A comparison of sintering techniques using different particle sized β-SiAlON powders

In the present study sintering behavior and mechanical properties of β-SiAlON ceramics were investigated using different sintering techniques (gas pressured sintering (GPS), pressureless sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS)) and different particle sized powders (with D_BET 216 and 130 nm). After sintering of the microstructure and phase characterization were carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, respectively. All the samples, prepared using fine powder, were sintered at lower temperatures than samples prepared by conventional powder, by two sintering techniques (GPS and pressureless). Additionally, the results showed that cooling rates had an important effect on the formation and the amount of intermediate phase in the sample. As a result, it was shown that the particle size of starting raw materials, the amount of additive, the sintering temperature and the technique had a significant effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the SiAlON samples.     

Instrumented indentation and scratch testing evaluation of tribological properties of tin-based bearing materials

This paper describes a study of some fundamental tribological behavior of two different tin-based bearing materials using scratch and Martens hardness techniques. The scratch test results obtained from the two different tin-based bearing materials were correlated with a function of scratch hardness and coefficient of friction. It is easily observed that the friction coefficients of WM5 are lower than those of WM2 under all scratch test conditions. Beside this, it is clearly distinguished that both materials give higher friction coefficients at higher normal loads and scratch velocities. Also it is found that scratch hardness values of the WM5 materials are higher than WM2 generally. Moreover, optical microscopy was used to determine the scratch hardness of two different tin-based bearing materials by examining the scratch widths. Scanning electron microscopic observations of two different tin-based bearing materials were performed in order to identify the scratch-deformation mechanisms and trace morphology. Beside scratch tests, Martens hardness tests were carried out to evaluate the indentation of materials by considering both the force and displacement during plastic and elastic deformation. By monitoring the complete cycle of increasing and removal of the test force, hardness values were determined.     

ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS OF RAW AND ROASTED HAZELNUTS

Adsorption isotherms of raw and roasted (at 100°C, 120°C, 140°C and 160°C) hazelnuts of Tombul variety were determined at 25°C, and over relative humidities ranging from 11 to 90% using the gravimetric static method. Eleven sorption models (GAB, BET, Modified BET, Halsey, Iglesias-Chirife, Oswin, Chung-Pfost, Smith, Kuhn, Harkins-Jura and Caurie) were evaluated by using the linear regression method. GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer) model satisfactorily described adsorption characteristics of the samples over the experimental range of study. Monolayer values at 25°C were estimated from the GAB model as 0.0155 kg water/kg dry solid for raw and 0.0100-0.0163 kg water/kg dry solid for roasted hazelnuts. Caurie security moisture content for raw hazelnuts was also determined from Caurie model as 0.048 kg water/kg dry solid.     

Treatment of dyehouse waste‐water by supercritical water oxidation: a case study

BACKGROUND: Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of dyehouse waste‐water containing several organic pollutants has been studied. The removal of these organic components with unknown proportions is considered in terms of total organic carbon concentration (TOC), with an initial value of 856.9 mg L^?1. Oxidation reactions were performed using diluted hydrogen peroxide. The reaction conditions ranged between temperatures of 400–600 °C and residence times of 8–16 s under 25 MPa of pressure. RESULTS: TOC removal efficiencies using SCWO and hydrothermal decomposition were between 92.0 and 100% and 6.6 and 93.8%, respectively. An overall reaction rate, which consists of hydrothermal decomposition and the oxidation reaction, was determined for the hydrothermal decomposition of the waste‐water with an activation energy of 104.12 ( ± 2.6) kJ mol^?1 and a pre‐exponential factor of 1.59( ± 0.5) × 10⁵ s^?1. The oxidation reaction rate orders for the TOC and the oxidant were 1.169 ( ± 0.3) and 0.075 ( ± 0.04) with activation energies of 18.194 ( ± 1.09) kJ mol^?1, and pre‐exponential factor of 5.181 ( ± 1.3) L^0.244 mmol^?0.244 s^?1 at the 95% confidence level. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate that the SCWO process decreased TOC content by up to 100% in residence times between 8 and 16 s under various reaction conditions. The treatment efficiency increased remarkably with increasing temperature and the presence of excess oxygen in the reaction medium. Color of the waste‐water was removed completely at temperatures of 450 °C and above. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sex hormones affect spatial abilities during the menstrual cycle.

