Modelling and optimization of a flexible poly(vinyl chloride) compound formulation for mine cables

Developments by Labuschagné et al. (Patent, WO 2006/123284 A2, 2006) in the manufacture of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) have led to a patent describing a new effluent free synthesis method. A promising application for the LDH is as an additive for a flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compound used for the insulation for cables used in South African underground mines. Consequently, a new formulation is required. Unfortunately formulating a PVC compound is a complex problem. The purpose of the investigation is to develop a method that can be used to find an optimum PVC formulation where the material requirements are met while also allowing for the quantitative analysis of the effect of the ingredients on the material properties. This is achieved by modeling the thermal stability, fire retardancy, and basic mechanical properties of the compound as a function of the relative proportions of the ingredients using 2nd order Scheffé polynomials. The empirical models are determined using statistical experimental design. Each model is interpreted using statistical analysis of the model terms which allows for the quantification of the effects and interactions of all the ingredients on the various response variables. The models are also used as constraints in the optimization of the PVC formulation for minimum cost. Parametric analyses are done to demonstrate how the optimization can be used to analyze the entire system taking into account the cost performance of the ingredients. Finally, it is demonstrated how the above approach requires significantly less time and labor to find an optimum formulation than the traditional approach. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E44–E58, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of Surface-Active Substances on the Rheological Properties of Silicon Carbide Suspensions in Paraffin

In this paper, the possibility of stabilization of SiC suspensions in paraffin (hot-molding slips) was investigated from the colloid science point of view. By considering the surface properties of finely dispersed silicon carbide, surface-active agents (fatty amine and alkylsuccinimide) which are suitable for surface modification by chemical adsorption on SiC were selected. Adsorption of fatty amines and alkylsuccinimide was carried out in model experiments in chloroform. Increasing the length of the carbon–hydrogen chain caused the adsorption to decrease, and the adsorption area of one molecule in the saturated adsorption layer to increase. The stabilizing effect of surface-active agents resulted in improved flow behavior of hot-molding slips. The efficiency of surface-active agents increased with increased adsorption layer thickness. In highly concentrated SiC hot-molding slips, a combination of alkylsuccinimide and fatty amine proved to be very efficient. This synergistic effect of long- and short-chained surface-active agents is discussed in terms of an adsorption layer model.     

Room-Temperature Solubility Behavior of Barium Titanate in Aqueous Media

In the present study, the incongruent dissolution of barium from barium titanate (BaTiO₃) has been studied as a function of dispersion pH and powder volume fraction for two different BaTiO₃ powders. In alkaline dispersions, the barium solubility strongly increases as the pH increases, as suggested by thermodynamic considerations. At pH <7, the barium solubility reaches a plateau, the height of which is dependent on the surface area of the powder and the solids loading of the slip. The BaTiO₃ surface is completely depleted of barium in this region.     

Gleichgewichtsdarstellung und technische Apparate bei der Neutralisation alkalischer Wässer mit CO2

Equilibria and technical equipment for neutralization of alkaline water with CO₂. Alkaline water can be neutralized by means of carbonic acid. The particular advantages of this method are that there is no increase in the content of neutral salts and that the product water is well buffered and therefore does not favour corrosion. Furthermore, neutralization can easily be combined with an aeration. The paper discusses physico-chemical fundamentals and presents some neutralization devices.     

Catalytic Hydrogenations in Microemulsion Systems with Rh-TPPTS: Partial Hydrogenation of Sunflower Oil

The effect of the P/Rh ratio and the surfactant concentration on the partial hydrogenation of sunflower oil in Triton X-100 microemulsion systems with the water-soluble catalyst complex Rh-TPPTS has been studied. An unusual hindering effect of the surfactant on the production of elaidic acid and stearic acid as the oil is hydrogenated was observed. When increasing the concentration of Triton X-100 in the reaction medium from 3 to 15 wt%, the content of elaidic acid and stearic acid were lowered 21 and 34%, respectively. The maximum content of oleic acid was attained when the concentration of Triton X-100 was 15 wt%, obtaining a high content of 51.8% of oleic acid. When the ligand/metal ratio was higher, the reaction was slower but more selective to oleic acid. The Rh-TPPTS catalyst could be recycled up to 3 times after hydrogenation of sunflower oil by extracting the oil phase of a three-phase microemulsion system, observing a continuous deactivation of the catalyst.     

