Thermal shock behaviour of Al2O3-SiC composites made by directed melt oxidation of Al-alloy

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Finite Element Analysis of Ceramic Coatings under Spherical Indentation with Metallic Interlayer: Part Ⅰ Uncracked Coatings

Spherical indentation of ceramic coatings with metallic interlayer was performed by means of axisymmetric finite element analysis (FEA). Two typical ceramic coatings with relatively high and low elastic modulus deposited on aluminum alloy and carbon steel were considered. Various combinations of indenter radius-coating thickness ratios and interlayer thickness-coating thickness ratios were used in the modeling. The effects of the interlayer, the coating and the substrate on the indentation behavior, such as the radial stress distribution along the coating surface as well as the coating interface, and the plastic deformation zone evolution in the substrate were investigated in connection with the above mentioned ratios. The coating cracking dominant modes were also discussed within the context of the peak tensile stresses on the coating surface and on the coating interface.     

Silicone-coated polyimide films deposited by surface dielectric barrier discharges

Hybrid dielectric barrier discharges are investigated for plasma generated on the surface of a dielectric layer, where two conducting electrodes of high voltage and ground are formulated on the upper and bottom surfaces. Using a flexible thin polyimide-film of a thickness ranging from 25 to 125 μm, a plasma is generated with a voltage of about 1 kV and a frequency of 40 kHz.However, the surface of the dielectric layer was etched through a chemical reaction involving plasma oxygen radical species, and thus the polyimide films failed readily, resulting in dielectric breakdown within short operating time ranging from a few minutes to several tens of minutes,based on the film thicknesses of 25 μm and 125 μm, respectively. These plasma erosions were prevented by coating the polyimide surface with a 25 μm thick silicone paste. The siliconecoated film surface was then reinforced remarkably against plasma erosion as the organic polymer was vulnerable to chemical reaction of the plasma species, while the inorganic silicone exhibited a high chemical resistance against plasma erosion.     

SCALE‐UP and FIELD TEST of the VACUUM/STEAM/VACUUM SURFACE INTERVENTION PROCESS FOR POULTRY1

The Vacuum/Steam/Vacuum surface intervention pilot plant processor was scaled up to a mobile unit that can be transported to close proximity of chicken processing plants. After several modifications to the mandrel that supports the broiler carcass in the treatment chamber to minimize mechanical damage, the unit was capable of 1.1 log cfu/mL kill of inoculated Listeria innocua and 1.4 log cfu/mL kill of inoculated E. coli K‐12. Field tests achieved 1.4 log kill of E. coli and 1.2 log kill of Campylobacter on freshly processed chicken using 3 cycles and 138C saturated steam. But, there was extensive mechanical damage. the mandrel was modified in the Eastern Regional Research Center pilot plant to eliminate the mechanical damage. With mechanical damage eliminated, the bacteria kill was 1.1–1.5 log of inoculated E. coli K‐12 with a total process time of 1.1 s.     

OVER-EXPRESSION OF PROLINE-LINKED ANTIOXIDANT PATHWAY AND MODULATION OF PHENOLIC METABOLITES IN LONG LIFE SPAN CLONAL LINE OF ORIGANUM VULGARE IN RESPONSE TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Tissue culture-generated shoot-based clonal lines of oregano that have a short and long life span during in vitro culture were investigated to determine the role of proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway in modulating phenolic response following ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This novel reductant cycling pathway for energy and oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is more efficient in long life span O-17 clonal line in response to UV and this supported antioxidant response. UV treatment stimulated rosmarinic acid and associated antioxidant enzyme response in O-17 clonal line compared with short life span O-3 clonal line. Additionally, O-17 clonal line had higher glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and guaicol peroxidase activity in response to UV exposure compared with O-3 clonal line, indicating stimulation of anabolic pathway supporting PPP during UV treatment. The stimulation of proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity in O-17 clonal line in response to UV indicated a switch to PDH-linked energy pathway via proline oxidation.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This oregano clonal model of ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress management has implications for designing dietary phytochemicals to manage oxidation-linked disease in humans. Further, the correlation between UV-linked inducibility of phenolic-linked antioxidant enzyme response through proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway and life span of in vitro shoot cultures of specific oregano clonal lines can be a good model for aging studies. The metabolic response link to aging and protective phytochemicals can be investigated in oregano tissue cultures, and phenolic extracts from various responding clonal lines could be explored in other eukaryotic aging models.     

