The synthesis of silica aerogels reinforced with either carbon or silica fibre felts and which encapsulate the lipase PS of Amano (LPS AB025407) obtained from Burkholderia cepacia is described. The materials were further shaped by moulding them in Teflon® tubes. The silica aerogels were synthesized with various ratios of hydrophobic groups and dried according to the supercritical CO2 method. Both types of reinforcements improve the catalytic activity of the material per mass of lipase. The fibre felts reinforcements also enable the encapsulation of higher concentrations of lipase. The materials were shaped into small moulded monoliths, which were readily washed and recycled without significant mechanical deterioration or loss of catalytic activity. In addition, hydrophobic carbon felts reinforce more efficiently silica aerogels that incorporate a high ratio of hydrophobic groups, while silica felts strengthen those aerogels that carry a low proportion of hydrophobic groups. 相似文献
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show exceptional properties that render them attractive for incorporation in a new generation of high‐performance engineering composites with tailored properties. While a great deal of work has been done toward using CNTs as a reinforcing agent in polymer composites, the full potential of CNTs has yet to be reached. In this work, two case studies were proposed in order to analyze the effectiveness of CNTs and carbon fibers (CFs) as reinforcing agents. Micromechanics models for the stiffness and strength of hybrid composites, comprising CNTs and CFs are derived by considering the concept of effective fiber. In addition, the 2009 prices of commercially available CNTs are reviewed. The strongest, the stiffest, and the cheapest CFs commercially available are compared with single walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). The simulated results from the micromechanics models show that the use of CFs makes the acquisition of composites with maximum tensile strengths of 4.18 GPa possible. Analysis of the cost versus property relation showed that CNTs are the most viable strengthening option for achieving composites with strengths of up to 11.61 GPa. It is also shown that CFs are the most viable stiffening option, making composites with Young's moduli of up to 383 GPa possible at the expense of the material's toughness. Moreover, it is shown that, in order to achieve CNT's true potential, several challenges have to be faced. CNTs have to be produced with higher purity, longer lengths, better integrity, in larger amounts, and at lower cost. Moreover, issues such as orientation of the CNTs, their concentration, interfacial adhesion, distribution, and dispersion have to be overcome.
Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) provides a sensitive tool by which microscopic bond rupture can be monitored simultaneously with observations of macroscopic deformation and failure. Past techniques for studying fracture in semicrystalline polymers have been extended to investigate degradation of unfilled ruber in the presence of ozone. It was found that the rate of free radical production was linearly proportional to stretch ratio and ozone concentration and that stress relaxation and creep were not directly proportional to this production rate. The latter behavior was attributed to the particular dependence of crack density and growth on stress. It was concluded that at low strains, comparatively few surface cracks form; however, at higher strains, many more crack centers become active. Although many more surface cracks are present, they do not progress into the material as rapidly. Therefore, although more bonds were broken at higher strains and stresses, the stress relaxation rate and creep rates were not significantly increased. 相似文献
The influence of the basic properties of carbon black, such as structure, panicle size, and surface activity on the vulcanization and mechanical properties of filled natural rubber compounds was investigated in detail. This is important for a better understanding of the rubber performance and the mechanism of reinforcement. In particular, the effect of carbon black surface activity, which was changed by introducing one kind of hindered amine light stabilizer on rubber reinforcement is emphasized. 相似文献
Milled carbon fibers (MCF) have been tested at 2, 4, and 6 phr in a standard natural rubber compound with 45 phr of N375 carbon black. A dramatic increase in the low elongation moduli was observed even with only 2 phr of MCF. The presence of MCF confers anisotropic properties to the rubber compounds that can be measured by an anisotropic factor σ, defined as the ratio between the modulus parallel to the MCF prevalent direction over the modulus orthogonal to the MCF prevalent direction. It has been shown that the presence of MCF is able to reduce the mechanical hysteresis and also the compression set of the natural rubber compound. However, the tear strength properties are affected negatively. The present study demonstrates the feasibility and the advantages derived by the utilization of the carbon fibers as extra reinforcing filler in rubber compounds. 相似文献
Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates reinforced by epoxy resin (EP) have been synthesized by an in-situ vulcanization and curing process. The influences of synthetic parameters, such as the contents of EP, carbon black, and types of compatilizers, on the microstructures, vulcanization, and mechanical properties of SBR have been investigated. It was found that EP in SBR exists in the form of a fibrillar interpenetrating network, which is important for the enhancement of mechanical properties of SBR. The experimental results showed that when the percentage of EP was in the range of 10–20%, the composite materials had the best comprehensive performance. In comparison with pure SBR, the tear strength and the tensile stress at 300% elongation of SBR-EP composite were increased significantly. The method can be applicable for other rubber vulcanizates to improve their mechanical properties. 相似文献
Four types of chopped fibers have been studied as reinforcement additives in a standard natural rubber based, carbon black filled formulation. The fibers studied were aramide (2 types) and polyester (2 types). The chopped fibers were added on top of the carbon black filled rubber compound at 2, 4, and 8 phr levels. The extra reinforcing effect in the modulus, especially at low elongation, the increase in hardness, the anisotropic properties, and the stiffening effects have been studied together with the evaluation of the mechanical hysteresis in strain and in compression. The permanent set of the resulting rubber compounds have been evaluated as well. The best compromise in performances and price was found for a certain type of polyester fiber. 相似文献