Study on ultrasound assisted precipitation of CL-20 and its effect on morphology and sensitivity

Applying ultrasound to crystallizing systems offers significant advantages for modifying and improving the processes as well as quality of products. This paper reports on ultrasound assisted reprecipitation of CL-20 to obtain fine particles as well as to achieve desired morphology, which will improve insensitivity characteristics. In this study, CL-20 has been reprecipitated by sonication process and has been characterized by DSC, SEM and particle size analysis. The results are compared with control CL-20 sample (unsonicated). SEM photographs revealed that sonication process offer uniform crystalline morphology without any agglomeration. The particle size of sonicated CL-20 sample obtained is around 5+/-1 microm with a narrow particle size distribution. The DSC thermogram of sonicated and unsonicated sample is identical. CL-20 samples were subjected to impact and friction sensitivity experiments, the results indicate the sensitivity characteristics reduced considerably. Ultrasonic assisted crystallization technique reduces the time of reprecipitation considerably with an enhanced recovery of CL-20 with a very narrow particle size distribution.     

Ambient air particulate concentrations and metallic elements principal component analysis at Taichung Harbor (TH) and WuChi Traffic (WT) near Taiwan Strait during 2004-2005

The purpose of this study is to characterize metallic elements associated with atmospheric particulate matter of total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm, PM(2.5)), coarse particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5-10 microm, PM (2.5-10)) at the Taichung Harbor (TH) and WuChi Traffic (WT) sampling site of central Taiwan during March 2004 to February 2005. The result indicated the average total suspended particulate concentration in 1 year was 157.31 and 112.58 microg m(-3) at TH and WT sampling site, respectively. Fine particle (PM(2.5)) size was the dominant species at TH and WT sampling site. In TH sampling site, higher correlation coefficient was observed on total suspended particulates of metallic elements Fe and Zn. And in WT sampling site, higher correlation coefficients displayed on total suspended particulates of metallic elements Fe and Zn, Fe and Mn. Ambient airborne particle principal component analysis of metallic metals was used to identify the possible pollutant sources in this study. At the TH sampling site, 50.81% of the total variance of the data was observed in factor 1. Higher loading of Fe (0.86), Zn (0.79), Pb (0.76), and Mn (0.68) were contributed by traffic emission and the soil source. At the WT sampling site, factor 1 explained 53.74% of the total variance of the data and had high loading for Zn (0.86) and Cu (0.85), which were identified as industrial/traffic emission sources.     

Comparison of the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet with the Andersen Cascade Impactor: solution metered dose inhalers

The product performance of a series of solution Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) were evaluated using the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet and the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The goal of the study was to test whether the fine particle and coarse particle depositions obtained using the Model 3306 were comparable to those results obtained by ACI testing. The analysis using the Model 3306 was performed as supplied by the manufacturer as well as with 20 cm and 40 cm vertical extensions that were inserted between the Model 3306 and the USP Inlet. Nine different solution formulations were evaluated. The drug concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.8% w/w and the ethanol cosolvent concentration varied between 5 and 20% w/w. In general, it was found that good correlations between the two instruments were obtained. However, for formulations containing 10-20% w/w ethanol it is shown that an extension fitted to the Model 3306 yielded an improved correlation to those obtained from the ACI.     

Silicon p-FETs from ultrahigh density nanowire arrays

Statistical numbers of field-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated from a circuit of 17-nm-wide, 34-nm-pitch Si nanowires boron doped at a level of 10(18) cm-3. Top-gated 4-microm-wide Si nanowire p-FETs yielded low off-currents (approximately 10(-12) A), high on/off ratios (10(5)-10(6)), good on current values (30 microA/microm), high mobilities (approximately 100 cm2/V-s), and low subthreshold swing values (approximately 80 mV/decade between 10(-12) and 10(-10) A increasing to 200 mV/decade between 10(-10)-10(-8) A).     

