Hongxia Zhu

Fluorosilicone/carbon composite sensors enable stable strain sensing at −80 °C through robust conductive networks and strong interfacial adhesion, offering high sensitivity, rapid response, and durable performance.

Composite coatings with anti-corrosive properties were fabricated using quaternized silicone oil modified graphene oxide and silicone polymer. Quaternized silicone oil was successfully synthesized through copolymerization of octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), chloropropylsilane and triethylamine. The quaternized silicone oil modified graphene oxide (M-GO) was characterized by using ¹H NMR, FT-IR, Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Thermogravimetry (TG) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the M-GO was formed successfully. The M-GO could be dispersed without aggregation in some organic solvents, and the concentration of M-GO could be up to 3 mg ml⁻¹. The M-GO-reinforced silicone composites exhibited obvious improvements in thermal stability, mechanical properties and especially anticorrosive properties with the highest E_corr (−121 mV) and the lowest I_corr (6.058 × 10⁻⁹ A cm⁻²), and the protection efficiency of the matrix could reach 99.97%. The anticorrosive mechanism of the fabricated composite coatings was investigated. This work provides a ready strategy for modification of GO and fabrication of high performance graphene-based silicone composite materials.

Fatliquoring is one of the most important processes in leather making, in which the collagen fibers are split effectively, while the crust acquires a good softness and mechanical strength. The effectiveness of fatliquoring depends not only on the variety and dosage of fatliquoring agent but also on its distribution in hierarchical collagen fiber layers. Up to now, the research about the mass transfer of fatliquoring agent in leather is very limited because quantifying the distribution of invisible fatliquor in leather is very difficult. In this paper, a fluorescent tracing technique based on modified castor oil was established and send used to investigate the mass transfer of fatliquor in leather. The crucial fluorescent tracer was synthesized favorably by the reaction of castor oil, successively with maleic anhydride and 5-aminofluorescein, which was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR and DSC. The fluorescent tracer was pH-sensitive and emitted an intense fluorescent signal at pH 8–10. Then, it was applied to monitor the fatliquoring process in real-time. Compared with Sudan IV or Nile Blue sulphate dyeing tests, this fluorescent tracing technique could conveniently visualize and quantify the penetration and distribution of fatliquor in leather process.