A review of ionic liquids as catalysts for transesterification reactions of biodiesel and glycerol carbonate production

Biodiesel production has been rapidly increasing due to the strong governmental policies and incentives provided leading to an oversupply of its by-product, glycerol. Therefore, finding ways of utilizing glycerol is essential to increase the net energy and sustainability of biodiesel. Ionic liquids have been used successfully as catalyst for both the production of biodiesel and the conversion of glycerol to glycerol carbonate. These catalysts are relatively environmentally friendly as they have the potential to enable sustainable processes. Herein, the prospect of using ionic liquids to catalyze transesterification triglycerides for the production of biodiesel and the conversion of glycerol to glycerol carbonate will be discussed. Elucidation of the reaction mechanism is expected to provide an in-depth understanding of the process with respect to the effects of cation and anion based on the reactions of interest.     

Influence of machine variables and tool profile on the tensile strength of dissimilar AA7075-AA6061 friction stir welds

Friction stir welding (FSW) of dissimilar alloys and materials is becoming progressively essential as it permits to take the benefits of both materials. Tensile strength is a measure of the weld quality, which mainly depends on machine variables and tool design. In this paper, FSW of dissimilar AA7075-AA6061 aluminium alloys was studied with respect to the welding speeds (rotational and axial), tool tilt angle and tool geometry by the response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD). A reduced second-order polynomial equation was successfully developed and validated to adequately fit the observed results of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Respectable fitness and well agreement between the experimental and calculated values with an elevated regression coefficient and low deviation were detected for this model within the range of the operating variables. Five tools with concave shoulders and different probe profiles (cylindrical and tapered, smooth and threaded, flatted and non-flatted) and a self-designed backing plate and clamping system were fabricated for this study. It was found that the welding tool with a threaded truncated cone pin and single flat results in a sound weld with higher tensile strength, wide nugget area and smooth surface finish.     

Effect of moisture absorption on the tensile properties of short glass fiber reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate)

Injection molded short glass fiber reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) was subjected to hygrothermal aging at two different relative humidities—81.2% and 100% RH. A single free phase model of diffusion has been used to analyze the data obtained from the kinetics of moisture absorption study. The diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium moisture content were found to be dependent on the volume fraction of fibers and relative humidity. Incorporation of short glass fibers into a poly(butylene terephthalate) matrix has led to a significant improvement in the retention and recoverability of the tensile properties. Examination of fracture surfaces using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) has revealed some evidence for the hydrolysis of the polymer matrix. The hydrolysis resulted in the formation of microvoids, the absence of a plastic deformation process, and degradation at the fiber-matrix interface.     

Effects of compatibilizer and testing speed on the mechanical and morphology behaviors of co‐continuous amorphous copolyester‐polyoxymethylene blends

Co‐continuous amorphous copolyester (PETG)/polyoxymethylene (POM) (50/50 wt%/wt%) blends were prepared using a twin screw extruder followed compression molding. Two types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) (i.e., polyester‐based and polyether‐based) were used to compatibilize the blends system. The thermal properties were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The mechanical properties of the co‐continuous PETG/POM blends were studies through flexural and single‐edge notch tensile test (SEN‐T). The SEN‐T test was performed at three different testing speeds; 1, 100, and 500 mm/min. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to access the fracture surface morphology. The flexural strength of the PETG/POM blends was decreased in the presence of TPU. This was attributed to the elastomeric nature of the TPU. The compatibilizing effects of TPU on the PETG/POM blends were proven by moderate improvement in the fracture toughness and confirmed by the SEM observation. The SEN‐T fractured surface of the compatibilized blends showed gross matrix shear yielding as compared to the uncompatibilized system. The K_c values of the PETG/POM blends decreased as the testing speed increased. The optimum toughening effect was observed in PETG/POM blends compatibilized with polyether‐based TPU at testing speed of 100 mm/min. The polyether‐based TPU is a more efficient compatibilizer, because the amount required is one‐half that of the polyester‐based counterpart to achieve the same K_c value. This was attributed to the elastomeric nature of the polyether‐based TPU. The softer nature of polyether‐based TPU could provide better toughening effect than the polyester‐based TPU, which is relatively harder in nature. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:710–719, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of a quaternary ammonium salt on the properties of carbon‐black‐filled natural rubber compounds

The effects of a quaternary ammonium salt, cetyltrimethylammonium maleate (CTMAM) on the curing characteristics and mechanical properties of carbon‐black‐filled natural rubber compounds are determined. Results indicate that CTMAM increases the rate of vulcanization to a maximum at 1 phr (part per hundred parts of rubber) followed by a decrease as the concentration of CTMAM is further increased. The incorporation of CTMAM also improves mechanical properties such as tensile and tear strengths, tensile modulus, hardness and resilience, whilst elongation at break shows a decreasing trend. CTMAM also improves filler dispersion and increases the extent of crosslinking of carbon‐black‐filled natural rubber compounds. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Locomotor experience and use of social information are posture specific.

The authors examined the effects of locomotor experience on infants' perceptual judgments in a potentially risky situation--descending steep and shallow slopes--while manipulating social incentives to determine where perceptual judgments are most malleable. Twelve-month-old experienced crawlers and novice walkers were tested on an adjustable sloping walkway as their mothers encouraged and discouraged descent. A psychophysical procedure was used to estimate infants' ability to crawl/walk down slopes, followed by test trials in which mothers encouraged and discouraged infants to crawl/walk down. Both locomotor experience and social incentives affected perceptual judgments. In the encourage condition, crawlers only attempted safe slopes within their abilities, but walkers repeatedly attempted impossibly risky slopes, replicating previous work. The discourage condition showed where judgments are most malleable. When mothers provided negative social incentives, crawlers occasionally avoided safe slopes, and walkers occasionally avoided the most extreme 50? increment, although they attempted to walk on more than half the trials. Findings indicate that both locomotor experience and social incentives play key roles in adaptive responding, but the benefits are specific to the posture that infants use for balance and locomotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bio-Fuel-Contaminated Lubricant and Hardening Effects on the Friction and Wear of AISI 1045 Steel

A study has been made on the wear and friction of hardened AISI 1045 steel using a tri-pin-on-disc type of friction and wear apparatus. During the investigation the linear pin wear, coefficient of friction and rise in pin specimen temperature were monitored and wear and friction curves plotted. Wear surfaces and mechanisms were investigated by means of optical microscopy. Analysis of used lubricating oil was performed using FTIR spectroscopy.

It was shown that the wear rate, type of wear and friction coefficient were influenced by contaminating the lubricant with bio-fuel as well as the surface hardening treatment. Corrosive wear and pits on the specimen surface were found when plain bio-fuel was used as lubricating oil. The results also confirmed that better wear resistance was obtained from the surface-hardened steel specimen with 4 % bio-fuel-contaminated lubricant.

Results from this study will be useful in material selection for tribological components in diesel engines running on vegetable fuel.     

Micropolar fluid flow towards a stretching/shrinking sheet in a porous medium with suction

This paper presents a numerical analysis of a micropolar fluid flow towards a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in a porous medium. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations by a similarity transformation, before being solved numerically by a finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The effects of the governing parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are illustrated graphically. It is found that dual solutions exist for the shrinking case, whereas for the stretching case, the solution is unique.