The influence of NaCl and CO2 on the atmospheric corrosion of magnesium alloy AZ91

The influence of NaCl and CO₂ on the atmospheric corrosion of magnesium alloy AZ91 is studied in the laboratory. Samples were exposed under carefully controlled air and flow conditions; the relative humidity was 95%, the temperature was 22.0°C and the concentration of CO₂ was < 1 ppm or 350 ppm. Different amounts of sodium chloride (0–70 μg/cm²) were added before exposure. The corrosion products were analyzed by gravimetry, ion chromatography, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Mass gain and metal loss results are reported. The combination of high humidity and NaCl is very corrosive towards AZ91. However, the NaCl‐induced corrosion is inhibited by ambient concentrations of CO₂. Exposure in the absence of CO₂ gives rise to heavy pitting, with brucite, Mg(OH)₂, being the dominant corrosion product. In the presence of CO₂ a layer of hydrated magnesium hydroxy carbonate, Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 5 H₂O forms. A tentative corrosion mechanism is presented that explains the behavior in the two environments.     

Indexed in current contents

Indexed in current contents     

Fast approximate analysis for token passing LAN protocol with asymmetrically distributed traffic loads

A new approximate analytical expression for the mean packet delay for a non-exhaustive token passing LAN is derived and compared with discrete event computer simulation. The computational problems associated with the exact and other approximate treatments are avoided because the need to solve a system of simultaneous equations is removed.<>     

A first-order current-steering sigma-delta modulator

A new architecture is presented for a first-order sigma-delta (ΣΔ) modulator. The system achieves a high sampling frequency, can be used as a building block for higher-order modulators, and uses circuit techniques that are largely independent of a specific technology. The key features of this implementation are that it operates in a continuous-time (as opposed to switched) mode and does not need feedback amplifiers. To test the validity of the concept, the system was realized in 2-μm, n-well, double-metal, single-poly technology. It has a measured resolution of 9 b and a linearity of 13 b at a clock frequency of 20 MHz with an oversampling ratio of 128. It operates from a power supply of ±2.5 V with a power consumption of 3 mW. The circuit occupies an area of 0.92 mm²     

Chirp compensation capability of a semiconductor laser amplifier

Performance improvement is reported resulting from incorporating a semiconductor laser amplifier (SLA) as a post-transmitter-amplifier in long-haul directly modulated optical systems operating in the 1.5 mu m region. This improvement arises from reduction of the chirp produced by the semiconductor laser as the signal passes through the SLA. Eye closure penalty improvements in excess of 5 dB are observed for an illustrative long-haul 4.8 Gbit/s system.<>     

Ph Effect on Thermal Transition Temperature of Collagen

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the thermal transition temperature of bovine intramuscular and tendon collagen. Equilibration of the collagen in buffers in the pH range 4.25–7.40 resulted in a decline in transition temperature with decreasing pH. This was more pronounced in collagen with higher concentrations of aldimine crosslinks. We proposed that postmortem pH decline was responsible for the thermal transition temperature decline observed by other workers. Therefore, thermal transition temperature measurements must be performed on collagen samples that have been thoroughly equilibrated to a common pH if they are to be used as indices of structural changes.     

Influence of dietary sodium bicarbonate on the potassium metabolism of growing dairy calves.

We evaluated the influence of supplemental dietary NaHCO3 on K metabolism of young dairy calves. Thirty-two Holstein and Jersey male and female calves were blocked at 56 to 70 d after birth according to breed, sex, and age and assigned randomly to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments for 8 wk: .4% K with 0% NaHCO3, .4% K with 2% NaHCO3, .6% K with 0% NaHCO3, and .6% K with 2% NaHCO3. Feed intake was not affected by dietary KCl or NaHCO3 supplementation, but average daily gain increased with increased K and tended to be reduced by dietary NaHCO3. Plasma K was elevated by increased dietary K but generally was unaffected by NaHCO3. Urinary Ca excretion appeared to be reduced by NaHCO3; urine pH increased with supplemental NaHCO3. Results indicate 1) the K requirement of the growing calf is between .40 and .55% of diet DM, 2) because urinary K excretion was elevated by dietary NaHCO3, the K requirement may be increased when the diet is supplemented with NaHCO3, and 3) average daily gain and plasma K are sensitive indicators of dietary K in the growing calf.     

45% efficient silicon photovoltaic cell under monochromatic light

Improvements in the performance of silicon photovoltaic cells for solar applications are adapted for nonsolar photovoltaic applications. Improved monochromatic light efficiencies above 45% are reported including efficiencies close to 40% for relatively long-wavelength (1.064 μm) light as produced by neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers