Alpha-zirconium Phosphate Research Articles

Surface modified alpha zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) reinforced natural rubber composites for tire tread application

Surface modified alpha zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) reinforced natural rubber composites for tire tread application

Study on wear resistance and corrosion resistance of zirconium phenylphosphonate reinforced Ni–W composite coating

In this work, with the help of pulsed electrodeposition technology, Ni–W/ZrPP composite coatings on carbon steel surfaces were fabricated. The enhancing effects of inorganic layered alpha-zirconium phosphate (αZrP) and organic zirconium phenylphosphonate (ZrPP) on the surface morphology, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of Ni–W coatings were also investigated. The result shows, Ni–W/ZrPP composite coating exhibits the most complete and dense surface morphology without any pinholes and generation of microcracks. Furthermore, the embedding of ZrPP also maximizes the wear and corrosion resistance of the Ni–W coating. This can be reflected by the fact that the Ni–W/ZrPP composite coating has the shallowest and narrowest wear section and the lowest average friction coefficient (0.312). In 3.5 wt.%NaCl solution, the Ni–W/ZrPP composite coating has the highest corrosion potential (Ecorr = −0.28 V) and the lowest corrosion current density (icorr = 2.3 μA cm−2), which show the best corrosion resistance. Relevant mechanistic studies have proven that embedding ZrPP with larger interlayer spacing in the coating is beneficial to promote the interlayer slip of 2D materials and to from frictional transfer films. The hydrophobic group and lamellar structure at the end of ZrPP are also contributors to build a physical barrier and prevent corrosive media from entering the coating.

Combined effect of interfacial modification and α-ZrP reinforcement on the tribological properties of PPS fabric/phenolic composites

The high strength of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fiber subserves the potential application of PPS fabric composites in the field of tribology, but its interfacial adhesion restricts tribological properties. In this research, the 3-(2, 3-epoxy propoxy) propyl trimethoxy silane (KH560) was used to construct a micro-interface on the surface of the fabric, which can significantly enhance the surface roughness and functional groups. Furthermore, the incorporation of Alpha-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP), a two-dimensional material with excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance, contributed to ameliorate thermal properties of the fabric composites. The results show that the bonding and tensile strength of the modified fabric composites are increased by 32.6% and 35.8%, respectively. More importantly, the wear rate of the modified fabric composites is reduced by 58.5% compared with the original fabric composites.

Effect of 2D Alpha-Zirconium Phosphate Nanosheets in Interfacial Tension Reduction and Wettability Alteration: Implications for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Summary α-Zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanocrystals were synthesized by refluxing method and subsequently exfoliated into extremely thin 2D nanosheets by tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) solution. Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the size distribution and morphology of α-ZrP nanosheets. Interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle measurement were conducted by different concentrations of α-ZrP nanosheets solutions. The results displayed that the wettability of porous media surface was altered from oleophilic to hydrophilic and the IFT decreased with the increasing of α-ZrP nanosheets concentrations. A new method was proposed to calculate the Hamaker constant for 2D α-ZrP nanosheets. The calculated results displayed that α-ZrP nanosheets were not easy to agglomerate under experimental environment and when the interaction energy barrier increased, the transport amount of α-ZrP nanosheets also increased. Coreflooding tests were also performed with various concentrations and the oil recovery efficiency increased from 33.59 to 51.26% when α-ZrP nanosheets concentrations increased from 50 to 1,000 ppm.

Synthesis of graphene oxide functionalized by polyaniline coated alpha-zirconium phosphate to enhance corrosion resistance of waterborne epoxy coating

