Influence of triethanolamine on the hydration characteristics of tricalcium silicate

The hydration characteristics of 3CaO.SiO₂ or β2CaO.SiO₂ are studied by an addition of 0.0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0% triethanolamine. The amount of Ca(OH)₂ found at 1, 3, 7 or 28 days was in the order C₃S + 0% TEA > C₃S +0.1% TEA > C₃S + 0.5% TEA > C₃S+1.0% TEA, irrespective of whether lime was estimated by X-ray, DTA, TGA or chemical analysis. The rate of hydration, in terms of the disappearance of 3CaO.SiO₂, showed that hydration proceeded faster in the presence of TEA after 1 day. Additions of TEA increase the induction period, promote the formation of a C-S-H with higher CaO/SiO₂ ratio, increase the formation of non-crystalline Ca(OH)₂ and enhance the surface area of the hydrated silicate product.     

Coupled two-phase mass transfer to spherical drops — Trace gas absorption and oxidation by a single drop

Mass transfer across gas and liquid boundary layers into the core of drops with liquid phase first order chemical reaction has been analyzed for spherical drops in the Reynolds number range of 50 < Re_g < 400. The realistic and computationally efficient simulation of this gas absorption system is applicable in a variety of engineering fields including gas-liquid mass transfer in drops and sprays. The present paper deals with the fluid mechanics and mass transfer with chemical reaction of a single drop. In computer experiments good predictive agreement has been achieved with measured data. The theoretical results were generalized to show the influence of three major system parameters: Peclet number Pe_g or Pe_l Damköhler number Da and the distribution coefficient at the gas-liquid interface, M, on mass transfer and to demonstrate the importance of coupled gas- and liquid-phase resistances to gas absorption under practical conditions.     

Studies of molybdena-alumina catalysts. X. temperature programmed desorption of H2S and thiophene

Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and reduction (TPR) studies were carried out on H₂S and thiophene adsorbed on Mo/Al₂O₃ and CoMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Freshly sulfided and pyridine poisoned catalysts were run. For sulfided catalysts, the major products of desorption of thiophene were thiophene and butene, leaving a carbonaceous residue. Subsequent TPR in H₂ effected complete removal of the residue with formation of H₂S, thiophene and butene. The residue appeared to consist of an easily reactive thiophene polymer and a less-reactive, sulfur-containing coke. Runs on poisoned catalysts showed less adsorption but product profiles were similar, showing that the adsorption characteristics of the remaining sites were not significantly altered.     

Predictive models for multibiometric systems

Recognizing a subject given a set of biometrics is a fundamental pattern recognition problem. This paper builds novel statistical models for multibiometric systems using geometric and multinomial distributions. These models are generic as they are only based on the similarity scores produced by a recognition system. They predict the bounds on the range of indices within which a test subject is likely to be present in a sorted set of similarity scores. These bounds are then used in the multibiometric recognition system to predict a smaller subset of subjects from the database as probable candidates for a given test subject. Experimental results show that the proposed models enhance the recognition rate beyond the underlying matching algorithms for multiple face views, fingerprints, palm prints, irises and their combinations.     

Simultaneous absorption of two gases accompanied by reversible instantaneous chemical reactions

The problem of simultaneous absorption of two gases accompanied by reversible instantaneous chemical reactions is considered. Analytical equations are derived for the rates of absortion of the two gases. The solution is valid when the diffusivities of all species are assumed to be the same. The theoretical aspects of the problem of simultaneous absorption of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide in amine solutions under equilibrium reaction conditions are also considered.     

Silica–alumina-supported transition metal sulphide catalysts for deep hydrodesulphurization

Deep hydrodesulphurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and gas-oil has been carried out on amorphous-silica–alumina (ASA)-supported transition metal sulphides (TMS) under conditions which approach industrial practice. The activity and selectivity of the binary Ni-, Ru- and Pd-promoted Mo catalysts were compared with the monometallic ones (Ru, Ir, Pd, Ni, Mo on ASA). For both HDS of DBT and gas-oil, the observed activity trends were similar; thus, all catalysts were more active with model feed than with gas-oil, and less active than commercial CoMo/Al₂O₃. The binary catalysts showed larger activity than monometallic ones, with Ni–Mo catalyst being more effective than Ru–Mo or Pd–Mo. For Ni–Mo sample, the X-ray photoelectron and temperature-programmed reduction techniques confirmed that incorporation of Mo minimises metal–support interaction, although the formation of nickel hydrosilicate was not prevented. The consecutive impregnation of calcined Mo/ASA catalyst with precursor solution followed by calcination enhances molybdenum surface exposure in binary samples. As a consequence, the temperature of reduction of MoO₃ to molybdenum suboxides is decreased.     

Rising Crack-Growth-Resistance (R-Curve) Behavior of Toughened Alumina and Silicon Nitride

R -curves for a sinter/HIPed SiC(whisker)-reinforced alumina and a sintered silicon nitride were assessed by direct measurements of lengths of cracks associated with Vickers indentation flaws. The fracture toughness measurements based on (a) initial (as-indented) crack lengths, (b) equilibrium growth of cracks during increasing far-field loading, and (c) crack lengths corresponding to unstable fracture showed definitive trends of R -curves for both materials. The fracture mechanics analyses employed an indenter-material constant that was independently estimated using a physical model for the residual driving force and a free surface correction factor that accounted for the effects of size and shape of the cracks on stress intensity. It is shown that R -curve estimations based on crack length measurements have the intrinsic advantage that crack length dependence of fracture toughness is not assumed a priori as is done in conventional analysis based on strength. The measured fracture toughness of SiC(whisker)-reinforced alumina was in agreement with the prediction of a toughening model based on crack bridging by partially debonded whiskers.     

Characterization of microstructural changes during annealing of cold worked austenitic stainless steel using ultrasonic velocity measurements and correlation with mechanical properties

A technique that is sensitive to change in texture is more reliable than mechanical property measurements for the study of recrystallization behavior in alloys where recrystallization is coupled with precipitation. Hence, ultrasonic velocity measurements have been employed to characterize microstructural changes during annealing of cold worked Ti-modified austenitic stainless steel where precipitation of TiC is known to retard recrystallization. Mechanical property measurements, such as strength and hardness, could not distinguish the recovery and recrystallization regimes, and it was difficult to determine the exact time or temperature for onset of recrystallization. The variation of velocity with annealing time or annealing temperature exhibited a three-stage behavior. The velocity exhibited a slight increase in the recovery region followed by a sharp and continuous decrease in the recrystallization region and reached saturation on completion of recrystallization. Based on the microstructural investigations, the three stages were identified to be recovery, progress of recrystallization, and completion of recrystallization. Velocity measurements could sense the onset, progress, and completion of recrystallization more accurately compared with that of hardness and strength measurements.     

Gaming Social Capital: Exploring Civic Value in Multiplayer Video Games

Recent research suggests that social interactions in video games may lead to the development of community bonding and prosocial attitudes. Building on this line of research, a national survey of U.S. adults finds that gamers who develop ties with a community of fellow gamers possess gaming social capital, a new gaming‐related community construct that is shown to be a positive antecedent in predicting both face‐to‐face social capital and civic participation.