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High mechanical strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance are essential to improve the reliability of conductive hydrogels for self‐powered sensing. However, achieving mutually exclusive properties simultaneously remains challenging. Hence, a novel directed interlocking strategy based on topological network structure and mechanical training is proposed to construct tough hydrogels by optimizing the network structure and modulating the orientation of molecular chains. Combining Zn2+ crosslinked cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and a polyacrylamide‐poly(vinyl alcohol) double‐network, the unique interlocked‐network structure exhibits an enhanced toughening effect due to hydrogen bonding and metal‐ligand interactions. The aligned nanocrystalline domains achieved by training further contribute to an increase in the toughness and fatigue thresholds. This innovative approach synergistically enhances the mechanical properties of the nano‐conductive hydrogel, achieving a maximum tensile strength of 4.98 MPa and a toughness of 48 MJ m−3. Notably, the CNFs template with anchored polyaniline, when oriented through mechanical training, forms a unique directional conductive pathway, which significantly enhances the power output performance. Besides, a motion recognition system based on a self‐powered sensing device is designed with the assistance of deep learning techniques to accurately identify human motion behaviors. This work showcases a potentially transformative flexible electronic material for self‐powered sensing systems and intelligent recognition systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-friendly, nontoxic and high-energy storage materials are very important for flexible electrode materials. Bi4Ti3O12 lead-free, perovskite phase may prove suitable as filler in composites for electrode materials because of its large spontaneous polarization. We have synthesized Bi4Ti3O12/polystyrene (BTO/PS) composites and carried out their structural, morphological and bonding studies with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), in that order. Dielectric measurements in the broad frequency range of synthesized composites determined by Impedance analyzer. We observed that the dielectric constant of composites increased with filler concentration and decreased with applied field frequency. Bi4Ti3O12/PS composites can be good electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al 2 O 3 reticulated porous ceramics (ARPCs) are extensively employed in high-temperature catalytic support, molten metal filtration, and porous media combustion because of their high specific surface area and heat resistance. The high specific surface area is usually maintained by high apparent porosity, but unfortunately, the accompanying poor mechanical properties severely compromise the durability of ARPCs. To synergistically improve the mechanical properties and apparent porosity, a new strategy was proposed to prepare ARPCs with textured structures of in situ interlocking Al 2 O 3 platelet integration using vacuum impregnation Na 3 AlF 6 –SiC–Al 2 O 3 slurry technique. The obtained textural structure had a significant strengthening effect on ARPCs, attributed to the increased contact area among non-equiaxed grains, and the compact growth of Al 2 O 3 platelets with high aspect ratios provided the high apparent porosity and specific surface area of ARPCs, resulting in compressive strength as high as 3.93 MPa at an apparent porosity of 85.31 %, as well as the degradation of Congo red up to 75.35 % due to the Al 2 O 3 platelets facilitating the loading of TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bisphosphonate (BP) can treat osteoporosis and prevent osteoporotic fractures in clinical. However, the effect of BP on microstructure and mechanical properties of cortical and trabecular bone has been taken little attention, separately. Methods: In this study, BP was used to intervene in ovariectomized female SD rats. The femoral micro-CT images were used to measure the structural parameters and reconstruct the 3D models in volume of interest. The structural parameters of cortical and trabecular bone were measured, and the mechanical properties were predicted using micro-finite element analysis. Results: There was almost no significant difference in the morphological structure parameters and mechanical properties of cortical bone between normal, ovariectomized (sham-OVX) and BP intervention groups. However, BP could significantly improve bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular separation (Tb.SP) in inter-femoral condyles (IT) (sham-OVX vs. BP, p < 0.001), and had no significant effect on BV/TV in medial and lateral femoral condyles (MT, LT). Similarly, BPs could significantly affect the effective modulus in IT (sham-OVX vs. BP, p < 0.001), and had no significant difference in MT and LT. In addition, the structural parameters and effective modulus showed a good linear correlation. Conclusion: In a short time, the effects of BP intervention and osteoporosis on cortical bone were not obvious. The effects of BP on trabecular bone in non-main weight-bearing area (IT) were valuable, while for osteoporosis, the main weight-bearing area (MT, LT) may improve the structural quality and mechanical strength of trabecular bone through exercise compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of Neogene volcanism in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula produced a series of volcanic structures in the form of stratovolcanoes and calderas; however, other materials also accumulated such as large amounts of pyroclastic materials such as cinerites, ashes, and lapilli, which were later altered to form deposits of zeolites and bentonites. This work has focused on an area located on the northern flank of the San José-Los Escullos zeolite deposit, the only one of its kind with industrial capacity in Spain. The main objective of this research is to characterize the zeolite (SZ) of this new area from the mineral, chemical, and technical points of view and establish its possible use as a natural pozzolan. In the first stage, a study of the mineralogical and chemical composition of the selected samples was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); in the second stage, chemical-qualitative and pozzolanicity technical tests were carried out at 8 and 15 days. In addition, a chemical analysis was performed using XRF on the specimens of mortars made with a standardized mixture of Portland cement (PC: 75%) and natural zeolite (SZ: 25%) at the ages of 7, 28, and 90 days. The results of the mineralogical analyses indicated that the samples are made up mainly of mordenite and subordinately by smectite, plagioclase, quartz, halloysite, illite, and muscovite. Qualitative chemical assays indicated a high percentage of reactive silica and reactive CaO and also negligible contents of insoluble residues. The results of the pozzolanicity test indicate that all the samples analyzed behave like natural pozzolans of good quality, increasing their pozzolanic reactivity from 8 to 15 days of testing. Chemical analyses of PC/SZ composite mortar specimens showed how a significant part of SiO2 and Al2O3 are released by zeolite while it absorbs a large part of the SO3 contained in the cement. The results presented in this research could be of great practical and scientific importance as they indicate the continuation of zeolitic mineralization beyond the limits of the San José-Los Escullos deposit, which would result in an increase in geological reserves and the extension of the useful life of the deposit, which is of vital importance to the local mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica fume (SF) is an essential component in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) to compact the matrix, but the nucleus effect also causes rapid hydration, which results in high heat release and large shrinkage. In this paper, the carboxylic agents, including polyacrylic acid and polycarboxylate superplasticizer, were used to surface modify SF to adjust the activity to mitigate hydration at an early time and to promote continuous hydration for a long period. The surface and dispersion properties of modified SF (MSF), as well as the strength and pore structure of UHPC, were studied, and the stability of the modification was also investigated. The results demonstrated that, after treatment, the carboxylic groups were grafted on the SF surface, the dispersion of SF was improved due to the increased negative pentanal of the particle surface and the steric hindrance effect, the early hydration was delayed about 3–5 h, and the hydration heat release was also mitigated. The compressive strength of UHPC with MSF reached a maximum of 138.7 MPa at 3 days, which decreased about 3.7% more than the plain group, while flexural strength varied insignificantly. More pores and cracks were observed in the matrix with MSF, and the hydration degree was promoted with MSF addition. The grafted group on SF fell off under an alkali environment after 1 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the feasibility of improving some selected mechanical strengths and the inner-structural analyses of cement matrix by electrospun nanofibers containing nylon 66, nanosilica, and carbon nanotube. The hybrid electrospun nanofibers were fabricated and mixed into ordinary Portland cement. From the mechanical strength test results, the hybrid nanofibers have shown their role in improving the tensile, compressive, and toughness behavior of the mixed cement material. The improvements of 62%, 38%, and 69%, respectively, were observed compared to those of the control paste. The novelty of the surface and inner structure of the hybrid fibers, as well as the modified cement matrix, were observed by the scanned images from electron microscopes. Besides, the additional pozzolanic reaction between the generated calcium hydroxide and the attached silica was clarified thanks to the results of energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Finally, the consistency between mechanical strength results and inner-structure analyses showed the potential of the proposed fiber to improve cement-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adapting the mechanical strength between the implant materials and the brain tissue is crucial for the postoperative treatment of glioblastoma. However, no related study has been reported. Herein, we report an injectable lipoic acid‑iron (LA-Fe) hydrogel (LFH) that can adapt to the mechanical strength of various brain tissues, including human brain tissue, by coordinating Fe3+ into a hybrid hydrogel of LA and its sodium salt (LANa). When LFH, which matches the mechanical properties of mouse brain tissue (337 ± 8.06 Pa), was injected into the brain resection cavity, the water content of the brain tissue was maintained at a normal level (77%). Similarly, LFH did not induce the activation or hypertrophy of glial astrocytes, effectively preventing brain edema and scar hyperplasia. Notably, LFH spontaneously degrades in the interstitial fluid, releasing LA and Fe3+ into tumor cells. The redox couples LA/DHLA (dihydrolipoic acid, reduction form of LA in cells) and Fe3+/Fe2+ would regenerate each other to continuously provide ROS to induce ferroptosis and activate immunogenic cell death. As loaded the anti-PDL1, anti-PDL1@LFH further enhanced the efficacy of tumor-immunotherapy and promoted tumor ferroptosis. The injectable hydrogel that adapted the mechanical strength of tissues shed a new light for the tumor postoperative treatment. TOC Graph: The first injectable hydrogel that can adapt the mechanical strength of different brain tissues including human brain has been developed for the GBM postoperative treatment without the involvement of anti-tumor drugs by coordinating Fe3+ into the hybrid hydrogel of B vitamin lipoic acid (LA) and its sodium salt (LANa). [Display omitted] • By coordinating Fe3+ into the hybrid hydrogel of lipoic acid (LA) and its sodium salt (LANa) formed an injectable hydrogel. • The LA-Fe hydrogel (LFH) can adapt the mechanical strength of multiple brain tissues including human brain. • The LFH circumvented the foreign body reaction caused by material implantation, and effectively inhibited tumor recurrence. • As loaded the anti-PDL1, anti-PDL1@LFH further enhanced the tumor-immunotherapy efficacy and promoted the tumor ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in wound dressings increased ten years ago. Wound care practitioners can now use interactive/bioactive dressings and tissue-engineered skin substitutes. Several bandages can heal burns, but none can treat all chronic wounds. This study formulates a composite material from 70% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 30% polyethylene glycol (PEG) with 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 wt% magnesium oxide nanoparticles. This study aims to create a biodegradable wound dressing. A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) study shows that PVA, PEG, and MgO create hydrogen bonding interactions. Hydrophilic characteristics are shown by the polymeric blend's 56.289° contact angle. MgO also lowers the contact angle, making the film more hydrophilic. Hydrophilicity improves film biocompatibility, live cell adhesion, wound healing, and wound dressing degradability. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) findings suggest the PVA/PEG combination melted at 53.16 °C. However, adding different weight fractions of MgO nanoparticles increased the nanocomposite's melting temperature (Tm). These nanoparticles improve the film's thermal stability, increasing Tm. In addition, MgO nanoparticles in the polymer blend increased tensile strength and elastic modulus. This is due to the blend's strong adherence to the reinforcing phase and MgO nanoparticles' ceramic material which has a great mechanical strength. The combination of 70% PVA + 30% PEG exhibited good antibacterial spatially at 0.2% MgO, according to antibacterial test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the possibility of utilising coarse recycled concrete aggregate (CRCA) obtained from a construction and demolition waste (CDW) plant in Delhi to make 60 MPa self-compacted concrete (SCC) was evaluated. The CRCA was used in as-collected condition and was not processed any further. The aggregate packing (bulk) density (APD) method was adopted to prepare the SCC-CRCA mixture in order to obtain an aggregate mixture exhibiting maximum bulk density/least void content (45%). In addition, SCC was made using aggregate mixtures in which the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) was replaced with CRCA at 0%, 20% and 100% of the total coarse aggregate content by weight. The cement, fly ash, silica fume and water were kept constant for all SCC mixtures. The effects of CRCA on the flow behaviour, mechanical strength, shrinkage characteristics and microstructure properties of SCC mixtures were evaluated. The test results indicated that SCC mixtures made with up to 45% CRCA replacement can be used for structural concrete, which is higher than that recommended in Indian (20%) and international specifications (35%) for traditionally vibrated (conventional) concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum (PG) is an industrial solid waste generated during the preparation of phosphoric acid, which is produced in large quantities and stockpiled or discharged into the sea. This study aims to design sustainable pavement base materials constituting significant PG content. The physical and chemical properties of the raw materials were first tested. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of specimens were determined by compaction tests. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), split tensile strength (STS), freeze-thaw cycles, and shrinkage tests were used to evaluate the mechanical performance of phosphogypsum pavement base material (PPBM). Furthermore, the interaction mechanism was investigated by applying scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) tests. The results showed that the 7-day UCS of PPBM with cement content 8%–12% was greater than 3 MPa. The specimens retained 91.3% unconfined compressive strength over five freeze-thaw cycles. Unlike traditional semirigid base materials, the PPBM exhibited no shrinkage strain, which is manifested by the growth of expansion strain with increasing amounts of PG. Through microscopic observation, the PPBM produced ettringite (AFt) and calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) with the extension of curing time, which is consistent with the analysis of FTIR spectrums. The crystallized water in the PG participates in the hydration reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For marine soft soil under the periodic wave loading, the pore water content in soil suffering dry-wet cycle for a long time, which affects its microstructure and macroscopic mechanical strength, resulting in insufficient bearing capacity and excessive deformation