Graphene oxide (GO), a preeminent two-dimensional (2D) material, has great potential application for corrosion protection owing to its excellent barrier properties to gas and liquid. Unfortunately, the poor dispersion in waterborne epoxy resins and excessive surface defects limit the further application of GO. In this study, a novel GO-based nanofiller PZ-GO (GO modified by polyaniline-wrapped alpha-zirconium phosphate) was designed to endow waterborne epoxy coating (WEC) system with durable anti-corrosion performance. Among them, the modification of alpha-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) wrapped with polyaniline (PZ) for GO not only enhanced the dispersion of GO but also strengthened its barrier effect. Notably, as a linker between GO and α-ZrP, PANI could also endow the coating with active inhibition performance. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was introduced to investigate the effect of adding nanofillers on ‘Cure Index’ of composites. The ‘Cure Index’ of epoxy resins doped with PZ-GO was 1.139, which was considered as ‘Excellent’ according to the evaluation criteria, proving that the addition of PZ-GO significantly reinforced the curing degree of epoxy resins. A more complete cure of the epoxy resins could provide a stronger barrier ability for the coatings, thus improving the corrosion resistance of the coatings. Furthermore, the anticorrosive behavior of PZ-GO/WEC was analyzed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray tests. The results showed that PZ-GO/WEC exhibited great anticorrosive performance (the impedance value was maintained at 8.72 ×10 7 Ω.cm 2 after immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 80 days). In particular, PZ-GO/WEC also demonstrated great active inhibition performance. In addition, the active inhibition mechanism of PZ-GO/WEC was revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the corrosion products. All results proved that the excellent corrosion protection properties of PZ-GO/WEC for carbon steels originated from the outstanding barrier ability of PZ-GO/WEC and the active inhibition of PANI. In this study, graphene oxide-based nano-fillers for anticorrosive reinforcement of waterborne epoxy coating were prepared by a facile process. In details, α-zirconium phosphate nanosheets with the size of 0.5μ to 1μ was fabricated by a simple hydrothermal reaction. Then, wrapping polyaniline on the surface of α-zirconium phosphate was achieved through in-situ polymerization. Further, graphene oxide was modified with smaller laminar polyaniline-coated alpha-zirconium phosphate via π-π interaction through facile ultrasonic vibration process. • A novel GO-based nanofiller PZ-GO with high barrier abilities and active inhibition properties. • PZ-GO endows waterborne epoxy coating with durable anti-corrosive performance. • PZ-GO/WEC exhibited great active inhibition performance.

Biofunctionalization of Poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) Using Potent NorA Efflux Pump Inhibitors Immobilized on Nanometric Alpha-Zirconium Phosphate to Reduce Biofilm Formation.

Polymeric composites, where bioactive species are immobilized on inorganic nanostructured matrix, have received considerable attention as surfaces able to reduce bacterial adherence, colonization, and biofilm formation in implanted medical devices. In this work, potent in-house S. aureus NorA efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), belonging to the 2-phenylquinoline class, were immobilized on nanometric alpha-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) taking into advantage of acid-base or intercalation reactions. The ZrP/EPI were used as filler of poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to obtain film composites with a homogeneous distribution of the ZrP/EPI fillers. As reference, PLGA films loaded with ZrP intercalated with thioridazine (TZ), that is recognized as both a NorA and biofilm inhibitor, and with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CPX) were prepared. Composite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ability of the composite films, containing ZrP/EPI, to inhibit biofilm formation was tested on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, and it was compared with that of the composite loaded with ZrP/TZ. Finally, the antibacterial activity of CPX intercalated in ZrP was evaluated when used in combination with ZrP/EPI in the PLGA films.

Caffeine vehiculation into alpha-zirconium phosphate: a multifunctional intercalation product and its application for modified topical release

Zirconium phosphate is able to intercalate basic molecules and it is an effective drug carrier that can be used to project slow release for topical applications.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoparticles based mixed matrix membranes for removal of heavy metal ions

The removal of heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater is essential as they pose serious threats to human health and the environment. In this study, novel poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-alpha-zirconium phosphate (PVDF-α-ZrP) mixed matrix membranes (MMM) were prepared via the phase inversion method. Membranes with different α-ZrP nanoparticles (NPs) loadings (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 wt%) were fabricated. The impacts of α-ZrP NP loading on the membrane’s morphology, functionality, surface charge, and hydrophilicity were evaluated. Fourier-transform infrared and the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed to verify the presence of α-ZrP NPs in the fabricated membranes. The PVDF membranes became more hydrophilic after incorporating the α-ZrP NPs. The thermal and mechanical stability and porosity of the PVDF-α-ZrP MMM were higher than those of the pristine PVDF membrane. The increased hydrophilicity, pore size and porosity and reduced surface roughness of the PVDF-α-ZrP membrane led to significant flux increase and reduced fouling propensity. The PVDF-α-ZrP membrane containing 1.00 wt% α-ZrP was capable of removing 42.8% (Cd2+), 93.1% (Cu2+), 44.4% (Ni2+), 91.2% (Pb2+), and 44.2% (Zn2+) from an aqueous solution at neutral pH during filtration.

