Subtle variations in the structure of crosslinked epoxy networks and the impact upon mechanical and thermal properties

Presented here is an investigation of the structure–property relationships of crosslinked networks using three bi-functional glycidyl ether aromatic epoxy resins, two bi-aryl and one tri-aryl, cured with bi- and tri-aryl amines. Subtle changes to the monomer chemistry including changing aromatic substitution patterns from meta to para, methylene to isopropyl and isopropyl to ether were explored. Changing an epoxy resin backbone from methylene to isopropyl enhances backbone rigidity thus increasing glass transition temperature (T_g), yield strength, and strain despite reducing modulus. Changing meta-substitution to para increases T_g and yield strain while leaving strength unaffected and reducing modulus. Changing isopropyl linkages to ether reduces modulus, strength, T_g, and yield strain reflecting increased molecular flexibility. Using three instead of two aromatic rings increases the molecular weight between crosslinks thereby decreasing T_g and yield strain while increasing modulus and strength. Despite the complexities of multiple systems for varying epoxy resins and amine hardeners, the effect upon network properties is explained in terms of short- and long-range molecular and segmental mobility, crosslink density, and equilibrium packing density. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48874.     

Discovery of a Short‐Chain Dehydrogenase from Catharanthus roseus that Produces a New Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid

Plant monoterpene indole alkaloids, a large class of natural products, derive from the biosynthetic intermediate strictosidine aglycone. Strictosidine aglycone, which can exist as a variety of isomers, can be reduced to form numerous different structures. We have discovered a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase (SDR) from plant producers of monoterpene indole alkaloids (Catharanthus roseus and Rauvolfia serpentina) that reduce strictosidine aglycone and produce an alkaloid that does not correspond to any previously reported compound. Here we report the structural characterization of this product, which we have named vitrosamine, as well as the crystal structure of the SDR. This discovery highlights the structural versatility of the strictosidine aglycone biosynthetic intermediate and expands the range of enzymatic reactions that SDRs can catalyse. This discovery further highlights how a sequence‐based gene mining discovery approach in plants can reveal cryptic chemistry that would not be uncovered by classical natural product chemistry approaches.     

Polyacrylonitrile‐carbon Nanotube‐polyacrylonitrile: A Versatile Robust Platform for Flexible Multifunctional Electronic Devices in Medical Applications

Flexible multifunctional electronic devices are of high interest for a wide range of applications including thermal therapy and respiratory devices in medical treatment, safety equipment, and structural health monitoring systems. This paper reports a scalable and efficient strategy of manufacturing a polyacrylonitrile‐carbon nanotube‐polyacrylonitrile (PAN‐CNT‐PAN) robust flexible platform for multifunctional electronic devices including flexible heaters, temperature sensors, and flexible thermal flow sensors. The key advantages of this platform include low cost, porosity, mechanical robustness, and electrical stability under mechanical bending, enabling the development of fast‐response flexible heaters with a response time of ≈1.5 s and relaxation time of ≈1.7 s. The temperature‐sensing functionality is also investigated with a range of temperature coefficient of resistances from ?650 to ?900 ppm K^?1. A flexible hot‐film sensing concept is successfully demonstrated using PAN‐CNT‐PAN with a high sensitivity of 340 mV (m s^?1)^?1. The sensitivity enhancement of 50% W^?1 is also observed with increasing supply power. The low cost, porosity, versatile, and robust properties of the proposed platform will enable the development of multifunctional electronic devices for numerous applications such as flexible thermal management, temperature stabilization in industrial processing, temperature sensing, and flexible/wearable devices for human healthcare applications.     

碾压混凝土坝的渗流分析研究

针对碾压混凝土坝渗流特性，采用无厚度缝面单元模拟型进行渗流分析，在不增加网格节点的前提下，不但能高效地刻画出层面和缝面的特点，而且能对具有强透水能力的冷缝或裂缝进行细致的模拟，基本上解决了碾压混凝土坝的渗流建模问题。计算结果表明，采用无厚度缝面单元模型，更加符合坝体的渗流实际情况，提高了求解的精度。     

Development of a bioprocess combined with membrane technology for the treatment and recycling of textile effluent

A mixed culture of dye-decolorising Pseudomonas spp. was immobilised on polyurethane foam, and used in a bench-scale continuous culture bioreactor to treat textile effluent for colour removal. The provision of soluble wheat starch (0.2% w/v) to the culture medium promoted growth of biomass and enhanced decolorisation of effluent in the bioreactor. The bioprocess was further combined with membrane filtration technology to improve the quality of treated effluent. The treated effluent showed 90, 82 and 60% reduction in COD, BOD₅ and toxicity levels, respectively, and had potential for re-use in dyeing processes. The colour difference of the cotton fabrics dyed using the treated effluent samples compared to those dyed using normal supply water was found to be industrially acceptable. The described process could improve treatment efficiency and allow water recycling within the textile factory.     

A Review on the Separation of Niobium and Tantalum by Solvent Extraction

Niobium and tantalum are found together in natural minerals. Leaching with concentrated acid solution or alkaline roasting followed by water/dilute acid leaching results in a solution containing these two metals. In this work, we reviewed the extraction and separation of Nb(V) and Ta(V) from leach liquors in the absence and presence of hydrofluoric acid by acidic, neutral extractants and amines. Several solvent extraction systems were compared in the light of the requirement of hazardous chemicals, extraction/separation efficiency, and stability/solubility of extractants. Since the cationic species of Nb(V) and Ta(V) are unstable in the aqueous solution, the application of acidic extractants for extraction and separation of these metals is limited. Amines can extract Nb(V) as well as Ta(V) irrespective of the presence of fluoride ion but the separation of these metals from the loaded amines should be carried out in stripping process, resulting in process complexity. Another disadvantage encountered for amine is related to high viscosity in extraction process. Neutral extractants are considered as promising extractants which are effective to separate Ta(V) and Nb(V) from either non-fluoride or to moderate fluoride ion concentration in terms of extraction, separation and stripping efficiency. Compared to the traditional methyl iso-butyl ketone (MIBK) based system, methyl isoamyl ketone (MIAK) is found to be a promising extractant to separate Nb(V) and Ta(V).     

Effect of Storage Conditions on 2–Acetyl-1–pyrroline Content in Aromatic Rice Variety, Khao Dawk Mali 105

ABSTRACT: The effect of package and temperature on 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content in milled aromatic rice during storage was investigated. 2 -Acetyl-1 -pyrroline content was decreased faster at higher storage temperature. However, fat acidity of rice was increased during storage and inversely correlated with 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content at an early stage of storage. The difference in 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline recovery from the samples, which were extracted with ethanol at 40 °C and 75 °C, revealed that the starch bound and free forms of 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline may occur in aromatic rice. These results suggested that the biosynthesis of 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline before starch structure formation in rice kernel could play a key role in the aroma quality of aromatic rice.     

区块整体调剖技术在濮城油田沙三段油藏的研究与应用

濮城沙三段是典型深层低渗非均质油藏，经多次压裂改造，人工裂缝的形成导致注入水沿裂缝水窜，注入水波及系数大大降低，含水上升速度加快，开发效果变差。应用优化设计技术和PI决策专家系统，通过室内研究，开发出系列高强度微裂缝和大孔道堵剂，并形成油水井配套封堵工艺技术。应用后，注入水波及系数得到提高，油藏开发效果得到有效改善。     

Investigation of creep behavior of 316L stainless steel produced by selective laser melting with various processing parameters

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Creep behavior of 316L stainless steel was experimentally investigated using small punch (SP) specimens produced by the selective laser melting (SLM)...