Viscoelasticity of oxidized starch/low methoxy pectin mixtures in the presence of glucose syrup

The structural properties of mixtures of pectin, oxidized starch and glucose syrup were investigated using small deformation dynamic oscillation. In the absence of added calcium, preparations of low methoxy pectin with glucose syrup formed viscous solutions, which remained crystal-free at subzero temperatures. Samples of oxidized starch and glucose syrup, on the other hand, exhibited solid-like behaviour because of the crystalline nature of the amylose-like helices. Mixtures of the two polysaccharides with the co-solute clearly showed phase inversion from liquid to solid-like behaviour with increasing amounts of starch in the formulation. The transformation was reflected in the textural properties of samples, which varied from thick solutions to firm gels. The viscoelasticity of the system was modified further by the introduction of high methoxy pectin. Preparations of high methoxy pectin and glucose syrup formed rubbery gels whose amorphous nature underwent a glass transition during cooling.     

An improved cryofixation method: cryoquenching of small tissue blocks during microwave irradiation

The metal contact method of rapid freezing is greatly improved by irradiating the specimen with microwaves at 2.45 GHz for a short period of time (50 ms), while pushing the specimen onto the surface of the copper block cooled by liquid N₂. The microwave irradiation, together with two technical improvements (a light-mass plunger and a recently developed β-gel shock absorber) for preventing bounce, produces a good freezing zone for squid retina, with high reproducibility for each experimental trial, extending from the contact surface to a depth of about 15 μm, which is comparable to the depth obtained by the metal contact method using liquid He in the absence of microwave irradiation. A good freezing zone was also experimentally demonstrated in specimens of rat liver and heart muscle. Microwave irradiation does not have appreciable effects on the ultrastructure of squid retina. The mechanism underlying the improvement in the rapid freezing under the microwave irradiation is discussed.     

Vitrification of aqueous suspensions from a controlled environment for electron microscopy: An improved plunge-cooling device

In the process of vitrifying aqueous suspensions for cryotransmission electron microscopy, water is solidified without crystallization. Vitrification can be achieved by rapidly plunging an aqueous thin film into a liquid cryogen. The preparation of aqueous thin films prior to vitrification must be performed in an environmental cabinet at controlled temperature and humidity in order to prevent evaporation and temperature-induced phase changes in the thin film. The device described here incorporates several important features which make the apparatus simpler and more convenient to use than similar devices described in the literature. One of these features includes the use of a totally enclosed environmental cabinet in which the grid, sample, micropipette and absorbent paper are equilibrated before thin-film preparation. Other features include a cryogen dewar on a swing arm for easy refilling, a guillotine shutter which is used to trigger the plunger electrically and a semiautomatic system which facilitates rapid transfer of the vitrified specimen from liquid propane to liquid nitrogen for storage and reduces handling of the specimen. To demonstrate the utility of the device, results showing the influence of temperature on the morphology of phospholipid vesicles are presented. A commercial cryotransfer apparatus (which is used for transportation of the vitrified specimen to the electron microscope cold-stage) has been modified to reduce the possibility of reversion of the vitreous phase to the crystalline ice phases.     

Cure and properties of thermosetting systems

A generalised time-temperature-transformation cure diagram for thermosetting systems is discussed from the point of view of understanding relationships between cure, properties, and thermal degradation.     

(CO2 + 2‐propanol) mixture as a foaming agent for polystyrene: A simple thermodynamic model for the high pressure VLE‐phase diagrams taking into account the foam vitrification

The equation of state model developed by Lacombe and Sanchez (J Phys Chem 1976, 80, 2352) is used in the form proposed later by Sanchez and Stone (Polymer Blends, Vol. 1: Formulation, 2000; Chapter 2) to correlate experimental vapor‐liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for the three binaries and the ternary systems. Experimental data from the binary systems carbon dioxide‐isopropyl alcohol (CO₂‐IPrOH), isopropyl alcohol‐polystyrene (IPrOH‐PS), and carbon dioxide‐polystyrene (CO₂‐PS) are used to calculate VLE properties for the ternary system CO₂‐IPrOH‐PS. Two‐dimensional VLE‐phase diagrams were calculated and used to describe from a thermodynamic point of view the pressure, volume, and temperature values that characterize a thermoplastic foam evolution process, from the extruder to the foaming die. For different initial mixture CO₂ + IPrOH concentrations, pressure reduction produces liquid foaming until the vitrification curve arrests the final foam volume expansion. The dependence of the vitreous transition with the system CO₂ + IPrOH concentration while foaming is represented by the Chow (Macromolecules 1980, 13, 362) equation. The calculation procedure is proposed as a design tool to reduce the amount of experimental data usually needed as a requirement previous to the design stage. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2663–2671, 2007     

