Recent developments of high-performance NEOMAX magnets

For further improvement in achieving extremely high magnetic properties of Nd- Fe- B sintered magnets, extensive investigation has been done to densify the magnet up to the theoretical value, to increase the volume fraction of the Nd ₂Fe₁₄B matrix phase, and to achieve a high degree of alignment. By controlling chemical composition and the amount of constituent phases,improving particle size distribution, and adopting the isostatic pressing method to get better alignment of fine particles, we have succeeded in obtaining a high-performance magnet having residual flux density (B_r) of 1.495 T (14.95 kG), maximum energy product [(BH)_max] of 431 kj/m³ (54.2 MGOe), and intrinsic coercivity (iH_c) of 845 kA/m (10.62 kOe).     

A 7 ns 1 Mb BiCMOS ECL SRAM with shift redundancy

A 7-Mb BiCMOS ECL (emitter coupled logic) SRAM was fabricated in a 0.8 μm BiCMOS process. An improved buffer with a high-level output of nearly V_CC is adopted to eliminate the DC current in the level converter circuit, and the PMOS transistor has a wide operating margin in the level converter. The configurable bit organization is realized by using a sense-amplifier switch circuit with no access degradation. A wired-OR demultiplexer for the ×1 output, having the same critical path as the ×4 output circuit, allows for the same access time between the two modes. The ×1 or ×4 mode is electrically selected by the external signal. A simplified programming redundancy technology, shift redundancy, is utilized. Address programming is performed by cutting only one fuse in the shift redundancy. The RAM operates at the ECL-10K level with an access time of 7 ns. and the power dissipation at 50 MHz is 600 mW for the × mode     

Radiation grafting of α,β,β-trifluoroethylenesulfonyl fluoride onto low-density polyethylene film by simultaneous irradiation method. I. Kinetic study of simultaneous-irradiation grafting

α,β,β-Trifluoroethylenesulfonyl fluoride (TFESF) was grafted onto polyethylene (PE) film by a simultaneous-irradiation method. The influences of the grafting conditions were analyzed kinetically. The dependencies of the grafting rate on the dose rates and monomer concentrations ranging from 10 to 75% were found to be of 1 and 0 order, respectively. The overall activation energy for the graft polymerization was 2.05 × 10⁴ J/mol. The grafting rate was found to be independent of the film thicknesses ranging from 25 to 100 μm.     

Synthesis of cationic flocculant by radiation-induced copolymerization of methyl chloride salt of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with acrylamide in aqueous solution

The radiation-induced copolymerization of the methyl chloride salt of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEM·MC) with acrylamide (AAm) was used to prepare a cationic polymer flocculant. The polymerization rate increased with increasing dose rate, polymerization temperature, monomer concentration and mole fraction of AAm in the monomer mixture. The molecular weight of the copolymer was also found to increase with monomer concentration and mole fraction of AAm, but at high concentration and fraction of AAm, intermolecular crosslinking tends to occur during the polymerization to form water-insoluble copolymer. A water-soluble copolymer having various molecular weights and cationic strengths can be synthesized by selecting suitable reaction conditions; i.e., this radiation process can provide a much higher molecular weight copolymer with a wide range of cationic strength. The flocculation effect was evaluated using sludge from wastewater of sugar manufacture. It was found that the radiation-polymerized copolymer DMAEM·MC–AAm has an excellent flocculation effect.     

Phase Formation and Microstructure of Titanium Oxides and Composites Produced by Thermal Plasma Oxidation of Titanium Carbide

The phase formation and microstructure of titanium oxides and composites produced by Ar–O₂ thermal plasma oxidation of titanium carbide powders were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Relationships between the phase compositions and microstructures of the oxides were established by combined structural and phase analyses, in correlation with synthesis conditions and phase formation mechanisms. It is revealed that vapor condensation favored the formation of anatase, which existed as smaller particles, while liquid/solid oxidation favored the formation of rutile, which appeared as larger particles or composites. A higher oxygen input in the plasma gases (Ar + O₂) enhanced the formation of anatase due to impeded oxidation and evaporation. A small amount of Ti₄O₇ and Ti₃O₅ was detected in the larger particles coexisting with rutile or TiC. These suboxides were formed as intermediates in solid oxidation of TiC or precipitated from the Ti–C–O melt during cooling. Furthermore, extensive cracks, dislocations and stresses were observed in the monolithic rutile and composites, in association with the rapid quenching in this high-temperature in-flight oxidation process.     

