Damage evolution in polymer due to exposure to high-pressure hydrogen gas

The use of hydrogen as a fuel is increasing exponentially, and the most economical way to store and transport hydrogen for fuel use is as a high-pressure gas. Polymers are widely used for hydrogen distribution and storage systems because they are chemically inert towards hydrogen. However, when exposed to high-pressure hydrogen, some hydrogen diffuses through polymers and occupies the preexisting cavities inside the material. Upon depressurization, the hydrogen trapped inside polymer cavities can cause blistering or cracking by expanding these cavities. A continuum mechanics–based deformation model was deployed to predict the stress distribution and damage propagation while the polymer undergoes depressurization after high-pressure hydrogen exposure. The effects of cavity size, cavity location, and pressure inside the cavity on damage initiation and evolution inside the polymer were studied. The stress and damage evolution in the presence of multiple cavities was also studied, because interaction among cavities alters the damage and stress field. It was found that all these factors significantly change the stress state in the polymer, resulting in different paths for damage propagation. The effect of adding carbon black filler particles and plasticizer on the damage was also studied. It was found that damage tolerance of the polymer increases drastically with the addition of carbon black fillers, but decreases with the addition of the plasticizer.     

Biohydrogen Production from Organic Waste – A Review

Hydrogen fuel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels because of its energy content, clean nature, and fuel efficiency. However, it is not readily available. Most current producion processes are very energy intensive and emit carbon dioxide. Therefore, this article reviews technological options for hydrogen production that are eco-friendly and generate clean hydrogen fuel. Biological methods, such different fermentation processes and photolysis are discussed together with the required substrates and the process efficiency.     

Data-dependent k/sub n/-NN and kernel estimators consistent for arbitrary processes

Let X/sub 1/, X/sub 2/,... be an arbitrary random process taking values in a totally bounded subset of a separable metric space. Associated with X/sub i/ we observe Y/sub i/ drawn from an unknown conditional distribution F(y|X/sub i/=x) with continuous regression function m(x)=E[Y|X=x]. The problem of interest is to estimate Y/sub n/ based on X/sub n/ and the data {(X/sub i/, Y/sub i/)}/sub i=1//sup n-1/. We construct appropriate data-dependent nearest neighbor and kernel estimators and show, with a very elementary proof, that these are consistent for every process X/sub 1/, X/sub 2/,.     

An adaptive descent method for non-linear viscoplasticity

A forming model based on a viscoplastic flow formulation is derived which includes the effects of small elastic strains. A significant feature of the formulation is its reliance on the dominant inelastic material characteristics in the formation of the stiffness matrix for large strain problems. The resultant non-linear system of equations is solved by an adaptive descent method which combines the rapid convergence of Newton's method near the solution with the robustness of a method of successive approximations. The use of the adaptive descent method effectively extends the viscoplastic flow formulations into the nearly rate-insensitive range of behaviours exhibited, for example, by metals at low temperature, where slow convergence of the non-linear solution algorithm has traditionally hampered their use.     

IBM's Linux watch, the challenge of miniaturization

Nearly four years in development, the IBM Linux watch contains a complete computer system that runs Linux, displays X11 graphics, and has wireless connectivity. The system fits in a case that could pass as a slightly unusual analog timepiece with a somewhat odd shape and an extraordinarily brilliant face. The developers have created two versions of the watch, one with an organic light-emitting diode display and the other with a liquid crystal display. Still considered a research prototype, the watch already runs some personal information management applications, and it can communicate with PCs, PDAs, and other wireless-enabled devices, viewing condensed e-mail and directly receiving pager-like messages. Eventually, users will be able to access various Internet-based services, such as up-to-the-minute information about weather, traffic conditions, the stock market, and sports     

ERD facility for analysis of hydrogen and deuterium in solids

Hydrogen is the lightest element in nature, and so, its detection and quantitative analysis is difficult by the conventional methods utilized for other elements. In the recent years the technique of elastic recoil detection analysis (ERD) using 1–2 MeV He⁺ beam has been developed to quantitatively and simultaneously analyze hydrogen and its isotopes in solids. Such a facility has been set up using the 2 MeV Van-de-Graaff accelerator at IIT Kanpur. It facilitates H and D analysis in a material up to a depth of ∼ 1μm with a detection sensitivity of 0·1 at.% and depth resolution of about 300 ?. The application potential of this setup is illustrated by presenting the results of measurements performed on Al:H:D systems prepared by plasma source ion implantation and highT _c YBCO pellets exposed to humid atmosphere.     

Salt-tolerant and thermostable alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis NCIM no. 64

The proteolytic activity produced by a Bacillus subtilis isolated from a hot spring was investigated. Maximum protease production was obtained after 38 h of fermentation. Effects of various carbon and nitrogen sources indicate the requirement of starch and bacteriological peptone to be the best inducers for maximum protease production. Requirement for phosphorus was very evident, and the protease was secreted over a wide range of pH 5-11. The partially purified enzyme was stable at 60 degrees C for 30 min. Calcium ions were effective in stabilizing the enzyme, especially at higher temperature. The enzyme was extremely salt tolerant and retained 100% activity in 5M NaCl over 96 h. The molecular weight of the purified enzymes as determined by SDS-PAGE was 28,000. The enzyme was completely inactivated by PMSF, but little affected by urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium tripoly phosphate.     

Synthesis and characterization of acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials with varying Si/Al ratios

Al-SBA-15 of varying Si/Al ratios in the range 11.4–78.4 was synthesized using tri-block copolymer P123. The calcined materials were examined by XRD, pore size distribution, surface area, ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The acidity and acid strength distribution were studied using microcalorimetric adsorption of NH₃. The acidic properties were also examined by cumene cracking reaction as a function of Si/Al ratios. Systematic variation of acidity and activity was observed as a function of Si/Al ratio. The initial heats of NH₃ adsorption correlated well with activity indicate that acid sites with ΔH > 100 kJ/mole is responsible for cumene cracking activity. Linear correlations were obtained with total acidity and cumene cracking activities. The tetrahedral aluminum was found to be responsible for the observed acidities and catalytic activities.