Fabrication of continuous slim aluminum fibers using a multi-tooth tool

In this paper, we describe the development of a multi-tooth tool to fabricate continuous, slim aluminum fibers of an equivalent diameter of under 100?µm. Following an analysis of the process of the fabrication of aluminum fibers, we designed a geometric cutting model of the multi-tooth tool with a large inclination as well as the mechanism to form continuous, slim aluminum fibers. We conducted experiments to determine the influence of process parameters on the surface topography and the equivalent diameter of the aluminum fiber. We obtained the continuous, slim aluminum fibers with a micro-fin structure when the cutting speed, cutting depth, and feed rate were in the ranges of 0.08–0.18?mm, 5–15?m/min, and 0.1–0.2?mm/r, respectively. We found that the equivalent diameter of the aluminum fiber gradually increased with decreasing cutting speed, and increasing feed rate and cutting depth. Moreover, the result of a composition analysis indicated that the generated cutting heat had a minimal effect on the oxidation of the aluminum fiber.     

Mechanical activation-assisted electro-thermal explosion synthesis of the Ti2AlC phase

This study deals with the synthesis of the Ti₂AlC phase using the Electro-Thermal Explosion under Pressure with Confinement (ETEPC) technique. The effects of the ETEPC technique and the milling process parameters on the TiC_x phase content and the formation mechanism of the Ti₂AlC phase were investigated. The latter is mainly affected by the morphology of the powder mixture and aluminum melted amount. The optimization of the above parameters allowed the achievement of the desired reaction, leading to the formation of the Ti₂AlC phase with a purity of about 97?wt%. The results clearly demonstrate that the ETEPC process enables one to control both time and material synthesis temperature.     

Recent progress in continuous and semi-continuous processing of solid oral dosage forms: a review

Context: Continuous processing is an innovative production concept well known and successfully used in other industries for many years. The modern pharmaceutical industry is facing the challenge of transition from a traditional manufacturing approach based on batch-wise production to a continuous manufacturing model.

Objective: The aim of this article is to present technological progress in manufacturing based on continuous and semi-continuous processing of the solid oral dosage forms.

Methods: Single unit processes possessing an alternative processing pathway to batch-wise technology or, with some modification, an altered approach that may run continuously, and are thus able to seamlessly switch to continuous manufacturing are briefly presented. Furthermore, the concept of semi-continuous processing is discussed. Subsequently, more sophisticated production systems created by coupling single unit processes and comprising all the steps of production, from powder to final dosage form, were reviewed. Finally, attempts of end-to-end production approach, meaning the linking of continuous synthesis of API from intermediates with the production of final dosage form, are described.

Results: There are a growing number of scientific articles showing an increasing interest in changing the approach to the production of pharmaceuticals in recent years. Numerous scientific publications are a source of information on the progress of knowledge and achievements of continuous processing. These works often deal with issues of how to modify or replace the unit processes in order to enable seamlessly switching them into continuous processing. A growing number of research papers concentrate on integrated continuous manufacturing lines in which the production concept of “from powder to tablet” is realized. Four main domains are under investigation: influence of process parameters on intermediates or final dosage forms properties, implementation of process analytical tools, control-managing system responsible for keeping continuous materials flow through the whole manufacturing process and the development of new computational methods to assess or simulate these new manufacturing techniques. The attempt to connect the primary and secondary production steps proves that development of continuously operating lines is possible.

Conclusion: A mind-set change is needed to be able to face, and fully assess, the advantages and disadvantages of switching from batch to continuous mode production.     

Effects of fiber orientation angles of fiber-reinforced plastic on sand solid particle erosion behaviors

Solid particle erosion in industrial applications has been a serious problem in many engineering fields. Earlier studies on fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites were mainly focusing on the erosive wear behavior at several different impact angles. However, the effect of fiber orientation on FRP composites has not been thoroughly investigated. Since fiber orientation is one of the important factors in which causing erosive wear damages to FRP composites, in order to understand the virtue of this problem, it is important to investigate the effect of fiber orientation at different impact angles. In this research, the effect of fiber orientation of unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastic composites on erosive wear behavior was studied. Sandblasting-type erosion tests were conducted on the FRP composites with fiber orientation ranging at three impact angles to clarify the relation between fiber orientation and erosive wear behavior. The Dyneema fiber (ductile material) and the carbon fiber (brittle material) were used for the reinforcement fiber in FRP. From the result, it is confirmed that CFRP composites with higher fiber orientation angle erode faster than the composites with lower fiber orientation angle. But the erosion characteristic of DFRP was almost the same regardless of the fiber orientation angle. The damaged surfaces of the FRP composites were then analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and the possible erosion wear mechanisms were investigated.     

