Gypsum-based Silica Gel Humidity-controlling Composite Materials:Preparation,Characterization,and Performance

Gypsum was used as substrate,and silica gel was mixed into substrate at a certain mass ratio to prepare humidity-controlling composites;moreover,the moisture absorption and desorption properties of gypsum-based composites were compared with adding different silica gel particle size and proportion.The morphological characteristics,the isothermal equilibrium moisture content curve,moisture absorption and desorption rate,moisture absorption and desorption stability,and humidity-conditioning performance were tested and analyzed.The experimental results show that,compared with pure-gypsum,the surface structure of the gypsum-based composites is relatively loose,the quantity,density and aperture of the pores in the structure increase.The absorption and desorption capacity increase along with the increase of silica gel particle size and silica gel proportion.When 3 mm silica gel particle size is added with a mass ratio of 40%,the maximum equilibrium moisture content of humidity-controlling composites is 0.161 g/g at 98% relative humidity(RH),3.22 times that of pure-gypsum.The moisture absorption and desorption rates are increased,the equilibrium moisture absorption and desorption rates are 2.68 times and 1.61 times that of pure-gypsum at 58.5% RH,respectively.The gypsum-based composites have a good stability,which has better timely response to dynamic humidity changes and can effectively regulate indoor humidity under natural conditions.

The Evaluation of the Dietary Habits Influence on the Microhardness of Gingiva-Coloured Composite and Acrylic Denture Base Materials

Purpose: The study investigated the impact of dietary habits, specifically soda, milk kefir, water kefir, almond milk, and distilled water (control) consumption, on the microhardness of gingiva-coloured composite and acrylic denture bases. Methods: Materials included gingiva-coloured composite (Fusion Universal G1), acrylic (Imicryl), and subdivided Procryla group. Subgroups comprised 15 and 30-minute heat polymerized (Pro15, Pro30), and 1 wt% (Pro1Z) and 3 wt% (Pro3Z) zirconium added groups. Immersed in beverages for 1, 7, and 14 days, pH and microhardness were assessed. SEM examined random samples. Statistical analysis used repeated measures ANOVA, and post hoc tests (p Results: The gingiva-coloured composites displayed noteworthy time-associated microhardness changes (p 0.05). Despite variable pH levels in beverages, no substantial group interaction effects were observed (p > 0.05). Initial microhardness rankings shifted after a 14-day immersion. Conclusions: Gingiva-coloured composite exhibited the highest microhardness pre- and post-immersion, followed by Procryla30 and Imicryl groups. .

Effect of the Retarder on Initial Hydration and Mechanical Properties of the"one-step"Alkaliactivated Composite Cementitious Materials

This paper studied the effects of different retarders on the performance of the"one-step"alkali-activated composite cementitious material(ACCM)which is composed of ground granulated blast slag(GGBS)and fly ash(FA),and analyzed its mechanical properties,hydration mechanism,and retardation mechanism.The effects of retarders on the hydration products,mechanical properties,and hydration kinetics of ACCM were investigated using XRD,SEM,FTIR,EDS,and thermoactive microcalorimetry.The results showed that Na_(2)B_(4)O_(7)·10H_(2)O(B)delayed the exotherm during the alkali activation process and could effectively delay the setting time of ACCM,but the mechanical properties were slightly decreased.The setting time of ACCM increased with the increase in SG content,but the mechanical properties of ACCM decreased with the increase in SG content.C1_(2)H_(22)O_(11)(CHO)could effectively delay the hydration reaction of ACCM and weakly enhanced the compressive strength.H_(3)PO_(4)(HP)at a concentration of 0.05 mol/L had a certain effect on ACCM retardation,but HP at a concentration of 0.07 and 0.09 mol/L had an effect of promoting the setting and hardening time of ACCM.

