The influence of UHMWPE with varying morphologies on the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of HDPE.

The current study aims to examine how the morphology of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles impacts the kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization in high-density polyethylene (HDPE). To prepare blends of HDPE and UHMWPE, melt blending is utilized. High-temperature melting and subsequent shearing are used to cause the morphological changes in UHMWPE particles.

Research on Properties of PBAT/CaCO Composite Films Modified with Titanate Coupling Agent.

High cost, low crystallinity, and low-melt strength limit the market application of the biodegradable material poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which has become a major obstacle to the promotion of PBAT products. Herein, with PBAT as resin matrix and calcium carbonate (CaCO) as filler, PBAT/CaCO composite films were designed and prepared with a twin-screw extruder and single-screw extrusion blow-molding machine designed, and the effects of particle size (1250 mesh, 2000 mesh), particle content (0-36%) and titanate coupling agent (TC) surface modification of CaCO on the properties of PBAT/CaCO composite film were investigated. The results showed that the size and content of CaCO particles had a significant effect on the tensile properties of the composites.

The Research on Anti-Nickel Contamination Mechanism and Performance for Boron-Modified FCC Catalyst.

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is still a key process in the modern refining area, in which nickel-contamination for an FCC catalyst could obviously increase the dry gas and coke yields and thus seriously affect the stability of the FCC unit. From the points of surface acidity modification and Ni-passivation, in this paper, a boron-modified FCC catalyst (BM-Cat) was prepared using the in situ addition method with BO as a boron source and emphatically investigated its mechanism and performance of anti-nickel contamination. The mechanism research results suggested that, in calcination, boron could destroy the structure of the Y zeolite and thus decrease the total acid sites and strong acid sites of the Y zeolite from 291.

Mechanical Properties, Crystallization Behaviors and Phase Morphologies of PLA/GTR Blends by Reactive Compatibilization.

Different ratios of Polylactic acid/Ground tire rubber (PLA/GTR) were prepared by melt blending and adding dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a reactive compatibilizer. The compatibilizer could initiate a reaction between PLA and GTR to increase the compatibility and interfacial adhesion of the two phases, as indicated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adding the compatibilizer significantly improved the impact strength of the PLA/GTR blends without compromising the tensile strength.

Mechanical Properties, Melting and Crystallization Behaviors, and Morphology of Carbon Nanotubes/Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyethylene Terephthalate Composites.

Carbon nanotube/continuous carbon fiber reinforced poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CNT/CCF/PET) composites are prepared by melt impregnating. The effects of CF and CNT content on the mechanical properties, melt and crystallization behaviors, and submicroscopic morphology of CNT/CCF/PET composites are studied. The tensile test results show that the increase of CF and the addition of appropriate amount of CNT improved the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the composites.

Synthesis of Si-Modified Pseudo-Boehmite@kaolin Composite and Its Application as a Novel Matrix Material for FCC Catalyst.

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) has been the primary processing technology for heavy oil. Due to the inferior properties of heavy oil, an excellent performance is demanded of FCC catalysts. In this work, based on the acid extracting method, Si-modified pseudo-boehmite units (Si-PB) are constructed in situ and introduced into the structure of kaolin to synthesize a Si-PB@kaolin composite.

One-Step Fabrication of a Functionally Integrated Device Based on Polydimethylsiloxane-Coated SiO NPs for Efficient and Continuous Oil Absorption.

The construction of superhydrophobic surfaces necessitates the rational design of topographic surface structure and the reduction of surface energy. To date, the reported strategies are usually complex with multi-steps and costly. Thus, the simultaneous achievement of the two indispensable factors is highly desired, yet rather challenging.

Macroscopic supramolecular assembly of rigid hydrogels assisted by a flexible spacing coating.

To address the difficult challenge of realizing macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) of high-modulus hydrogels, we propose a strategy of introducing a flexible spacing coating to improve the surface compliance for efficient MSA, which holds promise to develop versatile MSA methods for fabricating hydrogel-based tissue scaffolds, and to provide insight into the MSA mechanism.

Mini-Generator Based on Reciprocating Vertical Motions Driven by Intracorporeal Energy.

Most implantable devices rely on a power supply from batteries and require replacement surgeries once the batteries run low. Mini-generators that harvest intracorporeal energy available in the human body are promising replacements of batteries and prolong the lifetime of implantable devices, thus reducing surgery pain, risks, and cost. Although various sources of energy available in the human body are used for electricity generation using piezoelectric and triboelectric materials or intravascular turbines, concerns about material durability or thrombus risks remain, and developing novel strategies to fabricate a mini-generator to harvest the intracorporeal energy is still challenging.

Removal of Oil Spills through a Self-Propelled Smart Device.

Oil/water separation through superhydrophobic/superoleophilic materials has attracted considerable interest over the past decades; however, dealing with oil spills on broad waters through an active way remains a challenge. Herein, we report a self-propelled smart device driven by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide that can spontaneously move on the water surface and collect floating oil droplets inside with superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties. Moreover, the self-propelled smart device exhibits excellent stability and high efficiency for oil/water separation.

