无机盐晶须的制备以及应用研究进展

无机盐晶须是在人工可控条件下生长成的具有一定长径比的一种纤维,具有强度高、模量高、化学性质稳定、易与基体结合等特点,广泛应用于造纸、建筑材料、高分子材料等领域。主要介绍了无机盐晶须的生长机理、常见的无机盐晶须种类、制备方法以及应用范围。重点介绍了无机盐晶须的制备方法,包括气相法、固相法和液相法,其中液相法为制备无机盐晶须常见的方法,主要从水热合成法、碳化法、常压酸化法以及溶胶凝胶法进行介绍;其次,介绍了无机盐晶须在阻燃材料、建筑材料、复合材料和摩擦材料中的应用,并指出晶须对复合材料的作用机理主要体现在负荷传递、裂纹桥连、裂纹偏转和拔出效应4个方面;最后指出,目前无机盐晶须的制备及应用仍处于实验室阶段,其制备以及应用过程中仍存在能耗高、产物形貌不均一、产量低、设备复杂、工业化程度差等一些问题。通过分析得出,开发低成本、低能耗的无机盐晶须制备方法仍是主要的亟需解决的难题。     

Application of functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles for selective induction of three coumarin metastable polymorphs

The precise control of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) crystal nucleation and polymorphism is a key consideration in pharmaceutical manufacturing. In this study, tunable nanoparticles were developed to regulate the nucleation process of coumarin. Magnetic silica nanoparticles with four different functional groups (—NH₂, —COOH, —SH, —NCO) were prepared and coated on the substrate for inducing the crystallization of coumarin. Confined melt crystallization and microspacing sublimation crystallization methods were used to investigate the regulation mechanism. The results indicated that three metastable forms of coumarin can be obtained as pure components based on the combined influence of crystallization methods and functionalized nanoparticles. Form II could be selectively obtained by microspacing sublimation crystallization on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂—SH substrates, and Form IV could be obtained by confined melt crystallization on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂—NCO substrates. Form III could be obtained by further heating Form IV crystals to 52 ℃ on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂—NCO substrates. Moreover, the polarized light microscopy results also indicated that the introduction of nanoparticles could also increase the stability of the metastable crystalline forms of coumarin. Finally, the diffusion and surface dynamics during nanoparticle induced crystallization were comparatively investigated and the corresponding polymorphic selectivity mechanism was proposed.     

Rapid visualization of the potential residential cost savings from energy storage under time-of-use electric rates

Buildings feature a prominent role in electric grid loading, as they use about 75% of the total electricity generated in the United States and are main drivers of electric peak demand in the summer due to electrically driven air conditioning systems. Energy storage is a key technology that can increase energy cost savings, and add flexibility to the grid. However, cost is an important factor to consider. This study proposes a rapid approach that allows for visualization of potential cost savings by introducing energy storage as a peak load control for residential buildings in California. A combination of EnergyPlus load data generation, Matlab post-processing, and Google Fusion Tables data presentation analyses the potential cost savings when energy storage is implemented and TOU rates are applied. The study presents potential annual cost savings of $420 per home with storage capacities of 24?kWh.     

Comparative studies of grain refinement of commercial purity Mg by CaO and Ca addition

ABSTRACT

The comparative studies of grain refinement of commercial purity Mg by CaO/Ca addition have been investigated by using TP-1 tests, optical microscope, XRD characterisation and TEM (STEM) observation along with EDX analysis. Experimental results showed that Ca/CaO addition significantly refines the grain structure of commercial purity Mg. Compared with Ca addition, CaO exhibits finer grain size and the average grain size remains invariable with further CaO addition. CaO addition is readily reduced to Ca by Mg melt and forms Mg₂Ca on the surface of MgO particles. First-principle calculations were used to understand the nucleation of Mg₂Ca layer by a coherent interface model calculating the work of adhesion and the interface energy between Mg₂Ca and α-Mg. The combination of experiments and calculations showed that the formation of Mg₂Ca layer on MgO facilitates the nucleation of α-Mg and then refines the grain structure by Ca or CaO addition.     

Thermal behaviour of polyethylene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymer: effect of multiple heating and cooling rates versus mathematical artefact

