A strain hardening failure assessment diagram derived from carbon-manganese steel compact tension specimens

A failure assessment diagram is derived from carbon-manganese steel compact tension specimens. The diagram has been determined from an elastic-plastic finite element analysis of a compact tension specimen geometry. The diagram has been validated by using experimental fracture toughness data obtained on the same steel and specimen geometry modelled in the finite element analysis. The plastic collapse load has been determined empirically for this geometry.It is shown that a non-work-hardening failure assessment diagram is not a good representation of the experimental data and that the computed failure assessment diagram is more appropriate for describing the behaviour of the carbon-manganese steel specimens.     

Fourth International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components

RILEM Bulletin

Fourth International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components     

Incorporation of surface-modified UHMWPE powders and fibers in tough polyurethane composites

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) powder (60 micron diameter) and chopped fiber (6.5 mm length) were surface treated with a blend of reactive gases (fluorine and oxygen.) These powders and fibers were then compounded into a thermoset polyurethane matrix. Surface-treated and control reinforcements are compared at a 10 vol.% loading level. Tensile testing indicates improved stress transfer with surface treatment. Stress transfer is also improved with fibers versus powders. Fracture toughness is characterized by measuring the essential work of fracture, w_e. Surface-treated fiber composites exhibit work of fracture values almost three times the unfilled polyurethane values. Abrasion resistance was also measured. Surface treatment was found to significantly lower wear rates of powder composites. Fiber composites had lower wear rates than powder composites, although surface treatment had little effect. An approximate inverse relationship was found between wear rate and essential work of fracture.     

Feeding pure docosahexaenoate or arachidonate decreases plasma triacylglycerol secretion in rats

Essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient rats were fed highly purified methyl esters of docosahexaenoate (22∶6n−3), arachidonate (20∶4n−6), alpha-linolenate (18∶3n−3) or oleate (18∶1n−9) (100 mg/day, tube fed for 3–10 days), and their plasma triacylglycerol (TG) secretion rates were measured. Secretion rates of TG into plasma were reduced by tube-feeding 22∶6n−3, 20∶4n−6, 18∶3n−3, but not 18∶1n−9, to EFA-deficient rats. A significant reduction occurred after feeding 22∶6n−3 for only three days. Feeding 22∶6n−3 or 18∶3n−3 to EFA-deficient rats for three days also reduced the activities of liver lipogenic enzymes and sharply increased the proportions of 22∶6n−3 and 20∶5n−3 in liver phospholipid fractions. Mechanisms by which these EFA may reduce lipogenesis are discussed.     

Use of surface modified recycled rubber particles for toughening of epoxy polymers

The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility of using surface treated recycled rubber particles for toughening of epoxy polymers. These particles are obtained through grinding of scrap tires followed by oxidizing the surface of the particles in a reactive gas atmosphere. Surface treated recycled rubber particles with a nominal particle size of approximately 75 μm and a commonly used reactive liquid elastomer, CTBN, have been incorporated in a DGEBA epoxy resin. It has been shown that the recycled rubber particles are not as effective as CTBN in toughening of the epoxy matrix. However, blending of the two modifiers results in a synergistic toughening. Microscopy reveals that, when used alone, recycled rubber particles simply act as large stress concentrators and modestly contribute to toughening via crack deflection and microcracking. In the presence of micron size CTBN particles, which cavitate and induce massive shear yielding in the matrix, however, the recycled particles “stretch” the plastic deformation to distances far from the crack tip. This mechanism causes plastic zone branching and provides an unexpectedly high fracture toughness value. This study, therefore, provides a practical approach for manufacturing engineering polymer blends utilizing the surface modified recycled rubber particles.     

Rigid polyurethane foams: A model of the foaming process

A model of the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foams by free rising is presented. The extent of cream and rise periods as well as the amount of blowing agent necessary to give the desired foam density are theoretically predicted. The rate of blowing agent evaporation is calculated from an experimental boiling temperature vs. composition curve. Experimental runs were carried out with a formulation consisting of a polymeric isocyanate, a polyether polyol based on sorbitol, a silicone-polyol block-copolymer as surfactant, dibutyltin dilaurate as catalyst, and trichlorofluoromethane as blowing agent. Mixing was performed in situ in the mold using a commercial foaming machine. Experimental results gave a satisfactory agreement with model predictions. A diagram containing all the relevant information may be theoretically built and used for the selection of adequate operating parameters for a given formulation.     

Calming fears, easing pain. Children's anesthesia tricky

To a child, pain and fear are inseparable. How to safely relieve both is a subject of growing debate and research. Only recently has a narcotic drug been approved specifically for children, and its use is controversial.