Ion-Exchange Kinetics of Alpha-Zirconium Phosphate Nanoplatelets for Application in Targeted Alpha Therapy

ABSTRACT The loading and kinetics of uptake for the inorganic ion-exchange material, α-zirconium phosphate, Zr(HPO4)2•H2O, were investigated with ions relevant to targeted alpha therapy including natural Cs+ (as a surrogate for 221Fr), natural Bi3+ (as a surrogate for 213Bi), and natural La3+ (as a surrogate for 225Ac). The narrow interlayer spacing of the α-phase (d = 7.6 Å) was found not to be advantageous with respect to rapid ion exchange, while converting the material to the hydrated Na-phase (d = 12.2 Å) allowed ion exchange to proceed more quickly, reaching equilibrium in under an hour. High loading was achieved for all three ions, at 72 ± 4% for Cs+ and 95 ± 5% for La3+ at pH 3 and 108 ± 10% for Bi3+ at pH 0.5. Leaching profiles of the loaded materials in a simulated human plasma environment of 10 mM carbonate buffer at pH 7.4 and 37°C, showed negligible release, with less than 1% in all cases. The ion-exchange properties and overall benign nature of zirconium phosphate highlight these materials as a promising platform for a targeted alpha therapy drug-delivery vehicle.

Freestanding α-zirconium phosphate based nacre-like composite films cast from water

Freestanding nacre-like composite films based on alpha-Zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) and poly(etheramine) were prepared by casting from water. The α-ZrP nanoplatelets self-assemble and organise to produce a unidirectional nanoplatelet layered structure with the poly(etheramine) acting as both an exfoliating agent and binder for neighbouring nanoplatelets. The terminal amine binds to the α-ZrP through a cationic exchange reaction and once ionically bound, the hydrophobic polyether chain repels the adjacent α-ZrP sheet aiding effective exfoliation. Consequently, the spacing between nanoplatelets increases with increasing poly(etheramine) content. The resultant nacre-like structures can dissipate energy via different mechanisms such that when under tensile or compressive loading significant increases in mechanical properties are possible. Several mechanical property improvements (with respect to the 95:5 composition) were achieved, including a 44- and 200-fold increase in reduced Young’s modulus (Er) and Hardness (H) (from nanoindentation measurements) and, 341% in tensile modulus E, (83:17), 572% in tensile strength σ, (77:23), 707% in maximum strain ε (71:29) and 3981% in tensile toughness UT, (71:29) (from tensile testing). The barrier performance, to water vapour, of these freestanding nacre-like films per unit thickness was comparable to several polymers, such as EVOH, Nylon 6,6 and poly(lactic acid)(PLA).

Partially Exfoliated α-ZrP Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Nanocomposites by Simultaneous Co-polymerization and Brønsted Acid–Base Strategy

In the present work, allylamine exfoliated alpha zirconium phosphate (AXZrP) reinforced unsaturated polyester (UP) nanocomposites were developed and characterized. Exfoliation of alpha zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) was achieved through Bronsted acid–base interaction using allylamine in different mole ratios. The partially exfoliated α-ZrP possesses a higher concentration of α-ZrP than completely exfoliated. Subsequently, the partially exfoliated α-ZrP was reinforced with UP resin to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting composite. Detailed studies using scanning electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction analysis suggest that the AXZrP/UP composite possesses a homogeneous distribution of α-ZrP within the UP matrices. For 10.0 wt% AXZrP/UP composite, the mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength were observed to enhance up to 56% and 61% respectively. Further, appreciable enhancement in the flame retardant behavior with V0 rating and high thermal stability with LOI value of 27.1% for 10.0 wt% AXZrP/UP composite was observed. Similarly, the catalytic effect of α-ZrP contributes to enhancing the flame retardant behavior along with rapid char formation.

Synergistic effect of OZrP on the combustion properties and thermal degradation behavior of intumescent flame retardant polylactide

Flame retardant polylactic acid (PLA) composites were prepared and studied using melamine phosphate (MP) as an intumescent flame retardant and organophilic alpha-zirconium phosphate (OZrP) as a synergistic agent. The flammability properties of PLA composites were investigated by UL-94 tests and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) experiments. It’s found that the incorporation of organically modified layered OZrP can further improve the flame retardancy of PLA composites and there exists an optimum content of OZrP. The SEM results about the char indicate that more homogeneous and compact char were formed with OZrP. In addition, the effect of OZrP on thermal degradation process of PLA composites was analyzed using in situ FTIR. The results show that the addition of OZrP decreases the onset decomposition temperature, but increases thermal stability at high temperature.

