Reaction of Iradium with Metal Carbides in the Temperature Range of 1923 to 2400 K

The reactions of titanium carbide and hafnium carbide with iridium have been studied in thin film couples fabricated by vapor deposition processes. The reaction product layers after exposure in the temperature range of 1923 to 2400 K are dependent on the stoichiometry of the metal carbide layers and range from simple solid solutions to MIr_x compounds. The observed microstructures are predictable from available thermochemical data. The morphology of residual carbon in the reacted metal carbide-iridium product layer varies from interfacial deposits to uniform carbon dispersion and depends upon exposure temperature and metal carbide stoichiometry.     

Effect of Water Content on the Electrical Conductivity of Sodium Trisilicate Glasses

The effect of variations in water content on the direct-current electrical conductivity of Na₂O · 3SiO₂ glass was measured. Increasing the water content of this glass from 10 to 500 wt ppm of H₂O results in an increase in the resistivity of a factor of 2 to 3. The increase in resistivity is accompanied by an increase in the activation energy for conduction. Increasing resistivity with increasing water content is attributed to decreasing molar volume. Under identical annealing conditions, "wetter" glasses relax to a smaller molar volume (greater density) because of the presence of a larger number of "terminal" hydroxyl species that allow structural relaxation to continue to lower temperatures.     

Reaction injection molding of polyureas. II: Rheo-kinetic changes and model simulation

An experimental and theoretical study of reaction injection molding (RIM) of polyurea was conducted in this work. A lab-scale RIM machine was used to carry out the polyurea bulk polymerizations. A “free-table” viscometer was designed to measure the fast rheological changes and liquid-solid transition. A mathematical model was proposed to simulate the fast reaction and rheological changes in the polyurea RIM process. The parameters of this model were determined based on the solution polymerization data from FTIR and Haake rheometer measurements. Combined with an appropriate heat transfer equation, this model predicts fairly well the adiabatic temperature and viscosity rises of bulk polyurea reactions in RIM.     

Molecular weight viscosity relationships for PVC

The inherent viscosity of PVC resin in compounds containing fillers and additives can be calculated accurately and conveniently from the weight average molecular weight or the peak molecular weight as measured by High Performance-Size Exclusion Chromatography (HP-SEC). Molecular weight/inherent viscosity relationships are shown for typical production PVC resins. The utility of HP-SEC instrumentation for the determination of IV for samples of commercial interest is demonstrated. Mark-Houwink coefficients from the literature were used to calculate a convenient conversion factor of 0.612, which can be used to convert the molecular weight measured relative to polystyrene by HP-SEC to the actual molecular weight for PVC.     

A review and assessment of numerical shade sorting methods

The properties of current shade sorting geometries are evaluated on a mathematically generated, spherical population of normally distributed data points. The results compare well with those obtained from preuiously cited populations of textile production goods. Thefixed-grid geometries (cubic, rhombic dodecahedra1 and truncated octahedral) are not as efficient in terms of the numbers and uniformity of shade sorting groups as the grid-free spherical clusters employed by Clemson Color Clustering (CCC).     

Streaming Media and Multimedia Conferencing Traffic Analysis Using Payload Examination

This paper presents a method and architecture to analyze streaming media and multimedia conferencing traffic. Our method is based on detecting the transport protocol and port numbers that are dynamically assigned during the setup between communicating parties. We then apply such information to analyze traffic generated by the most popular streaming media and multimedia conferencing applications, namely, Windows Media, Real Networks, QuickTime, SIP and H.323. We also describe a prototype implementation of a traffic monitoring and analysis system that uses our method and architecture.     

Three-dimensional virtual-reality surgical planning and soft-tissueprediction for orthognathic surgery

Complex maxillofacial malformations continue to present challenges in analysis and correction beyond modern technology. The purpose of this paper is to present a virtual reality workbench for surgeons to perform virtual orthognathic surgical planning and soft-tissue prediction in three dimensions. A resulting surgical planning system, i.e., three-dimensional virtual reality surgical planning and soft-tissue prediction for orthognathic surgery, consists of four major stages: computed tomography (CT) data post-processing and reconstruction, three-dimensional (3-D) color facial soft-tissue model generation, virtual surgical planning and simulation, soft-tissue-change preoperative prediction. The surgical planning and simulation are based on a 3D CT reconstructed bone model, whereas the soft-tissue prediction is based on color texture-mapped and individualized facial soft-tissue model. Our approach is able to provide a quantitative osteotomy-simulated bone model and prediction of postoperative appearance with photorealistic quality. The prediction appearance can be visualized from any arbitrary viewing point using a low-cost personal computer-based system. This cost-effective solution can be easily adopted in any hospital for daily use     

