Effect of flow rate and temperature on crystallization kinetics,crystallinity index,and elastic modulus of PEEK

Dynamic, in situ wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies of the melt crystallization of injection-molded poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) have been carried out using an X-ray diffractometer and a position-sensitive detector. A test cell has been fabricated to fit inside the diffractometer and yet work as a complete injection molding apparatus. The rate of crystallization has been shown to increase with decreasing crystallization temperature and/or increasing flow rate in the mold. The crystallization rate decreases dramatically with increase in melt soak time at 400°C. The crystallinity index, which affects the stiffness, toughness, and fracture behavior of PEEK, has been measured under various processing conditions, by wide angle X-ray scattering, so as to optimize the process parameters: molding time, mold temperature, melt temperature, soak time at melt temperature, and flow rate. It has been shown that the crystallinity and hence the elastic modulus increase with increase in crystallization temperature and/or flow rate. Chain orientation has been shown to be absent in the bulk of the injection-molded specimens under normal molding conditions.     

A Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor, 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) Urea,Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential FAs for human health. Cytochrome P450 oxygenates PUFAs to produce anti-inflammatory and pain-resolving epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) and other oxylipins whose epoxide ring is opened by the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH/Ephx2), resulting in the formation of toxic and pro-inflammatory vicinal diols (dihydroxy-FAs). Pharmacological inhibition of sEH is a promising strategy for the treatment of pain, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and other conditions. We tested the efficacy of a potent, selective sEH inhibitor, 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU), in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Prophylactic TPPU treatment significantly ameliorated EAE without affecting circulating white blood cell counts. TPPU accumulated in the spinal cords (SCs), which was correlated with plasma TPPU concentration. Targeted lipidomics in EAE SCs and plasma identified that TPPU blocked production of dihydroxy-FAs efficiently and increased some EpFA species including 12(13)-epoxy-octadecenoic acid (12(13)-EpOME) and 17(18)-epoxy-eicosatrienoic acid (17(18)-EpETE). TPPU did not alter levels of cyclooxygenase (COX-1/2) metabolites, while it increased 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and other 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolites. These analytical results are consistent with sEH inhibitors that reduce neuroinflammation and accelerate anti-inflammatory responses, providing the possibility that sEH inhibitors could be used as a disease modifying therapy, as well as for MS-associated pain relief.     

Comparison of Particle Number Counts Measured with an Ink Jet Aerosol Generator and an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

Aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) users typically calibrate the particle sizing capabilities, but not the counting efficiency upon which aerosol concentration results are based. Herein, comparisons were made between the counts provided by an ink jet aerosol generator (IJAG) with those measured by an APS. Near-monodisperse (geometric standard deviation of about 1.06) liquid or solid aerosols in the size range of 0.95 to 13.3 μm aerodynamic diameter (AD) generated with an IJAG were released into the inner inlet-tube of the APS in a manner that rendered APS wall and aspiration losses negligible. For most experiments, the IJAG generated 75 particles/s, which rate was maintained by the IJAG system through control of electrical pulses applied to its ink jet cartridge. For particles in the size range of 2–13.3 μm AD, the ratio of relative detection efficiency (ratio of the number of particles counted by the APS to the number reported as generated by the IJAG) was 99.3 ± 1.4%; however, for test particles between 0.95 and 2 μm AD, the relative detection efficiency was somewhat lower, but the drop off was less than about 2%. This slight drop off is likely associated with the light scattering detection approach and corresponding counting algorithm of the APS. Tests were conducted where the IJAG produced 7.0 μm AD particles at rates of 1 to 500 s^-1 and the results showed essentially a 1:1 correspondence between IJAG and APS counts. The presence of smaller-sized background particles did not affect the measured APS counts of larger-sized challenge particles.

Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Nanoscale zerovalent iron-Sargassum swartzii biocomposites for the removal of malachite green from an aqueous solution

A novel nanoscale zerovalent iron-Sargassum swartzii (nZVI-SS) biocomposite was tested for its ability to remove malachite green from aqueous solutions. Batch equilibrium tests at different pH conditions showed that at pH 10, a maximum removal of 142.85 mg/g was observed according to Langmuir model. Involvement of various functional groups of the biosorbent in preferential biosorption of cationic dye was observed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Morphological changes occurring on the biocomposite materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, temperature and kinetic profiles during the biosorption process were also reported.     

The influence of microstructure on the failure behaviour of PEEK

In this study, different molecular weight PEEK materials were used to determine the effect of spherulite size on fracture. Melt processing of the PEEK at different temperatures produced samples of different average spherulite size. A permanganic etching technique was used to reveal the spherulites. It was found that for low molecular weight 150P PEEK, the spherulite size increased with melt processing temperature; but, for the higher molecular weight 450G PEEK, the spherulite size remained approximately constant. Also, the average spherulite size was markedly lower for the material of higher molecular weight. The failure behaviour of these samples was studied using a compact tension test. It was found that the fracture toughness of PEEK varied with processing temperature. Also, the average spherulite size of a PEEK material had a profound influence on the fracture mechanism.     