Mechanical behavior of self-curing epoxy nanocomposites

Alpha-zirconium phosphate (Zr(O3POH)2·H2O, α-ZrP) nanoplatelets were exfoliated using tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide (TBA) and cured through the anionic phosphonate on the surface of the exfoliated α-ZrP-TBA. α-ZrP-TBA can both initiate an anionic polymerization of epoxy monomers and serve as reinforcing agents for epoxy matrix. The epoxy/α-ZrP-TBA nanocomposites exhibit greatly increased Young's modulus of 4.3 GPa, while maintaining a relative high glass transition temperature of 110 °C. In addition, epoxy/α-ZrP-TBA nanocomposites are highly toughenable. With an addition of 3 vol% core-shell rubber particles, the KIC value is improved from 0.55 to 1.55 MPa m1/2. The usefulness of the present study for preparation of high-performance thermosetting polymers is discussed.

Synthesis and characterization of size-controlled nano-Cu2O deposited on alpha-zirconium phosphate with excellent antibacterial property

Ultra-small cuprous oxide (<10 nm) was deposited on the exterior face of alpha-zirconium phosphate (ɑ-ZrP). These nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized using ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and ɑ-ZrP sheets as a chelating agent and template, respectively. In this article, nanosized cuprous oxide (Cu2O) loaded on the exterior face of ɑ-ZrP (Cu2O@ZrP) was prepared via a simple and convenient method. The coordination effect of EDTA stabilized the copper ions in solution and prevented agglomeration of Cu2O seed crystals into larger-sized particles. Moreover, the ɑ-ZrP sheets simultaneously acted as a template to further inhibit the growth of Cu2O grains. The Cu2O nanoparticles with the particle size of about 4 nm were uniformly loaded on the ZrP nanosheet. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of Cu2O@ZrP hybrid materials and PET/Cu2O@ZrP antibacterial fabric were studied against E. coli (ATCC 25922) and S. aureus (ATCC 6538) by counting the number of surviving colonies. Ultra-small Cu2O of the Cu2O@ZrP composites lead to excellent antibacterial activity. It demonstrated that Cu2O@ZrP hybrid materials show great promise as antibacterial material widely used in various fields.

Electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding of epoxy nanocomposite foams containing functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract Epoxy/functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotube (EP/F-MWCNT) microcellular foams were fabricated through a supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2 ) foaming method. MWCNTs with carboxylation treatment were disentangled by using alpha-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) assisting dispersion method and functionalized with sulfanilamide. The F-MWCNTs were redispersed in acetone for mixing with epoxy resins to prepare nanocomposites. It was found that the dispersion of MWCNTs could be improved, thus heterogeneous nucleation effect of F-MWCNTs took place effectively during the foaming process, resulting in the formation of microcellular structure with larger cell density and smaller cell size. The volume conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding performance of foamed EP/F-MWCNT nanocomposites were studied. When the F-MWCNT addition was 5 wt%, the conductivity of the foamed EP/F-MWCNT nanocomposites was 3.02 × 10 −4 S/cm and the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) reached 20.5 dB, significantly higher than the corresponding results of nanocomposite counterparts, indicating that introducing microcellular structure in EP/F-MWCNT nanocomposites would beneficial to improve their electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding performance.

Functionalization of α-ZrP by 1,2-Epoxypropane for Further Modification

To prepare alpha zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) with high interlayer distance, grafting ratio and thermal stability, 1,2-epoxypropane was used to modify α-ZrP as the epoxy group reacting with P-OH on the external and internal surfaces of α-ZrP to form P-O-C bonds after small amines pre-intercalation. Different characterization techniques were used, including X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Carbon Mass Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C MAS NMR). The results of XRD confirmed the pre-intercalation of amino-propane and the intercalation of 1,2-epoxypropane, as the interlayer distance increased from 7.5 Å to 16.9 Å and 15.3 Å, respectively. FT-IR and 13C MAS NMR results confirmed the formation of P-O-C bonds between 1,2-epoxypropane and α-ZrP. TGA analysis showed that the grafting ratio of 1,2-epoxypropane was 19.44%.