of soft soil. To reveal the microstructural characteristics and strength attenuation law of marine soft soil under dry-wet cycle condition, electron microscopy scanning and direct shear tests under different times of dry-wet cycles were carried out, and the mathematical equations of pore structure and strength parameters were established based on fractal theory. The research results showed that: (1) The pore structure changed considerably after the first dry-wet cycle, and then changed gently with the increase of dry-wet cycle times, which was reflected by the fractal dimension D value decreases to a constant value gradually. (2) The shear strength of the soil diminishes with an increase in the number of dry-wet cycle times, and the maximum attenuation occurs after the first dry-wet cycle. (3) The relationship between cohesion (c), internal friction angle (φ), and fractal dimension (D) is exponential, with the curve shapes being concave and convex, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the year, garbage from industry establishments' everyday operations included several different sorts. For instance, among the most prevalent industrial wastes formed in India is sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). This study's main goal is to examine the possibilities for using SCBA in burnt clay bricks. Using mechanical and thermal characteristics, the impact of SCBA and ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticle additions to the brick production clay has been studied. To achieve this, combinations of brick-making clay containing 15 wt% SCBA and different weight portions of Ru nanoparticles (by 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7%) were hydraulically uniaxially squeezed and sintered at 1000 ℃. Compressive strength, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a water absorption test were among the mechanical and thermal parameters that were assessed and contrasted. Using a scanning electron microscope, the microstructure of the specimen's interfacial layer was also investigated. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy is used to examine the novel nano clay brick's chemical structure. A clay brick with up to 5 wt% Ru nanoparticles has greater compressive strength (32.6 MPa maximum) and thermal strength (8.8% wt loss) than a brick with 0 wt% (24.8 MPa and 31% wt loss), according to experimental results. However, the compressive and thermal strengths were decreased for 7% Ru nanoparticles brick (30.2 MPa and 9.1% wt loss). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Alkali activation process has been applied to fresh river clay-rich sediments in order to increase their mechanical properties and make them suitable for soil stabilization. Materials and methods: Dredged sediments were mixed with up to 30 mass percent (ma%) of fly ash (FA) or ladle slag (LS) and after curing for 3 days at 60 °C, the bending and compressive strength have been determined. The mixtures which exhibited the highest strengths were further optimized for being used in soil stabilization. For this purpose, the sediment was stabilized with 4 ma% of quicklime (QL) and after 1 h 30 ma% of FA with alkali activator was added and cured for 1, 7 and 28 days. Results: The stabilized sediment has a significantely better geomechanical performance in comparison with the sediment alone. Stabilizing the dredged sediment using alkali activation technology provides high enough strengths to eventually make it suitable for anti-flood embankments. Conclusions: The results confirmed the suitability of the investigated technology for soil stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic characteristics of tungsten slag produced in the production of ammonium para tungstate (APT) and its ground tungsten slag powder were investigated. The mechanical strength characteristics and development of cement-solidified tungsten slag cementation system with raw tungsten slag mixed artificial sand as fine aggregate were discussed by cement solidification/stabilization method. The harmful metal content and leaching concentration of tungsten slag and its cement-solidified cementation system were compared. The test results show that the particle-size distribution of ground tungsten slag presents a more uniform characteristic. When the content of the ground tungsten slag is more than 30% as admixture, the strength ratio does not meet the requirements of the specification. In addition, when the raw tungsten slag be used partly as fine aggregate, the mechanical strength of cement-solidified tungsten slag cementation system is fine. Moreover, the cement solidification/stabilization technology can effectively reduce the leaching concentration of arsenic in tungsten slag. The mechanism of solidification/stabilization of arsenic by Portland cement includes adsorption and precipitate to form calcified arsenic insoluble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) is a biodegradable copolymer and widely used in pharmaceuticals. Commercially available PLGAs are produced through ring‐opening polymerization, which results in inevitable dispersity in molecular weight and chemical composition (i.e., lactide‐to‐glycolide ratio), influencing bulk properties such as degradation, mechanics, and morphology. In this study, an automated chromatographic separation technique was employed to generate a series of well‐defined, low‐dispersity fractionated PLGAs from a single commercially available PLGA (lactide‐to‐glycolide ratio = 50:50). The structural and compositional dependence of properties for pharmaceutical applications in the form of nanofibers and nanoparticles were systematically investigated. The properties of new PLGAs by further separation were significantly dependent on composition. The molecular weight ranges were reduced, while the morphology of nanofibers and nanoparticles became more uniform. Importantly, the stability, mechanical strength, and drug loading increased, and the period of sustained release profile also increased. In brief, our data show that the automated chromatographic separation technique allows for precise control of the molecular weight and lactide‐to‐glycolide composition ratio of PLGA, in contrast to the traditional method. The use of well‐defined and fractionated new PLGA materials holds significant promise for enhancing the potential of PLGA in future pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of biofiber in recent years has significantly increased due to its advantages like being environmentally friendly, availability, and low costs. This paper investigates the physicochemical, mechanical, and morphological properties of the yucca fiber extracted by three methods such as water‐retting, traditional, and chemical methods. These analyses are designed to evaluate the extraction methodology and the hypothesis of the influence of harvesting location and growth conditions of the fiber. Various technologies are used, such as SEM, FTIR, XRD, and tensile tests. The fiber extracted by water retting is the strongest in the mechanical analysis with a strength of 690.48 MPa, followed by fiber extracted with the traditional method with 685.48 MPa, also 673.06, 657.94, 373.68 MPa for the fiber extracted by the chemical method using 3%, 5%, 10%NaOH respectively. The fiber obtained by the water retting method also has a higher chemical composition with 80.25% cellulose, 10.45% lignin, and 13.75% hemicellulose. The morphological characteristics are examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The crystallinity index ranged from 61.75% to 70.77%, and crystallite size from 1.73 to 2.04 nm is calculated from the XRD analysis. All these results confirm that yucca fiber can be a good sustainable choice for composite reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the use of solid waste in concrete production and solve the problem of secondary pollution caused by a large amount of solid waste, the four-factor and four-level orthogonal test method was used to investigate the different replacement rates of coal gangue (CG) ceramics (15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%), coal gangue ceramic sand (CGS) (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%), fly ash (FA) (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%), and steel fiber (SF) content (0.30%, 0.60%, 0.90%, and 1.2). By using range analysis, variance analysis, matrix analysis, and regression analysis, the prediction models of primary and secondary factors, optimal dosage, and strength under different factor levels were obtained. The