The effect of additives on the mechanical properties of dry-formed fibre networks

The effects of thermal bonding and friction-changing additives on the mechanical properties of dry-formed cellulosic networks have been evaluated. Calcium carbonate particles and a cationic surface active agent were used to change the coefficient of friction of cellulose (Chemothermo mechanical pulps; (CTMP) and rayon fibres. The parameters used to describe the networks were the storage modulus G0 (measured at low strain amplitudes) and the critical strain c (at which the network yields) obtained from the dynamic–mechanical measurements and the maximum force Fmax measured with a shear tester. The mechanical properties of the networks were improved as a result of the thermal bonding, which promotes stress transfer through the network structure. The friction-changing additives changed the ability of the fibres in the network to disentangle before the network ruptures. This change was, in the first place, reflected in corresponding changes in the critical strain c and the maximum strength Fmax of thd dry-formed networks. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

The influence of ageing on the stability of β-γ/γ′ derived microstructures in Ni-Al-Cr-(Co) alloys

Multiphase Ni-Al-(Fe)-(Cr)-(Co)-based intermetallics with (B2)- (A1)/(L1₂), - or - microstructures can exhibit significant room-temperature tensile ductility. In the case of Ni-Al-Cr-based alloys, microstructural development is complicated by the precipitation of -Cr, which can supplant the -phase during ageing of three-phase -/ microstructures. An investigation of the stability, during ageing, of cast Ni-Al-Cr-(Co) alloys with microstructures derived from -/ is reported. In the as-cast condition, the materials investigated consisted of a dendritic matrix containing L1₀ type martensite and interdendritic /. Extensive intra- and interdendritic -Cr precipitation was also observed. The stability during ageing of the interdendritic / microstructure is also considered and transformation of the L1₀ martensite is examined.     

Texture instability in Ni electrodeposits applied in optical disk technology

An x-ray diffraction technique was used to assess the thermal transformation of the crystallographic texture in 300 m thick Ni electrodeposits applied in optical disks technology. The initially strong 100 fiber texture was transformed during annealing to 211 fiber and the temperature range for rapid changes was between 300 and 350°C. A numerical analysis of texture data indicates that the grain boundaries with a low and high misorientation angle (<30° and >45°) had mobility advantage and their migration contributed to the growth of the 211 texture.     

Performance Measurement in the Belgian Document Ordering and Delivery System Impala

This paper deals with performance measures and performance indicators in the Impala electronic document ordering and delivery system for research libraries in Belgium and compares these with some international standards as, e.g., the ProLib/PI study commissioned by the European Commission.Performance measures: Costs (clearinghouse principle) Number of ILL requests made to other libraries Number of ILL requests made to other libraries without success Number of ILL requests made to other libraries with success Number of ILL requests received from other libraries Number of ILL requests received from other libraries and not satisfied Number of ILL requests received from other libraries that were satisfied Frequency asked titlesPerformance indicators: Success rate Borrowing-lending ratio per library Response times, split into several segments of the ILL-procedureThe article concludes with some indications for quality measurement in electronic document delivery where Impala will be able to measure the real supply times as perceived by the end user.     

Shear viscosity of the B phase of superfluid3He

The shear viscosity (T) in the Balian-Werthamer (BW) state of superfluid ³ He is calculated variationally throughout the region 0t 1(t=T/T _c) from the transport equation for Bogoliubov quasiparticles. Coherence factors are treated exactly in the calculation of the collision integral. The numerical result for =_s= _s(T)/_n(T_c) agree very well with experiment in the range 0.8t1.0. Analytic expressions = 0.577 (1–1.0008t) and =1–(23/64) [=(T)/k _B T] are obtained in the low-temperature region and in the vicinity ofT _c, respectively. From the numerical analysis it is shown that the latter equation is valid only in the temperature range 0.9997t1.0.Supported by the Research Institute for Fundamental Physics, Kyoto University.     

Complex microstructural changes in as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloy

Phase transformations and microstructural changes of an as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloy (ZnAl₂₂Cu₂) were investigated during isothermal holding. The typical dendritic structures consisted of _s phase as a core with the edge of decomposed _s phase and decomposed _s in the interdendritic regions. A series of complex phase transformations was observed. Both decompositions of _s and _s were determined at an early stage of ageing and a four-phase transformation, _f+T+, was observed at the boundaries of _f phase and the phase, instead of clearly observed at the boundaries of phase, in a solution-treated Zn-Al alloy during prolonged ageing.     

