Peroxidic perfluoropolyether for the covalent binding of perfluoropolyetherchains on carbon black surface

Abstract Peroxidic perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) are suitable tools for the covalent linkage of fluorinated groups on substrates containing aromatic moieties. Thus the thermal decomposition process of such fluorinated peroxides allowed the covalent linkage of PFPE radicals to the polycyclic aromatic structure of a graphitic carbon black. Contact angle measurements on molded pellets made with modified carbon black powders revealed a gradual enhancement of the hydrophobicity, which follows the increase of the fluorine content on the surface according to XPS experiments. BET analyses also revealed variations of the surface area of carbonaceous samples. Products and by-products were also evaluated by mass balances of decomposed portions of PFPE residues, respectively, PFPE chains bonded on carbon black and PFPE fluids obtained by homocoupling side-reactions. Modified carbonaceous materials were analyzed by solid state 19F-MAS NMR and the results are in agreement with the proposed radical mechanism

Petrofacies for the prediction of NOA content in rocks. Application to the "Gronda di Genova" tunneling project

Realization of large geo-engineering projects in rocks containing naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) must address several crucial geo-environmental issues, including the design of the construction site, the enforcement of health protection measures and the environmentally responsible spoil management. This leads to a compelling need to develop effective and standard procedures to evaluate the distribution and concentration of NOA in rock volumes. NOA petrofacies are here proposed as an innovative tool to evaluate the asbestos distribution and concentration in complex geological settings. NOA petrofacies are fundamental asbestos-bearing rock types, consisting in recurrent lithological and structural features controlling asbestos occurrence. Here we describe and discuss how the NOA petrofacies approach was utilized in a geo-environmental study for the evaluation of asbestos content in a complex meta-ophiolite suite, which will be crossed by the "Gronda di Genova" highway bypass project (Genoa, NW Italy). NOA petrofacies were used to predict the distribution and relative abundance of NOA in geologically homogeneous zones characterized by the occurrence of specific NOA minerals