Electrical and stability properties and ultrasonic microscope characterisation of low temperature co-fired ceramics resistors

This paper presents systematic investigations of electrical and stability properties of various low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) resistors. One of the goals of this work was to check the compatibility of LTCC materials (tapes, resistive and conductive inks) from various manufacturers. Three commercially available green tapes and three LTCC resistor/conductor systems were examined. The resistive inks with 1 kΩ/sq. nominal sheet resistance were used. Buried (inside) and surface resistors were laminated and fired according to the tape manufacturers’ recommendations. The influence of dimensional effect on sheet resistance and hot temperature coefficient of resistance, the temperature dependence of resistance in a wide temperature range (from −180°C to +130°C), long-term stability of thermally aged as-fired resistors (150°C, 500 h) and durability to high-voltage micro- or nanosecond pulses (50 ns pulses with 4000 V/mm maximum electric field or 10 μs ones with 700–1000 V/mm electrical field) were carried out for electrical and stability characterisation of LTCC resistors. Non-destructive scanning acoustic microscope diagnostics was applied for structure investigation and estimation of lamination and cofiring process quality of buried LTCC resistors.     

Finding Quadratic Schedules for Affine Recurrence Equations Via Nonsmooth Optimization

Frequently, affine recurrence equations can be scheduled more efficiently by quadratic scheduling functions than by linear scheduling functions. In this paper, the problem of finding optimal quadratic schedules for affine recurrence equations is formulated as a convex nonsmooth programming problem. In particular, sufficient constraints for causality are used generalizing Lamport's condition. In this way, the presented problem formulation becomes independent of the problem size. The research tool AQUAD is described implementing this problem formulation. Several nontrivial examples demonstrate that AQUAD can be effectively used to calculate quadratic schedules for affine recurrence equations. Finally, it is shown how array processors can be synthesized from affine recurrence equations which are scheduled by quadratic functions with a singular Hessian matrix.     

Auswahl und Betrieb von Brüdenverdichtern in chemischen Produktionsanlagen

Choice and operation of vapour compressors in chemical production plant . The use of vapour compressors for evaporation, distillation processes and also for more complex processes has increased greatly due to the large increases in energy costs in the past. Generally, high speed radial compressors are used for these applications. Recommended operating ranges, investment costs as well as efficiencies at different compression ratios are explained, based on experience gained in technical application and manufacturers information. The example of combining a separation column and an evaporation step shows that not only a saving of energy, but also a significant reduction of waste water generation is achieved. The control strategy for a process having several recycle flow streams is explained. Based on operating experience, recommendations for field monitoring of the compressor are given.     

Localization of androgen receptor mRNA-containing cells in avian respiratory-vocal nuclei: an in situ hybridization study

Song development and song pattern formation in oscine songbirds are influenced by steroid hormones such as estrogens and androgens, and the control of vocal pattern generation is mediated via a network of interconnected vocal and respiratory nuclei. The main components of the respiratory part of the network are the expiratory and inspiratory premotor nuclei, known as retroambigualis (RAm) and the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG), respectively. These respiratory components play an integral role in song production either by providing the expiratory pulses of air required for each and every song syllable, or by controlling inspiration between syllables in the form of minibreaths, and between phrases for major replenishments of air. Here we analyze the distribution of androgen receptors (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) in the midbrain and hindbrain of male and female zebra finches, and male canaries and green finches, using in situ hybridization with cRNA probes of the zebra finch AR and ER. ERmRNA was not expressed in any of the respiratory-vocal nuclei of the midbrain or hindbrain, but ARmRNA was expressed in the tracheosyringeal motor nucleus (nXIIts) and in RAm and rVRG. The size of the ARmRNA defined RAm and rVRG was similar in male and female zebra finches, but the size of ARmRNA defined nXIIts was slightly sexual dimorphic. Previously undescribed areas of ARmRNA expression outside the respiratory-vocal network in the brain stem were the nucleus semilunaris and layers 10-12 of the optic tectum. AR-mRNA expression in the respiratory-vocal nuclei of adult male songbirds, adult female zebra finches, and juvenile zebra finches suggests that the temporal pattern of learned and unlearned vocalizations is sensitive to androgen-dependent mechanisms mediated by RAm and rVRG.     

