Influence of various molding conditions on the uni‐, bi‐, and triaxial impact properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

This study discusses the influence of molecular weight, melt temperature, mold temperature, and aging on the impact characteristics of molded PVC. Tensile impact (uniaxial), instrumented drop‐dart impact (biaxial), and Izod impact (triaxial) methods were utilized to assess the impact properties of the material under investigation. It was found that the impact properties were affected by aging more than by the changes in the melt temperature or the mold temperature. Additionally, the molecular weight played a significant role in influencing the impact properties of PVC.     

Microstructural analysis of the adhesion mechanism between old concrete substrate and UHPFC

The performance of any repaired concrete structure, and thus its service life, depends on the quality of the interfacial transition zone of the composite system formed by the repair material and the existing concrete substrate. In this work, the properties of the interfacial transition zone between normal concrete (NC) substrate as an old concrete and ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFC) as a repair material was investigated. Pull-off and splitting cylinder tensile tests were performed to quantify the bond strength in direct and indirect tensions, respectively. The microstructure of the interfacial transition zone was also studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Different types of NC substrate surface preparation methods were used. An optical three-dimensional surface metrology device was used to estimate the substrate roughness parameters. Based on the results, high interfacial bond strength was achieved on the 3rd, 7th, and 28th days. The pull-off test results revealed that all failures occurred in the substrate, regardless of the substrate surface roughness. The majority of failures in the split tensile test also occurred in the substrate. SEM/EDS proved that the use of UHPFC as a repair material chemically, physically, and mechanically improved the repaired interfacial transition zone to become stronger and denser, as well as more uniform, and durable. Moreover, the use of UHPFC increased the service life of repaired structures and minimized the number and extent of interventions to the lowest possible level.     

Effect of the compression molding parameters on the in-plane and through-plane conductivity of carbon nanotubes/graphite/epoxy nanocomposites as bipolar plate material for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

The main challenges for commercialization of a single-filler graphite (G) polymer-matrix composite as bipolar plates are its low electrical conductivity and flexural strength. The minimum requirements set by the US Department of Energy (DOE) are the electrical conductivity and flexural strength to be greater than 100 S/cm and 25 MPa, respectively. In this study, the electrical conductivity of a G/epoxy (EP) composite (single filler) is only 50 S/cm (in-plane conductivity) at 80 wt% G. However, flexural strength is greater than 25 MPa. Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the second filler at a concentration of 5 wt% in a CNTs/G/EP nanocomposite resulted in the in-plane and through-plane electrical conductivity and flexural strength being 180 S/cm, 75 S/cm, and 45 MPa, respectively. The density of the CNTs/G/EP nanocomposite is also less than that of G/EP composite, which demonstrates that a total weight reduction is achievable.     

Preparation and characterization of novel grafted cellophane‐phosphoric acid‐doped membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel‐cell applications

This work concerns preparation of acid‐base polyelectrolyte membranes for fuel‐cell applications from cellulosic backbones for the first time. Grafted cellophane‐phosphoric acid‐doped membranes for direct oxidation methanol fuel cells (DMFC) were prepared following three steps. The first two steps were conducted to have the basic polymers. The first step was introducing of epoxy groups to its chemical structure through grafting process with poly(glycidylmethacrylate) (PGMA). The second step was converting the introduced epoxy groups to imides groups followed by phosphoric acid (? PO₃H) doping as the last step. This step significantly contributes to induce ion exchange capacity (IEC) and ionic conductivity (IC). Chemical changes of the cellophane composition and morphology characters were followed using FTIR, TGA, and SEM analysis. Different factors affecting the membranes characters especially IEC, methanol permeability, and thermal stability were investigated and optimized to have the best preparation conditions. Compared to Nafion 117 membrane, cellophane‐modified membranes show a better IEC, less methanol permeability, and better mechanical and thermal stability. IEC in the range of 1–2.3 meq/g compared to 0.9 meq/g per Nafion was obtained, and methanol permeability has been reduced by one‐order magnitude. However, the maximum obtained IC for cellophane‐PGMA‐grafted membrane doped with phosphoric acid was found 2.33 × 10^?3 (S cm^?1) compared to 3.88 × 10^?2 (S cm^?1) for Nafion 117. The obtained results are very promising for conducting further investigations taking into consideration the very low price of cellophane compared to Nafion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Fabrication and characterization of a low frequency electromagnetic energy harvester

