Interactions of Polyacrylamide with Cationic Surfactants: Thermodynamic and Surface Parameters

The aggregation behaviour of two cationic surfactants, viz. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and N-cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), in different concentrations of water-soluble polyacrylamide has been studied in alkaline medium by electrical conductivity and surface tension measurements. A decrease in the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant with an increase in polymer content in the mixture was observed. The thermodynamic and surface parameters have been determined and discussed. The results indicate that micellisation becomes more favourable at higher polymer content.     

Identification,Phylogeny, and Comparative Expression of the Lipoxygenase Gene Family of the Aquatic Duckweed,Spirodela polyrhiza,during Growth and in Response to Methyl Jasmonate and Salt

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) (EC 1.13.11.12) catalyze the oxygenation of fatty acids and produce oxylipins, including the plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) and its methyl ester, methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Little information is available about the LOX gene family in aquatic plants. We identified a novel LOX gene family comprising nine LOX genes in the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrhiza (greater duckweed). The reduced anatomy of S. polyrhiza did not lead to a reduction in LOX family genes. The 13-LOX subfamily, with seven genes, predominates, while the 9-LOX subfamily is reduced to two genes, an opposite trend from known LOX families of other plant species. As the 13-LOX subfamily is associated with the synthesis of JA/MeJA, its predominance in the Spirodela genome raises the possibility of a higher requirement for the hormone in the aquatic plant. JA-/MeJA-based feedback regulation during culture aging as well as the induction of LOX gene family members within 6 h of salt exposure are demonstrated.     

Ceria (La3+, Sr2+)/Carbonates Nanocomposite Electrolytes with High Electrical Conductivity for Low‐Temperature SOFCs

A series of ceria‐based nanocomposites consisting of lanthanum and strontium codoped ceria with composition Ce_0.89La_0.07Sr_0.04O_1.925 (CL7S4) and eutectic mixture of carbonates Li₂CO₃‐Na₂CO₃ (LNCO) have been prepared by mixing nanosize powders of CL7S4 and LNCO. Samples have been characterized using differential thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy combined with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, thermal expansion, and impedance spectroscopy. A sharp increase in ionic conductivity is observed in all the composite specimens corresponding to superionic transition. Sample containing 35 wt% of carbonate shows the maximum conductivity (2.56 × 10^?1 S/cm at 500°C) with activation energy of conduction, E_a 0.23 eV.     

Preliminary investigation of the impact of polymer composition on electrochemical properties of coatings as determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

The influence of structural and systematic compositional variations in glycidyl carbamate (GC) functional polymers on the electrochemical properties of their coatings was studied. There are few reports which focus on the correlation of structural and compositional variations in polymer films with their electrochemical barrier properties, diffusion properties with regards to water and aqueous electrolytes, and corrosion performance. To begin to fill this knowledge gap, two sets of GC functional polymers were studied. The polymer compositions were designed to vary the extent of polar hydrophilic groups, non-polar hydrophobic groups, and reactive epoxy groups in the final coatings. Impedance responses of the coatings were found to be closely related to the structural and compositional variations of these GC polymer films. In addition, single frequency EIS experiments were used in an attempt to understand the water uptake behavior of these polymer films using NaCl solution and ionic liquid under immersed condition. The resulting transport property data of the films was correlated to their polymer structure and composition. Moreover, a novel attempt at ranking the stability of coating using capacitance measurement during a cyclic wetting–drying condition was also attempted. The information obtained from this work can potentially be used to optimize the polymer for the specific performance properties needed in the protective coating applications, saving significant time and effort in the research and development stage.     

Plasma‐induced surface modification and adhesion enhancement of polypropylene surface

Unoriented (UPP) and biaxially oriented (BOPP) polypropylene films were treated under radio frequency plasma of air, nitrogen, oxygen, and ammonia. Surface modification of polypropylene films was investigated by using surface energy measurement and attenuated total reflection (ATR)‐FTIR spectroscopy. Surface energy of air and nitrogen plasma‐treated polypropylene film increased for shorter treatment time and then decreased and attained an equilibrium value. Such changes in surface energy were not observed for oxygen and ammonia plasma‐treated polypropylene film, which increased to an equilibrium value. ATR‐FTIR studies revealed characteristic differences in the absorption spectra for short‐duration and long‐duration treatments. From the relative intensity change in the C—H stretching vibration, the mechanism of surface chemical reaction could be inferred. Studies regarding the durability of surface modification due to plasma treatment were evaluated by investigating surface energy of samples aged for 2 months. Treated films subjected to peel strength measurement showed improvement in bondability for UPP and BOPP film by hydrophilic surface modification accompanied by surface crosslinking. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 925–936, 2002     

Friction stir scribe welding technique for dissimilar joining of aluminium and galvanised steel

Friction stir scribe technology, a derivative of friction stir welding, was applied for the dissimilar lap welding of an aluminium alloy and galvanised mild steel sheets. During the process, the rotating tool with a cobalt steel scribe first penetrated the top material – aluminium – and then the scribe cuts the bottom material – steel. The steel was displaced into the upper material to produce a characteristic hook feature. Lap welds were shear tested, and their fracture paths were studied. Welding parameters affected the welding features, including hook height, which turned out to be highly related to fracture position. Therefore, in this paper, the relationships among welding parameters, hook height, joint strength and fracture position are presented. In addition, the influence of zinc coating on joint strength was also studied.     

Effect of hook characteristics on the fracture behaviour of dissimilar friction stir welded aluminium alloy and mild steel sheets

ABSTRACT

Under tensile shear loading, fracture modes of dissimilar lap welds produced by friction stir scribe technology were studied. Three fracture modes were observed. For zone A fracture, the initial crack was restrained, and the joint ultimately fractured in the base mild steel. For zone B fracture, the initial crack progressed through the aluminium sheet just above the Al/steel interface. For zone C fracture, the initial crack proceeded along the steel hook to the aluminium sheet surface. Fracture mode and joint strength were greatly influenced by steel hook size, and the steel hook size was affected by welding parameters and tool scribe height. In this study, the experimental joint strength achieved the calculated joint load limit.     

The torque on a rotating disk in the surface of a liquid with an adsorbed film

Summary In this paper we consider the problem of calculating the resistive torque on a disk rotating slowly with constant angular speed in the surface of a liquid with an adsorbed surface film. Using the method of complementary representations for generalised axially symmetric potential functions, the boundary-value problem for the azimuthal velocity component is reduced to the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. This equation is solved numerically and asymptotically for all values of the ratio of the surface shear viscosity of the film to the viscosity of the substrate fluid, and values calculated for the substrate and film torques on the disk. The results are compared with previous work of Goodrich and his co-workers.     

Role of Direct Reduced Iron Fines in Nitrogen Removal from Electric Arc Furnace Steel

Electric arc furnace steel contains about 70‐120 ppm nitrogen. There is no suitable method for nitrogen removal from electric arc furnace steel up to the level desired for good quality bars and flat rolled products (30 ppm max). The existing process based on vacuum degassing can remove only up to 20% of nitrogen in steel. In the present study DRI fines have been injected into a steel bath which can drift out nitrogen in steel through production of fine CO bubbles in‐situ on reaction with residual FeO in DRI fines and C in bath. For high and medium carbon steel, nitrogen got reduced to 30 ppm and 60 ppm respectively where initial nitrogen was 150 – 200 ppm in steel. Nitrogen removal also depends upon bath depth and addition level of DRI.