On the role of water vapor and oxygen on the fatigue crack propagation behavior at 550 °C of a Ti6242 alloy

The influence of gaseous atmosphere on the fatigue crack propagation behavior of a Ti6242 alloy is studied at 550 °C. The aim of this paper is to obtain reference data in controlled environments at the atmospheric pressure in view of a further evaluation of the corrosion-fatigue resistance of this alloy in super-critical water medium for a new process for hydrothermal treatment of organic effluents. Tests were conducted in ambient air, high vacuum, and humidified gaseous atmospheres (80 pct RH) including pure argon, 80 pct argon + 20 pct oxygen, and 80 pct nitrogen + 20 pct oxygen. The loading specimen was triangular at a frequency of 0.05 Hz. Some additional tests were performed at frequencies ranging from 0.001 to 35 Hz. The crack propagation rate is shown to be highly sensitive to the environment, with a predominant detrimental influence of water vapor. A crack growth model is proposed accounting for the influence of partial pressures of water vapor, oxygen, test, and frequency.     

Specular reflection of thermal neutrons from Gd-containing layers and optimization of antireflective underlayers for polarizing coatings

A detailed analysis of specular neutron reflection from an absorbing medium is given. The experimental studies revealed that oxidation and roughness of the surface are the main factors that determine the neutron reflectivity of Gd-containing layers. It is concluded that the empirical approach used at present does not guarantee optimization of underlayer parameters (composition and thickness) and technological regimes. An algorithm of optimization is proposed, in which account is taken of the substrate potential, the dependence of the underlayer potential on the thermal neutron wavelength, the polarizing coating imperfections that enhance reflection of neutrons with the undesired spin. The antireflective TiZrGd underlayer for CoFe/TiZr supermirrors produced at the magnetron facility DIOGEN (PNPI, Gatchina) is optimized.     

Characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in a first flush of a highway runoff.

Runoff monitoring of six rainfall events was carried out in a highway, Winterthur, Switzerland focusing on first flush (runoff volume up to 2.88 mm). Six runoff events were used to investigate the characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in first flush. The fine fraction (< 45 microm) had a relatively higher contribution than the coarse fraction. A significant contribution of the coarse fraction was observed at some periods when the runoff flow rapidly increased. Fluctuation of PAH content during a runoff event was significant in the coarse fraction and, in contrast, the PAH content in the fine fraction was less fluctuating. The weighted average PAH content in each event ranged from 17 to 62 microg/g in total SS, from 23 to 54 microg/g in the fine fraction and from 16 to 84 microg/g in the coarse fraction. The loading of particle-associated PAHs from the first flush of highway runoff ranged from 0.06 to 0.22 g/ha in a total of 12 PAH species.     

Outpatient group treatment of chronic pain: Effects of spouse involvement.

Evaluated the efficacy of outpatient group treatment of chronic pain and the effect of spouse involvement in treatment in chronic pain patients ranging in age from 23 to 69 yrs who were randomly assigned to couples group treatment (n?=?17), patient-only group treatment (n?=?14), or waiting-list controls (n?=?12). 29 Ss had low back pain; the remaining Ss reported pain in the knee, arm, leg, hip, head, and phantom limb. The Ss completed the MMPI—168 and measures of health-related psychosocial and physical dysfunction and marital satisfaction. Results indicate that the 16-hr cognitive-behavioral program produced reductions in pain, somatization, spouse-observed pain behavior, physical and psychosocial dysfunction, spouse-rated dysfunction, and utilization of health care resources. Depression was not affected by treatment. Spouse involvement did not facilitate response to treatment on any variables. Also, Ss in the individual condition only showed improved marital satisfaction. All treatment gains were maintained at 3-mo to 7-mo follow-ups. Results indicate that brief outpatient treatment can significantly ameliorate chronic pain problems, and spouse involvement is not essential for a positive response to treatment. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Process and design analysis for ultrafine-pitched wiresweep elimination in advanced copper heat spreader BGA package

The semiconductor device trend for increasing functionalities and performances yet with smaller overall feature sizes presents escalating obstacles to the decreasing form factor along with demanding thermal carrying capability required at the package level. To confront this compounding issue, ultrafine-pitch wirebond interconnect coupled with thermally enhanced copper heat spreader attached to the package are introduced. However, the additional copper heat spreader thickness introduced within the package challenges the design of the package's wire, its loop height, and the molding process control to prevent wire sweeping occurrences. This study investigates the impact of different ultrafine pitched wire types, wire loop designs, copper heat spreader structures, and mold material types on eliminating device short from occurring due to the wire sweeping phenomena. A full factorial experiment is performed using an active silicon device packaged in a thermally enhanced ball grid array (BGA) test vehicle. In addition, test characterization is carried out using x-ray and multiinsertions hot/cold continuity tests. Then, a detailed failure analysis is performed by package decapsulation and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray (SEM/EDX) to confirm the experimental findings. In conclusion, the study finds that for an ultrafine-pitched thermally enhanced BGA package, wire type is insignificant to reduce wire shorting occurrences. However, mold material and copper heat spreader structure using an optimized wire loop design are significant factors in eliminating wiresweep shorting phenomena. This study concludes with a wirebond interconnect and heat slug design recommended along with an improved process parameters and assembly material sets found from the experiment.     

Master sintering curve concepts as applied to the sintering of molybdenum

Sintering experiments with various molybdenum powders are rationalized using a master sintering curve concept that collapses density, grain size, or other parameters onto a single curve. In this case, the integral work of sintering is developed and customized for different green densities. Construction of the master sintering curve is described to show how the curve can be normalized with respect to green density effects. Various grades of molybdenum for metal injection molding and die compaction are included in the analysis, processed over a range of heating cycles. Die-compacted samples of varying green densities are used to illustrate the efficacy of the new, normalized master sintering curve concept. Sintering cycle optimization is one possible outcome from this analysis.     

Polymerization Kinetics of Fischer‐Tropsch Reaction on Iron Based Catalysts and Product Grade Optimization

The polymerization kinetics of Fischer‐Tropsch reactions on a K‐promoted Fe catalyst was studied. To represent the product distribution, a kinetic model was developed based on alkyl and alkenyl mechanisms for hydrocarbon chain propagation, which were assumed to occur simultaneously in the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis. The conclusion was drawn that superimposed Anderson‐Schulz‐Flory (ASF) distributions with different chain growth probabilities, on iron catalysts, can be the result of different chain growth mechanisms. The polymerization mechanism was used to obtain the product distribution for several conditions, and the optimum conditions for the production of transportation fuels were found.     

Oil Spill Cleanup from Sea Water by Sorbent Materials

Three sorbents were compared in order to determine their potential for oil spill cleanup. Polypropylene nonwoven web, rice hull, and bagasse with two different particle sizes were evaluated in terms of oil sorption capacities and oil recovery efficiencies. Polypropylene can sorb almost 7 to 9 times its weight from different oils. Bagasse, 18 to 45 mesh size, follows polypropylene as the second sorbent in oil spill cleanup. Bagasse, 14 to 18 mesh size, and rice hull have comparable oil sorption capacities, which are lower than those of the two former sorbents. It was found that oil viscosity plays an important role in oil sorption by sorbents. All adsorbents used in this work could remove the oil from the surface of the water preferentially.