Poly(butylene terephthalate)–clay nanocomposites prepared by melt intercalation: morphology and thermomechanical properties

Nanocomposites based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and an organoclay (Cloisite 30B) were prepared by melt blending using a twin‐screw extruder. Two kinds of PBTs, ie PBT‐A and PBT‐B, with different inherent viscosities (η_inh), were used for this study (η_inh of PBT‐A and PBT‐B were 0.74 and 1.48, respectively). Dispersion of the clay layers in the PBT nanocomposites was characterized by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tensile and dynamic mechanical properties and non‐isothermal crystallization temperatures of the nanocomposites were also examined. Nanocomposites based on the higher‐viscosity PBT (PBT‐B) showed a higher degree of exfoliation of the clay and a higher reinforcing effect when compared to the composites based on the lower‐viscosity PBT (PBT‐A). The clay nanolayers dispersed in PBT matrices lead to increases in the non‐isothermal crystallization temperatures of the PBTs, with such increases being more significant for the PBT‐B nanocomposites than for the PBT‐A nanoocomposites. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of ethyl methacrylate content on the volume‐phase transition of temperature‐sensitive poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐(ethyl methacrylate)] microgels

A novel series of temperature‐sensitive poly[(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐(ethyl methacrylate)] (p(NIPAM‐co‐EMA)) microgels was prepared by the surfactant‐free radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with ethyl methacrylate (EMA). The shape, size dispersity and volume‐phase transition behavior of the microgels were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transmission electron micrographs and DLS results showed that microgels with narrow distributions were prepared. It was shown from UV–Vis, DLS and DSC measurements that the volume‐phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the p(NIPAM‐co‐EMA) microgels decreased with increasing incorporation of EMA, but the temperature‐sensitivity was impaired when more EMA was incorporated, causing the volume‐phase transition of the microgels to become more continuous. It is noteworthy that incorporation of moderate amounts of EMA could not only lower the VPTT but also enhance the temperature‐sensitivity of the microgels. The reason for this phenomenon could be attributed to changes in the complicated interactions between the various molecules. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Facile modifications of polyimide via chloromethylation: II. Synthesis and characterization of thermocurable transparent polyimide having methylene acrylate side groups

From chloromethylated polyimide, a useful starting material for modification of aromatic polyimides, a thermocurable transparent polyimide having acrylate side groups was prepared. In the presence of 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec‐7‐ene, chloromethylated polyimide was esterified with acrylic acid to synthesize poly(imide methylene acrylate). The polymer was soluble in organic solvent, which makes it possible to prepare a planar film by spin coating. The polymer film became insoluble after thermal treatment at 230 °C for 30 min. Optical transparency of the film at 400 nm (for 1 µm thickness) was higher than 98 % and not affected by further heating at 230 °C for 250 min. Adhesion properties measured by the ASTM D3359‐B method ranged from 4B to 5B. Preliminary results of planarization testing showed a high degree of planarization (DOP) value (>0.53). These properties demonstrate that poly(imide methylene acrylate) could be utilized as a thermocurable transparent material in fabricating display devices such as TFT‐LCD. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Precision equipment for symmetrical bending— Part 1. The loading system

The design and performance of precision bending equipment for testing straight beams with constant rectangular section under a pure bending moment is described. Part 1 deals with the loading arrangements and Part 2 with the rig for measuring beam deflection. The methods for recording deflection of strain gauges applied on the beam have been described elsewhere.^1–4
The reactions to the deadweight gravity loads are taken via ball bearings. The total bending moment inaccuracy, i.e. the sum of estimated systematic errors and random errors, the latter expressed as the 2Ga confidence interval about the mean (2G_cim), is about ± 25 x. 10^-4%, for 23 tests with a steel beam with 15 mm × 75 mm cross sectional dimensions, loaded to 1-1.5 mm/m strain.
The measuring rig stands on the beam via hardened and polished spherical segment feet and uses a capacitive transducer system with less than 5nm resolution. Various application tasks are described. The total inaccuracy of the measured deflection, i.e. apart from bending moment inaccuracy, is about ± 35 times 10^4% for about 10 reproduced, not repeated, tests with the same steel beam. The deflection for such a beam is of the order of 2 to 4 mm.     

温度场有限元分析的接缝单元

目前混凝土坝的仿真分析正从单坝段仿真向全坝仿真发展,因而需要采用接缝单元,笔者给出三种温度场接缝单元的计算模型：有限厚度接缝单元、近零厚度接缝单元及简化接缝单元.     

液化天然气供气站的工艺设计

〗LNG供气站的设计核心是工艺设计，设计中应注意以下几点：正确处理技术先进性与经济合理性的关系，综合权衡设置费与运营费的比例，力求项目全寿命费用最低；大多数城市LNG供气站均利用空气气化LNG，单罐容积为100 m³的真空压力式储罐广泛用于储存量为1200 m³以下的LNG供气站；为正确设置储罐安全阀的开启压力和排放压力，必须根据储罐的最高工作压力按照规范正确确定储罐的设计压力；储罐上2套独立的液位计和高、低限报警自动切断装置可确保储罐安全运行；空温式气化器的气化能力按用气城市高峰小时计算流量的1.3~1.5倍确定，为便于自然化霜应设置2套空温式气化器切换使用；空温式气化器出口串接水浴式加热器可提高冬季或雨天出口天然气温度，保护碳钢管道并降低供销差；LNG储罐区应设置围堰，消防用水量为喷淋与水枪用水量之和。最后建议，必须尽快颁布国家LNG设计规范，以提高我国的LNG设计水平。     

浅谈界河倒虹吸预应力混凝土裂缝的预控措施

文章在通过对混凝土裂缝产生的原因进行分析的基础上,阐述了对在界河倒虹吸施工中预应力混凝土裂缝所采取的预控措施。     

Al/Fe2O3反应合成材料热力学

运用CALPHAD技术，基于多组元多相复杂平衡体系的吉布斯自由能最小化原理，用大型集成数据库F^*A^*C^*T系统，考察了铝和氧化铁经典反应体系的热力学规律。针对材料的反应合成技术，计算了化学计量铝和氧化铁体系以及各种产物中物种的相变情况；分析了原料初始温度、配料比和SiO2含量对绝热温度和平衡组成的影响。     

高温季节食醋生产中影响酒精发酵的因素及改进措施

该文以镇江香醋生产为例，分析了高温季节食醋生产过程中影响酒精发酵的因素，并提出了改进措施。     

Generalized difference control of parallel streams temperatures

A furnace with multiple parallel passes and multiple burners is commonly seen in petroleum refineries. In order to maintain the furnace running in a safe, stable, and high-efficiency state it is necessary to control the outlet temperatures of the multiple passes to be the same. Due to the fact that the process of the oil heating in such furnace is nonlinear, multivariable, time varying, has serious coupling among passes, has frequent dynamic changes and a large time delay, traditional control methods have trouble in controlling these temperatures, and some advanced control methods, including predictive control, adaptive control, and robust control, are usually too complex for convenient use. In this paper, a control technique, called differences control technique (DsCT), is proposed to distribute the stream flowrates such that the stream temperatures are as identical as possible. The principle of the proposed technique is explained and demonstrated, and the results of its application to a real-life petroleum refinery furnace are also reported. The DsCT technique has the following advantages: it does not need complicated design procedures, the controller structure is simple, it is easy to apply, and it can be canonically applied to furnaces with different number of passes.