Curvature continuous path generation for autonomous vehicle using B-spline curves

In this paper we introduce a roadmap algorithm for generating collision-free paths in terms of cubic B-spline curves for unmanned vehicles used in mining operations. The algorithm automatically generates collision-free paths that are curvature continuous with an upper bounded curvature and a small slope discontinuity of curvature at knots, when we are given the locations of the obstacles, the boundary geometry of the working area, positions and directions of the vehicle at the start, loading, and the goal points. Our algorithm also allows us to find a switch back point where the vehicle reverses its direction to enter the loading area. Examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Human behavior in a staircase during a total evacuation drill in a high‐rise building

Many studies have been conducted on the evacuation behavior on the staircases of buildings, but very little data are available for a situation with many occupants in a crowded high‐rise building. Therefore, this study investigated the evacuation behavior of a large number of evacuees on the staircase of a 25‐story high‐rise building. A total evacuation drill was conducted with 2088 evacuees, and the behavior of 1136 evacuees on the landings of the south staircase was recorded by a video recorder on the ceiling. The relationship between the density and speed of the evacuees on the landings was analyzed from the evacuation data for two situations: without and with merging in the stair flow. The evacuation stair flow in this drill had merging occupants entering from the floors, but no one entered from the lower floors during the latter period of the drill. Therefore, the flow during the latter period was treated as non‐merging flow, for which it was observed that, when the staircase was fully crowded, the density on the landings in the moving situation was different from that in the stopped situation. Moreover, the density on the landings was different from that on the treads. Furthermore, in the merging flow, a merging ratio of approximately 50:50 occurred during the congested evacuation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogenation and structural properties of Gd2Ni7 with superlattice structure

The crystal structure and hydrogenation properties of Ce₂Ni₇-type Gd₂Ni₇ were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the hydrogen pressure–composition (P–C) isotherm. Ce₂Ni₇-type Gd₂Ni₇ was obtained by annealing at 1523 K for 12 h and quenching in ice water. Two superlattice reflections (002 and 004) of the Ce₂Ni₇-type were clearly observed at 2θ = 7.3° and 14.6° in the XRD profile. The refined lattice parameters were a = 0.49662(9) nm and c = 2.4255(3) nm, respectively. Two plateaus were clearly observed during the absorption–desorption process in the P–C isotherm. The first and second plateaus were at 0.015 and 0.13 MPa, respectively, in the first desorption. The maximum hydrogen capacity reached was 1.13 H/M. The enthalpy and entropy were calculated as −20 kJ/mol H₂ and −80 J/mol H₂ K, respectively, from the van’t Hoff plot. After the P–C isotherm, the GdNi₅ cell expanded by 2.15%, but the Gd₂Ni₄ cell shrank by 2.83%.     

Experimental study of bubbly swirling flow in a vertical tube using ultrasonic velocity profiler (UVP) and wire mesh sensor (WMS)

Two-phase air-water bubbly swirling flow through a pipe is a complex turbulent flow and its prediction is still challenging. The present paper describes the experimental investigation of the air-water bubbly swirling flow in vertical co-current flow. Swirling flow is induced by a twisted tape in a 20 mm inner diameter pipe. The flow is investigated using Ultrasonic velocity profiler (UVP), which allows the measurement of liquid and gas velocities simultaneously. Furthermore, simultaneous measurement of void fraction is performed using Wire mesh sensor (WMS). The experimental results reveal that swirling flow has significant impact on bubbles’ distribution. In low liquid flow rate, the average bubble velocity is fairly uniform along the radial position and void fraction increases in the near wall region. However, increasing liquid flow rate at constant gas flow rate leads to increase in void fraction in the core region, this is mainly due to drift velocity which is affected by centrifugal force. Experimental findings and parametric trends based on the effects of swirling flow are summarized and discussed.     

Processing and 3D printing of SiCN polymer-derived ceramics

Preceramic polymer resins are attractive for the 3D printing of net-shaped ceramic components. Recently various processes have been demonstrated for 3D printing of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs). Ultimately in these processes, the process outcomes strongly depend on the process parameters. In particular, for PDCs the ceramic density, and ceramic yield are affected by the catalyst concentration and cross-linking duration. Here, we use thermal analysis and FTIR to quantify the interrelation of the process parameters on the process outcome for polysilazanes and demonstrate 3D printing of PDC components based on the best-identified process parameters. The results of this work can be used as guidelines for future additive manufacturing of PDCs.