Rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gelation in the brabender measuring mixer. I. Equilibrium state between sliding,breaking, and gelation of PVC

This article discusses the first part of the Brabender typical torque process curves. Rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC; Polanwil S‐61) was processed at various temperatures between 160 and 200°C with blade speeds in the range of 5–40 min^?1. The morphological changes of the processed compound was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, and the degree of gelation was estimated on the basis of DSC thermograms. The values of torque minimum strongly depends on temperature. Shear rate affects mainly the time of reaching the minimum torque. The grains are disintegrated into the nonuniform particles and aggregates of the dimensions between 20 and 4 μm. The significant variation of the gelation degree was found for the sample produced in the same conditions and unloaded from Brabender chamber at minimum of torque. It was found that the value of the minimum of torque described momentary equilibrium state between sliding of breaking grains and increasing degree of PVC gelation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 966–971, 2004     

Multiresolution MUAPs decomposition and SVM-based analysis in the classification of neuromuscular disorders

This paper describes a new method for the classification of neuromuscular disorders based on the analysis of scalograms determined by the Symlet 4 wavelet technique. The approach involves isolating single motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), computing their scalograms, taking the maximum values of the scalograms in five selected scales, and averaging across MUAPs to give a single 5-dimensional feature vector per subject. After SVM analysis, the vector is reduced to a single decision parameter, called the Wavelet Index, allowing the subject to be assigned to one of three groups: myogenic, neurogenic or normal. The software implementation of the method described above created a tool supporting electromyographic (EMG) examinations. The method is characterized by a high probability for the accurate diagnosis of muscle state. The method produced 5 misclassifications out of 800 examined cases (total error of 0.6%).     

Ionic Dopant-Induced Ordering Enhances the Thermoelectric Properties of a Polythiophene-Based Block Copolymer

Conjugated polymer-based block copolymers (CP-BCPs) are an unexplored class of materials for organic thermoelectrics. Herein, the authors report on the electronic conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (α) of a newly synthesized CP-BCP, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly (oligo-oxyethylene methacrylate) (P3HT-b-POEM), upon solution co-processing with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and subsequently vapor-doping with a molecular dopant, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ). It is found that the addition of the hydrophilic block POEM greatly enhances the processability of P3HT, enabling homogeneous solution-mixing with LiTFSI. Notably, interactions between P3HT-b-POEM with ionic species significantly improve molecular order and unexpectedly cause electrical oxidizing doping of P3HT block both in solution and solid-states, a phenomenon that has not been previously observed in Li-salt containing P3HT. Vapor doping of P3HT-b-POEM-LiTFSI thin films with F4TCNQ further enhances σ and yields a thermoelectric power factor PF = α²σ of 13.0  µ W m⁻¹ K⁻², which is more than 20 times higher than salt-free P3HT-b-POEM sample. Through modeling thermoelectric behaviors of P3HT-b-POEM with the Kang-Snyder transport model, the improvement in PF is attributed to higher electronic charge mobility originating from the enhanced molecular ordering of P3HT. The results demonstrate that solution co-processing CP-BCPs with a salt is a powerful method to control structure and performance of organic thermoelectric materials.     

Microwave activated combustion synthesis of porous Al–Ti structures for composite reinforcing

A research on porous Al–Ti materials produced by combustion synthesis is presented. Some of the manufactured preforms could be infiltrated with liquid aluminium alloy to obtain locally reinforced castings. The synthesis progress was analysed, as well as a structure formation, its phase composition, homogeneity degree and type of porosity. Cylindrical green compacts were prepared of Al and Ti powders with various stoichiometric ratios. Synthesis was performed in a specially designed microwave reactor, by placing a compact in a waveguide, in intensely focused field. Temperatures recorded by a pyrometer showed that the synthesis propagation accelerated at the moment of Al₃Ti creation. The highest synthesis temperature was reached by the specimens containing 45–67% Al (all percentages atomic). Microscopic examinations revealed rounded grains, sometimes with cores of solid solution Ti(Al). The grains were basically composed of AlTi₃ that changed to AlTi at the edge. The grain structure was similar in almost all kinds of the specimens, especially in those with higher Al content. Around those grains, envelopes of AlTi and Al₂Ti were formed. Chemical composition of the matrix was approximately equivalent to stoichiometric ratio of the initial powder mixture. XRD investigations confirmed multiphase structure of the obtained compacts and a slight effect of the Ti powder granularity. Some of the specimens revealed regular structure with interconnected porosity. Those materials containing 75, 67 and 55% Al were used for producing the aluminium alloy-based composites.     

