Evaluation of the superplastic formability of SP-inconel 718 superalloy

The superplastic formability of SP- lnconel 718 superalloy was evaluated using the argon blowing method. Relationships among superplastic forming parameters (forming temperature, argon pressure, and forming time) and specific dome height (dome height/workpiece diameter) were investigated, as were changes in material properties after superplastic forming. Experimental results showed the optimum forming temperature range for SP- lnconel 718 to be between 975 and 995 °C. During the superplastic forming process, 5- phase precipitates formed at grain boundaries and limited the grain growth, which is considered beneficial for superplastic deformation. On the other hand, increasing the forming deformation also increased the formation of cavities, which can be attributed to the existence of niobium- rich inclusions. This degraded the superplasticity of the superalloy. Electrochemical tests showed that the corrosion resistance of SP- lnconel 718 after superplastic forming worsened because of the existence of both S- phase precipitates and niobium- rich inclusions.     

Estimating discharge in gravel‐bed river using non‐contact ground‐penetrating and surface‐velocity radars

Discharge measurement is a critical task for gravel‐bed channels. Under high‐flow conditions, the elevation of the riverbed changes significantly by intensive torrential flow. The stage–discharge relations commonly used for stream discharge estimation may no longer be adequate. The contact‐type velocity measuring is also subject to measurement errors and/or instrument failures by the high‐flow velocities, driftwood, stumps, and debris. This study developed a new real‐time method to estimate river discharge in gravel‐bed channels. A systematic measuring technology combining ground‐penetrating radar and surface‐velocity radar was employed. The rating curves representing the relations of water surface velocity to the channel cross‐sectional mean velocity and flow area were established. Stream discharge was then deduced from the resulting mean velocity and flow area. The proposed method was examined in a steep gravel‐bed reach of the Cho‐Shui River in central Taiwan. The estimated stream discharge during three flood events were compared to the prediction by using the stage–discharge relation and the index‐velocity method. The proposed method of this study is capable of computing reasonable values of discharge for an entire flood hydrograph, whereas the other two methods tend to produce large extrapolation errors. Moreover, when the computed discharge is used in 2D flood flow simulation, the proposed method demonstrates better performance than the commonly used stage–discharge and index‐velocity methods.     

Evaluation of a haptics-based virtual reality temporal bone simulator for anatomy and surgery training

Introduction

Virtual reality simulation training may improve knowledge of anatomy and surgical skills. We evaluated a 3-dimensional, haptic, virtual reality temporal bone simulator for dissection training.

Methods

The subjects were 7 otolaryngology residents (3 training sessions each) and 7 medical students (1 training session each). The virtual reality temporal bone simulation station included a computer with software that was linked to a force-feedback hand stylus, and the system recorded performance and collisions with vital anatomic structures. Subjects performed virtual reality dissections and completed questionnaires after the training sessions.

Results

Residents and students had favorable responses to most questions of the technology acceptance model (TAM) questionnaire. The average TAM scores were above neutral for residents and medical students in all domains, and the average TAM score for residents was significantly higher for the usefulness domain and lower for the playful domain than students. The average satisfaction questionnaire for residents showed that residents had greater overall satisfaction with cadaver temporal bone dissection training than training with the virtual reality simulator or plastic temporal bone. For medical students, the average comprehension score was significantly increased from before to after training for all anatomic structures. Medical students had significantly more collisions with the dura than residents. The residents had similar mean performance scores after the first and third training sessions for all dissection procedures.

Discussion

The virtual reality temporal bone simulator provided satisfactory training for otolaryngology residents and medical students.     

Strain-induced crystallization,Part IV: Induction time analysis

The empirical equation, 1/t_i = Ae^Ei/RT, which expresses the exponential dependence of the reciprocal of crystallization induction time, t_i, has been analyzed and shown to be equivalent to the nucleation rate equations derived earlier in Part III (1). Consequently we have used the t_i measurements obtained earlier by Krueger and Yeh to calculate not only the nucleation rate enhancements but also the melting point elevations, the relative crystal thickness changes and molecular coil extension ratios of shear-crystallization polyethylene. It is shown that polyethylene when crystallized between 129 and 131°C at shear rates between 1.56 and 9.70 sec^?1 can have melting point increases of 4.2 to 7.2°C and crystal thickness decreases of 20 to 25 percent, when compared to those crystallized at 130°C in the quiescent state. The predicted “coil” extension in the melt just prior to shear-induced crystallization ranges between 21 and 36 percent. The results of these analyses as well as those on nucleation rates of polyethylene oxide are discussed in detail.     

