Determination of precompression and compression force levels to minimize tablet friability using simplex

Pilot simplex experiments for improving the tablet strength of three aspirin tablet formulations based on precompression and compression forces were presented. As each simplex moved towards the direction of the optimum, the friability was being minimized and the crushing strength was concomittantly being maximized. Because it followed a systematic direction, simplex process would locate a local optimum rapidly. The appropriate levels of precompression and compression forces that produced tablets with the desired strength were attained in five trials. By contrast, random search for this force combination required at least ten trials. Simplex technique is a cost and time effective means for determining the precompression and compression forces that will reduce the friability or increase the hardness of a tablet formulation. Results appeared to also indicate that crushing strength might be a more reliable measure of tablet strength than friability.     

Influence of ash deposits on the heat resistance of materials for gas turbine engine blades

Leningrad. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 1, pp. 71–76, January, 1989.     

Criteria for evaluation of the hardening factor of machine parts

V. Ya. Chubar' Zaporozhe Machine Building Institute. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 3, pp. 62–65, March, 1989.     

Optical properties of graphite-like carbon films

A model of the electronic structure of graphite-like carbon films, describing the semiconductor properties of this material, is presented. Spectra of optical constants of microcrystalline carbon films in the region λ = 0.4–8.0 μm were studied by the spectral ellipsometry and IR reflection methods. A number of distinctive features of the spectra, associated with both the appearance of C---C- and C---H_n-type bonds and direct energy gaps, were found. Analysis of the optical data using the proposed model makes possible a common interpretation of our results and literature data. Values of a parameter Θ, which is an averaged qualitative parameter of structural distortions within carbon microcrystallites as compared with crystalline graphite, are determined from comparison of theoretical results and experimental data.     

Electrical conductivity of ferroelectric sodium vanadate,rubidium vanadate,cesium vanadate and their solid solutions

The d.c. electrical conductivity of sodium vanadate, rubidium vanadate, cesium vanadate and their solid solutions sodium-rubidium vanadate and sodium-cesium vanadate were studied by a two-probe method in the temperature range covering their transition points. The electrical conductivity shows sharp change at the phase transition temperature of these materials. In NaVO₃, RbVO₃ and CsVO₃, increase in d.c. conductivity is observed in the ferroelectric region while nonlinearities are observed above transition temperatures. In solid solutions, the activation energy in the paraelectric state is higher than that in the ferroelectric state and depends upon sodium concentration.     

Strength of small-scale spherical shells formed from pressed glass elements

Institute of Strength Problems, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Sumy Branch, Khar'kov Polytechnic Institute. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 8, pp. 102–104, August, 1989.     

Toughening of Dental Porcelain by Tetragonal ZrO2 Additions

The effect on mechanical behavior of ZrO₂ additions to a dental porcelain was investigated. The ZrO₂ was introduced into the glassy matrix phase of the porcelain by refritting the all-glass porcelain constituent. X-ray diffraction indicated that a sizeable fraction of the ZrO₂ was retained in the tetragonal form after the porcelain was fired. Zirconia additions to the porcelain produced substantial improvements in fracture toughness, strength, and thermal shock resistance.