Solid State Phenomena Vol. 367

Abstract: Thermosets have played crucial roles in different industries, demonstrating versatility in packaging, furniture, electronics, and construction. Nevertheless, due to their permanent chemical bonds, these materials cannot be thermally processed after their shape has been formed. This results in notable environmental consequences as they accumulate in landfills during the product’s end-of-life cycle. Since the introduction of vitrimer, it has become a promising alternative that combines the mechanical strength of thermosets with distinctive characteristics including reprocessability, shape memory, recyclability, and self-healing ability. This review provides a thorough overview of the most recent developments in the vitrimer field, with a particular focus on advancements in self-healing properties and the corresponding techniques. Furthermore, it identifies the potential applications of vitrimer in different industries.

Abstract: The core structure of the emulsion was hydrolyzed and condensed by vinyltriethoxysilane and phenyltriethoxysilane, and the shell structure was synthesized by radical polymerization of butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and vinyltriethoxysilane. The Zeta potential of the prepared silicone emulsion was maintained at-40 mV. The emulsion has good stability. Transmission electron microscopy can be used to study the core-shell structure of latex particles. The water contact angle of silicone-modified acrylate coating can reach 94°, and its mechanical durability, alkali resistance, and salt corrosion resistance are better than that of pure acrylate coating.

Abstract: The acidic environment and polarization in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) result in severe electrochemical corrosion issues for the bipolar plates of metal-based fuel cells. AISI 304 stainless steel is studied in this paper as the bipolar substrate and treated with plasma nitriding to improve its corrosion resistance performance. The influence of process parameters on the growth pattern of nitrided layers was discussed, and the microstructure and properties of modified layers were systematically studied. Results show that an expanded austenite nitride layer is obtained when the nitriding temperature is under 450°C, which has good corrosion resistance. When CrN precipitates at higher nitriding temperatures, the corrosion resistance of the nitride layer sharply decreases. The presence of valence states of N and Cr atoms in the nitrided layer determines the corrosion resistance of nitrided stainless steel samples.

Abstract: Objectives: We investigate the effect of the strip entry temperature (SET) of steel sheets on the spangle size of hot-dip 55%Al-Zn-Si (Galvalume) coating. Methods: The hot-dip Galvalume coatings with different SETs were prepared by a hot-dip simulator on a 2.0 mm thick steel sheet. The surface of the coating, the morphology of the coating, and the structure of the interfacial alloy layer were analyzed by using an optical microscope (OM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The average size of spangles on the coatings decreased from about 3.4 mm (29 pcs per 100 mm) at the SET of 500°C to about 1.9 mm (53 pcs per 100 mm) at the SET of 650°C. The thickness of the intermetallic compound layer in the interface layer increased from about 2.6 μm at the SET of 500°C to about 3.4 μm at the SET of 650°C. Conclusions: The increase in the SET increased the diffusion of iron atoms through the interfacial FeAl₃/α-AlFeSi phase, and the thickening of the interfacial alloy layer was conducive to the nucleation of the aluminum-rich dendrites, which resulted in the decrease in the spangle size.