Controlled chemical modification of the internal surface of photonic crystal fibers for application as biosensitive elements

Photonic crystal fibers (PCF) are one of the most promising materials for creation of constructive elements for bio-, drug and contaminant sensing based on unique optical properties of the PCF as effective nanosized optical signal collectors. In order to provide efficient and controllable binding of biomolecules, the internal surface of glass hollow core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCF) has been chemically modified with silanol groups and functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The shift of local maxima in the HC-PCF transmission spectrum has been selected as a signal for estimating the amount of silanol groups on the HC-PCF inner surface. The relationship between amount of silanol groups on the HC-PCF inner surface and efficiency of following APTES functionalization has been evaluated. Covalent binding of horseradish peroxidase (chosen as a model protein) on functionalized PCF inner surface has been performed successively, thus verifying the possibility of creating a biosensitive element.     

熔体静电纺的电场分布对三维自组装聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯纤维膜形貌的影响

熔体静电纺可自组装三维锥状纤维膜。借助ANSYS软件模拟熔体静电纺反纺工艺不同参数(纺丝电压、接收距离、接收板面积)条件下的电场分布,探讨电场分布对熔体静电纺三维自组装聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯(PET)纤维膜几何结构与纤维形貌的影响。结果表明,在单喷嘴-平板结构模型中,提高电压将整体增强空间电场强度,同时电场不均匀性也被放大,所纺三维PET纤维膜尺寸(底面积、厚度、质量)有所增加,纤维膜锥角变小,纤维直径明显下降;接收距离的改变对接收板表面的电场影响显著,随着接收距离的增加,纤维膜尺寸有所减小,当接收距离较小时,纤维膜顶端锥角仅为56°,而纤维直径变化不大;接收板面积的缩小可以改善喷嘴与接收板间及接收板表面电场分布的均匀性,纤维膜尺寸增加,纤维膜锥角逐渐变小,纤维膜表面的镂空现象明显,所纺纤维平均直径稍有减小。     

热塑性复合材料自动纤维铺放装备技术

基于热塑性复合材料(TPC)自动纤维铺放(AFP)原位固结技术,开展热塑性复合材料AFP装备技术研究,分析AFP平台的功能需求,提出平台总体规划方案,设计开发热塑性复合材料自动铺丝头,并提出预浸纱张力控制方案、精确送纱及温度闭环控制方案。在此基础上,设计AFP系统可行性验证实验,证明方案的可行性和平台的实用价值。结果表明:本实验平台针对热塑性复合材料铺放特点,优化张力与铺放速度匹配,实现预浸纱动态恒张力铺放,确保成型构件质量;实验平台调控铺放速度与送纱协调,实现精确定位,保障成型构件尺寸;建立了铺放速度与加热功率、热流分布关系,实现高精度温度场分布控制。虽AFP成型构件的力学性能比热模压成型构件的力学性能低约20%,但为热塑性复合材料AFP装备技术的广泛应用奠定了基础。     

氧化镧/聚丙烯防X射线复合纤维的制备及性能表征

先采用熔融纺丝方法制备了不同氧化镧含量的氧化镧/聚丙烯复合纤维,然后采用对二甲苯在相同处理时间(1 h)不同温度(105~109℃)下溶解复合纤维中的部分聚丙烯基体以提高纤维中氧化镧含量,并对处理过后的纤维进行扫描电镜、X射线屏蔽性能等测试。此外,采用硅烷偶联剂改性氧化镧,通过熔融纺丝法制备了表面活性氧化镧/聚丙烯复合纤维,并对其作了差示扫描量热分析、扫描电镜、力学测试等性能表征。实验结果表明,随未改性氧化镧添加量增加,纤维力学性能下降,玻璃化转变温度向低温方向移动,纤维热稳定提高;有机改性可改善氧化镧在聚丙烯中的分散,提高纤维的力学性能,纤维玻璃化转变温度较纯聚丙烯纤维升高;用对二甲苯在107℃处理1h所获取的复合纤维中氧化镧含量最高,X射线屏蔽性能最优。