Emulsion polymerization of styrene: Simulation the effects of mixed ionic and non-ionic surfactant system in the presence of coagulation

A detailed model was developed for emulsion polymerization of styrene in batch reactor to predict the evolution of the product particle size distribution. The effect of binary surfactant systems (ionic/non-ionic surfactants) with different compositions was studied. The zero–one kinetics was employed for the nucleation rate, with the model comprising a set of rigorously developed population balance equations. The modeling incorporated particle formation by both nucleation and coagulation phenomena. The partial differential equations describing the particle population were discretized using finite volume elements. Binary surfactant systems, comprising sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as anionic, and a commercial polyether polyol (Brij35^®) as non-ionic surfactants, were examined with different mass ratios. Increasing non-ionic surfactant mass fraction in binary surfactant system showed the decrease of particle number due to intensifying the coagulation between particles. Broader particle size distributions with greater average particle size were obtained with non-ionic surfactant comparing those obtained with anionic one.     

Single‐wall carbon nanotubes dispersion behavior and its effects on the morphological and mechanical properties of the electrospun nanofibers

The dispersion behavior of single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) has important effects on morphological and mechanical properties of SWCNT composite nanofibers. The relationship of the dispersion conditions with morphological and mechanical characteristics for SWCNT / polyacrylonitrile (PAN) / polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite nanofibers have been examined. The SEM and TEM analyses of the nanofibers revealed that the deformation in the nanofiber structures increases with increasing concentration of SWCNTs. Tensile results showed that only 2 wt% SWCNT loading to the electrospun composite nanofibers gave rise to 10‐fold and 3‐fold increase in the tensile modulus and tenacity of nanofiber layers, respectively. Essentially, high mechanical properties and uniform morphology of the composite nanofibers were found at SWCNT concentration of ∼2 wt% due to their stable and individual dispersion. POLYM. COMPOS., 33:1951–1959, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Evaluation of Fracture Mechanisms in Al-Si Metal Matrix Nanocomposites Produced by Three Methods of Gravity Sand Casting,Squeeze Casting and Compo Casting in Semi-Solid State

Silicon - Magnetic stirring is considered to be the most useful stirring method in semi-solid casting processes which doesn’t have the restrictions of the mechanical stirring. In this...     

A comparison of different geometrical elements to model fluid wicking in paper-based microfluidic devices

Recently, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have outstripped polymeric microfluidic devices in the ease of fabrication and simplicity. Surface tension-based fluid motion in the paper's porous structure has made the paper a suitable substrate for multiple biological assays by directing fluid into multiple assay zones. The widespread assumption in most works for modeling wicking in a paper is that the paper is a combination of capillaries with the same diameter equal to the effective pore diameter. Although assuming paper as a bundle of capillaries gives a good insight into pressure force that drives the fluid inside the paper, there are some difficulties using the effective pore radius. The effective pore radius is totally different from the average geometrical pore radius which makes it impossible to predict wicking in μPADs based on geometrical parameters. In this article, we introduce different analytical and numerical models to investigate the possibility of determining the permeability of the paper, based on geometrical parameters rather than effective parameters. The lattice Boltzmann method is used for numerical simulations. The permeability of each of the proposed models was compared with the experimental permeability. Results indicated that assuming paper as a combination of capillaries and annuluses leads to accurate results that totally depend on average geometrical values rather than effective values. This paves the way for prediction of the fluid wicking only by considering average geometrical pore and fiber diameters.     

On the prediction of gas hold-up in two-phase flow systems using an Euler–Euler model

We quantify the ability of the two-fluid Euler–Euler model to predict the overall gas hold-up during two-phase flow in vertical columns using a combination of experiments and simulations. Gas hold-up in a bubble column and gas hold-up in the less-frequently studied co-current flow are investigated. For homogeneous flow characterized by nearly uniform bubble size, Euler–Euler model predictions are within 10% of the experimental values for both modes of operation, if the bubble diameter supplied as input to the model is the average bubble diameter in the physical system. This also holds true for heterogeneous flow in bubble columns despite the presence of a broad distribution of bubble sizes, if turbulence and bubble swarm effects on momentum exchange between phases are properly accounted for. Swarm corrections adequate for bubble columns, are less successful for co-current heterogeneous flow, for which gas hold-up predictions are least accurate (average error of 22%).     

Evolving an Accurate Decision Tree-Based Model for Predicting Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Polymers

Solubility is one of the most indispensable physicochemical properties determining the compatibility of components of a blending system. Research has been focused on the solubility of carbon dioxide in polymers as a significant application of green chemistry. To replace costly and time-consuming experiments, a novel solubility prediction model based on a decision tree, called the stochastic gradient boosting algorithm, was proposed to predict CO₂ solubility in 13 different polymers, based on 515 published experimental data lines. The results indicate that the proposed ensemble model is an effective method for predicting the CO₂ solubility in various polymers, with highly satisfactory performance and high efficiency. It produces more accurate outputs than other methods such as machine learning schemes and an equation of state approach.     

