Recovering spectral data from natural scenes with an RGB digital camera and colored filters

Many spectral‐recovery methods using RGB digital cameras assume the underlying smoothness of illuminant and reflectance spectra, and apply low‐dimensional linear models. The aim of the present work was to test whether a direct‐mapping method could be used instead of a linear‐models approach to recover spectral radiances and reflectances from natural scenes with an RGB digital camera and colored filters. In computer simulations, a conventional RGB digital camera with up to three colored filters was used to image scenes drawn from a hyperspectral image database. Three measures were used to evaluate recovery with the direct‐mapping method: goodness‐of‐fit, root‐mean‐square error, and a color‐difference metric. It was found that with two and three filters both spectral radiances and reflectances could be recovered sufficiently accurately for many practical applications. With little increase in computational complexity, an RGB camera and a few colored filters can provide significantly better recovery of natural scenes than an RGB camera alone. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 352–360, 2007     

Biaxiale Ermüdung reibrührgeschweißter Strukturelemente

Biaxial fatigue of friction stir welded stiffened panels Within the framework of the European WelAir project, cruciform specimens made from stiffening FSW overlap joints were fatigued in the DLR biaxial test rig. To resemble the loading situation of pressurized fuselage structures, proportional loading without any phase shift, but with different load ratios λ between the loading components in both directions was applied.Natural crack initiation and subsequent crack growth were governed by the stiffness gradient caused by introducing the stringer. Cracks initiated and propagated at run‐in and run‐out locations in a direction perpendicular to the weld seam. The shortest fatigue life was observed for uniaxial loading in welding direction (λ = 0). An additional stress component perpendicular to the joint line (λ > 0) resulted in a higher number of cycles to failure. Similar to single stringer panels, increasing the load ratio also increased the number of cycles to failure for FSW clip‐stringer structural members, but additionally gives a different location of the fatal crack.     

Mechanical improvement of hydroxyapatite by TiO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles deposition

Deposition of Ti was carried out by laser ablation onto hydroxyapatite porous discs in an Ar atmosphere. Ti nanoparticles were deposited onto HAp surface in order to modify its roughness and morphology as it is observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). A homogeneous distribution of Ti over the disc surface was corroborated by elemental mapping. A comparison of the hydroxyapatite hardness before and after deposition was performed using SPM nanoindentation. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the Ti nanoparticles obtained were covered by an oxygen shell. It is shown that surface modifications of the covered HAp by Ti result in better mechanical properties, reducing the possible damage to the HAp ceramic by friction or impacts as it often happens in meniscus, bone junctions and the inclusion of prosthesis for human treatments.     

The flame retardant mechanism of polyolefins modified with chalk and silicone elastomer

This paper presents the current understanding of the flame retardant mechanism of Casico?. The study includes the flame retardant effect of each individual component: ethylene–acrylate copolymer, chalk and silicone elastomer, as well as the formation of an intumescent structure during heating. The flame retardant properties were investigated by cone calorimetry and oxygen index tests. To obtain insight into the flame retardant mechanism, heat treatment under different conditions has also been performed. The results indicate that the flame retardant mechanism of Casico is complex and is related to a number of reactions, e.g. ester pyrolysis of acrylate groups, formation of carbon dioxide by reaction between carboxylic acid and chalk, ionomer formation and formation of an intumescent structure stabilized by a protecting char. Special emphasis is given to the formation of the intumescent structure and its molecular structure as evaluated from ¹³C MAS‐NMR and ²⁹Si MAS‐NMR, ESCA and XRD analysis. After treatment at 500°C the intumescent structure consists mainly of silicon oxides and calcium carbonate and after treatment at 1000°C the intumescent structure consists of calcium silicate, calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Associative properties of perfluorooctyl end‐functionalized polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymers

The synthesis of 2,2,3,3‐tetrahydro‐perfluoroundecanoyl end‐functionalized polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) block (PS‐block‐PEO‐R_F) copolymers and their matching PS‐block‐PEO diblock copolymers was carried out by sequential anionic polymerization. Viscometry and ¹⁹F NMR studies show that the PS‐block‐PEO copolymers, in contrast to their matching PS‐block‐PEO‐R_F copolymers, exhibit a micellar rather than the associative behavior seen for the latter. However, the presence of an excess of fluorinated acid, used for end‐functionalization, produces a reduction of the associative behavior above the overlap concentration, with the fluorinated acid acting like a surfactant. A competition may also occur between PS—and R_F—mediated micellization. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Methacryloxyethyl phosphate‐grafted expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes for biomedical applications

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes were modified by graft copolymerization with methacryloxyethyl phosphate (MOEP) in methanol and 2‐butanone (methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)) at ambient temperature using gamma irradiation. The effect of dose rate (0.46 and 4.6 kGy h^?1), monomer concentration (1–40 %) and solvent were studied and the modified membranes were characterized by weight increase, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XPS was used to determine the % degree of surface coverage using the C? F (ePTFE membrane) and the C? C (MOEP graft copolymer) peaks. Grafting yield, as well as surface coverage, were found to increase with increasing monomer concentration and were significantly higher for samples grafted in MEK than in methanol solution. SEM images showed distinctly different surface morphologies for the membranes grafted in methanol (smooth) and MEK (globular), hence indicating phase separation of the homopolymer in MEK. We propose that in our system, the non‐solvent properties of MEK for the homopolymer play a more important role than solvent chain transfer reactions in determining grafting outcomes. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Possibilities and extension of XRD material response analysis in failure research for the advanced evaluation of the damage level of Hertzian loaded components

Due to clearly distinguishable damage symptoms, it is differentiated between the surface and sub‐surface failure mode of rolling bearings. Material states red out by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) residual stress measurements point to a variety of loading conditions especially at raceway surfaces that are associated with several competing failure mechanisms. The corresponding lifetime reduction can range from the lower fatigue strength region to material ratcheting in extreme cases. Relevant position of the microstructural changes and nature of the failure mechanisms are characterized. The time alteration of the XRD material parameters measured at or near the surface and at the depth of the maximum equivalent stress correlates, in a different manner, with the statistical parameter of the 10 % bearing life. Both failure modes are illustrated by concrete examples. Contaminated lubricant and boundary lubrication, which represent practically important surface‐induced failures, are discussed in more detail. Gray staining, i.e. shallow pitting, often occurs without distinct indication of global material aging by means of XRD characteristics. Here, scanning electron microscopy observations and electron microprobe analyses point to corrosion fatigue as acting surface failure mechanism. The interaction between material and lubricant under complex loading regimes particularly of mixed friction and corrosion opens further failure research areas in the field of tribology.     

Transport of chromium(VI) through a Cyanex 921‐supported liquid membrane from HCl solutions

The transport of chromium(VI) through a flat‐sheet supported liquid membrane containing Cyanex 921 as a carrier has been investigated. The permeation of the metal is investigated as a function of various experimental variables: hydrodynamic conditions, concentration of chromium(VI) and HCl in the feed phase, carrier concentration and diluent in the membrane and strippant concentration in the stripping phase. The mass transfer coefficient and the thickness of the aqueous boundary layer were calculated from the experimental data. Furthermore, the selectivity of Cyanex 921‐based flat‐sheet supported liquid membrane towards different metal ions and the behaviour of the system against other carriers are presented. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry