Experiment § High heat resistance glass fiber prepreg resin
The continuous phase of composite materials is often a polymer. In addition to the function of connecting fibers to fibers, they also have different characteristics with increasingly demanding requirements. For example, NH121 mainly comprises epoxy resin, which is used in automotive speakers (Figure 1). The carbon cloth was impregnated with this solvent-based resin and then hot pressed at 220~230 °C for 1 min. The finished product had excellent rigidity and toughness, and the glass transfer temperature was 188 °C (Figure 2, loss modulus analysis of DMA). To further improve the rigidity and heat resistance of NH121, we have also developed the solvent-based NH13. NH13 can also be formed by hot pressing at 220~230 °C for 1 min, and the glass transfer temperature is 212 °C (Figure 2). At a high-temperature operating environment of 170 °C, the NH131 has a storage module of 9,685 MPa, higher than the NH121's 5,729 MPa (Figure 3). In contrast, NH121 is slightly better than NH131 in terms of toughness. NH121 and NH131 have excellent reactivity, which can shorten the process and increase capacity, and meet the future trend of energy saving.
—Author: Mr. Bing-Chen, Xu
Activity § Everwide Chemical Camp
From July 10th to July 12th, the first "Everwide Chemistry Camp" was held for national and high school students. The first was an in-depth tour of the "Exhibition Room" to let students understand the products and applications of resin. This was followed by the acclaimed resin keyring DIY and surprising electrical experiments to recreate the discovery of "Faraday." "The practice of privacy film" allows students to understand the principle of optics, and everyone says that after doing it, the knowledge is not abstract! Another feature of the camp is that some courses are led by foreign colleagues, exposing students to different cultures and unique learning experiences. The camp aims to make students feel fun and enjoy getting close to science. From the laughter of these three days, it is inferred that the battalion achieved the desired purpose (Figure 1~5).
Knowledge § Are there epoxy resins from bio-based carbon?
ESG has become popular in recent years, and many materials want to be derived from renewable natural resources. That is, bio-based carbon and epoxy resins are no exception. Take the general-purpose epoxy resin (DGEBA), for example, produced by the reaction of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin. The former is derived from petroleum and is a non-renewable material. The latter can be obtained from the reaction of glycerol in biochar and is a renewable material. Six of the 21 carbon elements in the DGEBA structure come from the latter. In other words, the resin's biochar can account for up to 28%. Having said that, most of the current epichlorohydrin is not derived from glycerol, so the epoxy resins on the market are biochar-free.
Living § Half-day tour of the temple trail in Pine Hill
The "Temple Trail" in Pine Hill connects Ershui Township in Changhua County and Mingjian Township in Nantou County, with a total length of 1.8 kilometers. The road surface is mostly asphalt roads and stairs, with trees along the way and four pavilions. Even if it is a hot summer, climbing will not be too hard, which is very suitable for bringing families to experience the fun of the mountains and forests! Everyone parks their cars in Fengbai Square, and the entrance to the trail is next to it. Wild macaques can often be encountered here, and they always eat their fruit leisurely on the trees. Don't stand directly below the macaque. A falling fruit has hit someone! Near the end of the trail, there is a large climb, almost all of which is a ladder, and you can use trekking poles to reduce the burden on your knees. After arriving at the exit, you will see the food stalls lining the street, such as red yam cakes, fried sweet potato balls, cold brew tea, etc. Further on, you will reach the Shoutian Palace in Pine Pine Hill. This temple has over 300 years of history and is dedicated to the Taoist deity Xuantian God. The atmosphere here is solemn and full of spiritual energy, and there are many pilgrims. And it is known as a Taoist holy place. During the day, the sound of people is loud, and the sound of firecrackers continues. It is peaceful and beautiful at night, and the city's night view can be unobstructed. In addition to hiking and enjoying the scenery, you can eat food and appreciate the local culture, which is undoubtedly the greatest enjoyment!
—Author: Yi-Ling, Xie
