Automated Generation of Performance Values for Algorithmic Differentiation

The transition from simulation software to optimization software is often quite cumbersome and error prone. With Algorithmic Differentiation(AD) a semi automatic transition can be achieved, but most of the times the performance characteristics of the modified software are not clear in advance. Therefore the performance model from Griewank is tested against real world examples and an automated measurement for the performance characteristics of the hardware is proposed. This enables a more accurate calculation of the performance characteristics of the modified software. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The stresses in single lap joints with a functionally graded adhesive bondline: an efficient modelling approach

In this work, an efficient analytical model for the stress analysis of single lap joints with a functionally graded adhesive bondline is proposed which considers peel as well as shear stresses in the adhesive. The model takes into account the nonlinear geometric characteristics of a single lap joint under tensile loading and allows for the analysis of various adhesive Young's modulus variations. The obtained stress distributions are compared to results of detailed Finite Element analyses and show a good agreement for several single lap joint configurations. In addition, different adhesive Young's modulus distributions and their effect on the peel and shear stresses are studied and discussed in detail. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structure and Thermal Properties of Lithium Cyanate

The synthesis, structural, and thermal characterization of lithium cyanate are reported in this work. LiOCN forms crystals in the trigonal crystal system. The structure was solved in the space group R$\bar{3}$ m. It is isomorphous to the structure of sodium cyanate. In the temperature range from –90 °C up to the melting point no phase transition was observed. Furthermore the vibrational Raman spectrum was measured. The system KOCN‐LiOCN shows a dystecticum and the new phase was confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction.     

Real-time method for the identification and quantification of hydrocarbon pyrolysis products: Part II. Application to transient pyrolysis and validation by numerical simulation

A real-time quantification infra red method has been developed with a gas cell to determine the composition of hydrocarbon pyrolysis products. The aim is to chemically characterise the fuel decomposition in case of regenerative cooling. The method can be extended to a large variety of applications. A transient analysis of the method behaviour is conducted to estimate its capacity to be applied to unsteady conditions (one measure per second), which can be encountered in cooling activity and unsteady processes. A numerical tool called RESPIRE (French acronym for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet Cooling with Endothermic Fuel, Transient Reactor Programming) is used to help in understanding the complex phenomena involved in such a chemical reactor. The validation of transient behaviour with respect to the computations shows negligible time delay (lower than few seconds with gasification rate higher than 60 wt.%) due to residence time in the experimental setup. The quantification accuracy is confirmed to be around 2 mol%. The agreement obtained on gas cell measurements is found to be correct over 10-20 wt.% of gasification rate and very satisfactory over 60 wt.% but this depends on the species. An extension of the method has been developed with a dedicated online cell to be specifically applied to supercritical and multiphase flows. The quantification of the gas phase in the pyrolysis mixture in case of biphasic flow is proposed and validated with an uncertainty around 3 wt.%. The coke formation is monitored as a function of time and its quantification is even tested with 50% of uncertainty after a numerical calibration with respect to simulation.     

Influence of microgel architecture and oil polarity on stabilization of emulsions by stimuli-sensitive core-shell poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) microgels: Mickering versus Pickering behavior?

Charged poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) [P(NiPAM-co-MAA)] microgels can stabilize thermo- and pH-sensitive emulsions. By placing charged units at different locations in the microgels and comparing the emulsion properties, we demonstrate that their behaviors as emulsion stabilizers are very different from molecular surfactants and rigid Pickering stabilizers. The results show that the stabilization of the emulsions is independent of electrostatic repulsion although the presence and location of charges are relevant. Apparently, the charges facilitate emulsion stabilization via the extent of swelling and deformability of the microgels. The stabilization of these emulsions is linked to the swelling and structure of the microgels at the oil-water interface, which depends not only on the presence of charged moieties and on solvent polarity but also on the microgel (core-shell) morphology. Therefore, the internal soft and porous structure of microgels is important, and these features make microgel-stabilized emulsions characteristically different from classical, rigid-particle-stabilized Pickering emulsions, the stability of which depends on the surface properties of the particles.     

Tuning the pH sensitivity of poly(methacrylic acid) brushes

The pH-induced swelling and collapse of surface-tethered, weak polyelectrolyte brushes is of interest for the development of actuators or to allow pH controlled transport or adsorption. This contribution discusses results of an extensive series of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments that aimed at (i) further understanding the influence of brush thickness and density on the pH responsiveness of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) brushes and (ii) developing strategies that allow one to engineer the pH responsiveness and dynamic response range of PMAA based brushes. It was observed that, due to their high grafting density, the apparent pK(a) of surface-tethered PMAA differs from that of the corresponding free polymer in solution and also covers a broader pH range. The pK(a) of the PMAA brushes was found to depend on both brush thickness and density; thicker brushes showed a higher pK(a) value, and brushes of higher density started to swell at higher pH. The second part of the paper demonstrates the feasibility of the N-hydroxysuccinimide-mediated post-polymerization modification to engineer the pH responsiveness of the PMAA brushes. By using appropriate amine functionalized acids, it was possible to tune both the pH of maximum response as well as the dynamic response range of these PMAA based polyelectrolyte brushes.     

Temporal evolution of benzenethiolate SAMs on Cu(100)

The structure and thermal stability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of benzenethiolate (BT) on Cu(100) have been studied by means of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and near-edge X-ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). Vapor deposition at room temperature yields a well-ordered, densely packed c(6 × 2) saturation structure. At room temperature, this film is, however, metastable and transforms via partial decomposition by cleavage of the S-C bond into a less densely packed layer that reveals a coexisting p(2 × 2) phase. Such a transition occurs on a time scale of several days and is accompanied by a reduction of the work function change with respect to the bare Cu(100) surface from Δ? = -0.9 eV for a freshly prepared saturated layer to -0.5 eV for an aged film. TDS experiments exhibit the presence of two distinct desorption channels (dissociative and intact desorption) occurring at different temperatures that reflects a variation of the local Cu-S interaction strength of BT at differently coordinated adsorption sites. Heating to above room temperature causes a rapid degradation and continuous thinning of BT films whereas above 500 K all thiolate species have desorbed or dissociated, leaving a sulfide overlayer behind that is accompanied by a substrate reconstruction. Interestingly, the upright orientation of BT adopted in the saturated monolayer remains almost identical upon heating and demonstrates the absence of downward tilting upon thermally induced thinning of the film.     

Neptunium(III) application in extraction chromatography

This paper describes a novel strategy for actinide separation by extraction chromatography with Np(III) valence adjustment. Neptunium(IV) was reduced to Np(III) using Cr(II) and then selectively separated from uranium (IV) on a TEVA resin. After elution, Np(III) was retained on a DGA resin in order to remove any detrimental chromium impurities. Neptunium(III) formation was demonstrated by the complete and selective elution of Np from TEVA resin (99 ± 7%) in less than 12 mL of 9 M HCl from U(IV) (0.7 ± 0.7%). It was determined by UV–visible and kinetic studies that Cr(II) was the only species responsible for the elution of Np(IV) as Np(III) and that the Cr(II) solution could be prepared from 2 to 30 min before its use without the need of complex degassing systems to prevent the oxidation of Np(III) by oxygen. The methodology proposed here with TEVA/DGA resins provides removal of Cr(III) impurities produced at high decontamination factors (2.8 × 10³ and 7.3 × 10⁴ respectively).