Catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with carbon dioxide: promotional effect of antimony in supported vanadium–antimony oxide catalyst

Alumina-supported vanadium oxide, VO_x/Al₂O₃, and binary vanadium–antimony oxides, VSbO_x/Al₂O₃, have been tested in the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation with carbon dioxide and characterized by S_BET, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and CO₂ pulse methods. VSbO_x/Al₂O₃ exhibited enhanced catalytic activity and especially on-stream stability compared to VO_x/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Incorporation of antimony into VO_x/Al₂O₃ increased dispersion of active VO_x species, enhanced redox properties of the systems and formed a new mixed vanadium–antimony oxide phase in the most catalytically efficient V_0.43Sb_0.57O_x/Al₂O₃ system.     

A method of investigating the kinetics of high-temperature ductility variation of porous solids during sintering under pressure

Conclusions A method is proposed making it possible to study the high-temperature kinetics of the variation of the coefficients of shear ductility of a porous solid and its material during sintering under pressure. An investigation was carried out into the variation of the ductility of copper powder compacts in the temperature range 700–950°C. Experimental data are compared with results obtained on the basis of the theory of diffusion-viscous flow and a general rheological theory of sintering. It has been established that in the initial stage of sintering at 950°C the coefficient of shear ductility of copper increases linearly with time. Under conditions of diffusion-viscous flow of a polycrystalline material, this is due to diffusional grain growth according to a parabolic law. It is shown that experimental values of shear ductility of copper are smaller than values obtained on the basis of the rheological theory of sintering. Values approximating most closely to experimental data have been obtained with a model of an ideal porous solid.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 11(299), pp. 11–17, November, 1987.     

Mechanics of sintering materials with bimodal pore distribution. III. Kinetics of sintering combined with various forms of loading and adhesion conditions

A study has been made on the effects of loading scheme and conditions restricting macroscopic strain on the work-hardening kinetics and strain accumulation in the solid state in sintering materials with bimodal pore size distributions. Active loading intensifies the reduction in the small pores. The greatest effect comes from combining sintering with hydrostatic compression. At the same time, kinematic constraints (partial or complete adhesion in surfaces) substantially retards the shrinkage of large pores, which means that the porous structure can be controlled. __________ Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 5–6(449), pp. 10–15, May–June, 2006.     

Effect of the particle size ratio on the conductivity of conductor-insulator powder composites: Numerical simulation

A theoretical method for determining the percolation limit and effective conductivity of composites based on polydisperse mixtures of insulator and conductor powders is proposed. The effect of the particle size ratio between the insulator and conductor on the percolation limit and effective conductivity is studied. Numerical simulation of the microstructure, effective properties, and percolation limit in composites is discussed. __________ Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Vol. 46, No. 1–2(453), pp. 31–40, 2007.     

FE3 EPR investigation of PLZT 1/65/35 and 8/65/35

X-band EPR spectra of PLZT 1/65/35 and PLZT 8/65/35 doped with 1% FE³⁺ were recorded at temperature range -175°C to 200°C. Three types of paramagnetic centers were found. Two of them are in strong axial and rhombic crystal field due to neighboring oxygen and lead vacancies. The other center has symmetry determined by polarization and oxygen octahedra tilt. EPR spectra of PLZT 8/65/35 are in agreement with its glassy behavior.     

Mechanical activation of the reactive sintering of titanium carbide

This paper describes the mechanical alloying of Ti and C powders by intensive grinding in a planetary mill. The effect of milling conditions and initial composition on the compositional homogeneity and properties of powders and samples consolidated by hot-pressing was studied by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area measurement. The diffraction patterns indicated that a powder mixture ground for 24 hours transforms to TiC after sintering for only one minute at 600°C under a pressure of 3 GPa. Materials Science Instiute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev. Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 5–6, pp. 32–38, May–June, 1998.     

