A Superhydrophobic/Electrothermal/Photothermal Synergistically Anti-icing Strategy with Excellent Self-healable and Anti-abrasion Property

Unexpected ice accumulation tends to cause many problems or even disasters in our daily life. Based on the superior electrothermal and photothermal function of the carbon nanotubes, we introduced a superhydrophobic/electrothermal/photothermal synergistically anti-icing strategy. When a voltage of 15 V was applied to the superhydrophobic sample, the surface could rapidly melt the ice layer (~ 3 mm thickness) within 530 s at the environmental temperature of − 25 °C. When the near-infrared light (808 nm) irradiates on the superhydrophobic sample, the ice could be rapidly removed after 460 s. It was found that the superhydrophobicity helps the melted water to roll off immediately, and then solves the re-freeze problem the traditional surfaces facing. Moreover, the ice can be completely melted with 120 s when the superhydrophobic/electrothermal/photothermal synergistically anti-icing strategy was utilized. To improve the mechanical robustness for practical application, both nanoscale carbon nanotubes and microscale carbon powders were utilized to construct hierarchical structure. Then these dual-scale fillers were sprinkled onto the semi-cured elastomer substrate to prepare partially embedded structure. Both hierarchical structure and partially embedded structure were obtained after completely curing the substrate, which imparts excellent abrasion resistance (12.50 kPa, 16.00 m) to the prepared sample. Moreover, self-healable poly(urea–urethane) elastomer was introduced as the substrate. Thus, the cutted superhydrophobic sample can be mended by simply contacting at room temperature.

Controlling Thermoplastic Elastomer Optical Properties by Mechanical Processing

ABSTRACTWe demonstrate that the extrusion speed of thermoplastic urethane elastomer can modify its optical transmission by a factor of more than 100. Varying extrusion speed at constant temperature may tune optical properties along the axis of a filament, for example creating absorbent regions that are sensitive to length and diameter changes, surrounded by more transmissive segments that carry the sensor signal over long distances. Such waveguiding in a stretchable optical fiber requires a stretchable cladding with lower refractive index than the core. In experiments toward a rugged, stretchable fiber cladding, we investigated whether solvents could modify the outer structure of the filaments. Soaking the filaments in NMP (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), then stretching the filaments while the solvent dried, turned out to modify the filaments in a way that solvents alone did not, creating porosity and reducing the appearance of optical clarity.

A facile dynamic crosslinked healable poly(oxime-urethane) elastomer with high elastic recovery and recyclability

Catalyst-free and colorless transparent healable and recyclable poly(oxime-urethane) elastomers were developed with scaling-up capability using low-cost and commercially available compounds.

Laminated Type Isolation Device for Light Weight Structure Using Urethane Elastomer

At the present, base isolation system has been recognized by general earthquake resistant technique since the Great Hanshin Earthquake 1995. The seismic isolation will be aggressively applied to not only architectural and civil structures but also various structures, because the effectiveness on seismic safety had been demonstrated again in the Great East Japan Earthquake. In generally, although the base isolation system is divided into laminated rubber bearing type and friction sliding bearing type. In the case of former type, shape factor, maximum or minimum outer shapes and so on are restricted by the material characteristics in visco-elastic material. In general, the isolation structure is used in high damping rubber. However, we pay attention to base isolation using urethane elastomer. Urethane elastomer has excellent elasticity, mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, weather resistance, oil resistance, impact resistance the absorbent, anti-vibration and excellent low-temperature properties. Furthermore, it is possible to impart various characteristics by a combination of isocyanate and polyol and chain extender, requires no large-scale apparatus, it has the advantage molecular design is easy. In previous study, the research and development of laminated type base isolation device using urethane elastomer was carried out to upgrade a seismic safety for various structures. The fundamental characteristics was investigated from several loading test by using various experimental devices, and the design formula for the stiffness and equivalent damping coefficient is formulated as an approximate expression of mechanical characteristics until now. It was confirmed that urethane elastomer is not hardening up to 500% shear strain. Moreover, the experimental examination for aged deterioration in the urethane material has been continuously carried out. As the results, it was confirmed that the laminated type seismic isolation device using urethane elastomer is possible to develop as a practicable device from the stable mechanical properties as considering in design step. In this study, the small-scale laminated type base isolation device using urethane elastomer is advanced to the direction of further technical upgrading and of scale down for light-weight structure as a sever rack. The first stage, basic properties of the urethane elastomer has been investigated by loading test. Furthermore, the design equation is created by loading test using urethane elastomer. The validity of the design equation has been confirmed. The second stage, the compression creep test with laminated type base isolation device has been investigated to confirm an effect on light-weight mechanical devices.