Greatly improving thermal stability of silicone resins by modification with POSS

Selectively recovering rare earth elements with carboxyl immobilized metal-organic framework from ammonium-rich wastewater

The material with high adsorption capacity and selectivity is essential for recovering rare earth elements (REES) from ammonium (NH4+-N)-rich wastewater. Although the emerging metal-organic framework (MOF) has gained intensive attention in REES recovery, there are scientific difficulties unsolved regarding restricted adsorption capacity and selectivity, hindering its extensive engineering applications. In this work, a diethylenetriamine pentaacetic (DTPA)-modified MOF material (MIL-101(Cr)-NH-DTPA) was prepared through an amidation reaction. The MIL-101(Cr)-NH-DTPA showed enhanced adsorption capacity for La(III) (69.78 mg g-1), Eu(III) (103.01 mg g-1) and Er(III) (83.41 mg g-1). The adsorption isotherm and physical chemistry of materials indicated that the adsorption of REEs with MIL-101(Cr)-NH-DTPA was achieved via complexation instead of electrostatic adsorption. Such complexation reaction was principally governed by -COOH instead of -NH2 or -NO2. Meanwhile, the resulting material remained in its superior activity even after five cycles. Such a constructed adsorbent also exhibited excellent selective adsorption activity for La(III), Eu(III), and Er(III), with removal efficiency reaching 70% in NH4+-N concentrations ranging from 100 to 1500 mg L-1. This work offers underlying guidelines for exploitation an adsorbent for REEs recovery from wastewater.

Enhancing the Thermal Resistance of UV-Curable Resin Using (3-Thiopropyl)polysilsesquioxane

This study delineates a methodology for the preparation of new composites based on a photocurable urethane-acrylate resin, which has been modified with (3-thiopropyl)polysilsesquioxane (SSQ-SH). The organosilicon compound combines fully enclosed cage structures and incompletely condensed silanols (a mixture of random structures) obtained through the hydrolytic condensation of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. This process involves a thiol-ene "click" reaction between SSQ-SH and a commercially available resin (Ebecryl 1271®) in the presence of the photoinitiator DMPA, resulting in composites with significantly changed thermal properties. Various tests were conducted, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transmittance infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (Photo-DSC), and photoreological measurement mechanical property, and water contact angle (WCA) tests. The modification of resin with SSQ-SH increased the temperature of 1% and 5% mass loss compared to the reference (for 50 wt% SSQ-SH, T5% was 310.8 °C, an increase of 20.4 °C). A composition containing 50 wt% of SSQ-SH crosslinked faster than the reference resin, a phenomenon confirmed by photorheological tests. This research highlights the potential of new composite materials in coating applications across diverse industries. The modification of resin with SSQ-SH not only enhances thermal properties but also introduces a host of functional improvements, thereby elevating the performance of the resulting coatings.

SiO2 bridged AlN/methylphenyl silicone resin composite with integrated superior insulating property, high-temperature resistance, and high thermal conductivity

A high-temperature-resistance insulating layer with high thermal conductivity is the key component for fabricating the instant metal-based electric heating tube. However, it is still a challenge for materials to possess excellent high-temperature resistance, superior insulating property, and high thermal conductivity at the same time. Here, a novel SiO2 bridged AlN/MSR composite based on methylphenyl silicone resin (MSR) and AlN filler was reported. MSR with a high thermal decomposition temperature of 452.0 °C and a high withstand voltage of 5.6 kV was first synthesized by adjusting the contents of alkyl and phenyl groups. The superior high-temperature resistant insulating property is 3.7 and 2.4 times higher than the national standard requirement of 1.5 kV and commercial silicone resin, respectively. The hydrogen bonds formed between SiO2, AlN, and MSR and the electrostatic adsorption between SiO2 and AlN can remarkably improve the uniform dispersion of AlN in MSR and thus enhance the insulating property, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability. With the addition of 2 wt% SiO2 and 50 wt% AlN, the SiO2-AlN/MSR composite exhibits an extremely high withstand voltage of 7.3 kV, a high thermal conductivity of 0.553 W·m-1·K-1, and an enhanced decomposition temperature of 475 °C. The superior insulating property and thermal conductivity are 4.9 and 1.3 times higher than the national standard requirement and pure MSR, respectively. This novel composite shows great potential for application in the fields requiring integrated superior insulating property, high-temperature resistance, and high thermal conductivity.

