Identification of Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu particles in Cu-alloyed austempered ductile iron

In the present work, the Mg₂Cu precipitates in copper-alloyed austempered ductile iron (ADI) were identified by analyzing techniques such as TEM and SEM with EDS. It was revealed that, in castings made of ADI-containing copper, highly dispersed particles of Mg₂Cu are formed, whose size does not exceed <1 μm. The research work was carried out on ductile iron that was austenitized at 900 °C, followed by austempering at 380 °C. The microstructure was investigated using various techniques, including optical microscopy, XRD, SEM, and TEM. In addition to this, the exhibited impact properties of castings with Cu, Ni, and Cu+Ni were also determined. This study casts a new light on the formation of the structure of Cu-alloyed ADI. The highly-dispersive and brittle Mg₂Cu particles that are located in the vicinity of the graphite nodules have a negative effect on the impact properties of ADI. It has also been shown that impact strength decreases from levels of 160-180 J (for copper-free ADI) to 90-120 J (for copper-and copper-nickel-alloyed ADI).     

Synthesis,characterization and in vitro degradation of poly(ester-anhydride)s based on succinic acid and 1,6-bis-p-carboxyphenoxyhexane

This paper describes synthesis and characteristics of functional poly(ester-anhydride)s bearing allyl pendant groups. The polymers were obtained by polycondensation of 1,6-bis-p-carboxyphenoxyhexane (CPH) and oligo(3-allyloxy-1,2-propylene succinate) terminated with carboxyl groups (OSAGE). The carboxyl groups in OSAGE and in CPH were converted to mixed anhydride groups by acetylation with acetic anhydride. After that, prepolymers thus obtained were condensed in vacuum to yield poly(ester-anhydride)s. The structure of copolymers was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Influence of molecular weight of OSAGE as well as of the CPH and OSAGE content on selected properties of poly(ester-anhydride)s was examined. Poly(ester-anhydride)s were subjected to hydrolytic degradation at 37 °C, in aqueous phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.41 (PBS). The course of degradation was monitored by determination of weight loss of samples and ¹H NMR. Fracture surfaces of samples during degradation were examined by scanning electron microscopy.     

Ligand-Tuning of the Stability of Pd(II) Conjugates with Cyanocobalamin

Besides the well-known functions performed by vitamin B₁₂ (CblCN) in biochemical processes of the human body, an increasing interest has been raised by the possibility of its use as a transmembrane drug carrier, capable, among others, of enhancing the accumulation of inorganic cytostatics in cancer cells. The present study was aimed at determining the possibility of the formation of CblCN conjugates with Pd(II) complexes. A key aspect was their stability, which we attempted to tune by appropriate choice of ligands. Syntheses, spectroscopic analysis of postreaction systems and kinetic investigations of conjugate formation reactions, have been complemented by DFT modelling. The obtained results showed that ligand charge, geometry and electron affinity may have a significant impact on carrier binding and release leading to the activation of the Pd(II) complex. This provides a rationale to expect that with appropriate composition of the coordination sphere, it will be possible to extend the spectrum of less toxic inorganic chemotherapeutics.     

Impact of precursor preparation on density of gadolinium iron garnets synthesized via reactive sintering

Gadolinium iron garnet was obtained from two different precursors, homogenized in isopropyl alcohol and in an aqueous environment with a fixed pH. In the first case, it was a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃); in the second, a mixture of GdIP (GdFeO₃) and α-Fe₂O₃. Conditions of homogenization in the aqueous environment were selected based on the zeta (ξ) potential measurements as the function of pH. DSC measurements of the output powder mixtures allowed the identification of the effects observed during the temperature rise. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, with the increasing temperature, we observe three effects, the first of which corresponds to the phase transformation of goethite into α-Fe₂O₃, the second corresponds to the reaction of gadolinium iron perovskite (GdIP) formation, and the third to the reaction in which a gadolinium iron garnet (GdIG) is formed. However, in the case of heat treatment of the mixture of GdIP and α-Fe₂O₃, we only observe the effect responsible for a solid state reaction leading to the formation of gadolinium iron garnet. Dilatometric measurements allowed to determine the changes in linear dimensions at various stages of reaction sintering. The resulting materials were sintered at temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of perovskite and iron (III) oxide, already at the temperature of 1300 °C, a density has been obtained at around 95% of the theoretical density, and the temperature of 1400 °C allowed achieving a density of 97% of the theoretical density. Whereas, for the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, a density above 95% of theoretical density was achieved only at 1400 °C.     

