Development of polyurethane elastomer composite materials by addition of milled fiberglass with coupling agent

Polyurethane elastomer composites were developed using milled fiberglass and their mechanical properties were studied. In particular, the organically chemical treatment of the milled fiberglass was investigated in detail. It was demonstrated that both strength and toughness of the resulting elastomer composites were improved considerably with the addition content of fiberglass. Furthermore, it was indicated that the optimal properties can be achieved by the proper addition of milled fiberglass that was chemically treated using coupling agent.     

Phase relations in the ternary system Cu-In-Se

The phase relations of the ternary system Cu-In-Se were studied at 750° C by quenching experiments. Special attention was given to the region CuInSe₂In₂Se₃-In₄Se₃. Only four ternary phases with extended homogeneity ranges were found to exist. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, electron microprobe analysis (EK8PA)' end optical microscopy. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) investigations allowed us to construct theT-x diagram of the Cu₂Se-In₂Se₃. out between 47 and 100 mol% In₂Se₃. Besides, it was also possible to give a tentative diagram of the solid-liquid equilibria at 750° C and to get some information on the sub-solid existence fields beside the Cu₂Se-In₂Se₃ cut.     

An integrated system to remote monitor and control anaerobic wastewater treatment plants through the internet.

The TELEMAC project brings new methodologies from the Information and Science Technologies field to the world of water treatment. TELEMAC offers an advanced remote management system which adapts to most of the anaerobic wastewater treatment plants that do not benefit from a local expert in wastewater treatment. The TELEMAC system takes advantage of new sensors to better monitor the process dynamics and to run automatic controllers that stabilise the treatment plant, meet the depollution requirements and provide a biogas quality suitable for cogeneration. If the automatic system detects a failure which cannot be solved automatically or locally by a technician, then an expert from the TELEMAC Control Centre is contacted via the internet and manages the problem.     

Effect of ionic content,solid content,degree of neutralization,and chain extension on aqueous polyurethane dispersions prepared by prepolymer method

There are many variables in the preparation of aqueous polyurethane (PU) dispersions. Carboxylic acid content, solid content, degree of pre/postneutralization of the carboxylic acids, and chain extension all impact dispersion particle size, viscosity, pH, molecular weights, and glass transition temperature. This study evaluated the impact of these variables on a given PU dispersion formulation prepared from isophorone diisocyanate, an aliphatic polyester polyol, dimethylol propionic acid, and hexamethylene diamine with triethyl amine as the neutralizing base and N‐methyl pyrrolidone as the cosolvent. Changes in carboxylic acid content, degree of preneutralization, and chain extension were found to have the expected impacts on dispersions properties. Increased ionic content in the dispersion step led to lower particle size and higher viscosity, increased chain extension with its concurrent increase in molecular improved subsequent film properties. Surprising results were obtained by varying the amount of postneutralization and from increased solids content at the time of dispersion. Unexpectedly, both of these variations led to much higher dispersion viscosities and particle size in solution. To have these changes take place, it is theorized that there is a major change in solution morphology caused by these modifications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2514–2520, 2005     

Nanostructured polymer blends: Synthesis and structure

Nanostructured polymer blends prepared via anionic ring opening polymerizations of cyclic monomers in the presence of a pre-made polymer melt exhibit a number of special properties over traditional polymer blends and homopolymers. Here, we report on a simple and versatile method of in situ polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates in the presence of a maleic anhydride polypropylene (mPP) matrix and a surface-active compatibilizer (i.e. PC grafted onto a mPP backbone generated in situ) to yield a micro- and nanostructured polymer blends consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) minor phase, and a polypropylene (PP) major phase. By varying the processing conditions and concentration of the macrocyclic carbonate it was possible to reduce the size of the PC dispersions to an average minor diameter of 150 nm. NMR and TEM characterizations indicate that the PC dispersions do not influence crystal content in the PP phase. Overall, the results point to a simple strategy and versatile route to new polymeric materials with enhanced benefits.     

A Simulation Study of Clock Recovery in QPSK and 9QPRS Systems

Computer simulation is employed to assess jitter performance of a clock recovery circuit as a function of the characteristics of the rectifier being used. Several types of rectifiers are compared, some operating at baseband, others at intermediate frequency (IF). It is shown that the best choice between them depends both on the modulation format and on the excess bandwidth factor of the pulse spectrum. In QPSK systems, fourth-law rectifiers outperform the others for rolloff factors up to 0.2 while, for higher values, baseband absolutevalue rectifiers are preferable. In the case of 9QPRS, baseband absolutevalue rectifiers provide jitter reductions of one order of magnitude at high signal-to-noise ratios.     

Highly monomode W1 waveguide square lattice photonic crystal lasers

Lasing of W1 square lattice-based photonic crystal lasers on the substrate approach is analyzed. A second-order distributed feedback highly monomode behavior is observed. A comprehensive two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain computation analysis shows that this characteristic arises from the lattice geometry. Single-mode lasers can be obtained using this geometry, opening the way to the realization of monomode laser arrays.     

Effects of compressive and tensile stress on the growth mode of epitaxial oxide films

Oxide films were deposited on different substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction was performed to in situ investigate the change of growth mode and the lattice relaxation during the growth. An asymmetrical phenomenon was found in the two kinds of strain states, compressive stress and tensile stress of heterostructures with different lattice mismatch. In the case of BaTiO₃/SrTiO₃ (2.2%), 2D layer-by-layer growth mode without lattice relaxation can be maintained for a longer period for BTO films on STO with compressive stress, comparing to STO films on BTO with tensile stress. When MgO films were deposited on SrTiO₃ with a large mismatch of 7.8%, compressive stress leads to rapid lattice relaxation with a very thin wet layer, and 3D strained island were observed. As a comparison, SrTiO₃ films on MgO with tensile stress were configured. No RHEED patterns can be observed duo to a large tensile stress.     

Techno-economic study of different alternatives for biodiesel production

Biodiesel has become an attractive diesel fuel substitute due to its environmental benefits since it can be made from renewable resource. However, the high costs surrounding biodiesel production remains the main problem in making it competitive in the fuel market either as a blend or as a neat fuel. More than 80% of the production cost is associated with the feedstock itself and consequently, efforts are focused on developing technologies capable of using lower-cost feedstocks, such as recycled cooking oils and wastes from animal or vegetable oil processing operations.