microstructure and strengthening mechanisms of different materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the optimal combination of the CG substitution rate is 30%, CGS substitution rate is 15%, SF content is 1.2%, and FA substitution rate is 10% for cube compressive strength. For the splitting tensile strength, the optimal combination is a CG substitution rate of 30%, CGS substitution rate of 25%, SF content of 1.2%, and FA substitution rate of 10%. The resulting strength prediction model has high accuracy, which can predict the strength within the range selected by the orthogonal test in this paper and provide a reference for the application of steel fibers and solid waste in concrete, which contributes to the energy conservation and emission reduction in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are among the most promising candidates for solid‐state batteries due to their easy processibility, interface compatibility, and cost efficiency. However, the trade‐off between the ionic conductivity and mechanical strength of SPEs, which has persisted for decades, hinders their application in solid‐state lithium (Li) metal batteries. In this study, the aim is to break this trade‐off by utilizing poly(p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) nanofibers as a mechanically strong backbone and polyethylene oxide (PEO) as an ionically conductive network. The PBO/PEO composite electrolyte reduces the crystallinity of PEO while increasing the mechanical strength (74.4 MPa, ≈14 times that of PEO). Thus, PBO/PEO simultaneously improves ionic conductivity and mechanical strength both at room temperature and elevated temperatures, enabling uniform and smooth Li deposition. Thus, a long cycle life of solid‐state Li symmetric cells for 1000 h at 60 °C is achieved, and stable cycling of solid‐state Li metal full batteries at 60 °C and even 100 °C. Furthermore, the solid‐state pouch cell using this SPE exhibits excellent performance reliably after bending. The study clearly indicates that simultaneously improving mechanical properties and conductivity is the indispensable path to the practical application of solid‐state electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irreversible deterioration of electrochemical performance in Ni‐rich cathode materials, attributed to crack propagation and undesired side reactions, poses a critical barrier to the further development of high‐energy power batteries for electrical vehicles (EVs). Herein, a concentration gradient strategy is proposed for synthesizing a Ni‐rich cathode with enhanced mechanical and electrochemical stability to address the issues related to the irreversible structural deterioration. Notably, the concentration gradient structure contributes to superior mechanical strength in secondary particles due to the radially orientated primary particles resulted from Mn composition grading, which effectively alleviate the internal strain caused by structural changes and fatigue destruction during successive cycling. Moreover, the Mn‐rich surface minimizes the parasitic side reactions at the electrode–electrolyte interface. Benefitting from the above, the concentration gradient sample can deliver ≈180.1 mA h g−1 at 1 C and retain 96.2% of its initial discharge capacity after 100 cycles. This work demonstrates that the concentration gradient structure can simultaneously improve the mechanical and chemical stabilities of Ni‐rich cathode and offers a feasible way for designing stable lithium‐ion batteries with high energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Poly(vinyl alcohol)/cellulose nanofiber (PVA/CNF) hydrogels have been successfully prepared using γ-ray irradiation, annealing, and rehydration processes. In addition, the effects of CNF content and annealing methods on the hydrogel properties, including gel fraction, micromorphology, crystallinity, swelling behavior, and tensile and friction properties, are investigated. Consequently, the results show that at an absorbed dose of 30 kGy, the increase in CNF content increases the gel fraction, tensile strength, and elongation at break of irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels, but decreases the water absorption. In addition, the cross-linking density of the PVA/CNF hydrogels is significantly increased at an annealing temperature of 80 °C, which leads to the transition of the cross-sectional micromorphology from porous networks to smooth planes. For the PVA/CNF hydrogel with a CNF content of 0.6%, the crystallinity increases from 19.9% to 25.8% after tensile annealing of 30% compared to the original composite hydrogel. The tensile strength is substantially increased from 65.5 kPa to 21.2 MPa, and the modulus of elasticity reaches 4.2 MPa. Furthermore, it shows an extremely low coefficient of friction (0.075), which suggests that it has the potential to be applied as a material for artificial joint cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of zinc (Zn) metal as an anode in aqueous batteries offers an eco‐friendly and cost‐effective energy storage solution. However, Zn dendrite formation severely restricts the cycle life of the battery toward practical application. Herein, a commercially hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane is demonstrated as a separator to significantly extend the cycle life of the Zn metal anode. In contrast with the conventional fragile glass fiber separator, a wetted PTFE separator exhibited high mechanical strength (stress of 34.3 MPa at 41.4% strain) and favorable hydrophilicity, which both efficiently suppress dendrite growth. The uniform and robust pore structures are proven to facilitate a homogeneous Zn2+ ion flux and a high transfer number of Zn2+ (0.81), which has guaranteed reversible Zn plating/stripping. As a proof of concept, the PTFE separator extended the cycle life considerably to over 3000 h and promoted a Zn plating/stripping efficiency of 99.5% in the unmodified 2 m ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte. This advancement underscores the significant potential of the PTFE separator for enhancement of the cycling durability of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutting-edge materials have changed medical device and implant manufacturing. The processing of these materials affects their mechanical, physical, and biological properties, impeding integration. This study looks at different ways to process healthcare materials, focusing on the specific needs of these materials, such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, stability, and bioactivity. It divides these methods into "ordinary" and "edge-cutting." Each technique's benefits, shortcomings, and current innovations, as well as its effects on the material, are also examined. This study also examines how process parameters affect product quality. To incorporate comprehensive review methods, the selected literature for the current study is evaluated according to the study's goals. The assessment emphasizes quality assurance and regulatory compliance throughout healthcare product production. It stresses the need for quality assurance, characterization, and testing for medical devices and implants. Processes such as polishing, etching, and coatings improve biocompatibility and reduce infection risk, according to the findings. It is also concluded that cutting-edge processing methods such as additive manufacturing and electrospinning provide exact control over material composition, structure, and porosity, making them ideal for many clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost and high-performance materials or techniques that could synergistically remove phenanthrene (PHE) in a simple manner were highly desired. Herein, we reported an alkali-activated slag (AAS) that proved applicable in both construction and environmental protection efforts. AAS was synthesized by mixing ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and an alkaline solution. The prepared AAS mortar achieved the highest mechanical strength when using an alkaline activator with a Na2O concentration of 8% by slag weight. Moreover, AAS exhibited excellent sorption performance towards PHE, with the highest sorption performance reaching 44.0 mg/g, which was much higher than that of GGBFS. Sorption of PHE reached equilibrium within approximately 120 h and fit well with the pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the primary sorption mechanisms for PHE on AAS were attributed to cation-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and flocculation. The strategy