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.

Effect of Carbon Dioxide (CO_2) Controlled Atmosphere on Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity of Three Storage Pests in Chinese Medicinal Materials

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the effect of controlled atmosphere stress of carbon dioxide （ CO2 ） on Superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity of in- sect, so as to analyze the biological mechanism of the action of controlled atmosphere stress on insect. [ Method] Using nitrotetrazolium blue chloride （NBT） light reduction method, SOD activity of drugstore beetle （ Stegobium panlceum ）, cigarette beetle （ Lasioderma serricorne） and coffee bean beetle （Araecerus fasciculatus） was studied, and the stress response of the enzyme under controlled atmosphere stress of CO2 was analyzed. [ Result ] SOD activity of drugstore beetle, cigarette beetle and coffee bean beetle exposed to controlled atmosphere stress of high concentrations of CO2 for 3 and 6 h had certain degree of increase, and the activity sig- nificantly increased from 2.011±0.954,2.664±0.218 and 1.458±0.718 to 3. 135±0. 105,3.050±0.673 and 2.975±0.229 U/（per pest · 30 min） after treat- ment for 6 h. [ Conclusion] Controlled atmosphere stress of high concentrations of CO2 had certain activation effect on SOD activity of storage pest in Chinese me- dicinal material within the context of sub-lethal events. The results could enrich the insecticidal mechanism of controlled atmosphere and theoretical system of analy- sis on insect resistance to controlled atmosphere.

Chemical modification of barite for improving the performance of weighting materials for water-based drilling fluids

With increasing drilling depth and large dosage of weighting materials,drilling fluids with high solid content are characterized by poor stability,high viscosity,large water loss,and thick mud cake,easier leading to reservoir damage and wellbore instability.In this paper,micronized barite(MB)was modified(mMB)by grafting with hydrophilic polymer onto the surface through the free radical polymerization to displace conventional API barite partly.The suspension stability of water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs)weighted with API barite:mMB=2:1 in 600 g was significantly enhanced compared with that with API barite/WBDFs,exhibiting the static sag factor within 0.54 and the whole stability index of 2.The viscosity and yield point reached the minimum,with a reduction of more than 40%compared with API barite only at the same density.Through multi-stage filling and dense accumulation of weighting materials and clays,filtration loss was decreased,mud cake quality was improved,and simultaneously it had great reservoir protection performance,and the permeability recovery rate reached 87%.In addition,it also effectively improved the lubricity of WBDFs.The sticking coefficient of mud cake was reduced by 53.4%,and the friction coefficient was 0.2603.Therefore,mMB can serve as a versatile additive to control the density,rheology,filtration,and stability of WBDFs weighted with API barite,thus regulating comprehensive performance and achieving reservoir protection capacity.This work opened up a new path for the productive drilling of extremely deep and intricate wells by providing an efficient method for managing the performance of high-density WBDFs.

Synthesis and Modulation of Low-Dimensional Transition Metal Chalcogenide Materials via Atomic Substitution

In recent years,low-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide(TMC)materials have garnered growing research attention due to their superior electronic,optical,and catalytic properties compared to their bulk counterparts.The controllable synthesis and manipulation of these materials are crucial for tailoring their properties and unlocking their full potential in various applications.In this context,the atomic substitution method has emerged as a favorable approach.It involves the replacement of specific atoms within TMC structures with other elements and possesses the capability to regulate the compositions finely,crystal structures,and inherent properties of the resulting materials.In this review,we present a comprehensive overview on various strategies of atomic substitution employed in the synthesis of zero-dimensional,one-dimensional and two-dimensional TMC materials.The effects of substituting elements,substitution ratios,and substitution positions on the structures and morphologies of resulting material are discussed.The enhanced electrocatalytic performance and photovoltaic properties of the obtained materials are also provided,emphasizing the role of atomic substitution in achieving these advancements.Finally,challenges and future prospects in the field of atomic substitution for fabricating low-dimensional TMC materials are summarized.

Unleashing the Potential of Unidirectional Mechanical Materials: Breakthroughs and Promising Applications

The emergence of mechanically one-way materials presents an exciting opportunity for materials science and engineering. These substances exhibit unique nonreciprocal mechanical responses, enabling them to selectively channel mechanical energy and facilitate directed sound propagation, controlled mass transport, and concentration of mechanical energy amidst random motion. This article explores the fundamentals of mechanically one-way materials, their potential applications across various industries, and the economic and environmental considerations related to their production and use.