Thermal spray vitrification process for the removal of lead-based paint from steel structures: An applications note

Lead-based paints and primers have long been used to protect steel structures from corrosion, but are now recognized as environmental hazards. During lead-based paint removal via abrasive blasting, federal, state and local environmental requirements mandate the use of containment structures to prevent contamination of air, soil, or water. The thermal spray vitrification (TSV) process was developed and optimized in laboratory experiments to remove hazardous lead-based paint. TSV consists of thermal spraying a molten glass onto the painted surface. As the glass strikes the substrate, it reacts with the paint, and organic components are pyrolyzed, while lead ions are trapped on the glass surface. Quenching stresses in the glass cause it to crack and spall off the substrate. The resulting glass fragments are collected, and further remelted to completely immobilize lead (Pb) ions in the glassy iron (Fe) silicate matrix. The glass waste is thus rendered non-hazardous, as determined by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The TSV process was field tested on a fire hydrant, using minimal personal protective equipment and without using a containment structure. The lead-containing paint was removed, without producing hazardous waste, leaving de-painted surfaces suitable for repainting.     

27kV级发电机定子线圈绝缘研制

随着电力行业的飞速发展，国内迫切需要单机容量达百万级的发电机。到目前为止，27kV级的定子线圈的试制研究在国内尚属首次，27kV定子线圈主绝缘的研究对1000MW级的大型汽轮发电机的国内制造起着至关重要的作用。本文介绍了27kV定子线圈的研制过程，探讨了27kV定子线圈的绝缘结构，从介质损耗、主绝缘击穿强度、机械强度、玻璃化温度、快速电老化和防晕等方面，对27kV定子线圈主绝缘的性能进行了研究，并与国外同类线圈主绝缘进行了对比，得出自行研制的27kV级定子线圈的主绝缘基本达到国外同类产品的要求的结论。     

Inertization of Coal Ashes by the Vitrification Technique: A Mixture Design Approach

This article deals with the study of the vitrification mechanism as an inertization method for coal ashes contaminated with heavy metals. Ashes from coal (thermoelectric) and wastes from mining of fluorite and feldspar and from plating were used to compose vitreous systems using a mixture design. The chemical composition of the wastes was determined by XRF and the formulations were melted at 1450°C for 2 h using 10% (mass) of Na₂CO₃ (as a fluxing agent). The glasses were poured into a mold and annealed (600°C). The characteristic temperatures were determined by thermal analysis (DTA, air, 20°C/min) and the mechanical behavior by HV. As a result, the softening temperature is strongly dependent on silica content of each glass, and the fluorite residue, being composed mainly by silica, strongly affects on the glass transition (T_g) and softening (T_s) temperatures. The hardness by micro-indentation of all glasses is mainly affected by the plating (galvanic) residue due to the high iron and zinc content of this waste.     

模拟高钠高放废物铁硼磷酸盐玻璃固化体的结构和性能

以36Fe2O3--10B2O3--54P2O5为基础玻璃,制备了不同模拟高钠高放废物包容量的铁硼磷酸盐玻璃固化体,用Fourier变换红外光谱测试方法系统研究了由废物包容量引起的玻璃固化体结构变化,并用溶解速率法初步测试了固化体的化学性能。结果表明:随着废物包容量的增加,固化体试样结构中(PO4)3-四面体基团增加,[BO3]基团向[BO4]基团转变,磷酸盐基团彼此间的连接程度减小,Fe—O—P键在包容量为25%(质量分数)到30%时存在量较大。玻璃固化体网络结构以(PO4)3-四面体基团为主,易水化的(PO3)-磷酸盐基团的含量很小。但固化体结构中[BO3]基团的存在量还较大,该组分的基础玻璃网络形成体氧化物配比还可进一步优化。当废物包容量小于40%时,固化体不同浸泡周期的质量损失速率均在10--8 g/(cm2·min)数量级。