Statistical properties of interparticle/void distance for amorphous plastics toughening

Statistical properties of interparticle/void distance (ID) for various particle/void and dispersion types are studied in relation with toughening of plastics using computer‐generated three‐dimensional models. Particle/void size groups adopted were either of constant diameter or of log‐normal distribution. Particles/voids were dispersed at uniform‐random or flocculated with multiple clusters. It was found that IDs are (a) of approximately Gaussian distribution for particles/voids of either a constant diameter or a log‐normal distribution, when they are dispersed at uniform‐random, but (b) not of Gaussian distribution for particle/void sizes of bimodal log‐normal distribution, nor for flocculated log‐normal distribution of particles/voids dispersed with multiple clusters. It was also found that the degree of ID uniformity for a single group of log‐normally sized particles/voids is not sensitive to standard deviation of particle/void size. Mixing effect on ID properties using two groups of log‐normally distributed particles/voids with similar mean particle/void diameters was simulated. It was found that, when a significant amount (36 vol %) of particles/voids of a small mean and standard deviation of ID was mixed with a group of particles/voids of a large mean and standard deviation of ID, mean and standard deviation of ID for the mixture were not substantially lower than those of the group of particles/voids of the large mean and standard deviation of ID. It was also found that the degree of ID uniformity for the mixture of the two groups was lower than those of individual groups, indicating that the mixing has deleterious effect on toughening. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4256–4262, 2006     

Feasibility of Sludge Ozonation for Stabilization and Conditioning

A pilot-scale sludge treatment plant was built to investigate the feasibility of ozonation processes for waste activated sludge treatment. Ozonation of wastewater sludge resulted in mass reduction by mineralization as well as by supernatant and filtrate recycle. Another advantage of sludge ozonation is a significant improvement of settleability and dewaterability. Experimental results showed that mass reduction of 70% and volume reduction of 85% compared with the control sludge was achieved through the sludge ozonation at a dose of 0.5?gO₃/gDS. It is also interesting to note that the filterability deteriorates up to ozone dose of 0.2?gO₃/gDS and then improves considerably at a higher ozone dose. The filterability could be improved by chemical conditioning even at a low ozone dose. The economic feasibility by cost analysis reveals that ozonation processes can be more economical than other alternative processes for sludge treatment and disposal at small-sized wastewater treatment plants.     

Study on the polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactam in the interlamellar spaces of [TEACOOH]–montmorillonite intercalations complex and its characterization

The polymerization of ?‐caprolactam between the interlamellar spaces of the [TEACOOH]–montmorillonite intercalations complex was attempted using Na–montmorillonite and 10‐carboxy‐n‐decyltriethylammonium bromide to achieve [TEACOOH]–polycaprolactam–montmorillonite, in which montmorillonite (inorganic polymer) is chemically bonded with the polycaprolactam (organic polymer). The results of X‐ray and IR analysis for the samples obtained after polymerization showed that the polymerization reaction has been successfully accomplished. For the purpose of studying the polymeric reaction product more precisely, we have isolated the polymerized product from the silicate layers and analyzed it with X‐ray diffractometer and IR spectrometer. Comparison of the results of X‐ray and IR analysis between the isolated polymer and the polymer that was synthesized by the reaction of ?‐caprolactam only with the organic cation without montmorillonite showed that both obtained polymers are the same compounds. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1904–1910, 2003     

Synthesis and biological activity of phthalimide‐based polymers containing 5‐fluorouracil

The attachment of anticancer agents to polymers is a promising approach towards reducing the toxic side‐effects and retaining the potent antitumour activity of these agents. A new tetrahydrophthalimido monomer containing 5‐fluorouracil (ETPFU) and its homopolymer and copolymers with acrylic acid (AA) and with vinyl acetate (VAc) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. The ETPFU contents in poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) and poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc) obtained by elemental analysis were 21 mol% and 20 mol%, respectively. The average molecular weights of the polymers determined by gel permeation chromatography were as follows: M_n = 8900 g mol^?1, M_w = 13 300 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.5 for poly(ETPFU); M_n = 13 500 g mol^?1, M_w = 16 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.2 for poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA); M_n = 8300 g mol^?1, M_w = 11 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.4 poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds against FM3A and U937 cancer cell lines increased in the following order: ETPFU > 5‐FU > poly(ETPFU) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vivo antitumour activities of all the polymers in Balb/C mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumour cell line were greater than those of 5‐FU and monomer at the highest dose (800 mg kg^?1). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Modeling of the drying process in paper plants

