Thermal degradation study of interpenetrating polymer network based on modified bismaleimide resin and cyanate ester

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on different ratios of a modified bismaleimide resin (BMI/DBA) and cyanate ester (b10) have been synthesized via prepolymerization followed by thermal curing. A systematic thermal degradation study of these new BMI/DBA‐CE IPN resin systems was conducted by thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates both in N₂ (thermal stability) and in air (thermal‐oxidative stability). The cured BMI/DBA‐CE IPN resin systems show excellent thermal stability, which could be demonstrated by 5% weight loss temperature (T_5%) ranging between 409 and 423 °C, maximum decomposition rate temperature (T_max) ranging between 423 and 451 °C, and the char yields at 800 °C ranging from 37% to 41% in nitrogen at a heating rate of 10 °C min^?1. The apparent activation energy associated with the main degradation stage of the cured BMI/DBA‐CE IPN resin systems was determined using the Kissinger method. The obtained results provide useful information in drawing correlation between thermal properties and structure. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diagnostic technique for degradation of engineering materials by measurement of thermophysical properties

The thermal conductivity of the surface layer of engineering materials changes in the early stages of material degradation due to the appearance of micro‐cracks. A new method for evaluating and assessing the degree of degradation of a material using this change is proposed herein. The influence of the micro‐cracked layer on the temperature response as measured by a thermophysical handy tester was theoretically examined. By defining a thermal degradation parameter, the amount of degradation of various materials was evaluated. In order to verify this theory, fatigue tests using metallic materials were conducted. Comparisons before and after the fatigue tests were then made to establish the correlation between the density of micro‐cracks and the decrease in thermal conductivity. As a result, it was ascertained that a thermal degradation parameter can easily be estimated from a temperature response curve obtained using the tester. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(8): 501–512, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20178     

Reliability analysis of electronic devices with multiple competing failure modes involving performance aging degradation

This paper presents an extension of reliability analysis of electronic devices with multiple competing failure modes involving performance aging degradation. The probability that a product fails on a specific mode is derived. Using this probability, the dominant failure mode on the product can be predicted. A practical example is presented to analyze an electronic device with two kinds of major failure modes–solder/Cu pad interface fracture (a catastrophic failure) and light intensity degradation (a degradation failure). Reliability modeling of an individual failure mode and device reliability analysis is presented and results are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of nutritive value of cereal and legume straws based on chemical composition and in vitro digestibility

The nutritive value of 17 straws was determined on the basis of their chemical composition, in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility and rumen fermentation kinetics (from gas production curves measured in vitro). Five roughages were from the cereal species Avena sativa (oat), Hordeum vulgare (barley), Secale cereale (rye), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Zea mays (maize stover). The other 12 samples were legume straws, two samples from each of the species Cicer arietinum (chickpea), Lens culinaris (lentil) and Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) and one sample from each of the species Lathyrus sativus (chickling vetch), Lupinus albus (white lupin), Pisum sativum (field pea), Vicia articulata (one‐flowered vetch), Vicia ervilia (bitter vetch) and Vicia sativa (common vetch). All samples were collected after harvesting from different farms located in León (northwestern Spain). Based on their chemical composition, digestibility and gas production characteristics, species could be clustered into two groups with a significant linkage distance, one for cereal straws that merged at a level of similarity of 80% and the other for legume straws with a degree of similarity of 50%. Species varied widely and significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the two groups of straws. Legume straws showed higher crude protein (74 ± 6.1 vs 29 ± 2.2 g kg^?1 DM) and lower fibre (584 ± 18.1 vs 793 ± 27.5 g neutral detergent fibre kg^?1 DM) contents than cereal straws and, consequently, DM digestibility coefficients (0.670 vs 0.609; standard error of difference 0.0054) and metabolisable energy values (7.4 ± 0.15 vs 5.7 ± 0.24 MJ kg^?1 DM) were significantly greater in legume than in cereal straws. Although there were noticeable differences among species within each botanical family, legume straws showed better nutritional quality than cereal straws, indicating that they could be considered promising and interesting sources of roughage for incorporation into ruminant diets. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

影响TiO2催化降解有机物废水效率的主要因素

介绍了近年来国内外有机物废水光催化降解的研究现状，及不同催化剂体系对各种有机物的降解效果。通过对以TiO2为主的光催化剂在不同催化剂结构和不同反应因素等条件下降解效果的比较，论述了TiO2光催化剂的优越性、不足和影响机制。并指出了光催化降解有机物废水技术需要进一步解决的问题。     

Weathering,water absorption,and durability of silicon,acetylated, and heat‐treated wood

