Structure and properties of plasma sprayed BaTiO3 coatings

Plasma spraying enables to create layers with thickness in a millimeter range adhering on various substrates. This paper provides a study of electric and mechanical properties of BaTiO₃ coatings prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying. The spraying was carried out by a direct current gas-stabilized plasma gun. BaTiO₃ was fed into the plasma jet as a feedstock powder prepared by a reactive sintering of micrometer-sized powders of BaCO₃ and TiO₂. Microstructure and phase composition are reported and discussed in connection with electric and mechanical properties. The ability of the used techniques to detect precisely the phase transformation temperatures of BaTiO₃ plasma sprayed coatings is discussed as well. A depth-sensing indentation measurement was done between 290 and 520 K to provide local mechanical characterization. The elastic modulus has shown slightly higher values than that reported typically in papers focused on BaTiO₃ ferroelectric thin films. The average Vickers microhardness is tested to characterize the samples in larger scale. A wear resistance in a slurry environment is reported as well. Dielectric properties are reported for the temperature window of existence of the tetragonal ferroelectric phase. Relative permittivity and loss factor are studied at frequency from 50 Hz to 1 MHz and temperature from 260 to 400 K.     

Influence of water and magnesium ion on the optical properties in various plasticized poly(vinyl butyral) sheets

The study is focused on influences of optical properties change of poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) sheets determined for safety glass preparing. Optic measurements were evaluated itself and after, the laminated glass was observed. The study deals with a cognizance of causation of the optical properties change in different PVB sheets in dependence on adsorbed water content into the polymer matrix. Results of this work describe the influence of ? OH group content on PVB chain and type and amount of additives adjusting adhesion of PVB towards glass. However, the most important discovery of this work is evaluation of critical water content that leads to haze generation. The evaluation of various types of sheets was performed. At the same time the artificial addition of Mg²⁺ salts of organic acids (with various polarity of the molecule) was evaluated to assess their influence on haze generation. It was found that haze caused by Mg²⁺ salt is possible to eliminate when there is certain water content in PVB. Obtained values and comparisons are very important for PVB sheets industry and for industry dealing with lamination of PVB between glasses. Influence of these factors and comparison of haze generation for various PVB sheets has not been published yet. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

2‐(1‐Ethynylpyrene)‐Adenosine as a Folding Probe for RNA—Pyrene in or out

A series of short RNA duplexes containing one or two 1‐ethynylpyrene‐modified adenine bases was synthesised. The melting behaviour of these duplexes was examined by monitoring temperature‐dependent pyrene fluorescence. In the singly modified RNA duplexes, the bases flanking the ethynylpyrene‐rA were varied to examine the sequence specificity of the fluorescence change of pyrene upon RNA hybridisation. Because an increase in pyrene fluorescence upon melting of the duplex can be correlated with intercalation of pyrene, and a decrease is usually associated with the position of pyrene outside the strand, a relationship between the flanking bases and the tendency of the dye to intercalate has been established. It was found that pyrene intercalation is less likely to take place if the modified base is flanked only by A–U base pairs. Flanking G–C base pairs, even only in the 5′‐direction of the modified base, will favour intercalation. In addition, we examined a doubly modified compound that had a pyrene located on each strand. The spectra indicated that the two pyrenes were close enough for interaction. Upon melting of the strand, a fluorescence blue shift corresponding to the dissociation of the pyrene–pyrene complex could be observed in addition to the intensity effect already known from the singly modified compounds. Two melting curves based on the different properties of the fluorophore could be extracted, leading to different melting points corresponding to the global duplex melting and to the change of local pyrene environment, respectively.     

High-voltage surge protection by a varistor-filled air gap

The electric discharge across a varistor granule filled air gap under a fast-rising voltage pulse was investigated for surge protection applications. The effects of temperature and pressure on the arc and the electrical conduction were analyzed by the characteristic changes in voltage waveforms triggered by a fast-rising high voltage pulse. In addition to the gap size, experimental results show that competing mechanisms among arc conduction, conduction through the varistor granule network, thermionic emission from Joule heating at granule-to-granule contact points, and the magnitude of the switching voltage dictate the maximum surge protection voltage for the filled air gap. Experimental evidence indicated that accumulated degradation was created at small contact points between varistor granules by repetitive assaults from longer duration, high voltage pulses. The uniqueness of using varistor over other dielectric granules in an air gap for surge protection is identified and discussed.     

Sulfur in wheat gluten: In situ analysis by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy

The sulfur containing gluten proteins largely determine the baking quality of wheat. In order to probe the speciation of sulfur, gluten proteins [gliadin, high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) subunits of glutenin], stored glutenin subunits as well as flour were investigated in situ by S K-edge X-ray near edge absorption structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The spectra confirmed the existence of disulfide bonds in oxidised (oxygen stream) glutenin subunits, supporting their significance for the formation of gluten networks. Additionally, glutenin subunits, which were stored under ambient air and temperature conditions, predominantly contained sulfur of higher oxidation states (sulfoxide, sulfonic acid). The disulfide state and also sulfoxide and sulfonic acid states were detected after reoxidation of glutenin subunits with potassium bromate.     

"交叉式数据线"在公共汽车和货车自动变速器中的应用

“交叉式数据线”是变速系统的最新研究内容，它能减少装配工作及提供附加功能，使用户获利。特别对目前仍配置手动变速器的长途公共汽车和货车，今后将设计成电控的“自动化手动”变速系统。车辆数据的总线系统、道路数据的总线系统和变速器集成化的机电模式是实现技术和为进一步改进提供巨大潜力的关键。ZF－AS Tronic作为ZF公司最新的自动变速系统采用了那些用于正常操作的技术并提供了高的寿命和驾驶舒适性，其优点是适合于所有使用者－车辆制造者、运输公司和驾驶员。全电子控制系统的典型特点是具有分布式模式结构、高网络功能和软件结构的可扩展能力。AS－Tronic将变速器的功能从简单的“变矩器功能”转变为现代化的“传动链操纵系统”。     

Product-oriented flavor research: learnings from the past, visions for the future

In the past flavor research and the development of new flavorings were constantly driven by the interaction of flavor analysis, structure elucidation, and chemical synthesis accompanied by sensory. Highly potent flavor compounds were identified in numerous food products and helped to establish a powerful toolbox for flavorists. Nowadays we experience the merging of various scientific disciplines, for example medicine, biology, chemistry, and various technologies in the field of flavor research, which shows direct impact on our understanding of flavors. At the same time modern life has profoundly changed our eating habits. This situation generates new challenges for product development teams, which represent all facets of technologies. This paper will illustrate different examples for the evolution of product-oriented flavor research and future trends.     

Extraction of Bitter Acids from Hops and Hop Products Using Pressurized Solvent Extraction (PSE)

The EBC method 7.7, currently used for determination of bitter acids in hop products, is a time‐consuming and laborious extraction technique. In this paper, our aim was to propose a new extraction method based on Pressurized Solvent Extraction (PSE) sometimes also called Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE) or Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE). Compared to conventional extractions, PSE offers a number of important benefits. PSE on OnePSE^® automated extractor was used for extraction of α‐ and β‐acids from hops and hop products and the parameters influencing extraction efficiency and the influence of the sample preparation method were studied. The quantitative determination of α‐ and β‐acids in the extracts was accomplished by using an HPLC apparatus equipped with diode array detector. The experimental results were compared with those obtained by the standard EBC 7.7 method and the two methods were found to be fully compatible     

Comparative analysis of microstructure and fracture surfaces of blade roots

Samples of chromium stainless steel were loaded to investigate fatigue crack growth in roots of steam turbine blades. Images of the material microstructure and fracture surfaces were subjected to textural image analysis. The main steps were normalization, enhancement of fiber structures and 2D Fourier transforms. By means of analysis of spectra in the space of periods, characteristic dimensions of both image sets were investigated. The locations of three peaks of spectral functions are very close in both image sets. It may be concluded that the material microstructure is projected onto the morphology of fracture surfaces much more than was expected.