Direct Compression Controlled Release Tablets Using Ethylcellulose Matrices

Controlled release erodible matrix tablets were manufactured by a simple, direct compression process using ethylcellulose alone as the matrix former. Each of four different viscosity grades of ethylcellulose (10, 20, 45 and 100 cp) was dry mixed with either indomethacin or theophylline and a small amount of lubricant, then directly compressed into tablets. In initial trials, compression force was held constant, resulting in tablets of varying hardness. In a second study, the compression force was varied to produce tablets of equal hardness. Lower viscosity grades of ethylcellulose were more compressible than higher viscosity grades, allowing production of harder tablets for a given drug. Harder tablets resulted in controlled release of the drug over a longer time period. Dissolution studies indicated that tablet hardness is more important in determining dissolution rate than is the polymer viscosity grade. A mathematical model combining diffusion and erosion mechanisms was developed to describe drug release. Improved r² values over pure diffusion, erosion and diffusion/relaxation models were obtained. Examination of residuals indicated that the derived composite model was more appropriate for the data     

ALCA — automated local area networks configuration aid

Abstract: Solving the customer's LAN/WAN interconnect problem is difficult because of the need to explore many possible configurations (e.g. bridging/routing, packet/channels) and then to choose the best configuration using economic, performance and other criteria. The rapid introduction of new standards, protocols and products to the networking field brings additional complications to the solution and can cause confusion when configuring a network. ALCA is intended to generate all feasible LAN/WAN configuration possibilities automatically and to pick the most appropriate solution to solve the customer's problem, while specifically addressing open systems interconnection (OSI) standards. Matching communications protocols while searching all possible configurations is notoriously slow even on a computer. We show how the search speed can be significantly improved by using expert system knowledge compilation, a computer-aided software engineering (CASE) technique. ALCA is based on a centrally updated knowledge base of various local area networking products and their interconnect possibilities. ALCA also allows querying to find out protocol interfaces supported by a particular product/service. Finally, it includes a graphic user interface and context-sensitive menus to reduce user information load. ALCA is intended to be used by the field personnel involved in pre-sales support, by the data communication product managers, and as an educational tool for novice communication product managers.     

Optimizing the PWM Waveform of a Thyristor Inverter

An optimization method, which will be of use in selecting the modulation technique and Carrier frequency for a PWM inverter system, is presented. The difficult decision, concerning the tradeoff between efficiency and unfiltered harmonic content, can be made with the help of this method. A relation between second-order filter rating and unfiltered harmonic attentuation, for optimum component values, is also obtained. The optimization method is used for illustration to select the optimum modulation technique and its carrier frequency for the modified McMurray inverter [1] to be used in a rapid transit auxiliary power converter. The design aim is to obtain a constant sine wave output with a specific input supply voltage variation. The inverter efficiency is predicted for various carrier frequencies using two modulation schemes. The Schonung and Stemmler [2] modulation approach, with a carrier frequency of 900 Hz, is found to be optimum as it results in low filter rating and an efficient inverter.     

Deposition and dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates using radio frequency magnetron sputtering

Polycrystalline CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ thin films were deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The phase formation and the physical quality of the films were crucially dependent on the substrate temperature and oxygen partial pressure. Good quality films were obtained at a substrate temperature of 650 °C and 4.86 Pa total pressure with 1% O₂. The dielectric constant (∼ 5000 at 1 kHz and 400 K) of these films was comparable to those obtained by the other techniques, eventhough, it was much lower than that of the parent polycrystalline ceramics. For a given temperature of measurements, dielectric relaxation frequency in thin film was found to be much lower than that observed in the bulk. Also, activation energy associated with the dielectric relaxation for the thin film (0.5 eV) was found to be much higher than that observed in the bulk ceramic (0.1 eV). Maxwell-Wagner relaxation model was used to explain the dielectric phenomena observed in CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ thin films and bulk ceramics.     

