Synthesis and characterization of novel urethane‐siloxane copolymers with a high content of PCL‐PDMS‐PCL segments

Novel polyurethane copolymers derived from 4,4′‐methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), 1,4‐butanediol (BD) and α,ω‐dihydroxy‐[poly(caprolactone)‐poly (dimethylsiloxane)‐poly(caprolactone)] (α,ω‐dihydroxy‐(PCL‐PDMS‐PCL); = 6100 g mol^?1) were synthesized by a two‐step polyaddition reaction in solution. In the synthesis of the polyurethanes, the PCL blocks served as a compatibilizer between the nonpolar PDMS blocks and the polar comonomers, MDI and BD. The synthesis of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) with high soft segment contents was optimized in terms of the concentrations of the reactants, the molar ratio of the NCO/OH groups, and the time and temperature of the polyaddition reaction. The structure, composition, and hard MDI/BD segment length of the synthesized polyurethane copolymers were determined by ¹H, ¹³C‐NMR, and two‐dimensional correlation (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) spectroscopy, while the hydrogen bonding interactions in the copolymers were analyzed by FT‐IR spectroscopy. The influence of the reaction conditions on the structure, molecular weight, thermal, and some physical properties was studied at constant composition of the reaction mixture. A change in the molar ratio of the NCO/OH groups and the reaction conditions modified not only the molecular weight of the synthesized polyurethanes, but also the microstructure and therefore the thermal and physical properties of the copolymers. It was demonstrated that only PCL segments with high soft segment contents crystallize, thereby showing spherulitic morphology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Composition of the Defensive Secretion in Three Species of European Millipedes

Three European julid species, Cylindroiulus boleti, Leptoiulus trilineatus, and Megaphyllum bosniense, secrete mixtures of up to 12 different quinones. The major components in these species are 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. 2-Methoxy-5-methylhydroquinone is detected for the first time in the Class Diplopoda. 2-Hydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3-dimethoxyhydroquinone, 2-methyl-3,4-methylendioxyphenol, and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylhydroquinone are registered for the first time in representatives of the family Julidae. The similar chemical composition of defense secretions in all analyzed European julids and Pacific spirobolids supports the idea of the chemical consistency of defensive compounds in juliform millipedes.     

Second‐Order Statistics of System with Microdiversity and Macrodiversity Reception in Gamma‐Shadowed Rician Fading Channels

In this letter, a wireless communication system with microdiversity and macrodiversity reception in gamma‐shadowed Rician fading channels is considered. Exact and rapidly converging infinite‐series expressions for the average level crossing rate and average fade duration at the output of the system are provided. Numerical results are presented graphically to illustrate the proposed mathematical analysis and to examine the effects of the system's parameters on the quantities considered.     

Calculation of Steady SF_6 Gas Flow through a 420 kV Circuit Breaker Nozzle and Electric Field Distribution

Special interest in current interruptions is dedicated to the processes close to the current zero instant, the so-called interaction region, which determines the circuit breakers＇ performance. The quantities of interest in this region are the distribution of temperature, density and pressure, velocity and gas mass flow along the electric arc axis, as well as the distribution of electric stress between contacts Calculation of steady SF_6 gas flow through the nozzle of a 420 kV circuit breaker at the current zero instant, for different arcing durations, was carried out using a commercial CFD （computational fluid dynamics） simulation tool. The calculation results were used to get insight into improvement possibilities of the SF_6 gas flow model used in the software for computer simulation of HV （high-voltage） circuit breakers. Electric field calculation results were performed for the same 420 kV circuit breaker, in order to estimate the breakdown voltage at the current zero instant.     

An economic model for the appraisal and selection of energy supply system

Economic evaluation of different energy supply systems (district or local heating by natural gas) in Serbia is considered in this paper. According to variety of Serbian settlements (in density, size and layout of buildings) model which has ability to represent their different characteristics is formed. Model is based on identification of smaller urban areas with identical or similar characteristics and their representations with one of predefined nominal urban areas. For various nominal urban areas preferred type of energy supply system was selected. Obtained results formed matrix of preferred type of energy supply system (district or local heating) for different urban structures. This models’ matrix could be simple and useful tool for initial decision about energy supply system.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of cold hobbing processes in cases of cone-like punch manufacturing

Optimal tool making is of great importance for reducing costs and increasing the performance of toolsets. The dies and punches, which are basic components of any metal forming toolset, are usually produced by machining, but this technology requires relatively long manufacturing times, characterized by significant material and energy waste. By replacing machining operations or combining them with forming ones, such as cold hobbing (indenting), significant cost and time savings, as well as improvement of tool performance could be achieved. Cold hobbing could be applied to making die cavities as well as shaping punch profiles. Investigations showed that a large number of variables influence the successful application of this technique. However, there is a scarcity of literature regarding the choice of relevant process parameters for the hobbing process. With this in mind, the aim of this paper is to yield further insight into the hobbing process. Special focus will be placed on the influence of the hob geometry on the deformation process and relevant process parameters. This paper presents theoretical, numerical, and experimental investigations of a cold hobbing process in which a cone-like punch is obtained. The upper-bound method was used for metal flow analysis and optimization of hob geometry. Stress–strain distribution, workpiece geometry prediction, and load estimation were obtained with the finite element method (FEM) using Simufact.Forming 8.1 software. The results were analyzed, compared, and discussed.     

A case study on the object-oriented framework for modeling product families with the dominant variation of the topology in the one-of-a-kind production

Traditional configuration-based product family modeling techniques do not yield favorable solutions for modeling the product families with the dominant product topology variations. This paper presents the case study for the modeling of variations of the product configuration, parameters, and topologies in mass production of custom windows and doors in a one-of-a-kind production (OKP) company. The case study is based on the object-oriented product family modeling framework we developed for OKP which is characterized by the dominant product variation by topology. The problem of variation in topology in our framework is solved by the manual model transformation in the computer-aided design module which creates a new metamodel of products with the desired topology and which is the basis for a further, automatic model transformation. Usage of our framework has a positive effect on the level of the product customizations and shortening of the leading time which helps OKP companies in obtaining a better position at the market. Our software solution for the designing and manufacturing of custom windows and doors based on our framework is implemented in more than 300 mostly small- and medium-sized enterprises. It proves our concept which can be used for the realization of the information systems for computer-aided one-of-a-kind production in the companies with a different production plan.