Why Sustainable Porous Carbon Should be Further Explored as Radar-Absorbing Material? A Comparative Study with Different Nanostructured Carbons

Radar Absorbing Materials(RAM)are a class of composites that can attenuate incident electromagnetic waves to avoid radar detection.Most carbon allotropes that have the potential to be used as RAM are either carbon nano-tubes(CNTs),graphene,carbon black(CB)and ultimately,sustainable porous carbon(SPC).Here,black wattle bark waste(following tannin extraction)was used as a sustainable source to produce SPC made from biomass waste.It was characterized and used as afiller for a silicone rubber matrix to produce aflexible RAM.The elec-tromagnetic performance of this composite was compared with composites made with commercial CB and CNT through reflection loss(RL),where-10 dB is equivalent to 90%of attenuation.These composites were evaluated in single-layer,double-layer,and as radar absorbing structures(RAS)with the aim of improving their effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)performances and a reduction in costs.The CNT composite presented a RL of-26.85 dB at 10.89 GHz and an EAB of 2.6 GHz with a 1.9 mm thickness,while the double-layer structures using CNT and SPC provided a RL of-19.74 dB at 10.75 GHz and an EAB of 2.51 GHz.Furthermore,the double-layer structures are~42%cheaper than the composite using only CNT since less material is used.Finally,the largest EAB was achieved with a RAS using SPC,reaching~2.8 GHz and a RL of-49.09 dB at 10.4 GHz.Summarizing,SPC made of black wattle bark waste can be a competitive,alternative material for use as RAM and RAS since it is cheaper,sustainable,and suitable for daily life uses such as absorbers for anechoic chambers,sensors,and elec-tromagnetic interference shields for electronics,wallets,vehicles,and others.

A review of classical hydrogen isotopes storage materials

Hydrogen storage alloys(HSAs)are attracting widespread interest in the nuclear industry because of the generation of stable metal hydrides after tritium absorption,thus effectively preventing the leakage of radioactive tritium.Commonly used HSAs in the hydrogen isotopes field are Zr2M(M=Co,Ni,Fe)alloys,metallic Pd,depleted U,and ZrCo alloy.Specifically,Zr2M(M=Co,Ni,Fe)alloys are considered promising tritium-getter materials,and metallic Pd is utilized to separate and purify hydrogen isotopes.Furthermore,depleted U and ZrCo alloy are well suited for storing and delivering hydrogen isotopes.Notably,all the aforementioned HSAs need to modulate their hydrogen storage properties for complex operating conditions.In this review,we present a comprehensive overview of the reported modification methods applied to the above alloys.Alloying is an effective amelioration method that mainly modulates the properties of HSAs by altering their local geometrical/electronic structures.Besides,microstructural modifications such as nano-sizing and nanopores have been used to increase the specific surface area and active sites of metallic Pd and ZrCo alloys for enhancing de-/hydrogenation kinetics.The combination of metallic Pd with support materials can significantly reduce the cost and enhance the pulverization resistance.Moreover,the poisoning resistance of ZrCo alloy is improved by constructing active surfaces with selective permeability.Overall,the review is constructive for better understanding the properties and mechanisms of hydrogen isotope storage alloys and provides effective guidance for future modification research.

Physical and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials Based on Raw Earth and Crushed Palm Leaf Fibers (Borassus aethiopum)

The objective of this study is to seek solutions to reduce the impact of buildings on climate change and to promote the use of local bio-sourced or geo-sourced materials for sustainable construction. Different samples of raw earth from 3 sites were taken in the commune of Mlomp. Geotechnical tests showed that the raw earth samples from sites 2 and 3 have more clay fraction while site 1 contains more sand. The fact of integrating fibers from crushed palm leaves (Borassus aethiopum) (2%, 4% and 6%) into the 3 raw earth samples reduced the mechanical resistance to compression and traction of the 3 raw earths. The experimental results of thermal tests on samples of earth mixtures with crushed Palma leaf fibers show a decrease in thermal conductivity as well as thermal effusivity as the percentages increase (2%, 4% and 6%) of fibers in raw earth for the 3 sites. This shows that this renewable composite material can help improve the thermal insulation of building envelopes.

Exploration on the Optimization Strategy for the Layup of Composite Material Pressure Vessels Based on Advanced Algorithms

