High Performance MPI over the Slingshot Interconnect

Journal of Computer Science and Technology - The Slingshot interconnect designed by HPE/Cray is becoming more relevant in high-performance computing with its deployment on the upcoming exascale...     

The role of auxiliary monomers and emulsifiers on wet scrub resistance of various latex paints at different pigment volume concentrations

This work is an attempt to study the effect of different latex types containing various auxiliary monomers and emulsifiers on their pigmentation and their corresponding behavior on scrub resistance. The auxiliary monomers investigated were acrylic acid (AA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and itaconic acid and the emulsifiers contained sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS). It was shown that a semibatch polymerization technique which led to smaller particles and sharper size distributions is preferable. The best wet scrub results were obtained by using MAA and SLS. It was also shown that the proper selection of an auxiliary monomer generally depended on the range of incorporated pigment volume concentration (PVC). At high PVCs, AA gave better performances compared with MMA. The reverse effect was shown to occur at low PVCs. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Life cycle assessment of a ceramic glaze containing copper slags and its application on ceramic tile

Even though copper slags have many possible applications, their disposal is still practiced, creating long-term waste management problems. This led to the investigation of new products for residential applications, taking advantages of the interesting chemical properties of copper slag. This study aims to assess the environmental impact of the use of copper slag as secondary raw material in a ceramic glaze composition and to compare it with a traditional glaze. A manufacturing process was designed, through an industrial scale up operation from experimental laboratory data and the entire life cycle of the products was analyzed using the Life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Considering the production of a ceramic glaze containing copper slag, the most impacting process resulted the one related to frit production, due to the large amount of thermal energy necessary for the raw materials melting. The comparative LCA analysis carried out between the frit obtained from metallurgical slags and a traditional one, demonstrated that the innovative ceramic frit has a greater environmental advantage. The LCA analysis allowed to highlight the most impactful stages of an industrial process using copper slag as a secondary raw material for glaze production and to quantify the potential environmental advantages of this operation.     

The solid electrolyte system,Li3PO4Li4SiO4

The phase diagram of the system Li₄SiO₄Li₃PO₄ has been studied. At subsolidus temperatures, ? 1000°C, Li₄SiO₄ forms a short range of equilibrium solid solutions between 0 and ～ 12 mole % Li₃PO₄; γ-Li₃PO₄ forms a range of equilibrium solid solutions between ～ 58 and 100% Li₃PO₄. In addition to these equilibrium solid solutions, Li₄SiO₄ forms an extensive range of metastable solid solutions containing up to ～ 60% Li₃PO₄, on quenching melts from ? 1050°C. Hence compositions around 60% Li₃PO₄, 40% Li₄SiO₄ may be prepared in two structural forms, i.e. as solid solutions of either Li₄SiO₄ or γ Li₃PO₄. Conductivity measurements show that, at these compositions, the two solid solution structures have similar, high conductivity of Li⁺ ions.     

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent coloured copolymer based on 4‐butylthio‐1,8‐naphthalimide

A novel fluorescent coloured copolymer based on naphthalimide was prepared. Acenaphthene was brominated and oxidised to prepare 4‐bromo‐1,8‐naphthalic anhydride and further reacted with butanethiol, 2‐aminoethanol and acryloyl chloride, in order to obtain a new polymerisable fluorescent dye. The synthesised dyes were characterised by differential scanning calorimetry, absorption spectroscopy (Fourier Transform–infrared, proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy) and fluorimetry. Molar extinction coefficients and wavelength maxima were obtained by examining the dye solution in ethanol. The solvatochromic effects of the prepared dyes have also been investigated. Finally, the dye was copolymerised with methyl methacrylate and an intrinsically coloured copolymer was obtained. The photophysical characteristics of the obtained copolymer have also been considered. It is assumed that 99% of the copolymerised dye is chemically bonded to polymer chains. The fluorescent characteristics of the copolymer in the solid state were determined by fluorometer and it was found that it has relatively high fluorescent intensity. The physical properties of the synthesised copolymer have been evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and gel permeation chromatography.