Addition Of Carbon Black Research Articles

Classification of black plastic types by hyperspectral imaging based on long-wave infrared emission spectroscopy

Identification of black plastics poses a significant challenge in recycling due to the absorptive nature of carbon black additives. This work introduces a method where hyperspectral imaging in the long-wave infrared regime is used to distinguish between twelve samples of commercially available black plastics encompassing nine distinct polymer types. The spectral scanner comprises a scanning Fabry-Pérot interferometer and a thermal camera based on an uncooled microbolometer detector sensitive to wavelengths from 8 μm to 15 μm. A principal component model is combined with k-nearest neighbors to differentiate between plastic samples in hyperspectral images. The model successfully classifies five (PET, POM, PMMA, PA6, and PA66) out of nine black polymers, and the overall accuracy of the model is A=73.1 %.

Investigating the Effect of Steel Wire and Carbon Black from Worn Out Tyre on the Strength of Concrete

Technology in concrete is rapidly developing to improve the quality and properties of concrete. One of the many recycled materials is worn-out tyres. Currently, the use of tires is very widespread considering the use of vehicles that increase from time to time. Piles of discarded tires can cause a lot of damage to the environment. So, by using steel wire waste (SWW) as new fiber reinforcement in concrete and with the combination with carbon black (CB), it is hoped that, by doing this, not only it could improve the quality of concrete, but also preserves the environment. Therefore, the objective of this research was, to identify the properties of fresh concrete with the addition of SWW and CB, and also to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of hardened concrete, incorporating of SWW as additional fiber reinforcement and CB. For fresh concrete, workability using a slump test was conducted. Several tests were carried out on the properties of hardened concrete. Among them were compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and water absorption. The physical appearance of the concrete has also been examined and recorded. There are four batches of concrete which consist of one control batch and three batches of concrete with various weights of SWW which are in the portion of 300 g, 600 g, and 900 g, and the weight of CB is maintained at 300 g for all batches. For workability, all concrete batches with the addition of SWW and CB show acceptable workability. For the case of the density of fresh concrete, samples containing 900 g addition of SWW have the highest density which was 2520 kg/m³, as expected. Results for water absorption show that the lowest value is contributed by the control sample which was 7.6%. For compressive and flexural strength, 300 g addition of SWW has the highest value which was 28.52 MPa for compressive strength and 7.52 MPa for flexural strength. Lastly, for splitting tensile strength, the highest value was also obtained when 300 g addition of SW was added which was 5.4 MPa. To conclude, SWW and CB can be added to concrete to obtain comparable strength of concrete. However, some modifications could be made to both recycle materials to improve concrete performance.

Investigating thermal and UV ageing effects on crumb rubber modified bitumen enhanced with emission reduction agents and carbon black

Over time, bitumen experiences deterioration due to factors like the exposure to oxygen, solar irradiation, and temperature fluctuations. While laboratory techniques like rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure ageing vessel (PAV) were developed to simulate field ageing, they do not accurately replicate environmental factors normally occurring in the field, particularly solar irradiation. Limited research has focused on understanding the ageing processes of crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB). This study investigated how different ageing conditions affect the chemo-rheological properties of CRMB and CRMB with geopolymer-based fly ash (GFA), Portland cement paste (PCP), and carbon black (CB). GFA and PCP were added to reduce noxious fumes and VOC emissions from CRMB whereas CB is commonly employed as an antioxidant agent. RTFO and PAV were used to simulate short- and long-term ageing, while a SUNTEST XLS+ weatherometer was used for thermal and UV ageing simulations. A dynamic shear rheometer and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed for rheological and chemical analysis. Results indicated that extended exposure to thermal conditioning and UV irradiation had the most impact on the chemo-rheological properties of the binders. The incorporation of CR into bitumen enhanced ageing resistance and mitigated the potential for stiffening and embrittlement. The addition of GFA, PCP, and CB to CRMB had a negligible impact on the chemo-rheological properties when subjected to RTFO, PAV, and thermal conditioning. However, following UV ageing, these additives led to a slight increase in carbonyl bonds and greater stiffness compared to pure CRMB

Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials’ (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials.

Enhanced TiO2-Based Photocatalytic Volatile Organic Compound Decomposition Combined with Ultrasonic Atomization in the Co-Presence of Carbon Black and Heavy Metal Nanoparticles.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are representative indoor air pollutants that negatively affect the human body owing to their toxicity. One of the most promising methods for VOC removal is photocatalytic degradation using TiO2. In this study, the addition of carbon black (CB) and heavy metal nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated to improve the efficiency of a TiO2-based photocatalytic VOC decomposition system combined with ultrasonic atomization and ultraviolet irradiation, as described previously. The addition of CB and Ag NPs significantly improved the degradation efficiency. A comparison with other heavy metal nanoparticles and their respective roles are discussed.