Simulation of the Process of Water Freezing in a Round Pipe

The problem of freezing of pure water in a round pipe is treated with due regard for convection under asymmetric thermal boundary conditions in the absence of motion along the pipe. The problem is solved numerically using the control volume approach, SIMPLER algorithm, and the enthalpy method. Results are obtained for three Grashof (Gr) and six Biot (Bi) numbers: Gr = 1.55 × 10⁶, Bi = 0.305 (0 < ), Bi = 0.044 ( < 2); Gr = 1.24 × 10⁷, Bi = 0.610 (0 < ), Bi = 0.087 ( < 2); Gr = 9.89 × 10⁷, Bi = 1.220 (0 < ), Bi = 0.174 ( < 2). The correctness of calculation of the problem disregarding free-convection flows is analyzed.     

Development of solidification microstructures in a fibre reinforced alloy

The solidification behaviour of a fibre reinforced Al-6 wt% Cu alloy, containing 30 vol% of 3 m diameter, semi-continuous, aligned alumina fibres has been studied. Results are presented to show the influence of fibres on the microstructural development of and microsegregation in the matrix during freezing. The effect of total solidification time, _t, on solidification behaviour was examined for 1<_t<520 S. By using interrupted solidification experiments microstructural development was studied in detail. It was found that -Al begins to grow within interfibre regions, and grows towards the Al₂O₃ fibres, avoiding them where possible. Consequently fibres are located in the last regions to solidify. When _t>10 s the final microstructure is non-dendritic, and CuAl₂ is located predominantly at the fibre-matrix interface. When _t 1 s it was observed that the final microstructure is dendritic with a periodic segregation pattern, and the CuAl₂ is more dispersed. The matrix composition becomes more uniform, and the minimum matrix composition rises as _t increases. The growth and microsegregation are analysed and discussed using simple semi-analytical models. The implications are that fibres significantly influence solidification behaviour if _f/_s<1, where _f is the average interfibre spacing and _s the secondary dendrite arm spacing which would develop in the unreinforced alloy.     

Localized spin fluctuations

Scaling arguments and renormalization group techniques are used in the Anderson model Hamiltonian for the nonmagnetic limit of a magnetic impurity. The range of validity of the theory is limited toU/ 1, where the electron-electron collisions can already compete strongly with the electron-hole collisions. A parquet approximation is developed; it gives for the static susceptibility in the symmetric case = ()^–1 exp (+U/). There are some hints that the exchange force might play a crucial role in the formation of localized magnetic moment. These considerations are consistent with the electron-hole symmetry in the symmetric Anderson model.     

An extremely low noise photodetector based on the single electron transistor

We have demonstrated the use of the single electron transistor (SET) as an amplifier for a photodetector operated at 20 mK. The unparalleled low input noise of the SET permits the detection of very small numbers of charge carriers generated in a bulk p-type Si substrate. We present data showing the response of the detector when it is illuminated by extremely low levels of red light (=650 nm). Although we are not able to prove that individual charge carriers are being detected in our system, the magnitude of the detector response and the level of noise in the system are in good agreement with single charge, and therefore single photon, detection. From the dark current noise of 0.06 electron/s, we estimate a noise-equivalent power NEP=2×10^–21 W/Hz for infrared light with =30 µm, and from this calculate a detectivity D*=8×10¹⁷ cm-Hz/W.     

Ageing characteristics of Al-2.5% Li rapidly solidified alloy

The present work was performed on an Al–2.5 wt% Li alloy produced by melt spinning. The ribbons were aged in the temperature range 180 to 310° C for times between 1 min and 120h. The kinetics of coarsening of (Al₃Li) and (AlLi) phase particles were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and hardness measurements. The results show that coarsening of (Al₃Li) follows a simple linear relation with the cube root of Me, whereas coarsening of (AlLi) does not follow the same trend. We believe that the (AlLi) phase nucleates at the (Al₃Li)/matrix interface and grows by the dissolution of the nearby (Al₃Li) particles. The mechanical properties of the powder metallurgy alloy show that a large volume fraction of PFZ contributes to the alloy ductility, 11 %, in the aged condition. Also, the yield strength is greatly improved due to refinement effects enhanced by rapid solidification.     

