Synthesis and characterization of ferroelectric side chain liquid crystal polymers bearing banana-shaped chiral mesogens

A series of ferroelectric liquid crystal polymers having banana-shaped side chain mesogens were synthesized through photo-polymerization of epoxide moiety. 2,5-disubstituted-thiophene sub-unit was used in synthesizing the banana-shaped monomers. These liquid crystal compounds were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical polarized microscopy (POM). Mesomorphism was investigated as a function of spacer units. All the synthesized low molar mass banana-shaped compounds exhibit smectic blue phase, but chiral smectic C phase could be observed only on compounds having longer spacer. The clearing temperature of low molar mass compounds fluctuated a little when spacer length varies. All polymers exhibit cholesteric mesophase and an observable glass transition. These liquid crystalline compounds reveal strong photoluminescence at visible region (λ_max = 475 nm for M9EPX) and have potential use in polarized organic light emitting diode materials.     

Stability of Molybdenum Disilicide in Combustion Gak Environments

The stability of MoSi₂ in combustion gas at 1370° and 1600°C was evaluated using SOLGASMIX-PV thermodynamic modeling, periodic weight measurements, and characterization via XRD, SEM, EDS, and image analysis. Passive oxidation occurred at both temperatures. During an initial stage of exposure, specimen surfaces oxidized to form MoO_3(g) and amorphous SiO₂ via reduction of CO₂ and H₂O. After a short time (<6.5 min at 1370°C, <1 min at 1600°C), the oxidation mechanism switched; Mo₅Si₃ and amorphous SiO₂ formed as oxidation products. The first mechanism esulted in the formation of 46.1 vol% at 1370°C and 42.6 vol% at 1600°C of the amorphous silica surface coating. The attainment of a near-terminal weight gain implied silica formation was limited by H₂O and CO₂ diffusion through the silica coating.     

Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane-Assisted Fabrication of β-In2S3 Nanowires

In this study, β-In₂S₃ nanowires were first synthesized by sulfurizing the pure Indium (In) nanowires in an AAO membrane. As FE-SEM results, β-In₂S₃ nanowires are highly ordered, arranged tightly corresponding to the high porosity of the AAO membrane used. The diameter of the β-In₂S₃ nanowires is about 60 nm with the length of about 6–8 μm. Moreover, the aspect ratio of β-In₂S₃ nanowires is up to 117. An EDS analysis revealed the β-In₂S₃ nanowires with an atomic ratio of nearly S/In = 1.5. X-ray diffraction and corresponding selected area electron diffraction patterns demonstrated that the β-In₂S₃ nanowire is tetragonal polycrystalline. The direct band gap energy (E_g) is 2.40 eV from the optical measurement, and it is reasonable with literature.     

Techno-economic evaluation of biohydrogen production from wastewater and agricultural waste

The world is facing serious climate change caused in part by human consumption of fossil fuel. Therefore, developing a clean and environmentally friendly energy resource is necessary given the depletion of fossil fuels, the preservation of the earth's ecosystem and self-preservation of human life. Biological hydrogen production, using dark fermentation is being developed as a promising alternative and renewable energy source, using biomass feedstock. In this study, beverage wastewater and agricultural waste were examined as substrates for dark fermentation to produce clean biohydrogen energy.     

Comparative In Vitro Osteoinductivity Study of HA and α‐TCP/HA Bicalcium Phosphate

A bicalcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramic comprising α‐tricalcium phosphate (α‐TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) was prepared by a two‐step sintering. The microstructure of the BCP bioceramic was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction. The in vitro osteoinductivity was evaluated by culturing MG63 osteoblast‐like cells on the BCP bioceramic. Results showed that the BCP bioceramic comprising α‐TCP and HA in a moderate ratio possessed a hardness of 93.7 Hv. The cells spread faster on the BCP bioceramic than those on the commercial HA. It suggested that the BCP bioceramic can enhance osteoinductivity in vivo.     

