Thermodynamics of surfaces and adsorption in the Fe-C-S-O system

Surface tension experiments have been conducted on Fe-C-S-O alloys using the sessile drop technique at 1823, 1873, and 1923 K in a purified argon atmosphere. The experimental data indicate lowering of surface tension values for alloys with low carbon and oxygen contents relative to the corresponding tenary Fe-S-O system of comparable compositions. The data exhibit an increasing trend of the surface tension values as a function of carbon and oxygen contents and temperature of the melt. Modified Butler’s equations have been used in conjunction with the consistent thermodynamic relations for a dilute quaternary system to calculate the surface tensions and adsorption functions of the system. The calculated values are in excellent agreement with those of the experimental data for compositions having lower oxygen at 1823 K, however, the values for the alloys containing higher oxygen contents depart from those of the experimental data. The calculated surfact tension values agree within 150 mN/m with those of the experimental data at 1873 K. The agreement, in general, has been favorable despite the constraints involved in the calculations as discussed in the text.     

Isothermal oxidation of TiAl alloy

Isothermal oxidation behavior of Ti-48.6 at. pct Al alloy was studied in pure dry oxygen over the temperature range 850 °C to 1000 °C. The oxidation was essentially parabolic at all temperatures with significant increase in the rate at 1000 °C. Effective activation energy of 404 kJ/mol was deduced. The oxidation products were a mixture of TiO₂ (rutile) and α-Al₂O₃ at all temperatures. An external protective layer of alumina was not observed on this alloy at any of the temperatures studied. A layered structure of oxides was formed on the alloy at 1000 °C.     

Preparation and characterization of activated carbon spheres from polystyrene sulphonate beads by steam and carbon dioxide activation

The polymeric precursor polystyrene sulphonate beads were used to produce activated carbon spheres (ACSs). ACSs were prepared by carbonization of polymeric precursor at 800°C followed by activation of resultant char with steam and carbon dioxide activation processes. The resulting ACSs were characterized for N₂ adsorption, Raman spectrometry, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorption properties such as, BET surface area (S_BET), pore volume (V_pore), and micropore volume (V_micro) of ACSs produced at different gasification time and temperature with steam and carbon dioxide activation were investigated in this study. It is found that porosity of ACSs produced from steam and carbon dioxide activation increases with increasing activation time. The results exhibited that ACSs produced from above carbon dioxide activation have shown high S_BET and V_pore 1266 m²/g and 1.13 cm³/g respectively compared to ACSs from steam activation S_BET 949 m²/g and V_pore 0.98 cm³/g, respectively. SEM study revealed that ACSs produced from carbon dioxide activation have exhibited a smooth surface and better microstructure as compared to ACSs from steam activation process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Studies on α to β phase transformations in mechanically deformed PVDF films

PVDF cast films were drawn at different temperatures to different draw ratios at constant draw rate to understand the mechanism of α to β phase transformation during mechanical deformation. WAXD and FTIR studies were carried out to determine the formation and content of β phase in the drawn films. Lower stretch temperatures gave higher fractions of β phase. The cast PVDF films were also drawn at suitable temperatures below the PVDF ambient melting point to the draw ratio of 6.4. The highest fraction of β phase obtained in these ultra drawn films was 0.98. SALS studies carried out for films at different stretch ratios show the change in spherulitic structure with the stretching parameters and give information for the understanding of phase transformation during stretching of PVDF films. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Characterization of Al2O3/ZrO2 nano multilayer thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Microstructural characterization of pulsed laser deposited Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ multilayers on Si (1 0 0) substrates at an optimized oxygen partial pressure of 3 × 10⁻² mbar and at room temperature (298 K) has been carried out. A nanolaminate structure consisting of alternate layers of ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ with 40 bi-layers was fabricated at different zirconia layer thicknesses (20, 15 and 10 nm). The objective of the work is to study the effect of ZrO₂ layer thickness on the stabilization of tetragonal ZrO₂ phase for a constant Al₂O₃ layer thickness of 5 nm. The Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ multilayer films were characterized using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) in the temperature range 298–1473 K. The studies showed that the thickness of the zirconia layer has a profound influence on the crystallization temperature for the formation of tetragonal zirconia phase. The tetragonal phase content increased with the decrease of ZrO₂ layer thickness. The cross-sectional transmission electron microscope (XTEM) investigations were carried out on a multilayer thin films deposited at room temperature. The XTEM studies showed the formation of uniform thickness layers with higher fraction of monoclinic and small fraction of tetragonal phases of zirconia and amorphous alumina.     

Growth of CdS nanocrystallites on graphene oxide Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers

Large area GO-Cd composite Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers were transferred onto Si substrate by introducing Cd(2+) ions into the subphase. The changes in the behaviour of the Langmuir monolayer isotherm in the presence of Cd(2+) ions are attributed to changes in the microstructure and density of the GO sheets on the subphase surface. The uptake of Cd onto the GO monolayers and the effect of subsequent sulphidation were investigated by AFM, FTIR, Raman, XPS and HRTEM techniques. The incorporation of Cd into the GO monolayers causes some overlapping of sheets and extensive formation of wrinkles. Sulphidation of the GO-Cd sheets results in the formation of uniformly distributed CdS nanocrystallites on the entire basal plane of the GO monolayers. The de-bonding of Cd with oxygen functional groups results in a reduction of the wrinkles. The GO sheets function primarily as a platform for the interaction of metal ions with oxygen functionalities and their structure and characteristic features are not affected by either uptake of Cd or formation of CdS.     

