Tunable microwave resonators and oscillators using magnetostatic waves

The status of magnetostatic wave (MSW) straight-edge resonators (SERs) and their applications in tunable oscillator circuits are reviewed. The resonators are based on magnetostatic waves propagating in high-Q cavities fabricated in thin ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films. The resonance frequency of these resonators can be tuned using a bias magnetic field. The theory of operation and design criteria for the straight-edge resonators are described with emphasis on the effect of the resonator parameters on the tuning range, power handling, and phase noise performance. The use of the SER as the frequency-selective element in oscillator circuits is reported. Examples of tunable oscillators are included.     

Offline and online fault detection and diagnosis of induction motors using a hybrid soft computing model

In this paper, a hybrid soft computing model comprising the Fuzzy Min-Max (FMM) neural network and the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) for motor fault detection and diagnosis is described. Specifically, the hybrid model, known as FMM-CART, is used to detect and classify fault conditions of induction motors in both offline and online environments. A series of experiments is conducted, whereby the Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) method is applied to form a database containing stator current signatures under different motor conditions. The signal harmonics from the power spectral density (PSD) are extracted, and used as the discriminative input features for fault classification with FMM-CART. Three main induction motor conditions, viz. broken rotor bars, stator winding faults, and unbalanced supply, are used to evaluate the effectiveness of FMM-CART. The results indicate that FMM-CART is able to detect motor faults in the early stage, in order to avoid further damage to the induction motor as well as the overall machine or system that uses the motor in its operations.     

Mechanical and thermo-oxidative properties of blends of poly(vinyl chloride) with epoxidized natural rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber in the presence of an antioxidant and a base

Being polar and compatible with poly(vinyl chloride), epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) is similar in behaviour to acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). To assess the extent of this similarity, the mechanical properties of 50/50 blends of PVC with these two rubbers were compared. Their response to thermo-oxidative ageing in the presence of an antioxidant and a base was also investigated by ageing the blends at 100°C for 7 days. Studies involving mechanical properties and FTIR were used to evaluate the extent of thermal degradation. The results revealed that blends of ENR show mechanical properties which are as good as, and in some instances better than, those of the NBR blends. However, the ENR blends with PVC are very prone to oxidative ageing. This might be attributed to the susceptibility of the oxirane group to ring-opening reactions, particularly in the presence of PVC, which yields HCl as it degrades. The amine-type antioxidant 2,24-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (TMQ) improved the oxidative stability of both blends. This was more significant in the ENR blend, which in some cases attained stability comparable with that of NBR. The addition of a base, calcium stearate [Ca(St)₂], did not show any influence in the PVC/ENR blend, even though it was expected to curb acid-catalysed degradation. Ca(St)₂, however, improved the oxidative stability of the PVC/NBR blend. The combination of optimum amounts of TMQ and Ca(St)₂ effectively improved the tensile strength of both unaged blends, without appreciable adverse effect on elongation at break. This combination also imparted stability better than that of TMQ alone.     

Comparison of the mechanical properties and interfacial interactions between talc,kaolin, and calcium carbonate filled polypropylene composites

Three types of mineral fillers—talc, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and kaolin (10–40 wt % filler loadings)—were compounded with polypropylene (PP) with a twin‐screw extruder. The composites were injection‐molded, and the effects of the filler loading on the mechanical, flow, and thermal properties for the three different types of filled composites were investigated. The aim was to compare their properties and to deduce prospective filler combinations that would yield hybrid PP composites in following studies. The results showed that in most cases, the strength and stiffness of the talc‐filled PP composites was significantly higher than those of the CaCO₃‐ and kaolin‐filled PP composites. However, CaCO₃, being a nonreactive filler, increased the toughness of PP. The kaolin‐filled PP composites also showed some improvement in terms of strength and stiffness, although the increases in these properties were not as significant as those of the talc‐filled PP composites. The effects of interfacial interactions between the fillers and PP on the mechanical properties were also evaluated with semiempirical equations. The nucleating ability of all three fillers was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and the strongest nucleating agent of the three was talc, followed by CaCO₃ and kaolin. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3315–3326, 2004     

Effect of PE-g-MA-Compatibilizer on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties of 70/30 HDPE/ENR Blends

The effects of PE-g-MA as a compatibilizer in binary blends of 70/30 high-density polyethylene/epoxidized natural rubber (HDPE/ENR) have been investigated by means of mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The special emphasis was given to the role of PE-g-MA in inducing interactions between HDPE and ENR. It has been observed that increasing the amount of PE-g-MA in the blend increases the tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength. It is believed that the degree of cross-link increased, which led to improve the interaction between the HDPE and ENR. The optimum stress values are shown in the blend containing 6% PE-g-MA. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the samples also indicated that the addition of compatibilizer decreases the domain size of the dispersed phase. Well-dispersed plastic particles in a rubber matrix were strongly indicated in these samples. The results obtained reveal that the addition of PE-g-MA in HDPE/ENR blend led to an increase in the homogeneity of the blends.     

