Porous Structures of C‑Shaped Polypropylene Fibers and Oil‑Absorbing Performance of Their Spun‑Bond Non‑woven Fabrics

Spun-bond non-woven fabrics(NWFs)made of porous C-shaped polypropylene fibers were applied in rapid oil absorption and effective on-line oil spillage monitoring.It is of great interest to further optimize the absorption properties of these materials by tuning their preparation parameters as well as characterize them with theoretical models.In this paper,effects of die shape,diluent composition(mixtures of dibutyl and dioctyl phthalate),and drawing speed on their porous structure and oil-absorbing performance were systematically investigated and characterized based on two novel concepts,i.e.,the equivalent capillary tube pore radius and the kinetic pore tortuosity(barrier to access)derived from the simplest capillary tube liquid-filling model.The use of higher dibutyl phthalate fractions under faster drawing speeds resulted in the formation of larger and more connected inner filament sub-micron pores.Three stages of tube filling relating to inter-filament large pores,medium pores close to bonding points,and inner filament small pores were observed in the spun-bond NWFs.Continuous oil recovery rates of 986 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1) with an oil/water selectivity of 6.4 were achieved in dynamic skimming experiments using simulated spilled oil.

“Zero‑Strain” NiNb_(2)O_(6) Fibers for All‑Climate Lithium Storage

Niobates are promising all-climate Li^(+)-storage anode material due to their fast charge transport,large specific capacities,and resistance to electrolyte reaction.However,their moderate unit-cellvolume expansion(generally 5%–10%)during Li^(+)storage causes unsatisfactory long-term cyclability.Here,“zero-strain”NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers are explored as a new anode material with comprehensively good electrochemical properties.During Li^(+)storage,the expansion of electrochemical inactive NiO_(6) octahedra almost fully offsets the shrinkage of active NbO_(6) octahedra through reversible O movement.Such superior volume-accommodation capability of the NiO_(6) layers guarantees the“zero-strain”behavior of NiNb_(2)O_(6) in a broad temperature range(0.53%//0.51%//0.74%at 25//−10//60℃),leading to the excellent cyclability of the NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers(92.8%//99.2%//91.1%capacity retention after 1000//2000//1000 cycles at 10C and 25//−10//60℃).This NiNb_(2)O_(6) material further exhibits a large reversible capacity(300//184//318 mAh g−1 at 0.1C and 25//−10//60℃)and outstanding rate performance(10 to 0.5C capacity percentage of 64.3%//50.0%//65.4%at 25//−10//60℃).Therefore,the NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers are especially suitable for large-capacity,fast-charging,long-life,and all-climate lithium-ion batteries.

Effect of Polypropylene Fibers on the Long-term Tensile Strength of Concrete

The influence of low volume fraction of polypropylene（PP） fibers on the tensile properties of normal and high strength concretes was studied. The experimental results indicate that the addition of PP fibers in concrete leads to a reduction in tensile strength during the age of 28 d. Whereas, after 28 days, there is a notable effect in tensile strength due to PP fibers restraining the formation and growth of microcracks in concrete, which improves the continuity and integrality of concrete structure, Thus, a low volume fraction of PP fibers is beneficial to enhancing the long-term tensile strength of concrete materials and improving the durability of concrete structures.

Effect of Co-polyester antistatic agent modified by carbon nanotubes on the properties of polypropylene fibers

Antistatic polymer fibers were investigated by using carbon nanotubes （CNTs） to enhance the antistatic ability of inner antistatic agents based on the mechanism of attracting moisture by polar radical groups. It is indicated that the antistatic ability of the fibers filled with composite antistatic agents that contain CNTs and organic antistatic agents was superior to that of the fibers filled either with pure organic antistatic agents or pure CNTs. The antistatic ability of the composite antistatic agent fabricated by an in situ process was superior to that of the composite antistatic agent fabricated by direct dispersing CNTs in the antistatic agent carrier. Moreover, the heat-treated CNTs could further enhance the antistatic effect compared with the initial CNTs. The antistatic effect is significantly influenced by the content of CNTs in the composite antistatic agent.

Preparation and Properties of Alkali Activated Foam Cement Reinforced with Polypropylene Fibers

A new form of foam cement was produced by mixing alkali-activated slag,clay,a small amount of polypropylene fibers with prepared foam during stirring.The preparation of the material is quite different from the normal one,which is produced just at room temperature and without baking.The fabrication of this energy-saving and low-price material can be favorable for lowering carbon emission by using recycled industrial wastes.Thermal conductivity of 0.116 W/（m·k）,compressive strength of 3.30 MPa,flexural strength of 0.8 MPa and density of 453 kg/m3 can be achieved after 28 days aging.The hydration product is C-S-H with less Ca（OH）2,calcium aluminum and zeolite,which was characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD） measurement.This prospective foam cement may be expected to be an excellent economical energy-saving building material.

Application of modified polypropylene （crude） fibers concrete to strengthen the support structures in deep mine roadway

The an thors developed a new composite cement base material by mixing the high tenacity polypropylene （coarse） fiber in plain cement base for the cement-layer-spray technology. By studying the key parameters of the fiber dosage, the spray layer thickness, and the fiber reinforced concrete injection time, etc. It is found that the ideal volume ratio of polypropylene （crude） fiber is 0.8% （V/V）, and the secondary lining fiber concrete spraying should start when the shrinkage rate is lower than 0.5 mm/d, and the optimal thickness of shotcrete is 120 mm. The supporting effects and the economic benefits were studied using a real project practice, and the result obtained can be a good reference for practical applications of this new supporting material in the future.

Relationship between fatigue life of asphalt concrete and polypropylene/polyester fibers using artificial neural network and genetic algorithm

While various kinds of fibers are used to improve the hot mix asphalt(HMA) performance, a few works have been undertaken on the hybrid fiber-reinforced HMA. Therefore, the fatigue life of modified HMA samples using polypropylene and polyester fibers was evaluated and two models namely regression and artificial neural network(ANN) were used to predict the fatigue life based on the fibers parameters. As ANN contains many parameters such as the number of hidden layers which directly influence the prediction accuracy, genetic algorithm(GA) was used to solve optimization problem for ANN. Moreover, the trial and error method was used to optimize the GA parameters such as the population size. The comparison of the results obtained from regression and optimized ANN with GA shows that the two-hidden-layer ANN with two and five neurons in the first and second hidden layers, respectively, can predict the fatigue life of fiber-reinforced HMA with high accuracy(correlation coefficient of 0.96).

Effects of Polypropylene Fibers on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete

The viability of using polypropylene fibers(PPF) in concrete was largely studied. Yet, few of the existing research studies investigated the effects of PPF on the properties of concrete containing recycled concrete aggregate(RCA). Mixes with different RCA replacement ratios and different PPF content were designed and tested. The test results showed that the addition of PPF did not change significantly the compressive strength and the density of the concrete, but slightly decreased its modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio. The drop in the splitting tensile strength and the flexural strength due to RCA inclusions was to a large extent compensated by the PPF addition. The water absorption decreased and the percent voids increased with increased PPF addition. Correlations between the RCA content, the PPF content and the properties of concrete were studied. Useful regression models were proposed to predict the properties of concrete in relevant ranges of RCA and PPF content.

Atomic layer deposition of Al_2O_3 on porous polypropylene hollow fibers for enhanced membrane performances

Porous polypropylene hollow fiber(PPHF) membranes are widely used in liquid purification. However, the hydrophobicity of polypropylene(PP) has limited its applications in water treatment. Herein, we demonstrate that, for the first time, atomic layer deposition(ALD) is an effective strategy to conveniently upgrade the filtration performances of PPHF membranes. The chemical and morphological changes of the deposited PPHF membranes are characterized by spectral, compositional, microscopic characterizations and protein adsorption measurements. Al_2O_3 is distributed along the cross section of the PP hollow fibers, with decreasing concentration from the outer surface to the inner surface. The pore size of the outer surface can be easily turned by altering the ALD cycles. Interestingly, the hollow fibers become much more ductile after deposition as their elongation at break is increased more than six times after deposition with 100 cycles. The deposited membranes show simultaneously enhanced water permeance and retention after deposition with moderate ALD cycle numbers.For instance, after 50 ALD cycles a 17% increase in water permeance and one-fold increase in BSA rejection are observed. Moreover, the PP membranes exhibit improved fouling-resistance after ALD deposition.

Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets Presence on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Fibers Produced by Melt Spinning

In aiming to obtain fibers with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties,graphene based textile fibers with 144 filaments were developed using an approach in which the PP/GnP(polypropylene/graphene nanoplatelets)nanocomposite was employed as conductive material in a fiber with circular cross-section geometry.The kinetics of thermal degradation was evaluated by the Broido method using thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).Activation energy was enhanced from 260.6 kJ·mol^-1 to 337.4 kJ·mol^-1 compared to the neat PP.GnP increased the thermal stability of the PP,slowing its degradation by thermal depolymerization.Furthermore,the degree of crystallization declined as the GnP content increased,reducing the tenacity of the yarn,but improving its elastic modulus from 91.9 to 95.9 cN/tex,being a promising alternative to produce smart textiles.In conclusion,it has been confirmed that GnP loading up to 1%(w/w)can be incorporated into polypropylene by melt spinning and that the resulting nanocomposite fibers are suitable for several applications in the textile industry.

ANNEALING INDUCED VARIATION OF CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SYNDIOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE FIBERS

Syndiotactic polypropylene （sPP） as-spun fiber （sPP1） and drawn fiber （sPP2） were prepared by melt-spinning and melt-spinning/hot-drawing, respectively. The structure transition of the two fibers induced by annealing at different temperatures and the corresponding mechanical properties were subsequently investigated by the combination of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）, wide-angle X-ray diffraction （WAXD） and tensile testing. The results indicate that the chain conformation and crystal forms of the two sPP fibers are not obviously changed at low annealing temperature （40℃）. With increasing the annealing temperature, the trans-planar conformation and mesophase in sPP1 and sPP2 fibers can be completely transformed to helical conformation and crystal form I under tension. Upon removing the tension, a small amount of mesophase and trans-planar conformation will be regained. The mechanical properties of the annealed fibers are manifestly dependent on their initial structure and the annealing temperature.

Tensile properties of strain-hardening cementitious composites containing polyvinyl-alcohol fibers hybridized with polypropylene fibers

Partially replacing polyvinyl-alcohol(PVA)fibers with polypropylene(PP)fibers in strain-hardening cementitious composites(fiber hybridization)modify certain mechanical properties of these materials.The hybridization based on the introduction of low-modulus hydrophobic polypropylene fibers improves the ductility and the strain-hardening behavior of the cementitious composites containing polyvinyl-alcohol fibers of different types(PVA-SHCC).Pull-out tests indicate that adding PP fibers increases the energy capacity of the hybrid composite with respect to the material containing only PVA fibers under tensile loading,and PP-fiber geometry(i.e.,section shape and length)is a key factor in enhancing the strain capacity.

Studies on the Crystallization Properties and Morphology Structure of the Cationic Dyeable Polypropylene Fibers

The crystallization properties and morphology structure of the cationic dyeable polypropylene fibers which were produced by the blending spinning method were studied by making use of X-ray and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It comes to the conclusions that the larger the crystallite size in the fibers is , the better the dyeable properties of the fibers are and there is a little compatibility between the dyeable agent and polypropylene resin. And the dye-uptake of the fibers may be up to 90% because the dyeable agent can uniformly be scattered in polypropylene.

Morphology and Thermal Behavior of Polypropylene/Easily Hydrodegraded Polyester Blend Fibers

Ultrafine polypropylene fibers are prepared frompolypropylene/easily hydro - degraded polyester （PP/EHDPET） blend fibers, in which file EHDPET compo-nent is degradable by treating with NaOH - H2O solu-tion. We investigated the morphology of PP/EHDPETblend fibers before and after stretching and alkalinehydrolysis. Then thermal behavior of the blend has alsobeen studied.

High‑Performing Semiconductor Fibers Set a New Stage for Ambient Intelligence

An advance in the integration of high-performing semiconductors into fibers enables innovative fiber devices and fabric systems that sense,communicate and interact,paving the way for unprecedented applications in wearable technology,fabric computation,and ambient intelligence.

Effects of cement content, polypropylene fiber length and dosage on fluidity and mechanical properties of fiber-toughened cemented aeolian sand backfill

Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.