Surface characteristics of chemical conversion coating for Mg-Al alloy

The chemical conversion coating was formed on Mg alloy for low cost and harmlessness in environment by using the colloidal silica as the main component. The film formed at 298 K was thick, which was thought to be the combination of Si and O. In salt spray test, the ratio of black rust on the specimen that did not conducted chemical conversion treatment was five times or more than those of the chemical conversion treated specimen. The film of chemical conversion coating produced by alkali treatment process was thinner than the specimen produced in basic chemical conversion treatment solution.     

Treatment of Bone Waste Using Thermal Plasma Technology

Daily meat consumption produces a lot of bone waste, and dumped bone waste without treatment would result in environmental hazards. Conventional treatment methods of waste bones have some disadvantages. Herein, an investigation of bone waste treated using thermal plasma technology is presented. A high-temperature plasma torch operated at 25.2 kW was used to treat bone waste for seven minutes. The bone waste was finally changed into vitric matter and lost 2/3 of its weight after the treatment. The process was highly efficient, economical, convenient, and fuel-free. This method could be used as an alternative for disposal of bone waste, small infectious animals, hazardous hospital waste, etc.     

Computational study on influence of RF shielding box on inductance of coil

Despite the fact that a radio frequency (RF) shielding box affects a coil inductance used in matching network, RF engineers have used a coil inductance measured in open space on designing matching networks since it is difficult to precisely measure the coil inductance within the RF shielding box. In this work, we investigate the influences of the RF shielding box on the coil inductance via a 3D full electromagnetic wave simulation. Simulation results shows that the coil inductance decreases from -6.0% to -11.9% compared with its ideal inductance depending on coil positions within the RF shielding box. Both inductive and capacitive coupling between the coil and surfaces of the RF shielding box contribute to the reduction of the coil inductance. We expect that these results would be useful for those who design RF matching networks.     

Experimental and thermodynamic investigations on MnO-SiO_2-Al_2O_3-MnS system

MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS oxysulfide system has been investigated by experimental phase diagram and activity measurement coupled with thermodynamic modeling.Phase equilibria of the MnO-MnS,MnO-SiO₂-MnS, MnO-Al₂O₃-MnS and MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS systems under low oxygen partial pressure have been experimentally investigated for the temperature range of 1 185 to 1 500℃using equilibration and quenching techniques. Equilibrium phases were analyzed by scanning electron microscope,electron probe X-ray microanalysis（EPMA）, and differential thermal analysis（DTA ）.Phase diagrams were successfully constructed for the systems investigated.Two ternary compounds in the MnO-SiO₂-MnS system were found.Activities of MnO and MnS in MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS liquid oxysulfide solution from very low sulfur concentration to high sulfur concentration at solid MnS saturation were investigated employing gas/liquid/Pt - Mn alloy under controlled atmosphere at 1 500℃.As X（SiO₂）/（X（MnO） + X（SiO₂）） increases in liquid oxysulfide solution,activity coefficient of MnO decreases while that of MnS increases.As X(AlO_1.5) increases,the activity coefficient of MnS increases while no remarkable change was observed for the activity coefficient of MnO.Quantitative analysis of the thermodynamic properties of the oxysulfide solution as well as phase diagram of the system was also earned out by employing the Modified Quasichemical Model in the quadruplet approximation.In view of inclusion utilization for free - cutting steel,it might have an advantage to decrease the Al₂O₃ content and increase the MnO/SiO₂ ratio.