Water‐dispersible nanocomposites of polyaniline and montmorillonite

The polymerization of aniline (ANI) in aqueous medium in the presence of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and montmorillonite (MMT) resulted in the formation of a nanocomposite (PANI–MMT). The inclusion of PANI in the composite was confirmed by FTIR studies. The extent of PANI loading in the composite increased with ANI concentration at a fixed oxidant/MMT amount and with the oxidant amount at a fixed ANI and MMT weight, but decreased with an MMT amount at a fixed ANI and oxidant level. TGA revealed a higher stability for the PANI–MMT composite relative to PANI and confirmed a PANI loading of ca. 51% in the composite. The conductivity increased in all the cases. XRD analysis revealed no expansion of the d₀₀₁ spacing at 9.8 Å, implying no intercalation of PANI within the MMT layers. Scanning electron micrography studies revealed interesting morphological features for the composites. Transmission electron micrography analysis revealed distinctive features and confirmed the formation of PANI–MMT composite particles of diameters in the 300‐ to 400‐nm range. These composites could be obtained as stable colloids in the presence of poly (N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) under selective conditions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2948–2956, 2000     

Effect of organized anionic surfactant system on the kinetics of V(V)-organic substrate-initiated polymerization of acrylonitrile

The kinetics of polymerization of acyrlonitrile (AN) initiated by a V(V)-cyclohexanone redox system in the presence of a surfactant was studied over a temperature range of 30–50°C in acidic medium. The anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) enhances the rate of polymerization (R_p) as well as rate of V(V) consumption (−R_v). The cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), decreases both R_p and −R_v, while the nonionic surfactant, Triton-X-100, has no effect on the rate. The change of concentration of the surfactant, monomer, acid, and cosolvent on the rate of polymerization were examined. Both R_p and −R_v are computed in the presence of different organic substrates, i.e., cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, glycerol, and citric acid. The viscosity-average molecular weight (M_v) of the polycrylonitrile, obtained at different [SDS], was determined using the Mark-Howink relationship. A suitable mechanistic scheme was proposed for the process. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1825–1833, 1997     

Comprehensive Identification of Deleterious TP53 Missense VUS Variants Based on Their Impact on TP53 Structural Stability

TP53 plays critical roles in maintaining genome stability. Deleterious genetic variants damage the function of TP53, causing genome instability and increased cancer risk. Of the large quantity of genetic variants identified in TP53, however, many remain functionally unclassified as variants of unknown significance (VUS) due to the lack of evidence. This is reflected by the presence of 749 (42%) VUS of the 1785 germline variants collected in the ClinVar database. In this study, we addressed the deleteriousness of TP53 missense VUS. Utilizing the protein structure-based Ramachandran Plot-Molecular Dynamics Simulation (RPMDS) method that we developed, we measured the effects of missense VUS on TP53 structural stability. Of the 340 missense VUS tested, we observed deleterious evidence for 193 VUS, as reflected by the TP53 structural changes caused by the VUS-substituted residues. We compared the results from RPMDS with those from other in silico methods and observed higher specificity of RPMDS in classification of TP53 missense VUS than these methods. Data from our current study address a long-standing challenge in classifying the missense VUS in TP53, one of the most important tumor suppressor genes.     

Modeling of the Oxygen Transfer Characteristics of a ‘See‐Saw’ Bioreactor

Animal cell line culture is difficult in the existing conventional bioreactors. A substantial amount of animal cells are destroyed by the impinging fan blades or entrapment inside the bubbles. An endeavor has been made to design and develop a new type of bioreactor suitable for animal cell culture. The bioreactor is named a ‘see‐saw’ bioreactor from its underlying principle of operation. In this paper, the oxygen transfer characteristics of the ‘see‐saw’ bioreactor are modeled and tried to be verified.     

Thermal and Structural Analysis of RF Window for Gyrotron

In this paper thermal and structural analysis of RF window for 42 GHz, 200 kW Gyrotron has been carried out using ANSYS software and discussed in the paper. To evaluate the thermal and structural aspects of the window for 42 GHz Gyrotron during extreme case of operation, i.e. at saturation have been carried out. Temperature profiles have been obtained for different values of dielectric loss. The temperature range on the sapphire disc surface has been found to be 30–68°C. The window performance has been found satisfactory.     

Numerical Design of Megawatt Gyrotron with 120 GHz Frequency and 50% Efficiency for Plasma Fusion Application

The design of 120 GHz, 1 MW gyrotron for plasma fusion application is presented in this paper. The mode selection is carried out considering the aim of minimum mode competition, minimum cavity wall heating, etc. On the basis of the selected operating mode, the interaction cavity design and beam-wave interaction computation are carried out by using the PIC code. The design of triode type Magnetron Injection Gun (MIG) is also presented. Trajectory code EGUN, synthesis code MIGSYN and data analysis code MIGANS are used in the MIG designing. Further, the design of MIG is also validated by using the another trajectory code TRAK. The design results of beam dumping system (collector) and RF window are also presented. Depressed collector is designed to enhance the overall tube efficiency. The design study confirms >1 MW output power with tube efficiency around 50% (with collector efficiency).     

Flow behaviour of autoclaved, 20% cold worked, Zr-2.5Nb alloy pressure tube material in the temperature range of room temperature to 800 °C

Pressure tube material of Indian Heavy Water Reactors is 20% cold-worked and stress relieved Zr-2.5Nb alloy. Inherent variability in the process parameters during the fabrication stages of pressure tube and also along the length of component have their effect on micro-structural and texture properties of the material, which in turn affect its strength parameters (yield strength and ultimate tensile strength) and flow characteristics. Data of tensile tests carried out in the temperature range from room temperature to 800 °C using the samples taken out from a single pressure tube have been used to develop correlations for characterizing the strength parameters’ variation as a function of axial location along length of the tube and the test temperature. Applicability of Ramberg-Osgood, Holloman and Voce’s correlations for defining the post yield behaviour of the material has been investigated. Effect of strain rate change on the deformation behaviour has also been studied.     

Effect of sintering temperatures on corrosion and wear properties of sol-gel alumina coatings on surface pre-treated mild steel

Sol-gel alumina coatings were developed on the surface pre-treated (zinc-phosphated) mild steel substrate and subsequently sintered at 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C. The alumina sol was synthesised using aluminium iso-propoxide as a precursor material. FTIR of the boehmite (AlOOH) gel sintered at above-mentioned temperatures was employed to identify the presence of various functional groups. The microstructural features and the phase analysis of the sol-gel coated specimens were carried out using SEM and XRD respectively. The corrosion resistance of the sol-gel alumina coatings was evaluated by electrochemical measurement in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature. The abrasive wear behaviour of the sol-gel coated specimens was measured in two body (high stress) conditions. The experimental results revealed that the sol-gel coated specimen sintered at 400 °C has superior wear and corrosion resistance properties as compared to the sol-gel coated specimen sintered at 300 °C. However, the sol-gel coated specimen sintered at 500 °C has exhibited a very poor corrosion and wear resistance properties. Poor performance of the sol-gel coatings sintered at 500 °C could be explained to be due to (i) the presence of numerous cracks (ii) absence of organic groups in the coating.     

Testing of rock joints filled with gouge using a triaxial apparatus

The rock mass contains discontinuities and its instability depends on the geometry of these discontinuities and the slope and orientation of the excavated face. One of the most important factors is the shear strength of potential failure planes. The characterisation of a discontinuity or a shear zone is not possible merely by visual examination of a specimen nor by subjecting it to conventional laboratory testing. The combined effects of the shear zone, its stress–strain history and the resulting strength deformation relation modulate the behaviour of rock mass, particularly when it approaches the state of limit equilibrium.This paper presents a testing technique for rock joints filled with gouge of various thicknesses (t=5–30 mm), dip angle (β=5–50°) and at strain rate (e=5–80 mm/h) in a triaxial testing system. The results of unconsolidated undrained tests carried out in triaxial conditions both for undulating and planar types of joints filled with gouge are reported. Extensive experimental results provided an insight into the development of a constitutive relation to predict strength criteria of discontinuous rock masses.