Telomere Length in Metaphase Chromosomes of Human Triploid Zygotes

The human lifespan is strongly influenced by telomere length (TL) which is defined in a zygote—when two highly specialised haploid cells form a new diploid organism. Although TL is a variable parameter, it fluctuates in a limited range. We aimed to establish the determining factors of TL in chromosomes of maternal and paternal origin in human triploid zygotes. Using Q-FISH, we examined TL in the metaphase chromosomes of 28 human triploid zygotes obtained from 22 couples. The chromosomes’ parental origin was identified immunocytochemically through weak DNA methylation and strong hydroxymethylation in the sperm-derived (paternal) chromosomes versus strong DNA methylation and weak hydroxymethylation in the oocyte-derived (maternal) ones. In 24 zygotes, one maternal and two paternal chromosome sets were identified, while the four remaining zygotes contained one paternal and two maternal sets. For each zygote, we compared mean relative TLs between parental chromosomes, identifying a significant difference in favour of the paternal chromosomes, which attests to a certain “imprinting” of these regions. Mean relative TLs in paternal or maternal chromosomes did not correlate with the respective parent’s age. Similarly, no correlation was observed between the mean relative TL and sperm quality parameters: concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology. Based on the comparison of TLs in chromosomes inherited from a single individual’s gametes with those in chromosomes inherited from different individuals’ gametes, we compared intraindividual (intercellular) and interindividual variability, obtaining significance in favour of the latter and thus validating the role of heredity in determining TL in zygotes. A comparison of the interchromatid TL differences across the chromosomes from sets of different parental origin with those from PHA-stimulated lymphocytes showed an absence of a significant difference between the maternal and paternal sets but a significant excess over the lymphocytes. Therefore, interchromatid TL differences are more pronounced in zygotes than in lymphocytes. To summarise, TL in human zygotes is determined both by heredity and parental origin; the input of other factors is possible within the individual’s reaction norm.     

Model-based design and test of vibration energy harvester for aircraft application

This paper deals with a development process of a vibration energy harvesting device in aircraft applications. The vibration energy harvester uses ambient energy of mechanical vibration and it provides an autonomous source of energy for wireless sensors or autonomous applications. This application presents a complex engineering problem and the vibration energy harvester consists of precise mechanical part, electro-mechanical converter, electronics and a powered application. It can be perceive as a mechatronic system and a mechatronic approach was used for development of our vibration energy harvester. An essential step of development process is simulation modeling which is based on mechatronic approach. Presented model-based design of vibration energy harvester is very useful during development process and the whole development process of the autonomous energy source is presented in this paper. The main aim of the paper is an introduction of our development methodology and our approach is presented on a sample of the vibration energy harvester for aircraft applications under project ESPOSA.     

Effect of composition of metallurgical powder on the slopes and hearths of electric arc furnaces

Summary To reduce the sliding of fettling powders from the slopes of electric furnaces, it is desirable to use powders with not more than 10% of the fraction finer than 0.088 mm, and the SiO₂ content should be about 4.5–6%. Addition to the magnesite powder of coarse dolomite fraction 15-0.5 mm, and also 6–7% coal tar pitch, reduces the mobility of the powders.The rational composition of metallurgical powders used for fettling slopes and hearths of electric arc furnaces largely depends on the grade of steel being melted.The increase in the life of the slopes and hearths of an electric furnace in which stainless steel was being melted, fettled with MPMZ powder, was due to the increase in the content of periclase bonded with melilite and mervinite in the slopes and melilite and forsterite in the hearths.During the melting of steel of changing sorts, the increase in the life of the slopes and hearths, fettling with magnesite-dolomite powders is due to the presence of crystals of periclase bonded mainly with highly refractory dicalcium silicate.When fettling is done with MPMZ powder the structure of the slopes and hearths is identical. The use of chromemagnesite, magnesite-chromite and magnesite-dolomite powders give rise to the formation of a heterogeneous structure in the slopes and hearths which leads to their irregular wearing away.To prolong the service of the hearths and slopes of electric furnaces it is necessary to continue investigating the wear resistance of fettling materials in furnaces of different capacities, where steels of different types are being melted, typifying the life of the powders by the consumption per ton of steel melted, the burn-out profile of the lining, the interrepair periods and other factors.