The influence of ionic strength and osmotic pressure on the dewatering behaviour of sewage sludge

In this work, we investigated the importance of osmotic pressure in the overall dewaterability behaviour of a biotic sludge. Biotic sludges, such as activated or digested sludge from waste water treatment, are known to be difficult to dewater, due to their high compressibility and their gel-like water retention capacity. These properties are partly attributed to the presence of surface charges, which are due to the biological nature and the presence of weakly charged extra-cellular polymeric substances. Both in filtration and centrifugation experiments, charge related effects were partly neutralised through a controlled increase in the bulk ionic strength by the addition of NaCl. It was observed that an increase in the bulk ionic strength brings about an increase in the final solid volume fraction upon constant pressure filtration or centrifugation. Increasing the ionic strength did not result in a more classical filtration behaviour, however. The results further suggested that with increasing total pressure, the relative importance of the osmotic pressure in the total resistance against compression diminishes, and that more structural effects dominate the solid stress at high pressures.     

Interfacial adhesion measurement of a ceramic coating on metal substrate

The interfacial adhesion measurement of a ceramic coating on a metal substrate is studied by three-point bending (3PB) technique. In the measurement, interfacial cracks are induced during the 3PB test, and the interfacial energy release rate is calculated from the released energy per unit crack surface area during crack extension under the fixed displacement conditions. A finite element analysis (FEA) model encompassing the plastic behavior of the metal substrate is developed to simulate the 3PB test and extract the energy data. The inputs to the FEA model include the crack length, the maximum and critical loads corresponding to crack initiation, and the mechanical properties of the coating and substrate. A MoB/CoCr ceramic coating/stainless steel substrate system is investigated by the technique for demonstrating the utility of the technique.     

Experimental and Computational Chemistry Studies on the Inhibition Efficiency of Phthalic Acid (PHA) for the Corrosion of Aluminum in Hydrochloric and Tetraoxosulphate (VI) Acids

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - In this work, phthalic acid is investigated for its corrosion inhibition properties (for aluminum in solutions of HCl and H2SO4) through...     

Impact of curing condition on pH and alkalinity/acidity of structural wood adhesives

Nine formulations were selected for evaluating the effect of different curing methods on pH and alkalinity or acidity of various structural wood adhesives. These included four phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resins with high pH, one phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde (PRF) resin with intermediate pH, two melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) resins, and two melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resins with low pH. The four curing methods used in the study were: (1) curing at 102–105°C for 1 h (based on CSA O112.6‐1977), (2) four‐hour curing at 66°C followed by 1‐hour curing at 150°C (based on ASTM D1583‐01), (3) curing at room temperature overnight (based on ASTM D 1583‐01), and (4) cured adhesive squeezed out from glue lines of bonded shear block samples. The effect of the different methods on pH and alkalinity/acidity of the cured adhesive depended strongly on the individual adhesives. For the PF, the alkalinity was different for the different formulations in the liquid form, while in the cured form, the difference in the alkalinity depended on the curing method used. The MF and the MUF were the adhesives most affected by the method used. In particular, the MUF showed much higher cured film pH values when cured by method 2 compared to the other three methods, while both the cured MF and MUF exhibited quite variable acidity values when cured with the different methods. The PRF showed reasonably uniform cured film pH but varying acidity values when cured with the different methods. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Pd-, Ni-, Fe-, and Co-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings Using Functionalized Zn-, Mg-, Fe-, and In-Organometallics

The development of new methods for preparing polyfunctional organometallics has made a broad range of such reagents available for various transition metal-catalyzed cross-couplings. An overview of the most general preparation methods will be presented. Applications to practical cross-coupling procedures will be covered, emphasizing the functional group compatibility and the reaction scope.     

A Multiaxial Low Cycle Fatigue Life Prediction Model for Both Proportional and Non-proportional Loading Conditions

This paper has presented a life prediction model in the field of multiaxial low-cycle fatigue. The proposed model is generally applied for constant amplitude multiaxial proportional and non-proportional loading. Depending upon applied strain path the equivalent strain varies within a cycle. Equivalent average strain amplitude is considered as fatigue damage parameter in the proposed model. The model has requirement of only two material constants and no other tuning parameters. The model is examined by the proportional and non-proportional low-cycle fatigue life experimental data for eight different types of materials. The model is successfully correlated with multiaxial fatigue lives of eight different materials.     

In search of intelligence: evolving a developmental neuron capable of learning

A neuro-inspired multi-chromosomal genotype for a single developmental neuron capable of learning and developing memory is proposed. This genotype is evolved so that the phenotype which changes and develops during an agent's lifetime (while problem-solving) gives the agent the capacity for learning by experience. Seven important processes of signal processing and neural structure development are identified from biology and encoded using Cartesian Genetic Programming. These chromosomes represent the electrical and developmental aspects of dendrites, axonal branches, synapses and the neuron soma. The neural morphology that occurs by running these chromosomes is highly dynamic. The dendritic/axonal branches and synaptic connections form and change in response to situations encountered in the learning task. The approach has been evaluated in the context of maze-solving and the board game of checkers (draughts) demonstrating interesting learning capabilities. The motivation underlying this research is to, ab initio, evolve genotypes that build phenotypes with an ability to learn.     

7xxx系铝合金热处理的进展

7xxx系合金是基于Al-Zn-Mg（-Cu）系的可热处理的锻铝合金,广泛应用于高性能航空结构和运输部件。除了受成分、铸造和形变热处理影响外,材料性能的平衡明显受到其所经历的热处理方式的影响。描述了均匀化、固溶处理、淬火、时效对7xxx系高强合金组织和性能的影响。总结了在Monash大学进行的有关厚板产品的生产工艺,包括从均匀化到最终的时效处理,以及通过控制微观组织特征,比如弥散体、粗粒子、精细析出相、晶粒结构和晶界特征,来实现组织与性能的平衡。重点陈述了相关方法,如通过高温热处理溶解不需要的粗粒子、基于连续冷却析出行为的淬火敏感性变化、通过实验与建模来研究时效包括一步时效、两步时效、三步时效。对每种情况下的组织与性能都进行研究。