Performance test of a heliostat field integrated PVT solar collector using organic phase change material and carbon black additives

The rising global awareness of environmental issues has brought about a rise in the adoption of green energy throughout our daily activities in recent decades. The radiation from the sun is utilized for thermal heating, electrical generation, and agriculture by Phase change materials (PCM) integrated PVT collector. However, the lower concentration ratio of solar radiation on flat plate collectors and the lower thermal conductivity of PCMs are the major drawbacks. In this present study, a Heliostat field concentrator was designed to integrate with a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector for the increase of the solar irradiance, and carbon black additives incorporated stearic acid (SA) were used in the underneath PVT collector to enhance the thermal conductivity of SA as well as the thermal efficiency of the system. The performance tests were carried out for both SA with carbon black and SA without carbon black additives for varying water flow rates of 0.0025 kg/s, 0.0035 kg/s, 0.0045 kg/s, and 0.0055 kg/s. The efficiency of the PV panels ranged from 10 % to 13 %. The maximum thermal efficiency was found to be 46.56 % when using SA with carbon black for the water flow rate of 0.0035 kg/s whereas the maximum thermal efficiency was 45.45 % in the case of SA without carbon black for that water flow rate. Especially contrasted with the other flow rates throughout the investigation, the average thermal efficiency increases by 6.83 % for the flow rate of 0.0035 kg/s after integrating carbon black with PCM. The experimented results showed the outlet temperature of water in the range of 50 °C-59 °C throughout the day which is sufficient for domestic hot water applications.

Exploring the influence of additives on the ignition, combustion and quenching of electrically controlled solid propellants

AbstractThe influence of additives on the decomposition and combustion characteristics of electrically controlled solid propellants was investigated through small scale experiments. Carbon black and aluminum additives were explored in a polyethylene oxide, lithium perchlorate propellant. Additives were used to improve the voltage response and their impact on ignition and combustion was characterized. The data showed that conductive additives can mitigate the loss of solid phase conductivity through solvent evaporation and that ignition delay decreases with higher voltage and solid phase conductivity. Steady‐state combustion experiments showed that electrical decomposition of the propellants proceeded more rapidly than a purely thermal stimulus illustrating the importance of electrochemistry in ECSP combustion. The combined effects of pressure and voltage on combustion rates were summarized in Saint‐Robert's burn relations. The regression rates increased with both applied voltage and pressure. The pressure deflagration limit of propellants with the carbon black additive was significantly reduced compared to a neat PEO/LP propellant, whereas the addition of 10 % aluminum did not affect the pressure deflagration limit.

Optimized NMC622 electrodes with a high content of the active material: A comprehensive study

The composition of lithium-ion battery positive electrodes, incorporating an active material, conductive carbon additives, and a binder, fundamentally influences the electrode physical and electrochemical characteristics. In this study, the properties of positive electrodes with a high amount of an active material (LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 98 wt-%), were tested with different ratios of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) additives, along with varying amounts of a PVDF binder. Consequently, the electrode rate capability improves with the increase of CNTs up to 30 wt-% in the total conductive carbon share and increasing the binder amount to 1 wt-%, attributed to the optimal balance of inactive material amount. The optimal composition is determined to be 98 wt-% NMC622, 1 wt-% PVDF, and 1 wt-% total conductive carbons, out of which CNT shares accounting for 30 wt-%. Furthermore, this study continues by comparing the optimal composition with the reference electrode (CNT-free) to assess the impact of CNTs on electrochemical performance. With CNTs present, the electrode attains higher energy density and specific capacity owing to uniform conductive network. Operando XRD and dilatometry experiments also reveal that CNTs reduce irreversible height change during cycling and minimize anisotropic lattice changes, thus enhancing capacity retention.

Strain Monitoring of Concrete Using Carbon Black-Based Smart Coatings.

Given the challenges we face of an ageing infrastructure and insufficient maintenance, there is a critical shift towards preventive and predictive maintenance in construction. Self-sensing cement-based materials have drawn interest in this sector due to their high monitoring performance and durability compared to electronic sensors. While bulk applications have been well-discussed within this field, several challenges exist in their implementation for practical applications, such as poor workability and high manufacturing costs at larger volumes. This paper discusses the development of smart carbon-based cementitious coatings for strain monitoring of concrete substrates under flexural loading. This work presents a physical, electrical, and electromechanical investigation of sensing coatings with varying carbon black (CB) concentrations along with the geometric optimisation of the sensor design. The optimal strain-sensing performance, 55.5 ± 2.7, was obtained for coatings with 2 wt% of conductive filler, 3 mm thickness, and a gauge length of 60 mm. The results demonstrate the potential of applying smart coatings with carbon black addition for concrete strain monitoring.

Effect of carbon black addition on electromechanical performance of flexible piezoelectric composite films

The exponential rate of advancement in flexible electronics and sensing technologies has enabled the detection of diverse vital signs and biomarkers with the use of exceptionally lightweight and flexible devices that affix to human skin. To support the continuous operation of these technologies and to enable them to track their multiple parameters, a flexible, self-powered energy supply unit with a high output is essential. In this work, we develop highly flexible and cost-effective three-phase carbon black (CB)–potassium sodium niobate (KNN)–epoxy resin composite films for sensing and energy-harvesting applications. The mechanical and piezoelectric properties of the films were studied by varying the CB and KNN contents. The potential of the proposed films for sensing and energy-harvesting on complex surfaces was demonstrated using a finger-bending test, during which a tenfold increase in the output voltage was observed for films containing 1 vol% CB. Our study provides a feasible solution for the development of high-performance piezoelectric sensing and energy-harvesting devices in soft wearable electronics.

Enhancing energy storage performance in flexible all-solid-state laser-induced graphene-based microsupercapacitors through the addition of carbon black and Prussian blue

In this study, we present an efficient and scalable method for the stepwise modification of polyimide (PI)-based laser-induced graphene using environmentally friendly additives. The as-prepared composite materials were applied as flexible electrodes for high-performance all-solid-state microsupercapacitors (MSCs). The electrochemical deposition of carbon black (CB) microparticles and Prussian blue (PB) inorganic redox dye onto the laser-induced graphene electrode surface significantly enhanced the electrochemical performance of the devices. The areal capacitance of MSCs increased by 116 % after the addition of CB to the electrode composition, 201 % after the modification of the electrode surface with PB, and 325 % after incorporating both CB and PB (CB-PB). The exhibited capacitance values at an applied current density of 0.1 mA·cm−2 are equal to 27.6, 38.5 and 54.4 mF·cm−2 upon incorporating CB, PB and CB-PB, respectively. Furthermore, the use of a PVA/H2SO4 gel electrolyte led to a large stability electrochemical window of 3.0 V, resulting in an energy density as high as 68.1 μWh·cm−2 with a power density of 0.3 mW·cm−2 at 0.10 mA·cm−2. Additionally, the MSCs modified with CB-PB showed an excellent electrochemical stability, retaining over 95.8 % of their initial capacitance after 6000 galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles. Overall, this study presents a facile, convenient, and scalable approach for designing cost-effective and high-performance MSCs with a low-carbon footprint suitable for powering low-energy-consuming electronics.

Waste printer ink as modifier for natural rubber/carbon black composites: No haste, use waste

From a sustainability perspective, achieving a greener future with a minimal carbon footprint requires maximizing waste materials' reuse. Typically, processing, price, properties, and performance are the four pillars of satisfying customer demands. Armed with this vision, the present work seeks to utilize waste printer ink (WPI) as a source of carbon in combination with low- and high-surface carbon black (LCB and HCB, respectively) additives to enhance the properties and performance of natural rubber (NR). Using WPI-modified CB together with NR underlines the importance of this work from a sustainability angle. By altering the type and amount of CB and WPI content, a broad properties window was unraveled, such that a very high elongation at break of ∼970% and elasticity of 53% were achieved under optimized conditions and formulation, when compared with 385% and 27.5% values of the reference blank NR sample, respectively. Thermal stability was also changed quite broadly, depending on the formulation. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) revealed that propanol and its derivatives were the most abundant volatiles detected, accounting for more than 85% of the total emission. Analyzing environmental contamination and properties investigations opened avenues to propose practical ideas and strategies in order to standardize the usage of WPI and CB additives in NR compounding.

