Mechanism Analysis of Stiffness Improvement by Waterborne Epoxy Resin Surface Sizing Agent

Low-basis-weight paper lacks normal strength and stiffness. Waterborne epoxy resin could be employed with oxidized starch to improve paper stiffness through surface sizing. In this study,the mechanism of enhancing stiffness by adding waterborne epoxy resin was fully investigated. The results indicated that through surface sizing with epoxy resin,the paper thickness was preserved,whereas the elastic modulus increased significantly and the epoxy resin had positive impact on single fiber strength. A rigid resin layer and interpenetrating polymer network formed on the surface and in the inner layer of the paper,respectively. The formed resin layer and interpenetrating polymer network strongly supported the paper,leading to the improvement of the elastic modulus and stiffness. The stiffness improvement through surface sizing was mainly due to the formation of a fibrous composite layer and penetration of the sizing agent into the inner layers of the paper. The better the combination between fiber and sizing agent,the higher were the elastic modulus and the stiffness of the whole paper.

Starch-based Surface-sizing Agents in Paper Industry:An Overview

Natural starch is an abundant and inexpensive polysaccharide biopolymer that is widely used as a surface-sizing agent in the paper industry.The surface sizing of paper improves its water and abrasion resistance,as well as its physical strength and printing adaptability.However,natural starch presents some disadvantages,such as high viscosity,poor fluidity,poor filmforming properties,and easy coagulation.Therefore,starch is usually modified and blended with various components to achieve better sizing performance.This article reviews approaches for the surface sizing of paper and modification of starch using enzymes or chemical methods,such as oxidation,cationization,and graft copolymerization.This article also discusses the application of starch-based multiphase systems(obtained by blending starch with various components)as surface-sizing agents.

THE EFFECT OF FRICTION AT SIZING SURFACE ON DRA WING FORCE

Regarding the sizing surface zone as a quasi-plasticity one and using yielding criterion,a new drawing force calculating formula in which the sizing surface friction was taken into account is deducted.The calculated and experimental results show that for rod drawing and tube sinking,it is permissible to neglect the effect of the friction at the sizing surface,but for tube drawing with a stationary mandrel,especially for thin-wall tube drawing this friction should not be neglected.

Surface-effects-dominated thermal and mechanical responses of zinc oxide nanobelts

t Molecular dynamics （MD） simulations are carried out to characterize the mechanical and thermal responses of [011^-1]-oriented ZnO nanobelts with lateral dimensions of 21.22A × 18.95 A, 31.02A× 29.42 A, and40.81A ×39.89A over the temperature range of 300-1000 K. The Young＇s modulus and thermal conductivity of the nanobelts are evaluated. Significant surface effects on properties due to the highsurface-to-volume ratios of the nanobelts are observed. For the mechanical response, surface-stress-induced internal stress plays an important role. For the thermal response, surface scattering of phonons dominates. Calculations show that the Young＇s modulus is higher than the corresponding value for bulk ZnO and decreases by -33% as the lateral dimensions increase from 21.22 A × 18.95A to 40.81 A × 39.89A. The thermal conductivity is one order of magnitude lower than the corresponding value for bulk ZnO single crystal and decreases with wire size. Specifically, the conductivity of the 21.22 A × 18.95 A belt is approximately （31-18）% lower than that of the 40.81 A × 39.89 A belt over the temperature range analyzed. A significant dependence of properties on temperature is also observed, with the Young＇s modulus decreasing on average by 12% and the conductivity decreasing by 50% as temperature increases from 300 K to 1000 K.

Characteristics of phosphorus adsorption by sediment mineral matrices with different particle sizes

The particle size of sediment is one of the main factors that influence the phosphorus physical adsorption on sediment. In order to eliminate the effect of other components of sediment on the phosphorus physical adsorption, the sediment mineral matrices were obtained by removing inorganic matter, metal oxides, and organic matter from natural sediments, which were collected from the Nantong reach of the Yangtze River. The results show that an exponential relationship exists between the median particle size （Ds0） and specific surface area （Sg） of the sediment mineral matrices, and the fine sediment mineral matrix sample has a larger specific surface area and pore volume than the coarse sediment particles. The kinetic equations were used to describe the phosphorus adsorption process of the sediment mineral matrices, including the Elovich equation, quasi-first-order adsorption kinetic equation, and quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation. The results show that the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation has the best fitting effect. Using the mass conservation and Langmuir adsorption kinetic equations, a formula was deduced to calculate the equilibrium adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. The results of this study show that the phosphorus adsorption capacity decreases with the increase of Ds0, indicating that the specific surface area and pore volume are the main factors in determining the phosphorus adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. This study will help understand the important role of sediment in the transformation of phosphorus in aquatic environments.

An experimental study on the influences of wind erosion on water erosion

In semi-arid regions, complex erosion resulted from a combination of wind and water actions has led to a massive soil loss and a comprehensive understanding of its mechanism is the first step toward prevention of the erosion. However, the mutual influences between wind erosion and water erosion have not been fully understood. This research used a wind tunnel and two rainfall simulators and simulated two rounds of alternations between wind erosion and water erosion（i.e., 1^（st） wind erosion–1^（st） water erosion and 2^（nd） wind erosion–2^（nd） water erosion） on three slopes（5°, 10°, and 15°） with six wind speeds（0, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 20 m/s） and five rainfall intensities（0, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mm/h）. The objective was to analyze the influences of wind erosion on succeeding water erosion. Results showed that the effects of wind erosion on water erosion were not the same in the two rounds of tests. In the 1^（st） round of tests, wind erosion first restrained and then intensified water erosion mostly because the blocking effect of wind-sculpted micro-topography on surface flow was weakened with the increase in slope. In the 2^（nd） round of tests, wind erosion intensified water erosion on beds with no rills at gentle slopes and low rainfall intensities or with large-size rills at steep slopes and high rainfall intensities. Wind erosion restrained water erosion on beds with small rills at moderate slopes and moderate rainfall intensities. The effects were mainly related to the fine grain layer, rills and slope of the original bed in the 2^（nd） round of tests. The findings can deepen our understanding of complex erosion resulted from a combination of wind and water actions and provide scientific references to regional soil and water conservation.

Distributions of surficial sediments and its response to dynamic actions in the Xiamen Bay sea area, China

Sediment distribution is important for morphodynamic evolution and shoreline changes in coastal zones and estuaries. In the study, the data of 230 surface sediment samples collected from the Xiamen Bay sea area in September 2008 are used to investigate the spatial distribution and sediment transport pathway. The grain size distribution of surficial sediments in the Xiamen Bay area is shown distinctly in this study. In addition, the Grain Size Transport Analysis model is used for conveying trend analysis of the sediment in this area, particularly for determining the sediment movement trend. The results indicate that eight sediment types are present for samples, with clayey silt comprising the highest percentage in the study area at 65.22%. Moreover, in the different subareas, the characteristics of grain size parameters are obviously different owing to different sediment sources and hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, runoff, tides, and waves are the main forces dominating sediment dynamics on the seabed and tidal flats, and the sediment movement trend is closely related to hydrodynamic conditions.

Synthesis of cationic styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer emulsion for paper sizing

Surface sizing is an effective way to increase paper’s water-resistance and printability.The purpose of this study was to study synthesis process to develop an efficient cationic styrene-acrylic acid ester emulsion(SAE)for the surface sizing of paper.Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate methyl chloride(DMC)was used as the cationic monomer,and cationic starch or native starch was used as the emulsion stabilizer to copolymerize with styrene and butyl acrylate.The results indicated that the SAE synthesized with cationic starch and DMC had a high cationic charge density and a high DMC conversion rate.Paper sized with the cationic SAE had higher surface strength and lower Cobb value than the paper sized with other surface sizing agents such as,anionic SAE,and cationic or oxidized starch.Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the paper sized with a combination of oxidized starch and cationic SAE had smoother surface morphology when compared to the paper sized with oxidized starch alone,or with oxidized starch and anionic SAE.

