Flexible Aerogel Materials: A Review on Revolutionary Flexibility Strategies and the Multifunctional Applications.

The design and preparation of flexible aerogel materials with high deformability and versatility have become an emerging research topic in the aerogel fields, as the brittle nature of traditional aerogels severely affects their safety and reliability in use. Herein, we review the preparation methods and properties of flexible aerogels and summarize the various controlling and design methods of aerogels to overcome the fragility caused by high porosity and nanoporous network structure. The mechanical flexibility of aerogels can be revolutionarily improved by monomer regulation, nanofiber assembly, structural design and controlling, and constructing of aerogel composites, which can greatly broaden the multifunctionality and practical application prospects.

La-Doped SmZrO/PU-Coated Leather Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Performance.

Flexible La-doped SmZrO/polyurethane (PU) coated leather composites were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method, with highly efficient photocatalytic degradation properties by coating the La-doped SmZrO/PU emulsion onto the leather and drying it. The phase composition and optical properties of the as-prepared photocatalytic material were systematically characterized. The result revealed that La was doped in SmZrO successfully, and the prepared samples still possessed pyrochlore structure.

Joint Performance of a Continuous Glass Fiber/Polypropylene Composite.

Thermoplastic composite structures possess superior properties compared with thermosetting composites, including recyclability and high damage tolerance. However, the poor adhesion properties of thermoplastic composites make their joining process challenging. In this research, three bonding techniques, namely adhesive, mechanical joining, and hybrid bonding, are investigated using lap shear specimens to evaluate their mechanical properties and failure modes.