3D printed composites achieve broadband electromagnetic wave absorption by introducing carbon black/carbonyl iron powder porous hollow microspheres

In this paper, carbon black (CB) and carbonyl iron powder (CIP) were successfully combined by solvent evaporation method to prepare CB-CIP porous hollow microspheres and used as reinforcement to prepare electromagnetic wave absorbing composites by 3D printing method. The effects of CB addition on the structure of the composite microspheres and the wave absorption performance were investigated. It is shown that the surfaces of hollow microspheres have many heterogeneous interfaces and pore defects, which can significantly enhance the polarization loss capability. The CB and CIP particles on the surfaces of hollow microspheres are intertwined, which makes the magnetic loss and dielectric loss form a synergistic absorption effect and enhance the microwave absorption capacity of the composite. The maximum reflection loss of sample CB/PLA-3 reaches –47.34 dB at a thickness of 2.5 mm, and the EAB is 4.56 GHz. The EAB reaches a maximum of 5.20 GHz at a thickness of 2 mm. The RCS simulation results of CB/PLA-3 at 11 GHz show that most of the RCS values of the samples are below −20 dBm2 in the range of –90° < Theta < 90°, indicating that the CB/PLA-3 samples has the capability of wide-angle microwave absorption. This paper provides an effective method for the design and preparation of broadband efficient absorbing materials.

Comparative study on the performance of a two-cell system of Flow Electrode Capacitive Mixing (F-CapMix) for continuous energy production

In recent years, Capacitive Mixing (CapMix) has garnered growing interest as a novel method for harnessing energy from the salinity gradient between seawater and freshwater. However, the challenge of extracting energy in a continuous way remains to be solved in traditional CapMix system. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of achieving continuous energy extraction through the use of a two-cell flow electrode Capacitive Mixing (F-CapMix) system. The performance of the F-CapMix system is evaluated under various experimental conditions including the activated carbon loading, carbon black additives, velocity of the flow electrode and feed water and external resistance in the circuit. The results suggest that the power density of the system can be significantly increased by approximately 800 % or 400 % with an increase in the carbon loading or the addition of carbon black additives, respectively. Meanwhile, reducing the flow rate of the flow electrode and feedwater from 20 mL/s to 5 mL/s was found to improve the system's performance. In addition, it is crucial that the external resistance is matched to the internal resistance of the cell for achieving a maximum power density. These results highlight the potential of F-CapMix and provide guidance for its further optimization.

Solvent-Free Environmentally Friendly Method to Prepare Thermo-Reversible Fully Bio-Based Elastomers.

Most rubber products come from petrochemical resources, which are increasingly in short supply. Rubber products that formed irreversible chemical bonds in the vulcanization process are difficult to recycle, resulting in a serious waste of resources. Therefore, it is important to prepare a kind of reprocessable biobased elastomers. Using furfuryl methacrylate (FMA) as the modified monomer, poly(dibutyl itaconate-myrcene-furfuryl methacrylate) (PDBIMFA) was synthesized by high-temperature emulsion polymerization successfully. The structure and compositions of PDBIMFA were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR, and the effects of different FMA contents on the structures and properties of PDBIMFA were systematically studied. Based on the Diels-Alder reaction, bismaleimide (BMI) and carbon black (CB) were introduced into PDBIMFA as cross-linking agents and reinforcing fillers, respectively, by the melt blending method, and PDBIMFA-BMI elastomer materials and CB/PDBIMFA-BMI elastomer composites with thermo-reversible cross-linking characteristics were prepared. The effects of the ratio of FMA and BMI on the mechanical properties of PDBIMFA-BMI were studied. PDBIMFA-BMI and CB/PDBIMFA-BMI were reprocessed twice, and the recovery rate of tensile strength was both more than 90%. The addition of CB was found to play a reinforcing role in the elastomer and with the introduction of the amount of CB, the reprocessability of composite remained at a good level. It is hoped that this research will provide a new strategy for the sustainable development of bio-based elastomer materials.

Comparative Study on UV Degradation of Black Chinese Lacquers with Different Additives.

This study investigates the UV degradation of black Chinese lacquer by incorporating carbon black and ferrous hydroxide as additives. The purpose of this research is to understand the effects of these additives on the degradation behavior of the lacquer film. Different concentrations of carbon black powder (1%, 3%, and 5%) and Fe(OH)2 (10%, 20%, and 30%) were added to the lacquer following traditional techniques. The main methods employed for analysis were gloss loss measurement, color change assessment, SEM imaging, FTIR spectroscopy, and XPS analysis. The results demonstrate a significant decrease in gloss levels and an increase in lightness values with increasing ultraviolet exposure time. SEM images reveal the formation of cracks in the lacquer film. FTIR analysis indicates oxidation of the urushiol side chain and an increase in oxidation products. The infrared difference spectrum highlights the differences between the additives, with Fe(OH)2 showing a lower impact on the spectra compared to carbon black. XPS analysis confirms the oxidation of the C-H functional group and the presence of C-O-C and C-OH groups. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the influence of carbon black and ferrous hydroxide additives on the UV degradation of black Chinese lacquer and suggests the protective effect of Fe(OH)2 against UV aging. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the degradation mechanisms and provide insights for improving the UV resistance of Chinese lacquer coatings. Further research can explore alternative additives and optimization strategies to mitigate UV-induced degradation.

