Machine learning(ML)has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting polymer properties,including glass transition temperature(Tg),which is a critical factor influencing polymer applications.In this study,a dataset of po...Machine learning(ML)has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting polymer properties,including glass transition temperature(Tg),which is a critical factor influencing polymer applications.In this study,a dataset of polymer structures and their Tg values were created and represented as adjacency matrices based on molecular graph theory.Four key structural descriptors,flexibility,side chain occupancy length,polarity,and hydrogen bonding capacity,were extracted and used as inputs for ML models:Extra Trees(ET),Random Forest(RF),Gaussian Process Regression(GPR),and Gradient Boosting(GB).Among these,ET and GPR achieved the highest predictive performance,with R2 values of 0.97,and mean absolute errors(MAE)of approximately 7–7.5 K.The use of these extracted features significantly improved the prediction accuracy compared to previous studies.Feature importance analysis revealed that flexibility had the strongest influence on Tg,followed by side-chain occupancy length,hydrogen bonding,and polarity.This work demonstrates the potential of data-driven approaches in polymer science,providing a fast and reliable method for Tg prediction that does not require experimental inputs.展开更多
Ethylene polymerization was carried out by immobilization of rac-ethylenebis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Et（Ind）2ZrCl2） and rac-dimethylsilylbis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Me2Si（Ind）2ZrCl2） preact...Ethylene polymerization was carried out by immobilization of rac-ethylenebis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Et（Ind）2ZrCl2） and rac-dimethylsilylbis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Me2Si（Ind）2ZrCl2） preactivated with methylaluminoxane （MAO） on calcinated silica at different temperatures. Polymerizations of ethylene were conducted at different temperatures to find the optimized polymerization temperature for maximum activity of the catalyst. The Me2Si bridge catalyst showed higher activity at the lower polymerization temperature compared to the Et bridge catalyst. The highest catalytic activities were obtained at temperatures about 50 ~C and 70 ~C for Me2Si（Ind）2ZrC1JMAO and Et（Ind）zZrCI2/MAO catalysts systems, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy results and polymerization activity results confirmed that the best temperature for calcinating silica was about 450 ℃ for both catalysts systems. The melting points of the produced polyethylene were about 130 ℃, which could be attributed to the linear structure of HDPE.展开更多
Poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(methacrylamide) copolymer (PMMA-co-PMAA) was synthesized by a free radical copolymerization of MMA and MAA monomers in methylethyl ketone using AIBN as radical initiator. Multi-wall carb...Poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(methacrylamide) copolymer (PMMA-co-PMAA) was synthesized by a free radical copolymerization of MMA and MAA monomers in methylethyl ketone using AIBN as radical initiator. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were oxidized in KMnO4 acidic suspension. Carboxyl groups on the surface oxidized MWCNT were reacted with primary amide group of PMMA-co-PMAA copolymer in MEK solution under ultrasound to form polymer brush on the surface of MWCNT. With the help of TG analyses the amount of covalently grafted PMMA-co-PMAA copolymer onto MWCNT surface was determined as ?47 wt%. TEM analyses identified thin co-polymer layer adhered onto MWCNT surface with average thickness ?5 nm.展开更多
The growing environmental awareness,the search for alternatives to fossil resources,and the goal of achieving a circular economy have all contributed to the increasing valorization of biowaste to produce bio-based pol...The growing environmental awareness,the search for alternatives to fossil resources,and the goal of achieving a circular economy have all contributed to the increasing valorization of biowaste to produce bio-based polymers and other high-value products.Among the various biowaste materials,lignin has gained significant attention due to its high aromatic carbon content,low cost,and abundance.Lignin is predominantly sourced as a byproduct from the paper industry,available in large quantities from hardwood and softwood,with variations in chemical structure and susceptibility to hydrolysis.This study focuses on softwood lignin obtained through the LignoForce^(TM) technology,comparing the thermal and chemical characteristics,and stability,of a recently produced batch with that of a batch that has been stored for four years.Additionally,the development of lignin-based thermoplastic polymer mixtures using Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol(PET-G)and a blend of Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene(PC/ABS)with high lignin content(50–60 wt%)is explored,as well as the production of filaments for carbon fiber production.For this purpose,following melt mixing,the lignin-based mixtures were spun into filaments,which were subsequently subjected to thermal stabilization in an oxidative atmosphere.The lignin phase was well distributed in the PET-Gmatrix and the twomaterials presented a good interface,which further improved after thermal treatment under an oxidative atmosphere.After thermal treatment an increase in tensile modulus,tensile strength,and elongation at break of approximately 160%,200%,and 100%,respectively,was observed,confirming the good interface established,and consistent with structural changes such as cross-linking.Conversely,the PC/ABS blend did not form a good interface with the lignin domains after melt mixing.Although the interactions improved after thermal treatment,the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased by approximately 30%,while themodulus increased by approximately 20%.Overall,the good processability of the lignin/polymer mixtures into filaments,and their physical,chemical,and mechanical characterization before and after thermal oxidation are good indicators of the potential as precursors for carbon fiber production.展开更多
Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,r...Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,reflecting greater recognition from outside the journal.We argue that these perspectives are not contradictory:low self-citation can be prestigious precisely because it reflects low self-readership.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze the physics and mathematics of journal self-citation.Our findings show that the self-citation rate(i)increases with journal market share,(ii)approaches a well-defined upper bound,(iii)this upper bound remains significantly below unity,and(iv)without a minimum level of market share,self-citation is virtually absent.Here,market share refers to the proportion of a journal’s publications relative to its Web of Science(WOS)subject category.To test our analysis,we examine 61 journal-years of data from three major hybrid fluid dynamics journals:Journal of Fluid Mechanics,Physical Review Fluids,and Physics of Fluids.Findings:We identify a consistent relationship between journal self-citation and market share.A striking result is the mathematical analogy we establish between journal self-citation behavior and the concentration of intermediates in consecutive irreversible unimolecular chemical reactions.We also observe that creating specialized subdisciplinary journals(“twigging”)can reduce self-citation rates by narrowing scope.Research limitations:The study is limited to fluid dynamics journals.Broader validation across disciplines is needed.Practical implications:Editors and publishers can apply these insights to interpret citation metrics and assess the visibility and readership of their journals.Originality/value:This work redefines LJSCR as a counterintuitive metric—one that may reflect both low author engagement and high external impact.It introduces a novel physics-based model to understand citation behavior across journals.展开更多
Purpose:This study investigates the physics of annual fractional citation growth and its impact on journal bibliographic metrics,focusing on the interplay between journal publication growth and citation dynamics.Desig...Purpose:This study investigates the physics of annual fractional citation growth and its impact on journal bibliographic metrics,focusing on the interplay between journal publication growth and citation dynamics.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze bibliometric data from three prominent fluids journals-Physics of Fluids,Journal of Fluid Mechanics,and Physical Review Fluids-over the period 1999-2023.The analysis examines the relations among annual fractional journal publication growth,citation growth,and bibliographic metric suppressions.Findings:Our findings reveal that the suppression of impact factor growth is significantly influenced by annual fractional journal publication growth rather than citation growth.All three journals exhibit similar responses to publication growth with minimal scatter,following a consistent functional relation.We also identify narrow,nearly Gaussian distributions for annual fractional journal publication growth.Furthermore,we introduce a new growth-independent dimensionless bibliometric metric,journal urgency,the ratio of annual fractional citation growth to the 4-year running average immediacy index.This metric captures effectively the dependency of citation growth on urgency and reveals consistent distributions across the journals analyzed.Research limitations:The study is limited to three major fluids journals and to the availability of bibliometric data from 1999 to 2023.Future work could extend the analysis to other disciplines and journals.Practical implications:Understanding the relation between publication growth and bibliometric suppressions can inform editorial and strategic decisions in journal management.The proposed journal urgency metric offers a novel tool for assessing and comparing journal performance independent of growth rates.Originality/value:This study introduces a new bibliometric metric-journal urgency-that provides fresh insights into citation dynamics and bibliographic metric behavior.It highlights the critical role of publication growth in shaping journal impact factors and CiteScores,offering a unified framework applicable across multiple journals.展开更多
To improve creep resistance of directional polytetrafluoroethylene （PTFE） films, epoxy grafted nano-SiO2 is mixed with PTFE powder before sintering and calender rolling. The aligned macromolecular chains （especiall...To improve creep resistance of directional polytetrafluoroethylene （PTFE） films, epoxy grafted nano-SiO2 is mixed with PTFE powder before sintering and calender rolling. The aligned macromolecular chains （especially those in amorphous region） of the composite films can be bundled up by the nanoparticles to share the applied stress together. In addition, incorporation of silica nanoparticles increases crystallinity of PTFE and favors microfibrillation of PTFE in the course of large deformation. As result, PTFE films exhibit lower creep strain and creep rate, and higher tensile strength and hardness. The work is believed to open an avenue for manufacturing high performance fluoropolymers by nano-inclusions.展开更多
In this investigation,the structural and electrical properties of nanocomposites of polyaniline(PANI) and cobalt ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal route are reported for the first time(with weight ratios of CoFe_2O_...In this investigation,the structural and electrical properties of nanocomposites of polyaniline(PANI) and cobalt ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal route are reported for the first time(with weight ratios of CoFe_2O_4/PANI 1:2 and 2:1).Synthesized nanomaterials have been characterized by XRD,FT-IR,SEM and TEM techniques.FT-IR results confirm the presence of CoFe_2O_4 and PANI in the samples.Their detailed conductivity measurements have been investigated.It has been found that PANI has a more effective conducting mechanism in CoFe_2O_4-PANI composites.These results are also consistent with the change in AC conductivity orders in composites.展开更多
The application of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite material has increased due to environmental concerns,low cost,degradability and health concerns.The purpose of this study is to identify the best type of...The application of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite material has increased due to environmental concerns,low cost,degradability and health concerns.The purpose of this study is to identify the best type of bamboo fibers to be used as reinforcement for kenaf(K)/bamboo hybrid composite.There were three types of bamboo fibers evaluated in this study which include bamboo mat(B),bamboo fabric(BF)and bamboo powder(BP).Chemical composition of B,BF,BP and K fibers were analyzed in this study.The effect of different types of bamboo fibers on tensile,impact,and morphological properties were investigated.The B/epoxy composites displayed the highest tensile strength(53.03 MPa)while K/epoxy composite had the highest tensile modulus(4.71 GPa).Scanning electron micrographs of B/epoxy composites displayed better fiber/matrix interfacial bonding in comparison to other studied composites.Results showed that impact strength of BF-based composite was highest(45.70 J/m).In conclusion,the tensile strength of B/epoxy composite is superior to the other bamboo reinforced composites and will be further evaluated in the next study.展开更多
