Surface area, pore size distribution and microstructure of combustion engine deposits

The structural characteristics of combustion engine deposits produced from fuels with 22–44% aromatics by volume have been studied using Raman spectroscopy and gas sorption techniques. The lateral sizes of graphitic crystallites were found to increase slightly with the aromatic content of the fuel used. The surface areas of the deposits were evaluated using the BET and DR theories. Density functional theory (DFT) and mercury porosimetry were used to evaluate pore size distributions. The deposits have large internal surface areas (in the approximate range 100–300 m²/g) and their structures are highly porous. The average pore sizes of the largely microporous deposits do not depend on the aromatic content of the precursor fuel. Walls of pores with widths of about 0.5 nm are primarily responsible for the majority of the internal surface area found in the deposits. Heat treatment at temperatures above 573 K results in increased surface areas because the release of small hydrocarbon fragments from the deposits opens pores which were not accessible following heat treatment at lower temperatures.     

Miscibility and surface crystal morphology of blends containing poly(vinylidene fluoride) by atomic force microscopy

The miscibility and surface crystalline structure of blends containing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composed of and γ phases were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential scanning calorimeter (d.s.c.) measurements. It was found that the surface crystalline phase of PVDF and the degree of surface enrichment of a lower surface free energy component in a blend might strongly be affected by the magnitude of the intermolecular interaction, even though the blend is miscible. Also, the segmental interaction parameters was determined by combining the T_m depression of PVDF in a blend and the binary interaction model. According to the binary interaction model, the introduction of a carboxyl group for miscible [poly(methyl methacrylate)/PVDF] and [poly(vinyl acetate)/PVDF] blends decreased their miscibility.     

Role of water wettability,water transport,and adhesion in vision

Water plays an important role in life processes, although the specifics are not always known. In the past 25 years, major progress has been made in vision science by applying the principles and techniques of interface science to tear film physiology and pathophysiology, to novel surgical techniques, and to contact lens wear. In this paper, the role and structure of the preocular tear film are discussed, as well as the factors affecting its stability. This double-layered fluid film plays an important role not only in vision and the health of the exposed ocular tissues, but also in deciding contact lens tolerance and functioning. The little-known, misunderstood, and often misdiagnosed dry eye syndrome that is effected by the compromised stability of the tear film is also discussed. A newly recognized role of water as a bioabhesive in ocular tissue adhesion and its failure in terms of disjoining pressure and weak boundary layer are examined in the vision-threatening and painful adhesion failure of corneal epithelium and epithelial trauma during routine ophthalmic procedures such as tonography. The modalities to prevent undesirable contact adhesion in intraocular surgery that could result in surgical complications arc explored. Retinal tears are thought to result from the adhesion failure of the retina to the underlying tissues. A concentric double membrane model of retinal adhesion is proposed that analyzes the role of certain biophysical factors such as elasticity and hydraulic conductivity in promoting or diminishing the adhesion of retina to the choroid.     

High Cr ODS steels performance under supercritical water environment

This paper summarizes the results of supercritical water corrosion studies of two ferritic oxide dispersion strengthen (ODS) steels MA956 and PM2000 at the temperature of the upper limit of potential peak cladding temperature under normal operation, according to the conceptual design being developed in the EU. As the high temperature and pressure above the thermodynamic critical point of water result in higher oxidation rate for conventional austenitic alloys than observed in sub-critical light water reactor (LWR) conditions, ensuring adequate corrosion resistance is critical for thin-wall components like fuel cladding. This study concentrated on the investigation of two effects, surface finish and orientation of the cuts. Two different surface treated coupons were prepared in order to study the effect of cold work in sample surface on corrosion resistance. Samples were exposed in supercritical water at 650 °C and 25 MPa, for up to 1800 h. The corrosion rate was evaluated by measuring the weight change of the samples and by cross-section examinations. The microstructure of the oxide layers was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Weight gain results of both ODS steels proved a good resistance to general corrosion. Nevertheless the cross-sectional SEM study showed signs of nodular corrosion, observed mostly on the ground specimens after long exposure times.     

