World Industrial Reporter

Innovation Delivered Daily

  • Innovation
    • Innovation Article Archive
    • Innovative Companies
    • Innovation Strategies
    • New Equipment Innovations
  • New Products
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Markets
    • Market Trends
    • Tradeshow Reports
    • White Papers
  • Logistics
  • Newsletters
World Industrial Reporter » Innovation » Polymeric Gels Prevent Liquid Fuels from Exploding

Polymeric Gels Prevent Liquid Fuels from Exploding

May 12, 2022

Japanese scientists have shown how cross-linked polymeric gels can help trap highly volatile liquid fuel molecules, thereby reducing their evaporation rate and preventing an explosion from happening.

According to the team from Tokyo’s Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), most liquid fuels possess a high energy density and this makes them essential for applications where chemical energy is converted into controlled motion, such as in rockets, gas turbines, boilers, and certain vehicle engines.

With their combustion characteristics and performance being both volatile and necessary, one needs to guarantee the safety and stability of these fuels when in use as well as during transport and storage.

This is easier said than done as liquid fuels evaporate quickly if given space, producing clouds of highly flammable gases that can cause catastrophic explosions or fire accidents.

Now a team of scientists led by professors Naoki Hosoya and Shingo Maeda from Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) and Tokyo Tech respectively, has shown how liquid fuels can be safely stored within polymeric gel networks.

As part of their research, the scientists analyzed the performance, advantages, and limitations of storing ethanol within a chemically cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPPAm) gel.

They created small spheres of PNIPAAm gel loaded with ethanol and placed them on an electronic scale to record how mass changed as ethanol vaporized.

What they found was that storing ethanol within the polymer gel completely suppressed the fuel’s tendency to rapidly vaporize.

“The polymeric gel contains innumerable three-dimensional polymer chains that are chemically cross-linked in a strong way. These chains bind the ethanol molecules through various physical interactions, limiting its evaporation in the process,” notes Hosoya.

The scientists also sought to examine the actual combustion characteristics of the ethanol in the polymeric gel network to see if they burnt efficiently.

Thanks to this, they were able to determine that the burning of the loaded PNIPAAm gel spheres consists of two phases: a phase dominated by pure ethanol burning, followed by a second phase dominated by the burning of the PNIPAAm polymer itself.

Image and content: Naoki Hosoya/Shibaura Institute of Technology

Share on

Filed Under: Innovation

A Plywood Glue Made of Glucose and Citric Acid
AI Mitigates Jams at Traffic Lights
Avatar

About Aruna Urs

Aruna is an industrial journalist. He writes on innovations that emanate at the intersection of science and engineering having a profound impact on the manufacturing sector.

Follow me
Suppliers

Beckhoff at Hannover Messe: Shaping Digital Transformation with PC-Based Control

Beckhoff is renowned for offering an extensive range of innovations that are now considered standard throughout the automation world. At Hannover Messe 2022, Beckhoff will be demonstrating how their New Automation Technology actively supports digital transformation with high-performance control and automation solutions for optimizing machines, plants, and buildings, as well as in the field of e-mobility.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Track & Trace in Production and Logistics

From incoming goods through production to warehouse and shipping - seamless identification with RFID provides decision-relevant information in real time. With the intelligent linking of RFID information from production and intralogistics with MES and ERP systems, you increase your efficiency and gain the necessary transparency for lean processes and digitized supply chains.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Distance and Position Measurements Up to 10 kHz

The optoNCDT 1900 laser sensors with integrated high-performance controller offer a unique combination of speed, compact design and accuracy. The intelligent surface control enables extremely stable measurement results even on challenging surfaces with changing reflections. Easy installation also in confined spaces.

View Supplier Email this Supplier

High Accuracy, Non-Contact, Absolute Linear Sensor

Santest Model GY series are high accuracy, non-contact, absolute type linear sensors employing magnetostrictive, Wiedemann effect. An ultra-sonic wave generated by a moving magnet near a magnetostrictive wave-guide on which the sonic wave propagates to the head of the transducer.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Affordable and Fixed Installed IR Cameras

Our thermal imaging cameras with multiple wavelength options, automatic spot finder function and autonomous operation are ideal for condition monitoring of machines and plants up to 5432 °F.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Subscribe

Get the latest WIR reports straight to your inbox.

Free Newsletter Subscription

Find us on the social web.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms Of Use
  • Privacy Policy
FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

Get the latest WIR reports straight to your inbox.

  • Innovation Article Archive
  • Innovation Strategies
  • Innovative Companies
  • New Products
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Market Trends
  • Tradeshow Reports
  • White Papers
  • Logistics
  • Newsletters
  • Fun Stuff
  • Industry Links
Follow us

© 2022 Thomas Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Posting....