Search Results (321)

Developing circularly polarized phosphorescence (CPP) materials integrating long-afterglow room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and chiral optical properties is highly attractive but challenging. Herein, we report a facile and efficient strategy to achieve enhanced CPP by doping chiral naphthyl phosphoric acid derivatives (BNP-CZ, BNP-DPA, BNP-TPA) into a thermally cured Bisphenol A Epoxy Resin (DGEBA) matrix crosslinked with 1,8-diaminooctane (DAO). The rigid crosslinked network effectively suppresses nonradiative transitions and stabilizes triplet excitons, affording a long phosphorescence lifetime of up to 973 ms and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 26.55%. Significantly, the BNP-CZ@DAO exhibits remarkably boosted CPP signals and realizes the switch from circularly polarized fluorescence (CPF) in solution to CPP in the thermally cured resin film. Benefiting from the long afterglow and chiral optical properties, these polymers are successfully applied in multi-dimensional anticounterfeiting with high security. This work provides a universal and scalable approach for developing high-performance CPP materials. Full article

Concrete structures are vulnerable to fire-induced damage throughout their service life, with high-temperature exposure presenting a critical safety hazard. This study addresses the critical safety risks posed by fire-induced damage in concrete structures, particularly focusing on the distinct behavioral differences between early-age and mature concrete during both heating and cooling. To investigate these variations, concrete specimens cured for 3, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days were subjected to deformation tests and heated to target temperatures ranging from 100 to 800 °C. Key parameters, including compressive strength, mass loss, and linear expansion rate, were measured. The results show that the linear expansion rate and thermal expansion coefficient increased with temperature at all ages, with residual linear expansion rates at 800 °C ranging from 0.49% to 0.55%, decreasing slightly with age. While compressive strength was higher in older specimens at room temperature, it became similar across ages after exposure to high temperatures, especially above 500 °C. Notably, constant-temperature exposure significantly influenced the deformation behavior. These findings suggest that fire resistance assessments should account for concrete age and, more importantly, the effects of sustained high-temperature exposure, which critically alter deformation patterns and residual properties. Full article

Carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) monofilament composites were investigated for integrated temperature sensing by embedding a single CNTY in a vinyl ester resin (VER) and measuring the electrical resistance change by tapping into the thermoresistive response of the CNTY. The effect of curing condition on the thermoresistive response was evaluated using dwell tests and repeated heating–cooling cycles, comparing specimens cured at room temperature (RT) with those post-cured at 140 °C for 1 h. RT-cured CNTY/VER monofilament composites exhibited electrical resistance drift, with the resistance failing to return to its initial value after each thermal cycle, resulting in a residual resistance change of ~8.85%. In contrast, post-cured (PC) specimens showed a much smaller residual change (−0.08%) after cycle completion. Thermal cycling from RT (~25 °C) to 100 °C produced a nearly linear negative thermoresistive response. The average heating and cooling TCR values were −7.98 × 10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹ and −8.32 × 10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹ for CNTY/VER, and −7.93 × 10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹ and −7.13 × 10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹ for CNTY/VER-PC, respectively. The hysteresis decreased from 21.65% for RT-cured specimens to 12.49% after post-curing, accompanied by improved linearity. The influence of heating rate on TCR was also examined for both freestanding CNTYs and CNTY/VER monofilament composites. The observed response is attributed to coupled matrix–yarn effects (wetting, resin infiltration, and shrinkage) together with temperature-dependent electron transport across CNT junctions. Finally, CNTY/VER monofilament composites demonstrated the ability to estimate internal temperatures under various thermal programs. Full article

Polyurea elastomers are widely used in industry thanks to their exceptional mechanical properties. However, cold-pour systems typically require extended ambient curing times to achieve optimal performance. This study investigates whether accelerated thermal curing can replicate or exceed the mechanical properties obtained through the standard ambient cure protocol. Specimens were prepared by hand-mixing and then cured at temperatures of 50 $°\mathrm{C}$ and 70 $°\mathrm{C}$ for 1 h, 3 h and 6 $\mathrm{h}$. Selected specimens were then aged at room temperature for up to 7 d. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted, with strain measured via a video-tracking technique. Porosity analysis was performed using cross-section micrographs. The results show that a 6 $\mathrm{h}$ cure at 50 $°\mathrm{C}$ yields mechanical properties comparable to those obtained through the standard ambient cure, while a 6 $\mathrm{h}$ cure at 70 $°\mathrm{C}$ significantly surpasses them. Post-cure aging was found to be particularly effective for specimens with a thickness of 1.5 $\mathrm{m}$$\mathrm{m}$, achieving a tensile strength of 4.7 $\mathrm{M}$$\mathrm{Pa}$ after 7 d, exceeding that declared by the manufacturer. Full article

