Yizhong Wang

Bio: Yizhong Wang is an academic researcher from Beijing University of Chemical Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Natural rubber & Curing (chemistry). The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 5 publications receiving 748 citations. Previous affiliations of Yizhong Wang include Chinese Ministry of Education.

Morphology and mechanical properties of clay/styrene‐butadiene rubber nanocomposites

Abstract: Based on the character of a clay that could be separated into many 1-nm thickness monolayers, clay styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) nanocomposites were acquired by mixing the SBR latex with a clay/water dispersion and coagulating the mixture. The structure of the dispersion of clay in the SBR was studied through TEM. The mechanical properties of clay/SBR nanocomposites with different filling amounts of clay were studied. The results showed that the main structure of the dispersion of clay in the SBR was a layer bundle whose thickness was 4–10 nm and its aggregation formed by several or many layer bundles. Compared with the other filler, some mechanical properties of clay/SBR nanocomposites exceeded those of carbon black/SBR composites and they were higher than those of clay/SBR composites produced by directly mixing clay with SBR through regular rubber processing means. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1873–1878, 2000

Preparation and characterization of Rubber-Clay nanocomposites

Abstract: Rubber–clay nanocomposites were prepared by two different methods and characterized with TEM and XRD. The TEM showed clay had been dispersed to one or several layers. The XRD showed that the basal spacing in the clay was increased. It was evident that some macromolecules intercalated to the clay layer galleries. The clay layer could be uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix on the nanometer level. The mechanical tests showed that the nanocomposites had good mechanical properties. Some properties exceeded those of rubber reinforced with carbon black, so the clay layers could be used as an important reinforcing agent as the carbon black was. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1879–1883, 2000

Nonisothermal cure kinetics in the synthesis of polybenzoxazine–clay nanocomposites

Abstract: The ability to understand and model the mechanism of cure kinetics accurately is crucial for the production of thermosetting resin-based nanocomposites. This article reports on work performed to elucidate an accurate model of cure kinetics for the formation of polybenzoxazine–montorillonite nanocomposites through the use of differential scanning calorimetry with nonisothermal methods, including single-heating and multiple-heating methods. The results indicated that both the Kissinger and Ozawa methods for calculating the activation energy gave fairly close results of 115 and 120 kJ/mol, respectively. The reaction order was about 1.31, calculated from the single-heating method based on the autocatalytic method, and a comparison was made of the dynamic curing behaviors in the syntheses of polybenzoxazine and polybenzoxazine–montorillonite nanocomposites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 194–200, 2003

Newly emerging applications of halloysite nanotubes: a review

Abstract: Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are types of naturally occurring 1:1 clays with nanotubular structures and similar chemical composition to kaolin. Due to various characteristics such as nanoscale lumens, high length-to-diameter ratio, relatively low hydroxyl group density on the surface, etc., numerous exciting applications have been discovered for this unique, cheap and abundantly deposited clay. After briefly summarizing applications in controlled release, nanotemplating and sorption, we emphasize the applications of HNTs in the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites. The unique structures and performance of HNT-incorporated polymer nanocomposites processed by various routes are described. The results suggest that these nanocomposites exhibit remarkable performance such as reinforcing effects, enhanced flame retardancy and reduced thermal expansion. Accordingly, HNTs should be of interest in the area of polymer nanocomposites for structural and functional applications. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry