Nucleation of copper on an assembly of carbon microelectrodes

The initial stage of copper electrodeposition on the electrochemically activated assembly of carbon microelectrodes from an acid solution of copper sulfate was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic pulse technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Analysis of the experimental current transients has been carried out using a non-linear fitting procedure according to the model that takes into account spherical diffusion towards a disc-shaped microelectrode. The higher values of diffusion coefficient in comparison with those observed on planar electrodes were explained with an increased diffusion caused by the electrode geometry. Impedance spectra showed two time constants, the high-frequency related to the charge transfer process and the low-frequency corresponded to the deposit morphology.     

Influence of the Transport Properties of the Crystal/Heat Transfer Surface Interfacial on Fouling Behavior

One method to reduce fouling is to extend the induction time by a defined modification of the interfacial interactions between the heat transfer surface and the crystalline deposit. Since these interactions are a result of both molecular and mechanical forces, two approaches for fouling mitigation have been developed: (a) Modification of the energy related properties of the heat transfer surface and (b) Modification of the geometry related properties of the heat transfer surface.     

Thermomechanical stress fields in high-temperature fibrous composites. I: Unidirectional laminates

This two-part paper presents a closed-form procedure for evaluation of estimates of local thermomechanical stress fields in two-phase fibrous composites and laminates. The first part is concerned with a unidirectional elastic laminate subjected to uniform mechanical loads and to uniform changes in temperature. Both phases are assumed to be elastic, with temperature-dependent moduli and expansion coefficients; the solution reflects the influence of thermomechanical interactions. Exact solutions are not possible for any real system, because the local geometry is not known in detail. Instead, estimates of the fields are found from a modified Mori-Tanaka approximation. Examples are presented for two SiC/Ti---Al---Nb composites. Local stresses of interest are found after cooling from fabrication to room temperature. The presence of local yielding, and the influence of coupling terms on the local stress magnitudes are examined. Extension of the results to laminated plates is presented in Part II (Dvorak, G.J., Chen, T. & Teply, J., Composites Science and Technology, 43 (1992) 359–368, this issue).     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(siloxane-urethane)s

A series of polyurethane block copolymers based on hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane and poly(propylene glycol) soft segments of molecular weights 1818 and 2000, respectively, were synthesized. The hard segments consisted of 4,4′-diphenylnethane diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. Samples with different molar ratios were prepared. We tried to synthesize polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethanes (PDMS-PU) containing a hard block as major fraction and a soft block as minor fraction for preparing toughened rigid systems. After a study of the pure polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethane and poly(propylene glycol)-based polyurethane (PPG-PU), (mixed polyol)-based block copolymers and blends of PDMS-PU and PPG-PU were synthesized, and characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy. In (mixed polyol)-based copolymers and lower hard-segment content blends, macro-phase separation occurred, but blends with higher hard-segment contents showed significant reduction in amounts of phase separation.     

Hydrolytic stability and protective properties of polyurethane oligomers based on polyester/ether/polyols

The present study deals with effect of the type and chemical character of incorporated polyester/polyether blocks on the hydrolytic stability of crosslinked polyurethane oligomers. Diffusion parameters of the investigated polyurethane oligomers, giving information concerning chemical changes taking place in neutral, basic and acidic aqueous environments, have also been determined.     

Thermophysical properties data: Government-university-industry cooperation in multidisciplinary research

Historical developments regarding the realization of the importance of reliable thermophysical properties data in engineering applications are presented. The events leading to the establishment of the Symposium on Thermophysical Properties in 1959 and the accomplishments of the symposia series since then are discussed. Contributions of the National Bureau of Standards to the thermophysical properties field are described.Welcoming address presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Mechanical properties of poly(ether-ether-ketone) for engineering applications

An outline of the characteristics of PEEK and the versatility of its compositional forms (micro and macro composites) are given to illustrate its wide potential for success in engineering applications. Although it is necessary to have particular tabulations of mechanical properties for engineering design, these are seldom available and consequently it is argued that an understanding of stiffness, toughness and strength properties are required to fully exploit available manufacturer's data and thus develop the full potential of PEEK and its composites. Stiffness characteristics are considered in terms of a modulus function which is dependent on time under load and temperature. In its composite forms, whether reinforced with short or continuous fibres, stiffness anistropy can be both considerable and complex, but some empirical ground-rules are apparent. For continuous fibre composites even in the form of complex lay-ups, it is also possible to attempt some stiffness prediction from certain pseudo-elastic constants. Toughness of PEEK and its composites is described in terms of both comparative and intrinsic properties. Instrumented falling weight impact data, particularly as a function of temperature enable some insight into ductile-brittle transitions for the unreinforced material, but crack initiation and crack propagation processes for the various fibre reinforced forms. Intrinsic toughness is described in terms of linear elastic fracture mechanics theory. Strength properties are described for static and dynamic loading configurations. In particular, PEEK and its composites are evaluated for increasing test severities for strength characteristics; stress concentration, loading form and test temperature are considered.     

Micromechanical characterisation of fibre/matrix interfaces

Theoretical analyses for the single fibre pull-out and push-out models under monotonic loading are given which are based on a shear-lag analysis in a fracture mechanics approach considering non-constant friction at the debonded interface as a result of fibre Poisson contraction (or expansion). The solutions allow the determination of typical fibre/matrix interfacial properties such as the interfacial fracture toughness, G_ic, the coefficient of friction, μ, and the residual clamping stress, q₀. Under cyclic loading the interfacial properties are expected to degrade as a result of repetitive abrasion, and a power law function is assumed between μ and the number of elapsed cycles, N. However, G_ic is assumed to be unaffected and a fracture mechanics based debond criterion is derived for the relationship between the external applied stress, the debond length and the reduced friction coefficient for both fibre pull-out and fibre push-out. In addition, the relative displacements between the free fibre end and the matrix top are obtained for cyclic fatigue when the fibre is loaded and unloaded. A relationship obtained for the protrusion (or intrusion) length in fibre pull-out (or push-out) experiments allows the severity of the interface frictional degradation to be evaluated and characterised. Similarities and differences in the frictional degradation behaviour between fibre pull-out and push-out are also identified.     

Dynamic properties of carbon black filled chlorinated polyethylene/hindered phenol blends

Aggregates of carbon black (CB) in a polymer matrix have a tendency to form a CB network. The dynamic mechanical properties of binary systems of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and CB or 3,9‐bis{1,1‐dimethyl‐2[β‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)propionyloxy]ethyl}‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxaspiro[5,5]‐undecane (AO‐80) and their ternary systems were investigated. It was found that the dynamic mechanical properties of those systems depend on the colloidal properties, surface oxides, and surface modification of CB. For binary systems of CPE and CB, oxidized CB gives a high modulus at low strain amplitude and a large Payne effect compared with untreated CB. In contrast, the reverse effect was observed for their ternary systems. Consequently, a good micro‐dispersion is obtainable by surface modification due to physical adsorption of AO‐80 on oxidized CB particles via hydrogen bonds. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry