Prediction of ultrasonic wave velocity in particleboard and fiberboard

Ultrasonic wave velocities were determined at parallel and perpendicular to manufacturing direction and at the interval angles of 15° in clockwise and counterclockwise directions of particleboard and fiberboard. The experimental results were compared with the predicted values using some empirical formulae such as Hankinson and Jacoby equations. The results showed that the ultrasonic wave velocity were the highest in parallel direction in particleboard and fiberboard and decreases with increase of angle and the lowest values occurred in perpendicular direction. The predicted ultrasonic velocity using Hankinson and Jacoby equations are in close agreement with the measured values. Relationship between ultrasonic wave velocities and particles and fibers angle could be successfully presented by cubic and quadratic regression equations as well.     

Dissolution processes,hydrolysis and condensation reactions during geopolymer synthesis: Part I—Low Si/Al ratio systems

Initial geopolymeric reaction processes governing dissolution of solid aluminosilicate particles in alkali solutions have been investigated using conventional experimental techniques, and the data analysed by speciation predictions of the partial charge model (PCM). For metakaolin powders activated with 5.0 M NaOH, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra disclose the existence of monomeric [Al(OH)₄]⁻ species after two hours of dissolution, consistent with PCM predictions. However, no equivalent monomeric silicate species were observed for 5.0–10.0 M NaOH activator solutions characteristic of systems with nominal Si/Al ≤ 1. The apparent absence of monomeric silicate species suggest rapid condensation of silicate units with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ to generate aluminosilicate species, as indicated by the evolution of the shoulder at around −87 ppm in the ²⁹Si NMR spectra. Of the two possible stable silicate species [SiO₂(OH)₂]²⁻ and [SiO(OH)₃]⁻, the latter appears most likely to condense with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ to produce aluminosilicate oligomers, from which larger oligomers subsequently form through further condensation with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ leading to a gradual build up of aluminosilicate networks and a lowering of system alkalinity. This dissolution and hydrolysis sequence at the early stages of synthesis suggests a reaction path wholly consistent with predictions of the partial charge model.     

Preparation of gold nanoparticles (GNP) aqueous suspensions by a new method involving Tiron

A new method is proposed to produce gold nanoparticles (GNP) by in situ reduction of a gold salt dissolved in water. The reducing agent used is Tiron instead of the citrate anion most often mentioned in literature. The influence of various parameters has been investigated, such as the content of Tiron with respect to that of the precursor of gold HAuCl₄, or the initial pH of the solution after mixing of reactants. It is shown that Tiron also exerts a positive influence as a dispersant, which impedes agglomeration of gold nanoparticles. The typical average size of GNP synthesized in the present work is close to 7 nm.     

Temperature waves in a horizontal liquid layer cooled from above

Waves in a thermal boundary layer were obtained by numerically modeling the natural thermogravitational convection in the infinite horizontal layer of a liquid cooled from above. The waves are generated via a mechanism related to the loss of stability and periodic separation of the upper, heavier and cooler liquid layer (penetrative convection).