Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of single-crystal K2V8O21 nanobelts

Single-crystal K₂V₈O₂₁ nanobelts were prepared from the reaction between V₂O₅ and KHSO₄ under hydrothermal condition using no surfactant or template. The synthesized nanobelts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photon-electron spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanobelts are single-crystalline in nature, and have typical width of 100–500 nm, thickness of less than 100 nm and length up to a few tens of microns. The effects of solution concentration, reaction temperature and molar ratio of K and V on the morphology and phase component of the obtained products have been investigated. The possible formation mechanism was also discussed.     

Effect of the deposition parameters on the voiding propensity of solder joints with Cu electroplated in a Hull cell

A quantitative study of the impact of key Cu plating parameters on the voiding propensity of solder joints with Cu electroplated in a commercially available plating solution (CAPS) is performed first on 0.3 cm² Cu rotating disk electrode. It is shown that similar to samples plated in a generic plating solution (GPS) containing bis(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide, polyethylene glycol, and Cl⁻ ions, void-prone samples are deposited predominantly at higher overpotentials, in the range from positive to −0.20 V. In the second part, a Hull cell with 46 cm² cathode is used to scale up the voiding study in both, GPS and CAPS. It is demonstrated that plating conditions could be chosen in a way to generate both, void-prone and void-proof Cu on the same cathode panel. Thus, the controlled voiding propensity illustrated for the first time in a prototype of industrial Cu plating helps in realizing the sporadic nature of the voiding phenomenon.     

Fracture mechanism characterization of cross-ply carbon-fiber composites using acoustic emission analysis

The sequence of microscopic fracture mechanisms in locally loaded cross-ply carbon-fiber composites was studied by analyzing acoustic emission (AE) signals in combination with the modal analysis of Lamb waves, using microscopic and ultrasonic examination of the specimen after load interruption. The first 70 AE events were analyzed, which were detected during the initial loading segment when the first sudden load drop and gradual load recovery were observed. Characteristics of the detected waves were compared with the S₀- and A₀-mode Lamb waves produced by a spot- or line-focused YAG laser. The internal damage progression of the composite specimen was determined to be the fiber fracture in the front lamina, transverse cracks in the mid-lamina, delamination and splitting.     

A study on dynamic rheological characterisation of electron beam crosslinked high vinyl styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer

Crosslinking of elastomers using electron beam radiation has several advantages over conventional method. It is accomplished much faster, in a more environmental friendly approach and in a much simpler manner. When fast moving electrons that are generated from electron accelerators are targeted on a polymer matrix, they primarily crosslink the polymer. However, in the process, some chain scission may also occur. In this work, a high vinyl (~50%) styrene–butadiene–styrene (S–B–S) block copolymer was used as the base polymer. Radiation doses were varied from 25 to 300 kGy. A detailed investigation was made to understand the effect of electron beam radiation on the rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, storage viscosity and complex viscosity of the block copolymer under strain and frequency sweeps performed in a Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA). Recyclability of the crosslinked S–B–S polymer was also explored by RPA and mechanical studies.     

Evaluation of core characteristics of magnetic phase shifters for thyristor amplifiers

The exciting current characteristic is suggested as a new method of evaluating the core characteristic. The phase shifting characteristic and the difference between a positive and negative waveform of a balanced half-wave type magnetic phase shifter are calculated by using the exciting current characteristics of cores employed in it. From these theoretical analyses, it can be determined that the difference of a positive and negative waveform is caused by a difference of exciting current characteristics of two cores used in it, and it becomes larger in proportion to larger control-circuit resistance. An experiment was performed using two pairs of cores, in which one pair of exciting currents are identical and the other pair differ. Theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

THE COMPUTATION OF WAVELET-GALERKIN APPROXIMATION ON A BOUNDED INTERVAL

This paper describes exact evaluations of various finite integrals whose integrands involve products of Daubechies' compactly supported wavelets and their derivatives and/or integrals. These finite integrals play an essential role in the wavelet-Galerkin approximation of differential or integral equations on a bounded interval.     

Determination of ·-factor for an end-notched flexure test specimen

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trefftz method applied to a moderately thick plate

This paper presents the Trefftz direct and indirect methods for analysing moderately thick plate bending problems based on an improved plate theory (IPT). By using a T‐complete set in the formulation, a non‐singular boundary integral equation is obtained. The results show that the present method is effective for both thin and thick plates. An alternative type of locking problem which is caused by the overflow of Trefftz functions has been observed and a so‐called variable‐reducing procedure for eliminating such a phenomenon is also discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.