Binders For Use Research Articles

Effects of biogenic sulfuric acid on simulated concrete septic tanks

Concrete is the major construction material for infrastructure development. Concrete sewer septic tanks are Constructed using the conventional ordinary portland cement (OPC) and the Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). However, OPC based concrete sewer systems are susceptible to biological, mechanical, and chemical degradation. Degradation of the concrete septic leads to their failure hence imposing tremendous environmental problems. The aftermath is the emergence of sanitation-related diseases. The wastewater from failing septic systems leads to contamination of the groundwater or the surface water resulting in the pollution of drinking water. Therefore, the need to explore other possibilities and potential construction materials to achieve sustainable sanitation is inevitable. The use of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) in the construction of degradation-resistant concrete sewer septic systems has not been well explored in Kenya. LC3 concrete is resistant to the deterioration effects of aggressive media such as acids, chlorides, and sulfates. This paper presents experimental performance and findings of LC3 in aggressive media vis a vis OPC. The LC3 was formulated by mixing clinker, Calcined clay, limestone, and gypsum at percentages of 50 %, 30 %, 15 %, and 5 % respectively. Compressive strength, Sorptivity, and weight loss during the wet and dry cycles for both LC3 and OPC were evaluated. Simulated concrete septic tanks made of LC3 and OPC were made by casting cubes at water cement ratio of 0.5 and cured in fresh water at ambient temperature for 28 days. These cubes were passed through a regime of W-D cycles in the 3% concentration of Biogenic sulfuric acid. It was observed that after 28 days of curing OPC cubes had slightly higher compressive strength than LC3. However LC3 concrete cubes are expected to have higher compressive strength than the OPC. Cubes curing time increases due to increased pozzolanic activity. Biogenic sulphuric acid attacks on hydrated cement products cause a decrease in compressive strength. The water absorption profile of LC3 cubes was lower as compared to OPC cubes. In conclusion, LC3 cubes had a high potential of resisting degradation as compared to OPC cubes. LC3 show more impressive performance, hence LC3 It’s a potential binder for use in the construction of sewer system.
 Keywords: Septic tank, Sorptivity, compressive strength, wet-dry cycles, biological, mechanical, and chemical degradation, sustainable sanitation, LC3.

Slips, films, and material choice: Long-distance hydrothermal pigments on Middle Mississippian red ware

Using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) and Raman spectroscopy, we investigate red pigment applied to ceramic vessels as a slip or film (pigment + liquid + binder mixture) in the midcontinental United States. We find that during the CE 1000–1200 period, potters at Cahokia and nearby sites in the American Bottom region of the Middle Mississippi Valley used pigments originating from hydrothermal deposits. The closest hydrothermal deposits are located over 50 km away in the Ozark Highlands and the pigments may have been collected from areas already exploited for other resources. Approaching slips or films as pigment + liquid + binder mixtures integrates ceramic raw materials research with pigment research and encourages us to consider a variety of pigment options, some of which require binders for use on ceramics.

Intermolecular interaction-controlled novel azo dyes for use in the high-performance color conversion layers of microdisplays

We synthesized four novel red azo dyes for use in a low-temperature-cured white organic light-emitting diode color conversion layer. The various substituents were introduced into the synthesized dyes to induce steric strain within the base compound for enhancing their solubility. All synthesized dyes exhibited excellent maximum absorption peaks at 521 nm, and AR4, in particular, displayed the highest molar absorptivity of 42 500. Via optimal mixing, the synthesized dyes were used to form red color resists for use in microdisplay color conversion layers. As a white backlight was applied to the optimized spin-coated films, the AR3 and AR4 films, with large dihedral angles between their substituents and diazonium planes, exhibited excellent color coordinates and transmittances, as intermolecular aggregation was inhibited. The color resists fabricated using the AR3 and AR4 dyes also displayed clear micropatterning results, confirming their high compatibility with low-temperature curing binders for use in future display production.

Trinseo reports compostable latex binder for recycled paper board, new depolymerization plant, bio PS for cutleries and fridges, ester-based TPU for footwear, and acrylic faux marble

On December 7, 2023, Trinseo, a specialty materials solutions provider, announced the launch of LIGOS™ BH 7340 SCE binder, the company's compostable first bio-hybrid binder for use in coated paper board products.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Cereblon Binders for Use in Targeted Protein Degradation.

Modulating the chemical composition of cereblon (CRBN) binders is a critical step in the optimization process of protein degraders that seek to hijack the function of this E3 ligase. Small structural changes can have profound impacts on the overall profile of these compounds, including depth of on-target degradation, neosubstrate degradation selectivity, as well as other drug-like properties. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a series of novel CRBN binding moieties. These CRBN binders were evaluated for CRBN binding and degradation of common neosubstrates Aiolos and GSPT1. A selection of these binders was employed for an exploratory matrix of heterobifunctional molecules, targeting CRBN-mediated degradation of the androgen receptor.

Comparative study between coal tar pitch and lower polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) alternative binders for use in taphole clays

The use of alternative low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) binders in taphole clays is essential due to health and environmental concerns associated with PAHs. Binders that could potentially substitute for highly-temperature coal tar pitch (CTPht) or coal tar (CTht) in taphole clays were investigated. These include coal tar pitch blend, low PAH coal tar pitch, petroleum-based binders and wood-based tars from various sources. The binders were characterized according to chemical composition, with an emphasis on the identification of 16-EPA-PAH (well-known carcinogens), as well as rheology and volatilization behaviour. The alternative binders were ranked according to the analytical results, with the coal tar reference binder, CTht, serving as the benchmark. Beechwood tar (Tar-BW) and crude waxy oil (CWO) showed the most favourable results for replacing CTht in taphole clay. Both have higher viscosities than CTht, lower BE-values (indicating lower toxicity), and higher degrees of mass loss over a wider temperature range.

Mechanical assessment of proprietary and improvised pelvic binders for use in the prehospital environment

IntroductionPelvic fractures often result from high-energy trauma and are associated with a 10% mortality rate and significant morbidity. Pelvic binders are applied in suspected pelvic injury to stabilise fractured bone,...

Intermolecular interaction engineering to enhance Lithium-Ion storage in Two-Dimensional oxidized silicon nanosheet anodes

Unlike conventional Si anodes for use in Li-ion batteries, 2D oxidized Si nanosheets, i.e., siloxene, undergo negligible volume expansion during cycling owing to their unique geometries and chemical structures. Nevertheless, siloxene receives less attention than other Si-based nanostructures, partly because the interactions of siloxene with conventional binders and their effects on charge storage are largely unexplored. Herein, the intermolecular interactions of siloxene with four typical binders (alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylic acid, and α-polyvinylidene fluoride) are investigated to enhance the electrochemical performance using a simple method. The binders are selected using two criteria, i.e., polarity and functional groups, and they exhibit different intermolecular interactions with siloxene. Particularly, alginate forms the strongest intermolecular bonds, which are attributed to dipole–dipole attractions between the H atoms in siloxene and the OH groups in alginate. The trend of the intermolecular binding strengths of the binders is consistent with those of the cycling stabilities and rate performances. The alginate-based siloxene electrode displays an excellent charge capacity retention of 66 % after 500 cycles at 200 mA g−1, which is unprecedented for pristine siloxene anodes. This study provides useful guidelines for designing binders for use in electrode materials with chemical structures similar to that of siloxene.

A first-principles study of self-healing binders for next-generation Si-based lithium-ion batteries

Silicon anodes typically suffer from poor intrinsic conductivity and dramatic volume change during charge/discharge cycles, which hinders their commercialization in high energy density lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). This issue can be alleviated by embedding particles of the active material in an adhesive matrix, such as a polymer binder, that can accommodate large volume changes during lithiation and delithiation. Several research efforts have aimed at enhancing the adhesive, elastic, electrical, and ionic properties of binders for use in silicon anodes. Therefore, stable silicon/polymer interfaces are crucial for the performance of high capacity silicon-based LiBs. In this research, we focused on the definition of the mechanisms that determine the adhesion properties of a couple of recently proposed self-healing polymers, on Si-surfaces. The structural and electronic properties as well as the energetics of boronic acid-doped polyaniline and polyvinyl alcohol monomers absorbed on Si (110) and Si (111) surfaces have been investigated through first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. We showed that the coabsorption of these two monomers increases the absorption energy and in general improves the adhesion properties of both polymers on both Si-surfaces, especially on the Si (111) facet.