In this study, two colloidal dispersions of pure amorphous silicon dioxide particles, acetylated, and heat‐treated samples were tested for a possible application as a wood protection agents. The silicon, acetylated, and heat‐treated samples were exposed to an accelerated weathering experiment, and their dimensional stability was assessed. The weathering experiment comprised cycles of 2 h UV‐light irradiation followed by water spray for 18 min. The surface changes of the weathered samples were characterized by FT‐IR spectroscopy and color measurements. According to results, the silicon treatments showed lower color changes than untreated ones. However, acetylated and heat‐treated samples provided the lowest color changes. The resistance of the silicon, acetylated, and heat‐treated wood to decay was studied by means of brown and white rot fungi in laboratory decay tests. Decay test results revealed that acetylated and heat‐treated wood samples showed better decay resistance against P. placenta and C. versicolor than silicon treatments. Samples modified with silicon were exposed in above ground standard lap‐joint test in Ultuna, Sweden. The dispersions of pure amorphous silicon dioxide impregnated in wood did not significantly influence its hygroscopic and dimensional behavior. However, the silicon treatment reduced the color changes caused by weathering. The silicon impregnated samples showed a weak fungal discoloration similar to that of chromated copper arsenate impregnated controls in above ground standard lap‐joint test. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4506–4513, 2006     

Effects of the pH,concentration, and solvents on the ultrasonic degradation of poly(vinyl alcohol)

The ultrasonic degradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) was investigated at different pHs of the solvent, in different water/solvent binary mixtures, and at different polymer concentrations. The samples were analyzed with gel permeation chromatography. The degradation rate coefficients were determined with a continuous distribution model. A higher degradation rate was obtained at pH extremes, in better solvents, and at lower polymer concentrations. The results are explained and discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4888–4892, 2006     

Some remarks on the use of isothermal thermogravimetric data for the evaluation of kinetic parameters. Applications for degradation of polymeric materials

A critical analysis of the isoconversional methods for evaluating kinetic parameters of decomposition of solids from isothermal thermogravimetric data is presented. An isoconversional integral method to evaluate the activation energy is suggested. This method allows removing the errors due the correction of the degradation time by subtracting the induction period to onset of the main reaction (also including the time required to heat the sample to the temperature at which the isotherm is recorded). This procedure was used to study the degradation of two series of polymeric materials, (a) poly(vinyl chloride)/acrilonitrile–butadiene–styrene (PVC/ABS) blends and (b) poly(vinyl chloride)/chlorinated poly(ethylene) (PVC/CPE) blends. The values obtained for the activation energy are in fairly good agreement with those obtained from the Prout–Tompkins model in case (a) and from nonisothermal data in case (b). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 355–360, 2003     

The relationship between sensitisation and small punch test behaviour in a high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures

Austenitic stainless components used in nuclear fusion reactors must be capable of maintaining reasonable mechanical properties to thermal ageing caused by welding and in‐service. Recently, high‐nitrogen (High‐N) austenitic stainless steels (SS) are receiving increased attention because of their strength advantages, but they have been found to be susceptible to dichromium nitride (Cr₂N) precipitation during thermal exposure at 823–1073 K. The susceptibility to sensitisation at thermal ageing temperature for high‐N austenitic SS is examined using the single‐loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) test. High‐N SS were found to be susceptible to sensitisation caused by grain boundary precipitation of Cr₂N, with the degree of sensitisation increasing systematically with ageing time and temperature. In particular, it was found that the precipitates, which effected sensitisation, were changed from carbides (M₂₃C₆) to nitrides (Cr₂N) with increasing ageing time and temperature. The deterioration of mechanical properties associated with thermal ageing in high‐N SS was investigated by a small punch (SP) test using miniature specimens at cryogenic temperatures. Results indicated that the degradation of mechanical properties in this alloy was caused by a decrease of cohesive strength resulting from carbides (Cr₂₃C₆) and nitrides (Cr₂N) precipitated in grain boundaries.     

Current distribution in superconducting multistrands for ac use before and after quenching

A superconducting multistranded cable is used to realize high current capacity for ac use. The critical current value of the cable is reported to be less than the simple summation of the individual critical current value of each strand. The causes for such a degradation of the critical current value have not been revealed. This paper investigates the current distribution in multistrands before and after their quenching by using seven-strand superconducting cable and 7x7 cable. The following experimental results are derived: (1) the quenching is initiated at one strand in the cable; (2) the current in the quenched strand is transferred into the other strands; (3) an avalanche of quenching is induced among the strands; and (4) the central strand is quenched finally among the strands. The critical current values of the 7- and 7 × 7-stranded cables also are measured. These values are in good agreement with the predicted values based on the mutual inductance among the strands. It is concluded that the unbalance of the current distribution in the superconducting multistrands can be one of the promising causes for the degradation of the critical current value.