Thermal Stability of Polycarbosilane-Derived Silicon Carbide Fibers under Reduced Pressures

Three types of polycarbosilane-derived SiC fibers—Nicalon, Hi-Nicalon, and Hi-Nicalon S—were exposed at temperatures of 1573–1773 K under a reduced pressure of 1.3 Pa. The thermal stability of the fibers was investigated through examinations of the gas evolution, grain growth, specific resistivity, fiber morphology, and tensile strength. The thermal decomposition of the silicon oxycarbide phase began at 1523 K; then, active oxidation of the β-SiC crystallites occurred at >1673 K. The active oxidation caused serious damage to the fiber structure, which resulted in significant degradation of the fiber strength. Hi-Nicalon had a tensile strength of ∼0.5 GPa after exposure at 1773 K, although Nicalon and Hi-Nicalon S fibers completely lost their strength, even after exposure at 1673 K. Hi-Nicalon fiber had relatively good thermal stability under reduced pressure.     

Effect of packed structure on flow behaviour in a trickle bed biofilter

The effects of operation conditions on the flow behaviour in gas–liquid countercurrent trickle bed biofilter were experimentally examined. In order to prevent gas channelling in the biofilter, packings with a relatively large void fraction, which have a role to maintain a high void fraction in the bed, were added. The gas and liquid velocities of the packed structure and the packings were changed, and the residence time distributions (RTDs) of the gas and liquid were measured. It was found that the addition of void supporters was very effective in the suppression of gas channelling.     

Effect of polyethyleneimine-fatty acid complex type dispersant structure on the overall processing chain of Si3N4 ceramics using multicomponent non-aqueous slurries

The effect of fatty acid structure of polyethyleneimine (PEI)-fatty acid complex, which was designed as a polymer dispersant for multi-component non-aqueous slurries, on the overall processing chain of Si₃N₄ ceramics involving slurry stabilization, spray drying, compaction, and liquid sintering was investigated using PEI-oleic acid (PEI-OA) and PEI-isostearic (PEI-ISA) complexes. Si₃N₄-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃-AlN-TiO₂/toluene slurries were selected as a real model for Si₃N₄-based multicomponent slurries. It was observed that both PEI-OA and PEI-ISA can stabilize Si₃N₄-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃-AlN-TiO₂/toluene slurries; however, the PEI-ISA system tended to have slightly higher slurry viscosity, which was suspected to be due to the interactions between protruded PEI segments among short ISA chains. The spray-dried granules from PEI-ISA-stabilized slurry were observed to have filled structures with higher surface roughness whereas those prepared from PEI-OA-stabilized slurry were observed to have hollow-structured granules. The granules prepared from PEI-OA slurry had improved flow and compaction properties with higher relative density of green compacts compared with those prepared from PEI-ISA-stabilized slurry, whereas the relative density and microstructural homogeneity of S₃N₄ ceramics sintered at 1600?°C for 2?h were observed to be higher for the PEI-ISA system. It is suspected that PEI-OA effectively improved the dispersion stability of multicomponent slurries and flow/compaction properties of granules; however, the inhomogeneous microstructures of green compacts induced by the hollow-structured granules had an adverse effect on the sintering of Si₃N₄ ceramics.     

Diesel emission control system using combined process of nonthermal plasma and exhaust gas components' recirculation

A NO_x aftertreatment system, using nonthermal plasma (NTP) reduction and exhaust gas components' recirculation, is investigated. A pilot-scale system is applied to a stationary diesel engine. In this system, NO_x is first removed by adsorption, and subsequently, the adsorbent is regenerated by thermal desorption. NO_x desorbed is reduced by using nitrogen NTP. Moreover, NO_x, CO₂, and water vapor recirculated into the engine intake reduce NO_x. In this study, approximately 57% of the NO_x of the exhaust (NO_x: 240-325 ppm, flow rate = 300 NL/min) can be continuously treated for 58 h. A system energy efficiency of 120 g (NO₂)/kWh is obtained.     