Phase formation in selected surface-roughened plasma-nitrided 304 austenite stainless steel

Direct current (DC) glow discharge plasma nitriding was carried out on three selected surface-roughened AISI 304 stainless steel samples at 833 K under 4 mbar pressures for 24 h in the presence of N₂:H₂ gas mixtures of 50 : 50 ratios. After plasma nitriding, the phase formation, case depth, surface roughness, and microhardness of a plasma-nitrided layer were evaluated by glancing angle x-ray diffractogram, optical microscope, stylus profilometer, and Vickers microhardness tester techniques. The case depth, surface hardness, and phase formation variations were observed with a variation in initial surface roughness. The diffraction patterns of the plasma-nitrided samples showed the modified intensities of the α and γ phases along with those of the CrN, Fe₄N, and Fe₃N phases. Hardness and case depth variations were observed with a variation in surface roughness. A maximum hardness of 1058 Hv and a case depth of 95 μm were achieved in least surface-roughened samples.     

Mechanistic insights into efficient reversible hydrogen storage in ferrotitanium

Although FeTi is a well-known hydrogen storage material, producing FeTi on a commercial scale is quite challenging, and generally, one ends up with a multi-phase system consisting of Fe₂Ti and FeTi. As Fe₂Ti is inert towards hydrogen, it lowers the hydrogen storage efficacy of FeTi. However, there are some reports, which propose that the presence Fe₂Ti in FeTi, primarily on the surface is inevitable and it helps in activation of FeTi. Here, we report results of targeted experiments together with first-principles density functional theory (DFT) based calculations to investigate the hydrogen storage properties of FeTi vis-à-vis origin of inertness of Fe₂Ti towards hydrogen storage. The formation enthalpies, calculated using density functional theory, of FeTi–H system were found to be very close to the experimental values (?28.1 and ?33.72 kJ/mol H₂ for FeTiH and FeTiH₂ respectively), and that of Fe₂Ti–H systems was positive, indicating the inability to form stable intermetallic-hydrides. This corroborates well with the experimental observations, that the pure phase of Fe₂Ti cannot store hydrogen. Further, the Gibbs free energy for FeTiH and FeTiH₂ were evaluated at 298 K using first-principles quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics theories. The vibrational and electronic entropies were calculated using Debye theory of heat capacities. Gibbs free energy at 298 K for FeTiH and FeTiH₂ were found to be ?5.01 and ?3.52 kJ/mol of H₂, respectively. Our present study concludes that proper care must be taken to avoid or minimize the formation of Fe₂Ti during the production of FeTi.     

Mica (KMg3AlSi3O10F2) based glass-ceramic composite sealant with thermal stability for SOFC application

In this work, pre-synthesized fluorophlogopite mica (KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂) crystalline powder was added into potassium-magnesium boro-alumino-silicate (K₂O–MgO–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂) glass powder to synthesize glass-ceramic composite (GCC) sealant for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) application. The basic purpose was to report the influence of KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂ on microstructure, thermal expansion and volume shrinkage behavior of GCCs in terms of their SOFC sealing ability. The predominant crystalline phase was also identified as fluorophlogopite mica (KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂) by X-ray diffraction in the GCCs heat-treated at 900 °C (for 2 h) followed by 800 °C (for 10 h). Higher thermal expansion (10.65–10.81 × 10^?6/K at 50–800 °C) compatible with SOFC components (metallic electrode/interconnect, ceramic electrolyte) was realized for 5–10 wt % mica containing GCC. However, it was found decreased linearly with adding further KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂ content (20–40 wt%) in the composites. GCC with 5 wt % of mica was stable under thermal cycling testing and no significant degradation was observed in thermal expansion till 10 cycles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed the spherical shaped nanocrystallites morphology of those GCCs and that was ascribed for their compact bonding with SOFC components. Heating stage microscopy (HSM) ensured the lower softening temperature (752 ± 7 °C) for 5 wt % mica containing GCC which furthermore showed 11–13% volume shrinkage (to ensure the self-healing) in SOFC operating temperature. In a summary, the above factors confirmed the suitability of 5 wt % mica (KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂) containing K₂O–MgO–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ system (GCC) for SOFC sealant application.