Magnetic properties of highly dilutedPdFex andPtFex-alloys. Part II. Susceptibility at micro- and milli-kelvin temperatures

We have measured the 16 Hz susceptibility of the giant magnetic moments induced by Fe impurities in highly dilutedPdFe_x andPtFe_x samples with 2.5 ppm x 75 ppm in a wide temperature range, 30 K T 300 mK, and at static magnetic fields 0,01 mT B 25 mT. We find spin glass freezing at Tf(X)/X0,19mK/ppm Fe forPdFe_x and the larger value 0.26 mK/ppm Fe forPtFe_x. This is the first observation of spin glass freezing inPtFe_x. In the low-temperature range T 0.5T_f(x), the susceptibilities follow — ₀ T with small zero-temperature ₀ values forPdFe_X and vanishing ₀ values forPtFe_x. In the paramagnetic high-temperature range, we find (T — )^it-1 at T 10 mK independent of x forPdFe_x, and at T 2Tf(x) dependent of x forPtFe_x with vanishing values for both systems. The data compare well to the predictions of the Thouless-Anderson-Palmer TAP approach of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick SK model for spin glasses.     

The effect of Si,Zr, Al and Mo on the structure and strength of Ti martensite

The structure and strength of martensite in near titanium alloys have been studied in the composition range (wt %) up to 10% Zr, 6%, Al, 1/2% Mo, 2.4% Si. [0001], 1/3 11¯20 dislocations, 1/3 10¯10 stacking faults and approximately {10¯11} twin related martensite plates are found to be common features of the martensite. Martensite midribs consist either of finely transformed material between martensite plates, or regions of low dislocation density within martensite plates.The martensite morphology is related to the alloy composition, changing from massive to plate-like with increasing solute content. The strength of the martensite is controlled largely by solid solution strengthening.     

Thermal conductivity of hydrocarbons in the naphthene group under high pressures

The thermal conductivity of hydrocarbons in the naphthene group has been experimentally determined. An equation is now proposed for calculating the thermal conductivity over the given temperature and pressure ranges.Notation thermal conductivity - ₂₀ and ₃₀ values of the thermal conductivity at 20 and 30°C, respectively - t₀,P₀ thermal conductivity at t₀, p₀ - _t p thermal conductivity at temperature t and under pressure P - change in thermal conductivity - P pressure - P_melt melting pressure - P₀ atmospheric pressure - t₀ 20°C temperature - T, t temperature - T_cr critical temperature - temperature coefficient of thermal conductivity - ₂₀ temperature coefficient of density - density - ₂₀ density at 20°C - _cr critical density - M molar mass - =T/T_cr referred temperature - v specific volume - v₀ specific volume at 20°C - v change in specific volume - _{3 0} a coefficient - B (t) a function of the temperature - S a quadratic functional - W_i, weight of the i-th experimental point - _i error of the i-th experimental value of thermal conductivity - B _{y, =0.6} value of B (t) at T = 0.6T_cr - B = B (t)/B_{, =0.6} referred value of coefficient B (t) Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 491–499, September, 1981.     

Residual thermal stresses in the pull-out specimen: A finite element calculation

The residual thermal stress field in the pull-out specimen is calculated in the case of a high properties thermoset system (carbon-bismaleimide). The calculation is performed within the framework of the linear theory of elasticity by means of a finite element method. The specimen is modelled as a three-phase composite (holder-fibre-matrix). The meniscus which forms at the fibre entry is taken into account in order to provide a realistic stress concentration. The latter is far higher than the matrix strength. Evidence that fibre debonding propagates from the fibre end during cooling is then produced.Nomenclature T thermal load - L _e embedded length - r _f fibre radius - _c curvature radius of the meniscus (fibre entry) - r _c radial dimension of the finite element mesh - E _m,E _h matrix and holder moduli - E _A,E _T fibre axial and transverse moduli - _m, _h matrix and holder thermal expansion coefficients - _A, _T fibre axial and transverse thermal expansion coefficients - _rr, , _zz, _rz non-zero components of the residual stress field - _rr ⁱ , ^im , _zz ^im , _rz ⁱ stresses at the interface in the matrix (r=r _f + ) - _rr ⁱ , ^if , _zz ^if , _rz ⁱ stresses at the interface in the fibre (r=r _f–) - _p1 maximum principal stress - _zz ^f mean axial stress over the fibre section - _rupt ^m matrix strength - u _r ,u _z non-zero components of the displacement field     

The Interplay of Electronic and Nuclear Magnetism in PtFe x at Milli-, Micro-, and Nanokelvin Temperatures

