Electron beam modification of thermoplastic elastomeric blends made from polyolefins

Thermoplastic elastomeric films have been prepared from blends of ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVA) with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) by electron beam modification in presence of radiation sensitizer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to evaluate the structural changes of these blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates the morphological features of the blends. Significant improvements of mechanical, dynamic mechanical and set properties have been obtained by electron beam modification of the blends of EVA with LDPE and HDPE. However, in the case of EVA/PP, degradation of the PP phase has been observed. The effects of ditrimethylol propane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA) as radiation sensitizer have also been evaluated from the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties.     

Error explanation with distance metrics

In the event that a system does not satisfy a specification, a model checker will typically automatically produce a counterexample trace that shows a particular instance of the undesirable behavior. Unfortunately, the important steps that follow the discovery of a counterexample are generally not automated. The user must first decide if the counterexample shows genuinely erroneous behavior or is an artifact of improper specification or abstraction. In the event that the error is real, there remains the difficult task of understanding the error well enough to isolate and modify the faulty aspects of the system. This paper describes a (semi-)automated approach for assisting users in understanding and isolating errors in ANSI C programs. The approach, derived from Lewis’ counterfactual approach to causality, is based on distance metrics for program executions. Experimental results show that the power of the model checking engine can be used to provide assistance in understanding errors and to isolate faulty portions of the source code.     

Effect of Sb doping on CVT grown SnTe single crystals electrical and thermal properties

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Pure and Sb-doped SnTe single crystals are grown by chemical vapour transport (CVT) technique. Doping of 5%, 10%, and 15% Sb is done in...     

PEG-based polymer coated proppants in supercritical CO2: A new approach in current fracturing protocols

Liquified carbon dioxide (CO₂) can be used in hydraulic fracturing fluids to provide nonaqueous alternatives to conventional water-based fluids as it is more environmentally benign and minimizing depletion of natural-source freshwater. However, conventional CO₂-based fluids are not sufficiently viscous to suspend proppants that are added to fracturing fluids to hold open subterranean fractures. Because of this reduced ability to suspend proppants, CO₂-based fluids have not found its niche yet as future fracturing fluids. Accordingly, a need exists for nonaqueous hydraulic fracturing fluids that adequately support and suspend proppant particles. The present study presents a green alternative of developing a poly(ethylene glycol) based polymers coated proppants which can swell in supercritical CO₂ so as to decrease the entire density of the proppant during fracturing process.