Characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium bromide polymer electrolytes for electrochemical cell applications

Sodium‐ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) complexed with sodium bromide were prepared with a solution‐casting technique. The structure of these films was determined with X‐ray diffraction, and the complexation of the salt with the polymer was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies. Electrical conductivity was measured with an alternating‐current impedance analyzer in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range of 303–373 K. It was observed that the magnitude of conductivity increased with the increase in the salt concentration as well as the temperature. The nature of the charge transport in these polymer electrolyte films was determined with both Wagner's polarization technique and the Watanabe technique. The dominant conducting species were found to be ions, particularly anions. Optical absorption studies were performed in the wavelength range of 200–600 nm, and the absorption edge, direct band gap, and indirect band gap values were evaluated. Electrochemical cells were fabricated, and their discharge characteristics were studied. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Functional copolymer of geraniol and acrylonitrile: Synthesis and characterization

The radical copolymerization of acyclic terpene namely geraniol [GER] with acrylonitrile [AN] in DMF at (70 ± 0.1)°C for 1 h, using benzoylperoxide (BPO) as an initiator has been carried out under inert atmosphere of nitrogen. The kinetic expression for reaction is R_p ∝ [BPO]^0.5 [AN]^1.0 [GER]^1.0. The IR spectrum of the copolymer shows bands at 3432 and at 2244 cm^?1 due to ? OH group of GER and ? CN group of AN, respectively. The ¹³C‐NMR spectrum shows peaks at 73–75 δ ppm and 116–120 δ ppm due to ? OH group of GER and ? CN group of AN, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry study shows that copolymer is thermally stable up to 407°C and has glass transition temperatures (T_g) 56°C. The reactivity ratios r₁ (AN) and r₂ (GER) have been calculated as 0.05 and 0.005, respectively. The Alfrey‐Price Q‐e parameter for GER has been calculated as 0.094 and ?2.0, respectively. The molecular weights of the copolymers have been evaluated by gel‐permeation chromatography. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Metallurgical Investigation of a Prematurely Failed Concentric Reducer Tube Used in a Hot-Rolling Mill

A concentric reducer tube, which was a part of the top exit roughing hydraulic descaler in a hot strip mill failed prematurely under working pressure. A detailed metallurgical investigation comprising physical examination, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis was carried out to find out the genesis of the failure. Physical examination revealed cracks located symmetrically around the circumference of the tube that ran along its full length, up to the weld beads at both ends. Optical microscopy of etched samples revealed a banded ferrite-pearlite structure and the existence of forging folds near the change-in-section(160° fillets). Cracks were found to initiate from these forging folds. No structural abnormalities were found in the weld beads and heat-affected zones.     

Synthesis and characterization of acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials with varying Si/Al ratios

Al-SBA-15 of varying Si/Al ratios in the range 11.4–78.4 was synthesized using tri-block copolymer P123. The calcined materials were examined by XRD, pore size distribution, surface area, ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The acidity and acid strength distribution were studied using microcalorimetric adsorption of NH₃. The acidic properties were also examined by cumene cracking reaction as a function of Si/Al ratios. Systematic variation of acidity and activity was observed as a function of Si/Al ratio. The initial heats of NH₃ adsorption correlated well with activity indicate that acid sites with ΔH > 100 kJ/mole is responsible for cumene cracking activity. Linear correlations were obtained with total acidity and cumene cracking activities. The tetrahedral aluminum was found to be responsible for the observed acidities and catalytic activities.     