We have measured ac susceptibility, nuclear magnetic resonance, and nuclear heat capacity of two PtFe _x samples with concentrations of magnetic impurities x = 11 ppm and 41 ppm at magnetic fields (0 ± 0.05) mTB248 mT. The susceptibility data have been measured at temperatures of 0.3 KT100 mK, no hint for nuclear magnetic ordering could be detected to a temperature of 0.3 K. The nuclear heat capacity data taken at 1.4 KT10 mK show enhanced values which scale with x at low polarization. This effect is described by a model assuming an internal magnetic field caused by the impurities. No indication for nuclear magnetic ordering could be detected to 1.4 K. The nuclear magnetic resonance experiments have been performed on these samples at 0.8 KT0.5 mK and 2.5 mTB22.8 mT as well as on three other samples with x = 5, 10, 31 ppm in a different setup at 40 KT0.5 mK and at 5.4 mTB200 mT. Spin-lattice and effective spin-spin relaxation times ₁and ₂ ^* of ¹⁹⁵ Pt strongly depend on x and on the external magnetic field. No temperature dependence of ₁and ₂ ^* could be detected and the NMR data, too, give no hint for nuclear magnetic ordering to 0.8 K.     

Evidence for collective excitations in superconducting tin whiskers

Based on the assumption that a phase-slip center in a clean quasi-one-dimensional superconductor excites a collective oscillation, the time-averaged value of the electrochemical potential of quasiparticles is calculated. At larger distances from the phase-slip center, swings below (or above) the electrochemical potential _p of the Cooper pairs. This makes it possible to understand the unexpected results of previous measurements.     

Regularizing algorithm for inverting the Abel equation

The article presents a regularizing algorithm for solving the Abel equation using information on the statistics of the error of measurement of the right-hand side of the equation.Notation (r), f(x) solution and right-hand side of the Abel equation, respectively - f_i value of the right-hand side measured at point x_i - _i uncertainty of the i-th measurement - n number of measurements of the right-hand side - V correlation matrix of the uncertainty of measurement - smoothing parameter - S_n(x) interpolating spline - S_n,(x) smoothing spline - a_i, b_i, c_i, d_i coefficients of the smoothing spline - (r) regularized solution of the Abel equation - e() discrepancy vector - Sp[V] trace of the matrix V Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 270–274, August, 1980.     

Phase decomposition of liquid-quenched β-type Ti-Cr alloys

Phase decomposition behaviour of liquid-quenched (bcc) type Ti-Cr alloys was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and hardness measurements. It was found that decomposition of to ₁ (Ti-rich, bcc) + ₂ (Ti-lean, bcc) takes place in the intermediate composition range of the Ti-Cr system. This experimental result proves the theoretical prediction made by Menon and Aaronson, but the observed ₁ + ₂ two-phase field expands towards higher temperatures than the predicted binodal line. The coherent ₁ + ₂ two-phase state exhibits the so-called 100 modulated structure and it was concluded that the formation of such a structure is a result of spinodal decomposition of the -phase. We obtained time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams of -type Ti-30, 40 and 50 at % Cr alloys. A typical sequence of structural change is coherent ₁ + ₂ incoherent ₁ + ₂ incoherent ₁ + ₂ + grain boundary precipitates stable state of + TiCr₂ or + TiCr₂. Not all the states in the above sequence appear, depending on alloy composition, liquid-quenching rate and ageing temperature.     

Interfacial and mechanical properties of environment-friendly “green” composites made from pineapple fibers and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) resin

Physical and tensile properties of pineapple fibers were characterized. Tensile properties of pineapple fibers, like most natural fibers, showed a large variation. The average interfacial shear strength between the pineapple fiber and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) was 8.23 MPa as measured by the microbond technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photomicrographs of the microbond specimens revealed an adhesive failure of the interface. Fully degradable and environment-friendly green composites were prepared by combining pineapple fibers and PHBV with 20 and 30% weight content of fibers placed in a 0°/90°/0° fiber arrangement. Tensile and flexural properties of these green composites were compared with different types of wood specimens. Even though tensile and flexural strength and moduli of these green composites were lower than those of some wood specimens tested in grain direction, they were significantly higher than those of wood specimens tested in perpendicular to grain direction. Compared to PHBV virgin resin, both tensile and flexural strength and moduli of these green composites were significantly higher. SEM photomicrographs of the fracture surface of the green composites, in tensile mode, showed partial fiber pull-out indicating weak bonding between the fiber and the matrix.