In situ AFM study of the growth of banded hedritic structures in thin films of isotactic polystyrene

The growth of banded hedrites of isotactic polystyrene (iPS) is followed in situ, using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The melt layer surrounding the growing hedritic front is much thinner than both the hedrite front and the far-field melt. Growth occurs simultaneously in three dimensions: radially, circumferentially and height. The height of the hedrite growth front being so much higher than the adjacent molten pool, the observed propagation of the front requires that it be covered by a thin film of molten material, likely drawn up the face of the front by capillarity. As the hedritic front grows in height, it demands material at a higher rate than can be delivered from the far-field melt and the stacked lamellae stop growing, layer by layer, from the top downward, until only the basal lamella continues to grow (at a constant velocity). The kinetics of the position of the lowest point ahead of the growth front slows with time during this process. Supplying only the basal layer, the adjacent molten pool is replenished and now begins to feed new layers of growing lamellae as the process repeats itself. The creation of the new lamellar layers appears to be coupled to morphological instability of the basal layer, in the form of growth front serrations, likely causal of the giant screw dislocations.     

Investigation of Polyimidesiloxanes for Use as Adhesives by Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis

Angle-dependent electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to examine the air facing surface (20–100 Å thick) composition of polyimidesiloxanes with different processing variations, and of varying polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) content and block length (number of PDMS repeat unit varies from 1 to 9). Polyimide was clearly detected (due to the nitrogen content) in the 20–100 Å surface regions. This shows that a small amount of PDMS and short PDMS segment lengths in polyimidesiloxanes give a surface region with both PDMS and polyimide present. The surface composition, particularly that in the ca. 100 Å region, was correlated to the peel strength of polyimidesiloxane melt pressed to a metal substrate. Our results suggest that both PDMS and polyimide are essential components to rendering a needed peel strength. PDMS, having a good diffusive ability, readily reaches the substrate upon being pressed, achieving intimate contact, while imide groups interact with the substrate, presumably through chemical bonding; these two factors act synergistically to result in a high peel strength. In addition, the interaction mechanism and the failure mechanism involved in bonding polyimidesiloxane and metal substrate were also elucidated based on the ESCA results.     

The influence of microstructure on the failure behaviour of PEEK

In this study, different molecular weight PEEK materials were used to determine the effect of spherulite size on fracture. Melt processing of the PEEK at different temperatures produced samples of different average spherulite size. A permanganic etching technique was used to reveal the spherulites. It was found that for low molecular weight 150P PEEK, the spherulite size increased with melt processing temperature; but, for the higher molecular weight 450G PEEK, the spherulite size remained approximately constant. Also, the average spherulite size was markedly lower for the material of higher molecular weight. The failure behaviour of these samples was studied using a compact tension test. It was found that the fracture toughness of PEEK varied with processing temperature. Also, the average spherulite size of this material had a profound influence on the fracture mechanism.     

Ion beam studies of events typical of soft errors in semiconductor memories

A fast ion microbeam has been used to study phenomena associated with soft errors in semiconductor memories. A spatially small beam with a fast blanking system is used to study both alpha particle and heavy ion strikes. The heavy ion strikes are typical of the recoil from cosmic-ray-generated neutrons. Charge collection and static RAM error-rate experiments are discussed.     

Investigation of Mechanical Properties and Dry Sliding Wear Behaviour of Squeeze Cast LM6 Aluminium Alloy Reinforced with Copper Coated Short Steel Fibers

LM6 aluminium alloy with 2.5–10 wt% of copper coated short steel fiber reinforced composites were prepared using squeeze casting process. Microstructure and mechanical properties viz., hardness, tensile strength and ductility were investigated. Dry sliding wear behaviour was tested by considering sliding distance and load. Fracture surface and worn surface were examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Hardness of composites increased with increasing wt% of fiber. Tensile strength of composites increased up to 19% for 5 wt% fiber composites. Further addition of fibers decreased the tensile strength of composites. Ductility of the composites decreased with the addition of fibers into the matrix. Wt% of fibers significantly decreased the weight loss, coefficient of friction and wear rate. Also the cumulative weight loss decreased up to 57% for 10 wt% of composites compared to LM6 aluminium alloy. Fracture surface of composite tensile specimen showed dimple formation and fiber pullout. Worn surface of matrix showed long continuous grooves due to local delamination on the surface. However, worn surface of composites showed fine and smooth grooves due to ploughing rather than local delamination. Copper coated steel fiber reinforcement in LM6 aluminium alloy exhibited better mechanical properties and wear resistance compared to matrix.