Silicon Nitride Derived from an Organometallic Polymeric Precursor: Preparation and Characterization

Partially crystalline Si₃N₄, with nanosized crystals and a specific surface area greater than 200 m²/g, is obtained by pyrolysis of a commercially available vinylic polysilane in a stream of anhydrous NH₃ to 1000°C. This polymer does not contain N initially. Crystallization to high-purity α-Si₃N₄ proceeds with additional heating above 1400°C under N₂. The changes in crystallinity, powder morphology, infrared spectra, and elemental compositions, for samples annealed from 1000° to 1600°C under N₂, are consistent with an amorphous-to-crystalline transformation. Although macroscopic consolidation and local densification occur at 1400°C, volatilization and accompanying weight loss limit bulk densification. The effect of temperature on specific surface area is examined and related to the sintering process. These results are applicable to pyrolysis, decomposition, and crystallization studies of ceramics synthesized by polymeric precursor routes.     

Good ergonomics and team diversity reduce absenteeism and errors in car manufacturing

Prior research suggests that ergonomics work design and mixed teams (in age and gender) may compensate declines in certain abilities of ageing employees. This study investigates simultaneous effects of both team level factors on absenteeism and performance (error rates) over one year in a sample of 56 car assembly teams (N = 623). Results show that age was related to prolonged absenteeism and more mistakes in work planning, but not to overall performance. In comparison, high-physical workload was strongly associated with longer absenteeism and increased error rates. Furthermore, controlling for physical workload, age diversity was related to shorter absenteeism, and the presence of females in the team was associated with shorter absenteeism and better performance. In summary, this study suggests that both ergonomics work design and mixed team composition may compensate age-related productivity risks in manufacturing by maintaining the work ability of older employees and improving job quality.     

Testing usability and trainability of indirect touch interaction: perspective for the next generation of air traffic control systems

This study aims to determine whether indirect touch device can be used to interact with graphical objects displayed on another screen in an air traffic control (ATC) context. The introduction of such a device likely requires an adaptation of the sensory-motor system. The operator has to simultaneously perform movements on the horizontal plane while assessing them on the vertical plane. Thirty-six right-handed participants performed movement training with either constant or variable practice and with or without visual feedback of the displacement of their actions. Participants then performed a test phase without visual feedback. Performance improved in both practice conditions, but accuracy was higher with visual feedback. During the test phase, movement time was longer for those who had practiced with feedback, suggesting an element of dependency. However, this ‘cost’ of feedback did not extend to movement accuracy. Finally, participants who had received variable training performed better in the test phase, but accuracy was still unsatisfactory. We conclude that continuous visual feedback on the stylus position is necessary if tablets are to be introduced in ATC.     

Surface hydrolysis of filaments based on poly(trimethylene terephthalate) spun at high spinning speeds

The surface alkaline hydrolysis of fibers made from poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was studied after extruding the polymer at high spinning speeds from 2000 to 6000 m/min and heat setting in the range of temperatures from 100 to 180°C. Fiber weight loss increased with an increasing heat‐setting temperature but it was also dependent on the spinning speed. Some of the partially hydrolyzed fibers had a well‐developed, hydrophilic surface, and pore size in the range of 0.69 to 1.20 μm. The optimum reaction and morphological conditions for increasing porosity in PTT fibers depends on spinning speed and heat‐setting temperature. A temperature of 180°C is the upper limit for heat‐setting PTT filaments but seems to be the most effective for making porous fibers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1724–1730, 2004     

Unsaturated para-linked aromatic LC polyesters: Thermotropic and lyotropic systems

Liquid-crystalline thermosets (LCT) are a new class of materials which combine typical properties of LC polymers with those of conventional thermosets. This article reports on the development of a lyotropic LC thermoset (LLCT) in which the solvent is a vinyl monomer. Such an LLCT is expected to have several advantages compared to conventional unsaturated polyester resins. The synthesis and characterization of a variety of novel substituted para-linked aromatic polyesters and copolyesters containing unsaturated fumaroyl units is presented. The thermal and liquid crystal properties were investigated. It is demonstrated that it is possible to prepare a lyotropic LC solution in styrene. These lyotropic solutions are capable of thermal crosslinking by the addition of a free-radical initiator. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Infrared heated μ-blistering,a new fabrication technology for HARMST

