silicon and hydroxide-ion

Polyethylene (PE) is one the most used plastics worldwide for a wide range of applications due to its good mechanical and chemical resistance, low density, cost efficiency, ease of processability, non-reactivity, low toxicity, good electric insulation, and good functionality. However, its high flammability and rapid flame spread pose dangers for certain applications. Therefore, different flame-retardant (FR) additives are incorporated into PE to increase its flame retardancy. In this review article, research papers from the past 10 years on the flame retardancy of PE systems are comprehensively reviewed and classified based on the additive sources. The FR additives are classified in well-known FR families, including phosphorous, melamine, nitrogen, inorganic hydroxides, boron, and silicon. The mechanism of fire retardance in each family is pinpointed. In addition to the efficiency of each FR in increasing the flame retardancy, its impact on the mechanical properties of the PE system is also discussed. Most of the FRs can decrease the heat release rate (HRR) of the PE products and simultaneously maintains the mechanical properties in appropriate ratios. Based on the literature, inorganic hydroxide seems to be used more in PE systems compared to other families. Finally, the role of nanotechnology for more efficient FR-PE systems is discussed and recommendations are given on implementing strategies that could help incorporate flame retardancy in the circular economy model.

Topics: Boron; Flame Retardants; Hot Temperature; Hydroxides; Inorganic Chemicals; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocomposites; Nanotechnology; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Phosphorus; Polyethylene; Polymers; Silicon; Triazines

Thermal silica is a common dielectric used in all-silicon photonic circuits. Additionally, bound hydroxyl ions (Si-OH) can provide a significant component of optical loss in this material on account of the wet nature of the thermal oxidation process. A convenient way to quantify this loss relative to other mechanisms is through OH absorption at 1380 nm. Here, using ultra-high-quality factor (Q-factor) thermal-silica wedge microresonators, the OH absorption loss peak is measured and distinguished from the scattering loss baseline over a wavelength range from 680 nm to 1550 nm. Record-high on-chip resonator Q-factors are observed for near-visible and visible wavelengths, and the absorption limited Q-factor is as high as 8 billion in the telecom band. Hydroxyl ion content level around 2.4 ppm (weight) is inferred from both Q measurements and by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profiling.

Topics: Photons; Silicon; Silicon Dioxide

An aluminum fractionation study was conducted for a surface reservoir water treatment to understand the performance of poly-aluminum-silicate-chloride (PASiC) in terms of the residual Al fractions as a function of initial pH. The coagulation performance expressed as turbidity and organic matter removal was established as supporting data. Some extra data were evaluated in terms of the residual Al ratio of the composite PASiC coagulant. The main residual Al sources were the Al fractions derived from the use of PASiC. The turbidity and organic matter removal ability was optimal at initial pH 6.00-7.00, while the concentrations of various residual Al species and the residual Al ratio of PASiC were minimal at an initial pH range of 7.00-8.00. Under the conditions of OH/Al molar ratio = 2.00 and Si/Al molar ratio = 0.05, PASiC had superior coagulation performance and comparatively low residual Al concentrations. The Al fraction in the composite PASiC coagulant seldom remained under such conditions. Experimental data also indicated that the suspended (filterable) Al fraction was the dominant species, and organic-bound or organo-Al complex Al was considered to be the major species of dissolved Al in water treated by PASiC coagulation. Additionally, the dissolved inorganic monomeric Al species dominated the dissolved monomeric Al fraction.

Topics: Aluminum; Aluminum Silicates; Chemical Precipitation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydroxides; Silicon; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification; Water Supply

Commercial 316 LVM austenitic stainless steel samples have been coated by immersion in a bath of molten Al-12.6%Si alloy for 120 s. The coating consists of the Al(12)(Fe,Cr)(3)Si(2) intermetallic. In vitro corrosion behaviour has been evaluated in the Ringer's solution by means of potentiodynamic curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results reveal that the coated specimens exhibit lower susceptibility to localised corrosion with respect to the substrate. XPS analysis suggests that the ennoblement of the pitting potential is due to the formation of a chromium oxyhydroxide containing passive layer. The intermetallic coating shows a good biocompatibility, as demonstrated by culturing human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow which attached, grew and differentiated to the osteoblastic lineage to a similar extent on coated and bare steels. In summary, this study proposes a method that generates Ni-free coatings of the stainless steel with useful properties for biomedical applications.

Topics: Aluminum; Biocompatible Materials; Bone Marrow Cells; Chromium; Corrosion; Electrochemistry; Hot Temperature; Humans; Hydroxides; Materials Testing; Nickel; Osteoblasts; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Scattering, Radiation; Silicon; Stainless Steel

Organophosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on oxide surfaces have recently seen increased use in electrical and biological sensor applications. The reliability and reproducibility of these sensors require good molecular organization in these SAMs. In this regard, packing, order, and alignment in the SAMs is important, as it influences the electron transport measurements. In this study, we examine the order of hydroxyl- and methyl-terminated phosphonate films deposited onto silicon oxide surfaces by the tethering by aggregation and growth method using complementary, state-of-art surface characterization tools. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and in situ sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy are used to study the order of the phosphonate SAMs in vacuum and under aqueous conditions, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry results show that these samples form chemically intact monolayer phosphonate films. NEXAFS and SFG spectroscopy showed that molecular order exists in the octadecylphosphonic acid and 11-hydroxyundecylphosphonic acid SAMs. The chain tilt angles in these SAMs were approximately 37° and 45°, respectively.

Topics: Hydroxides; Molecular Conformation; Organophosphonates; Silicon; Spectrum Analysis; Vibration

To investigate the surface morphology, structure, molecular and elemental composition, and hardness of plastic brackets exposed to fluoride solutions.. Two types of plastic brackets (Silkon Plus and SpiritMB) were exposed to three fluoride solutions 10 times for 1 minute each and then subjected to attenuated total relectance-Fournier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray energy dispersive microanalysis (EDS), and Vickers hardness (HV) testing. Hardness data were analyzed via two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests at the .05 level of significance with brackets and fluoride solution as predictors.. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showed that both bracket types consisted of polycarbonate. After treatment with acidulated phosphate fluoride, an increased contribution of -OH peaks at 3,200 cm-1(stretching [str]) and 1,640 cm-1 (a type of vibration [b]) was observed in both brackets. SEM revealed that the acidulated phosphate fluoride solution had a strong effect on the morphology and surface structure of the two brackets; a general deterioration with projections of the reinforcing fibers was observed. EDS showed evidence of aluminum, calcium, silicon, magnesium, and titanium, which could be attributed to the reinforcing glass fiber constituents. Hardness ranged in the order of 20 HV with no difference among the two bracket types and the three fluoride exposures.. Repeated exposure of plastic brackets to fluoride solutions has a pronounced effect on their structure and morphology, but not their hardness.

Topics: Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride; Aluminum; Calcium; Cariostatic Agents; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Fluorides; Glass; Hardness; Humans; Hydroxides; Magnesium; Materials Testing; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microspectrophotometry; Orthodontic Brackets; Plastics; Polymers; Porosity; Silicon; Sodium Fluoride; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Tin Fluorides; Titanium