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This article explored the influence of curtain climber fiber and Biochar derived from Kigelia pinnata fruit fiber on a polyepoxide‐based composite material's thermal, mechanical, dielectric, and mechanical properties. Before commencing the composite production process, the surface of the curtain climber fiber underwent treatment with a solution consisting of 5% silane to enhance the bonding between the fiber and the matrix. The hand layup method and compression molding were used to produce the composite panels and tested according to the appropriate standards set by the ASTM. According to these findings, the mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced by adding 30% curtain climber fiber and 5% biochar. The load distribution on the fiber was consistent throughout. The composite's highest strength (EFB3) was 183 MPa, its modulus was 5.9 GPa, and its flexural strength and modulus were 216 MPa and 6.1 GPa, respectively. The impact intensity is 8 J, and the hardness value is 95 on the Shore D scale. In addition, the EFB3 had a maximum interlaminar shear strength of 35 MPa. According to the findings of the SEM surface analysis, the matrix molecules exhibit adhesion to the fiber, which indicates increased bonding. The thermal conductivity and dielectric properties were high for composite with higher biochar particle content. These waste biomass‐converted fruit fiber biochar and curtain climber industrial crop fiber epoxide composite materials may be utilized in a variety of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, household domestic product manufacturing, and defense sectors. Highlights: Extraction and silane treatment of curtain climber fiber.Producing biochar from waste biomass Kigelia pinnata fiber.Fabrication of polyepoxide composite.Siloxane layer improves the strength.Biochar improves the properties of composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the trend of integration and miniaturization of stretchable electronics, thermal management has been a crucial issue. Developing novel materials with high thermal conductivity (TC) and flexibility is urgent. Herein, we report a stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)@spherical aluminum oxide (Al2O3) composite with high TC and electrical insulation prepared by a two‐step strategy of sucrose‐template and hot‐pressing. An effective foam‐pressing route benefits the composites to form a three‐dimensional thermally conductive networks, improving the in‐plane TC value of the resultant composite to 4.03 W/(mK) at the filler mass fraction of 35.7 wt% and enhancing to 4.66 W/(mK) under 40% stretching ratio. Meanwhile, the composites can be restored to their former state and retain thermally conductive stability with repeated bending and twisting tests. Moreover, the composites were applied in LED with stretching, exhibiting good heat dissipation performance. These results demonstrate this PDMS composite can be potentially utilized as a high‐performance material to solve thermal management problems in flexible electronics. Highlights: The heat conduction network is prepared by sucrose‐template and hot‐pressing.BNNS@P‐Al2O3 fillers are self‐assembled via the electrostatic interaction.The composites exhibit good thermal conduction and superior flexibility.The thermal conductivity of the composite increases after stretching.The composites can retain thermal conductive stability after deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxy resin (EP) is a promising material that exhibits great potential in the fields of packaging and adhesion. However, reducing its brittleness and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) at low filler content is still a challenge. To address this problem, three types of MWCNTs nanofluids (MWCNTs NFs) with different shell structures were designed to modify epoxy resin. With the addition of 1 wt% MWCNTs‐M1, the compression, impact, and lap shear strength of the composites increased to 88.97 MPa, 81.39 kJ/m2, 12.69 MPa, respectively, which are 21.7%, 66.1%, and 58.0% higher than pure epoxy. Meanwhile, incorporating MWCNTs NFs also improved the CTE and thermal conductivity, with a 19.7% decrease in CTE and a 40% improvement in thermal conductivity at 2 wt% NFs content. Particularly, the effect of MWCNTs NFs structure on the composite properties was explored, which can be an available reference for designing specific NFs epoxy composites. Highlights: Three types of MWCNTs nanofluids with different structures were designed.The MWCNTs NFs were used in packaging materials for the first time.The impact performance of composite has been improved by 66%.The CTE of composite is 19.7% lower than pure EP.The thermal conductivity of the composite increased by 40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of surface modification and some processing parameters on the palygorskite (Pal) dispersion and the mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of the resulting Nylon 6 nanocomposites was investigated. Natural Pal was surface modified with hexadecyl tributyl phosphonium and 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane to produce organoclays with different surface energy values. Nylon 6/Pal nanocomposites were produced by twin screw extrusion and then injection molded, Pal loading was 2 wt. % in all the cases. A screw configuration was designed to impose different level of shear stresses to the nanocomposites during processing, and nanocomposites were extruded at two different screw speeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Pal was dispersed differently depending mainly on the degree of shear stress and surface modification of Pal. The best tensile mechanical properties were achieved with Pal exhibiting the lowest surface energy value dispersed with the screw having high shear configuration. The fatigue life of nylon 6 improved with addition of Pal. The experimental results give some guidelines for producing Nylon 6/Pal nanocomposites with improved properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights To further increasing the toughness performance of thermoset resins without sacrificing their other properties is still a challenge task. In this study, the soft core–soft shell nanoparticles based on polydopamine‐modified cellulose nanocrystals (P‐CNC) were synthesized and seamlessly integrated with Bisphenol A‐aniline benzoxazine (BA‐a). Notably, the results underscore the remarkable impact of a mere 0.2 wt% of P‐CNC on BA‐a, boosting the impact strength of the modified system to 19.5 kJ/m2. This achievement represents a substantial 140.7% increase compared with pure polybenzoxazine. Moreover, the flexural strength reaches 133.4 MPa, surpassing pure polybenzoxazine by 16.2%. And the modified system exhibits a 10% weight loss temperature (Td10) at 321.7°C, accompanied by a char yield of 27.6%. This holistic approach results in a notable enhancement of the toughness performance while concurrently maintaining the flexural strength and the thermal stability of the modified system. Consequently, the integration of soft core–soft shell nanoparticles emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing thermoset resin properties without undermining their existing exceptional attributes. The core–shell nanoparticles were made by dopamine and cellulose nanocrystals. The core–shell nanoparticles can enhance the toughness of polybenzoxazine. Nanoparticle‐matrix interactions and deformation led to improved properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric materials can realize direct and mutual conversion between electricity and heat. However, developing a strategy to improve high thermoelectric performance is challenging because of strongly entangled electrical and thermal transport properties. We demonstrate a case in which both pseudo-nanostructures of vacancy clusters and dynamic charge-carrier regulation of trapped-hole release have been achieved in p-type lead telluride-based