Characterization of the fine fraction of the argon oxygen decarburization with lance (AOD-L) sludge generated by the stainless steelmaking industry

The argon oxygen decarburization with lance (AOD-L) sludge generated by the stainless steelmaking industry is a hazardous waste due to the presence of chromium. While its coarse fraction is usually recycled into the own industrial process, the fine fraction is normally disposed in landfills. Techniques such as briquetting or magnetic separation were found to be inadequate to treat it for reuse purposes. So, in this work, the fine fraction of the AOD-L sludge was characterized aiming to find alternative methods to treat it. This sludge consists of a fine powder (mean diameter of 1 microm) containing 34 +/- 2% (w/w) of iron, 10.2 +/- 0.9% (w/w) of chromium and 1.4 +/- 0.1% (w/w) of nickel. The main crystalline phases identified in this study were chromite (FeCr(2)O(4)), magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)), hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) and calcite (CaCO(3)). In the digestion tests, the addition of HClO(4) has favored the dissolution of chromite which is a very stable oxide in aqueous media. Nickel was found in very fine particles, probably in the metallic form or associated with iron and oxygen. The sludge was classified as hazardous waste, so its disposal in landfills should be avoided.     

Nanocrystals of PbSe core, PbSe/PbS, and PbSe/PbSxS(1-x) core/shell as saturable absorbers in passively Q-switched near-infrared lasers

The saturable optical absorption properties of PbSe core nanocrystals (NCs), and their corresponding PbSe/PbScore/shell and PbSe/PbSexS(1-x) core/alloyed-shell NCs, were examined at lambda = 1.54 microm. Saturation intensities of approximately 100 MW/cm2 were obtained. The NCs act as passive Q switches in near-infrared pulsed lasers. Q-switched output pulse energies up to 3 mJ, with a pulse duration of 40-55 ns were demonstrated. Analysis of the optical transmission versus pulse light intensity was carried out according to a model that includes ground-state as well as excited-state absorption. For pulses approximately 10 ns long, the NCs act as fast saturable absorbers. The theoretical fits yield a ground-state absorption cross section of 10-16-10-15 cm2, an excited-state absorption cross section of sigma(es) is congruent to 10(-16) cm2, and an effective lifetime of tau(eff) is congruent to 5 x 10(-12) s.     

Comparison of the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet with the Andersen Cascade Impactor: Solution Metered Dose Inhalers

The product performance of a series of solution Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) were evaluated using the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet and the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The goal of the study was to test whether the fine particle and coarse particle depositions obtained using the Model 3306 were comparable to those results obtained by ACI testing. The analysis using the Model 3306 was performed as supplied by the manufacturer as well as with 20 cm and 40 cm vertical extensions that were inserted between the Model 3306 and the USP Inlet. Nine different solution formulations were evaluated. The drug concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.8% w/w and the ethanol cosolvent concentration varied between 5 and 20% w/w. In general, it was found that good correlations between the two instruments were obtained. However, for formulations containing 10–20% w/w ethanol it is shown that an extension fitted to the Model 3306 yielded an improved correlation to those obtained from the ACI.     

Method for determination of the volume of material ejected as molten droplets during visible nanosecond ablation

A novel method is presented for determining the volume of molten material ejected from a substrate as a result of visible pulsed-laser ablation. A 100-microm-wide pulsed-laser light sheet (tau approximately 5 ns, lambda = 532 nm) was used in conjunction with a CCD camera to provide high-speed cross-sectional images of single-pulse ablation of aluminum with a visible nanosecond laser source. Computational analysis of the two-dimensional gray-scale images was used to determine the total volume of material ejected from the substrate in the form of molten droplets. Ablation with dual-wavelength (511- and 578-nm) pulses of 30-ns duration was characterized under various fluence conditions (0-25 J cm(-2)), allowing a quantitative threshold for explosive melt ejection in aluminum to be established at approximately 10 J cm(-2). The temporal evolution of the ejected material showed that, for an incident fluence of approximately 40 J cm(-2), molten-droplet ejection commenced at approximately 400 ns and ceased after approximately 2 micros.     