of using AAS not only met the requirements for high-performance and low-cost materials but also addressed the challenging issues of developing an all-in-one treatment for PHE pollutants, which was of great significance to wastewater purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is popular because of its low cost, biodegradability, good processing properties, flexibility, and mechanical features. In this study, we explore the potential of PBAT‐based bioplastics by adding AgVO3 nanorods with PBAT to reduce costs. We produced nanocomposite films of PBAT reinforced with 1, 3, and 5 wt% of AgVO3 nanorods using solvent casting. The inclusion of AgVO3 in the structure of PBAT was investigated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The nanocomposite films demonstrate excellent properties, surpassing those of single‐component blends, enhancing mechanical properties, and improving the barrier properties of nanocomposite films. The water vapor transmission rate of AgVO3 reinforced (5 wt%) nanocomposite films improved by 42.45% compared to pure PBAT films. The tensile strength of the PBA‐3 film was 37.19 MPa, exhibiting higher strength than the films produced from clean PBAT (19.73 MPa). The AgVO3‐reinforced films demonstrated increased resistance to moisture and water, as indicated by their higher water contact angle values (88.04°). Food‐borne bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli have been stable to the antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites on the addition of AgVO3.The potential applications of these nanocomposite films in food packaging are promising, offering a sustainable and effective solution to food preservation. The AgVO3‐filled poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) nanocomposite films exhibit superior mechanical, barrier, and resistance to moisture and water compared to neat PBAT films. The water vapor transmission rate of the film is significantly enhanced, with a 42.45% enhancement in films reinforced with 5 wt% AgVO3. AgVO3‐filled PBAT nanocomposites demonstrate effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic Acid (PLA) comes from renewable resources, has a reasonable biodegradability rate, and is used in biomedical, food packaging, textiles, and agricultural applications. PLA offers high mechanical strength and the ability to compost, similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon. However, the brittleness of PLA has always limited its usage. Therefore, bio-based plasticizers in the biopolymer matrices can increase flexibility (elasticity), durability, and workability. This study aims to determine the optimal blending ratio for the PLA blended with epoxidized waste cooking oil (EWCO) to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA/EWCO. The mechanical strength test consists of the hardness test (N/mm2), flexural strength (MPa), and impact energy (kJ/m2) adopted to evaluate the plasticizing characteristics. The thermal stability analysis involves glass transition temperature (Tg) (°C), cold-crystallization temperature (Tcc) (°C) and melting temperature (Tm) (°C). The blending ratio is 97.5PLA/2.5EWCO, 95PLA/5EWCO, 92.5PLA/7.5EWCO and 90PLA/10EWCO. As a result, 97.5:2.5 of PLA/EWCO reduces intermolecular interactions by stimulating more free volume in biopolymer chains' mobility and enhancing the flexibility and elasticity of the PLA blends. Ultimately, the brittleness of PLA decreased with increasing EWCO bio-based plasticizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate composition of wastewater impedes the recycling of agricultural and industrial effluents. This study aims to investigate the potential of sisal leaf wastewater (SLW), both water-treated (WTSLW) and alkali-treated (ATSLW), as a substitute for the alkali activator (NaOH solution) in the production of slag-powder- and fly-ash-based composites, with a focus on the effects of WTSLW substitution ratios and sisal leaf soaking durations. Initially, the fresh properties were assessed including electrical conductivity and fluidity. A further analysis was conducted on the influence of both WTSLW and ATSLW on drying shrinkage, density, and mechanical strength, including flexural and compressive measures. Microstructural features were characterized using SEM and CT imaging, while XRD patterns and FTIR spectra were employed to dissect the influence of WTSLW substitution on the composite's products. The results show that incorporating 14 wt% WTSLW into the composite enhances 90-day flexural and compressive strengths by 34.8% and 13.2%, respectively, while WTSLW curtails drying shrinkage. Conversely, ATSLW increases porosity and decreases density. Organic constituents in both WTSLW and ATSLW encapsulated in the alkaline matrix fail to modify the composites' chemical composition. These outcomes underscore the potential for sustainable construction materials through the integrated recycling of plant wastewater and solid by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the raw materials of basic magnesium sulfate cement (BMSC), the activity of light-burned magnesium oxide (MgO) has an important effect on the hydration rate, hydration products, and mechanical properties of BMSC. To reveal the influence of packaging method, storage environment, and storage time on the activity of MgO and the mechanical properties of BMSC, an experiment was conducted by using ordinary woven bags, peritoneal woven bags, and plastic and paper compound bags to store the finished BMSC and the raw materials (light-burned MgO, MgSO4·7H2O, fly ash, and a chemical additive) under the conditions of natural environment, sealed environment, and wet environment, respectively. Comparative analysis of the effects of packaging method, storage conditions, and storage time on the activity of MgO and the mechanical properties of BMSC was performed through the mechanical strength test of mortar specimens. The results showed that in a sealed environment, the loss of a-MgO content in light-burned MgO was minimized, which was more conducive to keeping the mechanical properties of BMSC stable. In the wet environment, the mechanical strength of BMSC was significantly reduced in the early stage (1 day) due to the significant reduction in the activity of MgO, and the mechanical strength of the finished BMSC and prepared BMSC after 120 days of storage was still lost, regardless of the packaging method. However, the storage environment and packaging method had relatively little effect on the late mechanical strength (28 days) of BMSC. It is advisable to use ordinary woven bags for packaging in natural and sealed environments as this is more economical for engineering applications. Plastic and paper compound bags are superior to ordinary woven bags and peritoneal woven bags in wet environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new method of reusing uncalcined coal gangue (UCG) as a mineral admixture in magnesium ammonium phosphate cement (MAPC) blended with fly ash (FA). The effects of UCG on setting time, workability, hydration heat release, mechanical properties, hydration products, and microstructure of MAPC composites were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the addition of UCG decreased the maximum hydration temperature and extended the setting time of MAPC composites. The compressive strength of MAPC was improved by introducing an optimal amount of UCG. The XRD results showed no new crystal phase in UCG-0 (with 20% FA and 0% UCG) and some secondary hydration products, such as berlinite and lizardite, were observed in MAPC with UCG. The addition of UCG was found to inhibit the generation of dittmarite and promote the development of struvite. Results showed that differences in the crystal morphology of struvite and dittmarite influence the compressive strength of MAPC composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new method involving a wear-resistant and reusable template is proposed for the preparation of high-mechanical-strength superhydrophobic polymer film based on wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). A solid−liquid-contact-angle simulation model was established to obtain surface-texture types and sizes that may achieve superhydrophobicity. The experimental results from template preparation show that there is good agreement between the simulation and experimental results for the contact angle. The maximum contact angle on the template can reach 155.3° given the appropriate triangular surface texture and WEDM rough machining. Besides, the prepared superhydrophobic template exhibits good wear resistance and reusability. PDMS superhydrophobic polymer films were prepared by the template method, and their properties were tested. The experimental results from the preparation of superhydrophobic polymer films show that the maximum contact angle of the polymer films can be up to 154.8° and that these films have good self-cleaning and anti-icing properties, wear resistance, bending resistance, and ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative melt processing technology is necessary for the production of biodegradable polylactide/graphene nanocomposites. In this paper, we present the aqueous spray coating method to prepare graphene-coated polylactide granules for improving the distribution of small graphene contents in polymer matrix during the melt mixing process. Three types of functionalized graphene nanosheets, including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and poly(ethylene glycol)/RGO (PEG/RGO), were investigated in the formations of graphene coatings on polylactide granules and subsequent melt-processed nanocomposites. It is found that RGO nanosheets have good interfacial compatibility to form better coatings on polylactide granules. Melt processing of graphene-coated granules produced polylactide/graphene nanocomposites with higher mechanical strengths. Nanocomposite materials containing 0.1% RGO showed the best improvements of mechanical and thermal properties. As-prepared nanomaterials and nanocomposites were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), tensile, flexural and impact measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and integrated thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA). In general, the innovative strategy of aqueous spray coating and melt processing is applicable for manufacturing biodegradable PLA/graphene nanocomposites in the sustainable trend of environmentally friendly development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of the δ phase and annealing twins on the hardness, tensile properties, and Charpy impact toughness of Inconel 718 fabricated using L-PBF were investigated. The as-printed components underwent two stages of heat treatment to modify their microstructure and phases. The δ phase was induced through solid-solution heat treatment at 980 °C for 1 h, while annealing twins were formed at 1100 °C for 3 h. Following precipitation hardening, specimens containing δ precipitates exhibited a higher ultimate tensile strength (13%), yield strength (27%), and hardness (12%) compared to those rich in annealing twins. The enhanced mechanical strength was attributed to the presence of δ precipitates and differences in the extent of recrystallization, leading to variations in the density of retained lattice defects, including subgrain boundaries and primary phases. Conversely, specimens with annealing twins demonstrated a significantly higher impact toughness (four times) and ductility (twice) than those with δ precipitates. Annealing twins were found to enhance plasticity by impeding dislocation movement, while δ precipitates reduced plasticity by acting as sites for void formation and crack propagation. Microstructural, compositional, phase, crystallographic, and fractographic analyses were conducted using OM, SEM, TEM, and XRD techniques to identify the factors influencing the observed differences. The results indicate that the heat treatment approach involving annealing twins can effectively enhance the ductility of Inconel 718 while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels with high mechanical properties and excellent adsorption capacity are expected in wastewater treatment. Herein, 3D porous hydrogels were prepared by free radical copolymerization using carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) grafted with N, S atom doped carbon quantum dots (N, S-CDs) and 1-Allyl-2-thiourea. N, S-CDs introduced in the hydrogel can uniformly disperse and increase the adsorption site of Hg(II) by grafting method. Meanwhile, the good mechanical strength of N, S-CDs is beneficial to improve the hydrogel mechanical properties. The experimental results show that the 3D porous hydrogel has great swelling properties (SR = 875.22 g/g) and mechanical properties (elastic modulus = 86.77 MPa). Moreover, compared with the hydrogel without N, S-CDs, the 3D porous hydrogel has an excellent Hg(II) adsorption capacity (943.77 mg/g). In addition, the 3D porous hydrogel has outstanding regeneration performance. The adsorption capacity accounts for 94.6% of the first adsorption capacity after 5 cycles. Therefore, the 3D porous hydrogels are considered as a promising adsorbent for the hazardous Hg(II) absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of nonlinear optical crystals has emerged as a rapidly developing field. Inorganic, organic and semi-organic materials are attracting a great deal of attention in the field of nonlinear optics. In the present study, triglycine formate (TGF) crystals and magnesium chloride-added triglycine formate crystals were grown by the slow evaporation method. The elements present in the grown TGF crystals were identified by a CHNS analyser. The entry of metal ions into the TGF crystal was confirmed by an EDAX analyser. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of the grown crystals showed the presence of all the expected functional groups, which were not altered due to the entry of the dopant. Power X-ray diffraction of all the grown crystals revealed that the monoclinic structure and lattice constant varied with increasing dopant concentration. Optical studies were carried out by utilizing UV-visible and photoluminescence spectra to determine the potential applications. The mechanical strength of these crystals was studied using Vickers microhardness tester, and the crystals were found to be soft materials. Electrical properties such as the dielectric constant and dielectric loss were determined as a function of frequency at different temperatures using an LCR meter. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the grown crystals decreased with increasing frequency and increasing temperature. All the grown crystals have good second harmonic generation efficiency and are better for nonlinear optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because inferior mechanical strength of granite polymer composite (GPC) has become the main drawback limiting its application and popularization, Mo fibers were added into (GPC) to improve its mechanical strength. Mechanical properties of matrix materials with different mass ratio of resin and stabilizer (MRRS) were investigated systematically. The influences of MRRS on interface bonding strength of Mo fiber-matrix, wettability and mechanical strength of GPC were discussed, respectively, and the theoretical calculation result of MRRS k was obtained, with the optimal value of k=4. When k=4, tensile strength, tensile strain and fracture stress of the cured resin achieve the maximum values. But for k=7, the corresponding values reach the minimum. With the increase of MRRS k, surface free energy of the cured resin first increases and then decreases, while contact angles between Mo sample and matrix have displayed the opposite trend. Wettability of resin to Mo fiber is the best at k=4. Pulling load of Mo fiber and interface bonding strength appear the maximum at k=4, followed by k=5, k=3 the third, and k=7 the minimum. When k=4, mechanical properties of Mo fiber-reinforced GPC are optimal, which is consistent with the result of theoretical calculation. This study is of great significance to get better component formulas of Mo fiber reinforced GPC and to improve its application in machine tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most critical issues for civil engineers is the presence of dispersive clay in geotechnical projects. Furthermore, treating problematic soils with mineral materials has recently been proven to be a practical option from economic and environmental points of view. In this research, the behavior of wollastonite powder composed of calcium silicate (CaOSiO3) as an environmentally friendly stabilizer, was investigated concerning the engineering properties of a dispersive clay soil. At the beginning, the physical and chemical properties of the soil sample were determined and subsequently, several physical and mechanical tests were performed on the samples of clay modified by the additives with different curing periods. The results demonstrate that as the additive content increased to 10%, the liquid limit, plasticity index, and