Synthesis of polyamide-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

Simultaneous one-pot syntheses of PA66 and HAp were carried out by extracting H₂O and CO₂ from PA66 monomers and HAp raw materials, respectively, resulting in the formation of a polyamide (PA) 66-hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposite. During the process, a spherical nano-sized HAp particle was precipitated following dissolution of micro-sized CaHPO₄・2H₂O. The PA66 monomers were subsequently adsorbed onto the generated HAp product. Some of the adsorbed PA66 monomers formed a bound polymer on HAp, and an increase in the adhesiveness of the PA66-HAp interface was observed as the polymerization progressed. During this process, the synthesis of a nanocomposite from a micro-sized raw material and creation of an autonomous strong interface between the matrix and filler was achieved. In addition, the shape of the resultant HAp was controllable and could be modified to needle shape by the addition of F⁻ and Mg²⁺ ions to the raw material. HAp could also be changed to plate shape via octa-calcium phosphate (OCP). Notably, during the synthesis, the filler shape of the nanocomposite could be controlled to 0D (particle), 1D (needle), and 2D (plate).     

High Resistance of Cu–Ferrierite to Coke Formation During NH3-SCR in the Presence of n-Decane

Selective catalytic reduction of NO _x by NH₃ over Cu–FER and Cu–ZSM-5 in the presence of n-decane and SO₂ was investigated. NO _x conversion over Cu–ZSM-5 decreased in the presence of n-decane, owing to inhibition of the active sites by coke formation. In contrast, coke formation was negligible over Cu–FER, which maintained its NO _x conversion activity even in the presence of decane. Coke formation was negligible over H–ZSM-5 and H–FER supports, which suggests that Cu species were involved in coke formation. Temperature-programmed reduction by H₂ and electron spin resonance spectroscopy indicated that [Cu–O–Cu]²⁺ was probably the Cu species involved in coke formation over Cu–ZSM-5.     

Catalytic Performance of Aged Rh/CeO2–ZrO2 for NO–C3H6–O2 Reaction Under a Stoichiometric Condition

The activity of Rh/CeO₂ for NO reduction by C₃H₆ was gradually deceased by mixing with ZrO₂ until 68 mol%. Rh supported on CeO₂–ZrO₂ with higher OSC was found to show lower catalytic activity. High OSC of CeO₂–ZrO₂ would probably stabilize the surface of Rh in oxidized state, resulting in low activity and low efficiency of C₃H₆ utilization for NO reduction. In situ FT-IR spectroscopy suggested that mononitrosyl species such as Rh(NO)^δ? and Rh(NO)^δ+ are reaction intermediates in the NO–C₃H₆–O₂ reaction over Rh/CeO₂–ZrO₂ catalysts.     

Mutational analysis of structure--activity relationships in human tumor necrosis factor-alpha

To determine the region of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-), essential for cytotoxic activity against mouse L-M cells,single amino-acid-substituted TNF- mutant proteins (muteins)were produced in Escherichia coli by protein engineering techniques.An expression plasmid for TNF- was mutagenized by passage throughan E.coli mutD5 mutator strain and by oligonucleotide-directedmutagenesis. Approximately 100 single amino-acid-substitutedTNF- muteins were produced and assayed for cytotoxic activity.The cytotoxic activities of purified TNF- muteins, e.g. TNF-31T,-32Y, -82D, -85H, -115L, -141Y, -144K and -146E, were < 1%of that of parent TNF-. These results indicate that the integrityof at least four distinct regions of the TNF- molecule is requiredfor full biological activity. These regions are designated asfollows: region I, from position 30 to 32; region II, from position82 to 89; region III, from position 115 to 117; region FV, fromposition 141 to 146. In addition, TNF-141Y could not completelycompete with parent TNF- for binding to the receptor. This demonstratesthat region IV, and at least aspartk acid at position 141, mustbe involved in the TNF receptor binding site.     

Fracture Resistance Behavior of High‐Thermal‐Conductivity Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Silicon nitride ceramics were prepared from a high‐purity silicon powder doped with 2 mol% Y₂O₃ and 5 mol% MgO as sintering additives via a route of sintering of reaction‐bonded silicon nitride (SRBSN). The materials sintered at 1900°C for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h had thermal conductivities of 109, 125, 146, and 154 W/m/K, and four‐point bending strengths of 786, 676, 608, and 505 MPa, respectively. The fracture toughness values, determined by the single‐edge‐precracked‐beam (SEPB) method, were 8.4, 8.6, 9.7, and 10.7 MPa m^1/2 for the materials sintered for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively, which were similar to the results measured by the chevron‐notched‐beam (CNB) test method. The materials sintered for longer times (12 and 24 h) showed stronger R‐curve behaviors over longer range of crack extension, in comparison with the materials sintered for shorter times (3 and 6 h).     

Ni诱导SiGe薄膜晶化烧结制备与热电势氢传感器件

在玻璃衬底上采用RF溅射法制备非晶SiGe薄膜的基础上，采用金属Ni诱导法对所制备的薄膜进行晶化烧结，并以Pt催化氢氧化放热反应和SiGe薄膜的热电势效应为原理制备出了小型热电势氢传感器。测试表明：以500℃烧结所得SiGe薄膜材料为敏感基体，在100℃工作温度下所制备的传感器对3％H2灵敏度为0．7mV，检测的浓度范围大约为0．02％-5％，且输出电压随着烧结温度的升高而升高。     

Thermoelectric Properties of Multifilled Skutterudites with La as the Main Filler

Bulk multifilled n- and p-type skutterudites with La as the main filler were fabricated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The thermoelectric properties and thermal stability of these skutterudites were investigated. It was found that the interactions among the filling atoms also play a vital role in reducing the lattice thermal conductivity of the multifilled skutterudites. ZT = 0.76 for p-type La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ and ZT = 1.0 for n-type La_0.3Ca_0.1Al_0.1Ga_0.1In_0.2Co_3.75Fe_0.25Sb₁₂ skutterudites have been achieved. Furthermore, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that there is no skutterudite phase decomposition till 750°C for the La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ sample. The thermal stability of the La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ skutterudite is greatly improved. Using the developed multifilled skutterudites, the fabricated module with size of 50 mm × 50 mm × 7.6 mm possesses maximum output power of 32 W under the condition of hot/cold sides = 600°C/50°C.     

EFFECT OF FLUIDIZING PARTICLE ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF POROUS MATERIAL IN FLUIDIZED BED

The drying characteristics of porous material in fluidized bed were examined theoretically and experimentally. The brick ball was used as the sample and immersed in the fluidized bed. The glass beads were used as the fluidizing particles and the particle diameters were changed. When the pore diameter of sample was relatively large, the fluidizing particles were adhered on the sample surface. In the theoretical analysis, the heat and mass transfers in adhered particle layer were considered. The fluidizing particles were adhered on the sample surface during the earlier period of drying. The sample temperature largely decreased when the mass of adhered particle decreased. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data. The diameter of fluidizing particle had a small effect on the drying time. The excess increments in drying gas temperature hardly contributed to shortening the drying time.