Influence of screw configuration and processing temperature on the properties of short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

Short glass fiber reinforced polymers are used in many different applications due to their good property profiles. These properties are directly correlated with the fiber length present in the final composite, which can be influenced through the process. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of processing temperature and screw configuration in compounding on the properties of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene. On the one hand, the barrel temperature was varied between 180°C and 260°C and, on the other hand, four different screw configurations were applied using a standard temperature profile. Specimens were produced by injection molding, which were tested via mechanical characterization, density, and fiber length measurements as well as morphology through microscopical analysis. We found, that with higher barrel temperatures and screw configurations bringing lower shear into the melt the glass fiber length is preserved better, thus resulting in improved composite properties. Also the interfacial interaction is not influenced within the investigated parameters, as was checked via the application of a micromechanical model in composite strength. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1552–1559 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Flotation Within the Grinding Circuit—Understanding and Application of the Concepts of Unit Cell Operation

Performing flotation within the grinding circuit has been successfully utilized by many concentrators across the globe for decades and has advantages including the reduced need for water, chemicals, and power when compared with the conventional style of flotation. The term “unit cell” is used to encompass all forms of flotation within the grinding circuit and includes both cyclone underflow and mill discharge (cyclone feed) flotation. This paper has been written to provide a review of the current use of unit cell flotation and provide the operator with key information vital to the successful understanding, application and operation of flotation machines within this unique flotation environment. Examples from operating plants are presented and discussed as appropriate. Mill discharge flotation has been highlighted as a key area for future development as it presents a unique opportunity to maximize plant design efficiency, reducing both capital costs and operating costs.

Methods for characterizing operating flash flotation cells are presented and discussed as well as the use of laboratory testing procedures aimed at assisting the identification of ores that are suitable for unit cell recovery.     

Para-Graph: Graph-Based Parameterization of Triangle Meshes with Arbitrary Genus

This paper describes a novel approach to the parameterization of triangle meshes representing 2‐manifolds with an arbitrary genus. A topology‐based decomposition of the shape is computed and used to segment the shape into primitives, which define a chart decomposition of the mesh. Then, each chart is parameterized using an extension of the barycentric coordinates method. The charts are all 0‐genus and can be of three types only, depending on the number of boundary components. The chart decomposition and the parameterization are used to define a shape graph where each node represents one primitive and the arcs code the adjacency relationships between the primitives. Conical and cylindrical primitives are coded together with their skeletal lines that are computed from and aligned with their parameterization. The application of the parameterization approach to remeshing guarantees that extraordinary vertices are localized only where two patches share a boundary and they are not scattered on the whole surface.     

Estimation of the liquid-phase enthalpy of mixing for the binary mixture 1,3 dioxolane-water

The liquid-phase enthalpy of mixing δH_m of the binary system 1,3 dioxolane-water was calculated from existing isobaric liquid-vapor equilibrium data. The liquid-vapor data were correlated by the equations of Margules (with three parameters), Redlich-Kister (with four and five parameters), Wilson, NRTL and LEMF in order to obtain the unknown parameters. From the corresponding analytical expressions for G^E the values of δH_m were calculated and compared with reported experimental values. Only the Redlich-Kister expressions provided calculated δH_m curves showing the inversion of sign typical of the experimental curves, whereas the Wilson expression gave the best agreement between the calculated and the experimental values of the heat of mixing. On a calculé l'enthalpie de mélange en phase liquide δH_m du système binaire, 1,3 dioxolane-eau, à partir des données isobares d'équilibre liquide-vapeur.     

Method for preparing thin sections of untreated equine hoof horn for electron microscopic examination

The preparation of hard tissues such as the equine hoof horn for electron microscopic examination is very difficult. In particular the penetration of fixatives and chemicals used during fixation and embedding is a problem. The objective of this study was to find and implement an alternative method enabling the preparation of high-quality thin sections of hoof horn and other hard tissue, which maintains the hard tissue ultrastructure and can be used for immuno-labeling. Compared to commonly used fixation and embedding techniques, the preparation of thin sections from untreated material method saves time and material and provides equivalent ultrastructural information. Furthermore, thin sections from untreated material are significantly larger and more homogeneous, more resistant to the electron ray, as well as more suitable for sectioning. The electron microscopical pictures obtained allow a comparison to previous test results achieved with fixed and embedded material. Using the preparation of thin sections from untreated material method, fixation and embedding artifacts are avoided, providing a clearer interpretation of the electron microscopical findings. Considerable advantages are achieved by using immunohistochemical techniques with untreated horn specimens because fixation invariably decreases antigenicity.     

