Modifying carbonization properties of pitches. 3. Carbonization of modified quinoline-insoluble matter from pitches

The carbonization of solubilized matter obtained from the hydrogenated and reductively alkylated quinoline-insolubles of pitches was studied to clarify the different carbonization properties shown by these materials. Dehydrogenation of hydrogenated QI started at 200 °C but continued until 400 °C, passing through a fused phase to give graphitizable carbon. In contrast, alkylated QI gave non-graphitizable carbon because it readily reverted to QI by dealkylation below 300 °C, before fusion. QI alkylated with butyl or benzyl groups was found to be nearly 80% soluble in benzene.     

Liquefaction of subbituminous coals under apparently non-hydrogenative conditions

Reactivities of several coals of different ranks have been examined in degrading extractions with aromatic solvents under apparently non-hydrogenative reaction conditions. Pyrene and A240 pitch liquefied the fusible coals in high yields and the slightly-fusible coals in moderate yields, indicating the importance of fusibility in such liquefaction processes. A240-LS pitch is a powerful solvent for slightly-fusible coals. Considerable amounts of pyridine- or THF-soluble fractions were produced especially with A240-LS pitch. A240 pitch is a better solvent than pyrene for some slightly-fusible coals. However, the extent of depolymerization of liquefied coal, pyridine- or THF-solubility, was definitely inferior. Yields of such fractions are higher for lower-rank coals. The mechanism of coal liquefaction under apparently non-hydrogenative conditions is discussed with emphasis on the stabilization of thermal fragments derived from the coal.     

Phase behavior of N‐isopropylacrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels prepared with ultrasound

N‐Isopropylacrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels were synthesized with ultrasound. The thermoresponsive phase behaviors of gels synthesized with ultrasound (US gels) were investigated and compared with those of gels synthesized in the absence of ultrasound (FR gels). The US gels showed thermoresponsive swelling behavior with a large hysteresis over a wide range of temperatures around its phase‐transition temperature. The hysteresis became larger with an increasing copolymerized acrylic acid content. The US gels were also characterized from the viewpoint of chemical, hydration, and macroscopic physical structures. Little difference was observed in the chemical and hydration structures of the FR gels and US gels. The macroscopic physical structure of the US gels was, however, distinct from that of the FR gels. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2449–2452, 2003     

Study on effects of solar radiation and rain on shrinkage, shrinkage cracking and creep of concrete

In this paper, the effects of actual environmental actions on shrinkage, creep and shrinkage cracking of concrete are studied comprehensively. Prismatic specimens of plain concrete were exposed to three sets of artificial outdoor conditions with or without solar radiation and rain to examine the shrinkage. For the purpose of studying shrinkage cracking behavior, prismatic concrete specimens with reinforcing steel were also subjected to the above conditions at the same time. The shrinkage behavior is described focusing on the effects of solar radiation and rain based on the moisture loss. The significant environment actions to induce shrinkage cracks are investigated from viewpoints of the amount of the shrinkage and the tensile strength. Finally, specific compressive creep behavior according to solar radiation and rainfall is discussed. It is found that rain can greatly inhibit the progresses of concrete shrinkage and creep while solar radiation is likely to promote shrinkage cracking and creep.     

Mixed powder coating film using thermoplastic polyester and its alkaline resistance

To improve alkaline resistance, a newly mixed powder coating film using thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was investigated. Two kinds of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and two kinds of polyamide (PA) were chosen as the secondary polymer. The melting temperatures (T _ms) of these materials were lower than that of primary PET polymer so the mixed powder coating was able to form a dual phase film through a fluidized bed coating process. Microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) observations revealed that the dual phase structure was indeed successfully formed and there was a secondary layer over the entire surface area of the film. This mixed powder coating film significantly enhanced the alkaline resistance to an environment filled with NaOH solution at 40°C in which a secondary material would be effective in protecting the film. With regard to both alkaline resistance and film formability, PET/PVB was superior to the PET/PA mixture.     

