Quantitative Analysis of Carbide Phases in Medium-Carbon Steel After Low-Temperature Tempering

Metallurgist - Structural features of high-strength wear-resistant steel formed after tempering at different temperatures are investigated. Temperature dependences are determined for steel hardness...     

Rapid fabrication of poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanofibers using needleless alternating current electrospinning

Poly(ε‐caprolactone) ( PCL) biopolymer nanofibers and micro‐fibers have been fabricated for the first time at the rates up to 14.0 g per hour using a needleless and collectorless alternating current electrospinning technique. By combining the ac‐voltage, “green” low toxicity glacial acetic acid (AA) as the solvent and sodium acetate (NaAc) as an additive, beadless PCL fibers with diameters tunable from 150 nm to 2000 nm, varying surface morphology and degree of self‐bundling are obtained. In this new approach, the addition of NaAc plays a crucial role in improving the spinnability of PCL solution and fiber morphology. NaAc reveals the concentration‐dependent effect on charge transfer and rheological properties of the PCL/AA precursor, which results in broader ranges of spinnable PCL concentrations and ac‐voltages suitable for rapid manufacturing of PCL‐based fibers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43232.     

Density distribution at the detonation front of cylindrical charges of small diameter

A synchrotron radiation based technique is use to study the density distribution at the detonation front and its neighborhood for condensed explosives. Particular data are obtained on the structure of the detonation front in TNT, RDX, and an alloy of TNT with RDX; a comparison of the data with those obtained using different techniques confirms the correctness of the technique. It is concluded that adequate information on the structure of the chemical-reaction zone can be obtained for charges of small diameter. At the same time, it is shown that the Chapman-Jouguet parameters for such charges are far from their predicted values for an infinite medium. The results of the work, including those on the curvature of the detonation front in charges of small diameter, supplement the existing knowledge of the detonation transformation in condensed explosives. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 91–99, March–April, 2007.     

The weak link in drop-test simulations

Computer experiments based on a drop-test model show that the ductile component in sample fracture is much reduced by a random factor—the weak link. The weak link (measuring a few mm) must be transverse to the sheet surface and in the direction of impact. The weak link may be the primary boundaries formed in melt solidification. These boundaries, which are rich in impurities, alloying elements, and nonmetallic inclusions, may be inherited by the hot-rolled metal. In some cases, their stability may result in impurity retardation.     

2-Step self-assembly method to fabricate broadband omnidirectional antireflection coating in large scale

We have developed a simple and reproducible 2-step self-assembly method for the fabrication of broadband, omnidirectional antireflection coating on glass substrate with 4 in. size. The glass surface has been modified to be positively charged, then the negatively charged nano silica is self-assembled to the glass substrate by electrostatic attraction. The nanostructure on the glass substrate reduces the reflection significantly, which results in enhanced transmittance. Transmittance as high as 97.7% at 499 nm has been obtained for a double-side coated glass substrate. Obvious reduction in weighted reflectance is still observed up to 60° incident angle.     

Structural Study of the Partially Disordered Full‐Length δ Subunit of RNA Polymerase from Bacillus subtilis

The partially disordered δ subunit of RNA polymerase was studied by various NMR techniques. The structure of the well‐folded N‐terminal domain was determined based on inter‐proton distances in NOESY spectra. The obtained structural model was compared to the previously determined structure of a truncated construct (lacking the C‐terminal domain). Only marginal differences were identified, thus indicating that the first structural model was not significantly compromised by the absence of the C‐terminal domain. Various ¹⁵N relaxation experiments were employed to describe the flexibility of both domains. The relaxation data revealed that the C‐terminal domain is more flexible, but its flexibility is not uniform. By using paramagnetic labels, transient contacts of the C‐terminal tail with the N‐terminal domain and with itself were identified. A propensity of the C‐terminal domain to form β‐type structures was obtained by chemical shift analysis. Comparison with the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement indicated a well‐balanced interplay of repulsive and attractive electrostatic interactions governing the conformational behavior of the C‐terminal domain. The results showed that the δ subunit consists of a well‐ordered N‐terminal domain and a flexible C‐terminal domain that exhibits a complex hierarchy of partial ordering.     

Thermal comfort of patients: Objective and subjective measurements in patient rooms of a Belgian healthcare facility

In healthcare facilities, the prediction of mean thermal comfort perception of patients and staff is necessary to formulate requirements for the architectural and building systems design and control, and for establishing guidelines for the use of clothing and bedding systems.