Simulation of Cold Rolled Steel Coil Heating during Batch Annealing Process

Cold rolled coils are subjected to the annealing process in order to improve their formability and mechanical properties. A mathematical model of thermal behavior of coils during the heating cycle has been developed. Based on experimental data from several tests, the accuracy of the model has been confirmed. This model enables us to determine the coldest point of coils and the end time of furnace operation. Furthermore, the model has been used to analyze the effect of strip thickness on the heating time required. Thinner strips lead to prolonged heating time and larger temperature differences within the coil.     

Copper-poly (2-aminodiphenylamine) composite as catalyst for electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde in alkaline media

The present work describes the electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde on a copper-polymer modified electrode. The deposition of polymeric film on the surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE) was carried out using consecutive cyclic voltammetry in an aqueous solution of 2-aminodiphenylamine (2ADPA). The transition metal of copper is incorporated into the polymer by electrodeposition of Cu(??) from CuCl₂ acidic solution using potentiostatic technique. Characterization of different modified electrodes was studied using SEM technique and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). Cyclic voltammetry experiment of copper-poly(2-aminodiphenylamine) modified carbon paste electrode (Cu/P(2ADPA)/MCPE) in alkaline solution exhibited a number of well-defined anodic and cathodic peaks that are attributed to the Cu/Cu(I), Cu/Cu(II), Cu(I)/Cu(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(III) redox couples. The electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde at the surface of Cu/P(2ADPA)/MCPE was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods. This new modified electrode found to be highly active and stable for electrooxidation of the formaldehyde so that the electrocatalytic current density of 25.56 mA cm⁻² was obtained at the potential of 0.63 V. The effects of various parameters such as the copper loading, scan rate and formaldehyde concentration on the electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde were also investigated. Finally, using a chronoamperometric method, the catalytic rate constant (k) for oxidation of formaldehyde was found to be 7.16 × 10⁶ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Assessment of immobilized cell reactor and microbial fuel cell for simultaneous cheese whey treatment and lactic acid/electricity production

Two biological methods for treatment of cheese whey and concentrated cheese whey were investigated in this research. As the first method, fermentation of cheese whey for production of lactic acid, in an immobilized cell reactor (ICR) was successfully carried out. The immobilisation of Lactobacillus bulgaricus was performed by the enriched cells cultured media harvested at exponential growth phase. Furthermore, the FTIR analysis has been done to prove the production of lactic acid. The COD removal during the continuous process for both whey and concentrated whey was above 70% which showed the capability of reaction for wastewater treatment. The cells were immobilised by sodium alginate as a perfect polymer in this regard. The maximum produced lactic acid from whey was 10.7 g l^?1 at 0.125 h^?1 and 19.5 g l^?1 from concentrated whey at 0.063 h^?1. Finally it can be concluded that the process is efficient for lactic acid production and COD removal simultaneously. As the second studied method, whey and concentrated cheese whey were used as the sources of carbon in a microbial fuel cell. The power densities of 188.8 and 288.12 mW m^?2 were recorded for whey-fed and concentrated whey-fed MFCs while the COD removal were 95% and 86% respectively. Biological wastewater treatment can be a very efficient alternative for traditional wastewater treatment which selecting any and or integrating of them depends on specific applications needed to be achieved.     

Neo-fuzzy neuron learning using backfitting algorithm

Neural Computing and Applications - This paper proposes an automatic and simple approach to design a neo-fuzzy neuron for identification purposes. The proposed approach uses the backfitting...     

A comparative study to assess structure–properties relationships in (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)‐based composites: Recycled microfillers versus nanofillers

This paper reports on the reinforcing effects of different types of fillers, namely, nanoclay (NC), micron size calcium carbonate (MCC), and micron size recycled powder coating waste (MPCW), on the ultimate properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) compounds. The microcomposites and nanocomposites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, implying enlargement of d‐spacing of NC or intercalation of NBR chains and formation of exfoliated structure, while some agglomerates of MCC were detected. Curing characteristics of the studied composites showed that incorporation of the fillers into the NBR, in particular the NC, causes an increase in the torque, indicating a higher degree of crosslinking. Furthermore, different from micron size MPCW and MCC, the NC accelerated the vulcanization reaction. It was also found that the use of NC and MPCW results in a remarkable increase in the mechanical and rheological properties compared with pure NBR. All in all, variations in the aforementioned criteria were attributable to the extent of matrix/filler interaction reflected by scanning electron micrographs. The correlation established between the microstructure and characteristics of the prepared NBR composites can shed some light on how to develop composites with enhanced properties by incorporating waste materials into the polymers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:13–20, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of physical aging on the impact retention and heat distortion temperature of vinyl products