materials, enabling the simultaneous regulations of phonon and charge carrier transports. We realized a peak zT value up to 2.8 at 850 kelvin and an average zT value of 1.65 at 300 to 850 kelvin. We also achieved an energy conversion efficiency of ~15.5% at a temperature difference of 554 kelvin in a segmented module. Our demonstration shows promise for mid-temperature thermoelectrics across a range of different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling nanoscale heat generation, dissipation, and transport is crucial for miniaturizing electronic devices and for designing highly efficient thermoelectric materials. However, it has been challenging to directly measure thermal properties at individual atom level. Herein, direct atomic‐resolution column‐by‐column imaging of the rattling motion of Ba atoms in a clathrate compound Ba8Ga16Ge30 using atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy with a segmented detector is shown. The directional anisotropy of the rattling motion is clearly visualized in real space and its amplitude and anisotropy are quantitatively evaluated by Bayesian analysis of the thermal diffuse scattering distribution. These results open a new possibility for directly characterizing nanoscale thermal properties in materials and devices, even those containing heavy elements such as thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical and thermal properties of ZrC x are strongly dependent on the composition and microstructure. In the present study, densified ZrC x (x = 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0) with relative density in the range of 99.2–99.7% have been prepared by a combination of spark plasma sintering (SPS) and vacuum arc melting (VAM). Both the Young's modulus and Vickers hardness monotonically increase with increasing C/Zr ratio. The maximum Young's modulus and Vickers hardness values of 488.1 ± 13.4 GPa and 28.8 ± 1.7 GPa, respectively, for dense ZrC have been obtained. With increasing the C/Zr ratio, the thermal conductivity of ZrC x increases. The thermal conductivity ZrC ranged from 25.17 W/m/K to 43.85 W/m/K from ambient to 1200 °C. Owing to the higher density of ZrC x , the present thermal conductivities and Young's modulus of ZrC x are higher than those of the previous studies. The present results are beneficial to design and preparation of ZrC x ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible SiC nanowire aerogel felt has excellent foldability, high-temperature resistance, and thermal insulation properties. However, the large-scale and high-efficiency production of SiC nanofiber aerogel felt remains a challenge. In this work, a three-dimensional network-structured short-chopped carbon fiber felt was used as a template for preparing SiC nanowire aerogel felt. The short-chopped carbon fibers were combed and dispersed using an airflow in a carding machine to obtain the desired felt. This method enables rapid and uniform preparation of carbon fiber felt, enhancing the efficiency of SiC nanowire aerogel felt production. The experimental results showed that the aerogel felt was mainly composed of β-SiC nanowires with a density of 5.29 g/cm3. Additionally, the SiC nanofiber aerogel felt exhibited remarkable superelasticity and low thermal conductivity (0.013 W/m·K). This research contributes to the practical application of flexible SiC nanowire aerogel felt in the field of thermal insulation. • Carding machine dispersed carbon fiber. • Fabrication of large size SiC nanofiber aerogel felt. • SiC nanofiber aerogel felt has flexibility and low thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel NbSi 2 /Nb 2 O 5 -SiO 2 /MoSi 2 multilayer thermal protection ceramic coating is designed and fabricated via halide-activated pack cementation and liquid-plasma-assisted particle deposition and sintering technology, endowing the coating with multiple high-temperature protective properties. The incorporation of MoSi 2 nanoparticles not only gives superior high-temperature oxidation resistance/hot corrosion resistance of coating by forming a dense SiO 2 barrier layer, but also promotes passive radiative heat dissipation. When NbSi 2 /Nb 2 O 5 -SiO 2 /MoSi 2 coating was prolonged exposure to air at 1250 °C for 50 h of oxidation and at 900 °C for 100 h of corrosion, the mass gains are only 0.37 mg/cm2 and − 0.52 mg/cm2, respectively. The multilayer coating exhibits enhanced emissivity (>0.88) over the thermal infrared range of 3–20 µm, due to the lattice vibrational absorption-matching synergy of Nb 2 O 5 , SiO 2 , and MoSi 2 , as well as the mutual doping of SiO 2 /Nb 2 O 5 , mismatch of atoms at the interface, and a high degree of lattice distortion within the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an improved Halpin–Tsai model to predict the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of silicon-carbide-reinforced polypropylene composites. The model considers the influence of porosity and corresponding silicon-carbide volume fractions and derives relationships between material property shape factors and the aspect ratio, silicon-carbide volume fraction, and porosity. The improved model's predictions exhibit errors of 4.00% for mechanical properties, 2.13% for thermal properties, and 2.24% for electrical properties when compared to finite element analysis. This study demonstrates that the improved Halpin–Tsai model can effectively predict the properties of silicon-carbide-reinforced polypropylene composites, aiding in the design and optimization of these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, specimens of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) consisting of Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and CoFe2O4 were synthesized in a powdered state through the co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction was employed for the purpose of characterizing the dimensions of the sample, yielding the following measurements: t = 64, 10, and 13 nm, respectively. Subsequently, a series of suspensions (S1, S5, S10, S15, and S20) were prepared by introducing varying amounts (x = 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg) of magnetic nanoparticles into 1 ml of distilled water. A low-frequency induction heater was employed to investigate the thermal characteristics of the aforementioned MNPs. The experimental findings indicate that as the concentration of MNPs in the suspension increases, there is a corresponding decrease in the maximum temperature (Tmax) measured in degrees Celsius, the heating rate (∆T/∆t) measured in degrees Celsius per second, and the specific absorption rate measured in watts per gram. Furthermore, the conducted investigation has elucidated that these MNPs exhibit commendable thermal characteristics, thereby signifying their potential utility in the realm of magnetic hyperthermia treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyureas have been widely applied in many fields, such as coatings, fibers, foams and dielectric materials. Traditionally, polyureas are prepared from isocyanates, which are highly toxic and harmful to humans and the environment. Synthesis of polyureas via non-isocyanate routes is green, environmentally friendly and sustainable. However, the application of non-isocyanate polyureas is quite restrained due to their brittleness as the result of the lack of a soft segment in their molecular blocks. To address this issue, we have prepared polyester polyureas via an isocyanate-free route and introduced polyester-based soft segments to improve their toughness and endow high impact resistance to the polyureas. In this paper, the soft segments of polyureas were synthesized by the esterification and polycondensation of dodecanedioic acid and 1,4-butanediol. Hard segments of polyureas were synthesized by melt polycondensation of urea and 1,10-diaminodecane without a catalyst or high pressure. A series of polyester polyureas were synthesized by the polycondensation of the soft and hard segments. These synthesized polyester-type polyureas exhibit excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Therefore, they have high potential to substitute traditional polyureas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of waste plastics has gradually become a hot topic in the current scientific community. In response to the needs for high-impact performance R-PP-based composites, carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polyolefin elastomer (POE)/recycled polypropylene (R-PP) composite (CF/POE/R-PP) was prepared by the mechanical blending method, and its mechanical and thermal properties were systematically studied. It was found that the CF could effectively improve the bending and notch impact strength as well as enhance the thermal stability of POE/R-PP. Furthermore, a stable and dispersed composite interface formed by the combination of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) with the surface of CF and the fusion alkyl chains in R-PP and POE further enhanced the CF's reinforcing effect. As a result, the addition of 9 wt.