Passive Q-switching of diode pumped Nd:KGd(WO4)2 lasers by V3+:Y3Al5O12 crystal with anisotropy of nonlinear absorption

Use of a V(3+):Y(3)Al(5)O(12) crystal as a saturable absorber Q-switch for 1.07 and 1.35 microm Nd:KGd(WO(4))(2) diode pumped lasers shows a considerable dependence of output characteristics on the orientation of the intracavity field polarization vector regarding V(3+):Y(3)Al(5)O(12) crystallographic axes. Anisotropy of nonlinear absorption of V(3+) ions in a Y(3)Al(5)O(12) single crystal at wavelengths of 1.08 and 1.35 microm has been experimentally studied. The experimental data are analyzed within the framework of a phenomenological model when the V(3+) ions are described as three sets of linear dipoles oriented along the crystallographic axes. Ground-state and excited-state absorption cross sections at 1.08 and 1.35 mum are evaluated to be sigma(gsa)=3.4x10(-18) cm(2), sigma(esa)=3.0x10(-19) cm(2) and sigma(gsa)=5.4x10(-18) cm(2), sigma(esa)=4.8x10(-19) cm(2), respectively. Saturation fluence and intensity at 1.08 and 1.35 microm are estimated as 55 mJ/cm(2) and 1.1 MW/cm(2), respectively.     

Identification of high explosives using single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry

The application of single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) to the real-time detection of micrometer-sized single particles of high explosives is described. Dual-polarity time-of-flight mass spectra from 1000 single particles each of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), as well as those of complex explosives, Composition B, Semtex 1A, and Semtex 1H, were obtained over a range of desorption/ionization laser fluences between 0.50 and 8.01 nJ/microm2. Mass spectral variability with laser fluence for each explosive is discussed. The ability of the SPAMS system to identify explosive components in a single complex explosive particle ( approximately 1 pg) without the need for consumables is demonstrated.     

Porous ceramic bone scaffolds for vascularized bone tissue regeneration

Hydroxyapatite scaffolds with a multi modal porosity designed for use in tissue engineering of vascularized bone graft substitutes were prepared by three dimensional printing. Depending on the ratio of coarse (mean particle size 50 microm) to fine powder (mean particle size 4 microm) in the powder granulate and the sintering temperature total porosity was varied from 30% to 64%. While macroscopic pore channels with a diameter of 1 mm were created by CAD design, porosity structure in the sintered solid phase was governed by the granulate structure of the printing powder. Scaffolds sintered at 1,250 degrees C were characterized by a bimodal pore structure with intragranular pores of 0.3-0.4 microm and intergranular pores of 20 microm whereas scaffolds sintered at 1,400 degrees C exhibit a monomodal porosity with a maximum of pore size distribution at 10-20 microm. For in-vivo testing, matrices were implanted subcutaneously in four male Lewis rats. Scaffolds with 50% porosity and an average pore size of approximately 18 microm were successfully transferred to rats and vascularized within 4 weeks.     

Gradation design of porous asphalt mixture (PAM) for low-strength application in wet environment

Porous asphalt mixture (PAM) is potentially suitable for application in wet environment given its excellent performance in drainage due to the typical open-graded design, whilst ravelling and clogging are the two major issues directly related to the functional service life of PAM pavements. With the increasing up-build of non-motorised transport facility in Singapore which is a tropical country with frequent thunderstorms during monsoon periods, it deserves research into designing well-performing PAM for low-strength pavements such as pedestrian and cycling pathways. In this research, two areas are researched on designing appropriate PAM: firstly, relationship between gradation design and permeability performance is established and 7% content of fine aggregates is selected to achieve adequate coefficient of permeability for Singapore; secondly, four aggregate gradations with different packing structures created by the coarse aggregates were designed, and the performance was evaluated in the aspect of permeability, mechanical strength, resistance to ravelling and resistance to clogging. Three testing scenarios were applied in ravelling and clogging tests, which were unconditioned, ageing-conditioned and moisture-conditioned. It is found that moisture exposure is a more severe condition than ageing on PAM’s performance. On the whole, PAM with high content of intermediate size aggregates (i.e. 6.3–4.75 mm) in the coarse fraction and low content (i.e. lower than 7%) of fine fraction is suggested for low-strength PAM pavement in Singapore.     