Polymeric replication technologies such as injection moulding or hot-embossing have gained wide acceptance in the microtechnological community, microthermoforming of thin polymer foils, also called μ-blistering, still remains relatively unknown. Although the general potentials of the µ-blistering have already been pointed out, little work has been carried out addressing its capability for high aspect ratio microstructuring. In the scope of this work we therefore demonstrate the feasibility of μ-blistering to obtain aspect ratios for free standing structures of up to 7 within a process cycle time of <4 min. The presented processing technology uniquely combines manufacturing of macro-, micro- and even nanoscopic feature sizes in a single process.     

Dehydrogenation of Light Alkanes Over Rhenium Catalysts on Conventional and Mesoporous MFI Supports

Recently, Re/HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 15) was shown to be an efficient catalyst for ethane dehydrogenation and aromatization at 823 K and atmospheric pressure. In this reaction, the major initial products were benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX), but increasing amounts of ethene were produced with time on stream due to deactivation of the catalyst. We show that by use of rhenium impregnated MFI supports with very few or no acidic sites (Si/Al > 500), highly selective ethane dehydrogenation catalysts are obtained with ethene selectivities of 98%. By use of mesoporous MFI supports (Si/Al >500) the lifetime of the catalyst appears to be slightly improved compared to conventional MFI crystals. The beneficial effect of a mesoporous MFI support is convincingly demonstrated in propane dehydrogenation, where both conversion and selectivities on the mesoporous MFI (Si/Al > 500) impregnated with Re are significantly higher than on Re supported on a comparable conventional MFI support.     

Mandibular gland secretions of the male beewolvesPhilanthus crabroniformis,P. barbatus,andP. pulcher (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

The composition of the territorial marking pheromones from mandibular glands of males of the beewolvesPhilanthus crabroniformis, P. barbatus, andP. pulcher have been determined. The structures of the components were elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The major compound ofP. crabroniformis is isopropyl tetradecanoate, with somewhat lesser amounts of 2-tridecanone, 3-methyl-3-butenyl tetradecanoate, and 928 (Z)(E)-11-eicosen-1-ol. The major compounds ofP. barbatus are ethyl tetradecanoate and hexadecanal, which are present in approximately a 6040 ratio. These two compounds comprise over 95% of the neutral lipids. Also present in lesser amounts are ethyl dodecanoate, tetradecanal, hexadecan-1-ol, a ^x -octadecen-1-ol, and octadecan-1-ol. The major compounds ofP. pulcher are ethyl (Z)-7-hexadecenoate and geranylgeraniol acetate, which comprise nearly 90% of the neutral lipid fraction, with smaller amounts of tetradecanal, pentadecanal, and ethyl hexadecanoate; trace amounts of ^x hexadecenal, hexadecanal, and octadecanal are also present.     

Heterogeneously assisted oxidation of adsorbates from carbonmonoxide, methanol and ethanol by hydrogen peroxide solutions on platinum electrodes in sulphuric acid

The influence of hydrogen peroxide on the adsorption and oxidation of carbon monoxide, methanol and ethanol adlayers on porous Pt electrodes were studied in 2 M sulphuric acid solution by means of cyclic voltammetry and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). The oxidation of adsorbed species is observed at electrode potentials far less negative than those required for electrochemical adsorbate oxidation. The oxidation by H₂O₂ is dependent on its concentration in solution, as well as on the adsorbates and their coverages. In all cases the isolated adlayers are oxidised by dissolved H₂O₂. However, the presence of H₂O₂ during adsorption partially inhibits adlayer formation from CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH, but avoids almost completely the adsorption of carbon monoxide. The removal of the residues from the surface by dissolved hydrogen peroxide probably occurs through O_ad species formed during the heterogeneous decomposition reaction of H₂O₂ on Pt.