A Langrangian Study of Solids Suspension in a Stirred Vessel by Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT)

A technique of Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) was used to obtain information on the flow behavior of coarse particles suspended in pseudoplastic liquids agitated by axial‐hydrofoil Lightnin impellers A320 and A410. PEPT enables the position of a 600 μm radioactive particle tracer inserted inside one of the suspended particles to be detected many times per second and its full trajectory followed inside the vessel. Particle trajectory analysis yielded information on particle circulation, velocity distribution, and spatial occupancy. The minimum speed for complete particle suspension, N_js, was also determined. The well‐known Zwietering correlation failed to predict the measurements by a substantial margin, suggesting that it is inadequate for viscous non‐Newtonian liquids.     

Lattice Model for Estimating the Opacity of White Coatings

White pigments impart opacity to films and coatings by virtue of their ability to scatter incident light. This study considers a homogeneous coating that contains a low concentration of randomly dispersed, monodisperse pigment particles. The optical properties are determined using a lattice model with cell size defined by the diameter ( d ) of the particles. For pure scattering, the contrast ratio (CR) is an algebraic function of the scattering coefficient (κ), pigment volume fraction (φ), and coating layer thickness ( L ), as follows: [formula omitted]When tested against literature data for white films opacified with titanium dioxide, an empirical expression with a single adjustable constant provides a better interpolation formula than the above equation. This discrepancy is attributed to the contribution of a minor amount of absorption to the measured opacity.     

Structural Studies and Valence Band Splitting Parameters in Ordered Vacancy Compound AgGa7Se12

The threefold absorption in the fundamental absorption region of the ternary chalcopyrite AgGa₇Se₁₂, an ordered defect compound of AgGaSe₂, is analyzed to elucidate the three closely spaced band gaps in its valence band due to the lifting of degeneracy of the Γ₁₅ level. Hopfield’s quasi cubic model is employed to extract the crystal-field and spin–orbit splitting parameters and the linear hybridisation of orbitals model for evaluating the percentage contribution of Ag d-orbital and Ga and Se p-orbitals to the p–d hybridization of orbitals. The observed optical properties are correlated with the structural parameters like deformation parameter, anion displacement and anion–cation bond lengths that are deduced from X-ray diffraction data. The compound films for the studies are prepared by a modified form of Gunther’s three temperature technique and the compositional analysis was done by energy dispersive analysis of X-rays. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the compound formation while atomic force microscopic technique was used for surface morphological analysis. The electrical resistivity of these n-type semi-conducting films is assessed to be ~5 Ωm and the films are found to be photosensitive.     

Correlations involving modulae and cross-polarization time constants for a series of polyurethane elastomers

Correlations between the macroscopic bulk polymer properties storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E″) and the microscopic property of cross-polarization as represented by the time constant T_CH have been established for a series of polyurethane elastomers. The dependence of E′, E″, and T_CH as a function of molecular weight, rigid domain concentration, and temperature are graphically presented as a series of log plots. An experimental relationship is presented that shows that the distribution of motions of the flexible domains appears to be the major factor in the success of these correlations.     

Studies of thermal transition behavior in plasticized poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol) with solid-state NMR and thermal analysis techniques

Samples of plasticized poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol) (PVB) are found to exhibit multiple thermal transitions as observed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Arrhenius plots using DSC and DMA data suggest that two of the transitions are glass-type ones. Variable temperature solid-state ¹³C-NMR experiments show a temperature-dependent line-broadening pattern for all PVB backbone carbons with maximum broadening at 55°C or at about 50°C above the second-order-type transitions α₁ and α₂ as measured by DSC. Using Arrhenius plots, the NMR transition is found to best correlate with α₁, which is consistent with glass transition behavior. The solid-state NMR spectra also show that vinyl alcohol tacticity remains unresolved up to a temperature of about 95°C, beyond which line narrowing begins to occur. High-temperature thermal transitions are also observed by DSC and DMA, which suggest that the onset of motion involving vinyl alcohol sequences may be responsible for these transitions.     

Computer Simulation of Dissociative Adsorption of Water on the Surfaces of Spinel MgAl2O4

Atomistic simulation techniques have been used to model the dissociative adsorption of water onto the low-index {100}, {110}, and {111} surfaces of spinel MgAl₂O₄. The Born model of solids and the shell model for oxygen polarization have been used. The resulting structures and chemical bonding on the clean and hydrated surfaces are described. The calculations show that the dissociative adsorption of water on the low-index surfaces is generally energetically favorable. For the {110} and {111} orientations, the surfaces cleaved between oxygen layers show high absorption and stability. The calculations also show that, for the {111} orientation, the surfaces may absorb chemically water molecules up to ∼90% coverage and have the highest stability. It is suggested that, during fracture, only partial hydration occurs, leading to cleavage preferentially along the {100} orientation.     

