Heavy Metals in Stream Sediments from the Coquimbo region (Chile): Effects of Sustained Mining and Natural Processes in a Semi-arid Andean Basin

Abstract.   Active sediments from the Elqui River in Chile were sampled 4 times at 10 sites during 2000. Concentrations of Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, V, Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, and S were normal. Zinc levels were clearly high, and those of Cu (hundred to thousands ppm) and As (tens to hundreds ppm) were highly anomalous. Dissolved Cu (0.1-12.7 ppm) and Zn (0.2-2.2 ppm) levels were also very high. The anomalies of the upper tributaries are due to the El Indio–Tambo Au-Cu-As district and large hydrothermal alteration zones at altitudes between 3500–4500 m. Lower on the river, old and active tailing waste deposits and on-going mining operations in the Talcuna Cu (Pb) district are responsible. Partially eroded tailing deposits in the alluvial plain of the Elqui River and its tributaries, and especially in the El Indio-Tambo district, after mine closure in 2000, warrant special attention.     

Effect of polymer structure on the molecular dynamics and thermal behavior of poly(allyl acetoacetate) and copolymers

In this paper, dielectric and calorimetric studies of the small-molecule glass former allyl acetoacetate monomers as well as its newly synthetized homopolymer and copolymers with different styrene composition were performed in both the liquid and glassy states. The molecular dynamics studies by the broadband dielectric spectroscopy and the stochastic temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry enabled us to explore relaxation processes of examined materials in the wide frequency range. We found that the copolymers reveal two co-existing glass transitions characterized by the glass transition temperatures, which are very close to those of the corresponding homopolymers. These results suggest that the copolymers exhibited some sequences of acetoacetate units with a microphase-separated morphology in agreement with the value of reactivity ratio previously determined. We investigated effects of copolymerization compositions on the glass transition temperature, the isobaric fragility index, the dielectric and calorimetric intensity, and the dynamic heterogeneity on the glass transitions of the materials.     

Cavitation during deformation of semicrystalline polymers

Cavitation phenomenon is observed during deformation in many semicrystalline polymers above their glass transition temperature. Numerous voids (cavities) both nanometer and micrometer size are formed inside amorphous phase between lamellae during deformation of a polymer. The cavitation is observed only in tension, never during compression or shearing. Most often used methods of voids detection are: microscopies (SEM, TEM, AFM and light microscopy), small angle X-ray scattering and measurements of density. Usually the voids are detected close to yielding or at yielding, strongly suggesting that yielding is often caused by cavitation. However, there is a competition between two processes: breaking of amorphous phase leading to cavitation and plastic deformation of lamellar crystals. Which process occurs first depends on the relation between compliances of those two phases. If the crystals are weak and defected their deformation occurs (mostly by chain slips mechanism) without cavitation. If the crystals in a polymer are thick and more perfect then the barrier for their deformation, represented by shear yielding stress, is increased and the cavitation sets in first and yielding is determined by the stress needed for cavitation. Further deformation involves deformation of crystals due to rapid local change of stress around voids. The influence of different morphological factors: crystal thickness, crystallinity degree, arrangement of crystalline elements (e.g. in spherulites), morphology of amorphous phase (free volume, entanglements, tie molecules) were analyzed. Experimental factors, such as temperature of deformation and rate of deformation influence remarkably the formation of cavities. Cavitation is generated at points where a high local triaxial state of stress is developed. Triaxiality of stress can be amplified by a notch, even very mild notch with large radius of curvature stimulates generation of cavities. Evolution of nano-cavities into micro-cavities and change of their shapes with increasing deformation were evidenced by SAXS. Initially voids are oriented perpendicularly to deformation direction, however, with increasing elongation they become oriented along deformation direction. Stress whitening is visual sign of cavitation and is caused be light scattering either by microvoids or by assemblies of nanovoids.     

Multi-level backcalculation algorithm for robust determination of pavement layers parameters

The backcalculation procedure applied to a mechanical characterization of the road pavement is usually limited to an identification of the elastic modulus of each layer only. The remaining parameters of the model are usually set as known, while performing an inverse analysis. Among assumed parameters are thicknesses of the model layers and frequently considered as constants on a homogeneous section of the road. This is an obvious simplification, because sections in general are inhomogeneous, i.e. the thickness of each layer changes slightly along each road section. Thus the precise and possibly nondestructive estimation of the layers thicknesses is very important and crucial in the inverse procedure. Here, a hybrid form of the optimization algorithm, where the condition of a constant thickness does not need to be fulfilled is described. Further on, the objective function is formed as a discrepancy between reference and computed deflection derivative instead of a deflection curve. In consequence, the values of backcalculated parameters are several per cent more precise compared to a standard procedure. Whenever the thickness of the asphalt layer of the pavement structure cannot be assumed a priori as a constant, the proposed here method appears to be necessary if one does not want to perform costly and destructive in situ drilling tests.     

Evaluation of the mechanical behavior of W7-X central support connections by means of semi-automated FE analysis

The stellarator Wendelstein 7-X is under construction at the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik in Greifswald. Its superconducting coil system is fixed by a massive structure. During machine operation the coils exert high forces and moments against each other and the central support structure (CSS). Therefore, the detailed analysis of the coil to CSS connections, the so-called central support elements (CSE), is a critical item. The major details of the design have been frozen; nevertheless, there is still need for detailed analysis of the CSEs due to assembly issues, and later on for exploring operational limits of the machine. These analyses have to be performed quickly, reliably, and shall provide results in a standardized form to enable timely responses to the assembly team. Special numerical tools – finite element (FE) parametric models of CSEs – have been developed for the purpose of such analyses. In the models, the geometry, material properties, contact conditions, loads as well as results presentation are defined in a parametric way. The use of the developed models for the definition of the final weld parameters, bolt preloads, assessment of acceptable tolerances, and optimal positions of the CSE-wedges before welding is also discussed.     

Hydrogen damage in friction welded copper joints

The occurrence of hydrogen attack in electrolytic copper and in copper deoxidized with phosphorous, during model heating in oil and in friction welded specimens was investigated. Dissimilar-metal joints, i.e. copper/TZM (titanium–zirconium–molybdenum based alloy) joints and copper/austenitic steel joints, were subjected to microstructural examinations and tensile strength tests.     

Formulation and technology research of new silver solder with flux covering

In their eutectic compositions, Au–Si alloys have a melting point of 369°C, and a colour similar to that of high-grade gold. Results of the manufacture of gold alloys with 2.5%, 2.8% and 3.0% silicon, by means of melting in a plasma furnace with an inert argon atmosphere, are presented in this study. Chemical composition characterisation was carried out by energy dispersion spectroscopy and wave dispersion spectrometry, and metallographic and microstructural analysis by optical microscopy, SEM and DRX, Vickers hardness and mircohardness testing, melting point evaluation by DSC and determination of the SCIELab colorimetric coordinates. The results of the hardness and micro-hardness testing gave values around 110HV, presenting an important increase in the mechanical properties with respect to the traditional high purity gold alloys. The melting temperature for the alloys was around 374°C as well as being a heat very close to the values of pure gold.