Cu-Zn-Al合金马氏体稳定化与母相有序态SCIEI

采用X射线衍射和内耗测量研究了Cu-Zn-Al合金不同热处理条件对马氏体相变和母相有序态的影响。研究表明,“淬火-时效”试样从室温加热到320℃马氏体完全消失为止始终未发生逆相变。分级淬火短期等温试样出现B2?9R和DO_3?18R两种马氏体相变共存。随着等温时间的增长,B2?9R相变消失,与此同时DO_3?18R相变增强。然而,淬火后立即上淬到100—150℃等温的试样只出现B2?9R相变,即使等温时间增长也能继续保持。显然,从高温快冷不能抑制A2?B2有序,却可以抑制B2?DO_3有序。虽然分级和上淬处理时母相所处的湿度相同,但其有序态却各异,足够的空位浓度是发生B2?DO_3有序转变的必要条件。文中讨论了Cu-Zn-Al合金马氏体稳定化的可能机制。     

Ceramic wear maps

Ceramic wear maps have been developed to elucidate the complex interactions of the operating parameters, environments, and wear mechanisms. This paper summarizes these interactions for four ceramics, alumina, yttria-doped zirconia, silicon carbide and silicon nitride. Wear maps of these ceramics are systematically constructed using measured data under dry sliding, water, and paraffin lubricated conditions. For each material, different wear level regions acid wear transition zones are identified as a function of operating conditions and lubrication conditions. Wear mechanism studies performed within each wear region give rise to the wear mechanism maps. These maps facilitate material comparison and selection. The knowledge of wear, wear transitions, and wear mechanisms for a material pair enables realistic wear model development. One outcome of this approach is the recognition that a single wear model for a material pair cannot cover all operating conditions and environments.

As wear maps are constructed today, they are material pair specific. Within a material pair, there are microstructural dependence and surface properties influence. These parameters can change substantially for a given chemical composition of the material. How to incorporate these factors into the wear map research remains an issue. The search for a universal parameter such as the “asperity temperature” in Ashby's wear map continues in spite of mounting evidence that this may not be practical or feasible. But the hope remains that some parameters can be identified to normalize a large number of materials, operating conditions, and environments for tribological applications. Systematic wear maps are the first steps in this direction.     

Synthesis of porous carbon and silica spheres using PEO-PF polymer blends

In this paper, we performed a physical mixture of PEO and PF polymers (i.e. a polymer blend) as an organic template for synthesizing PF-PEO-silica homogeneous composites in a dilute silicate solution at pH = 4.0–5.0. The PF-PEO-silica composites exhibit spherical morphology, in micrometer dimension, and the sphere size is dependent on the pH value of the solution. After undergoing calcination to remove the organic part of the PF-PEO-silica composites with and without the hydrothermal treatment, porous silica spheres of different pore sizes were obtained. Due to the existence of the carbonizing PF polymer in the PF-PEO-silica composite, porous carbon spheres can be conveniently obtained from pyrolysis of the PF-PEO-silica composites under a N₂ atmosphere and HF-etching procedures. TEM images demonstrate that the mesostructures of the mesoporous silica and porous carbons are disordered.     

Physical study of room‐temperature‐cured epoxy/thermally reduced graphene oxides with various contents of oxygen‐containing groups

In this study, the effects of different oxygen‐containing group contents in thermally reduced graphene oxides (TRGs) for enhancing the physical properties of epoxy nancomposites was examined. The epoxy/TRG nanocomposites (ETNs) were prepared by a room temperature curing method in the presence of TRGs containing different oxygen‐containing groups and were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. TRG contents with higher oxygen‐containing group contents (ca 33%) were found to show better dispersion capability in the epoxy matrix than TRGs with lower oxygen‐containing group contents (ca 11%) based on morphological observations by transmission electron microscopy. The better dispersion capability of TRGs with higher oxygen‐containing group contents in ETN membranes was found to lead to significantly enhanced mechanical strength, thermal stability and thermal conductivity based on measurements of dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis and by the transient plane source technique. © 2014 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of two concentration methods for detecting Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water

The cartridge filtration method and membrane filtration method based on the fluorescent antibody procedure were evaluated for their recovery efficiencies and detection limits of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. We assessed the performances of the two concentration methods for water samples collected from Taiwan water treatment plants. The membrane filtration method was characterized by higher recovery rate and detection limit comparing with the cartridge filtration method. The occurrences of both parasites, and the relationships of parasite concentrations with indicator microorganisms show inconsistency between the two methods. It was discovered that water turbidity reduced the recovery efficiencies, and raised the detection limits for both parasites regardless of the method used.