Effect of ion irradiation and heat treatment on adhesion in the Cu / Teflon system

To improve the adhesion of a metal coating to Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE), the ion beam technique has been used. Adhesion enhancement was obtained by irradiation of the Cu/Teflon interface with heavy ions in the GeV energy range. XPS analysis gave evidence for the long-range transport of Cu atoms into the polymer. Heating the Cu/Teflon sample after ion irradiation led to even stronger bonding between Cu and Teflon.     

Surface pretreatment of plastics for adhesive bonding

Abstraet-Many plastics have a poor tendency to bond to other materials because of their inherent inert chemical structure and thus require a pretreatment. Wet chemical methods are expensive because of the disposal of the waste liquids. In this study, the corona treatment (Ional process), the low-pressure plasma process, and the fluorination process were tested and compared with each other. The following plastics were tested: PP (polypropylene), PBT (polybutyleneterephthalate), PBT blends, and a high-temperature thermoplastic, PEEK (polyetheretherketone). In particular, the low-temperature plasma process results in excellent adhesion strength. In addition, we have shown that the stability of freshly plasma-treated surfaces could be maintained for time periods of at least several days.     

Winds are from Venus, mountains are from Mars: Science fiction in chemical engineering education

In an elective course recently created at Simón Bolívar University, Chemical Engineering students are encouraged to apply their previously acquired knowledge of thermodynamics, transport phenomena and other core subjects to the analysis and solution of problems drawn from science fiction works. We present a brief outline of the course contents, and describe two case studies that illustrate the general approach. The first example deals with the sublimation of carbon dioxide in Mars, and provides the basis for a discussion of the thermodynamics of phase transitions, the differences between water ice and dry ice, and the phenomenon of surface melting. The second example involves the thermal separation of strong winds in Venus, and is used to develop a simplified model of the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube that helps understand its working principles, limitations and differences with the equivalent but physically impossible action of Maxwell's demon. In both cases, the science fiction narratives are concluded to be unrealistic, either theoretically unsound or based on inaccurate information.     

Critical and Subcritical Adhesion Measurements of a Model Epoxy Coating Exposed to Moisture Using the Shaft-Loaded Blister Test

The shaft-loaded blister test (SLBT) was used to investigate the adhesion between a model epoxy coating and a silicon oxide surface as a function of relative humidity. Critical and subcritical strain energy release rates were measured using specimens that incorporate reinforcing layers of Kapton® film. A simplified procedure that eliminates the need for video imaging to measure the blister radius and fracture energy was developed. A critical relative humidity level for adhesion loss was observed, in agreement with measurements that have been made previously in a number of polymeric systems. The SLBT was confirmed to be particularly attractive for fracture energy measurements on thin, strongly adhered coatings and films which otherwise tend to be problematic.     

Surface Forces and the Adhesive Contact of Axisymmetric Elastic Bodies

A synthetic approach to the problem of the adhesive contact of axisymmetric elastic bodies is proposed. A convenient and general formulation is thus obtained, which is shown to yield directly most of the useful models. In particular, the roles of the shape of the indenter on the one hand, and of the nature of the attractive interactions on the other hand are clearly separated. By nature, this approach can also be used in the case where the bodies are in interaction but not in contact. This results in a consistent treatment of long-range interactions and contact properties.     

Bond Strength of a Silicone Soft Lining Material to Poly(methyl methacrylate) Resin Treated with Maleic Anhydride and its Terpolymers

This study investigated the effectiveness of surface treatment of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base resin on tensile bond strength between PMMA/silicone-based soft liner. A total of 25 specimens were fabricated and assigned into five groups (n = 5). The surfaces of PMMA were treated with maleic anhydride, maleic anhydride-styrene-vinyl-acetate, n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate, or n-pentamaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate prior to Primo adhesive primer application and silicone liner placement. The Primo adhesive primer on applied group untreated dentuse base resin served as control. The tensile test was performed using a universal testing machine. Fractured surfaces were observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopic interpretation of the interfaces was done by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Test results showed that surface treatment increased interfacial strength giving the highest value for n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl acetate treated group. SEM micrographs revealed that the specimens with n-butylmaleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate and n-penta maleate-styrene-vinyl-acetate terpolymers underwent cohesive failure. FTIR analysis indicated secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonding, possibly on acrylic resin surfaces, caused by the use of maleic anhydride and its terpolymers, and the adhesive.