Temperature oscillation calorimetry in stirred tank reactors with variable heat transfer

A new method for applying reaction calorimetry to stirred tank reactors with variable heat transfer is presented. Sinusoidal temperature oscillations are induced by an electrical heater placed either in the reactor or in the jacket in order to decouple the chemical heat production from the variable heat transfer during reaction. Multiplication of the reactor heat balance by periodic functions and integration yields the overall heat transfer. Temperature oscillation calorimetry was successfully applied to the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in ethyl acetate which shows a strong decrease in heat transfer.     

Zur Kinetik der stabilisierten Fällungs-polymerisation eines Kationischen Monomeren in wäßrigen Natriumchlorid-Lösungen

The stabilized free-radical precipitation polymerization of the cationic monomer N-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylbenzylammonium chloride (MADAMBQ) in aqueous solutions of sodium chloride was studied by reaction calorimetry. Poly(ethylene oxide) was used as stabilizer. The rate of polymerization reaches its maximum immediately after initiation and remains nearly constant up to 50 % conversion followed by a decrease that could be described by a first order kinetics. The particles formed are approximately 1 to 30 μm in diameter and are stable over a period of several months. A model based on the theory of homogeneous particle nucleation is suggested to describe the kinetic course of polymerization, taking into account the rate of polymerization in both phases. With the assumption that the concentration of monomer in the phases is determined by a Nernst distribution law, the kinetics of the early stage of polymerization can be modelled reasonably well. The solution polymerization and the unstabilized precipitation polymerization of MADAMBQ was also studied.     

Korrosionsuntersuchungen zur Entwicklung von Dekontaminationslösungen für Nuklearanlagen – Teil III: Das Korrosionsverhalten ferritischer Baustähle mit unterschiedlichen Kohlenstoffgehalten in Ameisensäure-Formaldehyd-Lösungen ohne und mit Inhibierung

Investigation of corrosion in the development of decontamination solutions for nuclear systems – Part III: The corrosion behaviour of ferritic steels with different carbon contents in formic acid-formaldehyde solutions with and without inhibitors In decontamination solutions of the type formic acid-formaldehyde, ferritic steels undergo heavy pitting corrosion or shallow pitting corrosion. The addition of formaldehyde to formic acid solutions scarcely influences the temperature dependency of the corrosion rates, the solution specific corrosion rates, however, increase with increasing carbon content of the steels. The high corrosion rates, especially of the steel 21 CrMoV 5 11, can be reduced by about two orders of magnitude by adding inhibitors as thiourea, ethyl thiourea, and phenyl thiourea to the formic acid-form-aldehyde solutions, but pitting corrosion is unavoidable.     

Flow fields in electromagnetic stirring of rectangular strands with linear inductors: Part II. computation of flow fields in billets, blooms, and slabs of steel

The model presented in Part I of this series of papers is used to compute flow velocities in the longitudinal stirring of steel blooms and billets, and in the horizontal stirring of steel slabs. In longitudinal stirring of blooms and billets the reverse flow is on the side of the strand opposite to the inductor. The effects of penetration depth of the electromagnetic force, of the force itself, of the length of the stirrer, and of the width of the liquid core were determined. In horizontal stirring of slabs the reverse flow takes place outside of the stirrer region, forming the so-called butterfly stirring pattern. The characteristics of this flow field depend to a considerable extent on the width of the stirrer. The effects of stirrer width, of thickness of the liquid core, of force and of width of the slab were elucidated. The maximum velocities in both types of stirring are represented as simple formulae. Formerly with Institut für Allgemeine Metallurgie, Technische Universit?t Clausthal