STRUCTURAL DETERMINATION OF TITANIUM-OXIDE NANOPARTICLES BY X-RAY ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

As a potential application of titanium-oxide nanoparticles, it is extremely important to investigate a detailed picture of the surface and interior structural properties of nanocrystalline materials, such as rutile and anatase with diameters 7.0 and 4.5nm, respectively. X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to identify the local Ti environment and related electronic structure. We combine the experimental results at the Ti edge in both bulk and nano-crystals to determine the lattice distortion in terms of differently characteristic preedge features and the variation in the multiple-scattering region of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra. The relationship between the transition peaks and the surface-to volume ratio is also discussed.     

THE APPARENT VISCOSITY OF SEMI-SOLID AZ91D ALLOY AT STEADY STATE

The rheological behavior of semi-solid AZ91D at steady state is studied using a Couette type viscometer in the present paper. The results show that the apparent viscosity of semi-solid AZ91D at the steady state increases with the solid fraction increasing, and goes up sharply when the solid fraction reaches a certain value, which is called critical fraction. In addition, the apparent viscosity of semi-solid AZ91D at the steady state takes on a distinct downtrend with the shearing rate increasing, which indicates a strong shear thinning property. In addition, the critical solid fraction becomes higher under larger shearing rate, owing to the more globular shape of the solid particles. Based on the present experiment results, an empirical equation is built as that, relating the steady state apparent viscosity of semi-solid AZ91D with the solid fraction fs andshearing rate (?) at the same time: ηapp=10.74exp(6.95fs)(?)-0.86.     

AN EXPERIMENTAL-NUMERICAL METHOD FOR MEASURING CRACK PROPAGATING VELOCITIES UNDER STRESS WAVE LOADING

An experimental-numerical method for measuring dynamic crack propagating velocities under stress wave loading is established in this paper. The experiments of the three-point bend specimen are done on the improved Hopkinson bar. Deflection of loading point, dynamic load and instantaneous crack length are measured, then crack propagating velocities are calculated. Experiments on 40Cr steel show that the results given by this method have a good agreement with that obtained by the resistance fracture gage method. Therefore this method is feasible for measuring crack propagating velocities under high loading rate and will have wide application.     

挤压的热平衡及温度变化

温度是挤压工艺的最重要的参数之一。提高温度,金属变形抗力减小,但同时易于导致局部温度过高,引起低熔点共晶和多相组织熔化,以及制品表面粗糙,限制了最大挤压速度。挤压过程中温度的变化取决于:锭坯加热湿度,锭坯向挤压筒的热传导以及变形和摩擦热效应。     

金属板材成形中拉深损伤模拟的两种求解方法

讨论用数值模拟预测板材成形中发生拉深损伤破坏的两种不同的求解方法。第一种是采用完全耦合的弹塑性破坯模型的动力显式数值方法。基于状态参量的不可逆热力学过程 ,完全耦合的本构方程考虑各向同性强化和拉深。这些已引入有限元软件ABAQUS/E用于对金属成形的模拟。在数值技术方面 ,隐式积分方法被用来对本构方程的局部时间积分 ,动力显式技术用于求解总体平衡方程。第二种方案是采用简化的损伤模型的方法 ,被称为逆法 (InveseApprch)。I.A被限定在考虑各向同性强化和损伤的塑性全量理论基础上的简单的本构关系。做比例加载和临界损伤达到以后的损伤饱和假定 ,可以得到损伤演化方程的封闭解。这两种损伤模型在编程中的实施采用两种方式 :计算中考虑或不考虑损伤作用 ,也就是耦合的或非耦合的计算。文中给出一些算例来说明每种损伤模型的优点     

Desiderata for Languages to be Used in the Defnition of Reference Business Processes

In many modern enterprises, explicit business process de nitions facilitate the pursuit of business goals in such ways as best practice reuse, process analysis, processe ciency improvement, and automation. Most real-world business processes are large and complex. Successfully capturing, analysing, and automating these processes requires process de nition languages that capture a variety of process aspects with a wealth of details. Mostcurrent process modelling languages, such as Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN),focus on structural control ows among activities while providing inadequate support for other process de nition needs. In this paper, we rst illustrate these inadequacies through our experiences with a collection of real-world reference business processes from the Aus-tralian lending industry. We observe that the most signi cant inadequacies include lack of resource management, exception handling, process variation, and data ow integration.These identi ed shortcomings led us to consider the Little-JIL language as a vehicle forde ning business processes. Little-JIL addresses the afore-mentioned inadequacies with a number of innovative features. Our investigation concludes that these innovative features are e ective in addressing a number of key reference business process de nition needs.     

