Experimental investigation of aluminum oxide nanofluid on heat pipe thermal performance

In this research, the effect of using aluminum oxide nanofluid (pure water mixed with Al₂O₃ nanoparticle with 35 nm diameter) on the thermal efficiency enhancement of a heat pipe on the different operating state was investigated.     

Anomalous first normal stress difference behavior of polymer nanocomposites and liquid crystalline polymer composites

The first normal stress difference (N₁) behavior of polymer nanocomposites and liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) composites is a measure of elasticity and is affected by shear stress as a result of morphological alterations at the molecular and nanostructure levels. In this study, the steady shear rheological behaviors of polylactide (PLA) and nanographite platelet (NGP) bionanocomposites containing 1, 2, 3, and 5 wt% nanofiller were investigated. The shear rheological properties of glass fiber‐filled LCPs (filler aspect ratio > 100) were also examined. One of the objectives of this study was to obtain a correlation between N₁, filler contents, and shear stress/rate of the measurements. The results suggest that N₁ in PLA/NGP bionanocomposites is dependent on the level of filler loading as well as the shear rate beyond a critical value. For the LCP systems, N₁ is positive for the unfilled and negative for the glass fiber‐filled LCPs, respectively. A novel rectangular hyperbola model was successfully developed and utilized to fit the N₁ data of the neat PLA and PLA/NGP composites as well as the unfilled LCPs. The anomalous N₁ behavior of PLA/NGP and LCP composites was also thoroughly discussed in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1300–1312, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Theoretical prediction of condensed phase heat of formation of nitramines, nitrate esters, nitroaliphatics and related energetic compounds

An empirical approach is presented for calculation heats of formation of nitramines, nitrate esters, nitroaliphatics and related energetic compounds which contain at least one of the functional groups including N-NO(2), C-ONO(2) or nonaromatic C-NO(2). This approach is based on elemental composition and various structural and functional group parameters of C(a)H(b)N(c)O(d) energetic compounds. Heat of formation for 78 nitrocompounds including nitramines, nitrate esters, nitroaliphatics and the data obtained is compared with experimental data. Root mean square (rms) of deviation for 19 well known of mentioned energetic compounds are also compared with complex quantum mechanical computations which show 23.8 and 21.3 kJ/mol for new and quantum mechanical methods, respectively. Predicted condensed phase heats of formation for remainder 59 energetic molecules with complex molecular structures have a rms deviation from experiment of 42.3 kJ/mol.     

Detonation temperature of high explosives from structural parameters

A new scheme is introduced for calculating detonation temperature of different classes of high explosives. The ratio of oxygen to carbon and hydrogen to oxygen as well as specific structural parameters are the fundamental factors in the new method. An empirical new correlation is used to calculate detonation temperature of energetic compounds without considering heat contents of explosives and detonation products. Calculated detonation temperatures for both pure and explosive formulations show good agreement with respect to measured detonation temperatures and complicated computer code using BKWR and BKWS equations of state. Predicted detonation temperatures have root-mean-square (rms) percent deviation of 4.6, 14.2 and 4.6 from measured values for new method, BKWR and BKWS equations of state, respectively.     

CFD simulation of gas–liquid flow behaviour in an air-lift reactor: determination of the optimum distance of the draft tube

CFD simulation in an air-lift reactor containing a draft tube was employed. Three different layouts between the draft tube and the wall were used to determine the optimum distance between them. Appropriate distance of the draft tube and the wall was determined for the designing purposes, and the best distance was calculated. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results of the Menzel et al. Also it was also proven that the optimum distance results in the best possible effective mixing, higher rotary movements of the liquid and gas, and consequently improves the reactor performance.     

Tracking Structural Phase Transitions in Lead‐Halide Perovskites by Means of Thermal Expansion

The extraordinary properties of lead‐halide perovskite materials have spurred intense research, as they have a realistic perspective to play an important role in future photovoltaic devices. It is known that these materials undergo a number of structural phase transitions as a function of temperature that markedly alter their optical and electronic properties. The precise phase transition temperature and exact crystal structure in each phase, however, are controversially discussed in the literature. The linear thermal expansion of single crystals of APbX₃ (A = methylammonium (MA), formamidinium (FA); X = I, Br) below room temperature is measured using a high‐resolution capacitive dilatometer to determine the phase transition temperatures. For δ‐FAPbI₃, two wide regions of negative thermal expansion below 173 and 54 K, and a cascade of sharp transitions for FAPbBr₃ that have not previously been reported are uncovered. Their respective crystal phases are identified via powder X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, it is demonstrated that transport under steady‐state illumination is considerably altered at the structural phase transition in the MA compounds. The results provide advanced insights into the evolution of the crystal structure with decreasing temperature that are essential to interpret the growing interest in investigating the electronic, optical, and photonic properties of lead‐halide perovskite materials.     

