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A straightforward but effective approach to fabricate shape‐memory polyurethane thermosets by tailoring the soft phase composition of two‐ and four‐armed polycaprolactone (PCL) polyols is described. As the crystallization of the PCL soft phase has an effect on driving the self‐assembly of H‐bonds, a good balance of tensile performance and thermo‐healability can be achieved by regulating the ratio between PCL‐diol and PCL‐tetrol in the soft phase. The inferior ability of crystallization of the segments near the branching point gives rise to enhancement of the both overall healability and toughness of the network. Healings of punctured holes and cuts are assessed using optical microscopy (OM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), tensile analysis, and two‐electrode impedence characterization. The obtained network with the best healing behavior has a soft phase composition with the PCL‐diol/PCL‐tetrol molar ratio of 2/1, a tensile toughness of 64 MPa J−1 and a healing efficiency (estimated by recovery of tensile strength) of nearly 80%. Highlights: The composition of the soft phase of polyurethane networks was tailored.Two‐ and four‐armed polycaprolactones were used for the network structure.A good balance between mechanical and healing performance was obtained.Healing of complete cuts showed tensile strength recovery of nearly 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fire‐resistance polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by using environment‐friendly flame retardants including expandable graphite (EG), red phosphorus (RP), and magnesium hydroxide (MH). Synergism between EG, RP, and MH on the thermo‐oxidation behavior and flame resistance of PP was found. The incorporation of MH and RP formed highly thermally stable mixtures of magnesium phosphates consisting of Mg3(PO4)2, Mg(PO3)2, and α‐Mg2P2O7 at both amorphous and crystalline phases in the burning process. The mixture not only covered the surface of burning materials but also could reinforce the char structure of the PP/EG composites, thereby significantly enhancing the condensed phase flame retardant mechanism of the composites. Mass ratios of the flame retardants were also optimized to obtain the composite with the highest flame retardant efficiency. The result revealed that the combination of EG, RP, and MH in PP at MH/RP mass ratio of 3/2 with only a total additive content of 18 wt.% could make its limiting oxygen index (LOI) increase from 16.8% to 27.2% and the UL‐94 rating was improved from none to V‐0. In addition, the mechanical properties of the composites were improved via the surface treatment of MH and RP with calcium stearate and silicone oil, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks have been extensively studied in catalysis owing to their unique physicochemical properties. However, this class of materials has not yet been directly applied to the catalytic ozonation of organic pollutants. In this study, MIL-100(Fe) was synthesized by a solvothermal method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption and scanning electron microscopy. A range of reaction conditions such as pH, solute concentration and catalyst content were applied to investigate the catalytic activity of our MIL-100(Fe) sample for the ozonation of p-nitrophenol in water. According to the experimental results, at a neutral initial pH, the catalytic ozonation of p-nitrophenol proceeded mainly through radical reactions, whereas in the absence of the MIL-100(Fe) catalyst, ozone could react with p-nitrophenol via the direct reaction pathway. The catalyst achieved a conversion of up to 98% and chemical oxygen demand removal of up to 75%. Moreover, our MIL-100(Fe) catalyst retained this performance for seven cycles of operation, which offers potential applications for metal–organic frameworks as catalysts in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]