Characterization of alternative plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) sheets for blood containers

This study aimed to optimize the ratio of dioctyl 4‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DOTH) and di‐isononyl‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH^®) for use as plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) sheets. We also evaluated the biological safety of DOTH for its potential to be part of a safe PVC‐based blood container. The suppression of hemolysis in mannitol‐adenine‐phosphate / red cell concentrates (MAP/RCC) with DOTH/(DINCH^®‐PVC) sheets and the elution of plasticizers from the sheets increased with higher DOTH compositions. The properties of the PVC sheet containing DOTH and DINCH^® in the ratio of 25:33 parts against PVC 100 parts as a weight were almost identical to the PVC sheet made of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. From a subchronic toxicity test, DOTH did not show any adverse effects on all organs, including the testes, epididymis, liver, and kidneys. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level was 300 mg/kg body weight/day in a rat. These results suggest that DOTH/DINCH^® (25:33) is a promising candidate for the replacement of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in blood containers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:520–528, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Conversion of methane to syngas in a solid oxide fuel cell with Ni-SDC anode and LSGM electrolyte

A solid oxide fuel cell constructed from Ni-SDC anode and LSGM electrolyte was applied to the partial oxidation of methane to syngas (CO+H₂) at 700-800 °C with the merits of co-generation of electricity and controllable O₂ supply. It was found that the co-generated syngas at H₂/CO ratio of 1.4-2.0 varied with applied current densities, CH₄ flow rates and operating temperatures. The cell voltage at 100 mA cm⁻² and 800 °C was 0.90 V, i.e. about 90 mW cm⁻² power density could be obtained. The cell operating at 50 mA cm⁻² for 24 h almost showed no degradation of the cell performance. The observed carbon deposition seemed mainly taking place by CH₄ cracking reaction.     

Phase Relations and Volume Changes of Hafnia under High Pressure and High Temperature

Using multi-anvil high-pressure devices and synchrotron radiation, X-ray in situ observations of HfO₂ under high pressure and high temperature have been performed to investigate its phase relations and compression behavior. An orthorhombic phase (orthoI) is stable from 4 to 14.5 GPa below 1250°–1400°C and transforms to a tetragonal phase, which is one of the high-temperature forms of HfO₂, above these temperatures. Another orthorhombic phase (orthoII) with a cotunnite-type structure appears above 14.5 GPa. OrthoII is stable up to 1800°C at 21 GPa. OrthoII is quenchable to ambient conditions. The orthoI-to-orthoII transition is accompanied by ∼8 vol% decrease. The bulk moduli of orthoI and orthoII at room temperature are 220 and 312 GPa, respectively. This low compressibility of orthoII indicates that it is a potential candidate for very hard materials.     

Energy state of InGaAs quantum dots on SiO2-patterned vicinal substrate

The optical properties of In_0.8Ga_0.2As self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) grown on GaAs wire structures formed by utilizing SiO₂-patterned exact and 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates have been studied with micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL). Single PL peak was occurred for In_0.8Ga_0.2As SAQDs grown on SiO₂-patterned exact (001) GaAs, whereas double PL peaks were showed for SAQDs grown on 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates as the width of the opening windows increased. The power-dependent μ-PL spectra show that the first and second peaks of these double peaks were originated from the well-defined ground and excited state, respectively. These results demonstrated that In_0.8Ga_0.2As SAQDs selectively grown by utilizing SiO₂-patterned 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates have well-defined zero-dimensional quantum states.     

90°圆截面弯管内稠油流动特性分析

采用计算流体力学三维层流模型模拟,研究了温度50~75℃、雷诺数Re=300~800、弯管内径D=50.7~131.7 mm、弯径比B=0.75~3.0条件下稠油在90°弯管内的阻力特性,分析了弯管局域阻力系数波动的机理。结果表明,随温度升高、入口雷诺数下降、弯管直径增加,局域阻力系数提高;在弯管0~15°范围内阻力下降,原因是弯管内形成双纵向涡,75°到弯管后0.5D范围内阻力下降,原因是弯管内形成4个纵向涡;弯管的弯径比对局域流动阻力影响很大,B=0.75时相邻截面最大落差达B=3.0时的28.35倍,但管道进出口阻力仅为1.68倍,原因是弯径比B≤1.0时,弯管后1.0D范围内侧形成了局域低压区,对应位置出现流向涡旋,同时弯管后0.5D截面稠油剪切速率达到峰值。     

Non-equilibrium model for catalytic distillation process

A new improved tri-diagonal method was developed for the non-equilibrium stage model of the catalytic distillation by coupling consumptive reaction coefficient. The reactions in the distillation column were divided into generative reaction and consumptive reaction. The non-equilibrium stage model was introduced for the catalytic distillation process of the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis by urea methanolysis over solid based catalyst, and the improved tri-diagonal method was used to solve the model equations. Comparison of predicted results with experiment data shows that the mean relative error of the yield of DMC was 3.78% under different conditions such as different operating pressures and reaction temperatures. The improved tri-diagonal matrix method could avoid the negative values of the liquid compositions during the calculations and restrain the fluctuation of compositions by slowing down the variations of the values in the iteration. The modeling results show that the improved tri-diagonal method was appropriate for system containing a wide range of boiling point components and a different rate of reactions. __________ Translated from Petrochemical Technology, 2007, 36(11): 1128–1133 [译自: 石油化工]     

Microstructures of functionally graded materials fabricated by centrifugal solid-particle andin-situ methods

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) belong to a relatively new class of inhomogeneous composite materials, in which the composition and/or microstructure undergo a gradual change along some directions. In this review article, the microstructures and composition gradients in Al/SiC, Al/Shirasu (volcanic eruptions commonly found in south Kyushu in Japan), Al/Al₃Ti, Al/Al₃Ni, Al/Al₂Cu FGMs have been investigated. The Al/SiC, Al/Shirasu and Al/Al₃Ti FGMs are fabricated by the centrifugal solid particle method where the distribution particles of SiC, Shirasu and Al₃Ti are solids in the melts. On the other hand, Al/Al₃Ni and Al/Al₂Cu FGMs are fabricated by the centrifugalin-situ method where Al/Al₃Ni and Al/Al₂Cu systems have lower liquidus temperatures than the processing temperatures. The feature of Al/(Al₃Ti−Al₃Ni) hydrid FGM, which is fabricated by a method combining both the centrifugal solid-particle andin-situ methods, is also shown.     

Tailored blank technology of high strength steel sheet

The third part of this series covers, first, the basic function of the conventional voltage controlled short circuiting MIG/MAG welding process (CCC) and the related power source static behaviour. Second, it deals with the mechanisms related to the dynamics of the transfer of the metal drop to the weld pool during short circuit welding. Third, a set of MIG/MAG stability concepts is set out, on which there is no unanimous agreement in current welding studies. Fourth, a proposal by the authors is included. Finally, it demonstrates how systems such as CCC operate and the scientific and technological experience gained by LABSOLDA in this process, from analogue control up to the most modern software controlled versions and the future of the process as part of the advanced control system.