Effect of carbon nanotube on cured shape of cross-ply polymer matrix nanocomposite laminates: analytical and experimental study

Cured shape of cross-ply [0₂/90₂]_T fiber-reinforced composite laminates and the effect of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical and thermal properties of laminates have been investigated. The nanocomposite laminate used in this study is composed of three phases: carbon fiber, polymer matrix and MWCNT. The volume fractions of 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% MWCNT were used to prepare nanocomposites. The mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites and fiber-reinforced nanocomposite laminates have been calculated by using analytical micromechanical models. Analytical micromechanical models were applied to determine the mechanical and thermal properties for two-phase nanocomposite composed of MWCNT and polymer matrix. The obtained mechanical and thermal data were considered as matrix properties and used in properties calculation of three-phase fiber-reinforced nanocomposite laminates. A developed model was used to determine curvature and the effect of MWCNT on the curvature in different specimens. Nonlinear relations have been considered for non-mid-plane strain equations. The addition of 1% volume fraction of MWCNT led to decreasing curvature and increasing critical size almost 14% and 9%, respectively, in different directions. The results were used to develop model and to compare with those calculated by Hyer model. Finally, unsymmetrical cross-ply [0₂/90₂]_T laminates with different weight fractions of 0, 0.1%, 0.25% and 0.5% MWCNT were fabricated. The curvature of cured composite laminates, obtained by experimental study, was compared with that developed as Hyer models and good agreements were observed between the predicted model and experimental data. The experimentally predicted and developed model for the curvature of cross-ply [0₂/90₂]_T fiber-reinforced nanocomposite laminates is better than the Hyer model.     

Catalytic performance of CeAPSO-34 molecular sieve with various cerium content for methanol conversion to olefin

A series of CeAPSO-34s with various cerium contents was synthesized and characterized by multiple techniques such as XRD, SEM, BET, ²⁹Si MAS NMR, NH₃-TPD and CO₂-TPD. NH₃-TPD spectra showed that a number of acid sites, especially those of strong acidity, is reduced with the increasing of Ce incorporation. Incorporation of metal ions gave rise to more silica-islands in the CeAPSO-34 framework. CO₂-TPD showed that basic sites on the surface of modified samples are due to the presence of Ce-containing species incorporation into the framework of CeAPSO-34 molecular sieves. The performance of the catalysts was studied in methanol to olefin reactions at 425 °C under the atmospheric pressure. The results showed that the incorporation of cerium ions had great effects on the structure and acidity of the molecular sieves. All SAPO-34 and MeAPSO-34 molecular sieves were the very active and selective catalyst for light olefins production. Cerium incorporation improved the catalyst lifetime and favored the ethylene and propylene generation. However, an excess Ce content resulted in an inferior catalytic performance and stability. Therefore, there existed optimal cerium content for a specific SAPO-34.     

Rheological and mechanical properties of composites made from wood flour and recycled LDPE/HDPE blend

The effect of compounding method is studied with respect to the rheological behavior and mechanical properties of composites made of wood flour and a blend of two main components of plastics waste in municipal solid waste, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The effects of recycling process on the rheological behavior of LDPE and HDPE blends were investigated. Initially, samples of virgin LDPE and HDPE were thermo-mechanically degraded twice under controlled conditions in an extruder. The recycled materials and wood flour were then compounded by two different mixing methods: simultaneous mixing of all components and pre-mixing, including the blending of polymers in molten state, grinding and subsequent compounding with wood flour. The rheological and mechanical properties of the LDPE/HDPE blend and resultant composites were determined. The results showed that recycling increased the complex viscosity of the LDPE/HDPE blend and it exhibited miscible behavior in a molten state. Rheological testing indicated that the complex viscosity and storage modulus of the composites made by pre-mixing method were higher than that made by the simultaneous method. The results also showed that melt pre-mixing of the polymeric matrix (recycled LDPE and HDPE) improved the mechanical properties of the wood–plastic composites.     

Iron-deficiency anemia among children in southwest Iran

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a major health problem worldwide and especially in developing countries. Iron-deficiency anemia has adverse effects on the development of children. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in children under 5 years of age in southwest Iran. The study also sought to investigate the association between socioeconomic, demographic, cultural, and nutritional factors and iron-deficiency anemia in the selected area. METHODS: A randomized, cross-sectional study was performed of children 6 to 59 months of age living in urban and rural areas of Ahwaz District in Khuzestan Province. At eight randomly selected health centers, the children's height (or length) and weight were measured, and information on length and weight at birth was obtained from growth charts. Blood samples were taken from 337 randomly selected children. RESULTS: The results showed that 43.9% of the children had anemia and 29.1% iron-deficiency anemia. The highest prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia was in the 12- to 24-month age group. In the urban areas, infants 6 to 11 months of age had the highest prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia among children in southwest Iran indicates a major nutrition and health problem.     

Assessment of immobilized cell reactor and microbial fuel cell for simultaneous cheese whey treatment and lactic acid/electricity production

Two biological methods for treatment of cheese whey and concentrated cheese whey were investigated in this research. As the first method, fermentation of cheese whey for production of lactic acid, in an immobilized cell reactor (ICR) was successfully carried out. The immobilisation of Lactobacillus bulgaricus was performed by the enriched cells cultured media harvested at exponential growth phase. Furthermore, the FTIR analysis has been done to prove the production of lactic acid. The COD removal during the continuous process for both whey and concentrated whey was above 70% which showed the capability of reaction for wastewater treatment. The cells were immobilised by sodium alginate as a perfect polymer in this regard. The maximum produced lactic acid from whey was 10.7 g l^?1 at 0.125 h^?1 and 19.5 g l^?1 from concentrated whey at 0.063 h^?1. Finally it can be concluded that the process is efficient for lactic acid production and COD removal simultaneously. As the second studied method, whey and concentrated cheese whey were used as the sources of carbon in a microbial fuel cell. The power densities of 188.8 and 288.12 mW m^?2 were recorded for whey-fed and concentrated whey-fed MFCs while the COD removal were 95% and 86% respectively. Biological wastewater treatment can be a very efficient alternative for traditional wastewater treatment which selecting any and or integrating of them depends on specific applications needed to be achieved.     

Wear Behavior of Biodegradable Mg–5Zn–1Y–(0–1)Ca Magnesium Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid

Metals and Materials International - In this study, wear behavior of biodegradable Mg–5Zn–1Y–(0–1)Ca alloys is investigated in simulated body fluid. Wear test is performed...     

Chemical composition,antibacterial and antifungal activities of seed essential oil of Ferulago angulata

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the in vitro antimicrobial effects of seed essential oil of Ferulago angulata. The oil analyses by GC and GC/MS resulted in the identification of 39 compounds representing 91.07% of the oil. The major constituents were (Z)-β-ocimene (19.93%), α-pinene (15.50%), p-cymene (7.67%), sabinene (7.49%), β-phellandrene (5.5%), and α-phellandrene (4.95%). The oil was also screened for its antimicrobial properties against six bacteria (Erwinia amylovora, Xanthomonas oryzae, Pseudomonas syringae, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Bacillus thuringiensis) and six fungi (Alternaria alternata, Culvularia fallax, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Cytospora sacchari, Colletotrichum tricbellum). According to the results of antibacterial activity, B. thuringiensis (with 8 µL mL^?1 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 15 µL mL^?1 minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)) was the most sensitive bacterium; P. carotovorum and R. solanacearum (with 20 µL mL^?1 MIC and 30< MBC) were the most resistant bacteria. Additionally, a broad differentiation against all of the tested fungi showed that the most susceptible and resistant fungi after 6 days at the highest concentration (800 µL L^?1) were F. oxysporum (100.0 ± 0.00%) and C. tricbellum (52.50 ± 1.67%) of growth inhibition, respectively.     

PCR amplification of 18S rRNA,single cell protein production and fatty acid evaluation of some naturally isolated microalgae

Microalgae were isolated during a screening program from soil samples collected from paddy-fields of Fars province, south of Iran. The protein content was assayed by the Kochert method. Total genomic DNA were isolated and used for PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. The sequences were determined for 12 species of microalgae. Some bioinformatic tools were used for more investigation on these biologic data. Total lipids from five microalgal species were extracted and used for determination of different types of fatty acids by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method. In our experiments the green algae yielded a maximum protein of about 42% ± 1.64. The DNA sequences were published in the NCBI under specific accession numbers. The composition of fatty acids was mainly, myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and γ-linolenic acid.     

Updating stochastic model coefficients for prediction of arc furnace reactive power

The time varying nature of electric arc furnace (EAF) gives rise to voltage fluctuations which produce the effect known as flicker. The ability of static VAr compensator (SVC) in flicker reduction is limited by delays in thyristor ignition. To improve SVC performance in flicker compensation, EAF reactive power can be predicted for a half-cycle ahead, by using appropriate autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models. This paper uses huge field data collected from ac arc furnaces, and demonstrates that the EAF reactive power models coefficients are different from one data record to another and do not follow any specific law. Therefore, it is necessary to update the model coefficients for prediction purposes. For this purpose, two major adaptation algorithms, the least mean square (LMS) and recursive least square (RLS) are used to determine online the prediction relationship coefficients. By applying the methods to the data records and using some indices such as newly defined indices based on concepts of flicker frequencies and power spectral density, the transient and steady state performances of the methods are studied in EAF reactive power prediction. A simulation example on the application of the predictive models in a SVC control system is presented.     

Synthesis of nano β‐TCP and the effects on the mechanical and biological properties of β‐TCP/HDPE/UHMWPE nanocomposites

High density polyethylene/tricalcium phosphate/ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (TCP/HDPE/UHMWPE) Nanocomposite as an orthopedic biomaterial (with better properties toward TCP/HDPE composite) was obtained. To evaluate the capability of this nanocomposite as a material for bone tissue replacement, mechanical and biological assessments were performed. In this study, nanosize β‐TCP powders with average grain size of 100 nm were synthesized by chemical precipitation method and characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To evaluate the mechanical properties of this biomaterial, tensile properties were obtained for the material. Results showed that by increasing the weight percentage of β‐TCP, the elastic modulus increases, elongation at yield decreases and with no significant change in tensile strength. SEM micrographs of cryogenic fracture surface of samples indicated that distribution of nano powders in matrix is homogeneous. In vitro biological evaluations on the samples were done by performing cytotoxicity (MTT assay), alkaline phosphatase enzyme, and cell attachment tests. In all of the tests, osteoblast cells were used. Results of biological tests showed that the samples are biocompatible and they have no toxicity. Also, SEM observations demonstrated that the cells can attach to surface of nanocomposite samples, which reveals osteoconductivity of the surface. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1745–1753, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.