Dimensional variation in production of high-aspect-ratio micro-pillars array by micro powder injection molding

Micro powder injection molding (μPIM) is one of the potential processes for the mass production of metallic microstructures and micro components. Here, μPIM is the miniaturization of conventional PIM, which involves four processing steps: mixing, injection molding, debinding and sintering. This paper looks into the feasibility and effectiveness of μPIM as a key mass production process for the fabrication of metallic micro components. For it to be an effective re-production process, it is imperative to examine how well parts can be duplicated/fabricated from a master mold. In this work, the dimensional variation of high-aspect-ratio micro-pillars arrays, in particular the dimensional shrinkage, global warpage, and surface roughness at each stage of the μPIM process for a range of molding pressures, are quantified and compared in detail. The sensitivity of the dimensional variation of the microstructures to the packing pressure is reported. The mechanism behind the dimensional variation is analyzed. PACS 81.20.Ev; 81.20.Hy; 81.70.Fy; 07.60.Ly; 81.05.-t     

Three-dimensional steady supersonic duct flow using Lagrangian formulation

In this paper, numerical simulation of three-dimensional supersonic flow in a duct is presented. The flow field in the duct is complex and can find its applications in the inlet of air-breathing engines. A unique streamwise marching Lagrangian method is employed for solving the steady Euler equations. The method was first initiated by Loh and Hui (1990) for 2-D steady supersonic flow computations and then extended to 3-D computation by the present authors Loh and Liou (1992). The new scheme is shown to be capable of accurately resolving complicated shock or contact discontinuities and their interactions. In all the computations, a free stream of Mach numberM=4 is considered.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1.0 and the AMS fonts, developed by the American Mathematical Society.     

On the gap problem for the sequence ∥mβ∥

We discuss the gap problem for the sequence m used in our previous Letter (D. H. Mayer, Lett. Math. Phys. 16, 139–143 (1988)).     

Surface modification studies of edge-oriented molybdenum sulfide nanosheets

We have synthesized edge-oriented MoS2 nanosheets by the evaporation of a single source precursor based on Mo(IV)-tetrakis(diethylaminodithiocarbomato). The surface chemistry of the MoS2 nanosheets has been studied in order to evaluate the chemical reactivities of the basal planes and edges. By irradiating the MoS2 nanosheet with a scanning infrared laser, micron-scale lithographical structures can be created due to laser-induced oxidation of MoS2 to form nanocrystalline MoO3. Preferential reactivities of the MoS2 basal edges in an electrochemical environment and during vapor phase deposition have been demonstrated. Functionalization of the basal plane with 1-pyrene acetic acid allows the immobilization of DNA and immunoglobins on the MoS2 basal plane.     

Analyse de la fraction monophénolique des condensats de fumée de cigarettes par association de méthodes chromatographiques

Résumé Les monophénols sont isolés des condensats de fumées de cigarette par chromatographie sur couche mince de Kieselgel G avec un mélange (31) de cyclohexane et d'acétate d'éthyle extraits du support, puis séparé et dosés par chromatographie en phase gazeuse sur colonne capillaire. Le rendement de l;opération est de 80±2% pour le triméthyl 3,4,5 phénol, de 65% pour le triméthyl 2,3,5 phénol. Les teneurs obtenues sont de 8g de phénol, 3g de (para + méta) crésol et 0,5 g de diméthyl 2,6 phénol par mg de condensat. De nombreux autres alkylphénols ont été identifiés.

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Analysis of the monophenolic fraction of tobacco smoke condensates by a combination of chromatographic methods

Summary Monophenols are separated from tobacco smoke condensates by thin-layer chromatography on Kieselgel G using a 31 mixture of cyclohexane and ethylacetate. The monophenolic fraction is recovered from the support and analyzed by GC on a capillary column. The yield is 80±2% for 3,4,5 trimethylphenol and 65% for 2,3,5 trimethylphenol. The concentration determined for phenol, (para+meta) cresol and 2,6 dimethylphenol are 8,3 and 0.5 g per mg of condensate respectively. Numerous other alkyl phenols have been identified.

     

Determination of camptothecin in biological fluids using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Camptothecin, a plant alkaloid with antitumor activity, is a potent and rapidly acting inhibitor of DNA synthesis. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the detection and estimation of the camptothecin concentration in biological fluids. Using HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection, at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm and an emission wavelength of 434 nm, we found that the lower limits of detection for camptothecin in aqueous, plasma and urine samples were 0.5, 1 and 10 ng/ml, respectively. The ideal mobile phase used was methanol-10 mM potassium phosphate (75:25, v/v, pH 4.0). To determine the utilization of the method in a biological system, we studied the pharmacokinetics of camptothecin in mice. Elimination of camptothecin from mice blood was triphasic and followed first-order kinetics. The half-life of camptothecin in mouse blood was 25.7 min. Our studies indicate that HPLC with fluorescence detection for the determination of camptothecin in different media is a simple, rapid, sensitive and reproducible method.