Synthesis and characterization of Li ion conducting La2/3−xLi3xTiO3 by a polymerizable complex method

Ultrafine lithium ion conducting La_2/3−xLi_3xTiO₃ (x = 0.11, LLT) powder was synthesized by a simple polymerizable complex method based on the Pechini-type process. The formation mechanism, homogeneity and microstructure of the samples were investigated by thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD analysis indicated the formation of pure perovskite-type phase. The powder synthesized at a temperature as low as 900 °C in a much shorter time than solid-state reaction method was well crystallized. The lithium ion conductivity of the LLT ceramics sintered at 1200 °C was found to be 9 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at room temperature.     

High utilization platinum deposition on single-walled carbon nanotubes as catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell

This research aims to enhance the activity of Pt catalysts, thus to lower the loading of Pt metal in fuel cell. Highly dispersed platinum supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as catalyst was prepared by ion exchange method. The homemade Pt/SWNTs underwent a repetition of ion exchange and reduction process in order to achieve an increase of the metal loading. For comparison, the similar loading of Pt catalyst supported on carbon nanotubes was prepared by borohydride reduction method. The catalysts were characterized by using energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). Compared with the Pt/SWNTs catalyst prepared by borohydride method, higher Pt utilization was achieved on the SWNTs by ion exchange method. Furthermore, in comparison to the E-TEK 20 wt.% Pt/C catalyst with the support of carbon black, the results from electrochemical measurement indicated that the Pt/SWNTs prepared by ion exchange method displayed a higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation and higher Pt utilization, while no significant increasing in the catalytic activity of the Pt/SWNTs catalyst obtained by borohydride method.     

Fracture properties of epoxy/poly(styrene‐co‐allylalcohol) blends

The epoxy/polystyrene system is characterized by a poor adhesion between the constituent phases, which determines its mechanical properties. The adhesion can be improved via blends based on epoxy resin and random copolymers, poly(styrene‐co‐allylalcohol) (PS‐co‐PA). In this work, the influence of PS‐co‐PA content and the good adhesion between the phases on the tensile properties and the fracture toughness achieved through instrumented Charpy tests have been investigated. The tensile strength and the deformation at break showed an increase in the PS‐co‐PA content while the Young's modulus remained the same. The tensile fracture surfaces revealed that the improvement of these magnitudes was mainly due to a crack deflection mechanism. Also, the fracture toughness of the blends was superior to that of the pure epoxy resin. The main operating toughening mechanism was crack deflection. The fractographic analysis showed that ～ 80% of the particles were broken, and the crack tended to divert from its original path through the broken PS‐co‐PA particles. The remaining particles were detached from the epoxy resin, and the holes left suffered plastic deformation. Analytical models were used to predict successfully the toughness due to these mechanisms. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

磷钨酸／硅胶催化剂催化合成环己酮1，2-丙二醇缩酮

以溶胶-凝胶法制备的磷钨酸／硅胶为催化剂、通过环己酮和1，2-丙二醇反应合成了环己酮1，2-丙二醇缩酮，探讨磷钨酸／硅胶对缩酮反应的催化活性，较系统地研究了酮醇量比、催化剂用量、反应时间、带水剂用量对产品收率的影响。实验表明：磷钨酸／硅胶是合成环己酮1-2-丙二醇缩酮的良好催化剂，在门（酮）：门（醇）=1：1．5、催化剂用量为反应物料总质量的0．5％、环己烷为带水剂、反应时间45min的优化条件下，环己酮1，2-丙二醇缩酮的收率可达79．8％．     

Intrinsic Elastic, Dielectric, and Piezoelectric Losses in Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramics Determined by an Immittance-Fitting Method

The material coefficients of "soft" and "hard" lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics were determined as complex values by the nonlinear least-squares-fitting of immittance data measured for length-extensional bar resonators. The piezoelectric d -constant should be a complex value to obtain a best fitting between observed and calculated results. Because the elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric losses determined in this process were not "intrinsic" losses, a calculation process to evaluate the "intrinsic" losses was proposed. It was confirmed that the intrinsic losses were smaller than the corresponding extrinsic losses. The intrinsic piezoelectric loss existed in both soft and hard PZTs; ∼50% of the loss of piezoelectric d -constant was derived from the elastic and dielectric losses. The most notable difference between the soft and hard PZTs was observed in their elastic losses.     