Surface chemistry of carbon nanoparticles functionally select their uptake in various stages of cancer cells

Relationship of the surface physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles with their interactions with biological entities may provide critical information for nanomedicinal application. Here, we report the systematic synthesis of sub-50 nm carbon nanoparticles （CNP） presenting neutral, anionic, and cationic surface functionalities. A subset of CNPs with -10, 20, and 40 nm hydrodynamic sizes were synthesized with neutral surface headgroups. For the first time, the cellular internalization of these CNPs was systematically quantified in various stages of breast cancer cells （early, late, and metastatic）, thereby providing a parametric assessment of charge and size effects. Distinct activities were observed when these systems interacted with cancer cells in various stages. Our results indicated that metastatic breast cancer could be targeted by a nanosystem presenting anionic phosphate groups. On the contrary, for patients in late stage of cancer, drugs could be delivered with sulfonate functionalized carbon nano- particles, which have higher probability of intracellular transport. This study will facilitate the better understanding of nanoparticle-biological entity interaction, and the integration of this knowledge with pathophysiology would promote the engineering of nanomedicine with superior likelihoods of crossing the endocytic ＂barrier＂ for drug delivery inside cancerous cells.

Unraveling the size distributions of surface properties for purple soil and yellow soil

Soils contain diverse colloidal particles whose properties are pertinent to ecological and human health, whereas few investigations systematically analyze the surface properties of these particles. The objective of this study was to elucidate the surface properties of particles within targeted size ranges（i.e. 〉 10, 1-10, 0.5-1, 0.2-0.5 and 〈 0.2 μm） for a purple soil（Entisol） and a yellow soil（Ultisol） using the combined determination method. The mineralogy of corresponding particle-size fractions was determined by X-ray diffraction.We found that up to 80% of the specific surface area and 85% of the surface charge of the entire soil came from colloidal-sized particles（〈 1 μm）, and almost half of the specific surface area and surface charge came from the smallest particles（〈 0.2 μm）. Vermiculite,illite, montmorillonite and mica dominated in the colloidal-sized particles, of which the smallest particles had the highest proportion of vermiculite and montmorillonite. For a given size fraction, the purple soil had a larger specific surface area, stronger electrostatic field, and higher surface charge than the yellow soil due to differences in mineralogy.Likewise, the differences in surface properties among the various particle-size fractions can also be ascribed to mineralogy. Our results indicated that soil surface properties were essentially determined by the colloidal-sized particles, and the 〈 0.2 μm nanoparticles made the largest contribution to soil properties. The composition of clay minerals within the diverse particle-size fractions could fully explain the size distributions of surface properties.

Nonlinear buckling and postbuckling behavior of cylindrical shear deformable nanoshells subjected to radial compression including surface free energy effects

The objective of the present investigation is to predict the nonlinear buckling and postbuckling characteristics of cylindrical shear deformable nanoshells with and without initial imperfection under hydrostatic pressure load in the presence of surface free energy effects.To this end, Gurtin-Murdoch elasticity theory is implemented into the irst-order shear deformation shell theory to develop a size-dependent shell model which has an excellent capability to take surface free energy effects into account. A linear variation through the shell thickness is assumed for the normal stress component of the bulk to satisfy the equilibrium conditions on the surfaces of nanoshell. On the basis of variational approach and using von Karman-Donnell-type of kinematic nonlinearity, the non-classical governing differential equations are derived. Then a boundary layer theory of shell buckling is employed incorporating the effects of surface free energy in conjunction with nonlinear prebuckling deformations, large delections in the postbuckling domain and initial geometric imperfection. Finally, an eficient solution methodology based on a two-stepped singular perturbation technique is put into use in order to obtain the critical buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths corresponding to various geometric parameters. It is demonstrated that the surface free energy effects cause increases in both the critical buckling pressure and critical end-shortening of a nanoshell made of silicon.