Inverted polymer solar cells with a solution-processed cesium halide interlayer

We demonstrate the utility of a low-cost cesium iodide interlayer spun from an aqueous or 2-ethoxyethanol solution on ITO in inverted polymer solar cells of the structure ITO/CsI/P3HT:PCBM/MoO₃/Al, where P3HT is poly(3-hexylthiophene) and PCBM is [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₀-butyric acid methyl ester. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of optimized cells was ～3.4%, comparable to that we obtained for inverted cells with Cs carbonate. The thickness of the CsI film was adjusted by varying the solution concentration. The concentration affected the surface morphology of P3HT:PCBM and the density of fractal-like aggregates (possibly related to the presence of Cs and film fabrication conditions) formed near the anode, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Auger analysis indicated a P3HT-rich surface. Optimization of the cells was achieved also by varying the thickness of the MoO₃ and the drying/annealing conditions of the active layer, as was evident from the current–voltage characteristics, external quantum efficiency spectra, and PCE. The cells with the CsI interlayer were compared additionally to cells with CsCl or CsF interlayers (with a PCE of up to ～2.7%), which were inferior to the comparable cells with Cs₂CO₃ or CsI. The surface concentrations of Cs and the halide on ITO were monitored using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The iodine level was low with the Cs:I ratio exceeding 8:1. In contrast, the Cs:Cl ratio was ～1.4:1 and the Cs:F ratio was ～1:1; the Cs₂CO₃ decomposed partially, as expected. Therefore, for CsI, as is the case for Cs₂CO₃ but not for CsF, Cs–O bonds are formed at the surface. Such bonds on ITO are important in modifying the ITO work function, improving the cell performance. The results indicate that spin coating solutions of the high polarity CsI is a promising and easy approach to introduce Cs–O on ITO in inverted structures for increased electron extraction from PCBM and possibly hole extraction from the P3HT-rich surface at the anode.     

Tin naphthalocyanine complexes for infrared absorption in organic photovoltaic cells

In this work, we examine the optical properties of tin naphthalocyanine dichloride (SnNcCl₂), and its performance as an electron donor material in organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). As an active material, SnNcCl₂ is attractive for its narrow energy gap which facilitates optical absorption past a wavelength of λ = 1100 nm. We demonstrate a power conversion efficiency of η_P = (1.2 ± 0.1)% under simulated AM1.5G solar illumination at 100 mW/cm² using the electron donor–acceptor pairing of SnNcCl₂ and C₆₀ in a bilayer device architecture. While some phthalocyanines have been previously used to improve infrared absorption, this is often realized through the formation of molecular dimers. In SnNcCl₂, the infrared absorption is intrinsic to the molecule, arising as a result of the extended conjugation. Consequently, it is expected that SnNcCl₂ could be utilized in bulk heterojunction OPVs without sacrificing infrared absorption.     

Effects of the application of fertilisers and trace elements on the cobalt content of herbage cut for conservation

The effects of the application of fertilisers, especially N and trace elements, on the content of Co in mixed grassland herbage and its main constituent species, have been studied. Data have been obtained from field experiments on three mineral soils and on a deep acid peat. The herbage was cut at the silage stage of growth three or four times a year for at least three successive years. Without added Co, N applications increased Co content in herbage on peat but reduced it on mineral soils mainly by eliminating clover which had a higher Co content than grasses. Applying 0.5 kg ha^?1 Co as cobalt sulphate increased herbage Co content, the increase being greater on peat than on mineral soils. These increased levels were unaffected by N applications on mineral soils but were further increased by applied N on peat. The number of years during which the Co additions were effective in producing herbage containing at least 0.1 mg Co kg^?1 dry matter varied on the different soils, ranging from barely three years on one mineral soil to over five years on peat. Without added Co the last cuts in October usually had the highest Co content and the first cuts in June the lowest. With added Co, the seasonal effects were more variable, but the Co content in the herbage frequently decreased from the first to the last cuts.