Aminoalkyl organosilicon with dual chemical sites for SO2 absorption and analysis of site-specific absorption entropy and enthalpy

Wet flue gas desulfurization is widely used for its high efficiency, however, the low absorption capacity, high viscosity and poor thermal stability of absorbents remains an open question. Herein, a low viscosity and high thermal stability SO2 absorbent with dual interacting sites was synthesized by introducing phenyl into organic silicon. The thermal stability of 1,5-bis (diethylamino)- 1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-3,3-diphenyltrisiloxane (BADPS) is comparable to ILs, while its viscosity is much lower than that of ILs. For the first time, we use a variant of the pseudo-first-order reaction rate equation obtained the reaction rate constant and the saturation absorption capacity. In addition, the optimal absorption and desorption temperatures were obtained based on an objective function. Mostly importantly, the absorption enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) of BADPS absorption reaction show the highest absolute values of SO2 absorbents reported so far. These results indicated that the prepared amine alkyl organosilicon could serve as a promising desulfurizing agent with low-energy consumption.

The Synergistic Effects of Aminosilane Coupling Agent on the Adhesion Performance of Silane Primer for Silicone Resin Thermal Protection Coating

As a bridge between the coating and the substrate, the primer has a direct impact on the adhesion performance of silicone resin thermal protection coating. In this paper, the synergistic effects of an aminosilane coupling agent on the adhesion performance of silane primer were investigated. The results show that silane primer containing N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropylmethyl-dimethoxysilane (HD-103) formed a continuous and uniform film on the surface of the substrate. Two amino groups of HD-103 were conducive to moderate and uniform hydrolysis of the silane primer system, and the introduction of dimethoxy groups was more conducive to the improvement of interfacial layer density and the formation of the planar surface structure, thus enhancing the bond strength at the interface. When the content was 13 wt%, it exhibited excellent synergistic effects on adhesive properties, and the adhesive strength reached 1.53 MPa. The possible morphology and composition of the silane primer layer were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A thermogravimetric infrared spectrometer (TGA-IR) was used to analyze the thermal decomposition of the silane primer layer. The results showed that the alkoxy groups in the silane primer were first hydrolyzed to form Si-OH, and then the dehydration and condensation reactions between Si-OH and the substrate formed a firm network structure.

Stability Efficiencies of POSS and Microalgae Extracts on the Durability of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer Based Hybrids

The EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) hybrids with improved thermal and radiation strengths containing 1 and 5 phr of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (vinyl-POSS, Ov-POSS) and/or 2 phr of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and Spirulinaplatensis (SP)) powders were investigated in respect to their thermal stability after γ-irradiation. The material durability under accelerated degradation was qualified by chemiluminescence and gelation, which prove the contribution of inorganic filler and microalgae extracts on the increase of hybrid thermal stability, as well as the interaction between added components (POSS and CV or SP). The activation energies and the durabilities under accelerated degradation were calculated, indicating their suitable usage as appropriate materials in various applications. The reported results indicate the improvement effect of both microalgal powders on the oxidation strength, but the contribution of Spirulinaplatensis grabs attention on its efficient effects upon the prevention of degradation under accelerated aging conditions. The thermal performances of the tested EPDM based hybrids are remarkably ameliorated, if the certain formulation includes Ov-POSS (5 phr) and Spirulinaplatensis (2 phr), certifying its suitability for the pertinent applications.

Hard Coating Materials Based on Photo-Reactive Silsesquioxane for Flexible Application: Improvement of Flexible and Hardness Properties by High Molecular Weight

EPOSS of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) mixture structure and LPSQ of ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (LPSQ) structure were synthesized via sol–gel reaction. EPSQ had a high molecular weight due to polycondensation by potassium carbonate. The EPSQ film showed uniform surface morphology due to regular double-stranded structure. In contrast, the EPOSS-coated film showed nonuniform surface morphology due to strong aggregation. Due to the aggregation, the EPOSS film had shorter d-spacing (d1) than the EPSQ film in XRD analysis. In pencil hardness and nanoindentation analysis, EPSQ film showed higher hardness than the EPOSS film due to regular double-stranded structure. In addition, in the in-folding (r = 0.5 mm) and out-folding (r = 5 mm) tests, the EPSQ film did not crack unlike the EPOSS coated film.

Synthesis and characterization of tetrathiol-substituted double-decker or ladder silsesquioxane nano-cores

Tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)-silsesquioxanes with double-decker (DDSQ) or ladder nano-cores were easily prepared from the corresponding tetraallyl derivatives through fast and convenient thiol-ene reactions. An additional tetrathiol-DDSQ with more flexible arms was also synthesized in high yield from the corresponding tetrachloro-DDSQ derivative. The three novel tetrathiol silsesquioxanes described represent versatile building blocks for the preparation of hybrid organic-inorganic materials.

Study on the synthesis and thermal stability of silicone resins reinforced by Si–O–Ph cross-linking

A novel silicone resin (SR-OH) containing phenolic hydroxyl (Ph–OH) groups was designed and synthesized via co-hydrolysis/condensation and catalytic hydrogenation. During the curing process, the cross-linking degree of the resin was further increased by the Si–O–Ph bonds formed by the reaction of the Ph–OH and terminal Si–OH groups. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the cured resin product exhibited excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stability, which was much higher than that of a typical methyl phenyl silicone resin (SR-Ph). The temperature at which 5% weight loss occurs (T_d5) was up to 606 °C (nitrogen) and 542 °C (air), and its char yield at 800 °C was 91.1% and 85.3% in nitrogen and air, respectively. The significant improvement in thermal stability was mainly attributed to the formation of Si–O–Ph bonds which not only increases the cross-linking degree of the resin but also significantly prevents degradation by the ‘back-biting’ and oxidative cleavage.

A novel silicone resin (SR-OH) containing phenolic hydroxyl (Ph–OH) groups was designed and synthesized via co-hydrolysis/condensation and catalytic hydrogenation.

Study on the Synthesis and Thermal Stability of Silicone Resin Containing Trifluorovinyl Ether Groups

Silicone resin is a high-temperature resistant material with excellent performance. The improvement of its thermal stability has always been the pursuit of researchers. In this paper, a sequence of silicone resins containing trifluorovinyl ether groups were prepared by the co-hydrolysis-polycondensation of methyl alkoxysilane monomers and {4-[trifluorovinyl(oxygen)]phenyl}methyldiethoxysilane. The structures of the silicone resins were characterized by FT-IR and ¹H NMR. The curing process of them was studied by DSC and FT-IR spectra, and results showed that the curing of the resins included the condensation of the Si-OH groups and the [2 + 2] cyclodimerization reaction of the TFVE groups, which converted to perfluorocyclobutane structure after curing. The thermal stability and thermal degradation behavior of them was studied by TGA and FT-IR spectra. Compared with the pure methyl silicone resin, silicone resins containing TFVE groups showed better thermal stability under both N₂ and air atmosphere. Their hydrophobic properties were characterized by contact angle test. Results showed that PFCB structure also improved the hydrophobicity of the silicone resin.

Efficient Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds by FAU-Type Zeolite Coatings

Silicone and pure organic binders were used to develop FAU-type zeolite coatings applied on pre-treated aluminum substrates by using a spraying method and then cured under specific conditions. The influence of the amount of binder on adhesion properties of zeolite coatings was first investigated to determine the optimum ratio between zeolite and binder. Zeolite coatings were then elaborated with a high zeolite content (between 70 and 80 wt.%) to ensure high adsorption capacities. The amount of binders involved in different zeolite coatings was sufficient to achieve interesting adhesion and cohesion properties. The accessibility of zeolite microporosity was studied by nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, which revealed a very small or no loss of the micropore volume for the optimized coatings. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) adsorption measurements were carried out using n-hexane as probe molecule. FAU-type zeolite in powder form adsorbs 180 mg/g_{anhydrous zeolite}, whereas the amounts of n-hexane adsorbed by zeolite coatings ranged from 131 to 175 mg/g_{anhydrous zeolite}.