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Traditional methods for measuring chemical exposure have challenges in terms of obtaining sufficient data; therefore, improved methods for better assessing occupational exposure are needed. One possible approach to mitigate these challenges is to use self-monitoring methods such as sensors, diaries, or biomarkers. In the present study, a self-monitored method for measuring soot exposure, which included real-time air monitoring, a work diary, and the collection of urine samples, was evaluated. To validate the method, exposure measurements during the workday and diary entries were compared with velocities calculated from GPS tracking and the expected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolite patterns in urine. The method was applied with chimney sweeps, an occupational group at a high risk of many severe health outcomes and for whom effective control measures for reducing exposure are needed. In the study, 20 chimney sweeps followed a self-monitoring protocol for 8 consecutive workdays. Personal exposure to soot was measured as black carbon (BC) using micro-aethalometers. A diary was used to record the work tasks performed, and urine samples were collected and analysed for PAH metabolites. From the expected 160 full day measurements, 146 (91%) BC measurements and 149 (93%) diaries were collected. From the expected 320 urine samples, 304 (95%) were collected. The tasks noted in the diaries overlapped with information obtained from the GPS tracking of the chimney sweeps, which covered 96% of the measurement time. The PAH metabolites in urine increased during the work week. Factors believed to have positively influenced the sample collection and task documentation were the highly motivated participants and the continuous presence of trained occupational hygiene professionals during the planning of the study and throughout the measurement stage, during which they were available to inform, instruct, and address questions. In conclusion, the self-monitored protocol used in this study with chimney sweeps is a valuable and valid method that can be used to collect larger numbers of samples. This is especially valuable for occupations in which the employees are working independently and the exposure is difficult to monitor with traditional occupational hygiene methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate assessments have largely overlooked the radiative effect of anthropogenic coarse particulate matter (PMcoarse, with an aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 and 10 µm) in China. Despite its similar mass concentration to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), anthropogenic sources of PMcoarse in China have been much less studied and typically underrepresented in models. Here, we present a new model simulation for PMcoarse in China that incorporates various anthropogenic sources. The model successfully captures the magnitude and distribution of observed PMcoarse and recently available aerosol optical depth measurements at near-infrared wavelengths, which are substantially underestimated if anthropogenic PMcoarse is not included. We find that anthropogenic PMcoarse exerts a cooling effect of -0.11 Wm−2 (-0.03 to -0.42 Wm−2) in China by aerosol–radiation interaction, capable of completely offsetting the warming effect from black carbon by 2060 under Dynamic Projection model for Emissions in China (DPEC) 1.1 scenario. We conclude that the radiative effect due to anthropogenic PMcoarse will likely dampen the warming penalty caused by the emission reduction of other aerosols in China and should be incorporated into climate models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality can be affected by the presence of atmospheric pollutants, which impact severely in human health. The objectives were to show the characterization of particle number (PN0.3–PN2.5), particles mass (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10), Black Carbon (BC), Brown Carbon (BrC) and bioaerosols (fungi and bacteria) in indoor environments of three pizzerias that have wood ovens as fuel at Londrina, Brazil. Mean Particle mass concentration varied amongst the pizzerias (28.9–42.4 µg m−3 for PM2.5) with the levels of BC and BrC reaching up to 42.9 µg m−3 and 29.4 µg m−3, respectively. These were correlated with the air ventilation of the place, the amount of wood burned, and service mode (e.g., all-can-eat). Furthermore, an average of 934 ± 404 CFU m−3 of bacteria was found in all places and Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosphialophora were the most important fungal genera found. Inside kitchens, the concentrations of PM2.5, BC, BrC, bacteria and fungi were 29.6, 3.0, 2.8 µg m−3, 876, and 1261 CFU m−3, with a mean ratio of BrC/PM2.5 of 0.06, that indicates this as a significant source for BrC. Finally, the concentrations of PM and bioaerosols found inside kitchens demonstrate pollution levels much higher than those recommended by national and international guidelines. Consequently, problems associated with poor indoor air quality will only be solved when adequate kitchen designs are considered. From the results of this work is possible to conclude that the building characteristics of kitchen and the burning process carried out are important factors for the concentrations of pollutants analyzed in the indoor air of wood-burning kitchens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although photocatalytic H 2 production based on semiconductor materials has a wide potential application, it still facing challenges such as slow reaction kinetics or complex synthesis processes. To meet these challenges, the carbon dots loaded black g-C 3 N 4 (CN-B-CDs) was synthesized by simple calcination method to achieve efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H 2 production. Photothermal imaging experiments confirmed the photothermal effect of CN-B and CDs as dual heat sources to increase the temperature of the composite system, thus improving the effective separation of photo-generated charges. In addition, multiple photocatalytic H 2 production tests exhibited that CN-B-CDs photocatalysts not only have strong stability but also can accommodate a variety of complex water bodies, which displayed the potential for industrial application. This study combined the photothermal effect and the mechanism by which the CDs promote the charge transfer to design a new photocatalytic H 2 production system and provided a new scheme for achieving efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H 2 production using carbon-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of single-use face masks during the recent epidemic has led to significant environmental challenges due to waste pollution. This study explores an innovative approach to address this issue by repurposing discarded face masks for hydrovoltaic energy harvesting. By coating the face masks with carbon black (CB) to enhance their hydrophilic properties, we developed mask-based hydrovoltaic power generators (MHPGs). These MHPGs were evaluated for their hydrovoltaic performance, revealing that different mask configurations and sizes affect their efficiency. The study found that MHPGs with smaller, more structured areas exhibited better energy output, with maximum open-circuit voltages (VOC) reaching up to 0.39 V and short-circuit currents (ISC) up to 65.6 μA. The integration of CB improved water absorption and transport, enhancing the hydrovoltaic performance. More specifically, MHPG-1 to MHPG-4, which represented different sizes and features, presented mean VOC values of 0.32, 0.17, 0.19 and 0.05 V, as well as mean ISC values of 16.57, 15.59, 47.43 and 3.02 μA, respectively. The findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing discarded masks in energy harvesting systems, offering both environmental benefits and a novel method for renewable energy generation. Therefore, this work provides a new paradigm for waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies and inspires further research into the use of unconventional waste materials for energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational mechanics has become an essential tool in engineering, just as the use of hyperelastic materials has seen remarkable growth in everyday applications. Therefore, it is fundamental to study hyperelastic models that represent the behavior of these materials, such as elastomers and polymers. With that in mind, the Mooney-Rivlin, Neo-Hookean, Ogden, and Yeoh models were implemented in a computational code in FORTRAN using the Positional Finite Element Method with Reissner kinematics and the Newton-Raphson method for nonlinear analysis of plane frames with samples of elastomers added with different percentages of carbon black. Ultimately, it was concluded that the Yeoh and Ogden models presented coherent values and that the use of the formulation for nonlinear analysis of plane frame performs well after the modifications proposed by this work. These modifications consisted of adding the first and second strain invariants of the simple shear formulation to include the consideration of distortion in the specific strain energy of