we examine the structural correlations of quasi-one-dimensional systems of hard disks confined by two parallel lines and hard spheres confined in cylinders. Simulations have shown that the non-monotonic and non-smooth growth of the correlation length in these systems accompanies structural crossovers [Fu et al., Soft Matter 13, 3296 (2017)]. Here, we identify the theoretical basis for these behaviours. In particular, we associate kinks in the growth of correlation lengths with eigenvalue crossing and splitting. Understanding the origin of such structural crossovers answers questions raised by earlier studies, and thus bridges the gap between theory and simulations for these reference models.     

Behavior of concrete cylinders confined by carbon-composite tapes and prestressed yarns 1. Experimental data

The results of a comprehensive test program for the mechanical behavior of round concrete specimens confined by carbon-fiber epoxy tapes and prestressed carbon yarns are reported. Five different concrete batches of compressive strength from 20 to 100 MPa and the confinement of various thickness and pretension level were investigated. The specimens, which were subjected to monotonic or repeated compressive loadings, showed a nonlinear stress-strain behavior with a significant ductility and increased ultimate strength, in contrary to the brittle behavior of plain concrete. The limit of linearity on the stress-strain diagrams of the confined concrete roughly coincided with the ultimate strength of plain concrete. Above this limit, the damage accumulation and plastic deformations proceeded in the confined specimens. This fact was evidenced by the increasing slope of deformation diagrams in unloadings and repeated loadings and by the pronounced residual strains. The limit of linearity could be raised significantly by pretension of the carbon yarns during their winding. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 21–44, January–February, 2006.     

Evaluation of Coulomb Energy Difference for Light Mirror Nuclei Using Slater—Type Orbitals

Behavior of the Coulomb energy difference for light nuclei is explained in terms of the different values of the average Coulomb interaction between two particles.Coulomb energy difference according to shell model of light mirror nuclei in the Coulomb and exchange integrals in the formula can be explained with exponential-type wavefunctions.In this study,using the one-center expansion of exponential-type wavefunctions in terms of Slater-type orbitals with the same center,we derived formula for Coulomb energy difference of light mirror nuclei.     

固壁近旁Stokes流中粘性液滴的运动和变形

发展了一种模拟固壁近旁轴对称Stokes流中粘性液滴的运动和变形及直接计算固壁上应力的边界积分方法．用此方法对不同的液滴-固壁初始相对间距、粘度比、表面张力和浮力联合参数以及环境流动参数情况进行了数值实验．数值结果显示,由于环境流动和浮力的作用,随着时间的推进,液滴在轴向压缩,在径向拉伸．当环境流动的作用弱于浮力作用时,随着时间的推移,液滴上升并向上弯,固壁上由液滴运动所引起的应力不断减小．当环境流动的作用强于浮力作用时,随着时间的推移,液滴变得越来越扁．在这种情形,当大初始间距时,壁面上的应力随液滴的演变而增大;当小初始间距时,由环境流动、浮力及壁面对流动的较强作用的联合影响,此应力随液滴的演变而减小．由于液滴运动所引起的壁面应力的有效作用仅限于对称轴附近的一个小范围内,且此范围随液滴与固壁的初始间距增大而增大．应力的大小随初始间距增大而大为减小．表面张力对液滴变形有阻止作用．液滴粘性会减小液滴的变形和位置迁移．     

Shear buckling modes of cylindrical sandwich shells under external pressure, tension-compression of bearing layers with unequal forces, and inhomogeneous across-the-thickness temperature

Equations are set up for describing, in a correct statement and with an accuracy sufficient in actual practice, the shear buckling modes (BMs) of cylindrical sandwich shells with a transversely soft core of arbitrary thickness. Based on them, solutions are obtained to a number of problems on the buckling instability according to shear modes under some force and thermal loadings. It is found that the BMs occur in the shell along the circumferential and axial directions if, in the precritical state, a normal compressive stress arises in the transverse direction. It is shown that this condition is fulfilled in the following cases: in axial tension of the shell with unequal forces applied to the end faces of bearing layers (the parameter of critical load is maximum if the tensile forces are equal); under external (internal) pressure; on cooling the outer and heating the inner layers. The results obtained are presented in the form of simple analytical formulas for determining the corresponding critical parameters of the force and thermal actions.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 37–48, January–February, 2005.