Carbon fiber-reinforced polyimide composites are critical for aerospace applications in high-temperature environments of 300–500 °C. However, conventional PMR-15- and PEPA-terminated polyimides are limited by their insufficient glass transition temperatures (T_g) and low crosslinking densities. This study proposes a reactive backbone construction strategy by employing 4,4′-(ethyne-1,2-diyl)diphthalic anhydride (EBPA) as a difunctional monomer copolymerized with asymmetric 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (α-BPDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline to synthesize polyimide resins containing both backbone ethynyl and terminal phenylethynyl groups. The effects of EBPA content on the curing behavior, thermomechanical properties, and elevated temperature mechanical performance were systematically investigated. The incorporation of EBPA significantly elevated T_g from 378 °C to 486 °C. Compared to the EBPA-0 control, the optimized EBPA-2 composite exhibited 7.3% and 3.6% improvements in room temperature flexural strength and modulus, respectively. Notably, at 400 °C, EBPA-2 demonstrated retention rates of 69.9%, 93.7%, and 61.6% for flexural strength, flexural modulus, and interlaminar shear strength, exceeding EBPA-0 by 16.9, 8.9, and 18.6 percentage points. SEM analysis confirmed the effective suppression of interfacial debonding at elevated temperatures. These findings elucidate the structure–property relationships between molecular structure, T_g, and short-term high-temperature mechanical retention, providing a promising resin matrix for advanced aerospace carbon fiber composites. Full article

In this study, a non-typical luminescent organosilicone was synthesized through a click reaction and used as a cross-linker to cure hydroxyl-terminated dimethylsilicone oil at room temperature via the sol–gel process, followed by application as a coating on a glass surface. This organosilicone film functions effectively as a luminescent down-shifting (LDS) material. Additionally, the presence of methyl groups and voids in the structure imparts a low refractive index, allowing it to serve as an anti-reflective (AR) layer. Optical and structural analyses on organosilicone-coated glass samples were conducted, and the dual-functional layer was applied to the glass cover of a perovskite solar panel to evaluate its performance. The coating not only enhanced light transmission as an AR layer but also converted UV light into blue light, which was absorbed by the solar cell. The results indicated improved solar panel performance, particularly in short-circuit current (Isc), external quantum efficiency (EQE) in the UV wavelength range, and overall efficiency. Overall, this material is a promising candidate for solar panel applications owing to maximized UV absorption for LDS, preserved transparency of the top cover glass, and room-temperature gelation, which facilitates repair of the dual-functional coating. Full article

Printed electronics have emerged as a versatile manufacturing platform for next-generation biosensors, enabling on-demand and low-cost fabrication of functional devices on flexible, stretchable, and unconventional substrates. One major challenge in this field lies in the sintering of printed features, as conventional high-temperature processing is incompatible with polymeric substrates and thermally sensitive biological components. Low-temperature sintering inks, typically processed below 200 °C or even at room temperature, have become a critical enabling technology for bio-integrated electronics. This review provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art and key challenges associated with low-temperature sintering inks for printed bioelectronics. We discuss inks based on metal nanoparticles, metal–organic decomposition precursors, metal oxides, chalcogenides, and hybrid material systems. The emphasis is on how ink chemistry, ligand selection, and precursor structure govern rheology, stability, and sintering behavior. In addition, key low-temperature sintering and curing strategies, including thermal, photonic, laser, plasma, microwave, and chemical sintering, are compared in terms of energy delivery, densification mechanisms, and substrate compatibility. Finally, we outline emerging directions towards low temperature and room-temperature sintering inks, and sustainable biobased ink formulations, and discuss their applications for wearable, implantable, and soft biosensing platforms. Full article

To mitigate the issue of brittleness and cracking in epoxy resin (EP) anti-skid systems, this study investigates four key aspects tailored to application scenarios: toughening, low shrinkage, strong adhesion, and rapid curing at ambient temperature. 1,4-Butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) was used to extend the chain of triethylenetetramine (TETA), followed by a Mannich reaction with formaldehyde (F) and cardanol to prepare a flexible aliphatic amine Mannich base curing agent containing flexible segments (Curing Agent B). The influence of composition ratios on the mechanical properties of the cured product was studied. The curing performance of the epoxy system under various temperature conditions and its adhesion to asphalt substrates were characterized. The thermal shrinkage behavior of the epoxy system under temperature-variable environments was also investigated. The results indicated that the elongation at break of the epoxy curing system, after chain extension and toughening, increased from 28.7% to 40.4%, representing a 28.9% increase. When n (Cardanol):n (TETA):n (F):n (BDDE) = 1:1.4:0.8:0.7 (molar ratio of reactants), m (EP):m (Curing Agent B) = 1:1 (mass ratio), and epoxy-terminated polyurethane (EPU) prepolymer constituted 10% of the epoxy resin mass; the epoxy curing system exhibited an elongation at break of 44.3%, a tensile strength of 7.0 MPa, a bond strength of 6.9 MPa, and an impact toughness of 1.77 J/cm². Furthermore, it exhibited rapid curing at a low temperature (0~5 °C) and at room temperature (25 °C). Additionally, when bisphenol F epoxy resin was used, the system demonstrated optimal thermal expansion properties. Full article

