Structural elastic and thermal properties of Sr x Cd1−x O mixed compounds — a theoretical approach

In the present paper, the structural and mechanical properties of alkaline earth oxides mixed compound Sr _x Cd_1?x O (0 ? x ? 1) under high pressure have been reported. An extended interaction potential (EIP) model, including the zero point vibrational energy effect, has been developed for this study. Phase transition pressures are associated with a sudden collapse in volume. Phase transition pressure and associated volume collapses [ΔV (Pt)/V(0)] calculated from this approach are in good agreement with the experimental values for the parent compounds (x = 0 and x = 1). The results for the mixed crystal counterparts are also in fair agreement with experimental data generated from the application of Vegard’s law to the data for the parent compounds.     

Fabrication of dense Ce0.9Mg0.1P2O7-PmOn composites by microwave heating for application as electrolyte in intermediate-temperature fuel cells

In the present work, we report a method of fabrication of dense 10 mol% Mg²⁺-doped cerium pyrophosphate-phosphate (Ce_0.9Mg_0.1P₂O₇-P_mO_n; CMP-P) composites by microwave heat-treatment of the preformed Ce_0.9Mg_0.1P₂O₇ substrates in the presence of phosphoric acid. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The microwave heating at 375 °C for 5 min resulted in the formation of dense CMP-P composites which retained most of the pyrophosphate phase. The electrical conductivity was extracted from the EIS data and for the CMP-P composite prepared by H₃PO₄ loading for 10 h and microwave heat-treatment for 5 min it was found to be >10^?2 S m^?1 in 100–250 °C range with a maximum of 0.062 S cm^?1 at 190 °C, which was significant for its application as electrolyte in intermediate temperature fuel cells.     

Effect of particle size of magnesium silicate filler on physical properties of paper

Fillers are essential component of printing papers to increase the opacity, brightness, and to improve formation and printing properties. As a very little work has been reported so far on magnesium silicate (talc), the study was conducted with the filler of different particle size for papermaking. The sheets were made in the laboratory with refined mixed hardwood chemical pulp with five grades of talc, ground calcium carbonate (GCC) and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) fillers with 15–24% ash level. Apparent density along with tensile, burst, tear index, Z‐direction tensile strength (ZDTS) and bending stiffness index were evaluated for talc filled sheets, and compared with GCC and PCC. Physical strength properties of talc filled sheets were decreased at a faster rate on increasing filler loading in paper and decreasing the particle size of the filler. With same type of filler its particle size determines the physical properties of paper. The postulate was not found to be valid for all the three varieties of fillers viz., talc, PCC and GCC. Shape and geometry of the PCC and GCC fillers determine the individual property. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Thermal modeling of drilling process in titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V)

Abstract

In drilling in titanium alloys, heat trapped in a hole adversely affects tool life, hole surface quality and integrity. Therefore, modeling temperature distribution in drilling is vital for effective heat dissipation and improving quality of drilled surfaces. The existing numerical and finite element models consider only frictional heat, whereas the effect of shear heat generation and tertiary heat generation is neglected. In the present work, a comprehensive thermal model of the drilling process is developed by considering all heat generated in shear, friction and tertiary zones. The drill cutting edges are divided into a series of independent elementary cutting tools (ECT). The calculated heat flux loads are applied on an individual ECT in the finite element model to determine the temperature distribution and the maximum temperature around the cutting edge. The temperature in the drill was also measured experimentally with the help of an Infrared (IR) camera. The results of numerical simulations lie within the error of ～8.75% when compared to the prior studies, and ～5.41% when compared to our experimental work. The thermal model gives the temperature distribution, and the maximum temperature observed at the corner of cutting edge was 604.2°C at a cutting speed of 35?m/min.     

Structural, elastic and thermophysical properties of divalent metal oxides with NaCl structure

In the present paper, we have investigated the high-pressure structural phase transition of divalent metal oxides using the three-body potential modified by incorporating the covalency effects. Phase transition pressures are associated with a sudden collapse in volume. The phase transition pressures and associated volume collapses obtained from present potential model show a generally better agreement with available experimental data than others. The elastic constants and their pressure derivatives are also reported. It is found that the present model has a promise to predict the phase transition pressure and, the elastic constants and their pressure derivatives of other chalcogenides as well. Moreover the thermophysical properties have also been obtained successfully.     