Preparation and properties of (BATB–ODPA) polyimide–clay nanocomposite materials

A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials consisting of 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐tert‐butylbenzene–4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (BATB–ODPA) polyimide (PI) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay were successfully prepared by an in situ polymerization reaction through thermal imidization up to 300°C. The synthesized PCN materials were subsequently characterized by Fourier‐Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of material composition on thermal stability, mechanical strength, molecular permeability and optical clarity of bulk PI and PCN materials in the form of membranes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), molecular permeability analysis (GPA) and ultraviolet‐visible (UV/VIS) transmission spectra, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1072–1079, 2004     

Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dyes in TiO2 Suspended Solutions

The degradation and decolourization of direct dye (Everdirect supra turguoise blue, FBL), acidic dye (Isolan orange S-RL) and vat dye (Indanthren red FBB) have been investigated by solar/TiO2 process. The effects of solution pH, dye concentration, dosage of TiO2 and nano-size of TiO2 have been studied. The increase in initial pH (3, 5 and 11) and dye concentration decrease the removal rate. The treatment for FBB and FBL dye solutions is more efficient than that of S-RL.Under optimum conditions, the color removal is found to be almost complete for FBB and FBL while that of S-RL also reaches 95%. Langmuir adsorption isotherm and modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model (L-H model) have been fitted to the experimental data and found to correlate the adsorption patterns as well as the kinetics of the dyes studied.     

Crosslinking of cotton cellulose in the presence of alkyl diallyl ammonium salts. I. Physical properties and agent distribution

We used three kinds of alkyl diallyl ammonium salts (methyl, ethyl, and propyl) in combination with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents. The nitrogen content, dry crease recovery angle (DCRA), moisture regain, and wicking height for the DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts were in the order of ? CH₃ > ? C₂H₅ > ? C₃H₇, but the wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) and tensile strength retention (TSR) were in the opposite order at the same resin concentration. For the same DCRA and TSR, the WCRA values for only DMDHEU were lower than those for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts, and the WCRA values for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts were in the order of ? C₃H₇ > ? C₂H₅ > ? CH₃. Both the ? OH group of the cellulose and DMDHEU could react with the vinyl or epoxy groups of the alkyl diallyl ammonium salts during the pad–dry–cure process. The surface migration for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts was in the order of ? CH₃ > ? C₂H₅ > ? C₃H₇. Fabrics treated with DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts showed good antibacterial properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1662–1669, 2003     

Preparation and application of fluorocarbon polymer/SiO2 hybrid materials,part 1: Preparation and properties of hybrid materials

For this study, we first prepared a fluorocarbon polymer and its hybrid materials. We found that fluorocarbon copolymers can produce hydrogen bonds with SiO₂ to form hybrid materials. We also used thermogravimetric analyzer and tested the thermostabilities of the four products, which were ranked as follows: fluorocarbon copolymer/SiO₂ hybrid material > fluorocarbon polymer/SiO₂ hybrid material > fluorocarbon copolymer > fluorocarbon polymer. In addition, we found that, due to the inorganic SiO₂ used, the number of pores and the specific surface areas of the hybrid materials both increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1140–1145, 2007     

Preparation and properties of heterocyclically conjugated poly(3‐hexylthiophene)–clay nanocomposite materials

A series of heterocyclically conjugated polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials that consisted of organic poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and inorganic montmorillonite (MMT) clay platelets were prepared by in situ oxidative polymerization with FeCl₃ as an oxidant. The as‐synthesized PCN materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction (WAXRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of the material composition on the anticorrosion, gas barrier, thermal stability, flammability, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity properties of the P3HT and PCN materials were studied by electrochemical corrosion measurements, gas‐permeability analysis (GPA), thermogrametric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and a four‐point probe technique, respectively. The molecular weights of extracted and bulk P3HT were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with THF as an eluant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3438–3446, 2004     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of PVP/chitosan blended polymers

The purpose of this study was to research the compatibility and application of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/chitosan blended polymers. The polymers were synthesized at different weight ratios and tested using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate the compatibility of the blended materials. Incompatibility occurred when the quantity of chitosan exceeded 75%. The addition of PVP was beneficial for the thermal stability of chitosan, but resulted in inferior strength performance. Furthermore, the blended polymers did not show a color‐enhancement effect, but did show elevated water absorption, chlorine resistance, and colorfastness. In addition, the treated fabrics with a higher chitosan ratio in the blended polymer had antimicrobial properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 885–891, 2006