The spatial arrangement of the cell is important and considered as underlying mechanism for mathematical modeling of cell to cell interaction.The ability of cells to take on the characteristics of other cells in an or...The spatial arrangement of the cell is important and considered as underlying mechanism for mathematical modeling of cell to cell interaction.The ability of cells to take on the characteristics of other cells in an organism,it is important to understand the dynamical behavior of the cells.This method implements experimental parameters of the cell-cell interaction into the mathematical simulation of cell arrangement.The purpose of this research was to explore the three-dimensional spatial distribution of anterior horn cells in the rat spinal cord to examine differences after sciatic nerve injury.Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were assigned to control and axotomy groups.Twelve weeks after surgery,the anterior horn was removed for first-and second-order stereological studies.Second-order stereological techniques were applied to estimate the pair correlation and cross-correlation functions using a dipole probe superimposed onto the spinal cord sections.The findings revealed 7% and 36% reductions in the mean volume and total number of motoneurons,respectively,and a25% increase in the neuroglial cell number in the axotomized rats compared to the control rats.In contrast,the anterior horn volume remained unchanged.The results also indicated a broader gap in the pair correlation curve for the motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats compared to the control rats.This finding shows a negative correlation for the distribution of motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats.The cross-correlation curve shows a negative correlation between the motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats.These findings suggest that cellular structural and functional changes after sciatic nerve injury lead to the alterations in the spatial arrangement of motoneurons and neuroglial cells,finally affecting the normal function of the central nervous system.The experimental protocol was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(approval No.IR.SBMU.MSP.REC1395.375) on October 17,2016.展开更多
Graphene oxide was prepared by ultrasonication of completely oxidized graphite and used to improve the flame retardancy of epoxy. The epoxy/graphene oxide nanocomposite was studied in terms of exfoliation/dispersion, ...Graphene oxide was prepared by ultrasonication of completely oxidized graphite and used to improve the flame retardancy of epoxy. The epoxy/graphene oxide nanocomposite was studied in terms of exfoliation/dispersion, thermal stability and flame retardancy. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the exfoliation of the graphene oxide nanosheets in epoxy matrix. Cone calorimeter measurements showed that the time to ignition of the epoxy/graphene oxide nanocomposite was longer than that of neat epoxy. The heat release rate curve of the nanocomposite was broadened compared to that of neat epoxy and the peak heat release rate decreased as well.展开更多
Two novel heterogeneous nickel a-diimine based polymerization catalysts, containing MWCNT as the main ligand, were synthesized by novel in situ catalyst preparation technique. The in situ synthesis was performed by co...Two novel heterogeneous nickel a-diimine based polymerization catalysts, containing MWCNT as the main ligand, were synthesized by novel in situ catalyst preparation technique. The in situ synthesis was performed by covalent attachment of the acenaphthenic ligand core to amine functionalized MWCNT ligand arms through diimine bonding and further nickel dibromide chelation. The prepared catalysts were fully characterized and their structures and supporting efficiencies were determined. Single or double introduction of the MWCNTs through their ends or sidewall（s） in the catalytic system, as a ligand, influenced the catalytic performance, microstructure and morphology of obtained polyethylenes. MWCNT sidewall bonding to para-aryl position of the tetramethylphenyl moiety performed as more electron-donating ligand than MWCNT ends linked to the imine bond and protected the catalytic system to retain its activity. This character resulted in the maintenance of the resulting polymer topology at elevated temperatures so that the catalytic activity and the obtained polymer melting points remained around 110 g PE·mmol^-1 Ni·h^-1 and 123 ℃ in all polymerization temperatures respectively. In polymerization trials, molecular weight fall against temperature was not as sharp as what had been observed in sequentially prepared catalysts insofar as the molecular weight of resultant polymer at 60 ℃ reached to 310000 g·mol^-1 which was close to the highest value had been reported at 30 ℃ for sequentially prepared catalysts. TEM observations showed the presence of the stopped-growth polymer chains due to geometrical constrains or ligand debonding for both catalytic systems.展开更多
Simultaneous functionalization and reduction of graphene oxide （GO） is realized by refluxing of GO suspension with polyetheramine （D2000） followed by thermal treatment at 120℃. Compared to GO, the D2000-treated ...Simultaneous functionalization and reduction of graphene oxide （GO） is realized by refluxing of GO suspension with polyetheramine （D2000） followed by thermal treatment at 120℃. Compared to GO, the D2000-treated GO （GO- D2000） becomes hydrophobic, thermally stable and highly conductive with an electrical conductivity of 11 S/m, which is almost 8 orders of magnitude higher than that of GO. Due to the high conductivity and improved dispersion of GO-D2000, its epoxy nanocomposites exhibit a sharp transition from electrically insulating to conducting with a low percolation threshold of 0.71 vol%. With 3.6 wt% GO-D2000, the glass transition temperature of the epoxy nanocomposite is 27 K higher than that of neat epoxy.展开更多
The penta-ether compound was synthesized by the reaction of di（trimethylolpropane） with sodium hydride as the strong base and methyl iodide as the alkyl halide. This compound was characterized by NMR, FTIR, and GC t...The penta-ether compound was synthesized by the reaction of di（trimethylolpropane） with sodium hydride as the strong base and methyl iodide as the alkyl halide. This compound was characterized by NMR, FTIR, and GC techniques. The MgCl_2-supported titanium catalysts were incorporated with varying amounts of penta-ether compound as the internal donor and also the catalysts without the internal donor were synthesized. The synthesized catalysts and the conventional ZieglerNatta catalyst were characterized. The titanium contents were determined by spectrophotometry, magnesium by complexometric titration and chloride by argentometric titration. The effects of the new internal donor on propylene polymerization with the prepared MgCl_2-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts were investigated and then these results were compared to the results obtained using the conventional diisobutyl phthalate-besed-Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The highest crystallinity degree, melting temperature, and isotacticity of polypropylene were obtained using the catalyst with a pentaether/Mg molar ratio equal to 0.21.展开更多
WPC （wood plastic composites） are a young generation of composites with rapidly growing usage within the plastics industry. The advantages are the availability and low price of the wood particles, the possibility of...WPC （wood plastic composites） are a young generation of composites with rapidly growing usage within the plastics industry. The advantages are the availability and low price of the wood particles, the possibility of partially substituting the polymer in the mixture and sustainable use of the earth＇s resources. The current WPC products on the market are to a large extent limited to extruded products. Nowadays, there is a great interest in the market for consumer products in more use of WPC as an alternative to pure thermoplastics in injection molding processes. This work presents the results of numerical simulation and experimental visualization of the mold filling process in injection molding of WPC. The 3D injection molding simulations were done with the commercial software package Autodesk~ Moldflow Insight 2016 （AMI）. The mold filling experiments were conducted with a box-shaped test part. In contrast to unfilled polymers, the WPC has reduced melt elasticity so that the fountain flow often does not develop. This results in irregular flow front shapes in the molded part, especially at high filler content.展开更多
Different types of carbon-silica fillers were prepared via pyrolysis-cum-water vapor of waste green tires tread and impregnation method. Dual phase fillers have been characterized by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spec...Different types of carbon-silica fillers were prepared via pyrolysis-cum-water vapor of waste green tires tread and impregnation method. Dual phase fillers have been characterized by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) or STEM-EDX. Phase distribution in hybrid fillers for rubber was investigated. The results achieved show that the conditions of obtaining influence the distribution and the location of the phases in the carbon-silica hybrid fillers as well as their most essential characteristics including specific area, oil absorption number, iodine adsorption number, ash content and others.展开更多
The development of carbon nanotubes based materials has been impeded by both their difficult dispersion in the polymer matrix and their high cost. The discovery of graphene and the subsequent development of graphene-b...The development of carbon nanotubes based materials has been impeded by both their difficult dispersion in the polymer matrix and their high cost. The discovery of graphene and the subsequent development of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites is an important addition in the area of nanoscience and technology. In this study the influence of graphene nanoparticles (GNP) in concentrations from 2.0 to 10.0 phr on the dielectric (dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss angle tangent) and microwave (reflection coefficient, attenuation coefficient, shielding effectiveness) properties of nanocomposites on the basis of natural rubber has been investigated in the wide frequency range (1 - 12 GHz). The results achieved allow recommending graphene as a filler for natural rubber based composites to afford specific dielectric and microwave properties, especially when their loading with the much more expensive carbon nanotubes is not possible.展开更多
Carbon fiber reinforced high density polyethylene multi-layered laminated composite panels（HDPE/CF MLCP） with excellent in-plane properties along transverse direction have been formulated. Composite architectures wi...Carbon fiber reinforced high density polyethylene multi-layered laminated composite panels（HDPE/CF MLCP） with excellent in-plane properties along transverse direction have been formulated. Composite architectures with carbon fiber（CF） designed in 2D layout in conventional composites can alleviate their properties in thickness direction, but all attempts so far developed have achieved restrained success. Here,we have exposed an approach to the high strength composite challenge, without altering the 2D stack design on the basis of concept of fiber reinforced laminated composites that would provide enhanced mechanical and thermal properties along transverse direction. CF sheets allowed the buckling of adjoining plies in 2D MLCP. We fabricated 2D MLCP by stacking the alternative CF and HDPE layers under different loading conditions, which resulted in high strength composites. These plies of CF and HDPE served as unit cells for MLCP, with CF offering much-needed fracture toughness and hardness to these materials.For 2D HDPE/CF MLCP, we demonstrated noteworthy improvement in physical and chemical interaction between CF and HDPE, in-plane fracture strain, flexural strength（30.684 MPa）, bending modulus（7436.254 MPa）, thermal stability（40.94%）, and surface morphology, upon increasing the CF layers up to twenty, enabling these composites truly for high temperature and high strength applications.展开更多
The paper presents a comparative study on the electric, dielectric and microwave properties of natural rubber based composites comprising dual phase fillers prepared from furnace carbon black or conductive carbon blac...The paper presents a comparative study on the electric, dielectric and microwave properties of natural rubber based composites comprising dual phase fillers prepared from furnace carbon black or conductive carbon black with a different amount of silica. It has been established that, the specifics of the carbon phase have a marked strong effect upon the properties mentioned above. The interpenetration of the two filler phases and the grade of isolation of the conductive carbon phase by the dielectric one depend on the ratio between them. On the other hand, that leads to a change in all properties of the studied composites, which allows tailoring those characteristics.展开更多