A Light‐Blue Phosphorescent Dendrimer for Efficient Solution‐Processed Light‐Emitting Diodes

We describe the preparation of a dendrimer that is solution‐processible and contains 2‐ethylhexyloxy surface groups, biphenyl‐based dendrons, and a fac‐tris[2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridyl]iridium(III ) core. The homoleptic complex is highly luminescent and the color of emission is similar to the heteroleptic iridium(III ) complex, bis[2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridyl]picolinate iridium(III ) (FIrpic). To avoid the change in emission color that would arise from attaching a conjugated dendron to the ligand, the conjugation between the dendron and the ligand is decoupled by separating them with an ethane linkage. Bilayer devices containing a light‐emitting layer comprised of a 30 wt.‐% blend of the dendrimer in 1,3‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)benzene (mCP) and a 1,3,5‐tris(2‐N‐phenylbenzimidazolyl)benzene electron‐transport layer have external quantum and power efficiencies, respectively, of 10.4 % and 11 lm W^–1 at 100 cd m^–2 and 6.4 V. These efficiencies are higher than those reported for more complex device structures prepared via evaporation that contain FIrpic blended with mCP as the emitting layer, showing the advantage of using a dendritic structure to control processing and intermolecular interactions. The external quantum efficiency of 10.4 % corresponds to the maximum achievable efficiency based on the photoluminescence quantum yield of the emissive film and the standard out‐coupling of light from the device.     

Eight mole percent yttria stabilized zirconia powders by organic precursor route

An organic precursor-mixing route has been developed for preparation of 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) ceramics. Polymeric salt of succinic acid with yttrium and zirconium has been prepared separately by treating sodium succinate with yttrium chloride and zirconyl chloride followed by washing with water and drying at 120 °C. Thorough mixing of the two salts in stoichiometric proportions by planetary ball milling followed by calcination at 850 °C resulted in a precursor powder containing nanocrystalline (∼40 nm) monoclinic zirconia, tetragonal YSZ, cubic YSZ and yttria. Compacts prepared after deagglomeration of powder by planetary ball milling produce 8YSZ ceramics having density 99.3% TD on sintering at 1550 °C for 2 h.     

Analysis of diffused planar and channel waveguides

A simple analytical method is presented which improves upon the Hermite-Gauss field proposed by S.K. Korotky et al. (1982) for diffused waveguides by taking into account the evanescent field in the cover region. The method is used to analyze the propagation characteristics of diffused planar and channel waveguides     

Dependence of mutation induction on fast-neutron energy in a human epithelial teratocarcinoma cell line (P3)

Cultivation of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) at high temperature (37 degrees C) for 48 h in yeast extract-containing Sabouraud liquid medium (YSLM) provided the following findings in comparison with the findings obtained after incubation at 27 degrees C. Growth of the blastoconidia of this strain was decreased, with a dry weight of 9%, and the cells were deficient in cytokinesis. The cells did not undergo agglutination with serum factor 5 from a commercially available serum factor kit (Candida Check). Mannan (B-37-M) obtained from the cells cultured at 37 degrees C had partially lost its reactivity against serum factor 4 and lost most of its reactivity against serum factor 5 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in contrast to that (B-27-M) at 27 degrees C. Both cells and mannan prepared by cultivation first at 37 degrees C and then at 27 degrees C entirely recovered their reactivities with serum factors 4 and 5. 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis also revealed that B-37-M had lost a beta-1,2-linked mannopyranose unit and retained a phosphate group. Similar changes were observed in the three other serotype B strains used in the study. The beta-1,2-linked mannooligosaccharides longer than mannotetraose were not included among the products released from B-37-M by mild acid treatment. The results of the inhibition ELISA with a series of beta-1,2-linked mannooligosaccharides from biose to octaose (M2 to M8, respectively) showed that the reactivity against serum factor 4 was inhibited most strongly by the oligosaccharides M4 to M8 and that the reactivity against serum factor 5 was inhibited completely by relatively longer oligosaccharides, M5 to M8, indicating their participation as the antigenic factor 5 epitopes.     

Neem oil as a sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) repellent

The repellent action of neem oil was evaluated against sand flies under laboratory and field conditions. Concentrations of 2% neem oil mixed in coconut or mustard oil provided 100% protection against Phlebotomus argentipes throughout the night under field conditions; against Phlebotomus papatasi it repelled sand flies for about 7 h in the laboratory. Neem oil is an indigenous product and a low-cost alternative for personal protection against sand fly bites.