Highly Efficient Solar Light Driven g-CN@CsWO Heterojunction for the Photodegradation of Colorless Antibiotics.

This study facilitates the synthesis of a graphitic carbon nitride/cesium tungsten oxide (g-CN@CsWO) heterojunction using a solvothermal method. The photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples were examined for the photodegradation of colorless antibiotics, namely tetracycline, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, as well as cationic and anionic dyes, such as methyl orange, rhodamine B, neutral red, and methylene blue, under full-spectrum solar light. We have purposely selected different kinds of wastewater pollutants of colorless antibiotics and cationic and anionic organic dyes to investigate the potential application of this heterojunction toward different groups of water pollutants.

Switchable Wettability of Poly(NIPAAm--HEMA--NMA) Coated PET Fabric for Moisture Management.

In this study, we synthesized a random poly[(-isopropylacrylamide)--(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)--(-methylolacrylamide)] [poly(NIPAAm--HEMA--NMA)] copolymer through free-radical polymerization. The NIPAAm, HEMA and NMA moieties were framed to provide thermoresponsiveness, water absorption and retention control, and chemical cross-linking to achieve stability in aqueous medium, respectively. The copolymer showed a significant change in optical transmittance with a variation in temperature due to the change in volume (i.

Friction and Wear Performance of Staple Carbon Fabric-Reinforced Composites: Effects of Surface Topography.

Here, staple carbon fiber fabric-reinforced polycarbonate (PC)- and epoxy (EP)-based composites with different impregnating resin levels were fabricated using a modified film stacking process. The effects of surface topographies and resin types on the tribological properties of stable carbon fabric composites (sCFC) were investigated. Friction and wear tests on the carbon composites were conducted under unlubricated sliding using a disk-on-disk wear test machine.

Oil-Water Separation of Electrospun Cellulose Triacetate Nanofiber Membranes Modified by Electrophoretically Deposited TiO₂/Graphene Oxide.

Recycled waste industrial cellulose triacetate (TAC) film, which is one of the key materials in polarizers, was used to produce nanofiber membranes by electrospinning and synergistic assembly with graphene oxide (GO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) for oil-water separation. In this study, GO and TiO₂ coated by an electrophoretic deposition method introduced super hydrophilicity onto the recycled TAC (rTAC) membrane, with enhanced water permeability. The results indicate that when the outermost TiO₂ layer of an asymmetric composite fiber membrane is exposed to ultraviolet irradiation; the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic layer is more effectively promoted.

Synthesis and Physical Properties of Non-Crystalline Nylon 6 Containing Dimer Acid.

In this study, a long carbon chain dimer acid is introduced into a nylon 6 structure and is copolymerized with different structural amines to produce amorphous nylon 6 by 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methylcyclohexylamine) (MMCA) in different copolymerization ratios. The effect of different structures and copolymerization ratios on the properties of nylon 6 is determined, along with the thermal properties, crystallinity, water absorption, dynamic mechanical properties, and optical properties. It is found that the melting point and the thermal cracking temperature Td10 of nylon 6 are respectively between 176 °C and 213 °C and 378 °C to 405 °C.

Melt Electrospun Reduced Tungsten Oxide /Polylactic Acid Fiber Membranes as a Photothermal Material for Light-Driven Interfacial Water Evaporation.

The development of efficient photothermal materials is the most important issue in solar water evaporation. In this work, melt electrospun reduced tungsten oxide/polylactic acid (WO/PLA) fiber membranes were successfully prepared with improved near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion properties owing to strong NIR photoabsorption by the metal oxide. WO powder nanoparticles were incorporated into PLA matrix by melt processing, following which the composites were extruded into wires using a single screw extruder.

Piezoelectric Response of Aligned Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Carbon Nanotube Nanofibrous Membranes.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) shows piezoelectricity related to its β-phase content and mechanical and electrical properties influenced by its morphology and crystallinity. Electrospinning (ES) can produce ultrafine and well-aligned PVDF nanofibers. In this study, the effects of the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and optimized ES parameters on the crystal structures and piezoelectric properties of aligned PVDF/CNT nanofibrous membranes were examined.

Barrier Properties of Layered-Silicate Reinforced Ethylenepropylenediene Monomer/Chloroprene Rubber Nanorubbers.

The triacetin and nitroglycerin barrier properties of layered-silicate reinforced ethylenepropylenediene monomer/chloroprene rubber (EPDM/CR) nanorubbers were investigated as rocket-propellant inhibitors. EPDM/CR nanorubbers with intercalated structures were formulated and prepared by the melt-compounding method. The triacetin permeability and nitroglycerin absorption were observed to decrease with increasing layered-silicate content.

Highly Efficient Near Infrared Photothermal Conversion Properties of Reduced Tungsten Oxide/Polyurethane Nanocomposites.

In this work, novel WO/polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were prepared by ball milling followed by stirring using a planetary mixer/de-aerator. The effects of phase transformation (WO₃ → WO → WO) and different weight fractions of tungsten oxide on the optical performance, photothermal conversion, and thermal properties of the prepared nanocomposites were examined. It was found that the nanocomposites exhibited strong photoabsorption in the entire near-infrared (NIR) region of 780-2500 nm and excellent photothermal conversion properties.

Effects of Surface Modification on the Mechanical Properties of Flax/β-Polypropylene Composites.

The effects of surface treatment of flax fibers featuring vinyltrimethoxy silane (VTMO) and maleic anhydride-polypropylene (MAPP) on the mechanical properties of flax/PP composites were investigated. α-polypropylene (α-PP) and β-polypropylene (β-PP) were used as matrices for measuring the mechanical properties of the flax fiber/polypropylene (flax/PP) composites. Flax/PP composites composed of double-covered uncommingled yarn (DCUY) were prepared using a film-stacking technique.