Hydraulic resistance of rigid polyurethane foams. II. Effect of variation of surfactant,water, and nucleating agent concentrations on foam structure and properties

Hydraulic resistance of rigid polyurethane foams to penetration by water at high pressures is studied in this work in the context of buoyancy applications. Micron sized silica particles are used as nucleating agents. The effect of the variation of the concentrations of the surfactant, water, and nucleating agent on cell structure, closed cell content, and compressive modulus, is examined. Foams have densities in the range of 145 to 165 kg/m³. At a particular water concentration, with increase in the concentration of the surfactant, the window area of the cells becomes smaller and the hydraulic resistance of the foam increases. A cell window is the lamella of the foam material that separates two adjacent cells. With increase in the concentration of water keeping surfactant concentration constant, the average window area remains almost the same but the cell window area distribution becomes wider and the hydraulic resistance of the foams decreases. Foams made with silica have smaller cell windows but lower hydraulic resistance than that of the foams made without silica. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2830–2837, 2004     

The composition of hydrogenated fats by high-resolution13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The high-resolution¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of twelve hydrogenated fats have been examined. Each spectrum contains 50–100 signals and reveals much about the nature of the acyl chains of both double-bond position and configuration. The signals for the ω1, ω2 and ω3 carbon atoms give information on thecis andtrans isomers of the Δ15, Δ14, Δ13 and Δ12 18:1 esters, respectively. Allylic signals distinguish betweencis andtrans esters, and the proportion of totalcis to totaltrans isomers can be obtained from these. Olefinic signals are the most informative, and most of these have been assigned. This leads to a semi-quantitative estimate of the various 18:1 isomers present. Assignments are based mainly on information already in the literature, but some were confirmed after urea fractionation of the acids from a hydrogenated oil in whichcis andtrans monoene acids were separately concentrated.     

石油化工装备“后果分析”方法的介绍

石油化工装备的失效,由于所处理的物料常常是易燃易爆的化学品,所以往往导致发生燃烧、爆炸等,还可以波及附近的其它装置和设备发生连锁的失效和爆炸。为了分析这种严重事故可能造成的影响,研究防止这种事故的发生,近年来研究和发展了一种定量估计这种失效后果严重程度的方法,称为后果分析(Consequence Analysis)。通过分析,从这些设备的失效概率、可能发生的失效形式,研究设备内物料的泄漏形式、可能发生的后果、影响范围的大小、对周围装置、环境和人员的危害程度等,从而提出在设备设计、工厂的总图设计中采取的措施,以减轻其危害的程度。     

CONCENTRATION POLARIZATION OCCURRING INSIDE THE MEMBRANE DURING STEADY STATE PERVAPORATION

Experimental profiles of a single penetrant (water) across the membrane have been established at different downstream pressures during steady state pervaporation. The profiles ofacetic acid-water binary penetrant system across the membrane were also measured at different downstream pressures, temperatures and compositions during steady state pervaporation. A stack of identical pre-characterized symmetric aromatic polyamide membranes was used for the profile study. The theoretical prediction of concentration polarization from mathematical equations has been confirmed by the experimental profile data for a binary penetrant system.     

Heterogeneous asymmetric reactions. 23. Enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over cinchonine- and α-isocinchonine-modified platinum catalysts

The enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate to (S)-ethyl lactate over cinchonine- and -isocinchonine-modified Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied as a function of modifier concentration and reaction temperature. The maximum enantioselectivities obtained under the applied mild conditions were 89% ee using cinchonine (0.014 mmoldm^–3, 1 bar H₂, 23°C, 6% AcOH in toluene), and 76% ee in the case of -isocinchonine (0.14 mmoldm^–3, 1 bar H₂, –10°C, 6% AcOH in toluene). Since -isocinchonine of rigid structure exists only in anti-open conformation these data provide additional experimental evidence to support the former suggestion concerning the dominating role of anti-open conformation in these cinchona-modified enantioselective hydrogenations.