A Modified Method for the Determination of N‐Nitrosodiethanolamine in Coconut Diethanolamide Using HPLC with Dual‐Wavelength UV–Vis Detector

A simple and novel method based on high‐performance liquid chromatography with dual‐wavelength ultraviolet detection at 234 and 254 nm has been developed for the determination of underivatized N‐nitrosodiethanolamine in coconut diethanolamide. The correlation coefficient obtained shows that the method is correct.     

Copolymerization of ethylene/α‐olefins using bis(2‐phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride metallocene catalyst: structural study of comonomer distribution

Catalysts have a major role in the polymerization of olefins and exert their influence in three ways: (1) polymerization behaviour, including polymerization activity and kinetics; (2) polymer particle morphology, including bulk density, particle size, particle size distribution and particle shape; and (3) polymer microstructure, including molecular weight regulation, chemical composition distribution and short‐ and long‐chain branching. By tailoring the catalyst structure, such as the creation of a bridge or introducing a substituent on the ligand, metallocene catalysts can play a major role in the achievement of desirable properties. Kinetic profiles of the metallocene catalyst used in this study showed decay‐type behaviour for copolymerization of ethylene/α‐olefins. It was observed that increasing the comonomer ratio in the feedstock affected physical properties such as reducing the melting temperature, crystallinity, density and molecular weight of the copolymers. It was also observed that the heterogeneity of the chemical composition distribution and the physical properties were enhanced as the comonomer molecular weight was increased. In particular, 2‐phenyl substitution on the indenyl ring reduced somewhat the melting point of the copolymers. In addition, the copolymer produced using bis(2‐phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride (bis(2‐PhInd)ZrCl₂) catalyst exhibited a narrower distribution of lamellae (0.3–0.9 nm) than the polymer produced using bisindenylzirconium dichloride catalyst (0.5–3.6 nm). The results obtained indicate that the bis(2‐PhInd)ZrCl₂ catalyst showed a good comonomer incorporation ability. The heterogeneity of the chemical composition distribution and the physical properties were influenced by the type of comonomer and type of substituent in the catalyst. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of the high velocity impact behavior of nanocomposites

In this article, the ballistic behavior of the glass/epoxy/nanoclay hybrid nanocomposites is studied. The fiber glass used is a plain weave 200 g/m², while the nanoclay is an organically modified montmorillonite nanoclay (Closite 30B). The epoxy resin system is made of Epon 828 as the epoxy prepolymer and Jeffamine D‐400 as the curing agent. 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt% of nanoclay particles are dispersed in the epoxy resin. Ballistic tests are performed using flat‐ended projectiles in impact velocities 134 m/s and 169 m/s. The results show that the energy absorption capability and mechanical properties of the composite can be significantly enhanced by adding nanoparticles. When the impact velocity is 134 m/s, near than the ballistic limit, the most increase in the energy absorption capability is observed in 3 wt% nanoclay while with the impact velocity 169 m/s, beyond the ballistic limit, the highest increase is observed in 10 wt% nanoclay. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1173–1179, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Inspection error and its effects on single sampling plans with fuzzy parameters

In this paper we have designed an acceptance single sampling plan with inspection errors when the fraction of defective items is a fuzzy number. We have shown that the operating characteristics curve of this plan is like a band having high and low bounds, its width depends on the ambiguity of proportion parameter in the lot when the samples size and acceptance numbers are fixed. A comparison of the single sampling plans with and without inspection errors was done to study the effects upon the characteristics. The results of this comparison show that in the sampling plan with inspection errors, there is a lower operating characteristics band in comparison to a sampling plan without inspection errors for good processing quality. We have also shown that the incorrect classification of a good item reduces the fuzzy probability of acceptance and incorrect classification of a defective item results in a higher fuzzy probability of acceptance.     

Polyurethane-SAPO-34 mixed matrix membrane for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation

SAPO-34 nanocrystals (inorganic filler) were incorporated in polyurethane membranes and the permeation properties of CO₂, CH_4, and N₂ gases were explored. In this regard, the synthesized PU-SAPO-34 mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were characterized via SEM, AFM, TGA, XRD and FTIR analyses. Gas permeation properties of PU-SAPO-34 MMMs with SAPO-34 contents of 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 20 wt% were investigated. The permeation results revealed that the presence of 20 wt% SAPO-34 resulted in 4.45%, 18.24% and 40.2% reductions in permeability of CO_2, CH_4, and N₂, respectively, as compared to the permeability of neat polyurethane membrane. Also, the findings showed that at the pressure of 1.2 MPa, the incorporation of 20 wt% SAPO-34 into the polyurethane membranes enhanced the selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂, 14.43 and 37.46%, respectively. In this research, PU containing 20 wt% SAPO-34 showed the best separation performance. For the first time, polynomial regression (PR) as a simple yet accurate tool yielded a mathematical equation for the prediction of permeabilities with high accuracy (R² > 99%).     