Improved microwave plasma cavity reactor for diamond synthesis at high-pressure and high power density

Microwave plasma assisted synthesis of diamond is experimentally investigated using high purity, 2–5% CH₄/H₂ input gas chemistries and operating at high pressures of 180–240 Torr. A microwave cavity plasma reactor (MCPR) was specifically modified to be experimentally adjustable and to enable operation with high input microwave plasma absorbed power densities within the high-pressure regime. The modified reactor produced intense microwave discharges with variable absorbed power densities of 150–475 W/cm³ and allowed the control of the discharge position, size, and shape thereby enabling process optimization. Uniform polycrystalline diamond films were synthesized on 2.54 cm diameter silicon substrates at substrate temperatures of 950–1150 °C. Thick, freestanding diamond films were synthesized and optical measurements indicated that high, optical-quality diamond films were produced. The deposition rates varied between 3 and 21 μm/h and increased as the operating pressure and the methane concentrations increased and were two to three times higher than deposition rates achieved with the MCPR operating with equivalent input methane concentrations and at lower pressures (≤ 140 Torr) and power densities.     

Derivation of an aquatic predicted no-effect concentration for the synthetic hormone, 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol

17alpha-Ethinyl estradiol (EE2) is a synthetic estrogen widely used in combination with other steroid hormones in oral contraceptives and in the contraceptive patch. EE2 has been detected in sewage treatment plant effluents in the low nanogram -per-liter range and occasionally in surface waters in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Brazil, Germany, and elsewhere. The mode of action is receptor-mediated, and estrogen receptors exist in mammals and other vertebrates. A large number of studies on the effects of EE2 on aquatic organisms exist. One hundred English language studies published between 1994 and 2007, one as yet unpublished study, and findings published in conference proceedings (in German) were compared to published data quality criteria to identify the most relevant studies for deriving a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). Reproduction in fish was identified as the most sensitive end point in aquatic species. A species sensitivity distribution was constructed using no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) for reproductive effects from 39 papers in 26 species, resulting in a median hazardous concentration at which 5% of the species tested are affected (HC5,50) of 0.35 ng/L. After comparing this HC5,50 to all of the laboratory and field-derived toxicity information available for EE2, we recommend using 0.35 ng/L as the PNEC for EE2 in surface water. This PNEC is below 95% of the existing NOECs for effects on reproduction and is also below virtually all of the NOECs for vitellogenin induction in the key fish reproduction studies.     

Organising a joint green European electricity market: the model ElGreen

In this paper, the features and the most important results of the computer model ElGreen will be presented. With the help of the computer model it is possible to simulate various promotion strategies for different technologies in all EU countries. Policies that can be selected are the most important price driven strategies (feed-in tariffs, investment subsidies, tax incentives), capacity driven instruments (tradable green certificates, national or international wide trading system) and a voluntary green pricing system.The following recommendations are derived:

(i)Regardless of which strategy is chosen credible sources must guarantee that the promotional strategy will survive a specified planning horizon;

(ii)The differences between either national trading, international trading or feed-in tariffs are very small if the design of the promotional system is optimised;

(iii)When introducing a TGC system it is of paramount importance that no mix up between existing and new capacities takes place.

     

Energy consumption analysis on a dedicated outdoor air system with rotary desiccant wheel

A dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) with rotary desiccant wheel is the combination of a desiccant dehumidification system and a vapor compression refrigeration system. An energy consumption model of this hybrid DOAS is established for its analysis. Coefficient of performance, COP, is appropriately defined for evaluation on performance of the hybrid DOAS. The results indicate that, compared with a conventional DOAS, energy savings are possible for the suggested DOAS, when solar energy or natural gas is used for regeneration. Ventilation air flow rate, temperature or humidity of outdoor air, as well as regeneration-to-process air ratio, influence the energy consumption and the COP of the hybrid DOAS, greatly.