Engineering extruded collagen fibers for biomedical applications

Extruded collagen fibers constitute a promising biomimetic scaffold for tissue engineering applications. In this study, we compared the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of fibers produced from either NaCl or poly(ethylene glycol) with a number-average molecular weight of 8000 (PEG 8K), the only two coagents that have been used in the fabrication process. As novel, we report the fabrication of fibers with properties similar to native or synthetic fibers using other coagents. NaCl derived fibers were characterized by higher thermal stability (p < 0.026), stress (p < 0.001), and modulus (p < 0.0025) values than PEG 8K, whereas the latter yielded more extendable fibers (p < 0.012). Poly(ethylene glycol)s with number-average molecular weights of 200 and 1000 produced fibers with similar mechanical properties (p > 0.05) that were thinner (p < 0.033), stiffer (p < 0.022), and less extendable (p < 0.0002) than those of PEG 8K. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with a number-average average molecular weight of 9–10,000 and PEG 8K yielded fibers with similar diameters and stress-at-break values (p > 0.05); however, the poly(ethylene glycol) derived fibers were more extendable (p < 0.0003), whereas the PVA fibers were stiffer (p < 0.029). Gum-arabic- and soluble-starch-derived fibers were of similar tensile strength, extendibility, and stiffness (p > 0.05). In this in vitro study, the thickest (p < 0.011) and the weakest (p < 0.0066) fibers were produced in the presence of sodium sulfate. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Evaluation of improvement of physical and mechanical properties of bamboo fibers due to alkali treatment

Bamboo strips treated with caustic solutions of different concentrations, e.g., 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 50%, were subjected to mechanical testing giving stresses on tensile strength, percent elongation at break, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and toughness. The change in average density was ?15%, and the weight loss value shows a maximum of 21.94% at 50% alkali treatment. The mechanical properties of bamboo strips increase steadily with increasing concentration of caustic soda, showing a comparable increased value at 15 and 20%, and then exhibiting a gradual fall. The percent elongation at break corroborates these observations showing a continuous decreasing trend. The properties under investigation exhibit a clear transition in between 15 and 20% alkali concentration. The morphology of strips was studied by scanning electron microscope and polarizing light microscope. The crystal structure of both untreated and treated strips was compared by XRD analysis. In both cases, the breakdown of the crystal structures of the cellulose fibers and the recrystallization or reorientation of the degraded chains that are devoid of hemicellulose are quite apparent. However, at a very high concentration (to the extent of 25%) the breakdown of structure predominates much more over the reorientation or recrystallization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Measuring interdiffusion at an interface between two elastomers with tapping-mode and contact-resonance atomic force microscopy imaging

Despite the common use of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy to image composites or polymer blends, very few studies have focused on the measurement of the interdiffusion at an interface between two polymers in contact. In this study, we show how to assess the interphase between two polymers with two methods. First, stable and robust tapping conditions are established, and the problem of the phase contrast is discussed. Second, a contact-resonance method is presented: the tip in contact with the sample is electrostatically excited at its resonance frequency by a self-controlled oscillator. The gain and frequency images allow us to measure the interdiffusion width. Both methods (using high and weak mechanical solicitation) give the same assessment of the interdiffusion width. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and thermomechanical characterization of polyurethane elastomers extended with α,ω‐alkane diols

A series of polyurethane (PU) elastomers was prepared by the reaction of poly(?‐caprolactone) and 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, which was extended with a series of chain extenders (CEs) having 2–10 methylene units in their structure. The completion of the reaction was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The chemical structures of the synthesized PU samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and the thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric analysis, DSC, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis techniques. The mechanical properties were also studied and are discussed. The thermogravimetric analysis and DSC analysis showed that CE length had a considerable effect on the thermal properties of the prepared samples. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and damping peaks were also affected by the number of methylene units in the CE length. The elastomer extended with 1,2‐ethane diol exhibited optimum thermal properties, whereas the elastomer based on 1,10‐decane diol displayed the worst thermal properties. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing CE length, whereas hardness showed the opposite trend. The glass‐transition temperature moved toward lower temperatures with increasing CE length. The decrease in the glass‐transition temperature and tensile properties were interpreted in terms of decreasing hard segments and increasing chain flexibility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

USL和USK系列振动筛防噪技术分析

为了改善筛分机械的使用环境，降低筛分机械的噪声，从噪声源入手，从内因和外因两个方面分析了筛分机噪声的形成原因。论述了USL和USK系列振动筛在降低噪声方面所采取的先进技术措施。     

Study on mechanical principle of reinforcing sidewalls and corners of roadway to control floor heave by anchors

The movement principle of sidewalls and floor of extraction opening is analyzed, it is found that floor heave not only has something to do with the floor strata, but sidewalls. The effect of sidewall anchor and corner anchor is studied, the mechanical principle of reinforcing sidewalls and corners is put forward and applied in engineering practice.     

机械合金化CuRECr合金的显微组织结构及性能分析

利用机械合金化和真空烧结技术制备CuRECr25和CuRECr50合金，讨论了机械合金化不同球磨时间、球料比等工艺参数对合金显微组织结构、物理机械性能，含氧量、含氮量等的影响，并且与CuCr25、CuCr50合金进行了物理机械性能比较。研究结果表明：CuRECr合金组织均匀、细微，具有强度、硬度高等特点，为改进CuCr系电真空接触材料开辟了新途径。     

机械过冷的制冷系统在汽车空调中的应用

由于很多汽车空调采用斜盘式压缩机，有利于采用机械过冷的制冷系统，来增加汽车空调的制冷量、提高制冷效率。本文的主要目的是通过对系统工质的流量分配、空调制冷量和性能系数(COP)与中间压力之间的变化关系的研究，来研究机械过冷在汽车空调中应用的可行性。     

再生骨料绿化混凝土的研究

本文主要介绍了绿化混凝土的概念、分类,绿化混凝土构筑适合于植物生长环境的措施。通过对再生骨料绿化混凝土的原材料和配合比试验以及物理力学性能及耐久性能试验,为进一步的工程应用提供了可靠的依据。     

PV module dynamic impedance and its voltage and frequency dependencies

The paper presents a derivation of the dynamic impedance of a PV module. At each bias voltage, the general form of the impedance describes a semicircular locus in the complex impedance plane. Intercepts of each impedance locus yield series, shunt and dynamic resistance of a module. Determinations of the dynamic impedance of a x-Si PV module in the dark with five reverse bias voltages and over a frequency range of 1 Hz to 60 kHz are made. The experimental results validate the derived general form of dynamic impedance.