This study aims to explore the influence of the laying angle on the pressure shell structure made of composite materials under the condition of a fixed shape. By using a composite material composed of a mixture of T800 carbon fiber and AG80 epoxy resin to design pressure vessels, this material combination can significantly improve the interlaminar shear strength and heat resistance. The article elaborates on the basic concepts and failure criteria of composite materials, such as the maximum stress criterion, the maximum strain criterion, the Tsai-Hill criterion, etc. With the help of the APDL parametric modeling language, the arc-shaped, parabolic, elliptical, and fitting curve-shaped pressure vessel models are accurately constructed, and the material property settings and mesh division are completed. Subsequently, APDL is used for static analysis, and the genetic algorithm toolbox built into Matlab is combined to carry out optimization calculations to determine the optimal laying angle. The research results show that the equivalent stress corresponding to the optimal laying angle of the arc-shaped pressure vessel is 5.3685e+08 Pa, the elliptical one is 5.1969e+08 Pa, the parabolic one is 5.8692e+08 Pa, and the fitting curve-shaped one is 5.36862e+08 Pa. Among them, the stress distribution of the fitting curve-shaped pressure vessel is relatively more uniform, with a deformation of 0.568E−03 m, a minimum equivalent stress value of 0.261E+09 Pa, a maximum equivalent stress value of 0.537E+09 Pa, and a ratio of 0.48, which conforms to the equivalent stress criterion. In addition, the fitting curve of this model can adapt to various models and has higher practical value. However, the stress distribution of the elliptical and parabolic pressure vessels is uneven, and their applicability is poor. In the future, further exploration can be conducted on the application of the fitting curve model in composite materials to optimize the design of pressure vessels. This study provides important theoretical support and practical guidance for the design of composite material pressure vessels.

TiO2-PES Fibrous Composite Material for Ammonia Removal Using UV-A Photocatalyst

This study focused on the development and characterization of TiO2-PES composite fibers with varying TiO2 loading amounts using a phase inversion process. The resulting composite fibers exhibited a sponge-like structure with embedded TiO2 nanoparticles within a polymer matrix. Their photocatalytic performance for ammonia removal from aqueous solutions under UV-A light exposure was thoroughly investigated. The findings revealed that PeTi8 composite fibers displayed superior adsorption capacity compared to other samples. Moreover, the study explored the impact of pH, light intensity, and catalyst dosage on the photocatalytic degradation of ammonia. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms closely followed the Langmuir model, with the results indicating a correlation between qm values of 2.49 mg/g and the porous structure of the adsorbents. The research underscored the efficacy of TiO2 composite fibers in the photocatalytic removal of aqueous under UV-A light. Notably, increasing the distance between the photocatalyst and the light source resulted in de-creased hydroxyl radical concentration, influencing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings contribute to our understanding of TiO2 composite fibers as promising photocatalysts for ammonia removal in water treatment applications.

Research Progress of Carbon-Silicone Composite Materials

Silicone is a kind of polymer material with high cross-linked structure,which is com-posed by Si-O-Si main chain.Due to the special molecular chain structure,silicone mate-rials are characterized by oxidation resistance,aging resistance,high and low temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance.Moreover,silicone materials have process-able properties,simple forming process,good mechanical property,non-toxic and pollution-free.Therefore,silicone has been widely concerned by researchers at home and abroad.In this paper,the main research progress and application directions of carbon-silicone composite at home and abroad in recent years are reviewed.

Research on Silicon Carbide Dispersion-Reinforced Hypereutectic Aluminum-Silicon Electronic Packaging Materials

The objective of this study is to improve the mechanical properties and machining performance of high thermal conductivity and low expansion silicon carbide dispersion-strengthened hypereutectic aluminum-silicon electronic packaging materials to meet the needs of aviation,aerospace,and electronic packaging fields.We used the powder metallurgy method and high-temperature hot pressing technology to prepare SiC/Al-Si composite materials with different SiC contents(5vol%,10vol%,15vol%,and 20vol%).The results showed that as the SiC content increased,the tensile strength of the composite material first increased and then decreased.The tensile strength was the highest when the SiC content was 15%;the sintering temperature significantly affected the composite material’s structural density and mechanical properties.Findings indicated 700℃was the optimal sintering and the optimal SiC content of SiC/Al-Si composite materials was between 10%and 15%.Besides,the sintering temperature should be strictly controlled to improve the material’s structural density and mechanical properties.

Research Progress on the Preparation of Inorganic/Natural Materials Composite Microspheres

Microspheres are a new type of drug carrier with great potential for development and application.Natural polymers have good biocompatibility,biodegradability,and are easily dispersed in living organisms,making them suitable for preparing microspheres.Inorganic materials(mainly inorganic minerals)have excellent mechanical properties and are inexpensive and easy to obtain.Through the coupling and hybridization of natural polymers and inorganic materials,they can complement each other's advantages and synergistically enhance efficiency,resulting in many excellent physical and chemical properties.Inorganic materials/natural polymer composite microspheres can be prepared by modifying natural polymers with inorganic materials through various methods such as emulsification crosslinking,solution mixing,in-situ synthesis,extrusion,etc.The application of inorganic materials/natural polymer composite microspheres in drug delivery systems has significant sustained-release effects,is safe and non-toxic,and the cost of carrier materials is relatively low,which has certain significance for the development of new drug carriers.This article reviews the recent research on the preparation,drug loading and release properties of inorganic material/natural polymer composite microspheres,analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used preparation methods,and looks forward to the development direction of composite microspheres.