Uniform carbon‐nanotube emitter for field‐emission displays

Abstract— The synthesis of carbon‐nanotube (CNT) field emitters for FEDs by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and their structural and emission characterization are described. Multi‐walled nanotubes (MWNTs) were grown on patterned metal‐base electrodes by thermal CVD, and the grown CNTs formed a network structured layer covering the surfaces of the metal electrode uniformly, which realized uniform distribution of electron emission. A technique for growing narrow MWNTs was also developed in order to reduce the driving voltage. The diameter of MWNT depends on the growth temperature, and it has changed from 40 nm at the low temperature (675°C) to 10–15 nm at the high temperature (900–1000°C). Moreover, narrower MWNTs were grown by using the metal‐base electrode covered with a thin alumina layer and a metal catalyst layer. Double‐walled nanotubes (DWNTs) were also observed among narrow MWNTs. The emission from the narrow CNTs showed a low turn‐on electric field of 1.5 V/μm at the as‐grown layer.     

A density-independent method for high moisture content measurement using a microstrip transmission line.

This paper describes a method to measure high moisture content in materials from 190% to 350% on a dry weight basis. The method uses a microstrip transmission line, on which the material under test is overlaid. A parameter calculated from the attenuation and phase shift of the microwave signal is proposed to measure the moisture content. The experiments were performed on samples of sawdust, and the results show that the method is able to determine high moisture content independent of density. The standard error of calibration for the moisture content determination was 12.4% in the moisture content range from 190% to 350%.     

Distribution-free checkpoint placement algorithms based on min-max principle

In this paper, we consider two kinds of sequential checkpoint placement problems with infinite/finite time horizon. For these problems, we apply approximation methods based on the variational principle and develop computation algorithms to derive the optimal checkpoint sequence approximately. Next, we focus on the situation where the knowledge on system failure is incomplete, i.e., the system failure time distribution is unknown. We develop the so-called min-max checkpoint placement methods to determine the optimal checkpoint sequence under an uncertain circumstance in terms of the system failure time distribution. In numerical examples, we investigate quantitatively the proposed distribution-free checkpoint placement methods, and refer to their potential applicability in practice.     

Development of mushrooms for thrombosis prevention by protoplast fusion

With thrombosis a major cause of death in Japan and the Western world, thrombin-inhibitory agents that constrain the formation of fibrin are sought. We screened for basidiomycetes showing anti-thrombin activity and isolated Laetiporus sulphureus. However, it was difficult to cultivate and its form was not satisfactory. We therefore used protoplast fusion between L. sulphureus and the commonly cultivated basidiomycete Hypsizygus marmoreaus to obtain cultivable basidiomycetes that produced an anti-thrombin substance. For the protoplast fusion of L. sulphureus and H. marmoreaus, the protoplast concentration, alternating electric field intensity, dielectrophoresis duration, and field pulse intensity used were of 1 x 10(7) protoplasts/ml, 100 V/cm.1 MHz, 60 s, and 8 kV/cm, respectively. The number of regenerated colonies obtained was 4961, from which 43 strains were selected for electrophoretic analysis. Four of the fusants were found to have a band from each parent in isozyme patterns obtained using their crude extract. The fruiting bodies of the fusants were very similar to those of H. marmoreaus. Crude extract from each of the fusants and from L. sulphureus showed anti-coagulative activity in terms of the thrombin clotting time. We thus obtained improved basidiomycetes that produce an anti-thrombin substance, are easily cultivated, and whose form resembles H. marmoreaus, a commonly used culinary mushroom.     

Er-doped fibre ring resonator applied to optical spectrum analyser with less than 100 kHz resolution

A fibre optic ring resonator is proposed which uses an Er-doped fibre amplifier to compensate for round-trip optical loss thereby enhancing resonator finesse. It is operated as a scanning-ring spectrum analyser and attains a resolution better than 100 kHz.<>     

CABG after patch angioplasty of the left main coronary: artery report of a case

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of restenosis of the left main coronary trunk (LMT) after patch angioplasty for the LMT lesion. PTCA was repeated four times during three years after patch angioplasty, but recent coronary angiogram still demonstrated 75% restenosis of the LMT lesion. Double-CABG was performed to LAD and LCX using the left internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein graft. Postoperative coronary angiogram revealed an excellent result. A careful consideration must be given to the indication of the patch angioplasty of the LMT lesion.