Effects of Adding Methods of Fluorane Microcapsules and Shellac Resin Microcapsules on the Preparation and Properties of Bifunctional Waterborne Coatings for Basswood

Enhancing Pectin Particles with Polymer Additives: Mitigating Rumen Degradation and Minimizing Yellowish Milk Color in Grazed Cows

The pigments consumed in grazing give the milk from dual-purpose cows raised in tropical conditions a yellowish color, affecting the quality and price of the milk. This study aimed to develop an economical method with supplementary pectin to antagonize the availability of carotenes by designing microparticles with shellac and palm oil as a viable alternative to protect pectin degradation against rumen microbes. Three preparations of microparticles based on citrus pectin were synthesized: unprotected (PnP), protected with palm oil (PwP), and protected with palm oil and shellac (PwPL) microparticles. Samples were roughly characterized by spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques. The effect of PnP, PwP, and PwPL on blood metabolites and physicochemical characteristics of the milk of grazing lactating cows was evaluated through in vivo assays. The release of citrus pectin from microparticles was determined as uronic acids using solutions with distinct pH, whereas its degradation was studied using in situ tests. Results revealed that PnP, PwP, and PwPL are amorphous structures with sizes that range from 60 to 265 nm or 750 to 3570 µm and have surface charges that range from -11.5 to -50.2 mV. Samples exhibited characteristic peaks during FTIR analyses that corresponded to O-H, C=O, and COOCH3 groups and bands within the UV-vis region that indicated the absorption of pectin. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, or calcium in samples. The release of uronic acids was higher at pH 2-3 with PwPL. The in situ degradability of PnP, PwP, and PwPL was 99, 28.4, and 17.7%, respectively. Moreover, PwPL decreased the blood concentration of glucose, cholesterol, and lactate. In contrast, 100 g of pectin per animal daily during the feed process reduced yellow coloring. In conclusion, designing particles protected with lipids and polymers as shellac is an economical method that resists degradation at pH levels greater than five.

Strength Classification of Wooden Chairs under Cyclic Loads Based on an Experimental Study

This study aimed to assess the cyclic load capacity of wooden chairs and subsequently categorize them based on their performance. A diverse selection of chair models was randomly procured from commercial markets. These chairs underwent performance testing, utilizing the cyclic stepped increasing loading method, with adherence to the standards set forth by the American Library Association Technology Reports (ALA). The study evaluated 315 chairs, encompassing 21 chair models. Each chair model underwent five replications of testing across three different loading directions. The resulting dataset of numerical values was subjected to statistical analyses, facilitating the categorization of chairs based on their strength under cyclic loads. Notably, the study revealed substantial variations in the load capacity among different chair models. As a consequence of this investigation, the study established acceptable design load thresholds. For instance, concerning front-to-back loading, it was determined that the chairs with cyclic load capacities ranging from 932 to 1449 N fell within the category of low-strength, between 1450 and 1968 N were classified as medium-strength (suitable for domestic use), and the chairs with cyclic load capacities exceeding 1968 N were considered to possess high strength (intended for hotel lobbies, restaurants, libraries, etc.). Similarly, for back-to-front loading performance, the study identified the chairs with cyclic load capacities between 625 and 895 N as low-strength, 896 and 1167 N as medium-strength, and the chairs with loads surpassing 1168 N as high-strength. The performance thresholds for side thrust loads were as follows: low-strength encompassed the cyclic load capacities ranging from 649 to 934 N, medium-strength spanned the cyclic load capacities between 935 and 1221 N, and high-strength entailed 1222 N and above. Notably, the classification devised in this study is closely aligned with the widely accepted and internationally recognized ALA specification. This strong consistency with global standards reinforces the reliability and applicability of the classification system developed in this research. In conclusion, this study enhances understanding of wooden chair strength performance and offers practical insights that lead to higher-quality products and improved consumer satisfaction. Its recommendations can potentially drive positive change within the industry and benefit manufacturers and consumers.

Effect of Sandpaper Meshes on the Performance of Tilia Sp. Self-Repairing Coatings

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different sandpaper sanding meshes on the mechanical and optical properties of microencapsulated Tilia sp. film. An orthogonal experiment revealed that sanding between primers had the most significant effect. Furthermore, an independent experiment implied that increasing the mesh size resulted in decreased surface roughness and decreased color difference, elongation at break, and gloss after liquid resistance. In the aging test, the color difference of the paint film increased with the aging time, and the gloss tended to stabilize. Additionally, the anti-aging gloss of 240 mesh sandpaper used between primers remained relatively stable. The paint film sanded with 240 mesh sandpaper between primers displayed small and regular cracks after temperature and UV aging. Overall, the paint film demonstrated good comprehensive performance when sanded with 240 mesh between primers, 240 mesh between primer/topcoat, and 1000 mesh for topcoat. Self-repairing microcapsules showed better repair efficacy on the coating. This study provides a technical reference for the development of self-repairing coatings.

Facile Fabrication of Dual Functional Graphene Oxide Microcapsules Carrying Corrosion Inhibitor and Encapsulating Self-Healing Agent

Dual functional graphene oxide (GO) microcapsules were fabricated through self-assembly in Pickering emulsions, carrying corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole (BTA) on the microcapsule shells and encapsulating a self-healing agent epoxy monomer. The formation of the GO microcapsules was assisted by the interaction between BTA and GO, which provided robust encapsulation for the epoxy monomer. The loading capacity of BTA and epoxy monomer reached 90.5%. The addition of the GO microcapsules simultaneously promoted the corrosion protection and self-healing properties of the waterborne epoxy composite coatings. The healing efficiency of the composite coatings reached over 99.7% when the content of the microcapsules was 10 wt%. Meanwhile, the corrosion current density of the intact coatings was decreased for around 50 times.