High Thermal Conductivity in Silicon Nitride with Anisotropie Microstructure

Silicon nitride was fabricated by tape casting of α-Si₃N₄ powder with 5 wt% Y₂O₃ and 5 vol% rodlike β-Si₃N₄ seed particles, followed by tape stacking, hot pressing under 40 MPa, and annealing at 1850°C for 2-66 h under a nitrogen pressure of 0.9 MPa. Silicon nitrides fabricated by this procedure exhibited a highly anisotropic microstructure with large elongated grains (developed from seed particles) uniaxially oriented parallel to the casting direction. Thermal conductivities parallel to the grain alignment were much higher than those measured in other directions and exhibited high values of up to 120 W/(m.K). The anisotropic thermal conductivity of the specimen could be explained by the rule of mixture, considering that large elongated grains developed from seeds have higher thermal conductivity than a small-grained matrix.     

Crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid)

The crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid) was studied in the range of 80-160 °C. The peak crystallization time (τ_p) was defined and obtained from the crystallization isotherm measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Isothermal crystallization temperature (T_c) dependence of log(τ_p) discretely changed at 113 °C (= T_b). The linear growth rate of spherulite, G, was measured with a polarizing microscope. The T_c dependence of G and the size of the spherulite also discretely changed at T_b. Crystal structures for samples isothermally crystallized at temperatures which were higher and lower than T_b were orthorhombic (α-form) and trigonal (β-form), respectively. The discrete change of the crystallization behavior was explained by the formation of different crystal.     

Mechano-electrochemistry of a passive surface using an in situ micro-indentation test

Depassivation–repassivation of iron surfaces in boric–borate solutions were investigated by using the micro-indentation test. A pair of current peaks due to repair of the passive film following rupture of the film were observed during a series of indenter drives, i.e., loading and unloading of the indenter. The shape of the current peak depended on environmental conditions (conductivity and pH of the solution) and substrate conditions (mechanical processing history, alloyed element) as well as indentation conditions (repetition, maximum depth, and maximum load). Plastic deformation of the surface was accompanied by surface depassivation, while no depassivation occurred during the elastic deformation, indicating that the passive film on iron has a ductile property. The solution conditions did not affect the scale of depassivation but affected the rate of repassivation. Dislocations in the substrate made surface depassivation difficult but enhanced reactivity during the repassivation. The test also revealed that type-312L stainless steel has high corrosion resistance in a concentrated NaCl solution.     

Low cycle fatigue behaviors of elbow pipe with local wall thinning

Low cycle fatigue tests were conducted using 100A elbow specimens made of STPT410 carbon steel with local wall thinning. Local wall thinning by erosion/corrosion was simulated by machined pipe wall thinning. The local wall thinning areas were located at three different areas, called extrados, crown and intrados. The elbow specimens were subjected to cyclic in-plane bending under displacement control without internal pressure. The effects of eroded conditions, such as eroded ratio, eroded angle and position, on the low cycle fatigue behavior and fatigue life were discussed by using experimental results and finite element analyses. Also the location of crack initiation and the crack growth direction could be predicted by three dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analyses. In addition, the safety margin of eroded elbows against seismic loading was discussed by comparing the fictitious stress of elbows with the allowable stress limit demanded by the design code.     

Physicochemical properties of monosodium glutamate-compounded tapioca starch exceeds those of simple heat-moisture treated starch

Monosodium glutamate (GluNa)-compounded starch was prepared by heat-moisture treating a mixture of tapioca starch and GluNa. GluNa-compounded starch exhibited a higher gelatinization temperature and reduced swelling and solubility, essentially lower hardness of the granule center, and paste viscosity than those of the heat-moisture treated tapioca starch and the untreated starch. However, its appearance, unit chain length distribution, and α-amylase digestibility were similar to those of the heat-moisture treated tapioca. It is thus concluded that GluNa compounding is useful for providing a unique type of starch that possesses a less swollen and viscous texture than that produced with simple heat-moisture treatment.     

纳米Pt膜的晶粒尺寸及其对热导率的影响

采用电子束-物理气相沉积法（EB-PVD）制备了6个厚度为15-62nm的铂薄膜,研究了纳米薄膜的晶粒尺寸及其对热导率的影响规律．当薄膜厚度小于30nm时,晶粒平均尺寸接近于薄膜的厚度;晶粒尺寸随着薄膜厚度的增加而增大并趋于定值;当薄膜厚度大于30nm时,晶粒尺寸约为20nm．受薄膜的表面和内部晶界的综合影响,铂纳米薄膜的热导率大大低于体材料的值,并且纳米薄膜的热导率随着薄膜厚度的增加而增大并趋于一个低于体材料热导率的值．     

The effect of chemical reaction on the mixing flow between aqueous solutions of acetic acid and ammonia

The basic characteristics of the reacting mixing flow of two streams were investigated. The reaction between aqueous solutions of ammonia and acetic acid, which produces ammonium acetate, was investigated in terms of the effect on the fluid–fluid interface of the mixing flow relative to fluids that did not react. The reaction between these solutions was negligibly exothermic, and there were minimal differences in density. The velocity field in the reacting mixing flow was quantitatively measured using high-speed time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) and the behavior of the mixing flow was qualitatively investigated using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The jet width, the velocity field, the kinetic energy and the turbulent intensities are qualitatively estimated and discussed. It was found that the chemical reaction resulted in the suppression of the mixing flow.     

EFFECTS OF OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS IN CLOSED SUPERHEATED STEAM DRYING

The effects of operational conditions on the drying performance in closed superheated steam drying were examined theoretically and experimentally. The vapor generated from the sample was circulated in the drying chamber. In the theoretical analysis, the replacement of air with vapor in drying chamber and the convective vapor transfer in sample were considered. At the start of drying, the drying chamber was filled with air. As the drying proceeded, the air was replaced with the vapor generated from sample. The calculated results explained the characteristics of experimental data. The pore diameter of sample had little effect on the drying characteristics. During the internal evaporation period, the evaporation occurred in the narrow zone, which moved from the surface to the bottom of sample. The convective vapor transfer in sample had a significant influence on the drying performance. The excess increments in temperature and velocity of drying gas hardly contributed to shortening the drying time.