In this study a model for the drying process in paper production plants was developed based on the mass and heat balances around drying cycles. Relationships for the heat transfer coefficients between the web and the air as well as between the drying cylinder and the web were extracted from the closed-loop plant operation data. It was found that the heat transfer coefficients could be represented effectively in terms of moisture content, basis weight and reel velocity. The effectiveness of the proposed model was illustrated through numerical simulations. From the comparison with the operation data, the proposed model represents the paper plant being considered with sufficient accuracy.     

Selective O-Alkylation Reaction of Hydroquinone with Methanol over Cs Ion-Exchanged Zeolites

O-alkylation reaction of hydroquinone with excess methanol was performed by using alkali metal ion-exchanged zeolite catalysts in a slurry type reactor to substitute the solid zeolite catalysts for the homogeneous liquid phase catalysts. This was also done to produce selectively mono-alkylated 4-methoxyphenol, a valuable intermediate for the perfume, flavor, food and photo industries. The effects of the basicity of various zeolites and reaction conditions such as temperature, reaction time and the amount of catalyst on the catalytic activity and selectivity were tested to maximize the yield of 4-methoxyphenol. Thus far, 84% selectivity at 95% conversion of hydroquinone was obtained at the optimum reaction conditions (240 ‡C, reaction with 0.6 g catalyst for 16 h), which was thought to result from the strong basic property and shape selectivity of the Cs ion-exchanged NaX zeolite.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.     

Universal yield stress function for biocompatible chitosan based-electrorheological fluid: Effect of particle concentration

Electrorheological (ER) response of biocompatible particles suspended in an insulating silicone oil, was investigated under several different applied external electric field strengths. Chitosan, a biodegradable polysaccharide, was used as anhydrous ER materials. The effect of particle volume concentration on their ER response was examined by focusing on the measurement for rheological and electrical properties. The yield stress of chitosan suspended in silicone oil system as a function of applied electric field strength showed different value of slopes for different particle concentrations, however, all data points collapse onto a universal scaling function.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers as proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers (SPEKK) with ion‐exchange capacities (IEC) between 0.2 and 3.4 meq/g were prepared by sulfonating PEKK with a mixture of concentrated and fuming sulfuric acids. Sulfonation occurs only on the phenyl rings attached to ether and ketone groups. The glass transition temperature of the dry SPEKK ionomers increased linearly with increasing IEC, and the ionomers were thermally stable to ～250°C, above which desulfonation occurred. Water‐swollen ionomers exhibited microphase separated morphologies, and the average correlation length determined by small angle X‐ray scattering increased with increasing IEC. The proton conductivity of hydrated SPEKK membranes measured by impedance spectroscopy ranged from ～10^–3 to 10^–1 S/cm as the IEC increased from ～1.0 to 2.4 meq/g. Single cell performance curves on membrane‐electrode assemblies (MEA) indicated that the SPEKK membranes approached the performance of Nafion? for an IEC of 2 meq/g. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1081–1091, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Enhanced surface morphologies of screen-printed carbon nanotube films by heat treatment and their field-emission properties

A heating process for obtaining free-standing carbon nanotube emitters is presented with the aim of improving field-emission properties from the screen-printed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) films. Using an atmosphere with an optimum combination of nitrogen and air for heat treatment of CNT films, the CNT emitters can be made to protrude from the surface. This allows for a high emission current and the formation of very uniform emission sites without special surface treatment. The morphological change of the CNT film by this technique has eliminated additional processing steps, such as surface treatment which may result in secondary contamination and damage to the film. Despite its simplicity the process provides a high reproducibility in emission current density which makes the films suitable for practical applications.