Cure kinetics of neat and carbon-fiber-reinforced TGDDM/DDS epoxy systems

The cure kinetics of neat and carbon fiber-reinforced commercial epoxy systems, based on Tetraglycidyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analysis of DSC data indicated that the presence of the carbon fibers has a very small effect on the kinetics of cure. A kinetic model, arising from an autocatalyzed reaction mechanism, was applied to isothermal DSC data. The effect of diffusion control was incorporated into the reaction kinetics by modifying the overall rate constant, which is assumed to be a combination of the chemical rate constant and the diffusion rate constant. The chemical rate constant has the usual Arrhenius form, while the diffusion rate constant is described by a type of the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation. The kinetic model, with parameters determined from isothermal DSC data, was successfully applied to dynamic DSC data over a broad temperature range that covers usual processing conditions. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Calcium sulphide formation in fluidized bed boilers

Analyses of samples of bed ash from a stationary fluidized bed boiler show the presence of calcium sulphide. In some samples, half of the total sulphur was present as sulphide. The samples containing CaS were obtained under unstaged conditions and with a high excess air ratio, 1.3 to 1.4. The samples were taken after a stop in the limestone addition, i.e. at high SO₂ emissions of about 1000 mL/m³ (ppm). No CaS was found during limestone addition when the SO₂ emission was 300–400 mL/m³. This indicates that formation of large amounts of CaS may be initiated as the SO₂ concentration exceeds some critical level.     

Effects of ferromagnetic components on energetic ion confinement in ITER

By using a fully three dimensional magnetic field orbit-following Monte-Carlo code, the energetic ion confinement was investigated for the current conceptual design of the ferromagnetic components in ITER which will be employed for reducing the toroidal magnetic field (TF) ripple. The ferromagnetic insert is effective in the reference standard scenario with Q = 10 (Scenario No. 2) and steady state scenario with Q = 5 (Scenario No. 4) to improve the energetic ion confinement. Over-compensation appears at half of the full toroidal magnetic field and its effect becomes stronger when the quantity of the ferromagnetic insert is increased in order to more reduce the TF ripple at the full toroidal magnetic field. Though the current design is acceptable, whether to increase the ferromagnetic insert to achieve lower TF ripple amplitude at the full field operation depends on how prospected are possibilities of lower field operations. Planned test blanket modules do not induce large loss (<1%) at the full field in Scenario No. 4. At the half field, however, the loss reaches ∼10% for the alpha particles due to localized large TF ripple.     

UV–VUV spectroscopy of rare earth doped persistent luminescence materials

The electronic and defect energy level structure of polycrystalline SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,R³⁺ persistent luminescence materials were studied with thermoluminescence and UV–VUV synchrotron radiation emission and excitation spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations using the density functional theory (DFT) were carried out simultaneously with the experimental work. The experimental band gap energy (E_g) value of 6.6 eV agrees very well with the DFT value of 6.4 eV. The 4f⁷ → 4f⁶5d¹ excitation bands of Eu²⁺ were found rather similar irrespective of the R³⁺ co-dopant. The trap level energy distribution depended strongly on the R³⁺ co-dopant except for the shallowest trap energy above the room temperature remaining the same, however. The different processes in the mechanism of persistent luminescence from SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,R³⁺ was constructed and discussed.     

EFFECTS OF OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS IN CLOSED SUPERHEATED STEAM DRYING

The effects of operational conditions on the drying performance in closed superheated steam drying were examined theoretically and experimentally. The vapor generated from the sample was circulated in the drying chamber. In the theoretical analysis, the replacement of air with vapor in drying chamber and the convective vapor transfer in sample were considered. At the start of drying, the drying chamber was filled with air. As the drying proceeded, the air was replaced with the vapor generated from sample. The calculated results explained the characteristics of experimental data. The pore diameter of sample had little effect on the drying characteristics. During the internal evaporation period, the evaporation occurred in the narrow zone, which moved from the surface to the bottom of sample. The convective vapor transfer in sample had a significant influence on the drying performance. The excess increments in temperature and velocity of drying gas hardly contributed to shortening the drying time.     

Post Audit Analysis of a Groundwater Level Prediction Model in Developed Semiconfined Aquifer System

This paper assesses groundwater recharge under conditions of long-term groundwater pumping at the Ravnik pumping site in Croatia and analyses the groundwater level prediction model used in prior aquifer modelling. The results of model calibration revealed a very low net infiltration rate at the start of the pumping site’s operation. As the operation continued, the net infiltration rate slowly increased, while the percentage of infiltrated rainfall scaled up with increasing pumping rates. The predicted recharge of the covering aquitard amounts approximately 14–15 % of the mean annual precipitation. The aquifer recharge takes place from aquitard by seepage. A subsequent simulation of the pumping site’s operation was performed for the 9 years period on the assumption that the pumping rates and the groundwater recharge would be the same as those recorded during the final calibration years. Results show that the post audit measured levels correspond relatively well to the predicted levels and that increasing of the pumping rate causes changes in the water budget in advantage of net groundwater recharge as a consequence of spreading recharge area outside of previous model boundaries.     

Use of adipose stem cells and polylactide discs for tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc

There is currently no suitable replacement for damaged temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs after discectomy. In the present study, we fabricated bilayer biodegradable polylactide (PLA) discs comprising a non-woven mat of poly(L/D)lactide (P(L/D)LA) 96/4 and a P(L/DL)LA 70/30 membrane plate. The PLA disc was examined in combination with adipose stem cells (ASCs) for tissue engineering of the fibrocartilaginous TMJ disc in vitro. ASCs were cultured in parallel in control and chondrogenic medium for a maximum of six weeks. Relative expression of the genes, aggrecan, type I collagen and type II collagen present in the TMJ disc extracellular matrix increased in the ASC-seeded PLA discs in the chondrogenic medium. The hypertrophic marker, type X collagen, was moderately induced. Alcian blue staining showed accumulation of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. ASC differentiation in the PLA discs was close to that observed in pellet cultures. Comparison of the mRNA levels revealed that the degree of ASC differentiation was lower than that in TMJ disc-derived cells and tissue. The pellet format supported the phenotype of the TMJ disc-derived cells under chondrogenic conditions and also enhanced their hyalinization potential, which is considered part of the TMJ disc degeneration process. Accordingly, the combination of ASCs and PLA discs has potential for the development of a tissue-engineered TMJ disc replacement.     

Gone with the wind? Newspaper discourse of eutrophication and blue‐green algae blooms in Finland

The mass media shape the public and policy agenda by giving prominence to certain ecosystem changes and risks, as well as by framing some policy measures as the preferred ones. Based on longitudinal analysis of the leading Finnish newspaper, this study considers the media coverage of eutrophication. The results show an increase of reporting in the late 1990s as a result of intertwined ecological and social factors – i.e. intense algal occurrences and establishment of a national communication system. The news coverage has highlighted the harmful algal blooms and health risks of algal toxins and has framed short‐term weather conditions as the key factor regulating algal occurrences. This creates a challenge for environmental management aimed at reduction in the nutrient discharges that influence the state of the environment in the long term.