Failure by slow crack growth of SiC fibers: Comparing the lifetime scatter for single filaments and multifilament tows

SiC-based fibers are subjected to slow crack growth, a crack growth mechanism activated by stresses and the chemical environment, as identified by static fatigue testing. Such tests can be performed on filaments or bundles. Although both types of specimens show a similar lifetime variation, testing of bundles is often preferred. This work compares the scatter of lifetimes predicted for filaments and for tows using a dedicated Monte Carlo simulation tool relying on the following hypotheses: The stress applied to a single filament can be defined, whereas the size of its most critical flaw cannot; on a bundle, neither the applied stress nor the strength of the critical filament (which triggers the cascade failure and the tow failure) can be defined. Depending on the parallelism of fibers inside the bundle and their strength dispersion, the lifetime scatter can be narrower for filaments compared to tows or vice versa.     

Topology and porosity control on zirconium–fumarate frameworks boosting xenon/krypton separation

The designability and ultrahigh stability of zirconium–organic frameworks make them attractive adsorbents for noble gases xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr), but their Xe/Kr separation performance needs to be further enhanced. In this study, we rationally control the topology and porosity of zirconium–fumarate frameworks by simply changing the synthesis conditions, and successfully construct an adsorbent (named as MIP-203-F) with one-dimensional pore instead of the original cage-like fcu metal–organic framework MOF-801. The Xe/Kr separation performance of MIP-203-F is thoroughly evaluated by isotherm measurements and breakthrough experiments, while the adsorption mechanism is elucidated in detail by Monte Carlo and density functional theory calculations. Due to the uniform pore with suitable size and abundant polarization groups, MIP-203-F can differentially polarize and recognize atomic Xe/Kr gases, and establishes a new record among zirconium–organic frameworks for the capture and separation of Xe/Kr.     

Giant dielectric response and grain heterogeneity of Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12–TiO2 composite ceramics fabricated by hydrothermal process

Due to the boom of the electronic information industry, dielectric ceramic materials are widely applied in passive components such as multilayer ceramic capacitors. In this article, Y_2/3Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂–TiO₂ composite ceramics with outstanding dielectric properties (ε_r = 2.29 × 10⁶ at 20 Hz, ε_r = 4.49×10⁵ at 1 kHz) were successfully prepared by hydrothermal and in situ solid-state methods. The minimum dielectric loss value (at 1 kHz) of the obtained composite ceramics is about 0.57. The experimental results show that Y_2/3Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂ has a composite perovskite structure with cation vacancies, which causes internal electron-pinned defect-dipole, and the easy entry of excessive titanium ions to produce donor defects. Meanwhile, the heterogeneous grains with a pomegranate-like microstructure were observed in the prepared composite ceramics, and interfacial polarization between subgrain boundaries was substantiated by impedance analysis. The abundant weakly trapped electrons and more polarized interfaces formed by grain and subgrain boundaries are the primary sources of the excellent dielectric properties of composite ceramics.     

Oxidative ring‐opening of 2‐methylcyclohexanone catalysed by supported heteropolyacid catalysts for cetane number enhancement

Incipient wetness impregnation method was used to incorporate heteropolyacid H₆[PV₃Mo₉O₄₀]nH₂O (HPA) on SiO₂ at various HPA loadings (10, 20, 30, 40 wt.% HPA) and calcined temperatures. Catalytic activity of these synthesised catalysts were evaluated through oxidation of 2‐methylcyclohexanone to methyl 6‐oxoheptanoate which was a desired product. In the oxidative conditions the conversion and selectivity of the desired product methyl 6‐oxoheptanoate can reach as high as 97 and 94 wt.%, respectively. The results also suggested that the catalyst with 20 wt.% loading of HPA to be the best one. The catalysts were characterised using a variety of techniques including XRD, BET, FT‐IR and TGA‐DTA. The results indicated that HPA was well dispersed on the SiO₂ supporting material. An engine ignition test following ASTM D6890 standard indicated that the oxidative ring‐opening of cyclohydrocarbons can have a positive impact on the cetane numbers and ignition delay time of fuels. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

High polymer/surfactant ratio in the seeded semicontinuous heterogeneous polymerization of vinyl acetate

Vinyl acetate (VAc) was polymerized by a seeded semicontinuous heterogeneous process. Stable latexes with a polymer/surfactant weight ratio of 65 were obtained, which is comparable with the highest value reported in the literature for emulsion polymerization but with the advantage of obtaining smaller particles (average diameter, D_p = 53 nm) which are similar to those obtained by microemulsion polymerization. The surfactant (sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS) concentration used in the recipe (0.32 wt%) is much lower than those typically used in microemulsion polymerization. Although molar masses increased during the continuous monomer addition period, they were small at the end of the reaction (M_n = 69 × 10³ g·mol^–1) and this was attributed to bimolecular termination inside the particles. The values of polymerization rate (R_p) and monomer addition rate (F_m) were nearly the same, indicating that polymerization was performed under monomer starved conditions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

On the Cure Acceleration of Oil-Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins with Different Catalysts

Oil-phenol-formaldehyde (Oil-PF) resins containing 50 wt% replacement of petroleum phenol with bio-oil were prepared and different catalysts [sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), urea, and magnesium oxide (MgO)] were added in the synthesis process of resins to accelerate the cure. The cure-acceleration effects of catalysts on cure characteristics of oil-PF resins were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel time, and a plywood panels test. The results indicated that catalysts presented different accelerating effects on the cure of the oil-PF resin. Both Na₂CO₃ and MgO can accelerate the oil-PF resin cure at a low temperature; however, urea seemed to have no significant effect on the cure of the resin. The application of Na₂CO₃- and MgO-accelerated oil-PF resins reduced hot pressing time for the manufacture of three-layer plywood panels. Compared with MgO, Na₂CO₃ had more significant accelerating effect on the cure of the oil-PF resin.     

Synergistic inhibition of human glioma cell line by temozolomide and PAMAM‐mediated miR‐21i

Temozolomide (TMZ) is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treating glioblastomas. However, resistance develops quickly and with a high frequency. Efforts to overcome chemoresistance are, therefore, critically needed. In present study, a poly(amidoamine; PAMAM) dendrimer was used as a vector to deliver microRNA‐21 inhibitor (miR‐21i) into U87 cells and the chemosensitivity of the combination effect of miR‐21i and TMZ for glioma therapy was investigated. Flow cytometry analysis showed the uptake efficiency of microRNA‐21 inhibitor after complexation with PAMAM. Real‐time PCR and in situ hybridization indicated that, compared with TMZ or miR‐21i treated cells, cells simultaneously treated with miR‐21i and TMZ showed a remarkable decrease in the microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) level. The transfection of miR‐21i enhanced the chemosensitivity by significantly decreasing the IC50 value of TMZ to glioma cells. Knockdown of miR‐21 promoted the cells' apoptosis, and at the same time, inhibited cell invasion. In conclusion, the combination treatment of glioma cells with TMZ and miR‐21i could yield a synergistic effect in inhibition of human glioma cell line. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013