Allelochemical resistance of bald cypress,Taxodium distichum,heartwood to the subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus

The heartwood of bald cypress,Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich., resisted feeding attack by the Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Hexane-extracted heartwood, however, was consumed at > 12 times the amount of sound heartwood eaten. A bioassay usingT. distichum sapwood as a feeding substrate was employed to assess the antitermitic activity of successive hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of heartwood shavings and isolates derived from the active hexane extract. Two fractions, eluted from the crude hexane extract by liquid chromatography, significantly reduced termite feeding compared to the parent extract, while a third fraction was less active than the original hexane extract. Each fraction contained one major component. All three components were structurally related diterpenes. The two most active heartwood constituents were identified by GC-MS and NMR as ferruginol and manool, while the third and least active, but most prevalent, compound in heartwood was identified as nezukol. Results of bioassays suggest that these allelochemicals act principally as feeding deterrents with accompanying termite mortality due to starvation.     

Synthesis and characterization of a positive‐working,aqueous‐base‐developable photosensitive polyimide precursor

A positive‐working, aqueous‐base‐developable photosensitive polyimide precursor based on poly(amic ester)‐bearing phenolic hydroxyl groups and a diazonaphthoquinone photosensitive compound was developed. The poly(amic ester) was prepared from a direct polymerization of 2,2′‐bis‐(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane and bis(n‐butyl)ester of pyromellitic acid in the presence of phenylphosphonic dichloride as an activator. Subsequently, the thermal imidization of the poly(amic ester) precursor at 300°C produced the corresponding polyimide. The inherent viscosity of the precursor polymer was 0.23 dL/g. The cyclized polyimide showed a glass‐transition temperature at 356°C and a 5% weight loss at 474°C in nitrogen. The structures of the precursor polymer and the fully cyclized polymer were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H‐NMR. The photosensitive polyimide precursor containing 25 wt % diazonaphthoquinone photoactive compound showed a sensitivity of 150 mJ/cm² and a contrast of 1.65 in a 3 μm film with 1.25 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer. A pattern with a resolution of 10 μm was obtained from this composition. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 352–358, 2002     

On the oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of various SiC-coated carbon-carbon composites

SiC coatings on the surface of C-C were produced by either silicone resin impregnation/ pyrolysis or reaction sintering. Cycles of resin impregnation/pyrolysis produced an SiC coating, on the walls of fine open pores, which was effective in reducing the oxidation rate of C-C and in shifting the transition temperature to a higher value. Unless it is pre-coated with a pyrocarbon layer before sintering, plain reaction sintered SiC has oxidation behaviors similar to those of the above-mentioned SiC. The dense pyrocarbon film deposition on the surface of C-C could form a better SiC film than others. The carbon film homogenized the surface of C-C and a dense SiC film was established. The oxidation of the coated C-C can be modelled by a set of “oxidation resistors” in series and/or in parallel, with each resistor corresponding to an oxidation element. The controlling mechanism can be resolved from the activation energy. A combined resistant layer, consisting of resin impregnation, pyrocarbon film and reaction sintering SiC, showed the best oxidation resistance of any single-layer coated C-C composite.     

Free radical solution oligomerization of styrene in a continuous-stirred tank reactor train

For free radical oligomerization of styrene, a scheme for calculating the molecular weight distribution and conversion in a continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR) train is developed, which also allows the calculation of molecular weight distribution (MWD) for batch reaction. Calculations show that under conventional or near dead-end condition: (1) increasing initial initiator concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature, and decreasing initial monomer concentration cause P?_n and P?_w to decrease and MWD to narrow; (2) increasing initial initiator concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature, and increasing monomer concentration cause monomer conversion to increase; (3) a single CSTR gives a lower rate of oligomer production, but a narrower MWD than does a batch reactor.     

Stability of Molybdenum Disilicide in Combustion Gak Environments

The stability of MoSi₂ in combustion gas at 1370° and 1600°C was evaluated using SOLGASMIX-PV thermodynamic modeling, periodic weight measurements, and characterization via XRD, SEM, EDS, and image analysis. Passive oxidation occurred at both temperatures. During an initial stage of exposure, specimen surfaces oxidized to form MoO_3(g) and amorphous SiO₂ via reduction of CO₂ and H₂O. After a short time (<6.5 min at 1370°C, <1 min at 1600°C), the oxidation mechanism switched; Mo₅Si₃ and amorphous SiO₂ formed as oxidation products. The first mechanism esulted in the formation of 46.1 vol% at 1370°C and 42.6 vol% at 1600°C of the amorphous silica surface coating. The attainment of a near-terminal weight gain implied silica formation was limited by H₂O and CO₂ diffusion through the silica coating.     

应力作用下的相变

水静压抑制Fe-C和钢中体积膨胀型相变，如铁素体、珠光体、贝氏体和马氏体相变。单向应力促发铁素体和珠光体相变，拉应力的效果尤为显著。0．38C-Cr-Mo钢中，铁素体、珠光体和贝氏体相变在应力下的动力学，可由Johnson-Mehl-Avrami方程中加入应力因子经修正来描述。由于铁素体和珠光体的化学驱动力小，应力所作膨胀功使形核率(J^*)增高和孕育期τ缩短。而贝氏体相变中，可能由于应力下碳自奥氏体贫化，或减少相界面能，从而使τ增高和τ缩短，待试验予以证明。水静压对Ms温度影响的定量描述因不同材料而异。列出Patel-Cohen所建立的dMs／dσ方程，及本文作者提出的应力影响Ms的方程。应力诱发马氏体会改变其晶体学及形态，提出以形核率的数值来判定其形态。奥氏体的力学稳定化在马氏体相变中主要由于奥氏体强化所导致，在贝氏体相变中却主要由于晶体学阻碍长大所造成的。     

Coalescence of tungsten grains around molybdenum grains in the presence of a liquid phase

The microstructural evolution of W–22.4Mo–7.8Ni–3.4Fe was investigated in this study. A first liquid phase primarily composed of Ni, Fe, and Mo resulted in the coexistence of large W–Mo grains having Mo-rich cores and small W grains.     

马氏体相变研究的进展和瞻望SCIEI

叙述马氏体相变研究的一些进展和瞻望,包括马氏体相变的定义,马氏体相变热力学,奥氏体状态对马氏体相变的影响,动力学,形核和长大,以及马氏体相变晶体学。     

Studies on electric-discharge machining of non-contact seal face grooves

In this paper, the electric-discharge machining (EDM) of non-contact seal grooves was studied. Two types of material, namely: tungsten carbide and silicon carbide were tested by EDM due to their hard machining behaviors. The geometry of seal grooves is another reason why grinding or other precision machining processes cannot be applied. Four parameters of EDM processes were studied, namely: electrode material, pulse duration, discharge current, and polarity. According to experimental results, the optimal process parameters were obtained based on the specimen’s qualities, such as surface roughness and depth of cut. An industrial example was also studied in the final stage of the proposed paper.     

Oxidation of Si-based ceramics in the presence of alkali halide vapors

Nonoxide silicon-based ceramics owe their oxidation resistance to the formation of a thin silica film that separates the ceramic from oxidizing environments. This silica film can be fluxed by alkali oxides to form low-melting alkali silicate corrosion products that do not provide protection. Alkali chlorides and other halides have sufficiently high vapor pressures that silica fluxing can occur without the formation of a condensed halide salt. The rates of oxidation of Si, SiC, and Si₃N₄ are influenced by the composition of gas mixtures containing these species.