Polylactide(PLA)bead foams show a high potential regarding their applicability in packaging or consumer products.Concerning the comparable properties of PLA to Polystyrene(PS)and the good CO_(2) footprint it represent...Polylactide(PLA)bead foams show a high potential regarding their applicability in packaging or consumer products.Concerning the comparable properties of PLA to Polystyrene(PS)and the good CO_(2) footprint it represents a potential alternative to petroleum-based polymer foams.However,foaming of PLA is challenging,due to its low melt strength,therefore chemical modifiers are often used.Concerning the bead foam technology regarding PLA,the available literature is limited so far.Within this study,the bead foaming behavior of neat and modified amorphous PLA was investigated.The material was modified by talc and an epoxy-based chain extender.These compounds have been investigated regarding their sorption behavior in CO_(2) atmosphere and their foaming behavior.Foaming was conducted by using the batch foaming method based on a rapid temperature increase after saturation with CO_(2).In order to achieve welded bead foams,a one-step processing for foaming and welding has been established.Finally,the compression properties of the PLA bead foams have been investigated.Densities below 50 kg/m^(3) for single bead foams and 80 kg/m^(3) for molded foams were achieved,respectively.展开更多
文摘Machine learning(ML)has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting polymer properties,including glass transition temperature(Tg),which is a critical factor influencing polymer applications.In this study,a dataset of polymer structures and their Tg values were created and represented as adjacency matrices based on molecular graph theory.Four key structural descriptors,flexibility,side chain occupancy length,polarity,and hydrogen bonding capacity,were extracted and used as inputs for ML models:Extra Trees(ET),Random Forest(RF),Gaussian Process Regression(GPR),and Gradient Boosting(GB).Among these,ET and GPR achieved the highest predictive performance,with R2 values of 0.97,and mean absolute errors(MAE)of approximately 7–7.5 K.The use of these extracted features significantly improved the prediction accuracy compared to previous studies.Feature importance analysis revealed that flexibility had the strongest influence on Tg,followed by side-chain occupancy length,hydrogen bonding,and polarity.This work demonstrates the potential of data-driven approaches in polymer science,providing a fast and reliable method for Tg prediction that does not require experimental inputs.
基金financially supported by the National Iranian Petrochemical Company Research and Technology(NIPC-RT)
文摘Ethylene polymerization was carried out by immobilization of rac-ethylenebis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Et（Ind）2ZrCl2） and rac-dimethylsilylbis（1-indenyl）zirconium dichloride （Me2Si（Ind）2ZrCl2） preactivated with methylaluminoxane （MAO） on calcinated silica at different temperatures. Polymerizations of ethylene were conducted at different temperatures to find the optimized polymerization temperature for maximum activity of the catalyst. The Me2Si bridge catalyst showed higher activity at the lower polymerization temperature compared to the Et bridge catalyst. The highest catalytic activities were obtained at temperatures about 50 ~C and 70 ~C for Me2Si（Ind）2ZrC1JMAO and Et（Ind）zZrCI2/MAO catalysts systems, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy results and polymerization activity results confirmed that the best temperature for calcinating silica was about 450 ℃ for both catalysts systems. The melting points of the produced polyethylene were about 130 ℃, which could be attributed to the linear structure of HDPE.
文摘Poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(methacrylamide) copolymer (PMMA-co-PMAA) was synthesized by a free radical copolymerization of MMA and MAA monomers in methylethyl ketone using AIBN as radical initiator. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were oxidized in KMnO4 acidic suspension. Carboxyl groups on the surface oxidized MWCNT were reacted with primary amide group of PMMA-co-PMAA copolymer in MEK solution under ultrasound to form polymer brush on the surface of MWCNT. With the help of TG analyses the amount of covalently grafted PMMA-co-PMAA copolymer onto MWCNT surface was determined as ?47 wt%. TEM analyses identified thin co-polymer layer adhered onto MWCNT surface with average thickness ?5 nm.
基金funded by Project Better Plastics—Plastics in a Circular Economy—PPS4(Circularity by Alternative Feedstocks)Grant agreement ID:POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046091RR was funded by FCT through the PhD grant with reference UI/BD/154446/2022.
文摘The growing environmental awareness,the search for alternatives to fossil resources,and the goal of achieving a circular economy have all contributed to the increasing valorization of biowaste to produce bio-based polymers and other high-value products.Among the various biowaste materials,lignin has gained significant attention due to its high aromatic carbon content,low cost,and abundance.Lignin is predominantly sourced as a byproduct from the paper industry,available in large quantities from hardwood and softwood,with variations in chemical structure and susceptibility to hydrolysis.This study focuses on softwood lignin obtained through the LignoForce^(TM) technology,comparing the thermal and chemical characteristics,and stability,of a recently produced batch with that of a batch that has been stored for four years.Additionally,the development of lignin-based thermoplastic polymer mixtures using Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol(PET-G)and a blend of Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene(PC/ABS)with high lignin content(50–60 wt%)is explored,as well as the production of filaments for carbon fiber production.For this purpose,following melt mixing,the lignin-based mixtures were spun into filaments,which were subsequently subjected to thermal stabilization in an oxidative atmosphere.The lignin phase was well distributed in the PET-Gmatrix and the twomaterials presented a good interface,which further improved after thermal treatment under an oxidative atmosphere.After thermal treatment an increase in tensile modulus,tensile strength,and elongation at break of approximately 160%,200%,and 100%,respectively,was observed,confirming the good interface established,and consistent with structural changes such as cross-linking.Conversely,the PC/ABS blend did not form a good interface with the lignin domains after melt mixing.Although the interactions improved after thermal treatment,the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased by approximately 30%,while themodulus increased by approximately 20%.Overall,the good processability of the lignin/polymer mixtures into filaments,and their physical,chemical,and mechanical characterization before and after thermal oxidation are good indicators of the potential as precursors for carbon fiber production.
