The effect of short heat treatment on different properties of PET fiber using double beam interference microscopy

Pluta microscope used to throw light on the effect of heat treatment time on the different properties of poly (ethylene terephthalate) PET fibers. PET fibers were annealed at times ranged from 5 to 30 min at different temperatures (150, 170, 190, 210°C) using two different processes (fast cooling and slow cooling processes) in air. The refractive indices, the shrinkage, orientation factor and crystallinity of PET fibers were determined for different annealing temperature during the short time treatment. The shrinkage percentage and degree of crystallinity increased with increasing the temperature and time of annealing. Microinterferograms are given for illustration.     

The impact of processing conditions on the structural and optical properties of the as‐spun polyamides fibers

The development of crystallinity and orientation during the melt spinning of polyamides (nylon 66) was investigated. This study reports the question of the orientation and crystallinity determination of nylon 66 by means of differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarized microscope, and X‐ray diffraction techniques during the cold drawing process. The different structural properties such as crystallinity, crystal size, birefringence, and different orientation functions were measured as a function of the draw ratio. From the obtained thermogram, it is clear that the melting temperature of the drawn nylon 66 fibers did not show a significant change due to the cold drawing process. As the draw ratio increase, the crystallinity and crystal size increase. The drawing process improves the chain orientations along the fiber axis of nylon 66 fibers. The orientations of the chain segments enhanced due to the cold drawing process of nylon 66 fibers.     

半绝缘砷化镓中本征缺陷的光学显微研究

本文利用光学显微技术系统分析热处理对液封直拉法生长的半绝缘砷化镓(LEC SI-GaAs)中本征缺陷的影响。实验结果表明,晶体生长后的热处理可以影响砷沉淀的密度与分布。500℃热处理对As沉淀的密度无明显影响;真空条件下,在850~930℃范围内热处理AB腐蚀坑变浅,砷沉淀数量增加;真空条件下,高于1100℃热处理后,砷沉淀几乎消失。晶体中砷沉淀的密度会随热处理条件的不同而变化,本文对其机理进行探讨。     

Tribological behavior of natural fiber reinforced PLA composites

The application spectrum of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites is growing rapidly in various engineering fields. The present study explores the possibilities of reinforcing thermoplastic bio-polymer with locally available inexpensive plant fibers for developing a new tribo-material. Three different types of natural fibers (nettle, grewia optiva and sisal) were incorporated into PLA polymer to develop laminated composites using a hot compression technique. TGA analysis was carried out to investigate the thermal stability of developed composites. Wear and frictional characteristics of developed composites were investigated under dry contact condition at different operating parameters, such as applied load (10–30 N), sliding speed (1–3 m/s) and sliding distance (1000–3000 m). The experimental results indicate that incorporation of natural fiber mats into PLA matrix significantly improves the wear behavior of neat polymer. There was 10–44% reduction in friction coefficient and more than 70% reduction in specific wear rate of developed composites as compared to neat PLA. The worn surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to analyze the wear mechanism in different types of developed composites.     

Effect of microstructure and cutting speed on machining behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy

Machining of aerospace and biomedical grade titanium alloys has always been a challenge because of their low conductivity and elastic modulus. Different machining methods and parameters have been adopted for high precision machining of titanium alloys. Machining of titanium alloys can be improved by microstructure optimization. The present study focuses on the effect of microstructure on machinability of Ti6Al4V alloys at different cutting speeds. Samples were subjected to different annealing conditions resulting in different grain sizes and local micro-strains (misorientation). Cutting forces were significantly reduced after annealing; consequently, sub-surface residual stresses were reduced. Deformation twinning was also observed on samples annealed at a higher temperature due to larger grain size. Initial strain free grains and deformation twinning during machining reduces the cutting force at higher cutting speed.     

碳纳米管/聚乳酸复合材料的制备与性能

用熔融共混的方法制备了碳纳米管(CNTs)/聚乳酸(PLA)复合材料,观察了其球晶形貌和断面形貌,并研究了不同配比的CNTs/PLA复合材料的结晶性能和水解性能。结果表明:CNTs可以作为异相成核剂提高PLA的结晶速率和结晶度,CNTs质量分数为1%时,复合材料的结晶度达到44.9%,CNTs能够在基体中均匀分散;CNTs质量分数小于1%时,断面呈中间层破形貌;随CNTs含量增多,复合材料的球晶直径变大;CNTs能降低PLA的水解速率。     

Spin polarization of field-emitted electrons from half-metallic Co2MnSi thin films grown on a W(0 0 1) facet

We measured spin polarization of electrons field-emitted from half-metallic Co₂MnSi thin film grown on a W(0 0 1) facet via chromium buffer layer using Mott scattering. For spontaneously magnetized samples, values of polarization at room temperature were observed in a range from 10% to 46% and the polarization direction was 〈1 1 0〉 orientation of substrate tungsten, which agreed with an easy axis of magnetization of bulky Co₂MnSi. An enhancement of polarization was observed as a consequence of applying a magnetic field of 350 G perpendicular to the emitter axis after the annealing at 800 K. This result is considered to be caused by improvement in crystallinity of the evaporated film due to annealing.     

Investigation on the properties of gamma irradiated of polytetrafluoroethylene fibers

The physical, thermal, and chemical properties of gamma‐irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers were investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to analyze the surface morphology of irradiated fiber samples. PTFE fiber samples were irradiated by gamma radiation doses ranging from 3 kGy to 40 kGy. The XRD analyses and DSC measurements showed the improvement of crystallinity by gamma irradiation with dose up to 25 kGy reflecting the induced crosslinking with irradiation for PTFE fibers. The crystallinity was found to decrease with higher dose of 40 kGy, reflecting induced amorphization of the polymer sample at the high radiation dose. The calculated crystallite size and XRD parameters showed obvious variations with sample irradiation. The FTIR results showed the liberation of CF₂ groups and the formation of some new chemical bonding with crosslinking‐induced irradiation. The SEM micrographs revealed no variation in the surface morphology of the irradiated fiber samples than the pristine fiber.     

Air Injection as a Thermal Management Technique for Radial Foil Air Bearings

A thermal management technique for radial foil air bearings was experimentally evaluated. The technique is based on injecting air directly into the internal circulating fluid-film to reduce bulk temperatures and axial thermal gradients. The tests were performed on a single top foil, Generation III, radial foil bearing instrumented with three thermocouples to monitor internal temperatures. A through hole in the bearing shell coincident with the gap between the top foil's fixed and free ends provided entry for the injection air. The tests were conducted at room temperature with the bearing operating at speeds from 20 to 40 krpm while supporting 222 N. Two different mass flow rates of injection air were evaluated for this method, 0.017 and 0.051 kg/min. Test results suggest that the air injection approach is a viable thermal management technique capable of controlling bulk temperatures and axial thermal gradients in radial foil air bearings.     

Visualization of the ribosomal DNA (45S rDNA) of Indica rice with FISH on some phases of cell cycle and extended DNA fibers.

The ribosomal DNA (45S rDNA) behaviors during the cell cycle were analyzed on interphase nuclei, prophases, metaphases, pachytene chromosomes and extended DNA fibers in rice (Oryza, sativa ssp. indica cv. Guangluai No.4) by using high-resolution fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The results show that 45S rDNA is located at the ends of short arms of chromosomes 9 and 10. But the signals are much more intense on chromosome 9 than on chromosome 10 in metaphase. Pachytene chromosome has rDNA signal arrays on chromosome 9. Different phases are described and discussed. These results indicate that the activity ofrDNA at individual loci may also vary through the cell cycle in rice. On extended DNA fibers, 45S rDNA signals appear as strings of numerous red spots, but some signals are missed in some regions, probably result from weak signals or intergenic spacers.     

A magnetic method for determining the concentration of residual austenite in maraging steels

The results of measurements of magnetic properties of maraging steel 08Kh15N5D2T subjected to different types of thermal treatment, namely annealing, hardening, and aging, are presented. The required concentration of residual austenite during specimen preparation was obtained by varying the temperature of thermal treatment, the time of exposure, and the heating rate in the case of annealing. The new magnetic parameter N*, which linearly correlates with the concentration of residual austenite, is proposed. An algorithm for previously developed equipment and software, which is intended for the determination of this parameter, is offered.     

Unsupervised approval criteria for automated EBSP investigation of deformed metals

Unsupervised approval criteria have been investigated for orientations gathered from cold deformed samples (medium to high strain range) using the electron backscattering pattern technique. For such samples, the dislocation cell-size is on the order of the available step-size and pattern quality is generally low. Approval criteria for assessing the validity of measured orientations under these conditions were determined using, as a calibration, channel die cold deformed single crystals of stable orientations. In all cases, approval criteria based on an indexing confidence measure are found to be preferable. Different criteria are suggested, depending on whether the orientation data are subsequently to be used for texture analysis, or for a misorientation angle-based analysis. The latter is illustrated by an investigation of the number of deformation generated high angle boundaries introduced during a 90% cold reduction of a polycrystalline sample.     