Application of Energy-Saving Materials in Architectural Design

The conventional process of building construction is associated with issues such as the waste of construction materials and environmental pollution.Sustainable development highlights the importance of energy conservation and eco-friendly practices.It is essential to use energy-efficient and green materials in building designs to ensure the healthy growth of construction companies.This article discusses the advantages and principles of incorporating energy-saving materials in architectural design.It examines the strategies and critical control points for using energy-saving materials in architectural design,offering guidance for the sustainable development of the construction industry.

Active control of surface plasmon polaritons with phase change materials

Active control of surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs)is highly desired for nanophotonics.Here we employ a phase change material Ge_(2)Sb_(2)Te_(5)(GST)to actively manipulate the propagating direction of SPPs at the telecom wavelength.By utilizing the phase transition-induced refractive index change of GST,coupled with interference effects,a nanoantenna pair containing GST is designed to realize switchable one-way launching of SPPs.Devices based on the nanoantenna pairs are proposed to manipulate SPPs,including the direction tuning of SPP beams,switchable SPP focusing,and switchable cosine–Gauss SPP beam generating.Our design can be employed in compact optical circuits and photonics integration.

Spatiotemporal phase change materials for thermal energy long-term storage and controllable release

Phase change materials(PCMs)have attracted much attention in the field of solar thermal utilization recently,due to their outstanding thermal energy storage performance.However,PCMs usually release their stored latent heat spontaneously as the temperature below the phase transition temperature,rendering thermal energy storage and release uncontrollable,thus hindering their practical application in time and space.Herein,we developed erythritol/sodium carboxymethylcellulose/tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate(ERY/CMC/EDTA-4Na)composite PCMs with novel spatiotemporal thermal energy storage properties,defined as spatiotemporal PCMs(STPCMs),which exhibit the capacity of thermal energy long-term storage and controllable release.Our results show that the composite PCMs are unable to lose latent heat due to spontaneous crystallization during cooling,but can controllably release thermal energy through cold crystallization during reheating.The cold-crystallization temperature and enthalpy of composite PCMs can be adjusted by proportional addition of EDTA-4Na to the composite.When the mass fractions of CMC and EDTA-4Na are both 10%,the composite PCMs can exhibit the optical coldcrystallization temperature of 51.7℃ and enthalpy of 178.1 J/g.The supercooled composite PCMs without latent heat release can be maintained at room temperature(10-25℃)for up to more than two months,and subsequently the stored latent heat can be controllably released by means of thermal triggering or heterogeneous nucleation.Our findings provide novel insights into the design and construction of new PCMs with spatiotemporal performance of thermal energy long-term storage and controllable release,and consequently open a new door for the development of advanced solar thermal utilization techniques on the basis of STPCMs.

Controlled low-strength material incorporating recycled fine aggregate from urban red brick based construction waste

Sixteen controlled low-strength material( CLSM)mixtures with various cement-to-sand( C/Sa) ratios and water-to-solid( W/So) ratios were prepared using recycled fine aggregate from urban red brick based construction waste.The fluidity and bleeding of the fresh CLSM mixtures were measured via the modified test methods, and the hardened CLSM mixtures were then molded to evaluate their compressive strength and durability. The results showthat the fluidity of the fresh CLSM mixtures is 105 to 227 mm with the corresponding bleeding rate of 3. 7% to 15. 5%, which increases with the increase in fluidity. After aging for 28 d,the compressive strength of the hardened CLSM mixtures reaches 1. 15 to 13. 96 M Pa, and their strength can be further enhanced with longer curing ages. Additionally, the strength increases with the increase of the C/Sa ratio, and decreases with the increase of the W/So ratio under the same curing age. Based on the obtained compressive strength, a fitting model for accurately predicting the compressive strength of the CLSM mixtures was established, which takes into account the above two independent variables( C/Sa and W/So ratios).M oreover, the durability of the hardened CLSM mixtures is enhanced for samples with higher C/Sa ratios.

Performance Appraisal of Controlled Low-strength Material Using Sewage Sludge and Refuse Incineration Bottom Ash

This research evaluated the use of sewage sludge and refuse incineration bottom ash to replace calcium sulfoaluminate cement （CSA） in making controlled low-strength material （CLSM）. Various properties of CLSM mixtures were characterized in terms of unconfined compressive strength, microstructure and leachability. It was found that the strength of tested CLSM mixtures ranged from 3.6 to 9.0 MPa, over the upper excavatable limit of 2.1 MPa. The micro-structural analysis revealed that sewage sludge and bottom ash were crystallochemically in- corporated within CLSM system_s by forming the needle-like ettringite （C3A＇3CS＇_H32） with exiguous tu.bers via the typical Pozzolanic Reaction, leading to a dense and low-porosity microst;＇ucture. Furthermore,-the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure evidenced that the cumulative leachable metals in the leachate were much below the regulatory thresholds. The potential for us!ng sewage sludge and bottom ash!n CLSM makin.g was thus confirmed.