% CF successfully improved the heat resistance of the composite material, and the residual carbon content increased by 97.84% after sintering. The composite toughening of POE and CF effectively improved the impact strength of the composite material, with a maximum increase of over 1000%. This study ultimately resulted in a high-impact-resistant composite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the feasibility of implementing a new bio-composite with a sandwich structure made from date palm tree waste. This is done by valuing such waste, often left in palm groves and burned under most circumstances, which can be a vital resource at the lowest cost. This work has developed several sandwich-structured composite plates based on this waste. The skins are composite materials based on an epoxy matrix and palm tree fibers (Epoxy/Rachis fibers); the core was made of raw wood or a composite with petiole wood particles. After three-point mechanical bending tests, macroscopic analysis and SEM micrographs were used to determine what kind of damage the specimen had. Characterization tests on the new bio-composites showed good thermal properties; with a thermal conductivity below 1W/mK is between 0.0148W/mK and 0.0178W/mK. It is also characterized by its low volumetric mass, less than 1.2g/cm³. These properties make it a good thermal insulator, especially in environmentally friendly bio-construction areas making a sandwich-structured composite using palm tree waste is a very effective, environmentally friendly, and economically inexpensive option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsum is a polyvalent building material, whose composition gives it interesting properties for the construction industry, but its major disadvantage is its fragility. We proposed to study the feasibility of obtaining gypsum-based composite materials using plant fibres derived from date palm waste (DPF: date palm fibres), in order to exploit a local resource, and using synthetic polyester fibres (PF: polyester fibres) for comparison. We have developed gypsum-based composites with three types of reinforcement with mass percentages of the order of (0.5% DPF), (0.5% PF) and (0.25% DPF+0.25% PF). It was found that the addition of (0.5% DPF) can increase the flexural strength by up to 29.25% and that mixing gypsum with (0.25% DPF+0.25% PF) can slightly reduce its thermal conductivity by around 13.09% and increase its flexural strength by around 45.07%. However, a decrease in the transverse compressive strength of gypsum reinforced with date palm fibres was observed for the two mixtures of (0.25% DPF+0.5% PF) and (0.5% DPF) of approximately 12.56% and 24.32% respectively. These poor results of compression are due to the poor adhesion between the date palm fibres and the gypsum matrix, as well as to the porous structure of the date palm fibres observed under the microscope. Gypsum composites incorporated by DPF can be used for thermal insulation to reduce energy consumption and as decorative materials to line a wall, create a partition or a false ceiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of high-temperature resistant bisphthalonitrile resins containing trifluoromethyl groups were prepared based on 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) bisphthalonitrile (BFPh), which was toughened by hexafluoroisopropylidene-containing poly (aryl ether nitrile) oligomer capped by phthalonitrile (FPEN-Ph) in the different content. In addition, glass fiber reinforced composites were prepared by hot pressing process. The structure of the oligomer was characterized by FTIR and 1HNMR. The curing behavior of the blends was studied by DSC. Thermal stability and mechanical properties were also studied. The results showed that the introduction of appropriate content of FPEN-Ph could improve the reactivity of the curing reaction. TGA and DMA results showed that the cured polymers and composites had excellent thermal properties. The residual mass of FPEN-Ph content of 10% at 800°C was 72.4%, and the 5% thermal degradation temperature (T5%) under inert atmosphere was 530°C. The flexural strength of glass fiber reinforced composites was about 592.7 MPa, and the shear strength was about 61.6 MPa, showing excellent mechanical properties. The high-tech thermosetting resin was toughened and enhanced at the same time without reducing heat resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide 11 (PA11) and copolyester (TPC-E) were compounded through melt extrusion with low levels (below 10%) of expanded graphite (EG), aiming at the manufacturing of a thermally and electrically conductive composite resistant to friction and with acceptable mechanical properties. Thermal characterisation showed that the EG presence had no influence on the onset degradation temperature or melting temperature. While the specific density of the produced composite materials increased linearly with increasing levels of EG, the tensile modulus and flexural modulus showed a significant increase already at the introduction of 1 wt% EG. However, the elongation at break decreased significantly for higher loadings, which is typical for composite materials. We observed the increase in the dielectric and thermal conductivity, and the dissipated power displayed a much larger increase where high frequencies (e.g., 10 GHz) were taken into account. The tribological results showed significant changes at 4 wt% for the PA11 composite and 6 wt% for the TPC-E composite. Morphological analysis of the wear surfaces indicated that the main wear mechanism changed from abrasive wear to adhesive wear, which contributes to the enhanced wear resistance of the developed materials. Overall, we manufactured new composite materials with enhanced dielectric properties and superior wear resistance while maintaining good processability, specifically upon using 4–6 wt% of EG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optically transparent polycarbonates (PCs) and Copoly(Imide-Carbonate)s (Co-PICs) were synthesized by the melt polycondenzation method. Rigid (imide) and flexible (-O- and –C(CH3)2−) moieties were incorporated in the structure of bisimide diol comonomer using 4-aminophenol and 4,4′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis(phthalic anhydride). The structural properties of synthesized comonomers and polymers were confirmed by 1H, 13C-NMR and FT-IR spectra. Thermal properties of polycarbonates and copolycarbonates were examined using DSC and TG analysis. Thermal properties (glass transition T g and thermal decomposition (Td) temperature) of copolymers were enhanced without sacrificing properties of BPA-based PC (high transparency, ductility, and processability) by the incorporation of active functional bisimide diol comonomer (5–10 mole %) in the polycarbonate backbone. Different sets of PCs and Co-PICs thin film substrates were prepared by the solvent casting method and used to design frequency selective surface. The proposed flexible FSS offers shielding of 20 dB at 8.8 GHz. In addition, the FSS offers polarization independent operation with its symmetrical unit cell geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicated jellies are widely used by a large part of patients, especially by people with swallowing difficulties. Preformulation studies play an essential role in the development of new pharmaceutical formulations. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate medicated jellies containing perphenazine, an antipsychotic drug from the group of phenothiazine compounds used to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Typical gelling agents such as sodium alginate (Alg), gelatine (Gel), and pectin (Pec) were used to develop the medicated jellies. In addition to the biopolymers, components such as benzoic acid (BenzAc), citric acid (CitAc), sodium citrate (NaCit), sorbitol (Sorb) and xylitol (Xyl) were also used. Before preparing the jellies, the moist binary mixture between each component of the jelly and the active substance was analysed to investigate the compatibility of the substances. The active substance, moist binary mixture, and medicated jellies were analysed by FTIR_UATR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lutetium monosilicate (Lu2SiO5) has been considered as environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) materials for SiCf/SiC. Microstructural evolution and thermal properties changes of the Lu2SiO5 coating would occur in high temperature environment. In this study, Lu2SiO5 coating was fabricated by vacuum plasma spray technique. The microstructure, thermal stability, thermal conductivity, as well as thermal expansion behavior of the coating before and after thermal aging at 1350 °C were investigated. The tri-layer EBCs of Lu2SiO5/Yb2Si2O7/Si were designed and prepared onto SiCf/SiC substrates, and its thermal shocking behaviors were also explored. Results showed that the as-sprayed coating was mainly composed of Lu2SiO5, Lu2O3 and amorphous phases, and significant microstructural evolution, such as grain growth and defects reduction, was observed after thermal aging. The coating exhibited linear expansion, and the CTE of the coating before and after heat treatment were similar, while the thermal conductivity increased after thermal aging. Thermal shock results showed that the coating remained intact after 100 cycles, and penetrating microcracks in the Lu2SiO5 top layer were mostly stopped at the Lu2SiO5-Yb2Si2O7 interface, indicating that the tri-layer EBCs on the SiCf/SiC substrate had good thermal shock resistance. The thermal shock behaviors were explained based on microstructure combined with thermal stresses analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen storage in the solid state method focuses more on attraction and requires large-scale research. Ab initio calculations of zinc-based Alkali metal hydrides X2ZnH4 (X = K, Rb and Cs) were performed to analyse the structural, electronic, thermal, and elastic properties. Studied hydrides are stable in the orthorhombic phase with space group16- PP222. Phonon dispersion curves are calculated at ambient conditions reveals thermodynamic stability. Electronic band structures and density of states reveal that these hydrides are direct bandgap semiconductors. Also, thermoelectric properties like thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, specific heat capacity, Seebeck coefficient, Hall coefficient and carrier concentration are investigated using BoltzTraP software. In addition, the elastic constants have been calculated, and the mechanical properties such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio have been calculated using these elastic constants. According to well-known Born stability criteria, K2ZnH4 and Rb2ZnH4 are mechanically stable, while Cs2ZnH4 is unstable. These hydrides might be used in hydrogen storage applications due to moderate gravimetric hydrogen density, which is 2.7 wt%, 1.6 wt%, 1.2 wt% for K2ZnH4, Rb2ZnH4, Cs2ZnH4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductors with direct band gaps are outstanding for their use in most optoelectronic devices specifically for solar cells. Here we studied the optoelectronic, thermodynamic, and thermoelectric features of novel MgACu3Se4 (A = Sc, Y) semiconductors. Cutting-edge computations that employs density functional theory is used. The predicted density of state plots validated the electronic band structure results. A direct type of energy gap with a semiconducting behavior was noticed from the electronic band profiles of both materials. The significant optical response for the incident photon energy range of 0–14 eV is also revealed and discussed in detail. By using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, we additionally examined the thermodynamic characteristics of these quaternary systems and analyzed how their cell volume, Debye temperature, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, and Grüneisen constant change over the pressure and temperature range from 0 up to 20 GPa and 0 up to 1200 K, respectively. Furthermore, the important thermoelectric transport parameters were evaluated and discussed for their thermoelectric application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building material manufacturers must support new production models that encourage the manufacture of more efficient and sustainable products. This includes thinking about savings in the use of raw materials, a contribution to the energy efficiency of buildings during their useful life, and a reduction in the generation and deposit of waste in landfills. In this research, an analysis of the thermal properties of gypsum composites added with plastic waste is carried out using the most common methods, the steady state method and the transient plane source method, and the effect of water saturation on these composites is tested. The results show an improvement in the thermal performance of the composites (values reduced with respect to the reference by 4–7%), despite their heterogeneity, as well as a variation in the measurements carried out, depending on the method used for the measurements (variation up to 10%). It is also found that the degree of humidity negatively affects the thermal conductivity coefficient but, on the contrary, this coefficient is not altered in the composites with plastic waste, due to their lower hygroscopicity. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed eco-plasters are a good alternative to traditional plasters, with which to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the current European directives on waste and circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanothermites and high-energy explosives have significantly improved the performance of high-energy composites and have broad application prospects. Therefore, in this study, RDX/F2311/Fe2O3/Al composite hollow microspheres were successfully prepared utilizing the electrospray method using F2311 as a binder between components. The results show that the combustion time of the composite hollow microspheres is shortened from 2400 ms to 950 ms, the combustion process is more stable, and the energy release is more concentrated. The H50 of the composite hollow microspheres increased from 14.49 cm to 24.57 cm, the explosion percentage decreased from 84% to 72%, and the sensitivity of the composite samples decreased significantly. This is mainly the result of the combination of homogeneous composition and synergistic reactions. The combustion results show that F2311 as a binder affects the tightness of the contact between the components. By adjusting its content, the combustion time and the intensity of the combustion of the composite microspheres can be adjusted, which provides a feasible direction for its practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF)-based nanocomposites were fabricated with silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles by the in-situ polymerization method. The importance