颗粒级配对固相烧结碳化硅陶瓷的影响

通过粗细碳化硅粉体的颗粒级配实现了致密固相烧结碳化硅(S-SiC)陶瓷的增强增韧, 系统研究了粗粉(~4.6 µm)加入量对烧结试样的致密化、微结构与力学特性的影响。结果表明: 当粗粉加入量不超过75wt%时, 可制备出相对密度≥98.3%的致密S-SiC陶瓷, 烧结收缩率低至14.5%;引入的粗粉颗粒产生钉扎作用, 显著抑制了S-SiC陶瓷中异常晶粒生长, 形成细小的等轴晶粒, 进而提高了S-SiC陶瓷的抗弯强度。同时, 粗粉颗粒的引入导致S-SiC陶瓷的断裂方式由穿晶断裂转变为穿晶-沿晶复合断裂, 使得S-SiC陶瓷的断裂韧性增强。对于粗粉引入量为65wt%的S-SiC陶瓷, 抗弯强度与断裂韧性分别为(440±35) MPa与(4.92±0.24) MPa•m^1/2, 相比于未添加粗粉的S-SiC陶瓷, 分别提升了14.0%与17.1%。     

尖棱状两组分颗粒堆积密度的研究

为了探讨耐火材料制品的密堆积结构特性,从而获得较好的颗粒堆积密度,研究了圆锥破碎机制得的粗、细两种离散颗粒体系的自由堆积密度变化．研究结果表明：当粗、细两种颗粒组分的拉径比大于5、且粗颗粒的质量分数在60%～70%之间时,体系的自由堆积密度较大；当粗、细两种颗粒的粒径比小于5、且无细粉存在时,离散颗粒体系的自由堆积密度变化不大。     

不同长径比聚丙烯纤维增强混凝土的力学特性

纤维长径比对混凝土力学性能影响显著,而长径比变化的实质是纤维直径和形态均发生变化,因此现有研究多是通过改变聚丙烯（PP）纤维（包含粗、细PP纤维）直径或截面形态设置长径比梯度,从而导致变量不唯一。本文对粗PP纤维（d=700 μm）和细PP纤维（d=80 μm）长径比对混凝土力学性能的影响进行了试验研究,分析了粗、细PP纤维增强混凝土的力学特性。结果表明:粗、细PP纤维增强混凝土坍落度随所掺纤维长径比增大而先降低后趋于稳定,抗压、抗弯、劈拉强度随所掺纤维长径比增大而呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,700 μm粗PP纤维最优长径比为42,80 μm细PP纤维最优长径比为200。此外,提出了宏观力学拟合计算理论用于分析粗PP纤维长径比对PP纤维增强混凝土抗弯强度的影响,以此来增强试验结果的预测性和可控性;对粗、细PP纤维在混凝土中的摩擦粘结机制进行了力学分析,掌握了影响摩擦粘结力的具体因素。      

Rocketborne cryogenic (10 K) high-resolution interferometer spectrometer flight HIRIS: auroral and atmospheric IR emission spectra

A Michelson interferometer spectrometer cooled to 10 degrees by liquid helium was flown into an IBC class III aurora on 1 April 1976 from Poker Flat, Alas. The sensor, HIRIS, covered the spectral range 455-2500 wave numbers (4-22 microm) with a spectral resolution of 1.8 cm(-1) and an NESR of 5 x 10-12 W/cm2 scrm(-1) at 1000 cm(-1). An atmospheric emission spectrum was obtained every 0.7 sec over an altitude range of 70-125 km. Atmospheric spectra were obtained of CO2 (nu3), NO (Deltanu = 1), O3 (nu3) and CO2 (nu2). Auroral produced excitations were observed for each band, this being the first known measurement of auroral enhancements of O3 (nu3), 9.6 microm, and CO2 (nu2), 15 microm, emissions.     

Preparation and evaluation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles as a carrier for pulmonary delivery of recombinant human interleukin-2: II. In vitro studies on aerodynamic properties of dry powder inhaler formulations

Objective: The aim of this study was the preparation and evaluation of dry powder formulations of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2)-loaded microparticles to be administered to the lung by inhalation.

