New polylactide/layered silicate nanocomposites. 5. Designing of materials with desired properties

Understanding the structure/property relationship in polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites is of great importance in designing materials with desired properties. In order to understand these relations, a series of polylactide (PLA)/organically modified layered silicate (OMLS) nanocomposites have been prepared using a simple melt extrusion technique. Four different types of OMLS have been used for the preparation of nanocomposites, three were modified with functionalized ammonium salts while fourth one was a phosphonium salt modified OMLS. The structure of the nanocomposites in the nanometer scale was characterized by using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic observations. Using four different types of layered silicates modified with four different types of surfactants, the effect of OMLS in nanocomposites was investigated by focusing on four major aspects: structural analysis, thermal properties and spherulite morphology, materials properties, and biodegradability. Finally, we draw conclusions about the structure/property relationship in the case of PLA/OMLS nanocomposites.     

Desulphurization of coals and chars by treatment in various atmospheres between 400 and 600 °C

Desulphurization of fifteen US coals of rank ranging from anthracite to sub-bituminous B and five high-temperature chars by carbon monoxide and other gases and gas mixtures between 400 and 600 °C has been studied. The sulphur content of the parent coals ranged between 3.0 and 7.3% and that of the chars between 1.3 and 3.8% by weight. A comparison between air, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and steam-carbon monoxide mixtures as desulphurizing gases shows the order of desulphurizing ability as

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A multi-echelon production–inventory system with supply disruption

The article investigates an integrated multi-layer supply chain model consisting of supplier, manufacturer and retailer while supply disruption, machine breakdown, safety stock, maintenance breakdown occur simultaneously. At beginning of the production, manufacturer keeps some raw materials in stock received from second supplier at high price, as safety stock due to supply disruption of first supplier. Corrective maintenance is done immediately to restore its normal stage when machine breakdown occurs. Stock out situations at manufacturer and retailer are considered due to disruption of production for machine breakdown. The integrated expected costs of the chain in centralized (collaborating) and decentralized (Stakelberg approach) system are compared. A numerical example and its sensitivity analysis are provided to test feasibility of the model.     

Avalanching flow of cohesive powders

The flow dynamics of cohesive powders is investigated in rotating cylinders with an L : R ratio of 3 : 1 using experiments and DEM simulations. Flow onset and steady-state behavior are compared for free-flowing (cohesionless) dry glass beads, wet glass beads, and “dry” cohesive powders (lactose, microcrystalline cellulose). The avalanching dynamics of powders is substantially different from those observed for free-flowing or wet-cohesive glass beads. Dry cohesive powders exhibit history-dependent flow dynamics, significant dilation, aperiodic avalanche frequencies, and variable avalanche size. These behaviors also provide a route for effective characterization of cohesive forces under dilated conditions characteristic of unconfined flows.     

FORCED CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER IN ANNULI

Mass transfer in annuli has been critically examined for various flow situations. The overall mass transfer rate depends on the hydrodynamic regions prevailing in the annular channel as well as on its dimensions. Theoretically consistent correlations are proposed and recommended for both developed and developing boundary layers under laminar and turbulent flow conditions.     

Prediction of burning rate of coal in fluidized-bed combustion

A theory has been proposed to evaluate the burning rate of a single carbon particle in a continuously operated coal-fired fluidized bed. Experimental verification was carried out in a laboratory scale 200 mm × 200 mm combustor. The burning rate increases with the increase of the fluidization velocity and the size of the bed material. The predicted data on burning rate agree fairly well with the experimental values. The gas concentration in the bed and freeboard has also been measured and it is seen that the consumption of oxygen mostly takes place in the bed.     

Structure and properties of nanocomposites based on poly(butylene succinate) and organically modified montmorillonite

Poly(butylene succinate) and organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites with there different compositions were prepared via melt blending in a twin‐screw extruder. The structure of the nanocomposites was studied with X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, which revealed the formation of intercalated nanocomposites, regardless of the silicate loading. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a substantial increase in the storage modulus of the nanocomposites over the entire temperature range investigated. The tensile property measurements showed a relative increase in the stiffness with a simultaneous decrease in the yield strength in comparison with that of neat poly(butylene succinate). The oxygen gas barrier property of neat poly(butylene succinate) improved after nanocomposite preparation with organically modified montmorillonite. The effect of the layered‐silicate loading on the melt‐state linear viscoelastic behavior of the intercalated nanocomposites was also investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 777–785, 2006     

Three stage trade credit policy in a three-layer supply chain–a production-inventory model

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal replenishment lot size of supplier and optimal production rate of manufacturer under three levels of trade credit policy for supplier–manufacturer–retailer supply chain. The supplier provides a fixed credit period to settle the accounts to the manufacturer, while the manufacturer gives a fixed credit period to settle the account to the retailer and the retailer, in turn, also offers a credit period to each of its customers to settle the accounts. We assume that the supplier supplies the raw material to the manufacturer and sends back the defective raw materials to the outside supplier after completion of inspection at one lot with a sales price. The system always produces good items in the model. Also, we consider the idle times of supplier and manufacturer. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the behaviour and application of the model with graphical simulation.     

胶管胶带用硫化剂和防老剂

越来越高的汽车发动机温度对在汽车中使用的胶管和胶带用聚合物提出了更严格的要求。本综述了胶管和胶带中使用的聚合物，并针对提高耐热、耐屈挠疲劳和耐臭氧老化性能讨论了每一种聚合物用的硫化体系和防老剂搭配。     

Limits of compensation in a failed antenna array

In large antenna arrays, the possibility of occurrence of faults in some of the radiating elements cannot be precluded at all times. In such situations, the radiation pattern of the array gets distorted, mostly with an increase in sidelobe level and decrease in gain. Although it is not possible to restore the pattern fully by rearranging the excitations of the functioning elements, compensation methods have been reported in the literature for restoring one performance parameter of the array and making a trade‐off on some other parameter. In this article, we have made a study on the tolerance level of this compensation process. One part of the study deals with the thinning in the failed array, that is, to find a limit on the minimum number of functioning elements of the array that can restore the digital beamforming of the failed array. The second part of study deals with finding the maximum number of element failures that can be compensated. The study was carried out by optimizing the amplitude excitations of the failed array. Instead of classical optimization techniques, particle swarm optimization was used for the compensation process. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:635–645, 2014.