swelling percentage decreased by 9.6%, 41.4%, and 43.72%, respectively. The UCS and CBR values of wollastonite-treated soils grew up by 314% and 241%, respectively. Research has uncovered that when the wollastonite content mixes up to 8%, the friction angle and cohesion are in their highest value, and the final void ratio is the lowest. SEM analysis of treated soils show that during this process, the dispersive structure of the soil changes to a more flocculated structure, which considerably improves the clay dispersive qualities. As the final result, it can be mentioned that wollastonite powder can be considered as an effective additive for treatment of dispersive soil because of boosting stability, reducing costs, and improving strength and properties of such materials.Article Highlights: Increasing wollastonite content in dispersive soil improves stability, dry density and strength, making it an effective additive for construction. As an optimal dosage, utilization of 8% wollastonite leads in minimizing soil dispersion and swelling. Mixing wollastonite with clayey soil results in significant increase of friction angle, cohesion, and maximum shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrashort pulsed (USP) laser microwelding of sapphire/lnvar36 alloy controlled by the surface roughness of metal was investigated for the first time. The surface roughness (Sa) of Invar alloys gradually decreased from 0.944 to 0.029 μm from the prime surface to grounded and polished surface. However, the joint shear strength first increased and then decreased with the lowered Sa, the maximum shear strength reached 107.87 MPa at the Sa ∼ 0.131 μm. Compared to other surfaces with low Sa, the relatively high surface roughness enhanced the interfacial thermal deposition both spatially and temporally which in turn promoted the diffusion of interface elements and the formation of jagged mechanical interlocking structures. Therefore, the appropriate rough metal surface was beneficial for the enhancement of sapphire/metal dissimilar joints. This report is of great significance in simplifying the surface preparation process in the USP laser microwelding of transparent hard and brittle materials with metals, therefore promoting this technique from lab to industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐based solid‐state batteries hold great promise as the next‐generation batteries with high energy density and high safety. However, PEO‐based electrolytes encounter certain limitations, including inferior ionic conductivity, low Li+ transference number, and poor mechanical strength. Herein, we aim to simultaneously address these issues by utilizing one‐dimensional zwitterionic cellulose nanofiber (ZCNF) as fillers for PEO‐based electrolytes using a simple aqueous solution casting method. Multiple characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the unique zwitterionic structure imparts ZCNF with various functions, such as disrupting PEO crystallization, dissociating lithium salts, anchoring anions through cationic groups, accelerating Li+ migration by anionic groups, as well as its inherent reinforcement effect. As a result, the prepared PL‐ZCNF electrolyte exhibits remarkable ionic conductivity (5.37×10−4 S cm−1) and Li+ transference number (0.62) at 60 °C without sacrificing mechanical strength (9.2 MPa), together with high critical current density of 1.1 mA cm−2. Attributed to these merits of PL‐ZCNF, the LiFePO4|PL‐ZCNF|Li solid‐state full‐cell delivers exceptional rate capability and cycling performance (900 cycles at 5 C). Notably, the assembled pouch‐cell can maintain steady operation over 1000 cycles with an impressive 93.7 % capacity retention at 0.5 C and 60 °C, highlighting the great potential of PL‐ZCNF for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandibular reconstructive surgery is necessary for large bone defects. Although various reconstruction methods have been performed clinically, there is no mandibular reconstruction method that meets both sufficient strength criteria and the patient's specific morphology. In this study, the material strength of the cylindrical lattice structures formed by electron-beam melting additive manufacturing using titanium alloy powder was investigated for mandibular reconstruction. The virtual strengths of 28 lattice structures were compared using numerical material tests with finite element method software. Subsequently, to compare the material properties of the selected structures from the preliminary tests, compression test, static bending test and fatigue test were conducted. The results showed that there were correlations with relative density and significant differences among the various structures when comparing internal stress with deformation, although there was a possibility of localized stress concentration and non-uniform stress distribution based on the lattice structure characteristics. These results suggest that the lattice structure of body diagonals with nodes and a cell size of 3.0 mm is a potential candidate for metallic artificial mandibles in mandibular reconstruction surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with analyzing the effect of silicon dioxide on mechanical and thermal stability of hybrid polymer composite. Compression molding is adopted to develop the hybrid composite with constant 0.5 wt.% of graphene and varying wt.% of silicon dioxide (2, 4 & 6 wt.%). Modified hummers method is used to synthesis graphene by chemical exfoliation of graphene from graphite flakes. Mechanical properties of developed composite is investigated using tensile, flexural, impact and interlaminar shear testing follow by fracture surface analysis of tested samples. Thermal stability is examined by thermogravimetric analysis and functional group confirmation is carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Investigation over mechanical properties of fabricated composite reveals that addition of silicon dioxide up to 4 wt.% depicted higher flexural and tensile strength. Increment in silicon dioxide percentage improves the toughness of composite. FTIR results confirms the presence of asymmetric stretching vibrations due the after effect of hybrid fillers. Thermogravimetric analysis results depict that incorporation silicon dioxide increases the activation of energy of matrix from ~ 24.2 to 31.5 kJ/mol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In actual production processes, pure ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foams have a high shrinkage rate, and the foaming matrix is prone to plastic deformation, even causing the collapse of bubbles. This limits the further application of EVA foams. In this study, we incorporated styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR) into EVA to improve the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of EVA composite foams without sacrificing their low-density characteristics of low density. We used a melting index meter, rotorless vulcanizing meter and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to characterize the changes in viscosity and energy storage modulus of the composite matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microscopic morphology of foams. The mechanical properties test results showed that the addition of SBR reduced the density of EVA/SBR/BR composite foams, and the addition of BR improved the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the foams. By combining the advantages of both, the density of products is comparable to pure EVA, the tensile strength and the compressive strength are increased by 11% and 6.3% relative to pure EVA, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of obtaining high-strength vitrified bricks based on loess by adding 20% of waste glass powder was established. At the same time, the amount of moisture in the material should be close to 10%, which corresponds to the dry-pressing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of metakaolin-based geopolymer reinforced with chamotte particles was investigated at room temperature and after exposure to high temperatures (600–1200 °C). The flexural strength and the appearance of the samples indicated the effective presence of chamotte particles as a reinforcement within the matrix of geopolymer. This was due to crack control in the composite and enhanced volume stability. The connection between chamotte particles and geopolymer binder boosted the flexural strength to 22.15 ± 1.37 MPa at room temperature. Heated composite samples at 800 °C showed improved mechanical performance of the