Effect of warm mix additives on the interfacial bonding characteristics of asphalt binders

The quality of the interfacial bonding between asphalt binder and aggregates plays a significant role in determining the durability of asphalt mixtures. Warm mix asphalt (WMA) modifiers have been used extensively in the last decade primarily to reduce production and compaction temperatures as well as to improve workability of asphalt mixtures. This study aimed to provide better understanding of the effects of these WMA modifiers on the interfacial bonding between asphalt binders and aggregates. The evaluation focused on measuring surface energy of binders in unaged and aged states and aggregates and then calculating energy parameters that describe the potential of a given asphalt-aggregate combination to resist fatigue cracking and moisture damage. Results show that the combination of asphalt-WMA additive, as well as the content applied of WMA additive has a significant impact on the fatigue cracking and moisture damage resistance. The results suggest that it is poor practice to use a given type and percentage of WMA modifier without regard for binder type. Instead, test methods are recommended to evaluate the compatibility of asphalt binder, WMA additive type/content, and aggregates for improved performance at different conditions.     

Photochemische Primärprozesse von Xanthenfarbstoffen. III. Blitzlichtspektroskopische Untersuchungen zum Einfluß von kationischen Mizellen auf die Photoredoxprozesse von Selenopyronin

Photochemical Primary Processes of Xanthene Dyes. III. Investigations of the Influence of Cationic Micelles on the Photoredox Processes of Selenopyronine by Flash Excitation Cationic micelles have no influence on the decay of the triplet state of selenopyronine (³F⁺). The products of photoredox reactions ³F⁺ + ³F⁺ (F⁺) → F^· + F and ³F⁺ + DABCO → F^· + DABCO live longer in the presence of the cationic micelles. The reason for the change of the lifetime is a separation of the photoredox products by micelles. F^. is stored in the interior of the micelles. The positively charged F and DABCO are repelled from the micelles and the electron back transfer is hindered.     

Photochemische Primärprozesse von Xanthenfarbstoffen. II. Blitzlichtspektroskopische Untersuchungen zum Einfluß von anionischen Mizellen auf die photochemischen Primärprozesse von Selenopyronin

Photochemical Primary Processes of Xanthene Dyes. II. Investigations of the Influence of Anionic Micelles on the Primary Processes of Selenopyronine by Flash Excitation In aqueous solutions containing anionic micelles, the dye cations of selenopyronine are present at the micellar surface. If the concentration of the dye ions is much lower than the concentration of micelles, only monomolecular triplet decay (k₁^aM = 2 · 10⁻³s⁻¹) is observed. Under these conditions, the half-oxidized and half-reduced form of selenopyronin is not formed. If the concentration of the dye ions is much higher than the concentration of micelles, two or more dye ions are present at every micelle, and a fast bimolecular decay of the triplet state during the flash is observed. The quenching of the triplet state with p-benzoquinone (k₇^aM = 1,9 · 10⁹ l/mol s), DABCO (k₁₀^aM = 1,6 · 10⁷ l/mol s) and EDTA (k₁₁^aM = 1,3 · 10⁵ l/mol s) and the decay processes of the half-reduced and half-oxidized form in the micellar solution are investigated.     

Photochemische Primärprozesse von Xanthenfarbstoffen. I. Blitzlichtspektroskopische Untersuchung der Primärprozesse von Selenopyronin

Photochemical Primary Processes of Xanthene Dyes. I. Investigations of the Primary Processes of Selenopyronine by Flash Excitation The triplet-state of selenopyronine absorbs light in the whole investigated spectral range (λ_max = 400 nm, 480 nm, 690 nm). As results of the bimolecular triplet decay a half-reduced (λ_max = 430 nm) and a half-oxidized (λ_max = 475 nm) form of the dye are observed. p-Benzoquinone quenches the triplet-state (k₇ = 1,5 · 10⁹ l/mol s) and the results are the half-oxidized form and the p-benzosemiquinone ion. For these two products different decay processes exist. The reducing agents DABCO, EDTA and Hydroquinone also quench the triplet state (k₁₀ = 1,2 · 10⁶ l/mol s, k₁₁ = 1,0 · 10⁶ l/mol s, k₁₂ = 1,0 · 10⁹ l/mol s) and as result the half-reduced form is observed. Measurements with thiopyronine give analogous results, which are in good agreement with investigations published in the literature.     

Intrinsic second-order nonlinearity in chalcogenide glasses containing HgI2

Frequency conversion using nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals is widely used in advanced photonic technologies to produce coherent light in the spectral regions where the available laser sources are missing. Isotropic glasses usually do not show second order nonlinear processes like second harmonic or difference frequency generation (SHG, DFG) except for temporarily induced anisotropy under external stimuli. Here, we show that a HgI₂–Ga₂S₃–GeS₂ homogeneous glass exhibits a strong intrinsic SHG response comparable with that of the well-known NLO single crystal LiNbO₃. The origin of this extremely rare phenomenon seems to be noncentrosymmetric bent HgI₂ molecules embedded in a sulfide glassy host. Taking into account the unique properties of chalcogenide glasses (wide IR transmission, low phonon density, unlimited ability to be modified changing the appropriate glass properties, fiber drawing and thin layer design), the observed phenomenon opens up the possibility of creating fundamentally new devices for mid-IR photonics.     

