Low‐velocity impact response and compression after impact assessment of recycled carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites for future applications

The influence of recycling on the impact damage resistance of recycled carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites was investigated using low‐velocity impact and compression after impact (CAI) tests. The relationships among load, force, and time were analyzed to gain insight into the damage characteristics of three types of composite laminate: virgin CF‐reinforced polymer (V‐CFRP), recycled CF‐reinforced polymer (R‐CFRP), and treated recycled CF‐reinforced polymer (TR‐CFRP). Special emphasis was placed on evaluating the extent of damage and the residual mechanical properties as affected by three different fiber surface states. Substantial differences were noted in the shape, area, and damage mode of impact using ultrasonic c‐scanning, photography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). V‐CFRP indicated significant improvement in impact damage resistance in the form of less damage, higher residual strength, and greater shear failure angle. Damage resistance was improved up to 80% of V‐CFRP by surface cleaning while R‐CFRP is 50% of V‐CFRP. Shear failure angle of 16° was attained from R‐CFRP and it was increased to 24° when the recycled fibers were cleaned. The result of SEM showed that there was less delamination of TR‐CFRP compared with R‐CFRP. This work proves that the low‐velocity impact response of recycled composites can rival that of virgin composites, while providing a basis for future applications of recycled carbon in many fields. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1494–1506, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Optical Spectra of Synthetic Spinels in the System MgAl2O4–MgCr2O4

Unpolarized optical spectra were measured in the wavelength range 322–1666 nm by the diffuse reflection technique from spinel powders synthesized in the system MgAl₂O₄–MgCr₂O₄. The spectra were interpreted by the crystal-field theory on the basis of trigonally distorted spinel octahedra with D_3d symmetry. For chromium-rich solid solutions, including the MgCr₂O₄ end-member, results after peak fittings showed octahedral D_3d local symmetry around Cr³⁺ ions, identical to the crystallographic site symmetry. For chromium-poor solid solutions, however, octahedral C_3v local symmetry was suggested around Cr³⁺ ions, different from the D_3d crystallographically expected.     

Corrosion of MgO—MgAl2O4 Spinel Refractory Bricks by Calcium Aluminosilicate Slag

Microstructural analysis of MgO—MgAl₂O₄ refractory bricks corroded at 1400–1450°C by calcium aluminosilicate slag reveals secondary spinel, monticellite, merwinite, and MgO as microscopic corrosion products, generally forming in this sequence as the brick is penetrated. The secondary spinel forms an incomplete layer close to (but not at) the MgO grain. Thermodynamic calculations are used to support a detailed model of the corrosion mechanism.     

Highly anisotropic thermal conductivity of mesogenic epoxy resin film through orientation control

To develop insulating materials with a high thermally conductive anisotropy, planarly aligned mesogenic epoxy (ME) resin film was fabricated by uniaxial coating on a hydrophobic polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and transmission SAXS measurements exhibited that the films spontaneously formed uniaxially aligned monodomain-like smectic structures by curing on the hydrophobic substrate. Then, an in- and out-of-plane thermal conductivity of 10 and 0.048 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and outstanding thermal conductivity anisotropy of 208 have been confirmed, respectively. The ME resin films with high thermal conductivity can be applied as insulating materials for multiple-layer electrical and electronic devices.     

High Thermal Conductivity in Silicon Nitride with Anisotropie Microstructure

Silicon nitride was fabricated by tape casting of α-Si₃N₄ powder with 5 wt% Y₂O₃ and 5 vol% rodlike β-Si₃N₄ seed particles, followed by tape stacking, hot pressing under 40 MPa, and annealing at 1850°C for 2-66 h under a nitrogen pressure of 0.9 MPa. Silicon nitrides fabricated by this procedure exhibited a highly anisotropic microstructure with large elongated grains (developed from seed particles) uniaxially oriented parallel to the casting direction. Thermal conductivities parallel to the grain alignment were much higher than those measured in other directions and exhibited high values of up to 120 W/(m.K). The anisotropic thermal conductivity of the specimen could be explained by the rule of mixture, considering that large elongated grains developed from seeds have higher thermal conductivity than a small-grained matrix.     

