Bridging stresses in sintered reaction-bonded Si3N4 from COD measurements

Crack opening displacement measurements on a sintered reaction-bonded Si₃N₄ ceramic obtained in bending tests with edge-V-notched specimens were evaluated. A procedure is proposed which allows a straight-forward evaluation of the experimental results in order to obtain the bridging stresses as a function of crack opening displacements. Bridging stresses up to 160 MPa were found acting over a distance of about 0.4 μm. In addition crack profile measurements were performed for Vickers indentation cracks which could approximately be described by use of the bridging relation obtained.     

Response kinetics of temperature-independent resistive oxygen sensor formulations: a comparative study

This contribution compares the response kinetics of two temperature-independent resistive oxygen sensor formulations: LaCu_0.3Fe_0.7O_3−δ (LCF) and La_0.05Sr_0.95Ti_0.65Fe_0.35O_3−δ (LSTF). Screen-printed thick film sensor specimens were prepared. Sensor characteristics towards oxygen were determined, and additional measurements in the frequency domain were realized: the former indicate a fast and nearly temperature-independent response of LCF and LSTF compositions in the temperature range between 750 and 900 °C. The latter allow conclusions on the underlying sensing mechanism. Whereas oxygen sensitivity of LSTF is exclusively controlled by a reaction step, response of LCF is governed by reaction only at lower temperatures. At higher temperatures, a diffusion process becomes limiting. This different behavior is attributed to different microstructures of the sensitive films.     

Calcium addition in straw gasification

The present work focuses on the influence of calcium addition in gasification. The inorganic-organic element interaction as well as the detailed inorganic-inorganic elements interaction has been studied. The effect of calcium addition as calcium sugar/molasses solutions to straw significantly affected the ash chemistry and the ash sintering tendency but much less the char reactivity. Thermo balance test are made and high-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements are performed, the experimental results indicate that with calcium addition major inorganic-inorganic reactions take place very late in the char conversion process. Comprehensive global equilibrium calculations predicted important characteristics of the inorganic ash residue. Equilibrium calculations predict the formation of liquid salt if sufficient amounts of Ca are added and according to experiments as well as calculations calcium binds silicon primarily as calcium silicates and less as potassium calcium silicates.     

Desktop inkjet printer as a tool to print conducting polymers

In order to exploit mechanical flexibility of organic-based electronic devices, conducting polymer anodes, such as polyaniline or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy)-thiophene-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS), have been extensively studied. Along with the use of solution based processing techniques, conducting polymers can simplify the device fabrication procedure and yield themselves easily to printing techniques. In this paper, we present the results of utilizing desktop inkjet printer as a tool for direct printing and patterning of conducting polymer. Design of printable patterns and adjustment of printing parameters can be performed using any software such as Power Point. PEDOT-PSS suspension can be loaded into an inkjet cartridge and deposited on a given substrate in any designed pattern. The gray-scale color scheme can be employed to control the layer thickness and sheet resistivity of the inkjet printed layers. These layers are then used as anodes in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs).     

General relativity and quantum mechanics: towards a generalization of the Lambert W function A Generalization of the Lambert W Function

We present a canonical form for a natural and necessary generalization of the Lambert W function, natural in that it requires minimal mathematical definitions for this generalization, and necessary in that it provides a means of expressing solutions to a number of physical problems of fundamental nature. This generalization expresses the exact solutions for general-relativistic self-gravitating N-body systems in one spatial and one time dimension, and a previously unknown mathematical link between the (1+1) gravity problem and the Schrödinger wave equation.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer in an optical fiber coating process

The optical fiber coating process, using a die and applicator system, was numerically simulated. The coupled partial differential equations, governing the fluid flow and heat transfer, were solved on a transformed, non-uniform, staggered grid. A finite volume method, with conjugate heat transfer, boundary-fitted grid, and variable transport properties, was employed. The pressure was calculated using a SIMPLE-based algorithm. An isothermal case was first modeled, where the effect of the Reynolds number (Re) was studied for different geometries. Different coating fluids were considered. A conjugate boundary condition was employed at the fiber–fluid interface for the non-isothermal flow. A free surface boundary condition was used at the fiber entry into the coating fluid. The meniscus was prescribed on the basis of prior experimental work. Regardless of fiber speed, a circulating flow was observed in the applicator. High shear rates at the dynamic contact point suggest that air can be entrained with a fast moving fiber. It was also found that pressures at the coating fluid inlet did not play a major role, for typical fiber speeds, whereas the thermal conditions that affect the properties of the fluid, such as viscosity, made a significant impact on both the flow and the thermal field. This work could be used to determine the parameters that are critical for improving the quality of the coating, particularly its uniformity, and the production rate.     

Using spectral method as an approximation for solving hyperbolic PDEs

We demonstrate an application of the spectral method as a numerical approximation for solving hyperbolic PDEs. In this method a finite basis is used for approximating the solutions. In particular, we demonstrate a set of such solutions for cases which would be otherwise almost impossible to solve by the more routine methods such as the Finite Difference Method. Eigenvalue problems are included in the class of PDEs that are solvable by this method. Although any complete orthonormal basis can be used, we discuss two particularly interesting bases: the Fourier basis and the quantum oscillator eigenfunction basis. We compare and discuss the relative advantages of each of these two bases.     

A comparable study of image approximations to the reaction field

The recently developed high-order accurate multiple image approximation to the reaction field for a charge inside a dielectric sphere [J. Comput. Phys. 223 (2007) 846-864] is compared favorably to other commonly employed reaction field schemes. These methods are of particular interest because they are useful in the study of biological macromolecules by the Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics methods.