Improved mechanical properties of PMMA composites: Dispersion,diffusion and surface adhesion of recycled carbon fiber fillers from CFRP with adsorbed particulate PMMA

In this study, composite materials were fabricated using the thermoplastic resin poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and recycled carbon fibers obtained by pulverizing carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). PMMA particles were adsorbed on the carbon fiber surfaces via electrostatic interactions, to promote the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the PMMA resin and thereby improve the dispersion of the fibers in the resin. This enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites; the yield stress and elastic modulus of the composite. As a result, the yield stress and elastic modulus of the composite improved owing to the prevention of void formation in the composite resulting from the chemical incompatibility between the filler and the resin and better dispersion of the PMMA-adsorbed carbon fibers in the resin compared to that in the unmodified fibers. This method can be applied to fabricate high-quality composites consisting of a combination of other resins and fillers.     

Max- and Min-Neighborhood Monopolies

Given a graph G=(V,E) and a set of vertices M ? V, a vertex v ∈ V is said to be controlled by M if the majority of v’s neighbors (including itself) belong to M. M is called a monopoly in G if every vertex v∈ V is controlled by M. For a specified M and a given range for edge set E (E ₁ ? E ? E ₂), we try to determine an E such that M is a monopoly in G=(V,E). We first present a polynomial algorithm for testing if such an E exists, by formulating it as a network flow problem. Assuming that a solution for E does exist, we then show that solutions with the maximum and minimum |E| , respectively, can be found in polynomial time, by solving weighted matching problems. In case there is no solution for E, we want to maximize the number of vertices controlled by the given M. Unfortunately, this problem turns out to be NP-hard. We, therefore, design a simple approximation algorithm which guarantees an approximation ratio of 2.     

Derandomizing the HSSW Algorithm for 3-SAT

We present a (full) derandomization of HSSW algorithm for 3-SAT, proposed by Hofmeister, Schöning, Schuler, and Watanabe (in STACS 2002, pp. 192–202, 2002). Thereby, we obtain an O(1.3303 ⁿ )-time deterministic algorithm for 3-SAT, which is currently fastest.     

Modelling and Simulation of Rate-Dependent Stress-Strain Behaviour of Granular Materials in Shear

A constitutive modelling of the elasto-viscoplastic stress-strain behaviour of geomaterials in shear that has been developed within a non-linear three-component model framework is validated by simulating a comprehensive series of drained triaxial compression (TC) and direct shear (DS) tests on a wide variety of granular materials. Illustrative simulations of rate-dependent stress-strain behaviour of geomaterial under typical laboratory test conditions were performed to analyse the structure of the model. The versatility of the proposed model and its applicability to a wide variety of shear loading histories is examined and demonstrated by these simulations. The following results are shown. Commonly with different basic viscosity types, Isotach, TESRA and P&N, the viscous stress component has a positive component that increases with an increase in the irreversible strain rate, which makes feasible stable and realistic simulations of rate-dependent stress-strain behaviour, including creep deformation, based on the proposed model. With different unbound granular material types having similar relative densities, the creep strain in TC tests and creep shear displacement in DS tests that develop by sustained loading at a given shear stress level for a given period tends to decrease with an increase in the particle roundness. This trend of behaviours is explained by a decrease in the viscosity type parameter, θ, associated with an increase in the particle roundness based on the simulations of these tests.     

Homoepitaxial diamond p–n+ junction with low specific on-resistance and ideal built-in potential

We have realized low specific on-resistance and ideal built-in potential simultaneously for a (111)-oriented homoepitaxial diamond p–n⁺ junction. As the p–n⁺ junction, the heavily phosphorus doped n⁺-type layer, which shows variable range hopping conduction, was formed on the (111)-oriented boron doped p-type one. By using this hopping conduction, the resistivity of the n⁺-type layer becomes lower by three orders of magnitude than that of a lightly P-doped layer. Current density–voltage characteristics showed a rectification ratio of 10⁶ at ± 15 V at room temperature. The current density and the specific on-resistance at forward bias voltage of 15 V at room temperature are over 100 A/cm² and 8 × 10^− 2 Ωcm², respectively. This low specific on-resistance corresponds to the lower resistivity of the n⁺-type layer by three orders of magnitude than that of conventional lightly P-doped n-type layer. The existence of the space-charge layer at the vicinity of the p–n⁺ junction was confirmed from capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics. From C⁻²–V characteristics at 200 °C, the built-in potential was estimated as approximately 4.4 eV, which is identical to that of conventional diamond p–n junction.     