Effect of plasma nitriding parameters on corrosion performance of 17-4 PH stainless steel

This study investigates the effect of plasma nitriding parameters on corrosion susceptibility of 17-4 PH stainless steel in 3.5?wt-% NaCl solution. In this regard, 17-4 PH stainless steel was plasma nitrided at 400°C for 5 and 10?h, 450°C for 5?h and 500°C for 5?h. Cross-sectional images after nitriding process showed that a uniform nitrided layer has been formed on steel substrate. Depending on the temperature and time of the nitriding process, different phases were formed in the nitrided layer. This affected general corrosion and pitting corrosion performance of 17-4 PH stainless steel in 3.5?wt-% NaCl solution. While precipitation of chromium nitrides for nitrided specimens at 450°C and higher increased the susceptibility to pitting and general corrosion, formation of expanded martensite (EM) in nitriding at 400°C improved the pitting corrosion resistance of 17-4 PH stainless steel. This is believed to be due to the release of nitrogen atoms from EM phase to form ammonium ions and increase the pH of the solution, supressing pit growth.     

Influence of ultraviolet light irradiation on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel AISI 1015

Corrosion of carbon steel in sodium chloride solution was studied under ultraviolet illumination using weight loss, polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current transient tests. The polarization test revealed an increase in the corrosion current density observed under UV illumination. The impedance spectroscopy indicated that the charge transfer resistance of the system was decreased by irradiation of UV light on a carbon steel electrode. The weight loss of carbon steel in solution increased under UV light, which confirms the results obtained from electrochemical measurements. We propose that the main effect of UV irradiation is on the oxide film, which forms on the surface. Thus, in presence of UV, the conductivity of oxide film might increase and lead to higher metal dissolution and corrosion rate.     

Experimental investigation into Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticle performance and comparison with other nanofluids in enhanced oil recovery

Nanofluids because of their surface characteristics improve the oil production from reservoirs by enabling different enhanced recovery mechanisms such as wettability alteration, interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, oil viscosity reduction, formation and stabilization of colloidal systems and the decrease in the asphaltene precipitation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the synthesis of a new nanocomposite has been studied in this paper for the first time. It consists of nanoparticles of both SiO₂ and Fe₃O₄. Each nanoparticle has its individual surface property and has its distinct effect on the oil production of reservoirs. According to the previous studies, Fe₃O₄ has been used in the prevention or reduction of asphaltene precipitation and SiO₂ has been considered for wettability alteration and/or reducing IFTs in enhanced oil recovery. According to the experimental results, the novel synthesized nanoparticles have increased the oil recovery by the synergistic effects of the formed particles markedly by activating the various mechanisms relative to the use of each of the nanoparticles in the micromodel individually. According to the results obtained for the use of this nanocomposite, understanding reservoir conditions plays an important role in the ultimate goal of enhancing oil recovery and the formation of stable emulsions plays an important role in oil recovery using this method.     

Long-range mapping and construction of a YAC contig within the cat eye syndrome critical region

Cat eye syndrome (CES) is typically associated with a supernumerary bisatellited marker chromosome derived from human chromosome 22pter to 22q11.2. The region of 22q duplicated in the typical CES marker chromosome extends between the centromere and locus D22S36. We have constructed a long-range restriction map of this region using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and probes to 10 loci (11 probes). The map covers -3.6 Mb. We have also used 15 loci to construct a yeast artificial chromosome contig, which encompasses about half of the region critical to the production of the CES phenotype (centromere to D22S57). Thus, the CES critical region has been mapped and a substantial portion of it cloned in preparation for the isolation of genes in this region.     

Currents Induced in a Human Being for Plane-Wave Exposure Conditions 0-50 MHz and for RF Sealers

The currents induced in a human being were measured for plane-wave exposure conditions 0-50 MHz. These are used to point out that very large SAR's may be set up in the wet tissues for the cross section of the ankle for standing human beings exposed to electric fields suggested in the ANSI C95.1-1982 RF safety guide. For these exposure conditions, foot currents on the order of 627 mA are projected for a human adult of height 1.75 m for the frequency band 3-30 MHz with the value increasing to 780 mA for 40 MHz. The corresponding ankle-section SAR's are 182 and 243 W/kg. Using electromagnetic scaling concepts, SAR's as high as 371 and 534 W/kg are projected for ten- and five-year old children, respectively, for f = 50.7 and 62.5 MHz, E = 61.4 V/m (1 mW/cm2) recommended by the ANSI C95.1-1982 RF safety guide. The paper also gives currents induced by two sealer models and three industrial RF sealers for a human being under grounded and insulated conditions. Though smaller than those for plane-wave irradiation conditions, these currents may be substantial for high leakage fields that are quite typical.