Dissimilar Resistance Spot Welding of Q&P and TWIP Steel Sheets

Dissimilar resistance spot welding of twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) and quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steel grades has been investigated by evaluating the effects of clamping force, welding current, and welding time on the microstructure, shear tension strength, and fracture of welded samples. The spot welding of TWIP and Q&P steels promotes the occurrence of an asymmetrical weld nugget with a greater dilution of TWIP steel because of its lower melting temperature and thermal conductivity. As a result, weld nuggets exhibit an austenitic microstructure. TWIP steel undergoes a grain coarsening in the HAZ, whereas Q&P steel undergoes some phase transformations. Welded samples tend to exhibit higher shear tension strength as they are joined at the highest welding current, even though an improper clamping force can promote excessive metal expulsion, thereby reducing the mechanical strength of the welded joints. Shear tension welded samples failed through interfacial fracture with partial thickness fracture mode for a low welding current, while partial thickness with button pull fractures were observed when a high welding current was used. The weld spots predominantly failed at the TWIP side. However, as TWIP steel can work harden significantly in the more resistant welded joints, the failures occur, instead, at the Q&P side.     

Evaluation of the surface urban heat island effect in the city of Madrid by thermal remote sensing

The surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect is defined as the increased surface temperatures in urban areas in contrast to cooler surrounding rural areas. In this article, the evaluation of the SUHI effect in the city of Madrid (Spain) from thermal infrared (TIR) remote-sensing data is presented. The data were obtained from the framework of the Dual-use European Security IR Experiment (DESIREX) campaign that was carried out during June and July 2008 in Madrid. The campaign combined the collection of airborne hyperspectral and in situ measurements. Thirty spectral and spatial high-resolution images were acquired with the Airborne Hyperspectral Scanner (AHS) sensor in a 11, 21, and 4 h UTC scheme. The imagery was used to retrieve the SUHI effect by applying the temperature and emissivity separation (TES) algorithm. The results show a nocturnal SUHI effect with a highest value of 5 K. This maximum value agrees within 1 K with the highest value of the urban heat island (UHI) observed using air temperature data (AT). During the daytime, this situation is reversed and the city becomes a negative heat island.     

Effect of a binder system on the low-pressure powder injection moulding of water-soluble zircon feedstocks

Micronized natural zircon sand powders were used as a raw material to conduct low-pressure powder injection moulding (LPPIM) processes. PIM could lead to new technological applications for this mineral, which has very stable dimensional behaviour with changing temperature. Zircon powders that have unconventional attributes for PIM (in terms of size and morphology) were mixed with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based binders. Combinations of this water-soluble substance with different polymers, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and several types of acetate butyrate celluloses (CAB), were investigated. The influence of acetyl, butyryl and hydroxyl groups on the behaviour of the created feedstocks at different process stages and on the final piece properties were studied. The higher affinity of CAB with PEG and zircon powders compared with LDPE could result in improved densification and properties, but the butyryl, acetyl and hydroxyls groups affect the processability of these feedstocks.     

Small angle neutron scattering studies of composite latex film structure

The mechanical properties and structure of composite films made of high T_g polystyrene (PS) nodules dispersed in a low T_g polybutylacrylate (PBuA) matrix were studied by means of dynamic mechanical spectrometry and small angle neutron scattering. For films cast from mixtures of PS and PBuA latexes, film mechanical reinforcement was obtained above a percolation threshold of about 30% PS volume fraction. A segregation of PS particles into dense clusters in the PBuA continuous matrix, reminiscent of a phase separation, was observed. For films cast from core-shell particles, this segregation phenomenon may be prevented, depending on the coverage of the PS core by the PBuA shell. An efficient core encapsulation in the core-shell morphology leads to poor contact between PS cores, and the elastic moduli are then close to that of the PBuA matrix. Upon annealing the films above the T_g of PS, extensive coalescence of PS particles occurred when large contacts were already present in the dry film at room temperature, and a percolating network of coalesced PS domains provides large elastic moduli at temperatures between the T_g of PBuA and PS. The coalescence was prevented when PS particles were taken apart by the PBuA shell.     

GC-IRMS analysis of black Ceylon, Assam and Darjeeling teas

 The δ¹³C_PDB values of characteristic flavour compounds of black Ceylon, Darjeeling and Assam teas were determined using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The influence of different harvest times, years and various cultivation regions on the δ¹³C_PDB and the δ¹³C _{cis linalool oxide (fur.)} values were investigated. By comparison with suitable internal isotopic standards, adulterations with methyl salicylate were detectable. Received: 22 July 1998     

THE SEPARATION OF Au(III) AND Pd(II) IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTIONS BY STRONG ANION TYPE II EXCHANGE RESINS: THE EFFECT OF COUNTER ION CONCENTRATION AND TEMPERATURE

ABSTRACT

The separation of gold and palladium ions in hydrochloric acid solutions by strong anion Type II exchange resins is studied in batch and column operations. Increases in the hydrochloric acid concentration and the temperature of the adsorption process have the effect of decreasing the adsorption capacity and the separation factor of both metals. A faster kinetics of the adsorption process of both ions results from temperature increase and this effect is higher for gold ions as a result of greater changes in its diffusivity. Although the adsorption capacity of palladium ions is lower at equilibrium conditions, the adsorption isotherms obtained suggest that they are more strongly retained by the polymers.

The high capacities of these resins for both metals permits their use in the preconcentration of gold and palladium but their application in quantitative separation is restricted by the co-elution of up to% of the interfering ion during the desorption process. The best method for ion desorption is sequential elution with% ammonia for palladium recovery followed by 0·5M thiourea in HCI 1M for the recovery of gold.     

Study of the synergic effect of sulphate pre-treatment and platinisation on the highly improved photocatalytic activity of TiO2

An important improvement of the photocatalytic activity of sol–gel prepared TiO₂ has been achieved by sulphate pre-treatment, calcination at high temperature and further platinisation of the samples.

The presence of sulphuric acid clearly stabilised TiO₂ surface area against sintering, maintaining at the same time anatase phase until higher calcination temperatures than in non-sulphated samples. Platinisation of the samples with different nominal amounts of platinum (from 0.5 to 2.5 wt%) was performed and the influence of sulphate treatment on the dispersion and deposit size of platinum on the TiO₂ surface was studied.

Characterisation results and photocatalytic activity of these catalysts were compared with those of unmodified TiO₂. Simultaneously sulphated and platinised TiO₂ samples were highly active for phenol degradation, used as model reaction for the photocatalytic studies, having higher activities than only platinised or only sulphated samples. The activity of these samples were several orders of magnitude higher than that of the commercial TiO₂ Degussa P25 (platinised or unmodified) as well, with independence of the nominal amount of platinum of the samples.

A wide characterisation of the samples was performed and correlations between characterisation results and activity properties are reported.     

Protein,ash, lutein and tocols distribution in einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum) seed fractions

The distribution of protein, ash, lutein, tocopherols and tocotrienols in the germ, bran and endosperm portions was studied in seeds of two einkorn accessions and one bread wheat. The two einkorns showed a higher content of most compounds, but the distribution within the kernel was similar in both species. The germ fraction showed the highest concentration of protein, lutein, α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol and total tocols. Ash, α-tocotrienol and β-tocotrienol levels were highest in the bran fraction, although significant quantities were detected also in the germ and, for tocotrienols, in the flour.     

Sensorless control of induction motors by artificial neuralnetworks

In this letter, we propose a voltage-source inverter control working in the open loop of an induction motor measuring the stator current and using an artificial neural network. This technique has the mission to estimate the speed and torque of the rotor without using sensors. With this, a simple and cheap method of control is obtained, with as much precision and robustness as other more complex ones