thermally stable chamotte aggregates. However, leucite crystallization at 1000 °C caused volume instability and upon elevating temperature to 1200 °C, leucite peak intensity was more pronounced, which was responsible for the reduction of the strength in the composite. As a result, leucite phase formation in the matrix changed the connection behavior to the fragile state and the particles departed the matrix at high temperatures. The results of this research revealed good compatibility between the geopolymer matrix and chamotte particles for producing low-cost castable refractories up to 800 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibers crystallize and become brittle at high temperatures for a long time, so the surface coating must maintain long-lasting emission performance, which requires superior antioxidant properties of the high-emissivity fillers. To improve the radiation performance of the coating and the tensile strength of the fiber fabric, a double-layer coating with high emissivity was prepared on the surface of flexible aluminum silicate fiber fabric (ASFF) using MoSi2 and SiC as emissive agents. The incorporation of borosilicate glass into the outer coating during high-temperature oxidation of ZrB2 results in superior encapsulation of emitter particles, effectively filling the pores of the coating and significantly reducing the oxidation rate of MoSi2 and SiC. Furthermore, the addition of an intermediate ZrO2 layer enhances the fiber bundle's toughness. The obtained double-coated ASFF exhibits an exceptionally high tensile strength of 57.6 MPa and a high bond strength of 156.2 kPa. After being subjected to a 3 h heating process, the emissivity exhibits a minimal decrease of only 0.032, while still maintaining a high value above 0.9. The thermal insulation composites, consisting of a flexible ASFF matrix and a ZrB2-modified double-layer coating, exhibit significant potential for broad applications in the field of thermal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependency of 3D printing on thermoplastics releases volatile organic compounds and contributes to global microplastic pollution. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of hydro‐degradable starch‐based composite as a 3D printing material by considering its printability, hydro‐degradability, and strength. Starch is hydro degradable, however, it exhibits low strength thus attempts are made to improve the strength of the composite by starch coating and using lemongrass essential oil (LEO) as an additive. The result shows that 0.2 wt% of LEO increased the strength of starch/wood powder/glycerol/LEO (SWGL) composite by 55% and reduced the contact angle by ≈27° compared to the control. Starch coating increases the strength of the composite by filling up the voids in the structure and producing an integrated homogeneous surface. The SWGL composites exhibit good hydro degradability, especially under acidic conditions, due to the high‐water sorption rate and solubility. The printability of SWGL composites is good where the objects are printed as designed with the aid of a heating chamber. In conclusion, SWGL with 0.5wt% LEO is suitable for real‐life application as the 3D printing material for photo frames and souvenirs due to its good hydro degradability and moderate tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) viz., annealing, normalizing and quenching was assessed regarding its effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of pulsed Nd:YAG laser welded Hastelloy C-276/Monel 400 dissimilar sheets. The weld zone (WZ) microstructures of the different PWHT specimens exhibit finer dendrite grains along with Crrich carbides and Ni-rich oxide precipitates. The weld joints subjected to quenching attains near equal microhardness of the as-welded condition. During tensile testing, failures occurred in the WZ for quenched and normalized weld joints, whereas the Hastelloy C-276 fractured in annealed conditions, exhibiting ductile fracture mode. In corrosion studies the WZ of the weld joint subjected to annealing imparted superior corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight polymer composites promise incredible applications in aerospace, seaprobes, and medical apparatus. However, their performance is generally limited by a trade‐off between mechanical strength and toughness. Herein, a crystallinity mitigating strategy driven by highly aligned bamboo macrofibers embedded in a polycaprolactone polyol (PCL) matrix for producing ultrastrong and tough lightweight polymer composites is proposed. The embedded bamboo macrofibers have oxygen‐containing functional groups on the fiber surface, that can interact with functional groups (ester and hydroxyl groups) in the molecular chains of the PCL in the form of hydrogen bonds, thus preventing the aggregation of molecular chains and the crystallization of PCL, which ultimately leads to unprecedented toughness. Meanwhile, the bamboo macrofibres with intrinsically aligned microstructure, can enable effective stress transfer and dissipation, providing remarkable ultrahigh strength. As a result, the obtained lightweight polymer composite achieves ultrahigh mechanical strength (31.5 MPa) and superior toughness (21.7 MJ m−3) at an unprecedented low density (1.07 g cm−3), representing the state‐of‐the‐art in reported lightweight polymers. Such lightweight polymer composite has the potential to greatly expedite the practical realization of artificial medical materials, including orthopedic instruments and joint prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal activated coal gangue as an auxiliary cementing material to replace part of cement to prepare cement mortar, systematically studies the effects of different amounts of thermal activated coal gangue on the compressive strength and flexural strength of cement mortar, and the mechanism of thermal activation of coal gangue to enhance the mechanical strength of cement-based materials was explored. The results show that in the process of using thermally activated coal gangue to replace part of cement to pre-pare mortar, proper amount of thermally activated coal gangue has good pozzolanic effect and micro aggregate effect, which can promote the formation of cross-linked network C--S--H gel in mortar matrix, enhance the filling effect of pores in mortar matrix, improve the microstructure of mortar matrix, and then achieve the purpose of improving the mechanical strength of cement-based materials. When the amount of thermal activated coal gangue is 20%, the compressive strength and flexural strength of the mortar sample for 28 d after hydration can reach 46.2 MPa and 6.79 MPa, and the mechanical strength is equivalent to that of pure cement mortar, which can fully meet the requirements of the general construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel–chromium–molybdenum Alloy 625 exhibits an excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. However, the high-temperature plastic deformation process and the heat treatment represent critical aspects for the loss in mechanical strength by grain coarsening. This detrimental behavior is worsened by the absence of phase transformation temperatures. However, the chemical composition permits slow precipitation-hardening response upon single aging. Therefore, when the soft- or solution-annealed condition is associated with insufficient mechanical properties, this potentiality can be exploited to improve the mechanical strength. Since the γ ″ precipitation can be accelerated by double-aging treatment, different time–temperature combinations of double aging at 732 °C and 621 °C are investigated. The simultaneous precipitation of intergranular carbides can dramatically affect the corrosion resistance. Such an undesired phenomenon occurs very quickly at 732 °C, but it is obtained only after very long exposure times at 621 °C. For this reason, a performance chart is developed to compare all the tested conditions. In particular, single aging at 621 °C for 72 h and 130 h are associated with an acceptable combination of mechanical and corrosion properties. Double aging permits a conspicuous acceleration of the aging response. For instance, with double aging at 732 °C 3 h and 621 °C 72 h, it is possible to obtain the same mechanical properties of single aging at 621 °C for 260 h. Such acceleration is accompanied by a more critical corrosion behavior, especially because of the primary step. However, even after its optimization, none of the tested conditions were acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]