文摘Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,reflecting greater recognition from outside the journal.We argue that these perspectives are not contradictory:low self-citation can be prestigious precisely because it reflects low self-readership.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze the physics and mathematics of journal self-citation.Our findings show that the self-citation rate(i)increases with journal market share,(ii)approaches a well-defined upper bound,(iii)this upper bound remains significantly below unity,and(iv)without a minimum level of market share,self-citation is virtually absent.Here,market share refers to the proportion of a journal’s publications relative to its Web of Science(WOS)subject category.To test our analysis,we examine 61 journal-years of data from three major hybrid fluid dynamics journals:Journal of Fluid Mechanics,Physical Review Fluids,and Physics of Fluids.Findings:We identify a consistent relationship between journal self-citation and market share.A striking result is the mathematical analogy we establish between journal self-citation behavior and the concentration of intermediates in consecutive irreversible unimolecular chemical reactions.We also observe that creating specialized subdisciplinary journals(“twigging”)can reduce self-citation rates by narrowing scope.Research limitations:The study is limited to fluid dynamics journals.Broader validation across disciplines is needed.Practical implications:Editors and publishers can apply these insights to interpret citation metrics and assess the visibility and readership of their journals.Originality/value:This work redefines LJSCR as a counterintuitive metric—one that may reflect both low author engagement and high external impact.It introduces a novel physics-based model to understand citation behavior across journals.
文摘Purpose:This study investigates the physics of annual fractional citation growth and its impact on journal bibliographic metrics,focusing on the interplay between journal publication growth and citation dynamics.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze bibliometric data from three prominent fluids journals-Physics of Fluids,Journal of Fluid Mechanics,and Physical Review Fluids-over the period 1999-2023.The analysis examines the relations among annual fractional journal publication growth,citation growth,and bibliographic metric suppressions.Findings:Our findings reveal that the suppression of impact factor growth is significantly influenced by annual fractional journal publication growth rather than citation growth.All three journals exhibit similar responses to publication growth with minimal scatter,following a consistent functional relation.We also identify narrow,nearly Gaussian distributions for annual fractional journal publication growth.Furthermore,we introduce a new growth-independent dimensionless bibliometric metric,journal urgency,the ratio of annual fractional citation growth to the 4-year running average immediacy index.This metric captures effectively the dependency of citation growth on urgency and reveals consistent distributions across the journals analyzed.Research limitations:The study is limited to three major fluids journals and to the availability of bibliometric data from 1999 to 2023.Future work could extend the analysis to other disciplines and journals.Practical implications:Understanding the relation between publication growth and bibliometric suppressions can inform editorial and strategic decisions in journal management.The proposed journal urgency metric offers a novel tool for assessing and comparing journal performance independent of growth rates.Originality/value:This study introduces a new bibliometric metric-journal urgency-that provides fresh insights into citation dynamics and bibliographic metric behavior.It highlights the critical role of publication growth in shaping journal impact factors and CiteScores,offering a unified framework applicable across multiple journals.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51173207)Sino-Hungarian Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project (No.2009DFA52660)+1 种基金Key projects of Guangdong Education Office (No.cxzd1101)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong (Nos.2010B010800020,2011B090500004,2011BZ100051)
文摘To improve creep resistance of directional polytetrafluoroethylene （PTFE） films, epoxy grafted nano-SiO2 is mixed with PTFE powder before sintering and calender rolling. The aligned macromolecular chains （especially those in amorphous region） of the composite films can be bundled up by the nanoparticles to share the applied stress together. In addition, incorporation of silica nanoparticles increases crystallinity of PTFE and favors microfibrillation of PTFE in the course of large deformation. As result, PTFE films exhibit lower creep strain and creep rate, and higher tensile strength and hardness. The work is believed to open an avenue for manufacturing high performance fluoropolymers by nano-inclusions.
基金the Fatih University,Research Project Foundation (Contract No.P50020902-2)TUBITAK (Contract No.110T487) for financial support of this study
文摘In this investigation,the structural and electrical properties of nanocomposites of polyaniline(PANI) and cobalt ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal route are reported for the first time(with weight ratios of CoFe_2O_4/PANI 1:2 and 2:1).Synthesized nanomaterials have been characterized by XRD,FT-IR,SEM and TEM techniques.FT-IR results confirm the presence of CoFe_2O_4 and PANI in the samples.Their detailed conductivity measurements have been investigated.It has been found that PANI has a more effective conducting mechanism in CoFe_2O_4-PANI composites.These results are also consistent with the change in AC conductivity orders in composites.