The effect of ambient moisture and temperature conditions on the mechanical properties of glass fiber/carbon fiber/nylon 6 sandwich hybrid composites consisting of skin‐core morphologies

The concept of skin‐core (SC) morphology was used to make sandwich hybrid composites in which the skin and core were composed of different fibers in the same matrix. The sandwich blends comprising glass skin with carbon core and vice versa were compared with those of the hybrid composite, while the respective carbon (CF) and glass fiber (GF) composites served as points of reference. The composites were compounded and fabricated into injection molded tensile specimens and 3‐mm thick plaques. The effect of ambient temperature and moisture was studied. The fracture mechanical characterization of the various materials was done by using notched compact tension (CT) specimens. Tensile properties were also used to characterize the composites. Morphogical studies based on scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used to elucidate fracture characteristics. Deterioration of properties was noticed under hot and humid conditions. Synergism in flexural properties was observed in the CF/GF/PA hybrid composite. The mechanical properties of the CF/GF/PA hybrid are closer to those of CF/PA, suggesting a cost advantage by substituting half of the carbon fibers with glass fibers. Dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed that synergism in T_g is attained by blending or sandwiching glass and carbon fibers. Morphological studies reaffirmed the skin‐core morphology of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:52–59, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Reaction of dithiocarbamates with malononitrile dimer; simple synthesis of new 1,4-dihydropyridine-2-thiols

Dithiacarbamates reacted with malononitrile dimer to give 1,4-dihydropyridine-2-thiols. The structures of the obtained products were proven by IR, mass, and NMR spectra and elemental analyses. The reaction mechanism is also discussed.     

MHD flow of a micropolar fluid towards a vertical permeable plate with prescribed surface heat flux

The problem of a steady mixed convection stagnation point flow towards a permeable vertical plate with prescribed surface heat flux immersed in an incompressible micropolar fluid is studied numerically. The governing partial differential equations are first transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using a similarity transformation, before being solved numerically by a finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method and the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with shooting technique. The effects of the material parameter, buoyancy parameter, suction/injection parameter and the Prandtl number on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are discussed. It is found that dual solutions exist for both assisting and opposing flows. The skin friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number increase in the presence of suction and magnetic field. Moreover, suction as well as fluids with larger Prandtl number widens the range of the buoyancy parameter for which the solution exists.     

Water absorption and dimensional stability of short kenaf fiber‐filled polypropylene composites treated with maleated polypropylene

The purpose of this research was to investigate the water absorption behavior and associated dimensional stability of kenaf‐polypropylene‐filled (PP/KF) composites. Composites with different fiber loadings, ranging from 0 to 40 wt %, were prepared with a twin‐screw extruder followed by hot press molding. The influence of the compatibilizer was also studied for PP/KF composite with 5 wt % maleated PP (MAPP). Water absorption testing was carried out at room temperature for 7 weeks. Tensile, flexural, and impact tests were also performed on control, wet, and re‐dried specimens. Increasing the fiber content resulted in higher water absorption and thickness swelling. The inferior mechanical properties of the wet composites were attributed to the effect of water, which deteriorates the interfacial properties of composites. On re‐drying, all properties were almost recovered because of the recovery of interfacial area as evident in scanning electron micrographs. Incorporation of the MAPP significantly improved the compatibility between the fiber and matrix and the mechanical properties of the composites compared with those without MAPP. It also diminished the water absorption as well as the related thickness swelling in the composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Kenaf‐bast‐fiber‐filled biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) composites: Effects of fiber loading,fiber length,and maleated poly(butylene succinate) on the flexural and impact properties

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) filled kenaf bast fiber (KBF) composites were fabricated via compression molding. The effects of KBF loading on the flexural and impact properties of the composites were investigated for fiber loadings of 10–40 wt %. The optimum flexural strength of the composites was achieved at 30 wt % fiber loading. However, the flexural modulus of the composites kept increasing with increasing fiber loading. Increasing the fiber loading led to a drop in the impact strength of about 57.5–73.6%; this was due to the stiff nature of the KBF. The effect of the fiber length (5, 10, 15, and 20 mm) on the flexural and impact properties was investigated for the 30 wt % KBF loaded composites. The composites with 10‐mm KBF showed the highest flexural and impact properties in comparison to the others. The inferior flexural and impact strength of the composites with 15‐ and 20‐mm KBF could be attributed to the relatively longer fibers that underwent fiber attrition during compounding, which consequently led to the deterioration of the fiber. This was proven by analyses of the fiber length, diameter, and aspect ratio. The addition of maleated PBS as a compatibilizer resulted in the enhancement of the composite's flexural and impact properties due to the formation of better fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion. This was proven by scanning electron microscopy observations of the composites' fracture surfaces. The removal of unreacted maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide residuals from the compatibilizers led to better fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion and a slightly enhanced composite strength. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011