Computations of shear driven vortex flow in a cylindrical cavity using a modified k-ε turbulence model

In this paper, a new variant of the k-ε turbulence model (Saqr et al., CFD Letters, 1(2) pp. 87–94) is used to compute the shear driven vortex flow in an open cylindrical cavity. The results are compared with published LDA measurements for such flow configuration. The modified turbulence model demonstrated good agreement with experimental results, which further supports its validity in computing vortex dominated flows.     

Evaluation of ageing in asphalt cores using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance

This paper introduces an innovative methodology for estimating the ageing of asphalt concrete cores without extracting the binder. Asphalt concrete samples at different ageing stages (unaged, 3-month and 6-month aged) and with different percent air voids (4%, 7% and 10%) were analysed with low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The transverse relaxation time T₂ and relative hydrogen index (RHI) obtained from NMR measurements were related to the viscosity of the asphalt binder. The samples were analysed during cooling from 70°C to room temperature, showing increase in viscosity with decreasing temperature. There was a clear trend indicating higher viscosities in samples that were aged for a longer period and samples with higher percent air voids. The RHI and T₂ values obtained from low-field NMR measurements and the viscosity data calculated from measurements using a dynamic shear rheometer were correlated to develop a model that relates viscosity with RHI.     

Influence of Panthenol, Chlorphenesin and Lignocaine on the Physical Characteristics of Solidified Sodium Stearate-Based Sticks(SSSS)

Cosmetic sticks provide many consumer advantages over the more readily used aerosol sprays, creams and lotions. In view of the many advantages offered by solidified sodium stearate-based sticks (SSSS), a program was set up to evaluate them as potential bases for the inclusion of topically active medicaments. The present publication elucidates the influence of Panthenol, Chlorphenesin and Lignocaine on the main physical characteristics of some SSSS bases, including their disintegration time, hardness, penetrability, softening point, yield by abrasion and rate of drying by evaporation. The investigated SSSS bases contained glycerol, propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) or PEG 600 as humectant.

-The disintegration time of the studied bases was generally lowered by the three medicaments; however, glycerol or PG-formulated stick bases had their disintegration time slightly prolonged or unaffected by the addition of Chlorphenesin or Lignocaine;

-Panthenol generally lowered the hardness of SSSS bases but the least variation in this parameter was noticed with PG bases; hardness was generally increased with Chlorphenesin or Lignocaine, but to a lesser extent with the latter;

-generally speaking, Panthenol markedly increased the penetrability of the investigated stick bases; Chlorphenesin and Lignocaine did the same thing but to a lesser extent;

-the softening point of SSSS bases was generally lowered in presence of Panthenol or Lignocaine; Chlorphenesin did not generally affect the softening point of the stick bases; anyhow, the softening point of the investigated medicated sticks moved within the limits of safety, as far as the resistance to handling and storage in areas with occasional hot summers is concerned;

-Panthenol appreciably increased the yield by abrasion of all investigated bases; Lignocaine and Chlorphenesin did not appreciably influence this parameter except in the case of PEG 400 bases where the yield was markedly increased in presence of Lignocaine;

-the rate of drying of all the investigated stick bases was greatly lowered on addition of Panthenol; Chlorphenesin and Lignocaine affected this parameter to a much lesser extent.     

Demonstration of cellular aging and senescence in serially passaged long-term cultures of human trabecular osteoblasts

The proliferative capacity and cellular and biochemical characteristics of human trabecular bone osteoblasts were analysed throughout their replicative lifespan in vitro. Like several other cell types, human osteoblasts demonstrated a typical Hayflick phenomenon of cellular aging comprising a period of rapid proliferation until cumulative population doubling level (CPDL) 22 to 24, followed by a phase of slow growth and the final cessation of cell division at CPDL 32 to 34. Comparing young cells (less than 20% lifespan completed) and old cells (more than 90% lifespan completed) revealed a progressive increase in population doubling (PD) time, a decrease in attachment frequency, a decrease in the number of S-phase positive cells, a decrease in the rates of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, an increase in the protein content per cell and an increased proportion of senescence-specific beta-galactosidase positive cells. While osteoblastic production of collagen type I decreased progressively during aging, alkaline phosphatase activity dropped rapidly after the first few passages and then remained constant during the rest of the proliferative lifespan, Significant morphological changes from thin and spindle-shaped early passage young cells to large, flattened and irregularly shaped late passage old cells full of intracellular debris were observed. In comparison, osteoblasts established from an osteoporotic bone sample showed a maximum CPDL of less than 5, had a longer PD time and exhibited abnormal senescent morphology. Thus, we have demonstrated for the first time that human osteoblasts, like several other diploid cell types, have a limited proliferative capacity in vitro and undergo aging and senescence as measured by various cellular and biochemical markers. In addition, preliminary studies show that cells from osteoporotic bone have a severely reduced proliferative capacity. This model of bone cell aging facilitates study of the molecular mechanisms of osteoblast senescence as well as factors related to osteoblast dysfunction in patients with osteoporosis.