hyperelastic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Deposition of wildfire smoke on snow contributes to its darkening and accelerated snowmelt. Recent field studies have identified dark brown carbon (d-BrC) to contribute 50–75% of shortwave absorption in wildfire smoke. d-BrC is a distinct class of water-insoluble, light-absorbing organic carbon that co-exists in abundance with black carbon (BC) in snow across the world. However, the importance of d-BrC as a snow warming agent relative to BC remains unexplored. We address this gap using aerosol-snow radiative transfer calculations on datasets from laboratory and field measurement. We show d-BrC increases the annual mean snow radiative forcing between 0.6 and 17.9 W m−2, corresponding to different wildfire smoke deposition scenarios. This is a 1.6 to 2.1-fold enhancement when compared with BC-only deposition on snow. This study suggests d-BrC is an important contributor to snowmelt in midlatitude glaciers, where ~40% of the world's glacier surface area resides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabricating high-conductive composites and constructing highly conductive networks are crucial for high-performance electrothermal film. In this study, an Ag nanowires/graphene (Ag/G) composite synthesized by liquid-phase exfoliation and in-situ photoreduction is mixed with carbon black (CB) to form a composite conductive ink, and a CB/Ag/G composite electrothermal film with a point-line-plane three-dimensional microstructure is obtained via blade coating process. Both the addition of Ag nanowires and a subsequent compression rolling treatment induce the establishment of the effective conductive network in the film, endowing it with an outstanding conductivity of 399.4 S cm−1. The film reaches a Ts of 204 °C with an input voltage of 3.0 V, and is successfully applied in water heating and de-icing, demonstrating its extraordinary electrothermal performance and vast potential for practical applications. The film is also used as an electromagnetic shielding film and heat dissipation substrate, showing exceptional electromagnetic shielding (42.5 dB) and heat dissipation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaner synthesis of amines remains a key challenge in organic chemistry because of their prevalence in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and synthetic building blocks. Here, we report a different paradigm for chemoselective hydrogenation of nitro compounds to amines, under mild, aqueous conditions. The hydrogenase enzyme releases electrons from H2 to a carbon black support which facilitates nitro-group reduction. For 30 nitroarenes we demonstrate full conversion (isolated yields 78 – 96%), with products including pharmaceuticals benzocaine, procainamide and mesalazine, and 4-aminophenol – precursor to paracetamol (acetaminophen). We also showcase gram-scale synthesis of procainamide with 90% isolated yield. We demonstrate potential for extension to aliphatic substrates. The catalyst is highly selective for reduction of the nitro group over other unsaturated bonds, tolerant to a wide range of functional groups, and exhibits excellent stability in reactions lasting up to 72 hours and full reusability over 5 cycles with a total turnover number over 1 million, indicating scope for direct translation to fine chemical manufacturing. The reduction of nitro-groups is a common synthetic route to amines, but biocatalytic strategies for such reactions are still being developed. In this study, the authors repurposed the hydrogenase enzyme by immobilisation on carbon black to yield a heterogeneous chemobiocatalyst for selective production of amines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron transport in complex fluids, biology, and soft matter is a valuable characteristic in processes ranging from redox reactions to electrochemical energy storage. These processes often employ conductor-insulator composites in which electron transport properties are fundamentally linked to the microstructure and dynamics of the conductive phase. While microstructure and dynamics are well recognized as key determinants of the electrical properties, a unified description of their effect has yet to be determined, especially under flowing conditions. In this work, the conductivity and shear viscosity are measured for conductive colloidal suspensions to build a unified description by exploiting both recent quantification of the effect of flow-induced dynamics on electron transport and well-established relationships between electrical properties, microstructure, and flow. These model suspensions consist of conductive carbon black (CB) particles dispersed in fluids of varying viscosities and dielectric constants. In a stable, well-characterized shear rate regime where all suspensions undergo self-similar agglomerate breakup, competing relationships between conductivity and shear rate were observed. To account for the role of variable agglomerate size, equivalent microstructural states were identified using a dimensionless fluid Mason number, Mnf, which allowed for isolation of the role of dynamics on the flow-induced electron transport rate. At equivalent microstructural states, shear-enhanced particle-particle collisions are found to dominate the electron transport rate. This work rationalizes seemingly contradictory experimental observations in literature concerning the shear-dependent electrical properties of CB suspensions and can be extended to other flowing composite systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple and scalable production of micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) is crucial to address the energy requirements of miniature electronics. Although significant advancements have been achieved in fabricating MSCs through solution-based printing techniques, the realization of high-performance MSCs remains a challenge. In this paper, graphene-based MSCs with a high power density were prepared through screen printing of aqueous conductive inks with appropriate rheological properties. High electrical conductivity (2.04 × 104 S∙m−1) and low equivalent series resistance (46.7 Ω) benefiting from the dense conductive network consisting of the mesoporous structure formed by graphene with carbon black dispersed as linkers, as well as the narrow finger width and interspace (200 µm) originating from the excellent printability, prompted the fully printed MSCs to deliver high capacitance (9.15 mF∙cm−2), energy density (1.30 µWh∙cm−2) and ultrahigh power density (89.9 mW∙cm−2). Notably, the resulting MSCs can effectively operate at scan rates up to 200 V∙s−1, which surpasses conventional supercapacitors by two orders of magnitude. In addition, the MSCs demonstrate excellent cycling stability (91.6% capacity retention and ~100% Coulombic efficiency after 10,000 cycles) and extraordinary mechanical properties (92.2% capacity retention after 5000 bending cycles), indicating their broad application prospects in flexible wearable/portable electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites with a natural rubber (NR) matrix containing organomodified montmorillonite (MMT) as a precursor of nanoparticles were prepared using two different polyoxazolines as surface modifiers of the MMT. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electronic microscopy and ultimate mechanical properties, and parameters obtained by DMTA method (storage and loss moduli and loss tangent) were determined. It was found that the effect of nanofillers presence has a significant effect on tensile strength as well as elongation at break, which are higher for materials with higher viscosity due to the presence of carbon blacks compared to the composites without carbon blacks. From the two modifiers, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) was identified as a prospective modifier for surface modification of MMT used as the possible additive for tyre treads exhibiting optimal balance between fuel consumption and safety of driving concerning breaking action and lateral breakaway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are representative indoor air pollutants that negatively affect the human body owing to their toxicity. One of the most promising methods for VOC removal is photocatalytic degradation using TiO2. In this study, the addition of carbon black (CB) and heavy metal nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated to improve the efficiency of a TiO2-based photocatalytic VOC decomposition system combined with ultrasonic atomization and ultraviolet irradiation, as described previously. The addition of CB and Ag NPs significantly improved the degradation efficiency. A comparison with other heavy metal nanoparticles and their respective roles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine inhalable particulate matter (PM) triggers an inflammatory response in the airways and activates mononuclear cells, mediators of tissue homeostasis, and tumour-promoting inflammation. We have assessed ex vivo responses of human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages to standardised air pollutants: carbon black, urban dust, and nanoparticulate carbon black, focusing on their pro-inflammatory and DNA-damaging properties. None of the PM (100 μg/mL/24 h) was significantly toxic to the cells, aside from inducing oxidative stress, fractional DNA damage, and inhibiting phagocytosis. TNFα was only slightly increased. PM nanoparticles increase the expression and activate DNA-damage–related histone H2A.X as well as pro-inflammatory NF-κB. We have shown that the urban dust stimulates the pathway of DNA damage/repair via the selective post-translational phosphorylation of H2A.X while nanoparticulate carbon black increases inflammation via activation of NF-κB. Moreover, the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide was significantly stronger in macrophages pre-exposed to urban dust or nanoparticulate carbon black. Our data show that airborne nanoparticles induce PM-specific, epigenetic alterations in the subsets of cultured mononuclear cells, which may be quantified using binary fluorescence scatterplots. Such changes intercede with inflammatory signalling and highlight important molecular and cell-specific epigenetic mechanisms of tumour-promoting inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

