High-speed melt spinning of bicomponent fibers: Mechanism of fiber structure development in poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polypropylene system

High-speed bicomponent spinning of poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET)(core) and poly-propylene (PP) (sheath) was carried out and the structure development in the individual components, PET and PP, was investigated. The orientation and crystallinity development in the PET component was enhanced as compared to that of the single-component spinning while the PP component remained in a low orientation state and had a pseudohexagonal crystal structure even at high take-up speeds. To clarify the mutual interaction between the two components in bicomponent spinning, a semiquantitative numerical simulation was performed. The simulation results obtained using the Newtonian fluid model showed that the solidification stress in the PET component was enhanced while that of the PP component was decreased in comparison with the corresponding single-component spinning. This is due to the difference in the temperature dependence of their elongational viscosity. Simulation with an upper-convected Maxwell model as the constitutive equation suggested that significant stress relaxation of the PP component can occur in the spinline if the PET component solidifies earlier than does PP. Based on the structural characterization results, and the simulation results, it was concluded that the difference in the activation energy of the elongational viscosity and solidification temperature between the two polymers are the main factors influencing the mutual interaction in the bicomponent spinning process. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Liquid crystalline aromatic polyesters containing para-linked dimethylbiphenylene moieties

A series of liquid crystalline aromatic polyesters containing 3,3′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid and 3,4′-dimethyl-biphenyl-4,3′-dicarboxylic acid was prepared by a melt polycondensation procedure and characterized by elemental analysis, DSC and TMA measurements, and optical polarizing microscopy. An optimal composition of the copolymer having a melting temperature around 300°C is proposed and the rheological behavior is discussed. Most of the mechanical properties of this copolymer were found to be close to those of Vectra A950® used as a reference sample. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Osteoblast behavior on TiO2 microgrooves prepared by soft-lithography and sol–gel methods

This study focused on the effects of microgrooved TiO₂ surfaces on osteoblast behavior. Microgrooved TiO₂ surfaces with different widths (12 μm and 40 μm) and flat surfaces were fabricated on glass substrates based on the combination of a sol–gel technique and soft-lithography. Osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) were cultured on the as-prepared microgrooved and flat TiO₂ surfaces. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the adherent cell behavior by examining the cell morphology. Orientation angle analysis indicated that the cells tended to align along the microgrooves. This tendency was stronger on the microgrooves with smaller widths and became weak with increasing width. Alamar Blue assay indicated that the microgrooves restricted cell proliferation and the alkaline phosphatase assay revealed that the microgrooves limited the differentiation rate. This restriction increased with decreasing microgroove width. The surface energy of the TiO₂ surfaces was size-dependent and followed the order γ _12 μm < γ _40 μm < γ _{flat surfaces}. Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation on the surface with high surface energy exhibited high proliferation and differentiation rates. These results indicated that surface energy appeared to be a dominant factor for cell activity. Thus, surface energy would be a valuable index for the cell compatibility of a micropatterned surface.     

多乙烯基单体对溴化丁基胶电子束交联的敏化效应

观察到溴化丁基胶(BIIR)在加速器产生的电子束辐照下可发生交联反应,测得其凝胶化剂量为12 kGy。在剂量较低时辐照产物的凝胶含量与交联密度均随剂量增加而提高,但在80 kGy后则随剂量增加而呈下降趋势。试验了5种多乙烯基单体以敏化BIIR的交联反应,从而避免高剂量下的降解现象。结果表明TMPT(三甲基丙烯酸三羟甲基丙烷酯)是有效的敏化剂,配有TMPT的BIIR交联产物其拉伸强度随TMPT用量增大而明显提高。     

Effects of electric field and poling on the mode I energy release rate in cracked piezoelectric ceramics at cryogenic temperatures

We discuss the mode I energy release rate of a rectangular piezoelectric material with a crack under electromechanical loading at cryogenic temperatures. A crack was created normal or parallel to the poling direction, and electric fields were applied parallel or normal to the poling. A plane strain finite element analysis was carried out, and the effects of electric field and localized polarization switching on the energy release rate were discussed for the piezoelectric ceramics at cryogenic temperatures.     