The aim of this study was (a) to show that different measures of spatial cognition are modulated by the menstrual cycle and (b) to analyze which steroid is responsible for these cognitive alterations. The authors collected blood samples in 3-day intervals over 6 weeks from 12 young women with a regular menstrual cycle to analyze concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. The performance on 3 spatial tests was measured during the menstrual and the midluteal phases. A significant cycle difference in spatial ability as tested by the Mental Rotation Test was found, with high scores during the menstrual phase and low scores during the midluteal phase. Testosterone had a strong and positive influence on mental rotation performance, whereas estradiol had a negative one. These results clearly indicate that testosterone and estradiol are able to modulate spatial cognition during the menstrual cycle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental failure analysis of bolted joints in moisture‐ and temperature‐induced composite laminates under preload

In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out in a bolted glass fiber‐reinforced laminate under preload moments. The stacking sequence at the composite laminate was chosen as [90°/0°/45°/−30°]_s. The preload moments were selected as 2, 4, and 6 Nm, in order to compare the influence of preload moments on failure modes and strengths. Some specimens were subjected to hot pure water at 70°C for 7 days. The bearing strength in this case was measured again under the same preload moments of 2, 4, and 6 Nm. It is found that the bearing strength of the specimen waited in hot water was 5.4% smaller than that of the specimen in dry condition. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Hot-air optical turbulence generator for the testing of adaptive optics systems: principles and characterization

A statistically repeatable, hot-air optical turbulence generator, based on the forced mixing of two air flows with different temperatures, is described. Characterization results show that it is possible to generate any turbulence strength up to CN2 Dh approximately 6 x 10(-10) m1/3, allowing a ratio of beam diameter to Fried's parameter as large as D/r0 approximately 25 for one crossing through the turbulator or D/r0 approximately 38 for two crossings. The outer scale (L0 approximately 133 +/- 60 mm) is found to be compatible with the turbulator mixing chamber size (170 mm), and the inner scale (l0 approximately 7.6 +/- 3.8 mm) is compatible with the values in the literature for the free atmosphere. The temporal power spectrum analysis of the centroid of the focused image shows good agreement with Kolmogorov's theory. Therefore the device can be used with confidence to emulate realistic turbulence in a controlled manner. A calibrated CN2 profile, both in layer altitude and strength, is necessary for the testing of off-axis adaptive optics correction (multiconjugate adaptive optics). Testing was done to calibrate the CN2 profile using the slope detection and ranging technique. The first results, with only one layer, show the validity of the approach and indicate that a multiple-pass scheme is viable with a few modifications of the current setup.     

A study on swelling behavior of poly(p‐chloro styrene) networks in some aromatic hydrocarbons and linear poly(p‐chloro styrene) solutions

Crosslinked networks (NPPCS) and linear polymers (LPPCS) of poly (p‐chloro styrene) were synthesized by free‐radical polymerization of p‐chloro styrene. NPPCS networks were swollen in four different molecular weights of LPPCS solutions in toluene at three different concentrations. The equilibrium swelling results were evaluated by means of Flory‐Rehner theory to obtain network–linear polymer interaction parameter, χ′₂₃ between NPPCS and LPPCS. It was concluded that the parameter χ′₂₃ decreased with molecular weight but increased with concentration of LPPCS in outer solution. The solvent independent interaction parameter between NPPCS and PPCS was estimated as 0.7 by extrapolation of the values of χ′₂₃ to zero value of the fraction ratio of solvent to linear polymer, ν₁/ν₃ inside the network. As well as, the binary interaction parameters, χ₁₂ of NPPCS with benzene, ethyl benzene, n‐propyl benzene and isopropyl benzene were obtained by means of Flory‐Rehner theory at temperatures between 25 and 55°C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Screening-engineered field-effect solar cells

Photovoltaics (PV) are a promising source of clean renewable energy, but current technologies face a cost-to-efficiency trade-off that has slowed widespread implementation. (1, 2) We have developed a PV architecture-screening-engineered field-effect photovoltaics (SFPV)-that in principle enables fabrication of low-cost, high efficiency PV from virtually any semiconductor, including the promising but hard-to-dope metal oxides, sulfides, and phosphides. (3) Prototype SFPV devices have been constructed and are found to operate successfully in accord with model predictions.     

Evaluation of Dispersion Based Calculations Compared to the Experimental Compressive Strength Results of CNT/6063AI Composites

Nowadays, it is vital to predict strength results of composites in advance of manufacturing process to reduce testing costs; especially in carbon nanotube （CNT） reinforced metal matrix composites. Therefore, compressive mechanical properties of fabricated CNT reinforced aluminum （AI） matrix composites are investigated and compared with the calculation results of dispersion based prediction models. First of all, CNT/6063 AI composites are fabricated by vacuum assisted infiltration of molten 6063 AI alloy into the CNT preform. Then, compressive mechanical properties of these composites are determined. Eventually, model calculations and experimental results are visualized by plotting comparison graphs. As a result, correlation between prediction models and experimental results are established and potential results of difference between these results are discussed.