Tribological properties of ethylene–propylene–diene rubber + polypropylene + thermal‐shock‐resistant ceramic composites

This work is part of a program on composites used in thermoelectric devices. Tribological properties of dynamic vulcanizate blends of polypropylene and ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber filled with 5 wt% of microscale powder have been studied. The microscale thermal‐shock‐resistant ceramic filler contains α‐Al₂O₃, mullite (3Al₂O₃ · 2SiO₂ or 2Al₂O₃SiO₂), β‐spodumene glass‐ceramic and aluminium titanate. We found that our ceramic particles are abrasive; they cause strong abrasion of softer steel ball surfaces during dry sliding friction. To overcome the difficulty of particle dispersion and adhesion, the filler was modified through grafting using three types of organic molecules. Dry sliding friction was measured using four types of counter‐surfaces: tungsten carbide, Si₃N₂, 302 steel and 440 steel. Thermoplastic vulcanizate filled with neat ceramic powder shows the lowest friction compared to composites containing the same but surface‐treated powder. We introduce a ‘bump’ model to explain the tribological responses of our composites. ‘Naked’ or untreated ceramic particles protrude from the polymer surface and cause a decrease of the contact area compared to neat polymer. The ball partner surface has only a small contact area with the bumps. As contact surface area decreases, so does friction and the amount of heat generated during sliding friction testing. Chemical coupling of the ceramic to the matrix smoothens the bumps and increases the contact surface, giving a parallel increase in friction. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative study of the fluid viscosity in tarsal hairy attachment systems of flies and beetles

Wet adhesive systems of insects strongly rely for their function on the formation of capillary bridges with the substrate. Studies on the chemical composition and evaporation dynamics of tarsal secretions strongly suggest a difference in chemistry of secretion in beetles and flies, both possessing hairy attachment devices. This difference is assumed to influence the viscosity of the secretion. Here, we applied a microrheological technique, based on the immersion of nanometric beads in the collected tarsal footprints, to estimate secretion viscosity in a beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) and a fly (Calliphora vicina). Both species studied possess distinct differences in viscosity, the median of which was calculated as 21.8 and 10.9 mPa s, respectively. We further present an approximate theoretical model to calculate the contact formation time of spatula-like terminal contact elements using the viscosity data of the covering fluid. The estimated contact formation time is proportional to the tarsal secretion viscosity and to the square of the contact radius of the contact element.     

核电用大口径闸阀关闭件发生热粘连的可能性分析

介绍了核电站用闸阀在高温条件下防止产生热粘连的结构要素,及其防止产生热粘连的理论分析。     

Characterization of Chemical Densified Coating as Tritium Permeation Barrier

In a fusion blanket design, ceramic coating on structural materials has been considered to be used as a tritium permeation barrier. The Chemical Densified Coating (CDC) method has some advantage compared with another coating method. This method is capable to form densified coating on either the outer or the inner surface of a tube or a container. This process temperature is low (450°C). The fabrication technique of Cr₂O₃-SiO₂ coating had been developed using CDC method. However, Cr₂O₃-SiO₂ coating had open pores in the coating. For filling open pores, the densification treatment by CrPO₄ was examined. In this study, the verification of open pores, the thermal shock resistivity, the adhesion strength and the deuterium permeability were evaluated and compared with Cr₂O₃-SiO₂ (Type 1) coating and Cr₂O₃-SiO₂ including CrPO₄ (Type 2) coating. From these results, it was confirmed that Type 2 coating had a good adhesion property, and permeation reduction factor of SS316 with Cr₂O₃-SiO₂ including CrPO₄ coating reached about 1,000 at 600°C.     

Physicochemical and structural effects of electrolyte‐induced delamination on polyethylene teraphthalate‐coated steel plates

This research evaluated the in situ physicochemical changes and alterations occurring in an electrolytic chromium coated steel (ECCS), surface protected by polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) copolymer, after inducing a fracture on the coating in an acid acetic‐acetate medium. The delamination was characterized in the front of the failure by means of anodic and cathodic electrochemical mechanisms, and the resistance and degradation of the metal‐polymer composite's substrates were analyzed by means of Raman vibrational spectroscopy. The application of an electrochemical cell to generate in situ delamination, simulating the formation of pores or artificial defects, provided information on the activity inside the substrates of the PET‐coated ECCS composite as a result of the effect of the acetic acid. The anodic delamination mechanism is based on the diffusion of the electrolyte through the metal‐polymer interface and the pre‐existence of pores on the polymer layer. The cathodic delamination mechanism is based on the mechanical action of the gaseous hydrogen as a result of the reduction of H⁺. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Cell morphology and focal adhesion location alters internal cell stress

Extracellular mechanical cues have been shown to have a profound effect on osteogenic cell behaviour. However, it is not known precisely how these cues alter intracellular mechanics to initiate changes in cell behaviour. In this study, a combination of in vitro culture of MC3T3-E1 cells and finite-element modelling was used to investigate the effects of passive differences in substrate stiffness on intracellular mechanics. Cells on collagen-based substrates were classified based on the presence of cell processes and the dimensions of various cellular features were quantified. Focal adhesion (FA) density was quantified from immunohistochemical staining, while cell and substrate stiffnesses were measured using a live-cell atomic force microscope. Computational models of cell morphologies were developed using an applied contraction of the cell body to simulate active cell contraction. The results showed that FA density is directly related to cell morphology, while the effect of substrate stiffness on internal cell tension was modulated by both cell morphology and FA density, as investigated by varying the number of adhesion sites present in each morphological model. We propose that the cells desire to achieve a homeostatic stress state may play a role in osteogenic cell differentiation in response to extracellular mechanical cues.     

Characterization and application of propylene grafted hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene hydrocarbon resin

Hydrocarbon resins, which are defined as low molecular weight, amorphous, and thermoplastic polymers, are widely used as tackifiers for various types of adhesives, as processing aids in rubber compounds, and as modifiers for paint and ink products, and for use in plastics polymers such as isotactic polypropylene. Recently, the quantities of the hydrocarbon resin׳ raw materials which are the side products from naphtha cracking process have decreased because of light-feed cracking such as gas cracking, so new raw materials for hydrocarbon resin production are essential. To be satisfied with the previously mentioned factors, the substitution of hydrocarbon resin raw materials with renewable resources is a worthy consideration. Moreover, new hydrocarbon resin having high adhesion performance, low specific gravity, and good compatibility with various polymers has been requested in various adhesives.To meet those requests, in this study, propylene instead of side product from naphtha cracking as main raw material of hydrocarbon resin were partially used. The propylene serves as a new, sustainable raw material and was successfully grafted onto dicyclopentadiene. The reaction of the propylene with dicyclopentadiene was confirmed because, according to NMR and FT-IR analyses, a pendant methyl-propylene group exists in the structure of the propylene-grafted, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene hydrocarbon resin. To establish an optimal production condition regarding the propylene-grafted, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene hydrocarbon resin, numerous experiments were conducted according to the mole ratio of the raw materials and the polymerization temperature. The propylene-grafted, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene hydrocarbon resin that was manufactured according to optimal conditions results in a lower specific gravity and a high molecular weight, whereby the advantages of the adhesion properties of an SIS-based pressure-sensitive-adhesive are exploited. When the propylene-grafted, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene hydrocarbon resin was formulated with the SIS-based pressure-sensitive-adhesive, both the heat stability and the shear-adhesion strength are sound.