The in vitro and in vivo toxicity of gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles,owing to their unique physicochemical and optical properties,well-established synthetic methods and easy modifications,have been widely used in biomedical science.Therefore,for their safe and efficient applications,much attention has been given to the toxicological evaluations of gold nanoparticles in biological systems.A large number of studies focusing on this problem have been carried out during the past years.However,the researches on gold nanoparticles toxicity still remain fragmentary and even contradictory with each other.This may be caused by the variety in experimental conditions.In this review,we aim to provide a better understanding about the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of gold nanoparticles by reviewing and describing the up to date literatures related to this problem and we mainly focused on these properties such as the particle size and shape,the surface charge and modification.Besides,we also summarized the adverse effect of gold nanoparticles on immune systems and analyzed the origin of the toxicity.

Effects of Annealing Temperature on the Structural,Optical,and Electrical Properties of ZnO Thin Films Grown on n-Si<100>Substrates by the Sol–Gel Spin Coating Method

The effects of annealing temperature on the sol–gel-derived ZnO thin films deposited on n-Sh100 i substrates by sol–gel spin coating method have been studied in this paper.The structural,optical,and electrical properties of ZnO thin films annealed at 450,550,and 650 °C in the Ar gas atmosphere have been investigated in a systematic way.The XRD analysis shows a polycrystalline nature of the films at all three annealing temperatures.Further,the crystallite size is observed to be increased with the annealing temperature,whereas the positions of various peaks in the XRD spectra are found to be red-shifted with the temperature.The surface morphology studied through the scanning electron microscopy measurements shows a uniform distribution of ZnO nanoparticles over the entire Si substrates of enhanced grain sizes with the annealing temperature.Optical properties investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy shows an optical band gap varying in the range of 3.28–3.15 eV as annealing temperature is increased from 450 to 650 °C,respectively.The fourpoint probe measurement shows a decrease in resistivity from 2：1 10 2to 8：1 10 4X cm with the increased temperature from 450 to 650 °C.The study could be useful for studying the sol–gel-derived ZnO thin film-based devices for various electronic,optoelectronic,and gas sensing applications.

Effects of steam explosion pretreatment on the chemical composition and fiber characteristics of cornstalks

This paper investigated the influence of steam explosion pretreatment with or without acid as the catalyst on the chemical composition and sugar contents of corn stalks.The fiber characteristics of the pretreated corn stalks were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope,a FS-300 automatic fiber analyzer and a fully automatic surface and pore analyzer.The results showed that the steam explosion pretreatment did not change the cellulose content of the corn stalks.However,hemicellulose was degraded and a portion of lignin was solubilized in the steam explosion pretreatment process.When acid was added in the steam explosion process,the fiber surface and cell wall structure of corn stalks were damaged,the specific surface area and pore size increased,and fiber length decreased,all of which were beneficial to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase.However,content of polysaccharides decreased after acid steam explosion pretreatment.

Factors influencing antibiotics adsorption onto engineered adsorbents

The study evaluated the adsorption of two antibiotics by four engineered adsorbents （hypercrosslinked resin MN-202, macroporous resin XAD-4, activated carbon F-400, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNT）） from aqueous solutions. The dynamic results demonstrated the dominant influence of pore size in adsorption. The adsorption amounts of antibiotics on XAD-4 were attributed to the hydrophobic effect, whereas steric hindrance or micropore-filling played a main role in the adsorption of antibiotics by F-400 because of its high microporosity. Aside from F-400, similar patterns of pH-dependent adsorption were observed, implying the importance of antibiotic molecular forms to the adsorption process for adsorbents. Increasing the ionic concentration with CaCl 2 produced particular adsorption characteristics on MWCNT at pH 2.0 and F-400 at pH 8.0, which were attributed to the highly available contact surfaces and molecular sieving, respectively. Its hybrid characteristics incorporating a considerable portion of mesopores and micropores made hypercross linked MN-202 a superior antibiotic adsorbent with high adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of MWCNT on the basis of surface area was more advantageous than that of the other adsorbents because MWCNT has a much more compact molecular arrangement.