Methods: As indicated in our previous study, the microparticles were prepared by modified water-in-oil-in-water (w₁/o/w₃) double emulsion solvent extraction method using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymers. The dry powder formulations were prepared with blending of microparticles and mannitol as a coarse carrier. The actual aerodynamic characteristics of the microparticles alone and prepared mixtures with mannitol are evaluated by using the eight-stage Andersen cascade impactor.

Results: Due to the low tapped density of microparticles (<0.4?g/cm³), the theoretical aerodynamic diameter (MMADt) values were calculated (<5 μm) on the basis of the geometrical particle diameter and tapped density values. The lowest tapped density value (0.17?g/cm³) belongs to the cyclodextrin-containing formulation. According to the results obtained using the cascade impactor, the emitted doses for all microparticle formulations were found to be rather high and during the aerosolization for all the formulations except F3 and F5, >90% of the capsule content was determined to be released. However, the actual aerodynamic diameter (MMADa) values were seen to be higher than the MMADt values. The blending of the microparticles with mannitol allowed their aerodynamic diameters to decrease and their fine particle fraction values to increase.

Conclusion: The obtained results have shown that the mixing of rhIL-2-loaded microparticles with mannitol possess suitable aerodynamic characteristics to be administered to the lungs by inhalation.     

Adsorption characteristics and separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on hydrous titanium(IV) oxide

A hydrous titanium(IV) oxide was prepared to study the adsorption characteristics and the separation of chromium species. Batch sorption studies have been carried out to determine the effect of pH on the sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on hydrous TiO2. An excellent separation efficiency of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was obtained at pH 2. The adsorption percentage of Cr(VI) was above 99%, whereas that of the Cr(III) was less than 1% at this pH. The adsorption isotherm of Cr(VI) on hydrous TiO2 at pH 2 was in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on TiO2 was 5 mg g(-1). The rate of adsorption of Cr(VI) by hydrous TiO2 with average particle diameter 250 and 500 microm has been studied under particle diffusion controlled conditions. The diffusion coefficients of Cr(VI) for both hydrous TiO2 having average particle diameter of 250 and 500 microm was calculated at pH 2 as 3.84 x 10(-10) m2 s(-1) and 8.86 x 10(-10) m2 s(-1), respectively.     

粒度搭配对水雾化铁粉工艺性能的影响

为了研究粒度组成对水雾化铁粉松装密度、流动性、压缩性及压制过程的影响,将-80+100目和-325目两种粒径的水雾化纯铁粉以不同比例搭配进行研究.结果表明:通过控制不同的粒度组成,铁粉松装密度在2.84～3.42 g/cm3内变化、铁粉流动性在20～31 s/50 g内变化;与纯粗粉样品A相比,在粗粉中添加质量分数25%细粉的样品B在低压(300 MPa)下压坯密度增加,高压(≥300 MPa)时压坯密度减少;细粉质量分数为75%时的样品D与样品C相比,压坯密度均增加;全部采用-325目细粉的样品E与样品D相比,压坯密度均降低.当压制压力低于300 MPa时,压坯致密化主要由颗粒的滑移、重排决定;当压制压力高于300 MPa时,压坯致密化主要以粉末的塑性变形为主.     

690 MPa级低合金高强钢焊接接头组织性能

为探讨690 MPa级低合金高强钢焊接接头组织与性能的关系,采用手工电弧焊(SMAW)和埋弧焊(SAW)获得成形良好的焊接接头,经过拉伸、冲击、弯曲试验及光学显微镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜分析,对两种焊接方法的接头组织性能进行研究.结果表明:两种焊接方法的焊缝组织主要为板条状贝氏体和少量针状铁素体,粗晶区为粗大贝氏体和少量马氏体;焊缝中含有大量分布均匀的微小球形夹杂物;两种焊接方法所得焊接接头都具有较高力学性能,-50℃的冲击断口形貌为韧窝、准解理混合型;埋弧焊焊缝冲击韧性低于手工电弧焊,手工电弧焊熔合线处冲击吸收功小于埋弧焊,但随距熔合线距离增加其值增加更快.显微组织和夹杂物是影响接头性能的主要因素.