Elasticity-Dependent Fast Underwater Adhesion Demonstrated by Macroscopic Supramolecular Assembly.

Macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) is a recent development in supramolecular chemistry to associate visible building blocks through non-covalent interactions in a multivalent manner. Although various substrates (e.g.

Macroscopic Supramolecular Assembly through Electrostatic Interactions Based on a Flexible Spacing Coating.

Macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) is a recent advance in supramolecular chemistry that involves associating large building blocks with a size larger than 10 µm through noncovalent interactions. However, until now the applicable material system is rather limited to hydrogels, and MSA of rigid materials with supramolecular interactions widely used in molecular assembly has rarely been reported due to the difficulty in achieving multivalency between rigid surfaces. Herein, the concept of flexible spacing coating is applied with highly flowable properties, and the electrostatic-interaction-driven MSA of relatively rigid polydimethylsiloxane building blocks is demonstrated.

Self-Correction Strategy for Precise, Massive, and Parallel Macroscopic Supramolecular Assembly.

Macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) represents a new advancement in supramolecular chemistry involving building blocks with sizes beyond tens of micrometers associating through noncovalent interactions. MSA is established as a unique method to fabricate supramolecularly assembled materials by shortening the length scale between bulk materials and building blocks. However, improving the precise alignment during assembly to form orderly assembled structures remains a challenge.

Chemical and Equipment-Free Strategy To Fabricate Water/Oil Separating Materials for Emergent Oil Spill Accidents.

Oil spill accidents normally have two important features when considering practical cleanup strategies: (1) unexpected occurrence in any situations possibly without specific equipment and chemicals; (2) emergency to be cleaned to minimize the influences on ecosystems. To address these two practical problems regarding removal of spilt oil, we have proposed an in situ, rapid, and facile candle-soot strategy to fabricate water/oil separating materials based on superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity. The one-step fabrication method is independent of any chemicals or equipment and can be ready for use through short smoking processes within 5 min by using raw materials available in daily life such as textiles.

Biomimicking of a Swim Bladder and Its Application as a Mini-Generator.

A model fish with a man-made swim bladder achieves fast vertical motions based on density adjustments in a pressure-responsive way. When exposed to a magnetic field, a mini-generator is achieved by harvesting energy from the environment, working with pressure differences in the blood-pressure range and at the frequency of a beating heart.

Converting chemical energy into electricity through a functionally cooperating device with diving-surfacing cycles.

A smart device that can dive or surface in aqueous medium has been developed by combining a pH-responsive surface with acid-responsive magnesium. The diving-surfacing cycles can be used to convert chemical energy into electricity. During the diving-surfacing motion, the smart device cuts magnetic flux lines and produces a current, demonstrating that motional energy can be realized by consuming chemical energy of magnesium, thus producing electricity.

Supramolecular assembly of macroscopic building blocks through self-propelled locomotion by dissipating chemical energy.

Chemical energy supplied by the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 is introduced into macroscopic building blocks, which self-propel, interact with each other, and finally assemble into ordered and advanced structures. The geometry is highly dependent on the way that the catalyst is loaded. The integration of catalyst and building block provides assembling component as well as its energy of motion.

pH-responsive on-off motion of a superhydrophobic boat: towards the design of a minirobot.

Combining chemical reactions and stimuli-responsive surfaces as clutch system, a functional cooperating minirobot with on-off locomotion that is responsive to pH changes is fabricated. Its locomotion can be switched on by changing pH value of the solution from 1 to 13, turned off by adjusting the pH back to acidic, and restarted by transforming the solution to basic.

Bell-shaped superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic double transformation on a pH-responsive smart surface.

Superhydrophobic to neutral water droplets, superhydrophilic to acidic or basic. This double transition of surface wettability in response to a single stimulus - pH - is demonstrated for the first time. The smart surface is composed of a rough gold surface modified with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) containing three thiols, HS(CH2 )11 CH3 , HS(CH2 )10 COOH, and HS(CH2 )11 NH2 .

A facile method to immobilize cucurbituril on surfaces through photocrosslinking with azido groups.

We develop a facile method to immobilize cucurbituril on silicon substrates through photochemical reaction with azido groups. Combining photolithography and the competitive molecular recognition between CB[7] and acridine orange base or 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid, a patterned surface with reversible fluorescence emission can be obtained.

Smart transportation between three phases through a stimulus-responsive functionally cooperating device.

A "smart", functionally cooperating device consisting of a platinum strip and steel bead inside a nickel foam cube with a temperature-responsive polymer coating shows a diving-surfacing cycle when the water temperature first falls below and then rises above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer, which marks the change from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity. Furthermore, the smart device allows a cycled directional delivery of lipophilic molecules between three phases.