A 2-D five-noded finite element to model power singularity

A 2-D five-noded finite element which contains a singularity is developed. The new element is compatible with cubic standard isoparametric elements. The main advantage of using cubic isoparametric elements over quadratic elements is to reduce the number of elements required to model a structure for results of comparable accuracy. The element is tested on two different examples. In the first example, an edge crack problem is analyzed using two different meshes. The second example is a crack perpendicular to the interface problem which is solved for two different specific composites. The results obtained using the proposed element are compared with those obtained using other existing elements in the literature. Those comparisons demonstrate the superiority of the present technique in using less number of elements and nodes to produce accurate results.     

In vitro effects of urease inhibitors on rate of urea hydrolysis in soils

We studied the effect of urease inhibitors on the urea hydrolysis in some Sundanese soils belonging to the orders of Vertisol and Entisol. The hydrolysis showed a lag period of about 3 days and its rate (Y) per unit time (t) could be described by a two constants exponential equation of the general form Y = K₁t^K ₂. Statistical analysis showed that the intercept K₁ (rate of urea hydrolysis) was significantly affected by soil type rather than treatment. It seems that K₁ is associated with the soils' initial urease activity as it closely correlates with the Michaelis constant (km).The gradient, K₂, being significantly affected by soil type as well as treatment is probably associated with the induced urease activity with time and it, therefore, varied with variations in soils and treatments. Of the so-called urease inhibitors used in this study Ca(OH)₂, p-benzoquinone (PBQ) and orthophosphoric acid (OP) only PBQ reduced urea hydrolysis while the other chemicals have effects possibly related to modifying the soil pH. Inhibitor treated soils had substantial amounts of unacounted for N which was believed to be present, presumably, in the form of carbamate.Contribution from the Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shambat, Sudan.     

Structural material from waste plastic

In efforts to contribute to community development, particularly in the context of Egyptian communities, waste plastics materials were successfully recycled without the difficult task of separation and reused to economically produce new structural material. Recycling was performed by mixing molten waste plastics with sand to produce these new materials. Samples with different percentages of plastics and different particle sizes of sand were used in the process. Materials showed acceptable density and high compressive strength, which was shown to be at a maximum with contents of about 30–40% waste plastic. Furthermore, certain types of sand having different colors were used to produce attractive materials, suitable for decorative uses. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2543–2547, 2004     

Preparation,characterization, and some physical properties of polypropylene/poly(methyl acrylate)‐grafted glass wool composites

Polypropylene/poly(methyl acrylate)‐grafted glass wool (PMA‐g‐GW) mixes were prepared. The polymerization process was carried out using potassium persulfate (PPS) and PPS/acetone sodium bisulfite (ASBS) as a redox‐pair initiation system at 60 and 70°C. The effect of using PPS or PPS/ASBS on the grafting percent and conversion percent reveals that the conversion percent values on using PPS as an initiator are higher than those of PPS/ASBS, while in the case of grafting, the inverse is true, that is, using PPS as an initiator gives grafting percent values lower than those that can be obtained using PPS/ASBS. The dielectric properties, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of PP loaded with modified glass wool as a function of different types and concentrations of initiators—used in the grafting polymerization process, namely, PPS and the redox initiating system—were also studied. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 723–732, 2003     

Oxygen evolution anodes composed of anodically deposited Mn-Mo-Fe oxides for seawater electrolysis

Preparation of anodes for oxygen evolution in seawater electrolysis was carried out. Manganese-molybdenum double oxides, Mn_1−xMo_xO_2+x, prepared by anodic deposition from MnSO₄-Na₂MoO₄ solutions showed the 100% oxygen evolution efficiency at a current density of 1000 A m⁻² in 0.5 M NaCl at 30 °C and pH 12, but an increase in solution temperature resulted in dissolution of the oxides as molybdate and permanganate ions. In order to increase the stability of the electrodes at higher temperatures the addition of iron to the manganese-molybdenum oxides was performed by anodic deposition in MnSO₄-Na₂MoO₄-FeNH₄(SO₄)₂ solutions. The electrodes thus prepared showed the 100% oxygen evolution efficiency at 1000 A m⁻² in 0.5 M NaCl at 30-90 °C, when proper amounts of molybdenum and iron were contained. The iron addition also enhanced the oxygen evolution efficiency. The electrodes were not composed of oxide mixtures but triple oxides, Mn_1−x−yMo_xFe_yO_2+x−0.5y, consisting of Mn⁴⁺, Mo⁶⁺ and Fe³⁺. The formation of the triple oxides seemed responsible for enhancement of both oxygen evolution efficiency and stability.     