Influence of size-classified and slightly soluble mineral additives on hydration of tricalcium silicate

Early-age hydration of cement is enhanced by slightly soluble mineral additives (ie, fillers, such as quartz and limestone). However, few studies have attempted to systematically compare the effects of different fillers on cementitious hydration rates, and none have quantified such effects using fillers with comparable, size-classified particle size distributions (PSDs). This study examines the influence of size-classified fillers [ie, limestone (CaCO₃), quartz (SiO₂), corundum (Al₂O₃), and rutile (TiO₂)] on early-age hydration kinetics of tricalcium silicate (C₃S) using a combination of experimental methods, while also employing a modified phase boundary and nucleation and growth model. In prior studies, wherein fillers with broad PSDs were used, it has been reported that between quartz and limestone, the latter is a superior filler due to its ability to partake in anion-exchange reactions with C-S-H. Contrary to prior investigations, this study shows that when size-classified and area matched fillers are used—which, essentially, eliminate degrees of freedom associated with surface area and agglomeration of filler particulates—the filler effect of quartz is broadly similar to that of limestone as well as rutile. Results also show that unlike quartz, limestone, and rutile—which enhance C₃S hydration kinetics—corundum suppresses hydration of C₃S during the first several hours after mixing. Such deceleration in C₃S hydration kinetics is attributed to the adsorption of aluminate anions—released from corundum's dissolution—onto anhydrous particulates’ surfaces, which impedes both the dissolution of C₃S and heterogeneous nucleation of C-S-H.     

Effect of network mesh size and swelling to the drug delivery from pH responsive hydrogels

pH responsive hydrogels are ideal platforms for numerous therapeutic delivery applications, including oral delivery, as they are capable of overcoming the many barriers that must be considered when creating an effective drug delivery system. Understanding of the innate hydrogel network structure and its swelling behavior at environmentally relevant conditions is vital for designing hydrogel network capable of effective controlled drug release. Herein, we explored how to expand traditional techniques of swelling and pore characterization to gain better insight into the performance of anionic microparticles composed of the poly(methyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) with varying molar percentage of 10, 20, and 30 mol% of MMA, for controlled release of low-molecular-weight drugs. By evaluating these carrier systems at environmental conditions, we can observe changes in swelling and pore size of the anionic hydrogel networks as a function of MMA, which was then correlated with the release profiles of the small-molecular-weight drug sodium nitrate. With the correlation of the swelling behavior of the networks and the release profiles, we demonstrated how the expansion of swelling parameters at relevant pH values provides further incite for evaluating for the optimal blend for controlled release. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48767.     

Comparison of two low-hazard organic solvents as individual and cosolvents for the fabrication of polysulfone membranes

Petroleum-derived solvents commonly used in membrane fabrication are often hazardous and toxic, so the investigation of safer alternatives is important. In this study, two low-hazard solvents, methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate (Rhodiasolv® PolarClean) and gamma-valerolactone (GVL), were investigated as sole solvents and as cosolvents to cast polysulfone membranes via nonsolvent induced phase inversion. Normalized viscosity was introduced as an indicator of dope solution homogeneity and was used to compare the required time of mixing to achieve full dissolution of the polymer in the different solvents/solvent mixtures. All dope solutions made with low-hazard solvents were found to be more viscous than those made with traditional solvents, which meant additional mixing time was needed, and that fabricated membranes were morphologically different. With respect to operation, membranes cast from dope solutions containing equal amounts of PolarClean and GVL displayed the most similar flux curves and solute rejection to those made using the traditional solvent tested.     

Plastic deformation of dense nanocrystalline yttrium oxide at elevated temperatures

Nanocrystalline yttrium oxide, Y₂O₃ with 110 nm average grain size was plastically deformed between 800 °C and 1100 °C by compression at different strain rates and by creep at different stresses. The onset temperature for plasticity was at 1000 °C. Yield stress was strongly temperature dependent and the strain hardening disappeared at 1100 °C. The polyhedral and equiaxed grain morphology were preserved in the deformed specimens. The experimentally measured and theoretically calculated stress exponent n = 2 was consistent with the plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding. Decrease in the grain size was consistent with decrease in the brittle to ductile transition temperature.