Laser ignition of solid propellants using energetic nAl-PVDF optical sensitizers

Laser ignition of propellants could provide better control of the ignition process and improve safety. However, sustained laser ignition of solid propellants is often challenging in practice due to a lack of optical absorptivity at convenient wavelengths. Common optical additives, i.e., opacifiers, improve the absorption characteristics but are typically inert and fail to contribute to the reactivity of the propellant. In this work, ammonium perchlorate (AP)/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) composite propellants are optically sensitized by adding reactive nano-aluminum (nAl)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) particles (ranging from 600 to 1000 µm). These propellants are compared with neat (no additive) AP/HTPB, and other AP/HTPB propellants with carbon black or nano-aluminum (nAl) additives. The nAl/PVDF additives enable sustained ignition with relatively low laser energy levels (< 5 J/cm2) at common wavelengths (1064 nm). Only the propellant with added nAl/PVDF exhibited sustained ignition. The ignition delays of the nAl/PVDF propellant ranged from 2 to 5 ms, depending on the energy density of the laser. We propose that the sustained ignition in nAl/PVDF propellants is due to the lower critical energy needed for nAl/PVDF composites (estimated 0.5 J/cm2 compared to 15 J/cm2 needed for AP/HTPB based propellant). The propellant's calculated critical energy is similar to the reported values of nAl/PVDF composites. The nAl/PVDF based propellant has a faster burning rate and increased pressure dependence due to the PVDF's gas generation and rapid burning of aluminum particles near the surface. Potential applications for this propellant, such as flash ignition and subsurface ignition, are also explored.

A novel approach to plasticizer content calculation in an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber real-time aging study (NBR)

This study presents an analysis of plasticizers and other additives in elastomers using several techniques to obtain relevant information for aging investigations. Thermogravimetric quantification of polymeric matrix, polymeric matrix char, carbon black, inorganic substances, plasticizers and other additives is commonly used. However, the thermogravimetric weight loss attributed to plasticizers and other additives contains additional components whose contribution to the weight loss has not been considered. Unreported components include water and carbonyl sulfide, which develop over long-term elastomer aging, and should be separately accounted for. This study employed Karl-Fischer oven techniques for calculating water content and linked thermogravimetric analysis with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to measure carbonyl sulfide. Chromatoprobe-GC/MS was used to determine the ratio between rubber-related substances and JP-8 fuel and its additives, which can diffuse into rubbers. In fuel bladders, this occurrence is frequently observed, and the ratio consistently decreases over time.

Effects of Carbon Templates in Tetraethyl Orthosilicate-Derived Superhydrophobic Coatings

Superhydrophobic coatings have garnered significant research interest due to their potential applications in areas such as ant-icing and windows. This study focuses on the development of superhydrophobic coatings using air-assisted electrospray and the effect of different carbon additives as templates in the coating. Carbon templates, with their unique topological varieties, offer a cost-effective alternative to other patterning technologies such as photolithography. By introducing dispersed carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene additives in TEOS solution, silica is given the ability of localized secondary growth on or around the carbon surfaces as well as the building structure to provide adequate roughness on the substrate surface. The templated silica formations provide a thin coating with nano-scale roughness for heightened water resistance. As compared with the template-free coating that has small silica particles, a surface roughness of 135 nm, and a water contact angle (WCA) of 101.6° (non-superhydrophobic), the carbon templating effect allowed for increased silica particle size, a surface roughness as high as 845 nm, a WCA above 160°, and the ability to maintain superhydrophobicity over 30 abrasion cycles. The morphological characteristics that resulted from the templating effect correlate directly with heightened performance of the coatings. Herein, the carbon additives have been found to serve as cheap and effective templates for silica formation in thin TEOS-derived superhydrophobic coatings.

Influence of carbon black addition on the microwave absorption properties of neodymium-doped barium hexaferrite

Influence of carbon black addition on the microwave absorption properties of neodymium-doped barium hexaferrite