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.

Study on Material Composition and REE－host Forms of Ion－type RE Deposits in South China

in the ion-type RE deposite in South China, the host rocks of REE minerals are igneous and metamorphic rocks , such as granite, granite-porphyry, granitite, muscovite granite, granodiorite, rhyolite, tuff, lamprophyre, alkaline rocks, granite-gneiss, stuff, gneissic granite.These various types of rocks occurred in the environment of humid subtropical zone with a specific topographic relief. During a long-term geological process, they were weathered and alterated into montmorillonite, gibbstite, vermiculite and the dioctahedral type of clay minerals, such as kaolinite, halloysite-0. 7 nm , halloysite-1. 0 nm and ferrohalloysite. All of these clay minerals are the REE carriers. The REE in the ion-type RE deposits came from there source: 1) the REE -bearing rock-forming minerals in host rock, such as microcline and amphibole:2) the accessory minerals in host rocks, such as allanite, gadolinite-(Y), sphene , parisite-(Y), and fergusonite-(Y). For a long geological time the weathering and leaching processes caused the minerals to be disintegrated and to free REE ions. The REE cations can be adsorbed on various clay minerals associated. The categories of ion -type RE deposite depend on the species of RE minerals and the lithological characters of the host geological body in the ore deposit area.

Phase composition of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials synthesized from zircon doped La2O3

A study was carried out to determine the optimum parameters for synthesis of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials by carbothermal re-duction of zircon. Test samples were prepared by mixing average mesh size of less than 30 μm of carbon black and 40 μm of zircon with C/ZrSiO4 mass ratio of 0.2 and the extra addition amount of La2O3 was 0, 1 wt.% and 2 wt.%. Prepared samples were subjected to the car-bothermal reduction process at temperatures of 1723, 1753, 1773 and 1803 K for 4 h, respectively. The carbothermal reduction process was conducted in an atmosphere controlled tube furnace at an argon flow of 1.5 L/min. All products were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the transformation. The results showed that the best transformation of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials occurred at 1803 K for 4 h with the amount of 2 wt.%La2O3.

Synthesis of steel slag ceramics: chemical composition and crystalline phases of raw materials

Two types of porcelain tiles with steel slag as the main raw material （steel slag ceramics） were synthesized based on the CaO-A1203-SiO2 and CaO--MgO-SiO2 systems, and their bending strengths up to 53.47 MPa and 99.84 MPa, respectively, were obtained. The presence of anorthite, a-quartz, magnetite, and pyroxene crystals （augite and diopside） in the steel slag ceramics were very different from the composition of traditional ceramics. X-ray diffraction （XRD） and electron probe X-ray microanalysis （EPMA） results illustrated that the addition of steel slag reduced the temperature of extensive liquid generation and further decreased the firing temperature. The considerable contents of glass-modifying oxide liquids with rather low viscosities at high temperature in the steel slag ceramic adobes promoted element diffusion and crystallization. The results of this study demonstrated a new approach for extensive and effective recycling of steel slag.

In situ characterizations of advanced electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries toward high electrochemical performances

Energy storage is an ever-growing global concern due to increased energy needs and resource exhaustion.Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have called increasing attention and achieved substantial progress in recent years owing to the abundance and even distribution of Na resources in the crust,and the predicted low cost of the technique.Nevertheless,SIBs still face challenges like lower energy density and inferior cycling stability compared to mature lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).Enhancing the electrochemical performance of SIBs requires an in-deep and comprehensive understanding of the improvement strategies and the underlying reaction mechanism elucidated by in situ techniques.In this review,commonly applied in situ techniques,for instance,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Raman spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction(XRD),and X-ray absorption near-edge structure(XANES),and their applications on the representative cathode and anode materials with selected samples are summarized.We discuss the merits and demerits of each type of material,strategies to enhance their electrochemical performance,and the applications of in situ characterizations of them during the de/sodiation process to reveal the underlying reaction mechanism for performance improvement.We aim to elucidate the composition/structure-per formance relationship to provide guidelines for rational design and preparation of electrode materials toward high electrochemical performance.