Prioritization of habitat construction materials on Mars based on multi-criteria decision-making

Mars is the most accessible planet in the solar system for habitation and could serve as a base for exploring more distant planets. Space agencies and scientists worldwide continue exploring Mars to gain more geologic and atmospheric information in preparation for constructing space habitats. The harsh planetary conditions of Mars require the development of new or modified methods for building infrastructure and formulating binders. Each type of concrete has advantages and disadvantages, and we need to find the best binder for use in construction on Mars.In this study, eight construction materials, including Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), sulfur concrete, geopolymer, sintered material, polymer-bound regolith, products of geo-thermite reactions, regolith-based magnesium oxychloride, and microbial-induced calcite precipitation, are reviewed according to 14 criteria. The criteria are availability, shipping, water requirement, technical working conditions, curing time, temperature, total required energy, strength, durability, cosmic radiation shield (density and hydrogen content), additives needed, sustainability, safety, and recyclability. We applied the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach to assign a weighting to each criterion. Finally, we used three multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to determine the most suitable mortar for construction under the harsh conditions on Mars.The results show that if the general conditions of Mars are considered uniform such as different temperatures and geologies dependent on location, geopolymer concrete is the best material for construction based on Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), and Weighted Aggregates Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) methods, and sintered material concrete and sulfur concrete are equally ranked second. Correspondingly, five concretes of Portland cement, products of geo-thermite reactions, regolith-based magnesium oxychloride, polymer-bound regolith, and microbial-induced calcite precipitation are the most efficient construction materials, respectively. In addition, using the Fuzzy AHP method, the criteria of shipping and sustainability have the highest and lowest weighting, respectively, in the decision-making process. The use of MCDM methods and inductive analysis provides a scientific approach that enables the comparison of the potential of several space concrete materials for better decision making in future research and construction within the next 10–20 years.

Co-valorization of sediments incorporating high and low organic matter with alkali-activated GGBS and hydraulic binder for use in road construction

This study investigates the valorization of dredged sediments containing high and low organic matter (OM) content with alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and conventional hydraulic binders (HB). The objective is to develop a sustainable material with the necessary qualities for road construction. Research is conducted on dredged sediments from the French port of Cherbourg (CHER-ALL sediments) and the dam in the Maurienne Valley of France (MOR-ALL sediments), with high and low levels of OM content, respectively. After the determination of physico-chemical and mineralogical characteristics, high organic CHER-ALL sediments were first valorized using conventional HB and then co-valorized using low carbon footprint alkaline activated byproducts (AAB). The alkali activation of the byproduct (GGBS) was performed with a chemical activator named NeoliX. AAB and HB were utilized to treat the dredged sediments to compare their mechanical performances as well as environmental impacts. In terms of mechanical performance, the obtained results revealed that AAB outperformed traditional HB, and concerning the environmental impacts, byproducts have no carbon footprint except for their transportation. As a consequence, AAB has also been utilized to co-valorize the sediments from the Maurienne dam (MOR-ALL sediments) as well. AAB co-valorization of these two sediments (CHER-ALL and MOR-ALL) with varying degrees of OM content facilitates an understanding of the effects of OM concentration on mechanical properties. The high OM content of the CHER-ALL sediment (>17%), regardless of the proposed mixing with traditional HB, proved to impede the valorization, since the 28-day UCS did not exceed 1 MPa. The CBR as well as ultimate tensile strength (UTS) testing confirms the reported trends from the UCS experiments. In addition, the presence of a high OM concentration significantly decreased the mechanical properties of dredging sediments co-valorized with AAB. However, depending on the mass percentage of sediment (wt%) in the mix design, it was achievable to attain the required minimum strength value of 1 MPa with 30% and 70% of CHER-ALL and MOR-ALL sediments, respectively. Even if the OM content of sediments is high, alkaline activation can be employed to co-valorize them, as demonstrated by these encouraging results. The quantity of sediment to be co-valorized is depend upon their OM content.

Study of Clayey Soils Stabilized with Ladle Furnace Slag as Alternative Binder for Use in Road Works

Steelmaking industry generates a large volume of by-products that not always can be reintroduced into production processes, such as the steelmaking process itself or the production of cement. This is the case of ladle furnace slag (LFS), whose potential use is limited and usually ends up in landfill. This work investigates the feasibility of using LFS as binder for clayey soils stabilization in substitution of lime. The main parameters evaluated are plasticity index, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). The results show that the strength behavior of the mixtures is remarkable, obtaining increases in the CBR index between 8-14 times above unmodified clays. The mechanical performance base on UCS results show improvements of 85 % relative to natural soils three days after mixing. Moreover, if the curing time is up to 90 days, the UCS doubles or triples its value. Depending on the chemical composition of the soils, the performances of the mixtures are different, but in all cases the results are positive and encourage further research for the incorporation of ladle furnace slag as stabilizing agent.

