Synthesis and properties of chitosan-modified poly(vinyl butyrate)

Modification of chitosan by grafting of vinyl butyrate was carried out in homogeneous phase using potassium persulfate as redox initator and 1.5% acetic acid as solvent. The percent grafting and grafting efficiency were analysed and the high grafting efficiency up to 94% was observed. The effects of reaction variables such as monomer concentration, initiator concentration, temperature and reaction time were investigated. It was observed that the solubility of chitosan was markedly reduced after grafting with vinyl butyrate. The grafted product is insoluble in common organic solvents as well in dilute organic and inorganic acids. Characterization of the graft copolymers were carried out by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technics. Characteristic signal of carbonyl group was observed at 1,731 cm⁻¹ which belongs to the poly vinyl butyrate segments in the graft copolymer. The melting transition of the chitosan main chain in the copolymer shifted to 124°C from its original value 101°C. In addition to these, we have also studied topology of the graft copolymer and the SEM micrograph showed continuous homogenous matrix which means there is no phase separation.     

Increased hydropower production and hydropeaking mitigation along the Upper Inn River (Tyrol,Austria) with a combination of buffer reservoirs,diversion hydropower plants and retention basins

Research on hydropeaking in Austria started in the 1990s and the implementation of the WFD stipulated large research projects since the year 2009. The first research projects supported the process understanding and in a second investigation step, measures were evaluated. The mountains in the region of Tyrol create large heads and thus support the production of flexible energy. In this region, TIWAG is operating 9 large (>10 MW) and 27 small (<10 MW) hydropower plants, with an installed capacity of about 1,550 MW and a mean annual production of 3,000 GWh. As the governmental energy strategy foresees an extension of the hydropower production in Austria, suitable options were selected in 2004 by TIWAG and the water management framework plan for Western Tyrol was developed. This strategic planning instrument proposes five large power plants, with a generation of 1,800 GWh/year of renewable energy, which enables to reach the WFD targets, because the concept includes hydropeaking mitigation by combining buffer reservoirs (impoundments), diversion hydropower plants, and retention basins. We present our promising concept of hydropeaking mitigation and exemplify this based on the GKI, a hydropeaking diversion hydropower plants (HPP) at the Swiss/Austrian border as well as the Silz hydropeaking retention basin, with a volume of about 300,000 m³. As the presented case studies are the largest measures for hydropeaking mitigation being currently implemented in Central Europe, they have pilot-character. Thus, ongoing research and monitoring programs are expected to improve the knowledge about hydropeaking mitigation.     

Slip homogenization in Al-Li alloys by thermomechanical treatment and its effect on mechanical behaviour

The affects of a pre-ageing stretch and of duplex ageing on slip distribution have been examined in the Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy 8090 peak aged at 170 °C. Stretching prior to ageing and duplex ageing were found to effectively homogenize the distribution of S in these alloys. In contrast, in unstretched materials that were not duplex aged, precipitation of S was intense on the grain and subgrain boundaries but scarce elsewhere.Tensile, cyclic stress-strain, long fatigue crack growth and small fatigue crack growth data were gathered. These data showed that slip was planar in the unstretched and duplex-aged materials as compared to materials that were stretched prior to ageing. A model is developed to calculate the diameter where Orowan looping of the S precipitates was likely to give way to shearing of those precipitates. Based on this model, it was concluded that, although the distribution of S precipitates was homogeneous in the duplex-aged materials, the precipitates were too fine to effectively homogenize slip. It was also shown that if the artificial ageing temperature was increased to 190 °C the S precipitates were thicker, leading to a change in deformation behaviour.     

The influence of training level on manual flight in connection to performance,scan pattern,and task load

This work focuses on the analysis of pilots’ performance during manual flight operations in different stages of training and their influence on gaze strategy. The secure and safe operation of air traffic is highly dependent on the individual performances of the pilots. Before becoming a pilot, he/she has to acquire a broad set of skills by training to pass all the necessary qualification and licensing standards. A basic skill for every pilot is manual control operations, which is a closed-loop control process with several cross-coupled variables. Even with increased automation in the cockpit, the manual control operations are essential for every pilot as a last resort in the event of automation failure. A key element in the analysis of manual flight operations is the development over time in relation to performance and visual perception. An experiment with 28 participants (including 11 certified pilots) was conducted in a Boeing 737 simulator. For defined flight phases, the dynamic time warping method was applied to evaluate the performance for selected criteria, and eye-tracking methodology was utilized to analyze the gaze-pattern development. The manipulation of workload and individual experience influences the performance and the gaze pattern at the same time. Findings suggest that the increase of workload has an increased influence on pilots depending on the flight phase. Gaze patterns from experienced pilots provide insights into the training requirements of both novices and experts. The connection between workload, performance and gaze pattern is complex and needs to be analyzed under as many differing conditions. The results imply the necessity to evaluate manual flight operations with respect to more flight phases and a detailed selection of performance indications.