Treatment of Leather Dyeing Wastewater with Associated Process of Coagulation-Flocculation/Adsorption/Ozonation

This study is based on the investigation of performance of associated wastewater treatments of coagulation-flocculation/adsorption (CF-ADS) and coagulation-flocculation/ozonation (CF-OZ) for the removal of pollutants from tannery wastewater. The chemical dosage was optimized and the use of waste from the tannery process was tested as a low-cost alternative adsorbent for wastewater treatment plants. For the CF-ADS the removal of TOC, COD, Na⁺ and color were 50.04%, 53.13%, 17.05% and 61.13%, respectively, and for the CF-OZ the removal were 46.50%, 56.25%, 11.10% and 85.34%. Also, BOD/COD and COD/TOC ratios were studied to verify the oxidation efficiency of the wastewater.     

Sex Pheromone of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Lonomia obliqua</Emphasis>: Daily Rhythm of Production,Identification, and Synthesis

The sex pheromone of Lonomia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) was studied in the laboratory. All female calling occurred during the scotophase. Most females (70.6%) called first within 24 hr of eclosion. Calling varied with age of female, with older (5- to 6-day-old) females calling earlier in the scotophase and for longer durations than younger (0- to 1-day-old) females. The sex pheromone gland of 1- to 3-day-old virgin females was extracted during the calling peak. A Y-olfactometer bioassay showed significant attraction of males to a filter paper containing the female gland extract. Gas chromatographic-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) analysis of the extract indicated the presence of at least two possible pheromone components. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the major GC-EAD-active peak indicated a hexadecenyl acetate; chemical derivatization indicated Δ11 unsaturation. Synthetic samples of (E)- and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate were obtained by coupling 10-bromo-1-decanol and 1-hexyne, utilizing lithium chemistry. The comparison of the retention time of dimethyl disulfide derivatives of the natural compound, to those of synthetic chemicals, confirmed the natural compound as (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate. The minor component was identified as the related alcohol, (E)-11-hexadecenol. The ratio of the two components in female extract was 100:35. Preliminary tests of males in a Y-olfactometer showed that their response to a mixture of the two compounds was not significantly different from that to gland extract.     

Realistic efficiency potential of next‐generation industrial Czochralski‐grown silicon solar cells after deactivation of the boron–oxygen‐related defect center

We measure carrier lifetimes of different Czochralski‐grown silicon (Cz‐Si) materials of various boron and oxygen concentrations and determine the maximum achievable lifetime after an optimized thermal treatment. We obtain very high and stable bulk lifetimes of several milliseconds, virtually eliminating the boron–oxygen (BO) defect complex, which previously limited the carrier lifetime in boron‐doped Cz‐Si materials after prolonged illumination. Based on these experimental results, we introduce a new parameterization of the bulk lifetime of B‐doped Cz‐Si after permanent deactivation of the BO center. Notably, we measure lifetimes up to 4 ms on 2‐Ωcm Cz‐Si wafers at an injection level of 1/10 of the doping concentration. Importantly, these high lifetime values can be reached within 10 and 20 s of BO deactivation treatment. A detailed analysis of the injection‐dependent lifetimes reveals that the lifetimes after permanent deactivation of the BO center can be well described by a single‐level recombination center characterized by an electron‐to‐hole capture cross‐section ratio of 12 and located in the middle of the silicon band gap. We implement the novel parameterization into a two‐dimensional device simulation of a passivated emitter and rear solar cell using technologically realistic cell parameters. The simulation reveals that based on current state‐of‐the‐art solar cell production technology, efficiencies reaching 22.1% are realistically achievable in the near future after complete deactivation of the BO center. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comprehensive analysis of umami compounds by ion-pair liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

An ion-pair LC-ESI-MS method was developed capable of analyzing various reported umami or umami-enhancing compounds, including glutamic acid and 5'-ribonucleotides. The method was validated using tomato and potato samples and showed overall good analytical performance with respect to selectivity, detection limit, linearity, and repeatability. The method was applied to various tomato samples resulting in concentrations of glutamic acid and 5'-ribonucleotides that were in good comparison with literature. The methodology might also be used for the discovery of new umami (enhancing) compounds in an untargeted mode. This was to a certain extent demonstrated for tomato samples by correlating all peaks observed with the ion-pair liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method to sensory properties using multivariate statistics. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study describes the development and application of a LC-MS method, which can be used to quantify several known umami (enhancing) compounds in various foods. Furthermore, the method might be useful for the discovery of new umami (enhancing) compounds.