Amperometric determination of tyramine in sauce and beer by epoxy resin biocomposite membrane bound tyramine oxidase

A method is described for construction of an amperometric biosensor for specific determination of tyramine, using black gram tyramine oxidase immobilized covalently on an epoxy resin membrane. The biosensor had optimum response within 10 s at pH 8.5 and 35 °C. A linear relationship was observed between tyramine concentrations and current (mA) in the range of 0.24 to 3.47 mg/dL. The biosensor was employed for determination of tyramine in beer and sauce. The detection limit of sensor was 0.24 mg/dL. The mean analytical recovery of added tyramine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/dL) was 97.3 ± 2.3 and 95.9 ± 3.4%. Within and between batch coefficient of variation were 5.1 and 5.34%, respectively. Enzyme electrode showed 35% loss in its initial activity after its regular use over a period of 2 months. The biosensor has the advantage that it does not suffer from leaching of enzyme and measures tyramine specifically.     

Modification of nylon 66 by electron beam irradiation for improved properties and superior performances

Nylon 66 has been transformed into a material with significantly improved properties like hardness, tensile strength, and flexural modulus by processing it under the optimized dose rate of electron beam in the presence of suitable crosslinkers. Furthermore, percent water absorption of nylon 66 was reduced substantially on irradiation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that thermal stability of nylon 66 improved with increasing dose of radiation. Improvement of mechanical and thermal properties and reduction of water absorption of nylon 66 were due to the crosslinking of polyamide molecules made possible by the high energy radiation. Increase of crosslinking with increasing radiation dose was verified by the increase of gel content at higher doses. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that both melting and crystallization temperatures along with percent crystallinity of nylon 66 were decreased with the increasing dose of radiation leading to the development of more amorphous character in this semicrystalline polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

A study on dynamic rheological characterisation of electron beam crosslinked high vinyl styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer

Crosslinking of elastomers using electron beam radiation has several advantages over conventional method. It is accomplished much faster, in a more environmental friendly approach and in a much simpler manner. When fast moving electrons that are generated from electron accelerators are targeted on a polymer matrix, they primarily crosslink the polymer. However, in the process, some chain scission may also occur. In this work, a high vinyl (~50%) styrene–butadiene–styrene (S–B–S) block copolymer was used as the base polymer. Radiation doses were varied from 25 to 300 kGy. A detailed investigation was made to understand the effect of electron beam radiation on the rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, storage viscosity and complex viscosity of the block copolymer under strain and frequency sweeps performed in a Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA). Recyclability of the crosslinked S–B–S polymer was also explored by RPA and mechanical studies.     

Constructivist Management of Knowledge,Communication and Enterprise Innovation: Lessons from Indian Experience

Prime movers of enterprise innovation are inside the organisation. The enterprise NIIT, studied in this paper, tells us how elicitation and recognition of knowledge and its contents set an enterprise on the move. Recognised knowledge is actionable. Each act of recognition is an addition to knowledge content, and such additions took place in NIIT through acts of communications and self-searching. These contents form a large collage that cannot be strewn into a single novelistic episode. Perspectives and context, motives and suggestions render to each member of the enterprise different disjoint appearances of knowledge. There are thus many knowledge systems and multiple narrations, each with small episode-like finality. Enterprise innovation is achieved not through any grand episodic integration of all knowledge contents, but by constructively eliciting further new contents of knowledge, and encouraging acts of communications and discourses on this new knowledge. Constructive management of knowledge and communication towards enterprise innovation has thus been defined. Through such constructive management, NIIT enabled itself innovationally and empowered its members in eliciting knowledge and acting communicatively. A critical feature of knowledge work is that it requires multidisciplinary expertise and mutual learning in order to achieve a complex synthesis of highly specialised state-of-the-art technologies and knowledge domains. A convivial work culture and a culture of communicative acts enable sharing of the non-informatised yet recognised contents of knowledge.