Effects of calcining conditions of kaolinite on pore structures of mesoporous materials prepared by the selective leaching of calcined kaolinite

This paper describes the effects of calcining conditions of kaolinite on pore structures of the porous materials obtained from the selective leaching of calcined kaolinite using KOH solution. Mesoporous -Al₂O₃ was the predominant crystalline phase in the samples calcined in the temperature range between 950°C and 1050°C for 24 h. The mean specific surface area of these samples was approximately 250 m² · g^–1 and the mean total pore volume was approximately 0.8 ml · g^–1. The pore size distribution curves of these samples showed a sharp peak at around 2–3 nm pore radius. This peak was sharper for the sample calcined at 1000°C for 24 h. On the other hand, the pore sizes of the sample calcined at 1100°C for 24 h increased abruptly to 10–20 nm and this change corresponded to the formation of mullite in the sample. The pore sizes of the samples calcined at 1100°C varied with calcining time. The specific surface area and total pore volume decreased, the longer the calcining time of the samples, and this was correlated with an increase in the amount of mullite in the samples.     

Stromal CCL5 Promotes Breast Cancer Progression by Interacting with CCR3 in Tumor Cells

Chemokines secreted from stromal cells have important roles for interactions with carcinoma cells and regulating tumor progression. C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 5 is expressed in various types of stromal cells and associated with tumor progression, interacting with C-C chemokine receptor (CCR) 1, 3 and 5 expressed in tumor cells. However, the expression on CCL5 and its receptors have so far not been well-examined in human breast carcinoma tissues. We therefore immunolocalized CCL5, as well as CCR1, 3 and 5, in 111 human breast carcinoma tissues and correlated them with clinicopathological characteristics. Stromal CCL5 immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with the aggressive phenotype of breast carcinomas. Importantly, this tendency was observed especially in the CCR3-positive group. Furthermore, the risk of recurrence was significantly higher in the patients with breast carcinomas positive for CCL5 and CCR3 but negative for CCR1 and CCR5, as compared with other patients. In summary, the CCL5-CCR3 axis might contribute to a worse prognosis in breast cancer patients, and these findings will contribute to a better understanding of the significance of the CCL5/CCRs axis in breast carcinoma microenvironment.     

Highly Transparent Lu-α-SiAlON

Novel Lu-α-SiAlON ceramics were produced by hot pressing mixtures of Si₃N₄, Lu₂O₃, AlN, and Al₂O₃ at 1950°C for 2 h in a nitrogen atmosphere. The resultant SiAlON was fully dense and possessed a uniform, equiaxed microstructure with a grain size of ∼1 μm, which resulted in a high hardness of >19 GPa. In addition to high hardness, the sample showed very high optical transparency in the visible light region, with >70% transmission at higher wavelengths. This high transparency was attributed to the uniform, dense microstructure and lack of residual grain-boundary phase.     

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Si3N4/Carbon Fiber Composites with Aligned Microstructure Produced by a Seeding and Extrusion Method

Si₃N₄/carbon fiber composites have been produced with and without seeding by an extrusion and sintering process. In both cases the carbon fibers were aligned along the direction of extrusion, but the Si₃N₄ grains were only aligned in the seeded material. The mechanical properties of the specimens showed anisotropy with respect to the grain alignment, with both strength and toughness being highest in the direction parallel to the extruding direction. In this direction the seeded specimen, where both the Si₃N₄ grains and the carbon fibers were aligned, showed both higher fracture toughness and higher fracture strength than the nonseeded specimen where only the fibers were aligned.     

Three-Dimensional Measurement of Ice Crystals in Frozen Materials by Near-Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy

A novel technique was developed to recognize ice crystals in biological materials and to analyze their three-dimensional morphology using a Cryogenic Micro-Slicer Spectral Imaging System with a micro-slicer unit and a near-infrared spectral imaging unit. Consecutive cross-sections of a frozen sample were exposed by the multi-slicing operations with a minimum thickness of 1 µm, and their images were taken by the imaging unit. Spectroscopic analysis using a near-infrared spectrum meter showed an absorption peak at 1460 nm for pure water. Based on the observations of the absorption band of ice crystals in the wavelength range of 1450–1570 nm and its peak at 1495 nm, a commodity-type bandpass filter with a central wavelength of 1500 nm was adopted to identify ice crystals in near-infrared images. The absorption peak of water exhibited a tendency to move toward longer wavelengths with decreasing sample temperature from 25 °C to ?15 °C. The filtered images of ice crystals in frozen samples were darker than the other components at the peak wavelength of ice crystals. The three-dimensional reconstructed morphology of ice crystals revealed that they were formed along the direction of heat transfer while freezing. The proposed method provides a novel tool to investigate the effects of freezing conditions on the size, morphology and distribution of ice crystals.