Determination of aldehydes in tequila by high-performance liquid chromatography with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatization

In this work, the determination of aldehydes in different tequila brands was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. For the comparative purposes, two commercial brandies were also analyzed. The derivatization agent (50 μl of 3.5 mmol l⁻¹ DNPH in HCl, 2 mol l⁻¹) was added directly to the sample (500 μl) and dinitrophenylhydrazones formed were extracted with hexane. After evaporation of the solvent in nitrogen stream, the residues were dissolved in 100 μl of acetonitrile. The calibration standards were prepared from respective dinitrophenylhydrazones, following the same procedure as for beverage samples. Reversed phase chromatographic separation was achieved on Luna C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm), using gradient elution (acetonitrile:water, from 68 to 80% of acetonitrile in 20 min) and a total flow rate 1 ml min⁻¹. Spectrophotometric detection for furanic aldehydes was at 390 nm (for other aldehydes at 365 nm). The assignation of chromatographic peaks was accomplished by comparison of their relative retention times and UV/Vis spectra with those of external standards. The method of standard addition was also used. The aldehydes identified were 5-hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (t _ret=4.1 min), formaldehyde (t _ret=5.1 min), syringaldehyde (t _ret=5.6 min), acetaldehyde (t _ret=6.2 min), 2-furaldehyde (t _ret=7.2 min) and 5-methylfurfuraldehyde (t _ret=8.9 min). At least four chromatographic peaks with retention times higher than 12 min remained unidentified. The quantification results showed drastically higher concentrations of 2-furaldehyde and 5-methylfuraldehyde in tequilas as referred to brandies. Furthermore, 100% tequilas contained higher levels of these two compounds (for four brands analyzed, mean values 18.6 and 5.97 μg ml⁻¹, respectively) as compared to the mixed brands (five brands analyzed, mean values 6.46 and 3.30 μg ml⁻¹). The results obtained confirm that the profile of furanic aldehydes depends on the type of fructans contained in the raw material and also on heating treatment applied or not prior to fermentation. In contrast to other polysaccharides, inulin hydrolyzes at elevated temperature and the contribution of Maillard browning reactions increases the production of furanic compounds. Our results indicate that the levels of 2-furaldehyde and 5-methylfuraldehyde could be used for discrimination between 100% and mixed tequila brands.     

Influence of the plastic properties of a material on the forming limit diagram for sheet metal in tension

A development of the theory of the formation of a groove, which appears before fracture in sheet metal subject to tension is presented, and is based on the assumption of initial non-homogeneity of the material in order to facilitate the determination of the limit strain of sheet metal subject to biaxial tension. Additional considerations in the present paper include strain-rate sensitivity, plane anisotropy and the difference in the values of the fracture strain which depends on the direction of the fracture with reference to that of rolling. The influence of the above properties of the material on the limit strain curve is analysed over the entire range of biaxial tension.Theoretical curves of limit strain are compared with experimental results for sheet metal in biaxial tension under conditions which eliminate the influence of friction and which ensure uniform strain distribution over the entire surface of the test piece, except in places of strain concentration. The discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical limit strain curves are analysed.     

Studies on interaction of Nd3+ — Glass laser light with armco-Fe high pressure nitrogen medium

Some effects of the interaction of Nd³⁺-glass laser, working in ordinary generation regime, with Armco-Fe surrounded by nitrogen in the pressure range (1–109) atm. have been investigated. Thephenomenon of capillary waves and the increase of the N₂ content have been observed in the irradiated area. The mechanism of the laser light interaction with the metal is discussed in terms of plasma theory and X-ray analysis.