     

Enhancement of the hydrogen storage properties of Mg/C nanocomposites prepared by reactive milling with molybdenum

The effect of Mo on the morphology, crystal structure and hydrogen sorption properties of Mg/C composites prepared by reactive milling was studied. Transmission electron microscopic(TEM) observation shows that Mg/C composites prepared with the addition of Mo are of nanoscale with particle size about 20-120 nm after 3 h of milling under 1 MPaH_2. MgH_2 of tetrahedral crystal structure predominates in the materials with the geometric shape of oblique hexagonal prism. From X-ray diffraction(XRD) and hydrogen content studies, Mo and crystallitic carbon have a synergistic effect on promoting the hydrogenation rate in the reactive milling process. From differential scanning calorimetric(DSC) studies, the dehydrogenation peak temperature of the Mg/C materials with Mo is lowered to 299-340 ℃.     

Reaction mechanism and microstructure evolution of reaction sintered <Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>-BN

Hexagonal boron nitride ceramic (h-BN) based on the nitridation of B powders was obtained by reaction sintering method. The effects of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the resultant products were investigated and the reaction mechanism was discussed. Results showed that the reaction between B and N₂ occurred vigorously at temperatures ranging from 1 000 °C to 1 300 °C, which resulted in the generation of t-BN. When the temperature exceeded 1 450 °C, transformation from t-BN to h-BN began to occur. As the sintering temperature increased, the spherical particles of t-BN gradually transformed into fine sheet particles of h-BN. These particles subsequently displayed a compact arrangement to achieve a more uniform microstructure, thereby increasing the strength.     

Numerical simulation of the multicomponent mass transfer during Bridgman growth of CdZnTe crystal using Maxwell-Stefan diffusion model

To reveal the complicated mechanism of the multicomponent mass transfer during the growth of ternary compound semiconductors, a numerical model based on Maxwell-Stefan equations was developed to simulate the Bridgman growth of CdZnTe crystal. The Maxwell-Stefan diffusion coefficients in the melt were estimated. Distributions of Zn, Cd, and Te were calculated with variable ampoule traveling rate and diffusion coefficients. The experimental results show that Zn in melt near the growth interface decreases and diffuses from the bulk melt to the growth interface. For Cd, the situation is just the opposite. The coupling effects of Zn and Cd diffusions result in an uphill diffusion of Te at the beginning of the growth. Throughout the growth, the concentration of Te in the melt keeps low near the growth interface but high far from the growth interface. Increasing the ampoule traveling rate will aggravate the segregation of Zn and Cd, and hence deteriorate the uniformity of Te. We also find that not only the diffusion coefficients but also the ratios between them have significant influence on the species diffusions.     

Diffusion characteristic of sulfate anion in surface region of cement mortar at early stage

The SO_4~(2-)concentration distributions in surface region of cement mortar immersed in sulfate solution at early stage were measured by layered sampling method combined with chemical analysis, and the diffusion coefficients of SO_4~(2-)anions in surface region of mortar into internal area were calculated by means of instantaneous plane diffusion theory. The experimental results showed that the SO_4~(2-)concentration gradually reduced when the diffusion depth increased in the surface region of mortar. Diffusion coefficient(D) was relevant with the concentration and kind of environmental sulfate solution, which reduced with immersion time at the beginning, and then rose slowly after a period of time. The calculation of initial diffusion coefficient(D_0) and starting time of deterioration(t_∞) caused by sulfate attack was further attempted based on the data of diffusion coefficient, and it was found that D_0 and t∞ were all relevant with concentrations of sulfate and different kind of sulfate as well.     

Effects of CaO and Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the reduction of high silicon iron ores

The effects of CaO and Na₂CO₃ on the reduction of high silicon iron ores at 1 250 °C were studied. The experimental results showed that the metallization rate was significantly hindered by the addition of CaO and Na₂CO₃, particularly at the early stage of roasting, compared to the rate without additives. In the absence of additives, iron oxides were quickly reduced to metallic iron, and fayalite was difficult to form. When CaO and Na₂CO₃ were added, the low reducible iron-containing silicate compounds formed and melted, subsequently retarding the metallization process. The inhibition of Na₂CO₃ was more noticeable than that of CaO, and higher Na₂CO₃ doses resulted in stronger inhibition of the increased metallization rate. However, when Na₂CO₃ was added prior to CaO, the liquid phase formed, which facilitated the growth of the metallic phase. To reinforce the separation of the metallic phase and slag, an appropriate amount of liquid phase generated during the reduction is necessary. It was shown that when 10% CaO and 10% Na₂CO₃ were added, a high metallization rate and larger metallic iron particles were obtained, thus further decreasing the required Na₂CO₃ dosage.