文摘The application of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite material has increased due to environmental concerns,low cost,degradability and health concerns.The purpose of this study is to identify the best type of bamboo fibers to be used as reinforcement for kenaf(K)/bamboo hybrid composite.There were three types of bamboo fibers evaluated in this study which include bamboo mat(B),bamboo fabric(BF)and bamboo powder(BP).Chemical composition of B,BF,BP and K fibers were analyzed in this study.The effect of different types of bamboo fibers on tensile,impact,and morphological properties were investigated.The B/epoxy composites displayed the highest tensile strength(53.03 MPa)while K/epoxy composite had the highest tensile modulus(4.71 GPa).Scanning electron micrographs of B/epoxy composites displayed better fiber/matrix interfacial bonding in comparison to other studied composites.Results showed that impact strength of BF-based composite was highest(45.70 J/m).In conclusion,the tensile strength of B/epoxy composite is superior to the other bamboo reinforced composites and will be further evaluated in the next study.
基金supported by the Research Vice-chancellor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran(No.1394-373 to RMF)
文摘The spatial arrangement of the cell is important and considered as underlying mechanism for mathematical modeling of cell to cell interaction.The ability of cells to take on the characteristics of other cells in an organism,it is important to understand the dynamical behavior of the cells.This method implements experimental parameters of the cell-cell interaction into the mathematical simulation of cell arrangement.The purpose of this research was to explore the three-dimensional spatial distribution of anterior horn cells in the rat spinal cord to examine differences after sciatic nerve injury.Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were assigned to control and axotomy groups.Twelve weeks after surgery,the anterior horn was removed for first-and second-order stereological studies.Second-order stereological techniques were applied to estimate the pair correlation and cross-correlation functions using a dipole probe superimposed onto the spinal cord sections.The findings revealed 7% and 36% reductions in the mean volume and total number of motoneurons,respectively,and a25% increase in the neuroglial cell number in the axotomized rats compared to the control rats.In contrast,the anterior horn volume remained unchanged.The results also indicated a broader gap in the pair correlation curve for the motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats compared to the control rats.This finding shows a negative correlation for the distribution of motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats.The cross-correlation curve shows a negative correlation between the motoneurons and neuroglial cells in the axotomized rats.These findings suggest that cellular structural and functional changes after sciatic nerve injury lead to the alterations in the spatial arrangement of motoneurons and neuroglial cells,finally affecting the normal function of the central nervous system.The experimental protocol was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(approval No.IR.SBMU.MSP.REC1395.375) on October 17,2016.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50873006)Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universities,Ministry of Education of China(NCET-08-0711)
文摘Graphene oxide was prepared by ultrasonication of completely oxidized graphite and used to improve the flame retardancy of epoxy. The epoxy/graphene oxide nanocomposite was studied in terms of exfoliation/dispersion, thermal stability and flame retardancy. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the exfoliation of the graphene oxide nanosheets in epoxy matrix. Cone calorimeter measurements showed that the time to ignition of the epoxy/graphene oxide nanocomposite was longer than that of neat epoxy. The heat release rate curve of the nanocomposite was broadened compared to that of neat epoxy and the peak heat release rate decreased as well.
文摘Two novel heterogeneous nickel a-diimine based polymerization catalysts, containing MWCNT as the main ligand, were synthesized by novel in situ catalyst preparation technique. The in situ synthesis was performed by covalent attachment of the acenaphthenic ligand core to amine functionalized MWCNT ligand arms through diimine bonding and further nickel dibromide chelation. The prepared catalysts were fully characterized and their structures and supporting efficiencies were determined. Single or double introduction of the MWCNTs through their ends or sidewall（s） in the catalytic system, as a ligand, influenced the catalytic performance, microstructure and morphology of obtained polyethylenes. MWCNT sidewall bonding to para-aryl position of the tetramethylphenyl moiety performed as more electron-donating ligand than MWCNT ends linked to the imine bond and protected the catalytic system to retain its activity. This character resulted in the maintenance of the resulting polymer topology at elevated temperatures so that the catalytic activity and the obtained polymer melting points remained around 110 g PE·mmol^-1 Ni·h^-1 and 123 ℃ in all polymerization temperatures respectively. In polymerization trials, molecular weight fall against temperature was not as sharp as what had been observed in sequentially prepared catalysts insofar as the molecular weight of resultant polymer at 60 ℃ reached to 310000 g·mol^-1 which was close to the highest value had been reported at 30 ℃ for sequentially prepared catalysts. TEM observations showed the presence of the stopped-growth polymer chains due to geometrical constrains or ligand debonding for both catalytic systems.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51125010 and 51221002)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(No.20100010110006)
文摘Simultaneous functionalization and reduction of graphene oxide （GO） is realized by refluxing of GO suspension with polyetheramine （D2000） followed by thermal treatment at 120℃. Compared to GO, the D2000-treated GO （GO- D2000） becomes hydrophobic, thermally stable and highly conductive with an electrical conductivity of 11 S/m, which is almost 8 orders of magnitude higher than that of GO. Due to the high conductivity and improved dispersion of GO-D2000, its epoxy nanocomposites exhibit a sharp transition from electrically insulating to conducting with a low percolation threshold of 0.71 vol%. With 3.6 wt% GO-D2000, the glass transition temperature of the epoxy nanocomposite is 27 K higher than that of neat epoxy.