Solution combustion synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles as corrosion inhibitor

In this study, combustion synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles was reported using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as starting material as well as urea, glycine, glucose, and citric acid as fuels. The influence of fuel type on structure, microstructure, band gap, and corrosion inhibition was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that CeO₂ nanoparticles with different morphologies were obtained depending on the fuel type. Microstructural changes from unreacted gel to sponge-like morphologies were resulted by varying the fuel type from urea, glycine, and glucose to citric acid. In addition to Ce–O bonds, Fourier transform infrared analysis showed carbon bonds of carbonaceous compositions from incomplete combustion which were declined during combustion reaction. Furthermore, corrosion analyses showed that samples synthesized using urea fuel released the most Ce⁺⁴ ions and could have better protection than other samples.     

Nanofabrication of hybrid nanomaterials: Macroscopically aligned nanoparticles pattern via directed self-assembly of block copolymers

Periodic hybrid nanostructured materials based on aligned inorganic nanoparticles within self-assembled copolymer matrixes aimed to harness the collective properties of generated functional nanomaterials. The nanoparticles are desirable for their useful magnetic, optical, catalytic, and electronic properties owed to the quantum confinement effect. For instance, gold, palladium and platinum as nanoparticles, have shown significant change in the physiochemical properties in comparison to their bulk materials. If the nanoparticles are aligned into well-defined macroscopic periodic nanostructures in diverse of morphologies, the unique collective properties are significantly enhanced. These unique properties can be transformed to improve the performance of storage media, multi-contact tracks solar panels and optoelectronic devices. Within this review, the nanofabrication tools will be presented as an alternative route to conventional top-down methods for the fabrication of periodic nanostructured hybrid materials. A simple approach is reviewed to fabricate periodic nanostructured hybrid systems based on the directed assembly of inorganic nanoparticles into well-defined periodic three-dimensional nanostructures provided by the self-assembling ability of block copolymers. The fabrications of varieties morphologies and the formation mechanism at different dimensions will be discussed as well as the characterization techniques. Finally, several applications of the proposed hybrid nanostructures are highlighted for the next generation of miniaturized devices.     

Phospholipids and oxophospholipids in atherosclerotic plaques at different stages of plaque development

We identified and quantified the hydroperoxides, hydroxides, epoxides, isoprostanes, and core aldehydes of the major phospholipids as the main components of the oxophospholipids (a total of 5–25 pmol/μmol phosphatidylcholine) in a comparative study of human atheroma from selected stages of lesion development. The developmental stages examined included fatty streak, fibrous plaque, necrotic core, and calcified tissue. The lipid analyses were performed by normal-phase HPLC with on-line electrospray MS using conventional total lipid extracts. There was great variability in the proportions of the various oxidation products and a lack of a general trend. Specifically, the early oxidation products (hydroperoxides and epoxides) of the glycerophosphocholines were found at the advanced stages of the plaques in nearly the same relative abundance as the more advanced oxidation products (core aldehydes and acids). The anticipated linear accumulation of the more stable oxidation products with progressive development of the atherosclerotic plaque was not apparent. It is therefore suggested that lipid infiltration and/or local peroxidation is a continuous process characterized by the formation and destruction of both early and advanced products of lipid oxidation at all times. The process of lipid deposition appears to have been subject to both enzymatic and chemical modification of the normal tissue lipids. Clearly, the appearance of new and disproportionate old lipid species excludes randomness in any accumulation of oxidized LDL lipids in atheroma.     

Characterization of zirconia specimens fabricated by ceramic on-demand extrusion

The Ceramic On-Demand Extrusion (CODE) process is a novel additive manufacturing method for fabricating dense (~99% of theoretical density) ceramic components from aqueous, high solids loading pastes (>50?vol%). In this study, 3?mol% Y₂O₃ stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) specimens were fabricated using the CODE process. The specimens were then dried in a humidity-controlled environmental chamber and afterwards sintered under atmospheric conditions. Mechanical properties of the sintered specimens were examined using ASTM standard test techniques, including density, Young’s modulus, flexural strength, Weibull modulus, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness. The microstructure was analyzed and grain size measured using scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared with those from Direct Inkjet Printing, Selective Laser Sintering, Lithography-based Ceramic Manufacturing (LCM), and other extrusion-based processes, and indicated that zirconia specimens produced by CODE exhibit superior mechanical properties among the additive manufacturing processes. Several sample components were produced to demonstrate CODE’s capability for fabricating geometrically complex ceramic components. The surface roughness of these components was also examined.