Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites

The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (–COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10⁻⁶μW/m K⁻², and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10⁻⁹. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.     

A combined experimental and theoretical approach to establish the relationship between shear force and clay platelet delamination in melt-processed polypropylene nanocomposites

In this article, a combined experimental and theoretical approach has been proposed to establish a relationship between the required shear force and the degree of delamination of clay tactoids during the melt-processing of polymer nanocomposites. Polypropylene (PP) was selected as a model polymer, and nanocomposites of PP with organically modified clay were prepared by a master batch dilution technique in a twin-screw extruder. The effect of PP throughput during the dilution of the master batch on the dispersion and orientation of clay platelets were studied in detail. Powder X-ray diffraction, small and wide angle X-ray scattering and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to study the structure and morphology of the obtained nanocomposites. The results showed that a lower feeding rate led to the orientation of clay platelets almost in the direction of extrusion. The adhesive force and the interaction energy between the clay platelets were theoretically calculated using the Hamaker approach. The analysis showed that the peeling mechanism is a practical explanation for the delamination of clay platelets during melt extrusion and that the dimensions of the clay platelet tactoids play an important role in the peeling due to the shear stress.     

Messtechnische Herausforderungen bei der Analyse von hochdynamischen Aufprallbeanspruchungen

Metrological challenges analyzing high dynamic impact on reinforced slabs The comprehension of high dynamic impact processes on reinforced concrete structures is of essential importance for the dimensioning of structures regarding exceptional loading scenarios like airplane impacts. Since, for high strain rates in comparison with quasi‐static conditions an altered material behavior appears, an adequate methodology and application of appropriate measurement is required to assess the structural behavior of building components. The present paper describes the metrological methodology and the challenges of the experimental investigations of reinforced concrete slabs under impact with loading periods of only a few μs or ms. The determination of time history curves of impact velocities, bearing forces, displacements and the determination of sound wave velocities inside the structure requires an appropriate high sampling rate with the signal recording. The results lately lead to a holistic assessment of the structural behavior and the damage phenomena of such processes.     

Tragverhalten von geschichteten Deckenelementen aus Normal‐ und Porenleichtbeton

Load bearing behaviour of layered ceiling elements made of regular and porous lightweight concrete Lightweight and efficiently bearing steel reinforced elements may be achieved through the application of regular and porous concrete in a three‐layer cross‐section. While exterior layers of higher strength carry bending moments, a lightweight core layer material holds up to shear stresses. In order to quantify the potential of this construction method, the bearing behaviour of 18 layered ceiling elements with six different geometries was investigated. The goals were both to identify different failure modes, as well as evaluate the suitability of commonly used calculation procedures. The following paper shows that an optimal usage of cross‐sections of ceiling elements can already achieved by using concrete with strengths between 5 MN/m² and 20 MN/m². The efficiently bearing elements are characterized by the fact, that both the concrete, the reinforcing steel and the layer's interface are highly stressed both under pressure and tension. The tested specimens showed both a tensile bending and interface failure with a partly very high utilization of the flexural compressive zone.     

Zentrische Druckversuche an schlanken UHPC‐Stützen

Axial compression tests on slender columns – unreinforced slender columns: a taboo? – Debate on potential and risk Within the project of the Priority Programme (SPP) 1542 ”Concrete light“, which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), unreinforced UHPC columns with square and rectangular cross‐section were tested under axial compression in the subproject ”Cross sectional adaption for rod‐shaped elements in compression“. The results were compared with test series of other researchers. The focus of the study was on the buckling behavior of columns with different conditions of end support. A hinged and a fixed support have been applied for these experiments. In addition to an analysis of the failure process, the results were compared with the Euler buckling load and the normal stress in consideration of second‐order effects. Concluding, advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are presented, compared, and discussed.     

Tropfenseparation aus der Gasphase in kleinskaligen Ringkammerzentrifugen

Here, the laminar fluid flow in small‐scale ring chamber centrifuges is investigated to describe the separation behavior of oil aerosols by means of models and laws of similitude. The key objective is the determination of the separation efficiency dependent on the centrifugal geometry, the material properties of the continuous and disperse phases as well as operational parameters such as angular velocity and volume flow. Experimental investigations were conducted to assess the range of validity, the usability and the accuracy of the models.     

Aktuelle Aktivitäten zu den europäischen Rohstoff-Initiativen

The European Initiatives manifested in the Communications of the European Commission on Raw Materials, in the Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and in the 2014 Call of the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT) for a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) on Raw Materials lead to manifold Austrian activities on Government level and on level of the Montanuniversitaet Leoben. The ESEE Region, thus East- and Southeast Europe has a special role.     

Optimizing 100%‐renewable grids through shifting residential water‐heater load

A low‐carbon electricity supply for Australia was simulated, and the installed capacity of the electrical grid was optimized by shifting the electricity demand of residential electric water heaters (EWHs). The load‐shifting potential of Australia was estimated for each hour of the simulation period using a nationwide aggregate EWH load model on a 90 × 110 raster grid. The electricity demand of water heaters was shifted from periods of low renewable resource and high demand to periods of high renewable resource and low demand, enabling us to effectively reduce the installed capacity requirements of a 100%‐renewable electricity grid. It was found that by shifting the EWH load by just 1 hour, the electricity demand of Australia could be met using purely renewable electricity at an installed capacity of 145 GW with a capacity factor of 30%, an electricity spillage of 20%, and a generation cost of 15.2 ¢/kWh. A breakdown of the primary energy sources used in our scenario is as follows: 43% wind, 29% concentrated solar thermal power, and 20% utility photovoltaic. Sensitivity analysis suggested that further reduction in installed capacity is possible by increasing the load‐shifting duration as well as the volume and insulation level of the EWH tank.     

An LMI approach for H ∞ analysis and control of discrete-time piecewise affine systems

In this paper we investigate some analysis and control problems for discrete-time hybrid systems in the piece-wise affine form. By using arguments from the dissipativity theory for non-linear systems, we show that H X analysis and synthesis problems can be formulated and solved via linear matrix inequalities by taking into account the switching structure of the considered system. In this paper we address the generalized problem of controlling hybrid systems whose switching structure does not depend only on the state but also on the control input.