Evolution of blast wave profiles in simulated air blasts: experiment and computational modeling

Shock tubes have been extensively used in the study of blast traumatic brain injury due to increased incidence of blast-induced neurotrauma in Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. One of the important aspects in these studies is how to best replicate the field conditions in the laboratory which relies on reproducing blast wave profiles. Evolution of the blast wave profiles along the length of the compression-driven air shock tube is studied using experiments and numerical simulations with emphasis on the shape and magnitude of pressure time profiles. In order to measure dynamic pressures of the blast, a series of sensors are mounted on a cylindrical specimen normal to the flow direction. Our results indicate that the blast wave loading is significantly different for locations inside and outside of the shock tube. Pressure profiles inside the shock tube follow the Friedlander waveform fairly well. Upon approaching exit of the shock tube, an expansion wave released from the shock tube edges significantly degrades the pressure profiles. For tests outside the shock tube, peak pressure and total impulse reduce drastically as we move away from the exit and majority of loading is in the form of subsonic jet wind. In addition, the planarity of the blast wave degrades as blast wave evolves three dimensionally. Numerical results visually and quantitatively confirm the presence of vortices, jet wind and three-dimensional expansion of the planar blast wave near the exit. Pressure profiles at 90° orientation show flow separation. When cylinder is placed inside, this flow separation is not sustained, but when placed outside the shock tube this flow separation is sustained which causes tensile loading on the sides of the cylinder. Friedlander waves formed due to field explosives in the intermediate-to far-field ranges are replicated in a narrow test region located deep inside the shock tube.     

Radiolytic stability of N,N-didodecyl-N’,N’-diethylhexyl diglycolamide

The radiolytic degradation of N,N-di-dodecyl-N′,N′-di-2-ethylhexyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D³DEHDGA) was studied at various absorbed doses of γ-radiation. The degradation was assessed by measuring the variation in the extraction behavior of Am(III) in irradiated solvent systems composed of neat D³DEHDGA or 0.1 M D³DEHDGA/n-dodecane in the presence and absence of nitric acid. The distribution ratio of americium (D _Am(III)) decreased with increase of absorbed dose. The presence of n-dodecane and nitric acid enhanced the radiolytic degradation of the solvent. The third phase formation behavior of Nd(III) decreased with increase of absorbed dose and the third phase was not observed at absorbed doses above 100 kGy. The recovery of Am(III) from the irradiated system was near quantitative in five contacts. The study revealed that the extraction and stripping behavior of the irradiated solvent was quite satisfactory for partitioning of minor actinides from real wastes.     

Evaluation of radiation stability of N,N-didodecyl N′,N′-di-octyl diglycolamide: a promising reagent for actinide partitioning

The radiation stability of N,N-di-dodecyl-N′,N′-di-octyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D³DODGA) was studied by γ-irradiation of the solvent up to a absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy. The effect of γ-irradiation on the radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA was assessed by measuring the distribution ratio of Am(III) (D _Am(III)) as well as the third phase formation in the irradiated D³DODGA-n-dodecane solution. The D _Am(III) in the irradiated solution decreased with increase of absorbed dose. The critical aqueous concentration of Nd(III) above which the third phase forms, increased with increase of absorbed dose. However, the limiting organic concentration of Nd(III) remained at ~25 mM irrespective of the absorbed dose. Recovery of Am(III) from the radiolytically degraded organic phase showed that back extraction of Am(III) was quantitative in a few contacts using dilute nitric acid. Our studies clearly indicated that radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA in n-dodecane is marginal even at the absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy, and therefore D³DODGA is a potential candidate for minor actinide partitioning.     

Extraction of p-Coumaric Acid and Ferulic Acid Using Surfactant-Based Aqueous Two-Phase System

Ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (pCA) are high-value products that can be obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of lignocellulose. Present work explores the potential of surfactant-based cloud-point extraction (CPE) for FA and pCA extraction from corn cob hydrolysate. More than 90 % (w/w) extraction of both FA and pCA was achieved from model system with L92. The partition coefficient of FA and pCA in L92 aqueous phase system was 35 and 55, respectively. A significant enrichment (8–10-fold) of both FA and pCA was achieved in surfactant-rich phase. Furthermore, the downstream process volume was reduced by 10 to 13 times. Optimized conditions (5 %?v/v?L92 and pH 3.0) resulted into 85 and 89 % extraction of FA and p-CA, respectively, from alkaline corn cob hydrolysate. Biocompatibility tests were carried out for L92 for ethanol fermentation and found to be biocompatible. Thus, the new surfactant-based CPE system not only concentrated FA and pCA but also reduced the process volume significantly. Further, aqueous phase containing sugars can be used for ethanol fermentation.     

Pressure effects on the superconducting transition of ytterbium doped Ce0.6Yb0.4FeAsO0.9F0.1

The Effect of pressure on the superconducting transition temperature of Yb doped Ce_0.6Yb_0.4FeAsO_0.9F_0.1 has been investigated for the first time using resistivity and magnetization studies. Increase in chemical pressure by substitution of smaller Yb³⁺ ions in place of Ce³⁺ ions results in a significant enhancement of T_c from 38 K (Yb free) to 47 K (40% Yb). Enhancement in T_c with external pressure has been observed for this compound up to a maximum value of T_c = 48.7 K at 1 GPa, beyond which T_c starts decreasing monotonously. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Microwave assisted combustion synthesis of CdFe2O4: Magnetic and electrical properties

CdFe₂O₄ particles were synthesized by the microwave assisted combustion method using two different fuels—glycine and urea. Microwave heating provides higher chemical yield within a minute. The synthesized particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), ac impedance spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. XRD analysis shows the cubic structure of CdFe₂O₄. The high and low frequency absorption bands of CdFe₂O₄ were found using FTIR analysis. Spherical morphology was revealed from the SEM images. ESR and VSM measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic behavior of CdFe₂O₄. The electrical conductivities of CdFe₂O₄ synthesized using glycine and urea are 6.5×10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ and 4.7×10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹ respectively at 240 ^oC. At elevated temperatures an occurrence of increase in conductivity was observed, which indicates the semiconducting behavior of CdFe₂O₄. The dielectric spectral analysis reveals that dielectric constant of CdFe₂O₄ decreases with frequency and increases with temperature.     

Isolation of the elusive bisbenzimidazole Bbim3−˙ radical anion and its employment in a metal complex

The discovery of singular organic radical ligands is a formidable challenge due to high reactivity arising from the unpaired electron. Matching radical ligands with metal ions to engender magnetic coupling is crucial for eliciting preeminent physical properties such as conductivity and magnetism that are crucial for future technologies. The metal-radical approach is especially important for the lanthanide ions exhibiting deeply buried 4f-orbitals. The radicals must possess a high spin density on the donor atoms to promote strong coupling. Combining diamagnetic ⁸⁹Y (I = 1/2) with organic radicals allows for invaluable insight into the electronic structure and spin-density distribution. This approach is hitherto underutilized, possibly owing to the challenging synthesis and purification of such molecules. Herein, evidence of an unprecedented bisbenzimidazole radical anion (Bbim³⁻˙) along with its metalation in the form of an yttrium complex, [K(crypt-222)][(Cp*₂Y)₂(μ-Bbim˙)] is provided. Access of Bbim³⁻˙ was feasible through double-coordination to the Lewis acidic metal ion and subsequent one-electron reduction, which is remarkable as Bbim²⁻ was explicitly stated to be redox-inactive in closed-shell complexes. Two molecules containing Bbim²⁻ (1) and Bbim³⁻˙ (2), respectively, were thoroughly investigated by X-ray crystallography, NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Electrochemical studies unfolded a quasi-reversible feature and emphasize the role of the metal centre for the Bbim redox-activity as neither the free ligand nor the Bbim²⁻ complex led to analogous CV results. Excitingly, a strong delocalization of the electron density through the Bbim³⁻˙ ligand was revealed via temperature-dependent EPR spectroscopy and confirmed through DFT calculations and magnetometry, rendering Bbim³⁻˙ an ideal candidate for single-molecule magnet design.

The long sought-after bisbenzimidazole radical was isolated through complexation to two rare earth metallocenes followed by reduction, and analysed through crystallography, VT EPR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, magnetometry, and DFT computations.     

ChemInform Abstract: M4C9+ (M: Ti,V): New Gas Phase Clusters.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.