Texture evolution in grain-oriented electrical steel during hot band annealing and cold rolling

The optimization of magnetic and physical properties of electrical steel is imperative for many engineering applications. The key factors to improve magnetic properties are the steel composition as well as control of the crystallographic orientation and microstructure of the steel during processing. However, this requires careful control of processing at all stages of production. Under certain conditions of deformation and annealing, electrical steel can be produced to have favourable texture components. For grain‐oriented (GO) electrical steels that are used in most transformer cores, a pronounced {110}〈001〉 Goss texture plays a vital role to achieve low power losses and high permeability. Essentially, Goss texture develops during secondary re‐crystallization in GO electrical steels; however, the mechanism of the abnormal Goss grain growth is still disputed in the literature. In the current study, the influence of the annealing conditions on the development of annealing, cold rolling and re‐crystallization textures of hot‐rolled GO electrical steel were investigated in detail following each processing step. Furthermore, the orientation data from electron backscatter diffraction were used to evaluate the orientation‐dependent stored energy of deformed grains after hot rolling. In the light of new findings in the present study, annealing and deformation texture development mechanisms were critically reviewed.     

Tribochemical and thermochemical reactions of stearicacid on copper surfaces in air as measured by ultra-soft X-rayabsorption spectroscopy

For copper, steel, and gold surfaces the chemisorption of stearicacid was found to adsorb via the acid head group, displacingadsorbed contaminants on the surfaces. Tribochemical andthermochemical reactions of stearic acid adsorbed (in air) on acopper surface, were studied by ultra-soft X-ray absorptionspectroscopy above the carbon and oxygen K edges. Chemisorbedstearic acid was found to adsorb in both monodentate andbidentate sites. The bidentate surface configuration wasincreased after the occurrence of the tribochemical reactionsinduced by surface rubbing. When the surface was subjected to avacuum thermal annealing process, a reduction in bidentateconfiguration was observed. Carbon-K-edge X-ray absorptionmeasurements were used to determine the tilt of the alkylmolecular chain from the surface normal, before and after thetribochemical or thermal annealing surface treatments. A stablechemically bonded molecular adsorbed layer persists on thesurface even after these surface treatments. The molecularorientation of the molecules is also generally preserved afterrubbing.     

Visualization of nerve fiber orientation in gross histological sections of the human brain

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) allows visualization of the orientation of the nervous fibers in the living brain. For comparison, a method was developed to examine the orientation of fibers in histological sections of the human brain. Serial sections through the entire human brain were analyzed regarding fiber orientation using polarized light. Direction of fibers in the cutting plane was obtained by measuring the azimuth with the lowest intensity value at each point, and inclination of fibers in the section was evaluated using fuzzy logic approximations. Direction and inclination of fibers revealing their three-dimensional orientation were visualized by colored arrows mapped into the images. Using this procedure, various fiber tracts were identified (pyramidal tract, radiatio optica, radiatio acustica, arcuate fascicle, and 11 more). Intermingled fibers could be separated from each other. The orientation of the fiber tracts derived from polarized light microscopy was validated by confocal laser scanning microscopy in a defined volume of the internal capsule, where the fiber orientation was studied in four human brains. The polarization method visualizes the high degree of intermingled fiber bundles in the brain, so that distinct fiber pathways cannot be understood as solid, compact tracts: Neighbouring bundles of fibers can belong to different systems of fibers distinguishable by their orientation.     

A correlation between the tribological and mechanical properties of short carbon fibers reinforced PEEK materials with different fiber orientations

In this work the effect of fiber orientation on the mechanical and tribological properties of SCF (short carbon fibers)/PTFE (poly-tetra-fluor-ethylene)/graphite filled PEEK (poly-ether-ether-keton) composites was studied. The composites were manufactured by using injection molding technique. Mechanical and tribological experiments were conducted to measure the compression modulus, compression strength and wear resistance. A correlation of the tribological and mechanical properties considering different fiber orientations was studied. Additionally to the fiber orientation influence, the wear resistance under low and high pressures was examined. The results analyses, based on scratch experiments and scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspections explain how the fiber orientation influences the mechanical performance and the tribological properties of the considered materials.     