Painho de Porco Preto is a traditional product of the Alentejo region, made with cuts of Alentejano autochthonous breed pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate how different storage temperatures (4 °C and room temperature (20 ± 2 °C)) could influence the quality and safety of the sliced vacuum-packed Painho de Porco Preto, throughout 6 months of storage. Analyses included physicochemical parameters, microbiological, and sensory analysis. Throughout storage, the product showed low TBARS values (<3 MDA/kg) and stable tocopherol levels under both storage conditions, although the samples at room temperature performed slightly better. a_w and pH values were higher for samples stored at 4 °C, which influenced the results of some parameters. Color coordinate b* had an increase in values by the end of storage for the fat portion of the slices, but the rest of the parameters stayed stable. Nitrate/nitrite contents remained within expected ranges for dry-cured sausages. Microbiological analyses confirmed the absence of major pathogens during the study period, while variations in growth were observed depending on storage temperature. In sum, the results indicate that sliced vacuum-packaged Painho de Porco Preto can maintain acceptable quality and safety for 6 months at room temperature. These findings provide useful information for the meat industry by supporting the optimization of storage strategies and shelf-life management for sliced traditional dry-cured sausages. Full article

The article studies the influence of chlorosulfonated polyethylene CSM 40 as a compatibilizer on the curing characteristics of the rubber compound, dynamic mechanical analysis, morphology, physico-mechanical and performance properties of vulcanized rubber based on a compound of ethylene propylene diene monomer EPDM S 501A and nitrile butadiene NBR 2645 rubbers. DMA studies indicate that the temperature dependence of tanδ for vulcanizates with and without a compatibilizer based on EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645 at a ratio of 75/25 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) has a bimodal character, which indicates the incompatibility of the rubber phases. The temperature dependence for EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645 vulcanizates (25/75 phr) with and without a compatibilizer has a monomodal form, which characterizes the improved compatibility of the rubber phases. SEM showed that a clearly defined microporous structure is observed on a cleavage of vulcanizate sample EPDM/NBR (25/75 phr) without a compatibilizer; with the addition of CSM 40, this feature is retained, but becomes less pronounced. It is shown that vulcanizates containing the compatibilizer CSM 40 are characterized by increased strength properties and hardness compared to vulcanized rubber without a compatibilizer. It was established that the vulcanized rubber based on EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645/CSM 40 (25/75/5 phr) is characterized by the smallest changes in the elastic-strength properties and hardness of vulcanizates after a day of thermo-oxidative aging in air and their weight after exposure to industrial oil I-20A and standard petroleum fluid SZhR-1 at room temperature among vulcanizates based on EPDM S 501A and NBR 2645. The vulcanizate of the rubber compound, including a compound of EPDM/NBR (25/75 phr) with a compatibilizer CSM 40 in an amount of 5 phr (2.88 wt.%), is characterized by stable physico-mechanical properties and improved performance properties. This rubber compound can be used for the manufacture of rubber products operating under the influence of oils and hydrocarbon environments. Full article

An alternative conductive ink based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was developed using a platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomer and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The inclusion of IPA in the conductive CNT ink facilitated the optimization of its mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and viscosity. Compared to conventional silicone rubber-based conductive polymers that often solidify in a few hours at room temperature or with heating, this liquid composite of CNT particles and IPA exhibited a prolonged duration of up to several months in a hermetic environment, maintaining chemical stability even with the elastomer and its curing agent. The gradual evaporation of IPA initiates a well-known cross-linking process, leading to stretchability and electrical conductivity derived from the silicone elastomer and CNT particles, respectively. The relationship between the mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of the hardened conductive CNT ink was studied, which helped determine the optimized concentration of CNT particles in the conductive CNT ink. Subsequently, a piezoresistive sensor was designed, fabricated, and evaluated. The conductive CNT ink-based piezoresistive sensor showed high sensitivity and good repeatability with respect to a wide range of external forces. The effect of the concentration of CNT particles on the viscosity of the conductive CNT ink was also investigated, providing a better understanding of the entanglement of CNT particles within the silicone elastomer. A coating test using the conductive CNT ink with a paper cutting machine demonstrated its potential for adaptation to various printing techniques, including screen printing. The proposed conductive CNT ink, characterized by a simple chemical composition, facile fabrication process, use of non-toxic elements, high electrical conductivity, and stretchability, combined with an extended duration, has the potential to be applied for multiple purposes, such as various types of flexible and wearable electronics. Full article