Photo-thermally cured eugenol-derived epoxy resins by simultaneous thiol-ene/thiol-epoxy/thiol-maleimide triple “click” reactions

Polyglycidyl ether of eugenol novolac (PGEEGN) was synthesized by the glycidylation reaction of eugenol novolac (EGN) with an average degree of polymerization of ca. 3. A mixture of PGEEGN and a pentaerythritol-based tetrathiol (S4P) was photo-polymerized at room temperature and subsequently thermally cured at 100–150 °C to produce a two-component cured product (PGEEGN-S4P). A similar curing reaction of glycidyl ether of eugenol (GEEG) and S4P produced another two-component cured product (GEEG-S4P). Furthermore, a mixture of PGEEGN, S4P and 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMI) was photo-polymerized at room temperature and subsequently thermally cured at 100–230 °C to produce a three-component cured product (PGEEGN-S4P-BMI). The FT-IR spectral analysis revealed that the thiol-ene and thiol-epoxy reactions progressed for GEEG-S4P and PGEEGN-S4P, and the thiol-ene, thiol-epoxy and thiol-maleimide reactions progressed for PGEEGN-S4P-BMI. The 5% weight loss temperatures of PGEEGN-S4P and PGEEGN-S4P-BMI were higher than that of GEEG-S4P. A higher order of T_g, tensile strength and modulus was PGEEGN-S4P-BMI?>?PGEEGN-S4P?>?GEEG-S4P. The oligomerization of eugenol units and incorporation of BMI were effective to improve thermal and mechanical properties of the GEEG/S4P curing system.     

Complex formation in a ternary system composed of lauroamphoglycinate, oleic acid, and water

The formation of a complex, composed of lauroamphoglycinate (LG), oleic acid (OA) and water, was investigated, and this system was applied to emulsification. The complex was formed in the water-rich area (more than 90% in this system) at a molar ratio of OA to LG from 1 to 3, where two-phase systems of water and the complex existed. The interaction between LG and OA, both in the aqueous solution and at the interface of liquid paraffin dissolving the OA and LG solution, was studied by pH measurements and interfacial tension measurements, respectively. The results implied that LG and OA were linked stoichiometrically, both in aqueous solution and at the interface, and formed complexes. X-ray diffraction patterns and the strong hydrophobicity showed that the equimolar complex composed of LG, OA, and water was a liquid crystal with a reversed hexagonal structure. The reversed hexagonal liquid crystal was capable of solubilizing a certain amount of liquid paraffin in its alkyl group parts while maintaining its hexagonal structure. These results suggest the possibility to prepare a W/O-type emulsion by using the liquid crystal formed by LG, OA, partial liquid paraffin, and water as the continuous phase. The authors could obtain a stable W/O emulsion without coalescence of the water droplets that contained a substantial amount of water (approximately 90%). Furthermore, various types of emulsions, O/W, W/O, W/O/W, could be prepared by changing the ratio of LG and OA.     

Hydrolysis of Cellulose Selectively into Glucose Over Sulfonated Activated-Carbon Catalyst Under Hydrothermal Conditions

A sulfonated activated-carbon (AC-SO₃H) catalyst selectively hydrolyzes cellulose with β-1,4-glycosidic bonds into glucose in the catalytic hydrothermal reactions at temperatures around 423 K. The AC-SO₃H catalyst with the hydrothermal pre-treatment has the excellent catalytic properties attributed to the high hydrothermal stability and the strong acid sites of sulfo functional groups.     

Influence of solvent addition on the physicochemical properties of Brazilian gasoline

The influence of several solvents (anhydrous ethanol, white spirit, alkylbenzene AB9, diesel) on the physicochemical parameters of gasoline was studied according to ASTM international standard methods. The parameters investigated (distillation curves, density, Reid vapor pressure) showed differentiated behavior, depending on the class of the solvent (oxygenated, light and heavy aliphatic, aromatic) and the quantity added to the gasoline. The azeotropic mixtures formed by ethanol and hydrocarbons showed a strong influence on the behavior of the distillation curves and the location of the point of a sudden change in temperature was shown to be a possible way to detect adulterations and determine the quantity of solvent added to the gasoline.     

Characteristics of plasma produced by MHD technology and its application to propulsion systems

This paper analyzes plasma characteristics for the newly proposed concept of a closed-loop MHD power generation combined cycle system, which is used as a pulse-driven MHD accelerator to accelerate plasma to high velocity, with a nuclear plant. In this paper, since the final goal is for the space propulsion system applications, the performance of a MHD acceleration system is also analyzed by the Q1D analysis program. Results reveal that the radial velocity with the MHD effect is accelerated rapidly at the channel exit, with a calculated maximum velocity of about 4700 m/s. Consequently, specific impulse approximately 480 s and thrust of about 6550 N are estimated. The static gas temperature is evaluated at less than 600 K, while the value of about 1800 K is calculated for the stagnation gas temperature in the MHD channel.