The influence of the legal and economical environment and the profile of activities on the optimal design features of a natural-gas-fired combined heat and power plant

The paper deals with the effect of some selected quantities occurring in the legal and economical environment on the optimal values of some selected design quantities of a natural-gas-fired CHP plant. This trend of investigations results from the newly observed legal changes in the legislation concerning new forms of mechanisms supporting the combined production of electricity and heat. Special stress was exerted on changes resulting from the formulation of two directives, viz. 2003/7/EC and 2004/8/EC.For the purpose of realising this task, a reference structure of a CHP plant was selected. For the steam-water part of the plant thirteen quantities were selected, determining the design features of the most essential components of this part of the system. These quantities served as decision variables in processes of optimisation. As the objective function the break-even price of electricity was assumed.The second part of the paper presents the results of sensitivity analyses of the fundamental indices of the energy and economical effectiveness to failures in the adherence of the optimal values of the respective design quantities, as well as the results of investigations on the effect of the operation time of the plant in the course of one year.     

基于附加虚拟支座的结构损伤识别方法

本文针对土木工程中实测模态相对较少,很难进行大型结构的损伤识别的困难,提出附加虚拟支座的损伤识别方法。该方法利用约束子结构方法在结构上附加虚拟支座来增加结构形式的方法,增加识别模态的数量,从而实现结构的准确损伤识别。约束子结构方法的基本思想是通过响应的卷积组合为零将传感器转化为虚拟支座。将附加虚拟支座后的结构定义为虚拟结构,每个虚拟支座对应一个虚拟结构,那么在结构上不同位置附加虚拟支座,则可以获得多个虚拟结构的模态;联合所有虚拟结构和对应的频率即可准确快速的识别出整体结构的损伤。最后通过三层空间框架模型验证方法的有效性。     

Evaluation of the mechanical behavior of W7-X central support connections by means of semi-automated FE analysis

The stellarator Wendelstein 7-X is under construction at the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik in Greifswald. Its superconducting coil system is fixed by a massive structure. During machine operation the coils exert high forces and moments against each other and the central support structure (CSS). Therefore, the detailed analysis of the coil to CSS connections, the so-called central support elements (CSE), is a critical item. The major details of the design have been frozen; nevertheless, there is still need for detailed analysis of the CSEs due to assembly issues, and later on for exploring operational limits of the machine. These analyses have to be performed quickly, reliably, and shall provide results in a standardized form to enable timely responses to the assembly team. Special numerical tools – finite element (FE) parametric models of CSEs – have been developed for the purpose of such analyses. In the models, the geometry, material properties, contact conditions, loads as well as results presentation are defined in a parametric way. The use of the developed models for the definition of the final weld parameters, bolt preloads, assessment of acceptable tolerances, and optimal positions of the CSE-wedges before welding is also discussed.     

Stripping of copper coatings from steel in Cr(VI)-free commercial bath

In this work the electrochemical characteristics of copper and steel in chromate, cyanide, and phosphate baths as well as in a commercial bath (ENSTRIP S-180), in the absence of chromium and cyanides were determined. Average rates of copper coatings stripping from steel in the above mentioned baths and the baths influence on the morphology of steel surfaces were described. It was found that the commercial bath ENSTRIP S-180 could be successfully used for stripping of copper coatings from steel elements.     

Human‐influenced streamflow during extreme drought: identifying driving forces,modifiers, and impacts in an urbanized catchment in central Poland

This study investigates the response of the streamflow to an extremely hot and dry summer 2015 in the urbanized catchment of the Utrata River in central Poland. The objectives were to: reveal changes in the flow regime, assess anomalies in summer river flows, estimate the natural and wastewater effluent contribution and provide an ecological context for the in‐stream conditions. The mean annual flow rate in the period 1996–2015 increased by 0.61 m³/s as compared to 1951–1970. The mean annual wastewater inflow rate to the river in 2015 was approximately 0.770 m³/s, constituting 39% of the observed flow. Almost the entire period of August this contribution approached 100%. The optimum river water temperature threshold for warm‐water fish species was exceeded. Streamflow modifications are attributed to an increase of wastewater discharge, urban impact through an increase in imperviousness, and the variability of climatic driving forces.     

Probabilistic model for the annual number of storm overflow discharges in a stormwater drainage system

The paper presents an attempt to develop a probabilistic model for predicting an annual number of storm overflow discharges. Forecasting the occurrence of an overflow discharge event involved the application of the logistic regression, which does not require the development of complex hydrodynamic catchment models. The performed calculations showed that the logistic regression model can be successfully used to evaluate the performance of the emergency overflow weir. The resultant logit model eliminates the necessity to develop hydrodynamic models, to conduct continuous measurements of the flow intensity in the stormwater drainage system and to collect detailed information on the characteristics of the subcatchments within the analyzed catchment. The hydrodynamic model was used to simulate the annual number of discharges. The analysis of the results demonstrated that they are in the range of stochastic values, which indicates an application-related character of the method.