of this research work is to extend the usage of PEF-based nanocomposites with improved material properties. The PEF-Ag and PEF-TiO2 nanocomposites showed a significant improvement in color concentration, as determined by the color colorimeter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs revealed the appearance of small aggregates on the surface of nanocomposites. According to crystallinity investigations, neat PEF and nanocomposites exhibit crystalline fraction between 0–6%, whereas annealed samples showed a degree of crystallinity value above 25%. Combining the structural and molecular dynamics observations from broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) measurements found strong interactions between polymer chains and nanoparticles. Contact angle results exhibited a decrease in the wetting angle of nanocomposites compared to neat PEF. Finally, antimicrobial studies have been conducted, reporting a significant rise in inhibition of over 15% for both nanocomposite films against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. From the overall results, the synthesized PEF-based nanocomposites with enhanced thermal and antimicrobial properties may be optimized and utilized for the secondary packaging (unintended food-contact) materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of structure and thermal properties in 3D-printed insulation materials remains an underexplored area in the literature. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the impact of 3D printing on the thermal properties of manufactured cellular composites. The materials studied were closed-cell foams with a complex cell structure based on the Voronoi cell model, manufactured using incremental technology (3D printing). The influence of the cellular structure of the composite, the type of material used, and the number of layers in the composite structure on its thermal properties, i.e., thermal conductivity coefficient, thermal resistance, and coefficient of heat transfer, was analyzed. Samples of different types of thermosetting resins, characterized by different values of emissivity coefficient, were analyzed. It was shown that both the type of material, the number of layers of the composite, and the number of pores in its structure significantly affect its thermal insulating properties. Thermal conductivity and permeability depended on the number of layers and decreased up to 30% as the number of layers increased from one to four, while thermal resistance increased to 35%. The results indicate that material structure is key in regulating thermal conduction. Controlling the number of cells in a given volume of composite (and thus the size of the air cells) and the number of layers in the composite can be an effective tool in designing materials with high insulation performance. Among the prototype composites produced, the best thermal performance was that of the metalized four-layer cellular composites (λ = 0.035 ± 0.002 W/m·K, Rc = 1.15 ± 0.02 K·m2/W, U = 0.76 ± 0.01 W/m2·K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni2Mo3N was synthesized by ammonolysis of NiMoO4, prepared by a sol-gel-based modified Pechini route. X-ray powder diffraction measurements confirmed that Ni2Mo3N crystallizes in a filled β-Mn type (cubic space group P4132) with a lattice parameter of a = 6.6338 Å. Group theoretical methods were applied to elucidate the relation between the crystal structure of Ni2Mo3N and that of the rock salt type. The high-temperature behavior was investigated in-situ by X-ray diffraction measurements in flowing ammonia gas at temperatures up to 875 °C. Ni2Mo3N exhibits significant catalytical activity for ammonia decomposition, which is critically discussed in comparison to literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As demands for the quality of living environments increase, thermal comfort in furniture design is garnering attention. Studies indicate that furniture should not only meet basic functional and aesthetic requirements but also influence indoor thermal environments and interact with human thermal exchanges, which are crucial for optimizing living comfort. This research aims to explore how thermal comfort in furniture design can be integrated with the building thermal environment to enhance indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Existing studies predominantly focus on surface treatments of furniture, with a lack of comprehensive analysis on the material's contact thermal sensation, the thermal properties of furniture, and their performance under varying building thermal conditions. Addressing this gap, this paper proposes a comprehensive research framework consisting of three main components: first, analyzing the impact of the building thermal environment on furniture thermal comfort; second, designing furniture with consideration for material's contact temperature sensation; and finally, developing furniture heat release rate curves suitable for different building thermal environments. This series of studies not only enhances the scientific and practical aspects of furniture design but also provides new theories and methods for the field of architectural design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of Co(NCS)2 with 4-methylpyridine N-oxide in methanol leads to the formation of crystals of the title compound, [Co2(NCS)4(C6H7NO)4(CH4O)2] or Co2(NCS)4(4-methylpyridine N-oxide)4(methanol)2. The asymmetric unit consist of one CoII cation, two thiocyanate anions, two 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands and one methanol molecule in general positions. The H atoms of one of the methyl groups are disordered and were refined using a split model. The CoII cations octahedrally coordinate two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions, three 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands and one methanol molecule. Each two CoII cations are linked by pairs of μ-1,1(O,O)-bridging 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands into dinuclear units that are located on centers of inversion. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) investigations prove that the title compound is contaminated with a small amount of Co(NCS)2(4-methylpyridine N-oxide)3. Thermogravimetric investigations reveal that the methanol molecules are removed in the beginning, leading to a compound with the composition Co(NCS)2(4-methylpyridine N-oxide), which has been reported in the literature and which is of poor crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of Co(NCS)2 with 2-methylpyridine N-oxide in a 1:3 ratio in n-butanol leads to the formation of crystals of tris(2-methylpyridine N-oxide-kO)bis-(thiocyanato-kN)cobalt(II), [Co(NCS)2(C6H7NO)3]. The asymmetric unit of the title compound consists of one CoII cation two thiocyanate anions and three crystallographically independent 2-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands in general positions. The CoII cations are trigonal-bipyramidally coordinated by two terminal N-bonding thiocyanate anions in the trans-positions and three 2-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands into discrete complexes. These complexes are linked by intermolecular C-H...S interactions into double chains that elongate in the c-axis direction. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) measurements prove that all batches are always contaminated with an additional and unknown crystalline phase. Thermogravimetry and differential analysis of crystals selected by hand reveal that the title compound decomposes at about 229℃ in an exothermic reaction. At about 113℃ a small endothermic signal is observed that, according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, is irreversible. PXRD measurements of the residue prove that a poorly crystalline and unknown phase has formed and thermomicroscopy indicates that some phase transition occurs that is accompanied with a color change of the title compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of the work is to develop in-organic–organic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites using a combination of DGEBA (CY 230) epoxy resin and areca fibre (Af) mixture in the ratio of 70:30, respectively. The mixture was reinforced with varying weight percentages (1 and 2 wt%) of surface-modified nanozinc oxide (M-nZnO) and cured with triethylene-tetra-amine (HY951) at room temperature. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was used as a coupling agent to introduce amine groups on the surface of ZnO and its structure was confirmed by FT-IR. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of in-organic–organic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites having different weight percentages of M-nZnO are investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Their surface morphology of in-organic–organic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The introduction of M-nZnO improved the mechanical and thermal properties of the in-organic–organic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites. The mechanical characteristics and thermal stability analyses yielded the best results with a 2 wt% addition of M-nZnO nanoparticles. The study's findings clearly suggest that 2 wt% M-nZnO with Af/DGEBA epoxy resin can be used in a wide range of high-performance applications. Interestingly, the Af/DGEBA/M-nZnO epoxy nanocomposites displayed an excellent antibacterial action against high concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the thermal characteristics of fermionic fields with a nonminimal coupling in one, two, and three dimensions using the framework of superstatistics theory. We consider three distinct distributions: the gamma distribution, the lognormal distribution, and the F distribution. Each of these distributions is governed by a specific probability density function. To calculate the partition function, we use the Euler–Maclaurin formula, specifically in the low-energy asymptotic approximation of superstatistics. This calculation takes the remainder term into consideration. In each scenario, using the derived partition functions, we analyze the variations in entropy and specific heat with varying temperatures and the universal parameter denoted as . In general, we observe that increasing the value of enhances all the curves. Additionally, we note that entropy values tend to increase as the temperature decreases, and tend to decrease as the parameter increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices are attracting significant attention due to their outstanding stability in high-voltage, high-temperature, and highfrequency environments. To replace toxic Pb-based glass, there is an urgent need to develop Pb-free glass for SiC power device encapsulation, considering its superior electrical insulation properties and processing capabilities. Here, we developed a Bi-based glass for effective encapsulation practical of SiC power devices. By increasing the content of glass modifier BaO, the structure of bismuth borate glass can be tuned to reduce glass network density, leading to the transition of structural units from [BO4] to [BO3]. The softened temperature is reduced to 363.4°C with the BaO content increasing to 15 mol%. After encapsulating the SiC power devices using Bi-based glass, the glass demonstrated a reverse breakdown voltage of 650 V and an extremely low leakage current. Therefore, ourwork provided a route for adapting Pb-free-based low-melting glass for encapsulating SiC devices and offered potential for advanced semiconductor packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water Cool(ing) Island (WCI) literature has paid little attention to smaller waterscapes in developed areas that are most vulnerable to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. To fill this gap, this study investigated participants' changes in body temperature and stress level associated with the visual, auditory, and thermal properties of small waterscapes. The results of this study demonstrated that smaller waterscapes can provide effective cooling for predominantly hardscaped urban settings prone to the effects of UHI. This approach offers low-income residents without air-conditioning outdoor alternatives to indoor cooling centres in a post-pandemic era with more frequent and severe heat waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) or lightweight concrete (LWC) is developed using expanded perlite powder and lightweight expanded clay aggregate as a replacement for conventional fine and coarse aggregates, respectively. Furthermore, the natural plant-based flax fibre in treated form was added to the LWC mix at three different volume fractions. The mechanical and thermal characterisation of LWC was carried out using the compressive strength test, split tensile test, modulus of rupture, thermal conductivity and thermal resistance test. Moreover, the microstructural and durability properties were obtained using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrum analysis, rapid chloride penetration test, sorptivity test and water absorption test. Test results reveal that the addition of 2.0% flax fibre resulted in improved mechanical, thermal and durability properties when compared to LWC with no fibres. Moreover, the microstructural analysis using SEM revealed the formation of ettringite which is responsible for the strength development in the LWAC mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogenic synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles was boosted by the use of a recently found organic acid produced from Citrus sinensis. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized at 350 °C and 450 °C, and their physical and chemical properties were studied using a number of different characterisation techniques. Crystalline structure and phase were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of as-synthesized and annealed Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. This finding demonstrates that the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles have a unique, cubic spinel structure with only one phase. With the use of well-established formulae, we were able to calculate the crystallite size and lattice parameter of the synthesized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, and found that their size increased as a function of the annealing temperature, from 11 nm to 34 nm. The FTIR method was used to analyse the as-synthesized and annealed Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles for functional groups, molecular structure, and chemical bonding. Metallic components at 465, 551 and 1628 cm−1 were found after analysing the three samples. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was used to analyse the surface morphology and grain size fluctuations of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, while Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) was used to study the elemental composition. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles' thermal characteristics change depending on the annealing temperature. The antibacterial efficacy of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, manufactured using green methods, was assessed against two different types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the contemporary approaches to reduce the damage to cementitious composite resulting from the freeze–thaw effect is the incorporation of phase-change materials (PCM). In this study, the composites were produced adding n-tetradecane, which is a microencapsulated organic PCM, at rates of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% of the cement weight. In two different simulations representing the climate conditions of the two distinct regions in Türkiye, its effect on restricting the temperature amplitudes that the composite experienced was determined. It was determined that the PCM, with a working range similar to the temperature range applied to the composite in simulation, was successful in reducing the temperature amplitudes, and the rate and type of the PCM should be chosen with care according to the climate conditions likely to be experienced by the composite when in use. In addition to PCM's thermal properties, its effects on the mechanical properties and consistency results were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vinyl-polydimethylsiloxane (v-PDMS) composite reinforced by micron size ZDMA particles previously showed high modulus, thermal stability, solvent-proofness, and good processing ability. However, its poor damping properties limited usages. Thus, incorporation of new polymers into the composite was imperative to improve its loss factors. With a similar solubility parameter and good damping properties, isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR) was melt-blended in, then heat-pressed and cross-linked. The v-PDMS/ZDMA/IIR composites gotten were characterized by scanning electric microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The IR spectra of the composites illustrated that the incorporation of IIR was successful. The SEM observation showed good dispersion of the IIR, and the increasing deformation on the surface with growing dosage of IIR. The incorporation of IIR rubber decreased the composite's modulus sharply and also the tensile strength, but improved the elongation and damping properties of the v-PDMS/ZDMA composites at low temperature. The TGA test results in N2 gas showed the composites had good thermal stability below 350 °C, then deteriorated at higher temperature owing to the decomposition of the IIR at 400 °C. The decomposition activation energy at 400 °C was determined by the Kissinger method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for energy-efficient, economical and healthy construction materials has increased recently due to factors such as global warming and related diseases. Therefore, the need for construction materials such as clay bricks which has good thermal insulating property has increased. This study aims to investigate the possibility of using banana fibres and lime to improve the thermal and structural properties of unburnt clay bricks. Engineering properties of the bricks such as compressive strength, thermal properties, water absorption, the initial rate of suction, and bulk density were tested to observe variations. Materials were selected considering properties such as withstanding high temperatures, higher fibre content, coefficient of thermal conductivity, availability, and durability. An increment of 35.19% was observed in the compressive strength for 4% mixed unburnt clay bricks. The amount of maximum reduction of indoor temperature is 4.2°C. Therefore, the use of banana fibre and lime mixed with unburnt clay brick would be improved both structural properties and thermal characteristics of masonry walls, effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased interest in the use of polymer composites with natural, biodegradable and renewable fillers is the result of increased awareness of the environment. Therefore, the search for new materials that meet the above expectations is becoming a current issue. The article presents the results of research on composites containing pistachio shells (Pistacia vera L.), which are common agricultural waste, with unsaturated polyester resin based on post-consumer recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) and vinyl ester resin based on bisphenol-A. The environmentally friendly polymeric cobalt solution was used as the accelerator. In order to study the degradation of the composites, accelerated ageing, immersion in various solvents, and high temperature were used. From the obtained results, it can be observed that accelerated aging resulted in the additional cross-linking of the resin, while the filler absorbed the UV light. During immersion, the polymer matrix was degraded in acetone, whereas the incorporation of pistachio increases its water sorption and the plasticisation effect was also observed. The alkali environment initiated the hydrolysis of ester linkages. The vinyl ester resin-based materials were more chemically and thermally resistant than those from the unsaturated polyester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a type of plastic with a high percentage of solid waste and is hardly degradable. The characteristics of LLDPE such as high toughness and low density have the potential to be an alternative aggregate substitute for applications in non-structural mortar composites. The purpose of this study was to determine the suitable formulation of LLDPE aggregate substitution against silica sand for the application of non-structural adhesive mortar composites. Vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) surfactant (1.2 wt%) was used to improve the interface between LLDPE and the cement matrix. Mechanical testing; XRD and FTIR characterization; density measurements; compression, adhesion, and thermogravimetric test; and morphological observation were carried out in this experiment. The results showed that LLDPE substitution decreased physical properties and accelerated thermal degradation. Cracks occurred on higher amount of LLDPE composition due to big difference in polarity. Suitable LLDPE substitution composition for adhesive mortar is up to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) was cross-linked with epigallocatechin (EGC) via one-pot precipitation polymerization. The synthesis was confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy. The cross-linking density of the nanospheres was investigated by EPR spectroscopy. The mole ratio of HCCP:EGC had a major effect on the nanospheres' formation, growth, particle size, and shape. The thermal properties of the nanospheres were improved due to their cross-linked polymeric structures. The PCTPEC-3 nanospheres were used as anti-cancer drug carriers and the in vitro drug release profile was studied. The findings revealed that the cumulative release of drugs was dependent on the pH environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is a crucial part of the human dietary regimen. Still, its restricted water solubility, low viscosity, and weak heat stability are unfavorable physicochemical characteristics that restrict its use in food applications. So, in the 21st century, green and novel technologies such as cold plasma technology (CPT) and plasma‐activated water (PAW) have been employed for starch modification to improve the starch's physicochemical, digestibility, functional, structural, and thermal properties. This article provided an in‐depth evaluation of the use of cold plasma intervention in starch systems. Moreover, starch was modified due to cross‐linking, plasma etching, and depolymerization mechanisms mediated by plasma species. We may conclude that CPT and PAW are substitute methods for changing starch characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel composite phase change material, myristic acid (MA)/nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2)/carbon additives, was synthesized via a melt blending method, in which MA serves as phase change material, nano-TiO2 acts as support material, and carbon additives are used as thermally conductive enhancer. A series of leakage tests have shown that MA/nano-TiO2 can maintain shape stability during the phase transition when the content of MA in MA/nano-TiO2 does not exceed 50 %. The FT-IR and XRD results demonstrated that there is no chemical reaction among the various components of the MA/nano-TiO2/carbon additive. When the content of MA is 50 %, the melting temperature of MA/nano-TiO2/carbon additives is about 54 °C and the melting enthalpy is about 80 J·g−1. When the content of all three carbon additives, multiwall carbon nanotubes, graphene, and expanded graphite, is 2.5 %, the corresponding thermal conductivity of MA/nano-TiO2/carbon additives is 0.532 W/(m·K), 1.128 W/(m·K), and 1.382 W/(m·K), respectively. The thermal conductivity of these three types of MA/nano-TiO2/additives is 1.23, 2.62, and 3.21 times that of MA/TiO2, respectively. Moreover, the decomposition temperature of these three types MA/nano-TiO2/carbon additives composites is around 245 °C. Therefore, the working ambient temperature of MA/nano-TiO2/additive composites should be lower than 245 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through our monitoring of the volcanic characteristics of well waters around Usu Volcano, Hokkaido, Japan, we evaluated the relationships among dissolved carbon dioxide (D-CO2), water temperature and pH in the Toya-ko and Sobetsu hydrothermal areas in 2000–2020 after the most recent eruption. The D-CO2 concentrations of sampled waters from wells connected to the hydrothermal areas increased in 2000–2006 and decreased thereafter until 2020. The water temperature continued to fall from 2000 to 2010, and fell moderately further until 2020. The pH was constant from 2000 to 2015 and rose thereafter. Scatter diagrams were drawn with D-CO2 concentration per unit water temperature on the x axis and D-CO2 concentration per unit pH on the y axis for water samples from 12 to 16 wells each year. The approximate formula was represented as z = ax + by from the scatter diagrams using the principal component analysis. The value of b/a was predicted to have a high value for well water groups in the volcanic hydrothermal areas. The values of a, b and b/a might be applicable as distinct factors for volcanic or non-volcanic hot water based on the examples of 7 well water groups in the various hydrothermal areas. The b/a values rapidly decreased from 2000 to 2003 and showed a further decrease until 2020 for the well waters from the Toya-ko and Sobetsu hydrothermal areas. This suggests that the groundwater with no volcanic reaction increased in the well water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea cyanurate, as a new nitrogen-rich organic-based heat stabilizer, for the enhancement to thermal properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is prepared via the simple precipitation method, in this study. Characterization, thermal and mechanical properties of the stabilized PVC were examined by means of fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, discoloration test, congo red test and the weight-loss method, thermal aging test, and tensile analysis. Results showed that the thermal stability of PVC is improved after the addition of urea cyanurate in PVC formulation and weight loss related to HCl releasing in the normal PVC processing temperature (180°C) is less than 1%. Enhancement of the thermal properties and stability time of the PVC lead to decreased degradation tendency. Oven-aging test result showed that the color change during degradation process of PVC samples improved by adding the urea cyanurate. The tensile strength of stabilized samples were about 42%, higher as compared to the pure PVC. The optimum and best results for improving the thermal and mechanical properties of PVC were obtained by incorporating the 3 wt % of the urea cyanurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluates the effect of plasma treatment on the wettability, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of compression-molded composite panels produced from wood fiber (WF) and polypropylene (PP). Initially, WF was treated with different plasma durations (60, 120, and 180 s radiation). Afterward, the contact angle, moisture uptake, storage modulus, loss modulus, damping loss, and weight loss of the specimens prepared from untreated and plasma-treated were evaluated. Results revealed that the plasma treatment facilitates the interactions between WF and PP, and increases the adhesion properties. Compared with the lowest contact angle of 74.8° for the untreated specimens, the highest contact angle was found in the treated specimens around 79.06°, 81.29°, and 82.7°, using 60 and 15 using 180 s plasma radiations. Furthermore, the water absorption of the specimens reduced as a result of plasma treatment. The plasma-treated specimens demonstrated better molecular restriction and larger dynamic modulus than the unmodified ones. The tan δ peak signifying the glass transition temperature of composites shifted to a higher temperature, in the presence of plasma treatment. It was noted that the thermal stability of the composite panels produced from plasma-treated wood was remarkably improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By tailoring and optimizing the structure of core or shell material, complete alteration of properties of the material can be obtained. Herein, we have reported synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12@CoFe2O4 particles through the chemical co-precipitation route. CaCu3Ti4O12@CoFe2O4 particles consist of CaCu3Ti4O12 (~ 200 nm) as a core and CoFe2O4 as a shell of 2.5 nm. The prepared composites are characterized with appropriate characterization tools. The morphological results confirm the proper formation of core shell structure where CaCu3Ti4O12 and CoFe2O4 act as a core and shell, respectively. The greater CCTO content composites exhibited promising relative permittivity of 8.2 × 103 at 700 °C sintering temperature (8 h) at frequency 40 to 8 MHz. When CaCu3Ti4O12@CoFe2O4 undergoes heat treatment, it leads to the removal of oxalic acid. However, a weight loss of 8.3% is obtained for CCTO-coated composites that is quite low as compared to ~ 11% weight loss obtained in pristine CFO. The removal of organic groups significantly contributed to the increase in dielectric properties. These results imply that the development of CaCu3Ti4O12@CoFe2O4 core shell structure paves the wave for high-performance devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmons contribute positively to human health. Although off‐season utilization typically presents a challenge due to permissions' perishable nature, it may become feasible through the implementation of appropriate drying methods. In this study, round sliced samples were dried to assess drying kinetics, modeling potential, color attributes, rehydration capacity, energy consumption (EC), cost index, and thermal properties. The fruits were subjected to distinct drying methodologies including freeze‐drying, continuous infrared drying (300, 400, and 500 W), and intermittent infrared drying (PR = 1 [continuous], PR = 2 [30 s on–30 s off], and PR = 3 [20 s on–40 s off]). The duration of the drying process ranged from 40 to 390 min. It was determined that the most suitable models for depicting continuous and infrared drying kinetics of persimmon fruit were the Midilli et al. and Page models, whereas the Logarithmic model was identified as the optimal choice for characterization of freeze‐drying kinetics. Assessment of EC revealed that both intermittent and continuous infrared drying methods incurred lower energy expenditure in comparison to the freeze‐drying technique. Remarkably, throughout the course of the infrared drying processes, product surface temperatures varied between 106.33 and 22.65°C across different treatments. Despite its high EC, it has been found that high‐quality products are produced by freeze‐drying. However, infrared and intermittent infrared applications can be a low energy cost and feasible method for drying persimmon with a shorter duration. Practical Application: Persimmon is an important fruit with high nutritional value. However, as with many fresh products, they have a short shelf life. Within the scope of this research, three different drying methodologies were employed in the desiccation of persimmon specimens, and the impact of these methodologies on the overall qualitative attributes of the persimmon product was investigated. Despite its elevated energy consumption, the freeze‐drying approach was found to yield high‐quality products. Moreover, it was discerned that infrared drying represented a viable and expeditious alternative for drying the fruit, particularly when executed intermittently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]