Novel methods for the quantification of changes in actin organization in chondrocytes using fluorescent imaging and linear profiling

We present three novel reproducible methodologies for the quantification of changes in actin organization from microscope images. Striation and integrative analysis were devised for the investigation of trans-cellular filaments and F-actin localization, respectively, in response to physiological or mechanical actin-modulatory conditions. Additionally, the Parker-Qusous (PQ) formula was developed as a measure of total quantity of F-actin, independent of cell volume changes, whereby fluorescence intensity was divided by the cube root of cell volume, squared. Values obtained were quantified in Mauricean Units (Mu; pixel/μm(3)). Upon isolation, there was a 49% decrease in total F-actin fluorescence from 1.91 ± 0.16 pixel/μm(3) (Mu) to 0.95 ± 0.55 Mu, whereas upon culture, an apparent increase in total fluorescence was deemed insignificant due to an increase in average cell volume, with a rise, however, in striation units (StU) from 1 ± 1 to 5 ± 1 StU/cell, and a decrease in percentage cortical fluorescence to 30.45% ± 1.52% (P = 7.8 × 10(-5)). Freshly isolated chondrocytes exhibited a decrease in total F-actin fluorescence to 0.61 ± 0.05 Mu and 0.32 ± 0.02 Mu, 10 min posthypertonic and hypotonic challenges, respectively. Regulatory volume decrease was inhibited in the presence of REV5901 with maintenance of actin levels at 1.15 Mu. Following mechanical impact in situ, there was a reduction in total F-actin fluorescence to 0.95 ± 0.08 Mu and 0.74 ± 0.06 Mu under isotonic and hypotonic conditions, respectively, but not under hypertonic conditions. We report simple methodologies for quantification of changes in actin organization, which will further our understanding of the role of actin in various cellular stress responses. These techniques can be applied to better quantify changes in localization of various proteins using fluorescent labeling.     

Preparation of silica-decorated graphene oxide nanohybrid system as a highly efficient reinforcement for woven jute fabric reinforced epoxy composites

In the current work, silica-decorated graphene oxide (SiO₂@GONPs) nanohybrids were used to reinforce the jute fiber/epoxy (JF/EP) composite. Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was utilized to prepare the SiO₂@GONPs using a facial route. The results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy, and elemental X-ray mapping confirmed the successful synthesis of SiO₂@GONPs nanohybrids. Herein, the effects of SiO₂@GONPs loading (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt%) on the mechanical behavior of the JF/EP composite were investigated with emphasis on the flexural and high-velocity impact properties. The results revealed that reinforcement of matrix with 0.3 wt% SiO₂@GONPs enhanced the flexural strength of the JF/EP composite by about 40%. The energy absorption capability and impact limit velocity of the 0.3 wt% SiO₂@GONPs-filled JF/EP composite were 61 and 28%, respectively, higher than those of the neat specimen. Compared to the untreated-GONPs, the SiO₂@GONPs nanohybrid demonstrated an evident superiority in improving the mechanical properties of the JF/EP composite at the same loading. Evaluation of the fracture surfaces of the multiscale composites revealed that the improved fiber-matrix interfacial bonding was the basic mechanism of fracture in these specimens.     

Effect of dissolved oxygen tension and ph on the production of extracellular protease from a new isolate of bacillus subtilis K2, for use in leather processing

Scale‐up of production of an alkaline protease, previously characterised from a new isolate of Bacillus subtilis for use as a bating enzyme in leather processing, is described. Before large‐scale commercial production of the protease is possible, characteristics of the growth of the bacterium and enzyme production in fermenters must be defined. In 2 dm³ fermenters an optimal specific activity of 296×10³ U g ⁻¹ cell dry weight was obtained after 60 h with the dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) kept above 10% and pH left uncontrolled. Culture pH was 6 on inoculation, falling to 5.3 after 12 h before rising steadily to ∽8 at the end of fermentation. DOT was maintained above 10% by agitation in the range 300 to 500 rpm. The same criteria were adopted for scale‐up to 20 dm³ but the increase in activity occurred 24 h later. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry