A study of the corrosion properties of plasma nitrocarburized and oxidized AISI 1020 steels

Plasma nitrocarburized AISI 1020 steels were oxidized for 15, 30 and 60 min to evaluate their corrosion and microstructural properties. After plasma nitrocarburizing for 3 h at 570°C in a gas mixture comprising 85 vol.% N₂, 12vol.% H₂ and 3 vol.% CH₄, the compound layer composed of ɛ-Fe_2–3(N,C) and γ’-Fe₄(N,C) phases and the diffusion layer above the matrix were observed. The top oxide layer, consisting mainly of magnetite (Fe₂O₄) and hematite (Fe₂O₃) phases, forms after post-oxidation treatment at 500°C. However, the oxide layer was severely degraded by spallation as a result of increases in post-oxidizing time. The difference in corrosion resistance should be attributed to the thickness of the top oxide layer, which was governed by post-oxidizing time.     

Numerically optimal design for the system with coupled complex transport phenomena-application to the Submerged Entry<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nozzle</Emphasis> in continuous slab caster

This study presents a simple and robust algorithm for the optimal design of the system with coupled complex transport phenomena: the transport phenomena comprise fluid flow, heat and mass transfer. The (1+1)-Evolution Strategy method is adopted as the optimization method. In order to analyze the transport phenomena in the complex geometry generated during the optimization procedure, thefinite volume method with a boundary fitted curvilinear coordinate system is used. To confirm the validity of the present method, the optimal design for the inner shape of the simplified two-dimensionalSubmerged Entry Nozzle in the continuous slab caster is conducted. It is shown that the resulting design of the nozzle is consistent with the purpose and constraints of the design.     

Control of NO x emissions from diesel engine by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea

Topics in Catalysis - Among the catalysts screened, Cu-ion exchanged ZSM5 zeolite exhibited the highest NO removal activity, particularly at low reaction temperatures below 200&nbsp;°C,...     

Sol-Gel Alumina Coating for Improved Cyclic Oxidation Resistance of Silicon Nitride

A 25 nm thick α-alumina layer was deposited on a turbine-grade silicon nitride by sol-gel dip coating and subsequent heat treatment in air at 1200°C. This layer had a nanometer grain structure. Silicon nitride protected by this thin layer showed a significant improvement in oxidation resistance over its uncoated counterpart after 200 cyclic exposures in air at 1250°C. The oxide layer grown on the coated silicon nitride also exhibited superior surface morphology, compared with the uncoated silicon nitride.     

Blends of chlorinated isotactic polypropylene with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) II. Phase studies of the miscible blends

By measuring T_g, T_m and T_c (cloud point) phase diagrams for the four miscible blends of chlorinated isotactic polypropylenes (chlorine content 39.2 (CPP-40) and 49.8 wt.-% (CP-50)) with Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)s (vinyl acetate contents 40 (EVA-40) and 45 wt.-% (EVA-45)) were investigated. The blend of CPP-50 with EVA-40 was the most compatible of the four blend pairs.     

A novel spin-finishing method for antistatic modification of polyester fiber. Surface reaction onto amine-containing copoly(amide-ethers) blended with polyester fiber

Copoly(amide-ethers) containing two types of tertiary amine units were made as antistatic modifiers for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. The filaments of the copolymers were melt-spun and reacted with three alkylating agents in order to quaternize the tertiary amine into a sulfo-betaine, a carbobetaine, and an ammonium ion. The apparent electric resistivity of the filaments was greatly reduced by this reaction, being in the range of 10⁶ to 10⁸ Ω/cm. However, because these quaternized copolymers incurred decomposition during blend spinning with PET, a blend PET fiber containing one type of copoly(amide-ether) was melt-spun and subjected to quaternization of the amino groups as well as to surface crosslinking with various alkylating and epoxy agents. The quaternized blend fibers obtained showed improved antistatic properties compared with the original blend fiber. Particularly, the fibers crosslinked with epoxy compounds were found to have the best antistatic properties that had ever been attained with this type of modification. The antistatic properties were retained even after dyeing, because both hydrophilic and ionic groups had been effectively immobilized on the surface. Since this quaternization and crosslinking could be conducted on-line with spinning and drawing within a short reaction time, this modification technique is called “spin-finishing method”, which should be superior to the conventional methods in terms of cost performance and productivity.     

Effects of Purified Persimmon Tannin and Tannic Acid on Survival and Reproduction of Bean Bug, Riptortus clavatus

We evaluated the effects of tannic acid and purified perrsimmon tannin on survival and reproduction of bean bugs, Riptortus clavatus.Feeding behavior of R. clavatus was also examined on sweet (cv. Fuyu) and astringent (cv. Chongdosi) persimmon fruits. Soluble tannin in sweet persimmon fruits decreased from 3% in early June to 0.5% in late September, but it increased from 2 to 8% during the same period in astringent persimmon fruits. More bugs visited sweet than astringent persimmon. Numbers of piercing/sucking spots were higher on sweet than on astringent persimmon. When fed 1 and 3% solutions of persimmon tannin, adult bugs ingested only 64.1 and 9.5% of the amount of water ingested by those offered the control (distilled water). Amounts of persimmon tannin ingested by the adult bugs were 6.5 and 2.8 times higher at 1 and 3% tannin solutions compared to a 0.1% solution. Persimmon tannin exerted negative effects on survival and reproduction of R. clavatus at higher concentrations (1 and 3% solutions). Feeding of R. clavatus adults decreased with increasing tannin concentrations. When results from both sexes were pooled, 50% mortality was achieved at 11 and 4 days after treatment with the 1 and 3% tannin solutions, respectively. Reproduction decreased with 1% tannin, and no eggs were produced with 3% tannin solution. Tannic acid was similar in its effects on R. clavatus. All nymphs died 14, 12, and 7 days after feeding on 0.1, 1, and 3% tannic acid, respectively. Adults were less sensitive than nymphs, and their survival was not affected by 0.1% tannic acid. However. 1 and 3% tannic acid solutions were fatal. Survivorship decreased to 50% at 11 and 6 days after supplying tannin solutions of 1 and 3% concentrations. Higher concentrations (1 and 3%) resulted in reduced reproduction, as was seen with persimmon tannin. Our data may explain why R. clavatus does not invade sweet persimmon orchards until late July, when concentrations of soluble tannin are low enough to allow them to feed.     

Surface crosslinking of high‐density polyethylene beads in a modified plasma reactor

High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) beads were successfully surface‐crosslinked in a modified plasma reactor. The modified plasma reactor treats large amounts of beads, which are uniformly surface‐crosslinked. In this study, effects of the gas pressure, radio‐frequency (RF) power, and the treatment time on the degree of surface crosslinking were systematically investigated. Degree of surface crosslinking was measured by solvent extraction method (boiling xylene method, BXM). The gel content of plasma‐treated HDPE increases from 0.0 to 1.05% within 10 min at 100 mTorr, 200 W. FTIR and DSC analyses show that the crosslinked layer after plasma treatment is limited only at HDPE surface without changing the bulk thermal property of HDPE. Through the analysis of FTIR, it was confirmed that main peaks corresponding to CH₂ bands were decreased and two peaks corresponding to CF₂ and CF₃ were observed after plasma surface modification. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2921–2929, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10295     

Characterization and physical properties of polymethylphenylsilsesquioxane (PMPSQ) and hydroxyl‐functionalized polystyrene (PS–OH) hybrids

Polymethylphenylsilsesquioxane (PMPSQ–OH) and trimethylsilyl end‐blocked PMPSQ (PMPSQ–EC) were prepared. The thermal decomposition behavior of these polymers was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and FT‐Raman spectroscopy. Hydroxyl‐functionalized polystyrene (PS–OH) was also prepared by anionic living polymerization. Thin hybrid films of PMPSQ/PS–OH with various blend ratios were obtained by spin‐coating on freshly cleaned glass. The surface morphology of the hybrid films was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In 80/20 PMPSQ/PS–OH hybrid film, the PS–OH component produced a very uniformly dispersed phase. This hybrid film contained small domains of PS–OH whose size ranged from 60 to 80 nm. As the content of PS–OH was increased, the domain morphology coarsened and phase inversion took place around 50 wt %. In the phase‐inversed system, the PMPSQ‐rich phase was uniformly distributed in the PS–OH‐rich continuous phase. In addition, temperature‐dependent dielectric properties of PMPSQ/PS–OH hybrids were investigated. Relaxation of the hybrids was observed with an increasing content of the PS–OH component due to the amorphous glass transition behavior of PS–OH. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2801–2812, 2003     

Thermal behavior and the determination of the polymer-polymer interaction parameter of polycarbonate and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends

Summary The surface modification of low-density polyethylene(PE) by liquid phase photograft polymerization with acrylic acid(AA), acrylamide(AM) and glycidyl methacrylate(GMA) was described. The grafting of AA and AM was proved and characterized by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis(ESCA). It was found that fully hydrophilic surface can be obtained in very short irradiation time. With ESCA and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy(ATR-IR), it can be confirmed that bifunctional monomer GMA was grafted onto the PE film surface. Through further reaction with GMA grafted film, heparin and protamine were immobilized onto the grafted film surface.