​​​​​​​This study compares aerosol mixing-state parameters obtained via simultaneous measurements using DMA–CCNC, H(/V)TDMA, and DMA–SP2, shedding light on the impacts of primary aerosol emissions and secondary aerosol (SA) formation. The analysis reveals significant variations in mixing-state parameters among different techniques, with VTDMA and DMA–SP2 indicating that non-volatile particles mainly stem from black carbon (BC)-containing aerosols, while a substantial proportion of nearly hydrophobic aerosols originates from fossil fuel combustion and biomass-burning emissions. Synthesizing the results, some nearly hydrophobic BC-free particles were found to be cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)-inactive under the measured supersaturated conditions, likely from fossil fuel combustion emissions, while others were CCN-active, linked to biomass-burning emissions. Moreover, BC-containing aerosols emitted from fossil fuel combustion exhibit more external mixing with other aerosol components compared to those from biomass burning. Secondary nitrate and organic aerosol formation significantly affect aerosol mixing states, enhancing aerosol hygroscopicity and volatility while reducing heterogeneity among techniques. The study also highlights distinct physical properties of two resolved secondary organic aerosol factors, hinting at their formation through different mechanisms. These findings underscore the importance of comparing aerosol mixing states from different techniques as a tool for understanding aerosol physical properties from different sources and their responses to SA formation, as well as aiding in the exploration of SA formation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alveolar macrophages (AMs) have been predicted to affect the pulmonary clearance of nanomaterials; however, their qualitative and quantitative roles are poorly understood. In this study, carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) were instilled into the lungs of Wistar rats at 30, 100, and 300 µg/rat. The concentrations of particles in organs, including the lung, lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN), liver, spleen, and kidney, were evaluated at days 0 (immediately after instillation), 1, 7, 28, 60, and 90 post-instillation. Results: The results indicated a multimodal pulmonary clearance pattern for CBNPs: slow clearance until day 28, fast clearance from days 28 to 60, and slow clearance from days 60 to 90. To determine the mechanism of this unique clearance pattern, CBNPs were instilled into AM-depleted rats using clodronate liposomes (CLO). At 28 days after instillation, the CBNP levels in the lungs treated with CLO showed about 31% higher reduction than in normal rats. In addition, the concentration of CBNPs in LALN treated with CLO significantly increased on day 28, whereas in normal rats, no detectable levels were observed. Conclusions: This result highlights that the prolonged retention of poorly soluble NPs in the lung until day 28 is mediated by the phagocytosis of AMs, and the fast clearance between days 28–60 is due to the turnover time of AMs, estimated around 1–2 months after birth. Similarly, new generations of AMs mediate the slow phase between days 60 and 90. However, further studies are needed to understand the multimodal clearance mechanism and the modulation of pulmonary clearance of poorly soluble NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the Cape Peninsula has seen a rise in the number of fires that occur seasonally. This study aimed to investigate the extent of fire spread and associated damages during the 2023/2024 Cape Peninsula fire events. Remote sensing datasets from Sentinel-5P, Sentinel-2, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) were used. Most of the fires on the northern side of the Cape Peninsula had a short burning span of between 6 and 12 h, but fires with a duration of 12–24 h were minimal. The northern area is composed of low forests and thickets as well as fynbos species, which were the primary fuel sources. Excessive amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and black carbon (BC) emissions were observed. High speeds were observed during the period of the fires. This is one of the factors that led to the spread of the fire. Relative humidity at 60% was observed, indicating slightly dry conditions. Additionally, the Leaf Water Content Index (LWCI) indicated drier vegetation, enhancing fire susceptibility. High temperatures, low moisture and strong winds were the main drivers of the fire. The Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) values for the targeted fires showed values close to −1, which signifies presence of a fire scar. The study can be of use to those in the fire management agencies and biodiversity conservation in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of easy and direct real-time monitoring of welded joint quality instead of surface damage analysis is crucial to improve the quality of industrial products. This work presents the results of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based composites with various carbon black (CB) content (from 20 to 30 vol.%) for use as a heating element and strain sensor in electrofusion-welded polymer joints. The pyroresistive heating process was used to determine the effect of generated Joule heat during welding on the structure and sensor properties of polymer–carbon composites. It is shown that the generation of Joule heat depends on the nanocarbon content and affects the crystallinity of the polymer matrix. The partial disruption of the conductive path of carbon black particles was observed and, as a result, a decrease in electrical conductivity for composites with lower CB content after welding was found. For the highest CB amount, conductivity increased, which is caused by smaller particle-to-particle distance for filler paths. Therefore, the best balance between pyroresistive and sensor properties was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanomaterials were introduced into this research as modifiers for polymeric membranes for single-piece electrodes, and their properties were studied for the case of nitrate-selective sensors. The use of graphene, carbon black and carbon nanotubes is shown to significantly improve the potentiometric response, while no redox response was observed. The use of carbon nanomaterials results in a near-Nernstian response (54 mV/pNO3−) towards nitrate ions over a wide linear range (from 10−1 to 10−6 M NO3−). The results obtained by chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveal little resistance, and the capacitance parameter is as high as 0.9 mF (for graphene-based sensor). The high electrical capacity of electrodes results in the good stability of the potentiometric response and a low potential drift (0.065 mV/h). Introducing carbon nanomaterials into the polymetric membrane, instead of using them as separate layers, allows for the simplification of the sensors' preparation procedure. With single-piece electrodes, one step of the procedure could be omitted, in comparison to the procedure for the preparation of solid-contact electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite nanozeolite/acetylene carbon black was prepared by combining a type A zeolite with acetylene carbon black (AcB) and used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE) without polymer. The zeolite was prepared by hydrothermal method using natural kaolin. The physicochemical characterization of the composite showed a well-integrated composite in which the cubic crystal of the zeolite A and the graphitic aggregate of the carbon black were maintained. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the composite film GCE (ZA-AcB/GCE) prepared by drop coating displayed a higher kinetic charge transfer compared to pristine zeolite modified GCE (ZA/GCE) and bare GCE. ZA-AcB/GCE, ZA/GCE and GCE were subsequently used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of acetaminophen (AC) in acidic, neutral and alkaline pHs. The results demonstrate a good electrocatalytic property toward AC at composite film GCE in all these electrolytes compared to bare GCE and confirm the dependence of the electrochemical reaction mechanism of AC on the electrolyte's pHs. Under optimal conditions, ZA-AcB/GCE exhibited higher sensitivity and selectivity toward both analytes taken individually or simultaneously within large concentration range: 0.5–89 µM for AC and 5–99 µM for caffeine (CAF) with the respective limit of detection of 0.38 and 0.82 µM. The developed sensors were applied successfully in the quantification of the both analytes in pharmaceutical tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In near-road neighborhoods, residents are more frequently exposed to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), and they are increasingly aware of pollution levels. Given this consideration, this study adopted portable air pollutant sensors to conduct a mobile monitoring campaign in two near-road neighborhoods, one in an urban area and one in a suburban area of Shanghai, China. The campaign characterized spatiotemporal distributions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) to help identify appropriate mitigation measures in these near-road micro-environments. The study identified higher mean TRAP concentrations (up to 4.7-fold and 1.7-fold higher for PM2.5 and BC, respectively), lower spatial variability, and a stronger inter-pollutant correlation in winter compared to summer. The temporal variations of TRAP between peak hour and off-peak hour were also investigated. It was identified that district-level PM2.5 increments occurred from off-peak to peak hours, with BC concentrations attributed more to traffic emissions. In addition, the spatiotemporal distribution of TRAP inside neighborhoods revealed that PM2.5 concentrations presented great temporal variability but almost remained invariant in space, while the BC concentrations showed notable spatiotemporal variability. These findings provide valuable insights into the unique spatiotemporal distributions of TRAP in different near-road neighborhoods, highlighting the important role of hyperlocal monitoring in urban micro-environments to support tailored designing and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the surface of pyrolysis carbon black (CBp) is modified by integrating the ball milling process with plasma treatment. High‐energy mechanical ball milling enabled more uniform contact and sufficient reaction temperature for the silane coupling agent and CBp. In addition, the impact of plasma activated the ash and surface deposits of CBp, reducing its inertness. Herein, the filler dispersion grade, Payne effect, vulcanization characteristics, and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties are investigated by considering modified CBp/natural rubber (NR) composites. The ball milling plasma process can reduce the polarity of CBp. Compared with untreated CBp/NR composites, the plasma‐treated SCA‐CBp/NR composites exhibited increased CBp dispersion grades, higher processing safety, better processing fluidity, and improved mechanical properties. The reduced Payne effect ensured more filler‐rubber network structure, resulting in a reduction in rolling resistance. Highlights: The coupling agent and CBp are treated by low‐temperature plasma and ball milling. The process promotes the formation of the filler‐rubber network. The dispersion grade of composites increased by 26.29%. The tensile strength increased by 5.57%, and the rolling resistance decreased by 19.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based conductive polymer composites have attracted wide attention as candidates for high-performance flexible electric heaters. Herein, a poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA)/carbon black (CB) composite is proposed as electric heating films that can successfully realize stable and safe operation at high temperatures of > 200°C under a safe voltage as low as 20 V. The conductive filler content has a significant effect on the microstructure and electrical properties of the PMIA/CB composites. An optimized CB content of 20 wt.% in the PMIA polymer matrix not only guarantees uniform spatial dispersion, but also provides sufficient and stable conductive networks. As a result, the PMIA/CB composites present high heating temperature, rapid heating ability, good heating uniformity, and excellent heating reliability. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the high thermal stability, superior mechanical strength, and excellent flame retardancy of the PMIA polymer matrix, the PMIA/CB composites exhibit superior thermal endurance and self-extinguishing capabilities, leading to significantly enhanced operating safety. This study will open new avenues for the development of high-performance electrothermal composite films for medium- to high-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating passive heating structures into personal thermal management technologies could effectively mitigate the escalating energy crisis. However, current passive heating materials struggle to balance thickness and insulating capability, resulting in compromised comfort, space efficiency, and limited thermoregulatory performance. Here, a dual air-gelation strategy, is developed to directly synthesize ultrathin and self-sustainable heating metafabric with 3D dual-network structure during electrospinning. Controlling the interactions among polymer, solvent, and water enables the microphase separation of charged jets, while adjusting the distribution of carbon black nanoparticles within charged fluids to form fibrous networks composed of interlaced aerogel micro/nanofibers with heat storage capabilities. With a low thickness of 0.18 mm, the integrated metafabric exhibits exceptional thermal insulation performance (15.8 mW m−1K−1), superhydrophobicity, enhanced mechanical properties, and high breathability while maintaining self-sustainable radiative heating ability (long-lasting warming of 8.8 °C). This strategy provides rich possibilities to develop advanced fibrous materials for smart textiles and thermal management. Aerogels have limited application in textiles due to their fragility and poor processability. Here, authors synthesize an ultrathin aerogel-structured micro/nanofiber metafabric for self-sustained heating by developing a dual air-gelation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) firestorm systems have been shown to inject significant amounts of black carbon (BC) to the stratosphere with a residence time of several months. Injected BC warms the local stratospheric air, consequently perturbing transport and hence spatial distributions of ozone and water vapor. A distinguishing feature of BC-containing particles residing within pyroCb smoke is their thick surface coatings made of condensed organic matter. When coated with non-refractory materials, BC's absorption is enhanced, yet the absorption enhancement factor (Eabs) for pyroCb BC is not well constrained. Here, we perform particle-scale measurements of BC mass, morphology, and coating thickness from inside a pyroCb cloud and quantify Eabs using an established particle-resolved BC optics model. We find that the population-averaged Eabs for BC asymptotes to 2.0 with increasing coating thickness. This value denotes the upper limit of Eabs for thickly coated BC in the atmosphere. Our results provide observationally constrained parameterizations of BC absorption for improved radiative transfer calculations of pyroCb events. In situ particle-scale measurements show that black carbon absorption enhancement asymptotes to 2.0 inside a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. This value denotes the upper limit of absorption enhancement for thickly coated black carbon in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating impact on both health and economy. In contrast, the reduction in anthropogenic emissions has resulted in a major improvement in air quality. In this study, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite datasets and related reanalysis model data were used with validation using ground-based data to evaluate the effects of aviation-based emissions on aerosol optical depth (AOD) and black carbon (BC). The contributions from five airports in Bangladesh were assessed during the pre-lockdown (01 Jan to 22 March), lockdown (23 March to 30 May), and post-lockdown (31 May to 30 Aug) periods in 2019 and 2020. The study's findings show that during the 2020 lockdown, AOD and BC concentrations significantly decreased at all five airports. The overall decline of AOD was ~ 18.5% (13.1% to 22.8%) and BC was ~ 18.1% (16.6% to 22.2%) in 2020 compared to 2019. The three international airports that were examined—Dhaka, Chattagram, and Sylhet—showed an average reduction of about ~ 9.7%, while Jashore and Barisal—two domestic airports—saw a minor increase in AOD of ~ 0.8% over the same period. However, the average BC concentration at both international and domestic airports dropped by ~ 9.8% and ~ 10.2%, respectively. This is the first study to use reanalysis datasets in Bangladesh to evaluate air pollution levels and aviation-based emissions. The results highlight the significant impact of reduced aviation activity on air quality and provide valuable insights for future air pollution management strategies. Highlights: • Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on AOD and BC over five airports in Bangladesh • Substantial decline in AOD and BC at all airports during lockdown and post-lockdown • Change in flight number was significantly correlated to AOD decline during lockdown • MERRA-2 has a higher propensity of AOD representation than the MODIS Aqua dataset • Weak positive correlation between aviation-based AOD and BC during lockdown [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane foam compositions derived from bioderived polyester polyols with various additives were evaluated for disintegration under composting conditions using the ISO 20200 standard and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and imaging to provide additional insight. Compared to polyether polyol-based polyurethanes, the bioderived polyurethanes were found to display increased disintegration with an average mass loss of 25.4 ± 3.6 weight percent when subjected to composting conditions for 45 days, suggesting that these materials are less likely to persist in the environment when compared to other types of commodity plastics. Additives such as carbon black and lignin added within the foam composition did not accelerate the disintegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives, such as antioxidants (AOs), carbon black (CB) and compatibilizers (COs), are used in recycled polymer blends for different reasons. AOs slow thermal degradation, CB gives blends a black color and protect them against ultraviolet (UV) light, and compatibilizers improve compatibility between the different phases of the mixture and consequently enhance the mechanical properties of the final blend. In this paper, the three additives were added to recycled polyethylene (PE) blends to study their effect on the final properties and to determine the best formulations that help improve the mechanical properties of recycled PE blends. Stress Crack Resistance (SCR) was accessed by performing Notched Crack Ligament Stress (NCLS) and Un-notched Crack Ligament Stress (UCLS). On the other hand, Oxidative Induction Time (OIT) was used to determine the oxidation time of the blends and the effect of each additive on this property. Based on the results of this study, it was proven that adding carbon black and antioxidants delay the thermal degradation of recycled PE blends and consequently improve the OIT. Otherwise, resistance to stress cracking is improved only by adding a compatibilizer to the reference blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon black particles possess dimensions on the nanometer or sub-nanometer scale. When utilized, these particles have a tendency to aggregate, which compromises their stability under storage conditions. To address this issue, a dispersant was prepared using cotton short fibers as raw materials through etherification and graft polymerization with acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as raw materials. The dispersant was then used to disperse carbon black to test its dispersing performance. A response surface optimization test was utilized to ascertain the influence of AMPS monomer mass, AM monomer mass, and potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator mass on the dispersibility of carbon black during dispersant preparation, and a set of optimal preparation conditions were obtained. The dispersion stability of carbon black in water was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), zeta potential analysis, high magnification scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements. Results revealed that the optimum mass ratio of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to AMPS to AM was 1:0.69:1.67, with the KPS initiator comprising 1.56% of the total monomer mass. By incorporating the dispersant at a concentration of 37.50%, the particle size of carbon black particles was observed to decrease from 5.350 μm to 0.255 μm, and no agglomeration of carbon black particles occurred even after 3 weeks of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased usage of selective laser sintering (SLS) for the production of end-use functional components has generated a requirement of developing new materials and process improvements to improve the applicability of this technique. This article discusses a novel process wherein carbon black was applied to the surface of TPU powder to reduce the laser reflectivity during the SLS process. The printing was carried out with a preheating temperature of 75 °C, laser energy density of 0.028 J/mm2, incorporating a 0.4 wt % addition of carbon black to the TPU powder, and controlling the powder layer thickness at 125 μm. The mixed powder, after printing, shows a reflectivity of 13.81%, accompanied by the highest average density of 1.09 g/cm3, hardness of 78 A, tensile strength of 7.9 MPa, and elongation at break was 364.9%. Compared to commercial TPU powder, which lacks the carbon black coating, the reflectance decreased by 1.78%, mechanical properties improved by 33.9%, and there was a notable reduction in the porosity of the sintered product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to delineate the characteristics of black carbon (BC) in the atmosphere over the urban background environment in Vilnius (Lithuania) from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 using aethalometer (Magee Scientific) measurements. The annual mean concentrations of BC originating from fossil fuels (BCff) and from biomass burning (BCbb) were found to be 0.63 μg m−3 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.67 μg m−3 and 0.27 µg m−3 (0.35 μg m−3). The further findings highlight the dominance of fossil-fuel-related BC throughout the study period (71%) and the seasonal variability of BC pollution, with biomass-burning-related BC making the largest contribution during the summer season (41%) and the smallest contribution during autumn (23%). This information provides valuable insights into the sources and dynamics of BC pollution in the region. The sources and composition of BC on the days with the highest pollution levels were influenced by a combination of local and regional factors in every season. Additionally, this study employs an advanced approach to understanding urban BC pollution by focusing on high-pollution days (18), identified based on a daily mean BC mass concentration exceeding the 95th percentile, alongside an analysis of overall seasonal and diurnal variations. This methodology surpasses many those of previous urban BC studies, offering a comprehensive examination of the sources and composition of BC pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile monitoring is used as an additional tool to collect air quality data at a high spatial resolution and to complement data from fixed air quality stations. Citizens are interested in contributing to air quality monitoring, and while the availability of low-cost air quality sensors can create opportunities to measure the air quality at a high spatial resolution, the data are often of lower quality, and sensors that measure combustion-related aerosols (like black carbon) are not commonly available. Mobile monitoring using a mid-range instrument can fill this gap. We present the results of a mobile BC (black carbon) monitoring campaign performed by citizens in Mechelen as part of a local citizen observatory (CO), Meet Mee Mechelen, initiated as part of the European H2020 project, Ground Truth 2.0. The goal of the study was two-fold: (1) to propose and evaluate a mobile monitoring method (data collection and data processing) to construct pollution maps of BC concentrations and (2) to demonstrate how to organize community-based air quality monitoring to measure both the spatial and temporal variations in air pollution levels. Measurements were taken during peak hours in four campaigns characterized by different meteorological conditions: October–November 2017, February–March 2018, June–July 2018 and September 2018. The results show large spatial and temporal variabilities. Spatial variability is influenced by traffic volume, stop-and-go traffic and also the building environment and the distance of biking paths from road traffic. The four different campaigns show similar spatial patterns, but due to background and meteorological influences, the absolute concentrations differ between seasons. A rescaling method using data from fixed stations in the air quality monitoring network (AQMN) was presented to construct maps representative of longer periods. This paper shows that mobile measurements can be used by CO to assess the spatial variability of air quality in a city. The data can be used to evaluate mobility plans, carry out hot spot detection, evaluate the exposure of cyclists as a function of cycling infrastructure and perform model validation. However, it is important to use high-quality instruments and apply the correct measurement methodology (number of repetitions, season) to obtain meaningful data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is one of the most important climate forcers with severe health effects. Large uncertainties in radiative forcing estimation and health impact assessment arise from the fact that there is no standardized method to measure BC mass concentration. This study presents a 2-year comparison of three state-of-the-art BC measurement techniques at the high-altitude research station Pic du Midi (PDM) located in the French Pyrenees at an altitude of 2877 m above sea level. A recently upgraded Aethalometer AE33, a thermal-optical analyser Sunset and a single-particle soot photometer SP2 were deployed to measure simultaneously the mass concentration of equivalent black carbon (MeBC), elemental carbon (MEC) and refractory black carbon (MrBC), respectively. Significant deviations in the response of the instruments were observed. All techniques responded to seasonal variations in the atmospheric changes in BC levels and exhibited good correlation during the whole study period. This indicates that the different instruments quantified the same particle type despite the fact that they are based on different physical principles. However the slopes and correlation coefficients varied between instrument pairs. The largest biases were observed for the AE33 with MeBC values that were around 2 times greater than MrBC and MEC values. The principal reasons of such large discrepancy were explained by the mass absorption cross section (MAC) that was too low and C values recommended by the AE33 manufacturer and applied to the absorption coefficients measured by the AE33. In addition, the long-range transport of dust particles at PDM in spring caused significant increases in the bias between AE33 and SP2 by up to a factor 8. The Sunset MEC measurements agreed within around 17 % with the SP2 MrBC values. The largest overestimations of MEC were observed when the total carbon concentrations were below 25 µgCcm-2 , which is probably linked to the incorrect determination of the organic carbon (OC)–EC split point. Another cause of the discrepancy between instruments was found to be the limited detection range of the SP2, which did not allow for the total detection of fine rBC particles. The procedure used to estimate the missing mass fraction of rBC not covered by the measurement range of the SP2 was found to be critical. We found that a time-dependent correction based on fitting the observed rBC size distribution with a multimodal lognormal distribution is needed to accurately estimate MrBC over a larger size range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress-strain behavior of rubber compounds is one of the key items to determine its application performance, and the different service conditions, especially the strain rate, have variable requirements for the performance of rubber compounds. The influence of tension strain rate on the stress-strain behavior of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates filled with 3 kinds of carbon black was investigated from the point of view of rubber reinforcement. It was found that the stress at a given elongation of any SBR vulcanizate increases with increasing strain rate, and the more reinforcing the carbon black, the higher increment rate the stresses. For any given SBR vulcanizate, the stress increment rate decreases with the increase in strain. As the strain exceeds the critical points, such as 300%, the effect of strain rate on the rate of stress increase is becoming equivalent and independent of carbon black grades. From a filler reinforcement point of view, the tensile modulus of filled vulcanizates in the plateau region is governed by the surface activity of the carbon black. In quasi-static tension test, the networking of carbon black in vulcanizate will be gradually broken with increasing strain, which the break-up is predominantly controlled by strain rather than strain rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Metal dusting affords a way to generate metal catalysts in situ from cheap metal sources and a high density of catalyst particles is created, anchored to a metal support. The metal dusting-catalyzed carbon magnifies the second-stage TCD rate and yield by virtue of its greater active surface area. Complementary microscopic, spectroscopic, and thermo-gravimetric characterizations highlight the structural differences between the first (TCD)-stage metal-catalyzed carbon and the second (TCD)-stage carbon-catalyzed carbon. Using model carbons, the TCD carbon's nanostructure did not appear to depend on the nanostructure of the nascent carbon catalyst. In this study, metal dusting is utilized to initiate a two-stage thermo-catalytic decomposition (TCD) process. Stage 1 starts with metal-catalyzed TCD, and in stage 2 the metal-catalyzed carbon catalyzes additional TCD. TEM is presented of the early- versus late-stage TCD to qualitatively illustrate the second-stage TCD by the metal-catalyzed carbons. Corresponding SEM illustrates differences in growth type and surface density between early versus late reaction times, with backscattered imaging differentiating the first- versus second-stage TCD. TGA supports the microscopic inference of a second carbon phase by the presence of an early (low-temperature) reaction peak, characteristic of low-structure or disordered carbon as the second-stage TCD carbon. Raman analysis confirms that the second-stage carbon deposit is more disordered and unstructured, especially at 1000 °C, supported by the ID/IG and La value changes from 0.068 to 0.936 and 65 nm to 4.7 nm, respectively. To further confirm second-stage TCD occurrence upon pre-catalyzed carbons, two carbon blacks are tested. Exposing a combination of edge and basal or exclusively basal sites for the graphitized form, they afford a direct comparison of TCD carbon nanostructure dependence upon the initial carbon catalyst nanostructure. Pre-oxidation of the stainless-steel wool (SSW) prior to TCD is advantageous, accelerating TCD rates and increasing carbon yield relative to the nascent SSW for an equivalent reaction duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to present the results of evaluating the coloristic properties of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers. PLA is common nowadays in much research, as it is a biodegradable plastic from renewable sources. However, little research is devoted to PLA fibers, and even less to applied research of colored fibers. The prepared color masterbatches, created using inorganic pigments, such as titanium dioxide and carbon black, were subsequently used to prepare dyed PLA fibers in mass. The fibers were drawn to the maximum drawn ratio. The properties of the pure and dyed fibers were investigated before and after accelerated light aging using Q-SUN equipment. The changes were recorded by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and colorimetric properties were recorded using a device spectrometer from TECHKON SpectroDens. We also evaluated thermal properties from the first heating via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The measurements were taken before and after the aging of the PLA fibers, in order to see the effect of aging on the supermolecular structure, excluding the influence of the preparation process and the influence of the kind of PLA. Using inorganic pigments showed sufficient color stability even after accelerated light aging, which is beneficial for using colored fibers in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared and characterized lampblack of olive oil for application in supercapacitors. The lampblack was prepared by the simple technique of flame-soot method. The lampblack samples characterized by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) revealed that they contain mostly amorphous nanosized carbon particles with oxygenated functional groups and the carbon content in the lampblack was 92.6%. The surface area of the lampblack carbon calculated from the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method was found to be about 302.7 m²g-1 with an average pore size of 1.69 nm obtained from the Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis. Lampblack carbon samples were used to prepare supercapacitor electrodes. Electrochemical properties of the electrodes were investigated in 6M aqueous KOH by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge Discharge (GCD), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The specific capacitance of the electrode obtained from the GCD test was 70.36 Fg-1 at the current density of 1 Ag-1 with a low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) value of 0.81 Ω. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High production rates and the constant expansion of production capacities for lithium-ion batteries will lead to large quantities of production waste in the future. The desired achievement of a circular economy presupposes that such rejects could be recovered. This paper presents a two-staged process route that allows one to recover graphite and conductive carbon black from already coated negative electrode foils in a water-based and function-preserving manner, and it makes it directly usable as a particle suspension for coating new negative electrodes. In a first step, coating residues, which accumulate in production (as offcuts or rejects for example), are decoated in an aqueous ultrasonic bath. The ultrasonic bath also serves as a pre-thickener. As a result, high mass concentrations of active material can already be achieved in the water after the first process step. Water is then removed from the negative electrode suspension in a subsequent step by applying dynamic cross-flow filtration. With this unit operation, it is possible to concentrate the slurry residue to a solid content similar to that of the new electrode slurries used for coatings. An important criterion for the direct utilization of production waste is that the particle properties are affected as little as possible so that the suspension can be used directly for coating new films. This work presents the individual recycling process steps and their influence on the particle and slurry properties. The aim is to assess whether the recyclate is suitable for a coating of new negative electrodes and thus also for manufacturing batteries from 100% recycled material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic aerosols play a major role in the Earth–atmosphere system by influencing the Earth's radiative budget and precipitation and consequently the climate. The perturbation induced by changes in anthropogenic aerosols on the Earth's energy balance is quantified in terms of the effective radiative forcing (ERF). In this work, the present-day shortwave (SW), longwave (LW), and total (i.e., SW plus LW) ERF of anthropogenic aerosols is quantified using two different sets of experiments with prescribed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from Earth system models (ESMs) participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6): (a) time-slice pre-industrial perturbation simulations with fixed SSTs (piClim) and (b) transient historical simulations with time-evolving SSTs (histSST) over the historical period (1850–2014). ERF is decomposed into three components for both piClim and histSST experiments: (a) ERFARI , representing aerosol–radiation interactions; (b) ERFACI , accounting for aerosol–cloud interactions (including the semi-direct effect); and (c) ERFALB , which is due to temperature, humidity, and surface albedo changes caused by anthropogenic aerosols. We present spatial patterns at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and global weighted field means along with inter-model variability (1 standard deviation) for all SW, LW, and total ERF components (ERFARI , ERFACI , and ERFALB) and for every experiment used in this study. Moreover, the inter-model agreement and the robustness of our results are assessed using a comprehensive method as utilized in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Based on piClim experiments, the total present-day (2014) ERF from anthropogenic aerosol and precursor emissions is estimated to be - 1.11 ± 0.26 Wm-2 , mostly due to the large contribution of ERFACI to the global mean and to the inter-model variability. Based on the histSST experiments for the present-day period (1995–2014), similar results are derived, with a global mean total aerosol ERF of - 1.28 ± 0.37 Wm-2 and dominating contributions from ERFACI. The spatial patterns for total ERF and its components are similar in both the piClim and histSST experiments. Furthermore, implementing a novel approach to determine geographically the driving factor of ERF, we show that ERFACI dominates over the largest part of the Earth and that ERFALB dominates mainly over the poles, while ERFARI dominates over certain reflective surfaces. Analysis of the inter-model variability in total aerosol ERF shows that SW ERFACI is the main source of uncertainty predominantly over land regions with significant changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD), with eastern Asia contributing mostly to the inter-model spread of both ERFARI and ERFACI. The global spatial patterns of total ERF and its components from individual aerosol species, such as sulfates, organic carbon (OC), and black carbon (BC), are also calculated based on piClim experiments. The total ERF caused by sulfates (piClim- SO2) is estimated at - 1.11 ± 0.31 Wm-2 , and the OC ERF (piClim-OC) is - 0.35 ± 0.21 Wm-2 , while the ERF due to BC (piClim-BC) is 0.19 ± 0.18 Wm-2. For sulfates and OC perturbation experiments, ERFACI dominates over the globe, whereas for BC perturbation experiments ERFARI dominates over land in the Northern Hemisphere and especially in the Arctic. Generally, sulfates dominate ERF spatial patterns, exerting a strongly negative ERF especially over industrialized regions of the Northern Hemisphere (NH), such as North America, Europe, and eastern and southern Asia. Our analysis of the temporal evolution of ERF over the historical period (1850–2014) reveals that ERFACI clearly dominates over ERFARI and ERFALB for driving the total ERF temporal evolution. Moreover, since the mid-1980s, total ERF has become less negative over eastern North America and western and central Europe, while over eastern and southern Asia there is a steady increase in ERF magnitude towards more negative values until 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based conductive polymer composites (CPCs) have significant potential for fabricating low-cost and high-performance flexible electric heating films in deicing applications. However, the inferior high-temperature resistance and low heating power density seriously restrict their large-scale commercial application. Herein, a series of polyimide (PI)/carbon black (CB) composite electrothermal films with excellent high-temperature stability and high-power density are prepared by a simple slurry coating method. With successfully introducing the high-temperature resistance and high mechanical strength PI as polymer matrix, the PI/CB composite electrothermal films with a low percolation threshold of 10.8% have a broad operating temperature ranging from 40°C to 270°C under low applied voltages (< 60 V) at room temperature. Impressively, these PI/CB composite electrothermal films with a uniform thin thickness of 45 μm exhibit high operating temperature (> 200°C), rapid heating response speed (< 10 s), remarkable long-term working stability, and superior low-temperature operating reliability even at −30°C. The simulated deicing experiment indicates that the PI/CB composite electrothermal film dislodges an ice cube (thickness = 10 mm) within 280 s. This work not only provides a universal strategy for the design and fabrication of high-operating-temperature CPCs, but also verifies the great potential for use in deicing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-layered carbon accommodation of MnO 2 enhanced ion intercalating and electron transferring, which rendered the resulting batteries ultra-stable cycling. [Display omitted] • Multi-layered carbon accommodation of MnO 2 enhanced ion intercalating and electron transferring. • Spray-coating preparation without any binder agent and conductive carbon black rendered the resulting batteries ultra-stable cycling. • Large-scale and easy preparation prompted the practical application of the aqueous zinc ion batteries for stationary storage at low cost. Large-scale durable aqueous zinc ion batteries for stationary storage are realized by spray-coating conductive PEDOT(Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) wrapping MnO 2 /carbon microspheres hybrid cathode in this work. The porous carbon microspheres with multiple layers deriving from sucrose provide suitable accommodation for MnO 2 active materials, exposing more redox active sites and enhancing the contact surface between electrolyte and active materials. As a result, MnO 2 /microspheres are adhered to the current collector by a conductive PEDOT coating without any binder. The ternary design retards the structural degradation during cycling and shortens the electron and ion transport path, rendering the full batteries high capacity and long cycle stability. The resulting batteries perform the capacity of 277, 227, 110, 85 and 50 mAh/g at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 A/g, respectively. After 3000 cycles the initial capacity retains 86%, and 80% after 5000 cycles. GITT indicates PEDOT wrapping MnO 2 /microspheres cathode enables better ion intercalating kinetics than conventional MnO 2. The work could represent a novel and significant step forward in the studies on the large-scale application of zinc ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for industrial production of nano-scaled WC powders has been proposed. In this work, WO 2.9 is subject to pre-reduction, followed by jet-milling treatment. The precursor is then mixed with carbon black by ball milling, and directly reduced-carbonized to nano-scaled WC powders. The WC powders prepared at different carbonization temperatures were made into alloys and micro drills, revealing the influence of powder properties on the microstructure and properties of the alloys through comparative analysis. The results indicate that when WO 2.9 powder is reduced at 700 °C for 1h and then jet-milled at a rotational speed of the grading wheel of 3500 rpm, the aggregates in the powder can be effectively broken, and the precursor powders with fine particle size and near-single phase can be obtained. In this way, the equipment exhibits relatively high productivity. By comparing the microstructure and properties of the alloy prepared from raw materials at different carbonization