Formulation of a ceramic ink for a wide-array drop-on-demand ink-jet printer

This paper describes the methodology for simulating a reprographic ink with a ceramic ink based on a commercially available zirconia powder for direct ceramic ink-jet printing. Of over-riding importance was matching viscosity and this was tested systematically by using a mineral oil–hexane binary system. Of secondary importance was adjustment of the pressure defect behind the nozzle to compensate for small differences in surface tension. The inks tested in the wide array print-head were based on low electrical conductivity liquids to avoid damage to the electroding system. The organic binder for the zirconia ink was paraffin wax and the dispersant was a hydroxystearic acid based polyester.     

A new approach to modelling of single droplet drying

A model was developed to predict the change in droplet mass and temperature when it is exposed to hot air, as in spray drying of droplets containing solids. The droplet was assumed first to undergo sensible rapid heating with no mass change. Then the droplet experiences some shrinkage, with no temperature change but rapid mass losses, followed by a period of crust formation with a significant change in droplet mass and temperature and finally a short period of sensible heating of the dried particle. The model, unlike previous models, accounts for shrinkage and for the temperature distribution in the droplet. It provided a good prediction for the change in droplet temperature and mass for some of the experimental measurements available in the literatures.     

菱镁矿固硫特性的理论分析

对菱镁矿在固体燃料燃烧过程中的固硫特性进行了理论研究，所得结论对进一步将菱镁矿作为固体燃料燃烧过程中的固硫剂具有非常重要的意义。     

CuO/ZnO甲醇合成催化剂的正电子湮没谱学研究

发展了用正电子湮没寿命参数测定用共沉淀方法制备的金属氧化物系固溶度的新方法。测量了一系列用共沉淀方法制备的不同CuO at％含量的CuO/ZnO甲醇合成催化剂粉末(压制成片)还原前后的正电子寿命谱。分析该种催化剂的固溶特性及其与正电子寿命参数的关系,得出还原后样品的固溶度为12CuOat％.支持了CuO/ZnO甲醇合成催化剂以Cu~+离子为活性中心的观点。     

The availability of daylight from tropical skies—a case study of Malaysia

In Malaysia, no long-term daylight data are measured. It was only recently that the need to measure the availability of daylight became urgent when the importance of daylighting in buildings was rediscovered. The hourly daylight availability has been simulated for the Malaysian sky using daylight modelling techniques based on empirical and measured solar irradiation and cloud cover data. This paper presents the techniques involved in producing exterior illuminance data. These data were then compared with measured illuminance at Shah Alam and Bangi, Malaysia. The global illuminance levels are generally high, with values exceeding 80,000 lux at noon during the months when solar irradiation is highest. Even during the months when the ground receives less solar irradiation, the peak illuminance can reach 60,000 lux. Applications and uses of such data are in daylighting design, both for visual and thermal comfort, task illuminance and energy-conscious design of buildings. Recommendations are made at the end of the paper on the various climatic data that are required to be measured for overall daylighting design applications.     

Hydrogen production in solid electrolyte membrane reactors (SEMRs)

In the present work, the prospects and trends of solid electrolyte membrane reactors (SEMRs) towards hydrogen production, are discussed. Initially, an overview of the principles, the properties and the techniques related to the usage of the SEMRs, are presented. In the following, a literature survey covering earlier and recent developments of the various methods (e.g. reforming or partial oxidation or dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, steam electrolysis) employed in the SEMRs for the production of hydrogen, is performed. Finally, the current status of this research field is analyzed and future research topics are proposed.     

An Approach to Modelling the Forming Process of Sheet Metal-Polymer Composites

Polymer Injection Forming (PIF) and Polymer Injection-Compression Forming (PICF) are new manufacturing technologies for sheet metal-polymer macro-composites, which result from the combination of injection moulding and sheet metal forming. In these processes, a metal blank is formed inside an injection mould by using the pressure of the molten polymer that, after cooling, permanently bonds to the metal sheet creating a fully finished product in only one production step. This paper presents a calibrated multi-physics numerical model of the processes that proves to be suitable to investigate the mutual metal-polymer interactions and to provide a reliable tool in designing the process as well as its control.     

Complementary effects of solid lubricants in the automotive brake lining

An experimental investigation was carried out to examine the tribological behavior of NAO (non-asbestos organic) type brake linings containing different volume ratios of graphite and antimony trisulfide (Sb₂S₃). A scale dynamometer was used for friction tests and particular emphases were given to the effect of applied pressure, sliding speed, and temperature on the coefficient of friction according to the relative amounts of the two solid lubricants. Results showed that the brake linings with both solid lubricants exhibited better friction stability and less speed sensitivity than the friction materials containing a single solid lubricant. In particular, the brake lining containing higher concentrations of graphite showed better fade resistance than others during high-temperature friction test.     

Preparation of CeO2-ZrO2 mixed oxide with high surface area and high thermal stability

Ceria-zirconia solid particles have been recognized as a key material of the automotive exhaust catalysts since they can release and uptake oxygen owing to the rapid reversible oxidation states of cerium between Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺. Several methods have recently been described to prepare the CeO₂-ZrO₂ solid particles used in the catalysts. In this paper, a new coprecipitation method is used to prepare the CeO₂-ZrO₂ solid particles. The Ce-Zr alcogel is dried and calcined in flowing N₂ not in flowing air under atmospheric pressure. The results show that the ceria-zirconia sample calcined at 650 °C has high surface area over 90 m²g⁻¹, which drops to 40 m²g⁻¹ following treatment at 900°C.     

A review on queueing network models with finite capacity queues for software architectures performance prediction

A review is carried out on how queueing network models with blocking have been applied so far into the performance evaluation and prediction of Software Architectures (SA). Queueing network models with finite capacity queues and blocking have recently been introduced and applied as more realistic models of systems with finite capacity resources and population constraints. Queueing network models have been often adopted as models for the evaluation of software performance. Starting from our own experience, we observe the need of a more accurate definition of the performance models of SA to capture some features of the communication systems. We consider queueing networks with finite capacity and blocking after service (BAS) to represent some synchronization constraints that cannot be easily modeled with queueing network models with infinite capacity queues. We investigate the use of queueing networks with blocking as performance models of SA with concurrent components and synchronous communication. Queueing theoretic analysis is used to solve the queueing network model and study the synchronous communication and performance of concurrent software components. Our experience is supported by other approaches that also propose the use of queueing networks with blocking. Directions for future research work in the field are included.