Blends of Bio-Based Poly(Limonene Carbonate) with Commodity Polymers

In this study, blends of the bio-based poly(limonene carbonate) (PLimC) with different commodity polymers are investigated in order to explore the potential of PLimC toward generating more sustainable polymer materials by reducing the amount of petro- or food-based polymers. PLimC is employed as minority component in the blends. Next to the morphology and thermal properties of the blends the impact of PLimC on the mechanical properties of the matrix polymers is studied. The interplay of incompatibility and zero-shear melt viscosity contrast determines the blend morphology, leading for all blends to a dispersed droplet morphology for PLimC. Blends with polymers of similar structure to PLimC (i.e., aliphatic/aromatic polyester) show the best performance with respect to mechanical properties, whereas blends with polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) are too brittle and polyamide 12 blends show very low elongations at break. In blends with Ecoflex (poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)) and Arnitel EM400 (copoly(ether ester)) with poly(butylene terephthalate) hard and polytetrahydrofuran soft segments) a threefold increase in E-modulus can be achieved, while keeping the elongation at break at reasonable high values of ≈200%, making these blends highly interesting for applications.     

Corrosion behaviors of carbon steel induced by life activities of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in a marine environment

Microbiologically influenced corrosion induced by bacteria has been studied for many years. Corrosion is known to be sensitive to the presence of microalgae, such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum. However, the life activity of P. tricornutum that influences the general and localized corrosion of carbon steel is not fully understood. The current study uses a combination of immersion tests and electrochemical experiments with a detailed surface characterization to reveal the naturally formed corrosion products with/without the presence of P. tricornutum. The results show that samples suffer from pitting corrosion and the averaged pit depths are approximately 15 μm under a light–dark cycle condition or a 24-h constant light condition. Meanwhile, the corrosion products are mainly comprised of γ-FeOOH and Fe₃O₄ in a constant light condition. However, γ-FeOOH, Fe₃O₄, and FeCO₃ are found in a light–dark cycle. This study proposes the fundamental mechanisms of the effect of P. tricornutum life activities on the corrosion performance of Q235 carbon steel, to fulfill the knowledge gaps of the presence of microalgae inducing the general and pitting corrosion of carbon steel.     

Effect of in-flight particle behavior on the morphology of flame sprayed Er2O3 splats

The morphology and microstructure of splats impact the comprehensive capability of a new coating methodology called chelate flame spraying (CFS). This study addresses the quantitative characterization of the spread morphologies of flame sprayed Er₂O₃ splats directly deposited under different spray conditions on aluminum alloy substrates with a mirror finish. The influence of the in-flight particle temperature and velocity, carrier gas type, and carrier gas ratio on the solidification mechanism of molten droplets was investigated. Image analysis methods were employed to identify single splats from the morphology observed with field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, Er₂O₃ films were synthesized on an Al–Mg alloy (A5052) substrate using N₂ or O₂ as the carrier gas. When O₂ was used as the carrier gas, 109-μm-thick films were deposited on the A5052 substrate. The cross-sectional porosity of the films was 3.8%. In contrast, films with 101-μm thickness were synthesized on the A5052 substrate when N₂ was used as the carrier gas. The cross-sectional porosity of these films was 13.8%. The results showed that the carrier gas type (N₂) and carrier gas ratio had a significant effect on the flattening behavior of the molten droplets. A spraying method combined with multidimensional modes is proposed to control the morphology of the splats.     

Inconel 690传热管GTAW对接焊接头组织及力学性能研究

对Inconel 690传热管材进行钨极气体保护焊(GTAW)对接焊,采用拉伸试验机、压扁试验机和光学显微镜测试和分析传热管焊接接头,同时利用ANSYS软件开展焊接接头在设计工况失压时的一次应力强度校核。研究结果表明:焊缝中心为树枝胞状晶,熔合线附近为粗大柱状晶。室温时接头的平均抗拉强度为619 MPa,平均屈服强度为292 MPa,350℃时接头平均抗拉强度为475 MPa,平均屈服强度为206 MPa,拉伸接头断裂从熔合区开始贯穿整个焊缝组织,呈塑性断裂。压扁试验和反向压扁试验结果表明管接头完好。通过ANSYS分析可知,设计工况下传热管接头350℃许用应力强度150 MPa限值可满足其一次应力强度要求,且裕量较大。     

不同细颗粒含量甲烷水合物沉积物三轴剪切试验研究

海域试开采区域含水合物沉积物的粒度分析结果表明水合物沉积物骨架由粗、细颗粒混合构成,通过开展多组低温、高压三轴排水剪切试验研究细颗粒含量和密度对含甲烷水合物沉积物和无水合物沉积物的强度和变形特性的影响。试验结果表明,含水合物沉积物抗剪强度及剪胀性都随细粒含量提高而显著增强。这是由于细颗粒含量增加改变了颗粒间水合物的样貌和分布特征,形成了由水合物包裹着粗颗粒-细颗粒的团簇状集合体。然而,细颗粒含量对无水合物沉积物的强度和变形特性的影响却表现出相反趋势。另外,含水合物沉积物的剪胀关系可以使用修正剑桥模型中的剪胀关系式进行描述。结果表明,剪胀关系的拟合曲线依赖于水合物饱和度的大小。通过对比研究发现,天然水合物和实验室合成水合物试样在较高饱和度时的峰值摩擦角大小及其伴随水合物饱和度的增长趋势存在差异,这种差异主要来源于水合物在沉积物骨架颗粒孔隙中不同的赋存模式及分布特征。     