temperatures, it can be seen that if the carbonization temperature is too high, the average particle size of the powder increases and agglomeration appears in the microstructure. An increase in the average particle size of the powder will lead to an increase in the average grain size of the prepared alloys, thereby reducing the hardness and the wear resistance during service. In addition, the agglomerated particles in the powders can easily lead to abnormal WC grain growth in the microstructure of the prepared alloys, which reduces the bending strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the reaction-formed graphite/SiC composites, the presence of cracks and poor mechanical properties seriously affect their reliability as wear resistant or sealing materials. In this work, a porous carbon preform was pressure formed first by carbon-composite-powder (PFC@G) and carbon black, impregnated with resin and carbonized subsequently, which can heal the micro-cracks, increased the strength of porous carbon preforms and finally reduce the reactivity of liquid Si and carbon during the reaction forming process. The results show that the modified porous carbon preform has a 4.8 % reduction in porosity and a 3.98 times increase in compressive strength. After reactive melt infiltration, the prepared graphite/SiC composites had a compact and isotropic structure and obtained the highest carbon content of 66.18 vol%. In addition, the coupling effect of the PFC@G size on the carbon content and mechanical properties of composites was studied. With the decreasing of the PFC@G size, the mechanical properties of the composites increased and the carbon content decreased. The sample with a carbon content of 48 vol% and a bending strength of 137 MPa exhibited excellent self-lubrication properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon black has been successfully converted into silicon carbide by reacting it with SiO vapor at 1500 °C under Ar gas environment. The influence of reaction temperature, duration and Ar gas flow rate on the final product was examined. The structural and microstructural property of synthesized SiC was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Micrographs of synthesized SiC showed that the final product was an agglomeration of SiC nano-powder of 50–500 nm size and nano-whiskers/fibres having a diameter of 50–500 nm and lengths in 0.1–10 μm depending on Ar gas flow rate. The higher conversion of C into SiC was observed at 1500 °C with Ar gas flow rate ∼250 ml/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pinhole intraocular lenses (IOLs) were developed to improve reading by compensating for loss of accommodative function. The IC-8® Apthera™ is a small-aperture presbyopia-correcting IOL that combines the proven principle of small-aperture optics with an aspheric monofocal lens to deliver a continuous range of vision for patients with cataracts from distance to near vision. Posterior capsule opacification is the most common sequela after cataract surgery. It is effectively treated by laser capsulotomy. However, if the laser beam is incorrectly focused, the IOL can be permanently damaged (pits/shots). Methods: In this experimental study, yttrium–aluminum-garnet (YAG) pits were purposefully created. Defects were analyzed and compared between the periphery of the ring in the clear area of the hydrophobic acrylic lens and at the carbon black (CB)-polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) filtering component (FilterRing™) of the pinhole lens. All defects were made using identical settings/energy levels (2.6 mJ). The damage induced to the IC-8® Apthera™ IOL was examined by low-magnification images, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Results: YAG defects in the carbon black filter ring were much more severe than those in the clear zone due to the high absorption of the carbon black. Massive defects and destruction of the lens with tearing out of fragments and particles were observed. The missing volume calculated from the micro-CT reconstruction was 0.266 mm3, which is 1.6% of the entire IOL volume, or more than 1000 times the volume damaged in the largest shot in the periphery. Conclusion: Based on the results, we highly recommend using the lowest possible energy levels, posterior offset setting, and circular pattern for maximum safety when performing laser capsulotomy with pinhole implants. Care should be taken to avoid creating irreversible iatrogenic defects that may affect overall quality. The safest area for performing capsulotomy seems to be the periphery of the ring segment. Video available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for high-voltage thermal batteries. FeF 3 has a high open-circuit voltage of 2.7 V and is gaining attention as a potential alternative. However, it involves the problem of a low electrical conductivity owing to the wide band gap (5.96 eV) and the generation of lithium fluoride (LiF), which is a discharge product in the conversion reaction. To address this issue, acetylene black with high conductivity is utilized to enhance the electrochemical activity of metal fluoride (FeF 3). At present, FeF 3 /AB is produced by low- and high-collision-energy ball milling. These are mechanical milling methods that involve different collision energies. High-collision-energy ball milling has been demonstrated to degrade the electrochemical performance owing to crystal deformation. In contrast, low-collision-energy ball milling has demonstrated the potential for application in thermal batteries by minimizing crystal deformation and enhancing the electrical conductivity. In this study, the amount of added carbon was optimized to enhance the performance of thermal battery materials. Both low- and high-collision-energy ball-milling processes exhibited remarkable thermal stability when 5.0 wt% carbon was added. However, the high-collision-energy ball-milling process did not effectively enhance the thermal cell performance because the electrical conductivity did not increase significantly. Therefore, FeF 3 /5.0 wt% AB produced by low-collision-energy ball milling exhibited remarkable thermal stability and electrical conductivity. This indicates its potential for use in thermal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental hazards linked with scrap tires have been a great concern for the Saudi government. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a Vision 2030 project with an aim to produce 50% of its energy through renewable energy resources. The tire market in the country reached 22.2 million units in 2022 and is expected to increase up to 24.9 million in 2028 with a growth rate of 2.11%. This study used a vacuum pyrolyzer for transforming scrap tires into tire-derived oil (TDO), along with other products such as synthesis gas (syngas) and carbon black. It provides a feasible way of transforming scrap tires into synthetic fuel via vacuum pyrolysis (a thermochemical approach). Vacuum pyrolysis of scrap tires at temperature 350-400°C yields 45%-55% derived oil, 10%-15% steel wires, 30%-35% carbon black, and 10%-15% non-condensable gases. The heating value of the obtained tire-derived oil is 32-37 MJ/kg, which is somehow less than that of diesel, which has an energy value of 44-46 MJ/kg. Such products are expected to be obtained after the successful adaptation of advanced techniques such as thermochemical approaches and can successfully be used as an alternative to fossil fuels. Based on the scrap tire produced in the country, if Saudi Arabia can process 22.2 million units of tires (trucks and passenger cars) annually through vacuum pyrolysis, it can earn approximately $47.40 million annually (or $2.14 per tire) through tire pyrolysis. Utilization of carbon black (recovered from scrap tire pyrolysis) in manufacturing tires can save approximately 2.5 tons of CO2 production compared to per ton production of new (virgin) carbon black. This study suggested pyrolysis to be a viable recycling and waste tire management technique, and it can be an independent profitable operation in Saudi Arabia and helps in meeting the Saudi Vision 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a flash pyrolysis process is developed using an entrained flow reactor for recycling of waste tires. The flash pyrolysis system is tested for process stability and reproducibility of the products under similar operating conditions when operated continuously. The study is performed with two different feedstock materials, i.e., passenger car (PCT) and truck tire (TT) granulates, to understand the influence of feedstock on the yield and properties of the pyrolysis products. The different pyrolytic products i.e., pyrolytic carbon black (pCB), oil, and pyro-gas, are analyzed, and their key properties are discussed. The potential applications for the obtained pyrolytic products are discussed. Finally, a mass and energy balance analysis has been performed for the developed pyrolysis process. The study provides insight into the governing mechanisms of the flash pyrolysis process for waste tires, which is useful to optimize the process depending on the desired applications for the pyrolysis products, and also to scale up the pyrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]