Gelatin and Alginate Binders for Simplified Battery Recycling

The water-soluble biopolymers, gelatin and sodium alginate, were investigated as potential alternative binders for use in lithium-ion battery anodes. The polymers were modified using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) made from choline chloride and glycerol. It was found that the addition of the DES resulted in greater plasticity and adhesion with respect to the unmodified binders and also to the current commonly used PVDF or CMC/SBR binders. Both the modified gelatin and sodium alginate binders are dispersible in water and can be rapidly delaminated by using mild ultrasound. These latter points are key steps in the function of the anode material and the subsequent recycling at the end of life. Imaging of the coatings formed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the two types of binders dispersed themselves differently around the graphite particles, with the gelatin binder being distributed across the entire electrode surface, whereas the sodium alginate binder remained located at the hydrophilic edge planes of the graphite.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Cobalt Ferrite Coatings for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

In this paper, two novel procedures based on powder sedimentation, thermal treatment, and galvanostatic deposition were proposed for the preparation of porous cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) coatings with a metallic and organic binder for use as catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrochemical properties of the obtained electrode materials were determined as well, using both dc and ac methods. It was found that cobalt ferrite coatings show excellent electrocatalytic properties towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with overpotential measured at a current density of 10 mAcm−2 from 287 to 295 mV and a Tafel slope of 35–45 mVdec−1. It was shown that the increase in the apparent activity of the CoFe2O4 coatings with an organic binder results mainly from a large electrochemically active area. Incorporation of the nickel binder between the CoFe2O4 particles causes an increase in both the conductivity and the electrochemically active area. The Tafel slopes indicate that the same rate-determining step controls the OER for all obtained coatings. Furthermore, it was shown that the CoFe2O4 electrodes exhibit no significant activity decrease after 28 h of oxygen evolution. The proposed coating preparation procedures open a new path to develop high-performance OER electrocatalysts.

PTC-thermistors Based on Polymer Composite Material for Use in the Agricultural Sector

The agro-industrial complex plays a key role in the domestic economy and requires improvement and modernization of existing and creation of new technologies. The introduction of intelligent and automated systems and digital methods leads to the need for the development of control systems and sensors that ensure accuracy and operational stability. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in developing the polymer composite materials based on an epoxy oligomeric binder for use as PTC sensors. (Materials and methods). The compositions were mixed according to the calculations of generalized parameters of the structure of a dispersed-filled polymer composite material. The method of thermomechanical analysis was used to study the dependence of electrical resistivity on temperature for samples of composite material based on ED-20 epoxy resin with different filler concentrations. The resistance was measured by multimeter to the contacts of the sample. Copper fabric was used as contacts. (Results and discussion) The article considers the possibility of using the obtained composite materials on the example of the technological process of grain drying, where the temperature of the drying agent can vary in the temperature range from 40-50 to 120-140 degrees Celsius. There is a possibility of «programming» PTC sensors based on polymer composite materials by varying the qualitative and quantitative composition to solve the necessary tasks and the operation of PTC sensors in different temperature ranges. (Conclusions) The developed samples of polymer composite materials have the prospect of application as PTC sensors for various technological processes of agriculture. The developed samples of various compositions are sensitive to the required temperature ranges.

A Lignosulfonate Binder for Hard Carbon Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries: A Comparative Study

An important factor in the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is the use of cheap and sustainable materials. Sodium lignosulfonate, a lignin derivative, is demonstrated here as an attractive, “green”, water-soluble, and potentially cost-effective binder for use in hard carbon anodes for SIBs. A comparison of its battery cycling performance is made against other binders including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and lignin, obtained from the kraft process, as well as sodium alginate, derived from algae. Apart from lignin, which requires processing in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, the other three binders are water-soluble. Lignosulfonate shows comparable or better performance, with high capacity retention and stability, when using 1 M NaPF6 in propylene carbonate or ethylene carbonate:diethyl carbonate electrolytes for both half- and full-cells (against a Prussian white cathode). Further improvements are observed when including styrene-butadiene rubber as a co-binder. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates similar solid electrolyte interphase compositions after the initial sodium insertion for both lignosulfonate and carboxymethyl cellulose binders. However, after subsequent cycling, the surface layer composition and thickness are found to be dependent on the binder. For the lignosulfonate-based electrode, the layer appears thicker but comprises a smaller fraction of carbon–oxygen species.

Corrosion and mechanical performance of HVOF WC-based coatings with alloyed nickel binder for use in marine hydraulic applications

Hydraulic components used in the maritime environment suffer damage due to the effects of corrosion and marine biofouling accumulation. The application of engineered coatings can overcome these problems. This study investigated the corrosion and mechanical performance of novel high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) sprayed ceramic-metal composite coatings; i.e., WC-18 wt% Hastelloy C and WC-10 wt% Ni-5 wt% Cr, designed for the protection of marine hydraulic components. A conventional atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) ceramic coating (i.e., Al2O3-40 wt% TiO2) and uncoated Monel K500 substrate were tested for benchmarking purposes. The corrosion performance of the samples was assessed using a combination of laboratory-based tests (i.e., electrochemical polarization, neutral salt spray, hot water immersion) and field exposure tests by immersion in seawater. The mechanical properties of the samples were assessed via a drop-weight impact test and the tensile adhesion test. The results showed that the HVOF coatings exhibited better corrosion resistance and mechanical performance compared to the baseline APS ceramic coating and uncoated Monel K500 substrate.

Hydraulic conductivity behaviour of expansive soil geopolymer binders

Geoenvironmental engineering facilities are required to be robust for effective long-term performance. In the present study, a robust experimental design approach was adopted for the development of expansive soil geopolymer binders for use as barriers in landfill systems. Palm oil fuel ash and quarry fines were used as precursor types (PT). The effects of other factors including precursor content, liquid activator type (LT), ratio of activator to precursor (A/P) and method of preparation were considered, in which compaction was done using British standard light energy. The results obtained show that the crucial factors which affect the soil geopolymer are the LT and A/P based on ANOVA. Two interactions including that between PT and LT and that of PT and A/P were found to be significant but yielded anti-synergistic effects on the hydraulic conductivity. The effect of moisture content on hydraulic conductivity for the two significant factors revealed that the variations in hydraulic conductivity are influenced by micro-level changes at the diffuse double layer, which affects the soil shrink-swell behaviour. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and image processing of the SEM images using Otsu multi-thresholding and watershed segmentation algorithm correlated changes in the hydraulic conductivity with the pore changes in the soil geopolymer. Moreover, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses further revealed the nuances, which occurred in the soil due to geopolymerisation.

A Study on the Red Clay Binder Stabilized with a Polymer Aqueous Solution

In this study, the performance evaluation was performed by adding a polymer aqueous (PA) solution as a new additive of the red clay binder for use in the rammed-earth construction method. The evaluation items were compressive strength, water erosion, shrinkage, crystal structure, and microstructure. As a result of the experiment, the binder was improved by efficiently bonding the silica particles by the polymerized polymer. It was confirmed that adding a PA solution to red clay enhances the compressive strength, which is further improved when 5 wt% poly(Acrylic acid(AA)-co-Acrylamide(AM)) is added to the PA solution. Microstructural analysis indicated that the addition of a PA solution facilitates effective bonding of the silica particles of red clay to form hydrogen bonding with poly(AA-co-AM) and encourages aggregate formation. Therefore, the study confirmed that PA solution can be applied to satisfy the performance requirements of the rammed-earth construction by improving the durability and strength of the binder.

Development of expansive soil geopolymer binders for use in waste containment facility

Waste containment facilities require liners and covers for safe waste disposal, which can be efficiently achieved using robust green technologies. In the present study, a systematic approach was adopted towards the development of reliable expansive soil geopolymers suitable for waste containment application. Various factors that influence geopolymerisation were considered including the precursor type (PT), precursor content, liquid alkali hydroxide type (LT), activator-to-precursor ratio (A/P) and method of preparation. Multiresponse optimisation for permeability, volumetric shrinkage and unconfined compressive strength was executed to achieve soil geopolymers that satisfy the regulatory requirement as hydraulic barrier materials. This was done using a robust experimental design and the utility concept to prescribe a framework for achieving reliable soil geopolymers. The results obtained show that significant interactions between the factors (PT × LT) and (PT × A/P) affected the response characteristics and consequently the soil geopolymer performance. The aptness of the multiresponse optimisation was confirmed at 95% confidence interval, which revealed that the developed soil geopolymers can be used in waste containment facility under certain conditions. Evidence of the geopolymerisation process was clarified using microstructural analyses. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy supported the formation of N–A–S–H and K–A–S–H gels. Moreover, diffraction patterns for new minerals such as muscovite and crystobalite were formed, with the disappearance of clay minerals. The presence of aluminosilicate gel binding systems was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The participation of clay minerals in the geopolymerisation distinguishes the developed expansive soil geopolymer from the conventional geopolymers developed for concrete applications.