The melting and crystallization behaviours of a polyethylene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PE‐b‐PMMA) diblock copolymer and a PE homopolymer were investigated using multiple heating and cooling rate differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments, and modelling of the crystallization kinetics and lamellar thickness distribution. This new model was first validated applying literature and experimental data. The model‐predicted morphology (n = 3.2) closely matched the spherulitic morphology (n = 3), which was determined using polarized optical microscopy. For each experimental cooling rate, the model predicted diblock copolymer crystallinity that well matched the entire DSC crystallinity curve, notably for an Avrami–Erofeev index of n = 2; and apparent crystallization activation energy that hardly varied with the cooling rates used, relative crystallinity (α), and crystallization temperature or time. This disfavours the concept of variable activation energy. The use of the right crystallization model and parameter estimation algorithm is important for addressing the mathematical artefact. Under non‐isothermal cooling, the PE‐b‐PMMA diblock copolymer, as per the model prediction, crystallized without confinement (n ≠ 1), preserving the cylindrical structure. From the characteristic shapes of the crystallization function f(α(T)) versus 1/T and crystallization rate versus α plots, the resulting T_cmax and narrow α_max range can guide the search for an appropriate crystallization model. The overall treatment illustrated in this study is not restricted to a PE homopolymer and a PE‐b‐isotactic PMMA block copolymer. It can be generally applied to crystalline homopolymers and copolymers (alternating, random and block), as well as their blends. The block copolymers and blends can be crystalline–amorphous as well as crystalline–crystalline. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Tanker Chartering and Freight Rates

Current freight rates in %Ws which are calculated from all dirty spot fixtures for which rates were reported during the month. Updated on a monthly basis.     

Control of viscous fingering and mixing in miscible displacements with time-dependent rates

In miscible displacements encountered in enhanced oil recovery processes, the unfavorable viscosity contrast between injected solvent and oil usually leads to viscous fingering (VF), a hydrodynamic instability which may result in a lower sweep efficiency and oil recovery. This phenomenon can be observed in a wide range of flows in subsurface porous media. This study examined a simple cyclic time-dependent displacement rate and its effects on the onset and longer development of VF. It is found that such varying displacement rate can either stabilize or destabilize VF, depending on the cycle period, amplitude, and displacement scenarios. The most important mechanism is that such time-dependent rate can effectively change the competition between convection (destabilizing effect) and dispersion (stabilizing effect). This is different from the widely used constant injection rate where the flow instability is actually determined by the Peclet number and mobility contrast for a given scenario. This study therefore provided a new aspect to control VF, either enhance or reduce, with low additional costs. It is therefore both scientifically and practically important for a wide range of flows in subsurface porous media. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 360–371, 2019     

Bubble Growth Rates and Nucleation Site Densities in Saturated Pool Boiling of Water at High Pressures

Experiments were carried out to observe boiling behaviors of water on horizontal and vertical surfaces at pressures from 0.35 to 5 MPa. The growth curves of the primary bubbles are well described by the t^1/2 variation over the whole range of pressures. The growth rates of primary bubbles are proportional to the square root of the Jakob number, and agree with the correlation by Labuntsov with the arbitrary constant β = 3. The conventional correlations of bubble growth rates, which are directly proportional to the Jakob number, predict slower growth rates at higher pressures. The coalescence behaviors of the primary bubbles were also measured on the vertical surface at 3.66 MPa. The coalesced bubbles, which were formed by the coalescence of two primary bubbles, grow at rates similar to the rates of the primary bubbles. The nucleation site densities measured on the vertical surface at pressures up to 5 MPa increase in proportion to about the 1.5th power of the pressure under equivalent heat flux conditions. The dependence of the nucleation site densities on the heat flux is very similar to the results obtained near atmospheric pressure where the nucleation site density is proportional to the 1.5th power of the heat flux. The nucleation site densities measured in the range of pressures of 0.35 to 5 MPa and at heat fluxes of 0.05 to 0.35MW/m² agree fairly well with the available correlations.     

Tribological characteristics of innovative Al6061–carbon fiber rod metal matrix composites

Rods made of continuous carbon fibers are being extensively used as structural materials in light weight micro-air vehicles owing to their excellent specific modulus and strength. Further, they possess excellent tribological characteristics – low friction and wear coupled with high conductivity making them an ideal reinforcement in developing light weight, high strength aluminum based metal matrix composites. In the last three decades, researchers have focused mainly on the study of mechanical and tribological behavior of discontinuous carbon fiber reinforced metal matrix composites. However, no information is available regarding the tribological behavior of carbon fibers rod reinforced metal matrix composites, although it is interesting and will result in expanding the applications of metal matrix composites (MMC) where tribological failures are expected.In the light of the above, the present work focuses on development of innovative Al6061–carbon fiber rods composites by casting route and assessing their tribological characteristics. Carbon fiber rods of 4 mm and 6 mm diameters were surface sensitized to achieve electro less nickel coating. Copper plating on the electro less nickel coated carbon fiber rods were carried out. The copper plated carbon fiber rods were arranged in cylindrical array in the metallic mold to which molten Al6061 alloy after degassing was poured at a temperature of 700 °C. The developed innovative composites were subjected to density tests, microstructure studies, hardness, friction and wear tests. A pin on disk configuration was used with hardened steel as the counter face. Load was varied from 20 N to 60 N while the sliding velocity was varied between 0.12 m/s and 0.62 m/s. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies on worn surfaces and wear debris have been carried out to validate the wear mechanism. The developed innovative composites (11 Vol.% & 25 Vol.%) have exhibited lower coefficient of friction and wear rates when compared with matrix alloy.