Magnesium-based energy materials: Progress, challenges, and perspectives

Magnesium-based energy materials, which combine promising energy-related functional properties with low cost, environmental compatibility and high availability, have been regarded as fascinating candidates for sustainable energy conversion and storage. In this review,we provide a timely summary on the recent progress in three types of important Mg-based energy materials, based on the fundamental strategies of composition and structure engineering. With regard to Mg-based materials for batteries, we systematically review and analyze different material systems, structure regulation strategies as well as the relevant performance in Mg-ion batteries(MIBs) and Mg-air batteries(MABs), covering cathodes, electrolytes, anodes for MIBs, and anodes for MABs;as to Mg-based hydrogen storage materials, we discuss how catalyst adding, composite, alloying and nanostructuring improve the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of de/hydrogenation reactions, and in particular, the impacts of composition and structure modification on hydrogen absorption/dissociation processes and free energy modification mechanism are focused;regarding Mg-based thermoelectric materials, the relations between composition/structure and electrical/thermal transport properties of Mg_(3)X_(2)(X = Sb, Bi), Mg_(2)X(X = Si, Ge, Sn) and Mg Ag Sb-based materials, together with the representative research progress of each material system, are summarized and discussed. Finally, by pointing out remaining challenges and providing possible solutions, this review aims to shed light on the directions and perspectives for practical applications of magnesium-based energy materials in the future.

Enhanced microwave absorption property of silver decorated biomass ordered porous carbon composite materials with frequency selective surface incorporation

Porous carbon(PC)is a promising electromagnetic(EM)wave absorbing material thanks to its light weight,large specific surface area as well as good dissipating capacity.To further improve its microwave absorbing performance,silver coated porous carbon(Ag@PC)is synthesized by one-step hydro-thermal synthesis process making use of fir as a biomass formwork.Phase compositions,morphological structure,and microwave absorption capability of the Ag@PC has been explored.Research results show that the metallic Ag was successfully reduced and the particles are evenly distributed inward the pores of the carbon formwork,which accelerates graphitization process of the amorphous carbon.The Ag@PC composite without adding polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)exhibits higher dielectric constant and better EM wave dissipating capability.This is because the larger particles of Ag give rise to higher electric conductivity.After combing with frequency selective surface(FSS),the EM wave absorbing performance is further improved and the frequency region below-10 d B is located in8.20-11.75 GHz,and the minimal reflection loss value is-22.5 dB.This work indicates that incorporating metallic Ag particles and FSS provides a valid way to strengthen EM wave absorbing capacity of PC material.

Composition,Processing Technology and Property of Ceramic Die Materials Containing Rare Earth Additives

Development and application of new ceramic die materials is one of the important topics in the field of die research. The composition, processing technology, mechanical property and engineering performance of the ceramic materials such as cermet, ZTA, TZP, TZP/Al2O3, TZP/TiC/Al2O3, PSZ and Sialon, etc., with rare earth yttrium, lanthanum and cerium, and so on working as additives, were investigated and analyzed in the present study. Problems existed in the research and application of rare earth ceramic die materials were discussed. Rare earth additives can effectively improve the mechanical property and engineering performance of ceramic die materials. Thus, it will have further perspectives of wider application. More attention should be paid in the future to the toughening and strengthening of the ceramic die materials, the adding forms and kinds of rare earth elements and acting mechanisms of rare earth additives in ceramic die materials.

Recent progress in developing ballistic and anti-impact materials:Nanotechnology and main approaches

With increasing international and civilian conflicts,developing advanced body armor has become an emerging field in academia and industry.Nanotechnology,by means of,incorporating nanomaterials,is considered a highly effective technique to achieve this goal.It has been widely studied in defense applications owing to high strength-to-weight ratios and excellent energy absorption capability of nanomaterials.Hence,this review encompasses the latest application of nanotechnology involving nanomaterials and nanocomposites in ballistic and anti-impact fields.Additionally,this paper outlines fiber materials utilized,and alternative approaches adopted to develop robust non-metal bullet-proof materials.These approaches include shear thickening fluids(STFs)incorporation,sandwich structures,polymer matrix composites(PMCs),and textile structure optimization.Meanwhile,ballistic-related performances of various materials developed using single or hybrid techniques are collected and compared.