TEM/STEM Observation of ZrC-Coating Layer for Advanced High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Fuel

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has started to study and develop ZrC-coated fuel particles for advanced high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. The ZrC-coating layer was fabricated using the bromide process at JAEA. In the early stage of the project, however, the deposition temperature was varied. This paper mainly focuses on the microstructures of the ZrC-coating layer developed in the early stage of the project. Some circumferential stripes were observed in the ZrC-coating layer on optical micrographs. It was found that the stripes were caused by the nonuniform distribution of the free carbon phase. It was also revealed by means of transmission electron microscope /scanning transmission electron microscope observations that crystal grains of the ZrC were small and columner in shape, and were not equiaxed especially near the surface. It appears that the oscillated deposition temperature results in the nonuniform distribution of the free carbon region. The structure of the free carbon region formed in the ZrC-coating layer appeared to be such that the c -plane was roughly parallel to its lengthened direction. The ZrC-coating layer appeared to be bound to the PyC layer. Fibrous carbon existing at the PyC/ZrC boundary was also observed.     

Spectral color management using interim connection spaces based on spectral decomposition

A feasible approach to spectral color management was previously defined to include lookups performed within an interim connection space (ICS). ICS is relatively low in dimensions and is situated between a high‐dimensional spectral profile connection space and output units. The definition of ICS axes and the minimum number of ICS dimensions are explored here by considering the LabPQR, an ICS described in earlier research. LabPQR has three colorimetric dimensions (CIE L*a*b*) and additional dimensions to describe a metameric black (PQR). Several versions of LabPQR are explored. One type defines PQR axes based on metameric blacks generated from Cohen and Kappauf's spectral decomposition. The second type is constructed in an unconstrained way where metameric blacks are statistically derived based on the spectral characteristics of the target output device. For a six‐dimensional LabPQR, one that uses three colorimetric and three metameric black dimensions, it was found that Cohen and Kappauf‐based LabPQR was inferior for estimating the spectra when compared with the unconstrained method. However, when the limited spectral gamut of an output device was introduced through printer simulation and necessary spectral gamut mapping, the disadvantage of the six‐dimensional Cohen and Kappauf‐based LabPQR dissipated. On the other hand, reducing LabPQR to only five‐dimensions (two metameric black dimensions) reintroduced the advantage of the unconstrained approach even after simulated printing including spectral gamut mapping. Importantly, it was found that the five‐dimensional unconstrained approach achieved equivalent levels of performance to a full 31‐dimensional approach within simulated printer spectral gamut limitations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 282–299, 2008.     

On the Regenerative Braking of DC Motors with AC Supply

A new method is described in which the dc motor may regenerate power effectively to ac supply. The principle is similar to that with a dc chopper for regeneration of the power from dc motor to dc supply. In this new method, however, thyristor switches synchronizing to the ac supply are used instead of a dc chopper. The principle and the power calculations as well as experimental results are presented. From theoretical and experimental considerations it is clarified that there exist suitable trigger angles in the thyristor of the synchronizing switches.     

A differential mobility analyzer and a Faraday cup electrometer for operation at 200–930 Pa pressure

We have developed a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) based on the DMA devised by Seto et al. (1997) and a Faraday cup electrometer for measurement of nanometer-sized particles at a few hundred Pa and examined the operating characteristics of the DMA using the tandem DMA technique. The tandem DMA calibration establishes that the DMA successfully classifies particles in the 200–930 Pa pressure range. It was also found that the transfer function of the DMA follows the triangular transfer function and the resolution of the DMA is close to that given for an ideal case. As a standard of a minimum pressure that may be probed with the present DMA system, 400 Pa is estimated when the DMA operates with a 3 nlmin⁻¹ sheath flow and a 1 nlmin⁻¹ aerosol flow rate.