Identification of organochlorines and organobromines in coals

Four Chinese bituminous coals were extracted with CS₂, n-hexane, benzene, methanol, acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and THF/methanol (1: 3 vol/vol) mixed solvent sequentially. The resulting 28 extracts were analyzed with GC/MS. Six organochlorines (OCs) and two organobromines (OBs) were identified in eight extracts from the coals. Our experiments provide, for the first time, the information on the molecular structure of OCs and OBs in coals.     

On the examination of recycle on heat (and mass) transfer in concentric tubes

The effect of recycle on heat (and mass) transfer in concentric circular tubes has been investigated by finite difference methods. Theoretical results show that recycle can enhance the heat transfer rate for large Graetz numbers compared with that in an open tube (without an inner tube inserted and without recycle). Competition between a preheating effect and a residence-time effect can be used to explain the heat transfer behavior. The heat transfer rate can be further augmented, with nearly no increase in total pressure drop, by employing flow pattern B instead of flow pattern A.     

Moisture absorption behavior of rubber‐modified epoxy resins

The moisture absorption behavior of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/ethylene diamine resins incorporating a carboxy‐terminated butadiene–acrylonitrile rubber was investigated and associated with their morphology of phase separation. Although the diffusion coefficient of moisture was increased with the rubber content, its activation energy and free volume for moisture diffusion were barely changed until phase inversion occurred. After phase inversion, the free volume was significantly increased, and the activation energy decreased. In addition, the moisture absorption also reduced the β‐transition temperature of the resins and slightly increased the glass‐transition temperature before phase inversion. However, the reverse was found after phase inversion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3718–3724, 2002     

Passivity behavior of melt-spun Mg–Y Alloys

Several Mg–Y binary ribbons with Y content up to 17.9 at.% were fabricated by melt-spinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the phase structure changes with increasing Y content from extended solid solution to partially amorphous, and then fully intermetallic Mg₂₄Y₅. Anodic potentiodynamic polarization performed in 0.01 M NaCl electrolyte (pH=12) revealed improved anodic passivity behavior compared to pure Mg for all the Mg–Y alloys. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the improved passivity of Mg–Y was more related to the elemental oxidation state rather than the concentration of the surface components. To study the effect of Cl⁻ ion on the passivity behavior, anodic potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization were performed on Mg–17.9 at.% Y in alkaline (pH=12) NaCl electrolytes containing Cl⁻ ion in the concentration range from 0.00 to 0.50 M. The passive films formed in 0.01 M NaCl electrolyte were similar to the native film, which were composed of MgO and Y₂O₃. No CO₃²⁻ and Cl⁻ ions were incorporated into the passive film. The passivity was significantly degraded in the electrolytes containing higher Cl⁻ concentration (0.1 and 0.5 M). Detailed XPS revealed that the surface films under these conditions were composed of much hydrated species Mg(OH)₂ and YOOH and/or Y(OH)₃ and CO₃²⁻ was incorporated into the surface film. The incorporation of Y₂O₃ in the passive film was given as the reason for the enhanced passivity properties of Mg–Y ribbons. The mechanism of Cl⁻ and CO₃²⁻ ions to the degradation of the passivity was discussed.     

Surface modification and physical properties of various UHMWPE‐fiber‐reinforced modified epoxy composites

Two surface modification methods—plasma surface treatment and chemical agent treatment—were used to investigate their effects on the surface properties of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. In the analyses, performed using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, changes in weight, and scanning electron microscope observations, demonstrated that the two fiber‐surface‐modified composites formed between UHMWPE fiber and epoxy matrix exhibited improved interfacial adhesion and slight improvements in tensile strengths, but notable decreases in elongation, relative to those properties of the composites reinforced with the untreated UHMWPE fibers. In addition, three kinds of epoxy resins—neat DGEBA, polyurethane‐crosslinked DGEBA, and BHHBP‐DGEBA—were used as resin matrices to examine the tensile and elongation properties of their UHMWPE fiber‐reinforced composites. From stress/strain measurements and scanning electron microscope observations, the resin matrix improved the tensile strength apparently, but did not affect the elongation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 655–665, 2007     

Spinning and drawing properties of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene fibers prepared at varying concentrations and temperatures

The concentrations and temperatures of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) gel solutions exhibited a significant influence on their rheological and spinning properties. The shear viscosities of UHMWPE solutions increased consistently with increasing concentrations at a constant temperature above 80°C. Tremendously high shear viscosities of UHMWPE gel solutions were found as the temperatures reached 120–140°C, at which their shear viscosity values approached the maximum. The spinnable solutions are those gel solutions with optimum shear viscosities and relatively good homogeneity in nature. Moreover, the gel solution concentrations and spinning temperatures exhibited a significant influence on the drawability and microstructure of the as‐spun fibers. At each spinning temperature, the achievable draw ratios obtained for as‐spun fibers prepared near the optimum concentration are significantly higher than those of as‐spun fibers prepared at other concentrations. The critical draw ratio of the as‐spun fiber prepared at the optimum concentration approached a maximum value, as the spinning temperature reached the optimum value of 150°C. Further investigations indicated that the best orientation of the precursors of shish‐kebab‐like entities, birefringence, crystallinity, thermal and tensile properties were always accompanied with the as‐spun fiber prepared at the optimum concentration and temperature. Similar to those found for the as‐spun fibers, the birefringence and tensile properties of the draw fibers prepared at the optimum condition were always higher than those of drawn fibers prepared at other conditions but stretched to the same draw ratio. Possible mechanisms accounting for these interesting phenomena are proposed.     

Synthesis and dielectric properties of polystyrene‐clay nanocomposite materials

Polystyrene‐clay nanocomposite (PsCN) materials were synthesized and their properties of crystallinity, thermal behavior, and dielectric characteristics were investigated. A polymerizable cationic surfactant, [2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]triphenylphonium bromide, was used for the intercalation of montmorillonite (MMT). The organophilic MMT was prepared by Na⁺‐exchanged MMT and ammonium cations of a cationic surfactant in an aqueous medium. Organophilic styrene monomers were intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts followed by a free‐radical polymerization. Exfoliation to 2 wt % MMT in the polystyrene (PS) matrix was achieved as revealed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were also studied. The dielectric properties of PsCNs in the form of film with clay loading from 1.0 to 5.0 wt % were measured under frequencies of 100 Hz–1 MHz at 25–70°C. A decreased dielectric constant and low dielectric loss were observed for PsCN materials. The dielectric response at low frequency that originated from dipole orientation was suppressed due to the intercalation of clay materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1368–1373, 2004     

The effect of oxygen in resulfurized steels—Part II

Part I of this two-part paper, which appeared in the June issue, covered the effects of deoxidation with silicon, boron, aluminum, or carbon (under vacuum) on the machinability and microstructure of low-carbon resulfurized steels containing nominally 0.1%C-1.0%Mn-0.25%S. Deoxidation reduced machinability and it was concluded that the removal of oxygen was directly responsible. Deoxidation was found to suppress the formation of large random sulfide inclusions so that sufficiently strong deoxidation, such as with aluminum, caused the steel to solidify with a characteristic eutectic structure in which the inter dendritic sulfide inclusions were comparatively small. Consequently, the inclusions in the rolled steel were small and machinability was reduced.