Physical properties of polymers change with time. Exposure of amorphous polymers to high temperature will reduce their free volume, which in turn increases their heat distortion temperature and decreases their impact strength. Heat distortion additives, such as poly(α-methylstyrene-styrene-acrylonitrile) (AMSAN), enhance the glass transition temperature of PVC and help in the impact retention of the polymer by slowing down the aging process. In this paper, physical aging of PVC is explored, effect of annealing time and temperature on the impact strength and HDT is reported, and conclusions regarding the retention of impact resistance upon aging are drawn.     

Analysis of bioheat transfer equation for hyperthermia cancer treatment

Magnetic fluid hyperthermia is a new subclass of hyperthermia cancer treatment that can selectively heat up a tumor without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues. Some authors studied the temperature distribution of a magnetically mediated tumor assuming a homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles inside the tumor. Practically speaking, the injected nanoparticles do not usually distribute uniformly throughout the entire tumor, thus leaving some parts of the tumor without nanoparticles. In this study, an inhomogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles inside the tumor is assumed to investigate the tissues’ temperature profiles. The problem is solved for polar coordinate. Also in this study, the heating effect of magnetic fluid in a porcine liver tissue is experimentally examined. Numerical transient solutions are found to be in good agreement with experimental data.     

Copolymerization of ethylene/α‐olefins using bis(2‐phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride metallocene catalyst: structural study of comonomer distribution

Catalysts have a major role in the polymerization of olefins and exert their influence in three ways: (1) polymerization behaviour, including polymerization activity and kinetics; (2) polymer particle morphology, including bulk density, particle size, particle size distribution and particle shape; and (3) polymer microstructure, including molecular weight regulation, chemical composition distribution and short‐ and long‐chain branching. By tailoring the catalyst structure, such as the creation of a bridge or introducing a substituent on the ligand, metallocene catalysts can play a major role in the achievement of desirable properties. Kinetic profiles of the metallocene catalyst used in this study showed decay‐type behaviour for copolymerization of ethylene/α‐olefins. It was observed that increasing the comonomer ratio in the feedstock affected physical properties such as reducing the melting temperature, crystallinity, density and molecular weight of the copolymers. It was also observed that the heterogeneity of the chemical composition distribution and the physical properties were enhanced as the comonomer molecular weight was increased. In particular, 2‐phenyl substitution on the indenyl ring reduced somewhat the melting point of the copolymers. In addition, the copolymer produced using bis(2‐phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride (bis(2‐PhInd)ZrCl₂) catalyst exhibited a narrower distribution of lamellae (0.3–0.9 nm) than the polymer produced using bisindenylzirconium dichloride catalyst (0.5–3.6 nm). The results obtained indicate that the bis(2‐PhInd)ZrCl₂ catalyst showed a good comonomer incorporation ability. The heterogeneity of the chemical composition distribution and the physical properties were influenced by the type of comonomer and type of substituent in the catalyst. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

A robust algorithm for a class of optimal control problems subject to regional stability constraints and disturbances

A robust globally convergent algorithm for solving the optimization control problem (OCP) in both state feedback controller and observation control system is investigated. Finding the OCP adjoint parameter for computing the optimal observer gain and feedback gain vectors are desired. First, the optimal control problem considering stability of degree constrains and disturbance that affects the dynamics of system is converted into a two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP). Then, we apply the He’s polynomials based on homotopy perturbation method (HPM) as an efficient method to find both optimal gains. The algorithm will be modified do decrease the number of iterations required to attain a desired control problem cost function. As a result lower computational complexity is required when compared with other state of the art methods. Applying the HPM makes the solution procedure become easier, simpler and more straightforward. In the proposed method the control problem can be solved with lower amplitudes of the input signal (control effort), comparing with analytical method. Lower control efforts may also help to avoid saturation effects, and to restrain the system to work within linear operating areas of the state space. On the other hand, there is a tradeoff between control effort and the degree of optimality obtained. For demonstrating the simplicity and efficiency of the proposed optimal control method, the algorithm is compared with a control architecture using the Kalman filter estimator and a controller gain designed by the Lyapunov’s second method.