Wood biomass ash (WBA) is a by-product from biofuel energy plants. The disposal of this waste is connected with numerous environmental concerns. A more sustainable choice is to recycle it as a raw material for building and construction materials. However, due to its unstable characteristics, its application in alkali-activated materials (AAM) poses a challenge. One issue is the development of the mechanical properties. To improve them, pozzolanic additives, including coal fly ash (CFA), metakaolin (MK), and natural zeolite (NZ), were added at replacement ratios of 10–40%. Calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and sodium silicate were used together as ternary activators. The samples were cured at 60 °C for the first 24 h and for the remaining 27 days at room temperature. Mechanical behavior, water absorption, and chemical compositions were examined. The results obtained from XRF were compared with the calculation results of the chemical compositions based on the mix design and oxide compositions of the raw materials. The results show that the respective optimum replacement ratios were 30% CFA, 20% MK, and 20% NZ, with the highest compressive strength corresponding to 22.71, 20.53, and 24.33 MPa, and the highest flexural strength of 4.49, 4.32, and 4.21 MPa. NZ was the most effective in AAM, due to the highest Si/Al ratio in the Ca-rich ambient. Then, CFA contributed less, and MK was the least efficient when used in combination with WBA in AAM. The reduction of Ca/Si ratios in the AAM caused by the pozzolanic additives favors the formation of a binder system made of different hydrates and facilitates the strength enhancement when the Ca/Si ratio is lower than 0.35. Full article

This study resolves the challenge of balancing curing speed and performance in room-temperature-curing epoxy coatings by developing a novel system grafted with hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer (HDI trimer) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200). Employing DMP-30 as the catalyst, the coating achieves efficient curing at 25 °C, with complete cure within 7.5 h. The cured material exhibits outstanding thermal stability (T₅₀% = 380.83 °C) and mechanical properties. Fracture morphology analysis reveals a uniform ductile structure, confirming its high toughness and durability. Furthermore, kinetic models accurately predict curing behavior across different temperature curves, providing crucial guidance for optimizing industrial coating processes. This research offers a viable strategy for designing high-performance, rapid curing epoxy materials, demonstrating significant application potential in coating systems, composite surfaces, and electronic encapsulation. Full article

Socol is an artisanal meat product typical of Southeast Brazil. It is made from pork loin and ripened at room temperature. This work aimed to isolate, quantify, and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in Brazilian dry-cured loin (Socol) as well as evaluate their in vitro probiotic potential. LAB were found in high amounts, varying from 2.5 × 10³ to 9.2 × 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹. Eleven isolated bacteria were identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time-Of-Flight/Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS). Of these, six strains (Latilactobacillus brevis SFC1A, Latilactobacillus sakei SFC2A, Latilactobacillus curvatus SFC6A, Pediococcus acidilactici SFC9A, Latilactobacillus curvatus SFC11A, and Pediococcus pentosaceus SFC11B) were submitted to in vitro probiotic tests. All were tolerant to bile salts and five of them to artificial gastric juice, and were all sensitive to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin. L. brevis SFC1A and P. acidilactici SFC9A inhibited all tested pathogenic bacteria and showed the broadest in vitro probiotic activity. Thus, they would be recommended as starter cultures for the elaboration of novel fermented meat products and to compose a bank of indigenous bacteria, as well as contribute to preserving Socol microbiota. Full article

There are limited material choices for vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing processes that offer high dimensional accuracy. Acrylates and epoxies are commonly used, but their thermal properties are not suitable for applications requiring high-temperature performance. A possible solution is the use of high-performance thermosets, such as maleimide and cyanate ester, which are cured at high temperatures. Still, their use in vat photopolymerization methods has been limited due to the high temperature required. In this work, a photocurable formulation composed of multimaleimide monomers, a reactive diluent, and a cyanate ester was developed to improve thermal and mechanical properties and reduce cure shrinkage due to density changes during processing. In situ sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were investigated, in which the copolymerization of multimaleimide and a diluent occurs during printing, yielding a cyanate ester-swollen network with a sub-room-temperature glass transition temperature (T_g). The polymerization of the cyanate ester occurs during a high-temperature post-printing step. The resulting materials have a T_g above 250 °C (peak in the loss modulus), good fracture toughness (GIc of 100 J/m²), and overall cure shrinkage of less than 6%, with 1–2% occurring during the high-temperature post-curing step. Full article