A parametric investigation of the friction performance of PC‐ABS parts processed by FDM additive manufacturing process

The friction performance is an important factor of parts processed by fused deposition modeling (FDM) for various engineering applications. It is one type of failure made of surface contact. The proper use of FDM process parameters can bring a significant reduction in friction and the amount of wear, thereby leading to a reduction in the material waste. To date, very little studies have been performed in this area. This paper investigates the effect of FDM manufacturing parameters on the friction performance of polycarbonate‐acrylonitrile butadiene styrene prototypes processed by FDM using definitive screening design and partial least squares method. The observation of surface morphology was obtained by the scanning electron microscopy to examine the effect of process parameters on the microstructure. The experimental results have shown that layer thickness, air gap, raster angle, and build orientation are the most influential factors affecting the friction performance of FDM manufactured parts. The proposed approach presented in this study provides an impetus to develop analytical modeling and functional relationships between FDM manufacturing parameters and friction performance. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for simultaneous quantitation of tramadol and aceclofenac in presence of their major degradation products: Method development and validation

Primary objective of this study was to develop a stability-indicating reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous quantitation of tramadol and aceclofenac in presence of their degradation products. The drugs were subjected to various International Conference on Harmonization recommended stress conditions, such as acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, peroxide oxidation, thermolysis, and photolysis. The major degradation products got well resoluted from the analytes in HPLC analysis with a mobile phase composed of a mixture of 0.01?M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6.5) and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) through a Phenomenex Gemini C18 (250?mm?×?4.6?mm, 5?µm particle size) column. The method was linear over a range of 15–60?µg/mL for tramadol and 40–160?µg/mL for aceclofenac concentration. The analytes were detected at a wavelength of 270?nm. The method was validated and found to be specific, accurate, precise, stable, and robust for its intended use. The method can be recommended for its future use in routine quality control, accelerated and real-time stability analysis of the formulations containing tramadol and aceclofenac combination.     

Poly(Pyridinium Salt)s Containing 2,7-Diamino-9,9′-Dioctylfluorene Moieties with Various Organic Counterions Exhibiting Both Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline and Light-Emitting Properties

A series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene main-chain ionic polymers with various organic counterions were synthesized by using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), proton (¹H), and fluorine 19 (¹⁹F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. These polymers showed a number-average molecular weight (M_ns) between 96.5 and 107.8 kg/mol and polydispersity index (PDI) in the range of 1.12–1.88. They exhibited fully-grown lyotropic phases in polar protic and aprotic solvents at different critical concentrations. Small-angle X-ray scattering for one polymer example indicates lyotropic structure formation for 60–80% solvent fraction. A lyotropic smectic phase contains 10 nm polymer platelets connected by tie molecules. The structure also incorporates a square packing motif within platelets. Thermal properties of polymers were affected by the size of counterions as determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. Their ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra in different organic solvents were essentially identical, indicating that the closely spaced π-π* transitions occurred in their conjugated polymer structures. In contrast, the emission spectra of polymers exhibited a positive solvatochromism on changing the polarity of solvents. They emitted green lights in both polar and nonpolar organic solvents and showed blue light in the film-states, but their λ_em peaks were dependent on the size of the counterions. They formed aggregates in polar aprotic and protic solvents with the addition of water (v/v, 0–90%), and their λ_em peaks were blue shifted.     

N‐Alkyl Ammonium Resorcinarene Salts as High‐Affinity Tetravalent Chloride Receptors

N‐Alkyl ammonium resorcinarene salts (NARYs, Y=triflate, picrate, nitrate, trifluoroacetates and NARBr) as tetravalent receptors, are shown to have a strong affinity for chlorides. The high affinity for chlorides was confirmed from a multitude of exchange experiments in solution (NMR and UV/Vis), gas phase (mass spectrometry), and solid‐state (X‐ray crystallography). A new tetra‐iodide resorcinarene salt (NARI) was isolated and fully characterized from exchange experiments in the solid‐state. Competition experiments with a known monovalent bis‐urea receptor ( 5 ) with strong affinity for chloride, reveals these receptors to have a much higher affinity for the first two chlorides, a similar affinity as 5 for the third chloride, and lower affinity for the fourth chloride. The receptors affinity toward chloride follows the trend K₁?K₂?K₃≈ 5 >K₄, with K_a=5011 m ^?1 for 5 in 9:1 CDCl₃/[D₆]DMSO.     

Study of Three-Quasiparticle Band in 83 Kr

Excited states of ⁸³Kr, populated in the ⁷⁶Ge(¹¹B, 3npγ) reaction at a beam energy of 50 MeV, have been studied. The ΔI?=?1 band, built upon the 2,510.0 keV state, has been observed up to 5,639.4 keV with spin (27/2^???). Mean lifetimes have been measured up to spin 23/2^?? in ΔI?=?1 band using the Doppler shift attenuation method. The B(M1) rates derived from the measured lifetimes decrease smoothly with spin indicating that the angular momentum belonging to this band are generated by the shears mechanism.     

Modification of Extended Open Frameworks with Fluorescent Tags for Sensing Explosives: Competition between Size Selectivity and Electron Deficiency

Three new electron‐rich metal–organic frameworks ( MOF‐1 – MOF‐3 ) have been synthesized by employing ligands bearing aromatic tags. The key role of the chosen aromatic tags is to enhance the π‐electron density of the luminescent MOFs. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures have revealed that these MOFs form three‐dimensional porous networks with the aromatic tags projecting inwardly into the pores. These highly luminescent electron‐rich MOFs have been successfully utilized for the detection of explosive nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) on the basis of fluorescence quenching. Although all of the prepared MOFs can serve as sensors for NACs, MOF‐1 and MOF‐2 exhibit superior sensitivity towards 4‐nitrotoluene (4‐NT) and 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (DNT) compared to 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (TNB). MOF‐3 , on the other hand, shows an order of sensitivity in accordance with the electron deficiencies of the substrates. To understand such anomalous behavior, we have thoroughly analyzed both the steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence quenching associated with these interactions. Determination of static Stern–Volmer constants (K_S) as well as collisional constants (K_C) has revealed that MOF‐1 and MOF‐2 have higher K_S values with 4‐NT than with TNT, whereas for MOF‐3 the reverse order is observed. This apparently anomalous phenomenon was well corroborated by theoretical calculations. Moreover, recyclability and sensitivity studies have revealed that these MOFs can be reused several times and that their sensitivities towards TNT solution are at the parts per billion (ppb) level.     

Preparation of thin stable erbium target sandwiched between carbon layers

Targets of isotopically enriched ¹⁷⁰Er (erbium) were prepared on 45 μg/cm² carbon backing using the method of vacuum evaporation. Another layer of carbon with thickness 23 μg/cm² was deposited on it as a protective cap with the help of an electron gun. Carbon backing, Er and the capping carbon layer were deposited using resistive heating and electron gun deposition without disturbing the vacuum. The thickness of ¹⁷⁰Er was measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis as well as with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and it was found to be 150 μg/cm². Successful preparation of sandwiched targets was very sensitive to substrate temperature, deposition rate, duration of in situ annealing, cooling rate etc.     

Synthesis and characterization of ionic liquids: viologen bis{tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate} salts

Several viologen bis{tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate} salts were prepared by metathesis reaction of the corresponding viologen dibromides (diiodide) with sodium bis{tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate} salt in a polar organic solvent. They were characterized for their physical and thermal properties by experimental techniques including variable temperature X‐ray diffraction. All exhibited low T _g and T _m, and their T _g/T _m (K) ratios were in the range 0.66–0.79. Several exhibited polymorphism and formed isotropic ionic melts at <150°C. They were soluble in many common organic solvents such as ethers, alcohols, acetonitrile and methylene chloride. They exhibited photoluminescence in both 1,2‐dimethoxyethane and methanol, as well as in the solid state. In the solid state, the emission spectra exhibited hypsochromic shift when compared with those in solutions of 1,2‐dimethoxyethane and methanol.