A Review of Multifunctional Nanocomposite Fibers:Design,Preparation and Applications

Nanocomposite fibers are fibrous materials with specific properties and functionalities,which are prepared by introducing nanomaterials or nanostructures in the fibers.Polymeric nanocomposite fibers exhibit multiple functionalities,showing great application potential in healthcare,aerospace,mechanical engineering,and energy storage.Here,six functionalities of polymer nanocomposite fibers are reviewed:mechanical reinforcement,resistance to electromagnetic interference and flame,thermal and electrical conduction,generation of far-infrared ray,negative ion and electricity,energy storage,and sensing.For each functionality,the fiber component selection and preparation methods are summarized.The commonly used polymers comprise natural and synthetic polymers,and typical nanomaterials include carbon-based,polymer-based,metal-based,and metal oxide-based ones.Various compounding strategies and spinning approaches,such as wet-spinning,melt-spinning,and electrospinning,are introduced.Moreover,the functional properties of fibers fabricated from different constituents and by different strategies are compared,providing a reference for performance optimization.Finally,the prospective directions of research and application are discussed,and possible approaches are suggested to facilitate the development of advanced nanocomposite fibers.

Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Macadamia Nutshell Fibers

The use of natural fibers as an additive in polymeric matrices has attracted interest of the automotive industries,for its low cost,mechanical properties,biodegradability and lightness.However,the hydrophilic nature of the fiber makes polymer compatibility difficult.Fiber surface treatments can be used to enhance the fiber/matrix interface.In the present work,polypropylene(PP)composites reinforced with fibers from macadamia nutshell were obtained and characterized.Macadamia nutshell fibers were treated by an alkaline treatment with sodium hydroxide(NaOH 4%)to improve adhesion between fibers and matrix.Fibers were characterized by techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)and X-Ray Diffraction(XRD).The PP was mixed with the macadamia fibers(treated and untreated),in proportions of 5 and 10%(wt/wt)using a thermokinetic mixer.Furthermore tensile,flexural and impact specimens(Pure PP and composites)were prepared by an injection molding process and tested for evaluation of mechanical properties.The results showed that the insertion of treated fibers in the PP matrix increased the stiffness of the composites.However,the composites reinforced with untreated fibers presented higher impact energy absorption when compared to composites reinforced with treated fibers.

Effects of Polypropylene Fibers on the Shear Strength of Sandy Soil

This paper presents the effect of two types of polypropylene fibers on shear strength parameters of sandy soil. To achieve the goals of this research, a sandy soil was obtained from a depth of 40 cm from the natural ground surface around American University of Sharjah. Two types of polypropylene fibers;one highly flexible with flat profile and the other with relatively high stiffness and crimpled profile were used in this study with four different aspect ratios (L/D) for each type. The initial physical properties of the sand such as specific gravity, angle of internal friction and shear strength were obtained in accordance with American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The sandy soils were mixed with the two types of fibers at different percentages by dry weight of the sand and four different aspect ratios. The test results of the study showed that the shear strength of the sand increased with increasing the flexible flat profile fibers content. Also it was noticed that by increasing the aspect ratio of the flexible flat profile the angle of internal friction and the shear strength increased. The crimpled profile fiber increased the shear strength of the sand under high normal load and has small or no effect on shear strength of the sand at low aspect ratio under low normal load.

Hyphae-mediated bioassembly of carbon fibers derivatives for advanced battery energy storage

Ingenious design and fabrication of advanced carbon-based sulfur cathodes are extremely important to the development of high-energy lithium-sulfur batteries,which hold promise as the next-generation power source.Herein,for the first time,we report a novel versatile hyphae-mediated biological assembly technology to achieve scale production of hyphae carbon fibers(HCFs)derivatives,in which different components including carbon,metal compounds,and semiconductors can be homogeneously assembled with HCFs to form composite networks.The mechanism of biological adsorption assembly is also proposed.As a representative,reduced graphene oxides(rGOs)decorated with hollow carbon spheres(HCSs)successfully co-assemble with HCFs to form HCSs@rGOs/HCFs hosts for sulfur cathodes.In this unique architecture,not only large accommodation space for sulfur but also restrained volume expansion and fast charge transport paths are realized.Meanwhile,multiscale physical barriers plus chemisorption sites are simultaneously established to anchor soluble lithium polysulfides.Accordingly,the designed HCSs@rGOs/HCFs-S cathodes deliver a high capacity(1189 mA h g^(-1)at 0.1 C)and good high-rate capability(686 mA h g^(-1)at 5 C).Our work provides a new approach for the preparation of high-performance carbon-based electrodes for energy storage devices.