Oberflächenenergetische Charakterisierung

Surface Energetic Characterization of Nanoscale Fillers and Elastomers Almost any technically used rubber material is filled with particles in nanometer size, by which the properties of the material can be specific controlled. In modern car tires the used fillers have crucial influence on driving security (wet grip and ice grip), on fuel consumption (rolling resistance) and on the cost‐effectiveness (life time of the tire) [1].The first fillers used in rubber application were carbon blacks; actually in passenger car tires mostly surface modified silica is applied. The implementation of novel filler systems like organophilic modified layered silicates (organo‐clays) or carbon nanotubes is subject of intense research [2,3]. Surface energy and –polarity of the filler surface is a crucial, but often underestimated determining factor. All surface properties of rubber and filler have to be well balanced to get the nanoscale filler particles finely dispersed in the rubber matrix and also to obtain a good adhesion between polymer and filler surface.     

Creation and Design of Energy Center

Rural Alaskan communities have special challenges to supply dependable heat and electric power while preserving environmental quality. To help address these issues in a coherent fashion, we have established an energy center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Initially, we will evaluate fuel cells and reformers in a test chamber, looking at both performance and reliability. Later, we will study the integration of the electric and other utilities and focus on arctic engineering issues. In designing the test chamber, we were confronted with a number of conflicting heat balance issues related to (1) additional heat for freeze protection and (2) removal of heat generated by people and equipment. This paper discusses some of the details of how we addressed these issues.     

Enhanced corrugated QWIP performance using dielectric coverage

We report here the effect of dielectric/metal coverage on the performance of the corrugated quantum well infrared photodetectors (C-QWIP) in two wavelength regimes. We found that with proper dielectrics, both the detector dark current and the spectral responsivity can he improved upon the monitoring 45° edge coupled QWIP. In the 8 μm regime, the normalized responsivity of a Si₃ N₄ covered C-QWIP was found to be improved by 3.3 times. In the 14 μm regime, the improvement is a factor of 1.8 using Si₃N₄ coverage and a factor of 2.5 using SiO₂ coverage     

Torsional buckling behaviour of stiffened cylinders under combined loading

In this study cylindrical boundary conditions for finite element analysis are formulated that allow torsional displacement and buckling of a sector of a cylinder of half axial height, and of a circumferential arc angle that will divide into 360°. Finite element tests are carried out on un-stiffened elastic cylinders to verify the method of analysis against classical elastic torsional buckling theory.Elastic–plastic limit point finite element tests are carried out on ring and stringer stiffened and stringer stiffened cylinders to investigate the effects of stiffeners on post-buckling behaviour in torsion.A stringer stiffened cylinder is subjected to many combinations of axial force and surface pressure in the elastic range of response and then tested to failure in torsion to investigate the effects of axial and surface pressure loads on the resistance to plastic collapse in torsion.     

Preparation and properties of cast aluminium alloy-granite particle composites

With a view to develop light weight, low cost and abrasion resistant material cast aluminium alloy composites dispersed with granite particles were prepared and their properties were evaluated. Natural mineral granite was crushed and treated prior to its incorporation in the aluminium alloy. Liquid metallurgy techniques was used to prepare composites involving the following steps: melting of aluminium alloy in graphite crucible, stirring of the melt, addition of granite particles and reactive metal in the melt and pouring the composite melt into permanent moulds. Physical, mechanical, tribological and metallographic properties of composites were studied. It was observed that there was reasonably uniform dispersion of granite particles in the matrix. Hardness and tribological (abrasive wear) properties of the base alloy improved considerably due to addition of the granite particles into it. This clearly indicates that these cast aluminium alloy based composites can be used as wear resistant materials.     

Coupled boundary element and finite element model for fluid-filled membrane in gravity waves

This paper describes a three-dimensional, coupled boundary element and finite element model for dynamic analysis of a fluid-filled membrane in gravity waves. The model consists of three components, describing respectively, the membrane deflection and the motions of fluids inside and outside the membrane. Small amplitude assumptions of the surface waves and membrane deflection lead to linearization of the mathematical problem and an efficient solution in the frequency domain. A finite element model, based on the membrane theory of shells, relates the membrane deflection to the internal and external fluid pressure. Two boundary element models, which describe the potential flows inside and outside the membrane, are coupled to the finite element model through the kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions on the membrane. As a demonstration, the resulting model is applied to evaluate the dynamic response of a bottom-mounted fluid-filled membrane in a wave flume. Previous two-dimensional numerical model results and three-dimensional laboratory data verify and validate the present three-dimensional model. Analysis of the computed membrane response and surface wave pattern reveals intricate resonance characteristics that explain the discrepancies between the numerical model results and the laboratory data.     

Effect of epoxidized natural rubber–organoclay nanocomposites on NR/high styrene rubber blends with fillers

Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and organoclay nanocomposites (Cloisite 20A) were prepared by solution mixing in this study. The obtained nanocomposites were incorporated in natural rubber (NR) and high styrene rubber (HSR) blends in presence of ISAF and SRF types of carbon black as reinforcing fillers. Morphology, curing characteristics, mechanical and thermal properties and wear characteristics of the nanocomposites against standard abrader and different mining rock surfaces were analyzed. The morphology of the ENR/nanoclay showed a highly intercalated structure. The nanocomposites containing SRF N774 type of carbon black has showed increase in cross-link density, maximum torque and cure rate index compared to ISAF N231 type of carbon black. The overall mechanical properties and thermal stability was higher for the nanocomposites containing SRF type of carbon blacks. The compounds containing EC in NR–HSR have higher barrier properties compared to without EC. EC with SRF N774 carbon black has showed minimum compression set value due to the increased formation of effective network chains due to higher reinforcing efficiency of the nanoclay in the rubber matrix. EC with SRF N774 type of carbon black showed high abrasion resistance property against Du-Pont abrader, DIN abrader and rock–rubber experimental study and also it has been found to be the toughest rubber compound against all types of rock under the present study. Concrete has been identified as the major abrader against the blends than other rock types.     

Pyrolysis conditions and ozone oxidation effects on ammonia adsorption in biomass generated chars

Ammonia adsorbents were generated via pyrolysis of biomass (peanut hulls and palm oil shells) over a range of temperatures and compared to a commercially available activated carbon (AC) and solid biomass residuals (wood and poultry litter fly ash). Dynamic ammonia adsorption studies (i.e., breakthrough curves) were performed using these adsorbents at 23 degrees C from 6 to 17 ppmv NH(3). Of the biomass chars, palm oil char generated at 500 degrees C had the highest NH(3) adsorption capacity (0.70 mg/g, 6 ppmv, 10% relative humidity (RH)), was similar to the AC, and contrasted to the other adsorbents (including the AC), the NH(3) adsorption capacity significantly increased if the relative humidity was increased (4 mg/g, 7 ppmv, 73% RH). Room temperature ozone treatment of the chars and activated carbon significantly increased the NH(3) adsorption capacity (10% RH); resultant adsorption capacity, q (mg/g) increased by approximately 2, 6, and 10 times for palm oil char, peanut hull char (pyrolysis only), and activated carbon, respectively. However, water vapor (73% RH at 23 degrees C) significantly reduced NH(3) adsorption capacity in the steam and ozone treated biomass, yet had no effect on the palm shell char generated at 500 degrees C. These results indicate the feasibility of using a low temperature (and thus low energy input) pyrolysis and activation process for the generation of NH(3) adsorbents from biomass residuals.     

Removal of Cr(VI) by thermally activated weed Salvinia cucullata in a fixed-bed column

The present study evaluates the feasibility of using a thermally activated fresh water weed in removing Cr(VI) from wastewater through column studies. The effect of flow rate, bed height and Cr(VI) concentration of the feed solution on the adsorption capacity of the activated weed was investigated. The adsorption capacity increased with decrease in both flow rate and bed height but increased with an increase in initial adsorbate concentration. Four different kinetic models, such as. Adams-Bohart, Bed Depth Service Time (BDST), Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were first applied to the experimental data to predict the breakthrough curve and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column useful for designing large-scale column studies. Different statistical methods such as Sum of the Square of the Error (SSE), Sum of the Absolute Error (SAE), Average Relative Error (ARE), Average Relative Standard Error (ARS) and regression coefficient, were applied to evaluate the prominent and unique characteristic features of the experimental and predicted parameters under the respective models to find out the best fit. The performance stability of the adsorbent was tested by continuous adsorption-desorption studies.     

Effect of austempering treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of high-Si steel

In the present investigation, the influence of austempering treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon alloyed cast steel has been evaluated. The experimental results show that an ausferrite structure consisting of bainitic ferrite and retained austenite can be obtained by austempering the silicon alloyed cast steel at different austempering temperature. TEM observation and X-ray analysis confirmed the presence of retained austenite in the microstructure after austempering at 400 °C. The austempered steel has higher strength and ductility compared to as-cast steel. With increasing austempering temperature, the hardness and strength decreased but the percentage of elongation increased. A good combination of strength and ductility has been obtained at an austempering temperature of 400 °C.