This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of an AA size electromagnetic energy transducer based on vibration. A magnetic spring technique is used to scavenge energy from low frequency external vibration. The output of the harvester is maximized by optimizing the mass of moving and fixed magnets, coil width, coil position and load resistance through a comprehensive experimental analysis. The prototype can generate an open circuit voltage of 3.961 V and 1.18 mW average power at a load resistance of 97 Ω with 9 Hz resonance frequency and 0.5 mm displacement.     

智能温度传感器Ds18b20在多路测温中的应用

给出了总线上挂有多个Ds18b20的巡回测温的C51编程实现。通用性好，特别适合用在大范围环境温度检测场合，数据准确、可靠。最后给出笔者参与的一个应用项目。     

The effects of dynamic vulcanization and compatibilizer on properties of paper sludge‐filled polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer composites

The effects of dynamic vulcanization (DV) and dynamic vulcanization plus compatibilizer (DVC) of paper sludge (PS) filled polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (PP/EPDM) composites on torque development, mechanical properties, water absorption, morphology, and thermal properties were studied. Results show that DV and DVC composites exhibit higher stabilization torque than unvulcanized composites (UV). The dynamic vulcanized (DV) and dynamic vulcanized plus compatibilizer (DVC) composites exhibit higher tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus but lower water absorption than unvulcanized composites. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of tensile fracture surface of DV and DVC composites shows the improved interfacial interaction between PS and PP/EPDM matrix. The DV and DVC composites also exhibit better thermal stability and higher crystallinity than unvulcanized PP/EPDM/PS composites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Extending the storage life of ‘Khao Kriap Waue’–A traditional Thai glutinous rice-based snack

Khao Kriap Waue (KKW) containing the usual 200 g kg^?1 sugar, can be stored for 1 week at ambient temperature (28 ± 2°C) in the unpuffed, intermediate moisture form (170 g kg^?1 moisture) before mould growth becomes apparent (10⁴ colonies g^?1 moist weight or higher). Reducing its moisture content to <130 g kg^?1 made the product brittle, with poor puffing ability. The use of butyl parabenzoate extended the storate life to 2 weeks by delaying but not preventing mould growth. Storage in high barrier vacuum packaging extended the shelf-life to 12 weeks, compared with 1 week in manually air-expelled polyprophylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene packaging. Increasing the sugar content of 350 g kg^?1 glutinous-rice, lowered a_wto 0.65. made the product pliable and puffable, and increased the storage life of the unpuffed KKW to about 4 weeks. Puffed KKW which usually would not stay crunchy for more than 3 h after puffing, can be stored for less than 2 months in LDPE, but remained crunchy and acceptable for more than 6 months in aluminium/polyethylene laminate or PP. The use of PP, however, is more economical than aluminium/polyethylene laminate.     

Al-Zn coatings for the corrosion protection of steel

Aluminum coatings have been reported to be the most suitable for replacing toxic cadmium for the protection of steel and titanium alloys against corrosion. The relatively poor galvanic corrosion protection of aluminium coatings, however, has led to a search for a more effective coating. To this end, pure aluminium and controlled-composition Al-Zn alloy coatings were ion plated onto steel substrates. Over a range of coating conditions the aluminium and the Al-Zn alloy coatings have very similar columnar structures. They were equally successful in protecting the underlying steel. However, a simulation of the coating damage by masking the steel substrate during plating showed the galvanic corrosion protection of Al-2.5%Zn alloy coatings to be superior to that of aluminium. It is probable that this very effective sacrificial corrosion protection means that the structure of the coating is relatively unimportant and that excellent galvanic corrosion protection can be provided by low density columnar structure coatings of Al-Zn alloys.     

Effect of Pure Lipids and Natural Oils on the Production of Antibiotics by Microorganism

Adding 10–50 mg/l of synthetic unsaturated lipids or natural oils to the nutrient media during antibiotic fermentation increases the yield of antibiotics 10 to 20 fold. Very high concentrations of lipids are sometimes inhibitory to antibiotic production.