Synthesis of the Core-Shell Structure Materials as the Controlled-Release Drug Carrier

We have developed a controlled-release drug carrier. Smartly controlled-release polymer nanoparticles were firstly synthesized through RAFT polymerization as the controlled-release core. The structural and particle properties of polymer nanoparticles were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mesoporous materials were selected as the shell materials to encapsulate the smart core as the stable shell. The mesoporous shell was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). All the results showed that a well-defined core-shell structure with mesoporous structure was obtained, and this controllable delivery system will have the great potential in nanomedicine.

Non-tobacco Related Materials Control Mode of Export-oriented Tobacco

Non-tobacco related materials （NTRM） come from field production, tobacco stringing, grading and purchasing, affecting cigarette quality and having potential safety hazard. The research reviewed control on NTRM from source, production and processing to enhance use efficiency of raw materials and guarantee raw material safety.

Active elastic metamaterials for subwavelength wave propagation control

Recent research activities in elastic metamaterials demonstrate a significant potential for subwavelength wave propagation control owing to their interior locally resonant mechanism. The growing technological developments in electro/magnetomechanical couplings of smart materials have introduced a controlling degree of freedom for passive elastic metamaterials. Active elastic metamaterials could allow for a fine control of material physical behavior and thereby induce new functional properties that cannot be produced by passive approaches. In this paper, two types of active elastic metamaterials with shunted piezoelectric materials and electrorheological elastomers are proposed. Theoretical analyses and numerical validations of the active elastic metamaterials with detailed microstructures are pre- sented for designing adaptive applications in band gap structures and extraordinary waveguides. The active elastic metamaterial could provide a new design methodology for adaptive wave filters, high signal-to-noise sensors, and structural health monitoring applications.

Synthesis and analysis of new humidity-controlling composite materials

Gypsum is a traditional building material. To improve the humidity-controlling properties of gypsum, we prepared a new type of humidity-controlling composite using the sol-gel method. Methods to determine the maximum equilibrium moisture content and speed of adsorption/desorption were subsequently applied to analyze the performance of the samples. The appearance and structural properties of the samples were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The experimental results show that the humidity-controlling gel with added LiCl exhibits high moisture storage and that the equilibrium maximum moisture content is 5.652 g/g at a 75.29% relative humidity (RH). A mass ratio of LiCl/sol = 0.15 is demonstrated to be appropriate for the preparation of the new humidity-controlling composites. A coarse network with tiny pores is observed on the surface of the new humidity-controlling composites, and this pore network provides sufficient space for moisture adsorption.

Design and Research of Form Controlled Planar Folding Mechanism based on 4D Printing Technology

The use of non-smart materials in structural components and kinematic pairs allows for flexible assembly in practical applications and is promising for aerospace applications.However,this approach can result in a complex structure and excessive kinematic pairs,which limits its potential applications due to the difficulty in controlling and actuating the mechanism.While smart materials have been integrated into certain mechanisms,such integration is generally considered a unique design for specific cases and lacks universality.Therefore,organically combining universal mechanism design with smart materials and 4D printing technology,innovating mechanism types,and systematically exploring the interplay between structural design and morphing control remains an open research area.In this work,a novel form-controlled planar folding mechanism is proposed,which seamlessly integrates the control and actuation system with the structural components and kinematic pairs based on the combination of universal mechanism design with smart materials and 4D printing technology,while achieving self-controlled dimensional ratio adjustment under a predetermined thermal excitation.The design characteristics of the mechanism are analyzed,and the required structural design parameters for the preprogrammed design are derived using a kinematic model.Using smart materials and 4D printing technology,folding programs based on material properties and control programs based on manufacturing parameters are encoded into the form-controlled rod to achieve the preprogrammed design of the mechanism.Finally,two sets of prototype mechanisms are printed to validate the feasibility of the design,the effectiveness of the morphing control programs,and the accuracy of the theoretical analysis.This mechanism not only promotes innovation in mechanism design methods but also shows exceptional promise in satellite calibration devices and spacecraft walking systems.

