The effect of additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride)

The effect of a range of organic additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride), both with and without a chloroparaffin extender, was studied using a number of experimental techniques. Of the additives used the best overall balance was provided by pentaerythritol, which increased stability when the extender was present and had no effect when it was absent. The congo red test emerged as the most suitable technique, being consistent and inexpensive and able to screen several additives simultaneously. Isothermal differential thermal analysis correlated with the congo red test but required more expensive equipment, was time-consuming and demanded good mixing of the poly(vinyl chloride) compound to give reproducible results. Thermogravimetry was not sufficiently sensitive and the heat stability test was the least useful of all.     

Infrared spectra of poly(ethylene terephthalate) yarns. Fitting of spectra,evaluation of parameters,and applications

A quantitative model for fitting infrared spectra of polyethyleneterephthalate samples over the region from 1100 to 720 cm^?1 has been evaluated. The absorbance was described as the sum of a linear base line and a set of symmetrical bell-shaped Pearson VII curves. Using this model, experimental transmission spectra of yarns, measured with the electric vector parallel and perpendicular to the fiber axis, were fitted. It was found that each of the trans bands near 972 and 845 cm^?1 consists of two components, a narrow and a broad one. These two components represent the crystalline and amorphous phases respectively. The band due to the out of plane benzene ring C? H deformation vibration at about 875 cm^?1 appeared also to be composed of two contributions. In this case, the narrow component was found to be due to molecules having interactions with direct neighbors. So this narrow component not only contains the molecules in the crystalline phase but also those forming part of bundles which are too small to be detected by x-ray diffraction. For a detailed insight into the molecular arrangement of the amorphous regions, the infrared detection of trans-guache transitions, fold content, detection of bundlelike structures, and molecular stress on tie molecules turned out to be of great practical importance. The structural details, which can be revealed by the infrared technique, cannot be obtained by other means. The potential of the method is illustrated with some practical examples.     

Dynamic-mechanical properties of polybutadiene rubbers

The dynamic properties of high-cis (98%) and cis-trans (42% cis) polybutadienes, crosslinked with 0.1 to 1.0% of crosslinking agent, have been studied using a torsion pendulum method over the temperature range ?170 to +20°C. For the high-cis rubber plots of damping factor (tan δ) against temperature showed the expected peak in the glass-transition region with an additional peak in the neighbourhood of 0°C attributable to crystallization. The cis-trans rubber showed two damping maxima in the transition region, separated by 30 to 40°C (depending on the degree of crosslinking), suggesting incipient phase separation of the component structures. The rebound resilience of the high-cis rubber at room temperature exceeded that of the cis-trans, reaching 92% at the highest crosslink density. Plots of resilience versus temperature for both rubbers showed a single minimum in the glass transition region.     

Acoustic emission technique for leak detection in an end shield of a pressurised heavy water reactor

This paper discusses the successful application of the Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for detection and location of leak paths present on the inaccessible side of an end shield of a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). The methodology was based on the fact that air and water leak AE signals have different characteristic features. Baseline data was generated from a sound end-shield of a PHWR for characterizing the background noise. A mock up end-shield system with saw cut leak paths was used to verify the validity of the methodology. It was found that air leak signals under pressurisation (as low as 3 psi) could be detected by frequency domain analysis. Signals due to air leaks from various locations of a defective end-shield were acquired and analysed. It was possible to detect and locate leak paths. Presence of detected leak paths were further confirmed by alternate test.     

Allelopathic effects of giant foxtail on germination and radicle elongation of loblolly pine seed

Water extracts of giant foxtail grass inhibited germination and radicle elongation of loblolly pine seed in a laboratory test. Most of the toxic effects came from extracts of dried foxtail tops, with lesser amounts from fresh tops and roots. Soil texture affected the phytotoxicity of the extracts. Eight chemical compounds known to be phytotoxins inSetaria were identified in extracts of foxtail leaves but could not be found in soil samples under the leaves.     

Incremental transmission logic: The kinematics of the quadriratio stage

The paper discusses the basic component of a mechanical incremental transmission system. It is called a quadriratio stage because it is capable of four distinct gear ratios. Several stages can be combined to provide a wide gear-ratio range. The paper concludes with a design example showing a 9:1 to 1:1 range transmission having 64 gear ratios.     

Phase interaction in composite materials Zr-Mo,W

Conclusions Composite materials based on the thermodynamically unstable systems Zr-Mo and Zr-W have satisfactory kinetic stability of the structure up to 1373°K. At higher temperatures there occurs intense interaction between fibers and matrix entailingthe formation of solid solutions and intermetallic phases. The course of the diffusion processes in the investigated CM is determined by the history of their components, and this makes it possible to a certain extent to control these processes by corresponding preliminary thermomechanical treatment of the components.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 12(300), pp. 40–44, December, 1987.