基金financially supported by the Marun Petrochemical Co.,Mahshahr,Iran
文摘The penta-ether compound was synthesized by the reaction of di（trimethylolpropane） with sodium hydride as the strong base and methyl iodide as the alkyl halide. This compound was characterized by NMR, FTIR, and GC techniques. The MgCl_2-supported titanium catalysts were incorporated with varying amounts of penta-ether compound as the internal donor and also the catalysts without the internal donor were synthesized. The synthesized catalysts and the conventional ZieglerNatta catalyst were characterized. The titanium contents were determined by spectrophotometry, magnesium by complexometric titration and chloride by argentometric titration. The effects of the new internal donor on propylene polymerization with the prepared MgCl_2-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts were investigated and then these results were compared to the results obtained using the conventional diisobutyl phthalate-besed-Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The highest crystallinity degree, melting temperature, and isotacticity of polypropylene were obtained using the catalyst with a pentaether/Mg molar ratio equal to 0.21.
文摘WPC （wood plastic composites） are a young generation of composites with rapidly growing usage within the plastics industry. The advantages are the availability and low price of the wood particles, the possibility of partially substituting the polymer in the mixture and sustainable use of the earth＇s resources. The current WPC products on the market are to a large extent limited to extruded products. Nowadays, there is a great interest in the market for consumer products in more use of WPC as an alternative to pure thermoplastics in injection molding processes. This work presents the results of numerical simulation and experimental visualization of the mold filling process in injection molding of WPC. The 3D injection molding simulations were done with the commercial software package Autodesk~ Moldflow Insight 2016 （AMI）. The mold filling experiments were conducted with a box-shaped test part. In contrast to unfilled polymers, the WPC has reduced melt elasticity so that the fountain flow often does not develop. This results in irregular flow front shapes in the molded part, especially at high filler content.
文摘Different types of carbon-silica fillers were prepared via pyrolysis-cum-water vapor of waste green tires tread and impregnation method. Dual phase fillers have been characterized by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) or STEM-EDX. Phase distribution in hybrid fillers for rubber was investigated. The results achieved show that the conditions of obtaining influence the distribution and the location of the phases in the carbon-silica hybrid fillers as well as their most essential characteristics including specific area, oil absorption number, iodine adsorption number, ash content and others.
文摘The development of carbon nanotubes based materials has been impeded by both their difficult dispersion in the polymer matrix and their high cost. The discovery of graphene and the subsequent development of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites is an important addition in the area of nanoscience and technology. In this study the influence of graphene nanoparticles (GNP) in concentrations from 2.0 to 10.0 phr on the dielectric (dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss angle tangent) and microwave (reflection coefficient, attenuation coefficient, shielding effectiveness) properties of nanocomposites on the basis of natural rubber has been investigated in the wide frequency range (1 - 12 GHz). The results achieved allow recommending graphene as a filler for natural rubber based composites to afford specific dielectric and microwave properties, especially when their loading with the much more expensive carbon nanotubes is not possible.
文摘Carbon fiber reinforced high density polyethylene multi-layered laminated composite panels（HDPE/CF MLCP） with excellent in-plane properties along transverse direction have been formulated. Composite architectures with carbon fiber（CF） designed in 2D layout in conventional composites can alleviate their properties in thickness direction, but all attempts so far developed have achieved restrained success. Here,we have exposed an approach to the high strength composite challenge, without altering the 2D stack design on the basis of concept of fiber reinforced laminated composites that would provide enhanced mechanical and thermal properties along transverse direction. CF sheets allowed the buckling of adjoining plies in 2D MLCP. We fabricated 2D MLCP by stacking the alternative CF and HDPE layers under different loading conditions, which resulted in high strength composites. These plies of CF and HDPE served as unit cells for MLCP, with CF offering much-needed fracture toughness and hardness to these materials.For 2D HDPE/CF MLCP, we demonstrated noteworthy improvement in physical and chemical interaction between CF and HDPE, in-plane fracture strain, flexural strength（30.684 MPa）, bending modulus（7436.254 MPa）, thermal stability（40.94%）, and surface morphology, upon increasing the CF layers up to twenty, enabling these composites truly for high temperature and high strength applications.
文摘The paper presents a comparative study on the electric, dielectric and microwave properties of natural rubber based composites comprising dual phase fillers prepared from furnace carbon black or conductive carbon black with a different amount of silica. It has been established that, the specifics of the carbon phase have a marked strong effect upon the properties mentioned above. The interpenetration of the two filler phases and the grade of isolation of the conductive carbon phase by the dielectric one depend on the ratio between them. On the other hand, that leads to a change in all properties of the studied composites, which allows tailoring those characteristics.
基金funded by German Research Foundation(DFG),Grant No.AL474/34-1Open access charges were funded by the German Research Foundation(DFG)and the University of Bayreuth in the funding program Open Access Publishing.
文摘Polylactide(PLA)bead foams show a high potential regarding their applicability in packaging or consumer products.Concerning the comparable properties of PLA to Polystyrene(PS)and the good CO_(2) footprint it represents a potential alternative to petroleum-based polymer foams.However,foaming of PLA is challenging,due to its low melt strength,therefore chemical modifiers are often used.Concerning the bead foam technology regarding PLA,the available literature is limited so far.Within this study,the bead foaming behavior of neat and modified amorphous PLA was investigated.The material was modified by talc and an epoxy-based chain extender.These compounds have been investigated regarding their sorption behavior in CO_(2) atmosphere and their foaming behavior.Foaming was conducted by using the batch foaming method based on a rapid temperature increase after saturation with CO_(2).In order to achieve welded bead foams,a one-step processing for foaming and welding has been established.Finally,the compression properties of the PLA bead foams have been investigated.Densities below 50 kg/m^(3) for single bead foams and 80 kg/m^(3) for molded foams were achieved,respectively.