Research progress and application prospect of functional adhesive materials in the field of oil and gas drilling and production

By summarizing the composition,classification,and performance characterization of functional adhesive materials,the adhesion mechanisms of functional adhesive materials,such as adsorption/surface reaction,diffusion,mechanical interlocking,and electrostatic adsorption,are expounded.The research status of these materials in oil and gas drilling and production engineering field such as lost circulation prevention/control,wellbore stabilization,hydraulic fracturing,and profile control and water plugging,and their application challenges and prospects in oil and gas drilling and production are introduced comprehensively.According to the applications of functional adhesive materials in the field of oil and gas drilling and production at this stage,the key research directions of functional adhesive materials in the area of oil and gas drilling and production are proposed:(1)blending and modifying thermoplastic resins or designing curable thermoplastic resins to improve the bonding performance and pressure bearing capacity of adhesive lost circulation materials;(2)introducing low-cost adhesive groups and positive charge structures into polymers to reduce the cost of wellbore strengthening agents and improve their adhesion performance on the wellbore;(3)introducing thermally reversible covalent bond into thermosetting resin to prevent backflow of proppant and improve the compressive strength of adhesive proppant;(4)introducing thermally reversible covalent bonds into thermoplastic polymers to improve the temperature resistance,salt-resistance and water shutoff performance of adhesive water shutoff agents.

Experimental Research of Electronic Devices Thermal Control Using Metallic Phase Change Materials

A Phase-change thermal control unit( PTCU) filled with metallic phase change material( PCM) Bismuth alloy for electric devices thermal protection was developed and investigated experimentally. The PTCU filled with PCM was designed and manufactured. Resistance heating components( RCHs) produced 1 W,3 W, 5 W,7W,and 10 W for simulating heat generation of electronic devices. At various heating power levels,the performance of PTCU were tested during heating period and one duty cycle period. The experimental results show that the PTCU delays RCH reaching the maximum operating temperature. Also,a numerical model was developed to enable interpretation of experimental results and to perform parametric studies. The results confirmed that the PTCU is suitable for electric devices thermal control.

Robust distributed controller design of rotational single-link smart materials beam

A dynamic modelling and controller design were presented for a single-link smart materials beam, a flexible beam bonded with piezoelectric actuators and sensors for better control performance. Taking into account bounded disturbances, a robust distributed controller was constructed based on the system model, which was described by a set of partial differential equations (PDEs) and boundary conditions (BCs) . Subsequently, a finite dimensional controller was further developed, and it was proven that this controller can stabilize the finite dimensional model with arbitrary number of flexible modes. Keywords Dynamic modelling - Robust distributed controller - Flexible beam - Smart material

Theoretical study of mutual control mechanism between magnetization and polarization in multiferroic materials

The mutual control mechanism between magnetization and polarization in multiferroic materials is studied. The system contains a ferromagnetic sublattice and a ferroelectric sublattice. To describe the magneto–electric coupling, we propose a linear coupling Hamiltonian between ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity without microscopic derivation. This coupling enables one to retrieve the hysteresis loops measured experimentally. The thermodynamic properties of the system are calculated, such as the temperature dependences of the magnetization, polarization, internal energy and free energy.The ferromagnetic and ferroelectric hysteresis loops driven by either a magnetic or an electric field are calculated, and the magnetic spin and pseudo-spin are always flipped synchronously under the external magnetic and electric field. Our theoretical results are in agreement with the experiments.

Evaluation of physicochemical properties as supporting information on quality control of raw materials and veterinary pharmaceutical formulations

This study aimed to show that the physicochemical proprieties obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）, thermogravimetry （TG）, and scanning electronic microscopy （SEM） can be useful tools for evaluating the quality of active pharmaceutical ingredients （APIs） and pharmaceutical products. In addition, a simple, sensitive, and efficient method employing HPLC-DAD was developed for simulta- neous determination of lidocaine （LID）, ciprofloxacin （CFX） and enrofloxacin （EFX） in raw materials and in veterinary pharmaceutical formulations. Compounds were separated using a Gemini Cm （250 mm×4.6 mm, 5μm） Phenomenex column, at a temperature of 25℃, with a mobile phase containing 10 mM of phosphoric acid （pH 3.29）： acetonitrile （85.7：14.3, v/v） and a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. Physicochemical characterization by TG, FTIR, and SEM of raw materials of LID, CFX, and EFX provided information useful for the evaluation, differentiation, and qualification of raw materials. Finally, the HPLC method was proved to be useful for evaluation of raw material and finished products, besides satisfying the need for an analytical method that allows simultaneous determination of EFX, CFX, and LID, which can also be extended to other matrices and applications.