Preparation of Alumina Fiber-Reinforced Aluminum by Squeeze Casting and Their Machinability

Alumina fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy composites were prepared by squeeze casting, and the effect of the reinforcement on the machinability of the alloy was investigated. Two kinds of short alumina fibers, which have the same fiber size but different hardness, were used. Preform in which the fibers were in a random arrangement was formed with SiO₂ binder, and then was infiltrated with the alloy melt to prepare the composite. The fiber–matrix interfacial bond via the binder is sufficient and no reaction product was detected. The cutting force of the alloy was reduced by the fiber-reinforcement. The lower the hardness of the fiber in the composite, the lower the cutting force of the composite. The roughness of the machined surface was drastically decreased by the reinforcement. Observation of the chip formed on the machined surface indicated that the fiber suppressed the formation of the built-up-edge, and this fact would lead to the reduction in the surface roughness by the reinforcement. The chips were shortened by the reinforcement. The difference in hardness of the alumina fiber hardly affected the roughness and the chip morphology. The hardness of the fiber has a strong effect to decrease the tool life.     

Control of the coating layer thickness of TiO2–SiO2 core–shell hybrid particles by liquid phase deposition

This paper describes control of the coating layer thickness and the crystallite size of the core–shell hybrid particles by controlling the process parameter. The core–shell hybrid particles were prepared using liquid phase deposition (LPD). We confirmed that the homogeneous coating was attained from the result of the zeta potential and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation. Furthermore, the coating layer microstructure was estimated using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The obtained coating layer of titania was estimated using the band gap energy. Results indicate that the blue shift of the band gap energy signifies that the physical property of the hybrid particles was controlled by the coating layer thickness and the crystallite size, which are determined by the processing parameters.     

Strain-mediated phase control and electrolyte-gating of electron-doped manganites

A prototype Mott transistor, the electric double layer transistor with a strained CaMnO(3) thin film, is fabricated. As predicted by the strain phase diagram of electron-doped manganite films, the device with the compressively strained CaMnO(3) exhibits an immense conductivity modulation upon applying a tiny gate voltage of 2 V.     

Influence of different feeding systems on the growth performance and muscle development of Japanese Black steers

This study investigated the growth performance and gene expression for muscle development between grass hay-fed (GH) and concentrate-fed (CT) steers. Daily gain and energy intake during the fattening period of the GH group were lower than those of the CT group. Analysis of C/EBPα, PPARγ2, myosin heavy chain (MHC), and myostatin gene expressions was performed by real-time PCR. Expressions of C/EBPα and myostatin in semitendinosus and longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were higher in the CT group than in the GH group at the end of fattening. In LL muscle, MHC expression at the end of fattening was greater in the GH group than in the CT group. These results suggest that regulation of adipogenesis and myogenesis by the expression of genes involved in muscle development might have occurred in the skeletal muscle of the GH group by the feeding of grass hay and/or because of the low energy intakes.     

Time‐frequency analysis of a pressure wave caused by impulse tree using wavelet transform

This paper describes results of time‐frequency analysis of a pressure wave caused by impulse tree extension using wavelet transform. Pressure waves were measured by a piezo sensor which was located on the back of the plane electrode when high‐voltage nanosecond pulses were applied to a point electrode in a low‐density polyethylene block. Frequency of the pressure wave from induced charges on the plane electrode was higher than that of the pressure wave from tree. In addition, the frequency of the pressure wave from tree tended to decrease with increasing gap length because of the dispersion of the pressure wave during its propagation. When a large tree extension occurred between a 5‐mm gap, pressure waves of about 10 MHz propagated from the tree tip and a pressure wave of 1 MHz propagated from the tree stem. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 142(1): 1–7, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10097     

Gas absorption into “string-of-beads” liquid flow with chemical reaction: application to carbon dioxide separation

This study examines the performance of “string-of-beads” liquid flow on vertical wires as a novel gas-liquid contact device for gas absorption using a chemically reacting liquid absorbent. The string-of-beads flow is a distinct on-wire liquid-flow pattern consisting of annular thin liquid films sheathing a wire and teardrop-shaped liquid beads alternately aligned on the wire at regular intervals. We have performed experiments of CO₂ absorption by an aqueous monoethanolamine solution in string-of-beads flow on a single wire and have developed an analytic gas-absorption model relevant to the experiments. The model well simulates the CO₂-absorption characteristics observed in the experiments, thereby suggesting the utility of the model in predicting the chemical gas-absorption performance of multiple-wire gas-liquid contactors.     

Tool wear prediction and economics in machining stepped parts

For analysing economics of machining cylindrical stepped parts, tool life must be predicted. In this paper, tool life tests, to obtain tool life changing cutting speed before the tool reaches tool life criterion under a constant speed, are performed and the tool life is calculated. Using the results of the calculations machining economics of various forms of stepped parts for the constant spindle rpm method and the constant cutting speed method, are analysed.     

Dissolution and Absorption of Nipedipine from Nifedipine-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Coprecipitate

Attempt was made to develop the solid dosage form of nifedipina which showed good absorption rate and total bioavailability. Nifedipine is a poorly water-saluble drug, whom bioavailability is low when administered orally in the crystalline form. Solutions of nifedipine were well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The dissolution rate of PVP-nifedipine coprecipitates exhibited rapid dissolution rate. X-ray diffraction data suggested the lack of crystallinity in the coprecipitate. The relation between the dissolution rates and average molecular weights of PVP was studied. Nifedipine in the copretipitate was chemically stable to heat and humidity, but the dissolution rate of nifedipine from the coprecipitate stored at 21° and 75% R.H. markedly decreased. X-ray diffraction data revealed that it might be due to the transformation of amorphous form of nifedipine to crystalline form under higher relative humidity. The gastrointestinal absorption of nifedipine in beagle dogs after oral administration of the coprecipitate was increased than that after oral adniniatration of the physical mixture.