Acid cleaning and passivation of power plant condensers and desalination plants

Experiences of acid cleaning and passivation treatments of copper alloy tubes are described. The suitability of corrosion monitoring to follow each step of such operation is demonstrated.     

Gas hold-up in non-newtonian solutions in a bubble column with internals

Bubble characteristics and gas hold-up were studied in a two phase (air-aqueous CMC solution) bubble column provided with helical coils and straight tubes as internals. The effects of superficial gas velocity, rheological properties, and volume fraction covered by the internals, on gas hold-up were studied. Hold-up values determined directly and by simultaneous pressure drop measurements matched well. Enhancement of gas hold-up values up to 55 per cent was achieved in systems using internals. The gas hold-up results were also compared with the values obtained from correlations reported in the literature.     

Preparation and characterization of low-halogen and nonhalgoen fire-resistant low-smoke (FRLS) cable sheathing compound from blends of functionalized polyolefins and PVC

An attempt is made to develop a novel series of cable sheathing compounds with variation in chlorine content and sufficient fire retardance and unique low-smoke characteristics. These are prepared by blending PVC and functionalized polyolefins in different compositions. PE and EPDM have been functionalized by grafting dibutyl maleate (DBM) using DCP as initiator. FRLS compounds made from PVC-functionalized polyolefin blends possess the special characteristics of low-smoke, low-acid-gas generation, increased fire retardance, and improved volume resistivity, which are much better in comparison with a typical PVC sheathing compound. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) based nonhalogen FRLS compounds are also reported. The mechanisms for grafting, polymer-polymer and polymer-filler interactions have been presented.     

The effect of finishing on the mechanical and thermal properties of wool fabrics. Part 2-milling and interactions in piece dyeing

The firmness, fullness and smoothness of wool fabrics all increase as a result of milling. These changes in handle are accompanied by large changes in the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the fabric. The weight and thickness of the fabrics used in this work increased at a relatively constant rate with milling. However, the stiffness-related mechanical properties (shear, bending) increased slowly at first and then more rapidly at higher levels of milling. The objectively measured surface and thermal properties, on the other hand, changed rapidly at first, coming to limiting values, similar to those measured on a wool felt. The implication for the finisher is that short milling times are appropriate where changes in the surface-related properties of the fabric are sought (smoothness, warmness, softness) but longer times are required for an increase in fabric firmness. There is also a milling time where control of both mechanical and surface properties can be most easily achieved. Subsequent piece dyeing significantly reduced the stiffness of milled fabric but had only a small effect on the surface and physical properties.     

Fracture Toughness Anisotropy of Sodium β- Alumina

The fracture toughness anisotropy was determined for sodium p-alumina single crystals, using a hardness indent method. For cracks with a habit plane normal to the 00.1 planes, the fracture toughness is ∼2 MPa.m¹¹², whereas for cracks running parallel to the 00.1 planes, it is ∼0.16 MPa.m¹¹². This extreme anisotropy may partly explain the difference between calculated and observed critical current densities jor mode I failure initiation of poly crystalline solid electrolytes .     

Adsorption isotherms of sesame oil in a concentrated miscella system

The adsorption of peroxides, unsaturated carbonyls, free fatty acids and carotenoids from unrefined sesame oil on vegetable carbon (5%, w/w) in a miscella system was studied. Three different solvent conditions (hexane/ethanol, 100:0, 95:5 and 75:25, vol/vol), combined in a factorial design with five levels of solvent (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%, w/w), were used to develop the miscella. Equilibrium adsorption was not achieved during the 100 min of adsorption, mainly because the oil components were involved in oxidation reactions during the adsorption process. However, for a given solvent concentration, adsorption of the oil components showed a significant linear regression on their respective initial concentration in the miscella (C_i). Peroxides and carbonyls showed, at all solvent levels investigated, an affinity for the carbon more independent of their C_i than free fatty acids and carotenoids. In general, at the same C_i, a higher adsorption was achieved as solvent concentration increased. The results indicated that free fatty acid adsorption may depend on competitive adsorption based on molecule hydrophobicity. However, in spite of the higher hydrophobicity of carotenoids, compared with free fatty acids, they might not be competing for the same adsorbing sites. Ethanol showed a prooxidant effect that increased peroxide production during adsorption but did not affect the reaction involved in carbonyl production.     

Evaluation of Concurrent Flaw Populations in Silicon Carbide in Terms of a Modified Weibull Distribution Function

Concurrent surface- and edge-flaw populations are often observed in strength testing of ceramics The overall strength distribution in such ceramic samples has been analyzed in terms of a modified Weibull distribution function. The junction provides an upper and lower strength limit and is characterized by two shape and location parameters. To evaluate the parameters of the distribution function, the type of flaw that causes failure need not be identified. The applicability of the function has been evaluated in terms of experimental results on SiC specimens. The analysis also shows that the relative values of shape parameters determine which flaw type dominates.     

Experimental research and prediction of the effect of chemical and biogenic sulfuric acid on different types of commercially produced concrete sewer pipes

New equipment and procedures for chemical and microbiological tests, simulating biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion in sewerage systems, are presented. Subsequent steps of immersion and drying, combined with mechanical abrasion, were applied to simulate events occurring in sewer systems. Both chemical and microbiological tests showed that the aggregate type had the largest effect on degradation. Concrete with limestone aggregates showed a smaller degradation depth than did the concrete with inert aggregates. The limestone aggregates locally created a buffering environment, protecting the cement paste. This was confirmed by microscopic analysis of the eroded surfaces. The production method of concrete pipes influenced durability through its effect on W/C ratio and water absorption values. In the microbiological tests, HSR Portland cement concrete performed slightly better than did the slag cement concrete. A possible explanation can be a more rapid colonisation by microorganisms of the surface of slag cement samples. A new method for degradation prediction was suggested based on the parameters alkalinity and water absorption (as a measure for concrete porosity).