Inhibition of DNA polymerase λ by glucosyl compounds from soybean (Glycine max L.) and their associated inflammatory activity

During the screening of selective DNA polymerase (pol) inhibitors, we isolated two glucosyl compounds, a cerebroside (glucosyl ceramide, AS-1-4, compound 1) and a steroidal glycoside (eleutheroside A, compound 2) from soybean (Glycine max L.). Compounds 1 and 2 selectively inhibited the activity of eukaryotic pol λ in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 12.2 and 9.1 μM, respectively. These compounds did not influence the activities of other eukaryotic pols including those from the A-family (pol γ), B-family (pols α, δ and ε), and Y-family (pols η, ι and κ), and also showed no effect on the activity of pol β which is of the same family (X) as pol λ. The tendency for in vitro pol λ inhibition by these compounds showed a positive correlation with the in vivo suppression of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced inflammation in mouse ear. These results suggest that these glucosyl compounds from soybean may be useful for their anti-inflammatory properties.     

Estimation of mechanochemical dechlorination rate of poly(vinyl chlorde)

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was ground in air with CaO in the presence of quartz powder as a grinding aid by a small-scale planetary ball mill to investigate the relation of the dechlorination rate of PVC with the impact energy of the balls calculated from a computer simulation based on the Discrete Element Method under various conditions. Mechanochemical dechlorination proceeds as the grinding progresses and is improved with an increase in both the mill speed and the amount of balls introduced into the mill. The same trend can be seen in the relation between the specific normal impact energy of the balls and the rotational speed. The relationship between the observed dechlorination rate and the computed normal impact energy of the balls is linear, with a correlation coefficient of 0.965. This relationship can be used to estimate the dechlorination rate of PVC in a large-scale planetary ball mill.     

Shock sensitivity of blasting explosive cartridges

Abstract

The undersand variable gap–initiator test was applied to most Japanese blasting explosive cartridges and found useful as the sensitivity test for the cartridges. The recent Japanese watergel and emulsion explosives were shown to be more shock–sensitive than previous ones. The blast noise in the undersand explosion was shown to decrease when the depth of sand cover the cartridge was increased. For 100g of explosive, a sand layer 20cm deep was effective in reducing the blast noise, when the depth of the sand layer was increased, there was no additional effect. All blasting explosives excluding Kuro Carlit were not ignited by a small gas flame. A cartridge of 100g Kuro Carlit was ignited undersand but did not show the phenomenon of deflagration to detonation     

Thermoelectric Properties of Reduced Polycrystalline Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 Fabricated Via Solution Combustion Synthesis

The thermoelectric properties of bulk polycrystalline Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (SBN50) fabricated via solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and reduced at temperatures of 900°C–1150°C were explored. The Seebeck coefficient (S) of all samples increased over the entire range of testing temperatures; a peak S value of ?281 μV/K was obtained at 930 K for the sample reduced at 900°C. A metal‐insulator transition was observed in the electrical conductivity (σ) of samples reduced at 1000°C–1150°C, whereas only semiconducting electrical behavior was observed for the sample reduced at 900°C. An optimal balance between S and σ was achieved for the pellet reduced at 1000°C, which exhibited a maximum power factor of 1.78 μW/cm·K² at 930 K. Over a temperature range of 300–930 K, the thermal conductivity (κ) of as‐processed and reduced (1000°C) SBN50 was found to be 1.03–1.4 and 1.46–1.84 W/m·K, respectively. A maximum figure of merit (ZT) of 0.09 was obtained at 930 K for the 1000°C‐reduced sample. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the Nb²⁺ peak intensity increased at higher reduction temperatures, which could possibly lead to a distortion of NbO₆ octahedra and a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient.     

Prediction of cutting forces and machining error in ball end milling of curved surfaces -I theoretical analysis

This paper presents a theoretical model by which cutting forces and machining error in ball end milling of curved surfaces can be predicted. The actual trochoidal paths of the cutting edges are considered in the evaluation of the chip geometry. The cutting forces are evaluated based on the theory of oblique cutting. The machining errors resulting from force induced tool deflections are calculated at various parts of the machined surface. The influences of various cutting conditions, cutting styles and cutting modes on cutting forces and machining error are investigated. The results of this study show that in contouring, the cutting force component which influences the machining error decreases with increase in milling position angle; while in ramping, the two force components which influence machining error are hardly affected by the milling position angle. It is further seen that in contouring, down cross-feed yields higher accuracy than up cross-feed, while in ramping, right cross-feed yields higher accuracy than left cross-feed. The machining error generally decreases with increase in milling position angle.