Selection criteria for solvent and coagulation medium in view of macrovoid formation in the wet phase inversion process

Sponge‐like and finger‐like structures are two distinct membrane structures commonly observed in membranes produced by the wet immersion process. An index Φ calculated solely from solubility parameters was defined as an indicator of the membrane structure. The Φ values of four polymers, poly(methyl metharylate), polysulfone, cellulose acetate, and poly(vinylidene fluoride), in various solvent‐nonsolvent pairs were calculated and compared with the corresponding membrane structures. It was found that the finger‐like structure often occurred at higher Φ values. Although the Φ value represents mostly the thermodynamics nature of a system, as an index for prior selection of solvent‐nonsolvent pairs for a particular polymer, a general rule of thumb was developed. Taking 15% polymer concentration and 300 μm casting thickness as a referential casting condition, selecting solvent‐nonsolvent pairs with Φ values higher than 0.25 is suggested, when a finger‐like structure is desired. The polymer concentration in the casting solution and the casting thickness will also affect the membrane structure. If a higher polymer concentration needs to be used, selection of a polymer‐solvent‐nonsolvent system with a Φ value much higher than 0.25 is suggested, or keeping the casting thickness lower than 300 μm to obtain a finger‐like membrane structure. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1495–1502, 1999     

Synthesis and rheological properties of cation-exchanged Laponite suspensions

In this paper we report our new approach to synthesize cation-exchanged Laponite suspensions. General observations of the prepared samples indicated that an aqueous suspension of 1 wt.% Laponite retained its free flowing liquid phase characteristics even after aging for several weeks. When bivalent cationic metals (Cu, Co, Ni) were ablated into the suspension, the strong charge of the crystal face was reduced and, on standing, the suspension gelled becoming highly viscous. This sol–gel transition was induced by the formation of a space-filled structure due to both van der Waals and electrostatic bonds between the positively charged rims and negatively charged faces. Rheological properties of such prepared suspensions were measured using a Brookfield DV-II Pro Viscometer with a small sample adapter (SSA18/13RPY). The yield strengths of 2.2 N/m², 3.2 N/m², and 1.7 N/m² were measured for Ni-, Co-, and Cu-modified Laponite suspensions, respectively. These yield strengths are sufficiently high for suspending weighting materials such as barite which requires the gel strength of about 0.5 N/m².     

Two novel sesquiterpenes from the roots of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata

Two novel 3,4-secocadinane and 4,5-seco-8(7→6)-abeoguaiane skeletons, namely taiwaninones A (1) and B (2), together with khusinodiol (3) and 4β,6β-dihydroxy-1α,5β(H)-guai-9-ene (4) were isolated from the roots of Taiwania cryptomerioides. Their structures were elucidated by the spectral methods. The biotransformations of 1 and 2 were proposed from 3 and 4, respectively.     

An experimental investigation of jet flows through a row of forward expanded holes into a mainstream over a concave surface

This study performed detailed measurements of jet flows through a row of forward expanded holes into a mainstream over a concave surface using digital particle image velocimetry. Each of ejected holes had a streamwise inclined angle of 35° bounded on a concave surface with constant radius of 382 mm. The spacing of adjacent holes is 1.5D. The density and the momentum flux ratio of the mainstream to the jet flow were 1.0. Results show detailed 2D mean velocity maps on several horizontal and vertical planes and a 3D streamline pattern of jet mean velocity. The streamlines of 3D mean velocity clearly display different flow characteristics of the ejected jet flow along the transverse direction. In addition, the particle trajectory of a ring enclosing an ejected jet above the injection hole was also presented to show movement of jet.