Thermal Stability of Optically Transparent Alpha-Zirconium Phosphate/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites with High Particle Loading

Polymeric nanocomposites have gained attention over the past few decades for their enhanced thermal stability and degradation. However, the reactions involved in a polymer nanocomposite can vary significantly from system to system, making it necessary to investigate novel nanofillers in search for more effective materials. Nanocomposites comprised of alpha-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanosheets in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared with a wide range of nanoparticle loadings (0, 5, 10, and 30 wt.% ZrP in PMMA). The ZrP nanocomposites were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanocomposites were well dispersed and optically transparent as shown by XRD and UV-vis. However in the UV region, transparent ZrP nanocomposites possessed excellent UV scattering properties, significantly reducing the transmittance of UV-light, while remaining transparent to the visual spectrum. Thermal stability studies using TGA and DTG showed the peak mass loss rate (PMLR) was reduced by 10% and simultaneously shifted to higher temperatures by 41 °C. Since the nanocomposites in this work cover such a large range of ZrP loadings, large amounts of high-temperature residuals were encountered after TGA studies, indicating that the high loading ZrP nanocomposites are largely noncombustible. In addition, DSC studies showed that ZrP content does affect the glass transition temperature, but not enough to limit the application in which ZrP nanocomposites could be used. These results point to ZrP nanocomposites being useful as polymer replacements, behaving like polymers until the event of a fire, in which case they are largely noncombustible.

Flammability and carbonization of high-impact polystyrene/α-zirconium phosphate nanocomposites

High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)/organophilic alpha-zirconium phosphate (organophilic α-ZrP, OZrP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending method. The XRD and high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy results showed that an intercalated/exfoliated structure of nanocomposites was formed. The thermal degradation behaviors indicated that the HIPS/OZrP nanocomposites displayed similar thermo-oxidative stability with that of HIPS, and α-ZrP could promote the formation of char residue of the nanocomposites. The combustion behaviors revealed that the addition of α-ZrP could reduce the value of peak heat release rate (HRR) and mass loss rate (MLR) of the nanocomposites. The peak HRR value of HIPS/OZrP nanocomposites with 3 wt% OZrP was 17 % lower than that of pure HIPS. The trends of MLR were the same as those of the HRR, which indicated that the mechanism of the observed reduction both in HRR and MLR by addition of the layered phosphate depended mainly on the condensed phase flame-retardant process instead of the gas phase flame-retardant process. It could be observed that HIPS left no residues after burning, whereas the HIPS/OZrP nanocomposites left the consistent and compact char residues. Moreover, graphite sheets and carbon nanotubes were observed in the char residues of nanocomposites. The experimental results suggested that polymers would have improved fire performance with the high crystallization of char residue in the presence of α-ZrP.

An intelligent displacement pumping film system: A new concept for enhancing heavy metal ion removal efficiency from liquid waste

A concept of electrochemically switched ion exchange (ESIX) hybrid film system with piston-like proton pumping effect for the removal of heavy metal ions was proposed. Based on this concept, a novel ESIX hybrid film composed of layered alpha zirconium phosphate (α-Zr(HPO4)2; α-ZrP) nanosheets intercalated with a potential-responsive conducting polyaniline (PANI) was developed for the removal of Ni2+ ions from wastewater. It is expected that the space between α-ZrP nanosheets acts as the reservoir for the functional ions while the intercalated PANI works as the potential-sensitive function element for piston-like proton pumping in such ESIX hybrid films. The prepared ESIX hybrid film showed an excellent property of rapid removal of Ni2+ ions from wastewater with a high selectivity. The used film was simply regenerated by only altering the applied potential. The ion pumping effect for the ESIX of Ni2+ ions using this kind of film was proved via XPS analysis. The proposed ESIX hybrid film should have high potential for the removal of Ni2+ ions and/or other heavy metal ions from wastewater in various industrial processes.

Effects of alpha-zirconium phosphate on thermal degradation and flame retardancy of transparent intumescent fire protective coating

Organophilic alpha-zirconium phosphate (OZrP) was used to improve the thermal and fire retardant behaviors of the phenyl di(acryloyloxyethyl)phosphate (PDHA)-triglycidyl isocyanurate acrylate (TGICA)-2-phenoxyethyl acrylate (PHEA) (PDHA-TGICA-PHEA) coating. The morphology of nanocomposite coating was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of OZrP on the flame retardancy, thermal stability, fireproofing time and char formation of the coatings was investigated by microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) and scanning electric microscope (SEM). The results showed that by adding OZrP, the peak heat release rate and total heat of combustion were significantly reduced. The highest improvement was achieved with 0.5wt% OZrP. XPS analysis indicated that the performance of anti-oxidation of the coating was improved with the addition of OZrP, and SEM images showed that a good synergistic effect was obtained through a ceramic-like layer produced by OZrP covered on the surface of char.