A study of hydrogenated carbon fibers by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy

The hydrogen absorption process is studied in carbonaceous fibers produced from a mixture of methane and hydrogen. The absorption of the hydrogen was examined in two types of fibers, in “as-grown” state and after a process of desorption during an annealing to 1.473 K under vacuum. Later to its production process, the fibers withstand an oxidation in air to 973 K. The fibers were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy by reflection. Differences in the behavior during the oxidation were observed between the fibers in as-grown state and those subjected to a further annealing. It could be verified that the fibers were really constituted by two different phases. In one of the phases, the storage of the hydrogen absorbed took place, whereas in the other phase there was no alteration. The process of annealing prior to the absorption of the hydrogen has an appreciable effect on the desorption rate of the hydrogen. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

800MPa级冷轧相变诱发塑性钢的组织与性能

采用全自动热模拟试验机测定了新开发的800 MPa级相变诱发塑性钢的CCT曲线,据此制定了12种工艺对试验钢进行退火处理;通过拉伸试验测定了经不同工艺退火处理试验钢的力学性能,确定出了最优热处理工艺;对经最优工艺退火处理钢的显微组织和残余奥氏体的稳定性进行了研究。结果表明:各种工艺处理钢均获得了800 MPa以上的抗拉强度,获得最佳综合力学性能(强塑积最大)的热处理工艺为830℃退火120 s后,先以20℃.s-1的速率缓冷至700℃,再以40℃.s-1的速率冷至400℃,并在400℃等温处理400 s,最后以20℃.s-1的速率冷至室温;经最优工艺退火处理后钢的显微组织为50%铁素体+38%贝氏体+12%残余奥氏体,残余奥氏体主要分布在铁素体晶界处,或铁素体与贝氏体的晶界处,还有小部分存在于大的铁素体晶粒内;在拉伸过程中试验钢中残余奥氏体的相变大部分发生变形量为10%~20%阶段。     

Comparative study of thermal post-buckling analysis of uniform slender & shear flexible columns using rigorous finite element and intuitive formulations

Thermal post-buckling analysis of uniform, isotropic, slender and shear flexible columns is presented using a rigorous finite element formulation and a much simpler intuitive formulation. The ends of the columns are axially restrained to move and consequently any temperature rise above the stress free condition of the column produces an equivalent constant compressive mechanical load that causes the column to buckle at a critical temperature. Further increase in temperature beyond critical temperature results in the thermal post-buckling phenomenon. As a result of constraints imposed on the axial displacement at the ends of the column, the post-buckling phenomenon is governed by the von-Karman strain displacement relation applicable to one dimensional problems. Empirical formula for ratio of nonlinear axial load to critical load (equivalent constant mechanical load for a given temperature rise) as a function of the central deflection are obtained using both the rigorous finite element and intuitive formulations for various boundary conditions. The boundary conditions considered are the classical such as hinged-hinged, clamped-clamped and clamped-hinged conditions and nonclassical boundary conditions like the hinged-guided or the clamped-guided conditions. Post-buckling analysis results pertaining to nonclassical boundary conditions are meagre in the literature. It is observed that results obtained from both the formulations are in excellent agreement for all boundary conditions considered. Also the accuracy and simplicity of the intuitive formulation is aptly demonstrated to slender and shear flexible columns.     

塑件收缩率测量方法及其影响因素分析

针对材料收缩率值的不确定性问题,对收缩率的测量方法及其影响因素进行了研究,对收缩率的计算方法进行了归纳,提出了基于热膨胀仪测量塑件收缩量来计算收缩率的方法,探讨了注塑成型工艺及热处理对收缩率的影响,分析了结晶度与收缩率之间的关系。选用等规聚丙烯为材料,采用不同成型工艺制备塑件,利用热膨胀仪分别测量热处理前后的塑件收缩量,分析了成型工艺与热处理对收缩率的影响。基于DSC测量塑件总体结晶度,分析了结晶度对塑件收缩的影响。研究结果表明,与工艺实验获得的收缩率进行对比和分析,可知采用热膨胀仪测量塑件收缩量来计算收缩率的方法是准确的,是一种简便易行的方法;快速变模温和热处理增大了塑件的结晶度,收缩量和收缩率随之变大,在模具设计过程中不可忽略。