Synthesis and characterization of the properties of thermosensitive elastomers with thermoplastic and magnetic particles for application in soft robotics

In the currently rapidly developing field of soft robots, smart materials with controllable properties play the central role. Thermosensitive elastomers are soft, smart materials whose material properties can be controlled by changing their temperature. The aim of this work is to investigate the mechanical properties, to analyze the surface, the inner structure, and the heat transfer within the thermosensitive elastomer materials. This should provide a knowledge base for new combinations, such as a combination of thermosensitive and the well-known magneto sensitive elastomers, in order to realize new applications. Thermoplastic polycaprolactone particles were incorporated into a flexible polydimethylsiloxane matrix to produce thermosensitive elastomer samples. With a low melting point in the range of 58–60°C, polycaprolactone offers good application potential compared to other thermoplastic materials such as polymethamethylacrylate with a melting point above 160°C. Test samples of different material compositions and geometries were made to examine temperature-depending material properties. Two useful effects were identified: temperature-dependent change in stiffness and the shape memory effect. In certain examinations, carbonyl iron particles were also included to find out if the two particle systems are compatible with each other and can be combined in the polydimethylsiloxane matrix without disadvantages. Changes in shore hardness before and after the influence of temperature were investigated. Micro computed tomography images and scanning electron microscopy images of the respective samples were also obtained in order to detect the temperature influence on the material internally as well as on the surface of the thermosensitive elastomers in combination with carbonyl iron particles. In order to investigate the heat transfer within the samples, heating tests were carried out and the influence of different particle concentrations of the thermosensitive elastomers with and without carbonyl iron particles was determined. Further work will focus on comprehensive investigations of thermo-magneto-sensitive elastomers, as this will enable the functional integration in the material to be implemented with increased efficiency. By means of the different investigations, the authors see future applications for this class of materials in adaptive sensor and gripper elements in soft robotics.     

Organic matter amendments improve soil fertility in almond orchards of contrasting soil texture

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - The effects of organic matter amendments (OMA) on soil fertility in permanent cropping systems like orchards is under-studied compared to annual cropping...     

The effects of fat-free,saturated and polyunsaturated fat diets on rat liver and plasma lipids

The liver and plasma lipids and fatty acid composition of rats fed synthetic diets of differing fat type and content were studied. All animals were starved for 48 hr and then refed a high carbohydrate, fat-free diet for 48 hr. They were then divided into three groups and fed for an additional 48 hrs the following: group 1, the fat-free diet; group 2, a diet containing 44% of calories from corn oil; and group 3, a diet containing 44% calories from completely hydrogenated soybean oil. The total lipid concentration of the liver in the animals on the fat-free diet was elevated at 72 and 96 hr. The addition of either saturated or unsaturated fat in the diet at 48 hr prevented this accumulation. The total phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations of the liver were relatively uninfluenced by any diet in this study. Plasma total fatty acid concentration was elevated at 72 hr in the animals on a fat-free diet compared to those fed the stock diet, starved for 48 hr or fed the fat-containing diets. By 96 hr, however plasma fatty acid concentrations in all groups were similar to those in animals fed only the stock diet. The release of de novo synthesized fatty acids into plasma from the liver was strongly inhibited by dietary fat, either saturated or polyunsaturated. With the fat-free diet there was a significant increase in the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in both liver and plasma. The addition of corn oil to the diet facilitated a reversion of the fatty acid composition in liver and plasma to that found in the animals fed the stock diet ad libitum, but saturated fat did not. No effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of the red cells was observed during the course of this study. Exogenous saturated fatty acids, although similar chemically to the fatty acids synthesized by the liver, may have physiological actions that differ from endogenously synthesized fat.     

Benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride as an additive for polyvinylidene fluoride: Melt rheology,crystallization, and electrical properties

The β phase of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) crystals is polar and has very good piezoelectric and dielectric properties as compared with the nonpolar α phase. Benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride (BTPC) has been previously shown to directly nucleate the β phase from melt, instead of α phase, and is an additive of practical importance. Different amounts of BTPC were melt mixed into PVDF using a micro twin screw extruder to study the rheology of the blends using oscillatory and steady shear viscometry. Data at different temperatures were found to superimpose onto a master curve using time‐temperature superposition. The complex viscosity and steady shear viscosity increased significantly upon addition of 0.5% BTPC and decreased slightly with further addition of BTPC. The storage modulus exhibited a plateau at low frequencies indicating structure formation in the melt on addition of BTPC. The horizontal shift factors derived from the time‐temperature superposition were found to follow an Arrhenius temperature dependence and the flow activation energy for each blend was obtained. Pure PVDF and PVDF films with 1% and 3% BTPC were melt extruded using a laboratory twin screw extruder. The film containing 3% of BTPC gave the highest fraction of β phase crystals (75%). Small angle light scattering results showed that the size of spherulites decreased with increase in the weight fraction of BTPC. The dielectric constant and conductivity of the films at low frequencies increased significantly with concentration of BTPC, as did the dielectric loss and AC electrical conductivity. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2420–2429, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers