A vectorial algorithm with finite element method for prediction of powder segregation in metal injection molding

The design of the mold and the choice of the injection parameters for metal injection molding (MIM) is required to maintain homogeneity of the filled mixture. However, powder segregation is unavoidable in MIM because of the significant difference in densities of the metallic powder and the polymer binder. To achieve an effective prediction of segregation effect, a biphasic model based on mixture theory is employed. The viscous behaviors of each phase and the interaction coefficient between the flows of the two phases should be determined. The solution of two coupled Navier–Stokes equations results in a tremendous computation effort. The previous development of an explicit algorithm makes the biphasic simulation much faster than that of the classic methods. However, it is strongly desired to reduce or even eliminate the numerous global solutions for pressure fields at each time step. Hence, a new vectorial algorithm is proposed and developed to perform the simulation only by vectorial operations. It provides the anticipated efficiency in the simulation of biphasic modeling, and the advantage to use the classic elements of equal‐order interpolations. Some results produced by the two algorithms are compared with the experimental values to validate the new vectorial algorithm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temperature Dependence of 1H Paramagnetic Chemical Shifts in Actinide Complexes,Beyond Bleaney's Theory: The AnVIO22+–Dipicolinic Acid Complexes (An=Np,Pu) as an Example

Actinide +VI complexes ( = , and ) with dipicolinic acid derivatives were synthesized and characterized by powder XRD, SQUID magnetometry and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, and complexes were described by first principles CAS based and two-component spin-restricted DFT methods. The analysis of the ¹H paramagnetic NMR chemical shifts for all protons of the ligands according to the X-rays structures shows that the Fermi contact contribution is negligible in agreement with spin density determined by unrestricted DFT. The magnetic susceptibility tensor is determined by combining SQUID, pNMR shifts and Evans’ method. The SO-RASPT2 results fit well the experimental magnetic susceptibility and pNMR chemical shifts. The role of the counterions in the solid phase is pointed out; their presence impacts the magnetic properties of the complex. The temperature dependence of the pNMR chemical shifts has a strong contribution, contrarily to Bleaney's theory for lanthanide complexes. The fitting of the temperature dependence of the pNMR chemical shifts and SQUID magnetic susceptibility by a two-Kramers-doublet model for the complex and a non-Kramers-doublet model for the complex allows for the experimental evaluation of energy gaps and magnetic moments of the paramagnetic center.     

Derivation of Lanthanide Series Crystal Field Parameters From First Principles

Two series of lanthanide complexes have been chosen to analyze trends in the magnetic properties and crystal field parameters (CFPs) along the two series: The highly symmetric LnZn₁₆(picHA)₁₆ series (Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb; picHA=picolinohydroxamic acid) and the [Ln(dpa)₃](C₃H₅N₂)₃ ⋅ 3H₂O series (Ln=Ce–Yb; dpa=2,6-dipicolinic acid) with approximate three-fold symmetry. The first series presents a compressed coordination sphere of eight oxygen atoms whereas in the second series, the coordination sphere consists of an elongated coordination sphere formed of six oxygen atoms. The CFPs have been deduced from ab initio calculations using two methods: The AILFT (ab initio ligand field theory) method, in which the parameters are determined at the orbital level, and the ITO (irreducible tensor operator) decomposition, in which the problems are treated at the many-electron level. It has been found that the CFPs are transferable from one derivative to another, within a given series, as a first approximation. The sign of the second-order parameter differs in the two series, reflecting the different environments. It has been found that the use of the strength parameter S allows for an easy comparison between complexes. Furthermore, in both series, the parameters have been found to decrease in magnitude along the series, and this decrease is attributed to covalent effects.     

In Vitro Antiplasmodial and Cytotoxic Activities of Compounds from the Roots of Eriosema montanum Baker f. (Fabaceae)

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa, ranked in the top three infectious diseases in the world. Plants of the Eriosema genus have been reported to be used for the treatment of this disease, but scientific evidence is still missing for some of them. In the present study, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the crude extract and compounds from Eriosema montanum Baker f. roots were tested against the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum and revealed using the SYBR Green, a DNA intercalating compound. The cytotoxicity effect of the compounds on a human cancer cell line (THP-1) was assessed to determine their selectivity index. It was found that the crude extract of the plant displayed a significant antiplasmodial activity with an IC₅₀ (µg/mL) = 17.68 ± 4.030 and a cytotoxic activity with a CC₅₀ (µg/mL) = 101.5 ± 12.6, corresponding to a selective antiplasmodial activity of 5.7. Bioactivity-guided isolation of the major compounds of the roots’ crude extract afforded seven compounds, including genistein, genistin and eucomic acid. Under our experimental conditions, using Artemisinin as a positive control, eucomic acid showed the best inhibitory activity against the P. falciparum 3D7, a well-known chloroquine-sensitive strain. The present results provide a referential basis to support the traditional use of Eriosema species in the treatment of malaria.     

Large Deviations from a Stationary Measure for a Class of Dissipative PDEs with Random Kicks

We study a class of dissipative PDEs perturbed by a bounded random kick force. It is assumed that the random force is nondegenerate, so that the Markov process obtained by the restriction of solutions to integer times has a unique stationary measure. The main result of the paper is a large deviations principle for occupation measures of the Markov process in question. The proof is based on Kifer's large‐deviation criterion, a coupling argument for Markov processes, and an abstract result on large‐time asymptotic for generalized Markov semigroups.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High‐Yield Formation of Substituted Tetracyanobutadienes from Reaction of Ynamides with Tetracyanoethylene

A high‐yielding sequence of [2+2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization of ynamides with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) is described. The reaction provided tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) species, which were characterized by various techniques. DFT and TD‐DFT calculations were also performed to complement experimental findings.     

Enhancement of the catalytic performances and lifetime of Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for the steam toluene reforming via the combination of dopants: inspection of Cu,Co, Fe,Mn, and Mo species addition

In this work, the influence of metallic dopant addition in 10 wt % Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst on the material physico-chemical properties and catalytic activity for the toluene steam reforming was studied. Seventeen doped Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were synthesized by the sol–gel process. The aim of this study was to determine which elements were the most suitable for the doping of 10 wt % Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. The influence of the dopants was studied through different physico-chemical techniques. It appeared that some dopants showed lower catalytic performances due to high carbon deactivation. On the contrary, some dopants increased the resistance to coking while also improving the catalytic activity. Different mechanisms were proposed to explain these modifications of catalytic behavior. Among all doped Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, the samples that combined Mn + Mo or Co + Mo dopants showed the best catalytic performances at 650 °C. Both samples showed high toluene reforming activity and low amounts of carbon deposit.     

New copolymers of vinylidene fluoride

After a brief presentation of the standard non-functionalized copolymers of vinylidene fluoride, the preparation of new functionalized copolymers is described, by copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride, with other fluoromonomers and non-fluorinated monomers including at least one hydroxy or other functional group. The copolymers are analysed by the conventional methods. Examples of formulation show that these new copolymers are able to give coatings applicable outdoors and offering the same excellent durability as PVDF.