Thermal Decomposition Behavior and Kinetics of Composites from Coal and Polyethylene

A thermogravimetric analysis (TG) was conducted to study the thermal decomposition behavior and kinetics of composites from coal and high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or low density polyethylene (LDPE). The results show that coal facilitates melting of the polyethylene before temperatures reach 700 K in nitrogen due to the exothermic effect of coal. Above 700 K, adding coal into the polyethylene will result in smaller maximum rates of mass loss and higher initial mass loss temperatures of the composites. Hence, some chemical interactions, occurring between liquid compounds released in the pyrolysis of the coal and polymer, depend on several factors, such as coal rank and the molecular structure of polymers. Synergetic effects in coal and polymers were also found. Both chemical interactions and synergetic effects control the entire thermal decomposition behavior of compos- ites. The larger the amount of coal in the composites, the greater the decomposition temperature spans and the higher the maximum decomposition temperature, the smaller the devolatilization rates. The effect of coal on the thermal stability of composites lies in the hydrogen acceptor effect of the coals. Thermal decomposition of the coals, the polymers and related composites can be modelled via first order parallel reactions between 563 K and 763 K.

Pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of lignite and plastic

The study firstly discusses the pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics by thermogravimetric analysis （TGA）, and then investigates the pyrolysis of lignite and co-pyrolysis with plastic （polyethylene or polypropyl- ene） in tube furnace. Meanwhile, the research focuses on the co-pyrolysis products under different mix- ing ratios as well as pyrolysis products at different testing temperatures and heating rates. The results show that higher final testing temperature and lower heating rate contribute to bond fission in lignite pyrolysis, resulting in less char product. In co-pyrolysis, lignite acts as hydrogen donor, and the yields of char and water rise with increasing amount of plastic in the mixture, while the yields of gas and tar decrease; and a little admixture of plastic will promote the production of gas and tar. Kinetic studies indi- cate that in temperature range of 530-600℃, activation energies of lignite are higher than those of lig- nite/plastic blends, and as plastic mass ratio increases from 0% to 10%, samples need less energy to be decomposed during co-pyrolysis.

Effects of synthesis temperature and raw materials composition on preparation of β-Sialon based composites from fly ash

β-Sialon based composites were successfully prepared from fly ash and carbon black under nitrogen atmosphere by carbothermal reduction-nitridation process. Effects of heating temperature and raw materials composition on synthesis process were investigated, and the formation process of the composites was also discussed. The phase composition and microstructure of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. The results show that increasing heating temperature or mass ratio of carbon black to fly ash can promote the formation of β-Sialon. The β-Sialon based composites can be synthesized at 1723 K for 6 h while heating the sample with mass ratio of carbon black to fly ash of 0.56. The as-received β-Sialon in the composites exists as granular with an average particle size of 2-3 μm. The preparation process of β-Sialon based composites includes the formation of O′-Sialon, X-Sialon and β-Sialon as well as the conversion processes of O′-Sialon and X-Sialon to β-Sialon.

Innovative Production of PCMs （Phase Change Materials） Preparation by Vacuum Impregnation： Mechanical Strength of Mortars Cement with Composite PCMs Content

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the efficiency of thermal insulation of composite PCMs （phase change materials） produced by vacuum impregnation process between paraffin （PCMs） and fly ash particles. DSC （differential scanning calorimeter） has been used to determine the thermal properties of latent heat of melting and heat capacity for composite PCMs. Vacuum impregnation pressure of 40 in.Hg, paraffin melting temperature of 90℃, vacuum time and impregnation time of paraffin of 30 min are the optimum condition of composite PCMs productions. The values of latent heat of melting and heat capacity are 74.00 J/g and 15.726 J/g.℃ for composite PCMs that produces by the optimum condition in vacuum impregnation process. Increasing the amount of composite PCMs replacing for cement in mortars causes the compressive strength, flexural strength and tensile strength reduction. Compressive strength, flexural strength and tensile strength of mortar with and without composite PCMs can be increased by the longer time of water curing for mortar specimens. Thermal conductivity （k） of mortar cement is reduced by increasing the amount of composite PCMs which replaced for cement in mortar plate compositions. Composite PCMs have the efficiency for thermal energy insulation when incorporated into the buildings. Therefore, this property of paraffin/fly ash composites PCMs can reduce the energy consumption for temperature control in the buildings.