Preliminary investigation for the production of wet-process phosphoric acid from Saudi phosphate ores

This paper represents the first published report of a preliminary investigation of the possibility of using Saudi phosphate ores for the production of wet-process phosphoric acid.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of agricultural residues‐filled polystyrene

Agricultural residues (cotton straw) were added as very small particles to polystyrene (PS) at different weight ratios by using a melt‐mixing technique. The dynamic mechanical tests were performed over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies by using an ARES rheometer (Rheometrics Scientific) operated in the dynamic mode. The dynamic mechanical properties in terms of the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), compliance moduli, loss tangent, and dynamic viscosity were studied and compared for PS and PS composite. The results showed that the dynamic mechanical moduli and viscosity were found to increase with the addition of cotton straw and rise further with its loading increasing. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 37–40, 2004     

Mechanical characterization and chemical resistances of cured unsaturated polyester resins modified with vinyl ester resins based on recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Unsaturated polyester resin (UP) was prepared from glycolyzed oligomer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste based on diethylene glycol (DEG). New diacrylate and dimethacrylate vinyl ester resins prepared from glycolysis of PET with tetraethylene glycol were blended with UP to study the mechanical characteristics of the cured UP. The vinyl ester resins were used as crosslinking agents for unsaturated polyester resin diluted with styrene, using free‐radical initiator and accelerator. The mechanical properties of the cured UP resins were evaluated. The compressive properties of the cured UP/styrene resins in the presence of different vinyl ester concentrations were evaluated. Increasing the vinyl ester content led to a pronounced improvement in the compression strength. The chemical resistances of the cured resins were evaluated through hot water, solvents, acid, and alkali resistance measurements. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3175–3182, 2007     

The use of wood pulp and radiation‐modified starch in wastewater treatment

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of maize starch/acrylic acid has been performed. Also, natural byproduct wood pulp was used after chemical treatment for the removal of metal ions from the investigated wastewater. The surface and structure morphology of the wood pulp and starch/acrylic acid were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The physical parameters, such as swelling, gel percentage, and grafting efficiency (%) of starch/acrylic acid copolymer, were studied. The factors affecting the abilities of the prepared materials for removing heavy metal ions and dyes from aqueous solutions were studied. It was found that the maximum metal uptake is in the following sequence: Fe³⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cd²⁺. The adsorption capacity of such investigated metal ions increases with the increase of pH values. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

On tool wear and its effect on machined surface integrity

This paper presents the results of an investigation of induced residual stress, induced strain, and induced subsurface energy in machined surfaces due to the machining process. The influence of tool wear on residual stress, strain, and energy is also reported. The exact elasticity solution for a split ring was extended and used to calculate the residual stress in the machined surface by using ring dimension changes caused by the electrochemical removal of a thin layer of residually stressed surface. The strain distribution beneath the machined surface was determined by using the grid technique. The subsurface energy stored in the machined surface was then obtained from the data of residual stress and strain. For the materials studied, this investigation showed that such energy could not be neglected when establishing the total energy needed for machining a unit volume of material. Tool coatings having different surface roughness and tools having various magnitudes of flank wear were investigated. The experimental results show that tool wear is a dominant factor affecting the values of induced residual stress, strain, subsurface energy, and the quality of the machined surface. The increase of tool wear caused an increase of residual stress and strain beneath the machined surface. It was also found that the overall energy stored in the machined subsurface increases as the tool wear increases and as the tool surface gets rougher. When the cutting tool is severely worn, the machined surface not only becomes very rough, but also contains many partially fractured laps or cracks. This makes tool wear a key factor in controlling the quality of the machined surface.