Electrolytic cell engineering and device optimization for electrosynthesis of e-biofuels via co-valorisation of bio-feedstocks and captured CO2

Utilizing CO₂ in an electro-chemical process and synthesizing value-added chemicals are amongst the few viable and scalable pathways in carbon capture and utilization technologies.CO₂ electro-reduction is also counted as one of the main options entailing less fossil fuel consumption and as a future electrical energy storage strategy.The current study aims at developing a new electrochemical platform to produce low-carbon e-biofuel through multifunctional electrosynthesis and integrated co-valorisation of biomass feedstocks with captured CO₂.In this approach,CO₂ is reduced at the cathode to produce drop-in fuels(e.g.,methanol)while value-added chemicals(e.g.,selective oxidation of alcohols,aldehydes,carboxylic acids and amines/amides)are produced at the anode.In this work,a numerical model of a continuous-flow design considering various anodic and cathodic reactions was built to determine the most techno-economically feasible configurations from the aspects of energy efficiency,environment impact and economical values.The reactor design was then optimized via parametric analysis.     

Improvement of porous polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluropropylene hollow fiber membranes for sweeping gas membrane distillation of ethylene glycol solution

Porous polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluropropylene (PVDF-HFP) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated through a wet spinning process. In order to improve the membrane structure, composition of the polymer solution was adjusted by studying ternary phase diagrams of polymer/solvent/non-solvent. The prepared membranes were used for sweeping gas membrane distillation (SGMD) of 20 wt% ethylene glycol (EG) aqueous solution. The membranes were characterized by different tests such as N₂ permeation, overall porosity, critical water entry pressure (CEP_w), water contact angle and collapsing pressure. From FESEM examination, addition of 3 wt% glycerol in the PVDF-HFP solution, produced membranes with smaller finger-likes cavities, higher surface porosity and smaller pore sizes. Increasing the polymer concentration up to 21 wt% resulted in a dense spongy structure which could significantly reduce the N₂ permeance. The membrane prepared by 3 wt% glycerol and 17 wt% polymer demonstrated an improved structure with mean pore size of 18 nm and a high surface porosity of 872 m^-1. CEP_w of 350 kPa and overall porosity of 84% were also obtained for the improved membrane. Collapsing pressure of the membranes relatively improved by increasing the polymer concentration. From the SGMD test, the developed membrane represented a maximum permeate flux of 28 kg·m^-2·h^-1 which is almost 19% higher than the flux of plain membrane. During 120 h of a long-term SGMD operation, a gradual flux reduction of 30% was noticed. In addition, EG rejection reduced from 100% to around 99.5% during 120 h of the operation.     

Synthesis and optimization of high surface area mesoporous date palm fiber-based nanostructured powder activated carbon for aluminum removal

Date palm fiber (DPF) derived from agrowaste was utilized as a new precursor for the optimized synthesis of a cost-effective, nanostructured, powder-activated carbon (nPAC) for aluminum (Al3+) removal from aqueous solutions using carbonization, KOH activation, response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). The optimum synthesis condition, activation temperature, time and impregna-tion ratio were found to be 650 ℃, 1.09 hour and 1:1, respectively. Furthermore, the optimum conditions for removal were 99.5％and 9.958 mg·g-1 in regard to uptake capacity. The optimum conditions of nPAC was analyzed and characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, BET, TGA and Zeta potential. Moreover, the adsorption of the Al3+ conditions was optimized with an integrated RSM-CCD experimental design. Regression results revealed that the adsorption kinetics data was well fitted by the pseudo-second order model, whereas the adsorption isotherm data was best represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. Optimum activated carbon indicated that DPF can serve as a cost-effective precursor adsorbent for Al3+removal.     

2-Hydroxy-1, 4-napthoquinone solubilization,thermodynamics and adsorption kinetics with surfactant

2-Hydroxy-1,4-napthoquinone(lawsone) natural red-orange dye was extracted from fresh henna(Lawsonia inermis) leaves in an alkaline media.The lawsone-surfactant solubilization constants(K_(LS))were calculated for the first time by using cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate(SDS).The standard free energy,concentration of solubilized lawsone and number of lawsone molecules solubilized into micelles were calculated and discussed.Surface excess,minimum surface area per molecule,surface pressure,free energy(adsorption and aggregation) and equilibrium constants of different states were determined from tensiometry.Different metal ions(Ag~+,Co~(2+),Cu~(2+),Ni~(2+),Fe~(3+),Zn~(2+) and Al~(3+)) were used to determine the complex forming ability with lawsone.Out of these,Ag~+ ions have strong binding capacity with lawsone.The adsorption of lawsone on the surface of glass with silver ions in presence of CTAB was also observed at pH 9.0.The pseudo-first, secondorder kinetic equation,intraparticles diffusion and Elovich models were used to determine the kinetics of lawsone adsorption onto the surface of glass and a probable mechanism has been discussed.Lawsone adsorption followed second-order kinetic equation(k_2=0.019 g·mg~(-1)·min~(-1)).