致密砂岩油藏能量补充方式评价及优化

针对致密砂岩油藏大规模体积压裂开发后能量补充困难的问题,利用自主设计制作的大型人造三维岩心物理模型和物理模拟实验舱,开展致密砂岩油藏能量补充方式优化研究。实验结果表明:致密砂岩油藏压裂开发过程中,地层能量损耗严重,采取注水或注气的方式可有效进行能量补充;地层中裂缝规模越大,越有利于原油渗流,后续补充能量的传播范围越广,有助于进一步提高原油采收率;从提高驱油效率和扩大波及系数方面优选吞吐渗吸介质,CO₂均优于活性水,CO₂吞吐开发在矿场试验中取得了显著的增油效果,因此,CO₂吞吐作为一种有效的能量补充方式在致密油开发中展现了良好的应用前景。该文分析了致密砂岩储层水平井压裂开发的渗流规律,优选出致密砂岩储层大规模压裂开发后最佳渗吸介质,可为致密砂岩油藏开发设计提供重要的理论依据。     

Morphological study of thin films: Simulation and experimental insights using horizontal visibility graph

We studied the morphological nature of various thin films such as silicon carbide (SiC), diamond (C), germanium (Ge), and gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon substrate Si(100) using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method and Monte Carlo simulation. We, for the first time, systematically employed the visibility algorithm graph to meticulously study the morphological features of various PLD grown thin films. These thin-film morphologies are investigated using random distribution, Gaussian distribution, patterned heights, etc. The nature of the interfacial height of individual surfaces is examined by a horizontal visibility graph (HVG). It demonstrates that the continuous interfacial height of the silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride films are attributed to random distribution and Gaussian distribution in thin films. However, discrete peaks are obtained in the brush and step-like morphology of germanium thin films. Further, we have experimentally verified the morphological nature of simulated silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride thin films were grown on Si(100) substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at elevated temperature. Various characterization techniques have been used to study the morphological, and electrical properties which confirmed the different nature of the deposited films on the Silicon substrate. Decent hysteresis behavior has been confirmed by current-voltage (IV) measurement in all the four deposited films. The highest current has been measured for GaN at ～60 nA and the lowest current in SiC at ～30 nA level which is quite low comparing with the expected signal level (μA). The HVG technique is suitable to understand surface features of thin films which are substantially advantageous for the energy devices, detectors, optoelectronic devices operating at high temperatures.     

煤峪口矿81010工作面煤层底板裂隙发育特征及防治

针对煤炭开采过程中出现的突水事故,采用RFPA数值模拟软件建立采动模型,对底板裂隙破断过程和声发射进行模拟,研究煤层底板采动裂隙扩展突水通道,结果表明:离断层越近,断层内水压导升高度越高,断层出现活化,裂隙扩展发育,最终贯通形成导水通道,在进行注浆改造后,单个钻孔的最大涌水量为8 m³/h,说明注浆加固防治水效果较好,能确保工作面的安全回采。     

Structure-dependent activity and stability of Al2O3 supported Rh catalysts for the steam reforming of n-dodecane

Steam reforming of liquid hydrocarbon fuels is an appealing way for the production of hydrogen. In this work, the Rh/Al₂O₃ catalysts with nanorod (NR), nanofiber (NF) and sponge-shaped (SP) alumina supports were successfully designed for the steam reforming of n-dodecane as a surrogate compound for diesel/jet fuels. The catalysts before and after reaction were well characterized by using ICP, XRD, N₂ adsorption, TEM, HAADF-STEM, H₂-TPR, CO chemisorption, NH₃-TPD, CO₂-TPD, XPS, Al²⁷ NMR and TG. The results confirmed that the dispersion and surface structure of Rh species is quite dependent on the enclosed various morphologies. Rh/Al₂O₃-NR possesses highly dispersed, uniform and accessible Rh particles with the highest percentage of surface electron deficient Rh⁰ active species, which due to the unique properties of Al₂O₃ nanorod including high crystallinity, relatively large alumina particle size, thermal stability, and large pore volume and size. As a consequent, Rh/Al₂O₃-NR catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity towards steam reforming reactions and hydrogen production rate over other two catalysts. Especially, Rh/Al₂O₃-NR catalyst showed the highest hydrogen production rate of 87,600 mmol g_fuel^?1 g_Rh^?1min^?1 among any Rh-based catalysts and other noble metal-based catalysts to date. After long-term reaction, a significant deactivation occurred on Rh/Al₂O₃–NF and Rh/Al₂O₃-SP catalysts, due to aggregation and sintering of Rh metal particles, coke deposition and poor hydrothermal stability of nanofibrous structure. In contrast, the Rh/Al₂O₃-NR catalyst shows excellent reforming stability with negligible coke formation. No significantly sintering and aggregation of the Rh particles is observed after long-term reaction. Such great catalyst stability can be explained by the role of hydrothermal stable nanorod alumina support, which not only provides a unique environment for the stabilization of uniform and small-size Rh particles but also affords strong surface basic sites.     

Quantification of Dendritic Spines Remodeling under Physiological Stimuli and in Pathological Conditions

Numerous brain diseases are associated with abnormalities in morphology and density of dendritic spines, small membranous protrusions whose structural geometry correlates with the strength of synaptic connections. Thus, the quantitative analysis of dendritic spines remodeling in microscopic images is one of the key elements towards understanding mechanisms of structural neuronal plasticity and bases of brain pathology. In the following article, we review experimental approaches designed to assess quantitative features of dendritic spines under physiological stimuli and in pathological conditions. We compare various methodological pipelines of biological models, sample preparation, data analysis, image acquisition, sample size, and statistical analysis. The methodology and results of relevant experiments are systematically summarized in a tabular form. In particular, we focus on quantitative data regarding the number of animals, cells, dendritic spines, types of studied parameters, size of observed changes, and their statistical significance.