Effect of gamma irradiation on linear low density polyethylene/magnesium hydroxide/sepiolite composite

Radiation crosslinking is generally used to improve the thermo-mechanical properties of the composites. A study has been carried out to investigate the effect of gamma radiation on the thermo-mechanical properties of linear low density polyethylene containing magnesium hydroxide (MH) and sepiolite (SP) as non-halogenated flame retardant additives. The developed composites are irradiated at different doses upto maximum of 150 kGy. Infrared spectra of the irradiated composites reveal the reduction in the intensity of O-H band with increase in the absorbed doses, thus indicates a distinct structural change in MH at higher doses. The thermogravimetric analysis results of unirradiated and composites irradiated at low doses (≤75 kGy) show two steps weight loss, which is changed to single step at higher doses with lower thermal stability. The melting temperature (T_m) and crystallization temperature (T_c) of irradiated composites are lowered with irradiation whereas Vicat softening temperature (VST) is increased. The increasing trend in gel content with increase in the absorbed dose confirms the presence of crosslinked network. The mechanical properties, results show significant improvement in the modulus of irradiated composites. The results also confirm that MH gradually loses its OH functionality with irradiation.     

热处理对LiFe1-0.01xY0.005xAg0.005xPO4薄膜光波导传感元件气敏性的影响

以FeSO4.7H2O,H3PO4,LiOH.H2O,AgNO3及Y(NO3)3.6H2O为原料,利用水热法一步合成出了LiFe1-0.01xY0.005xAg0.005xPO4粉体(x=0.5,1.0),并将该材料作为敏感试剂,用旋转-甩涂法做成纳米薄膜固定在锡掺杂玻璃光波导表面,在不同温度下进行热处理。采用紫外-可见分光光度计、测厚仪以及自组装的玻璃光波导气敏测试仪研究了热处理对LiFe1-0.01xY0.005xAg0.005xPO4薄膜光学及气敏特性的影响。研究结果表明:在450℃下进行热处理的薄膜元件具有良好的光学透明及较好的气敏特性。相同浓度的不同挥发性有机气体中,该传感元件对二甲苯气体有很好的选择性响应,其检测响应范围为1×10-7～1×10-3(V/V),响应-恢复时间分别小于5和100 s。     

The First Principles Investigations of the Thermoelectric Properties of GaN with p- and n-Type Doping

We investigate the thermoelectric properties of GaN with p-and n-type doping by the first principles calculation and the semi-classical Boltzmann theory. We find that the power factors (S2σof p-type GaN (-3500 W/mK2) is about twice that of the n-type (-1750 W/mK2), which indicates the thermoelectric properties of p-type GaN would be better. Thermal conductivity of GaN crystal decreases rapidly as the temperature increases, but it is still too large for thermoelectric applications. The figure of merit (ZT) estimated at 1500 K is 0.134 for p-type GaN crystal and 0.062 for the n-type.     

EPR Study of γ-Irradiated UHMWPE Doped with Vitamin E: Assessment of Thermal Effects on the Organic Radicals During Vitamin E Diffusion

Thermal effects on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) residual radicals during the vitamin E diffusion process were studied in detail. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique showed a significant reduction in concentrations of radiation-induced primary (alkyl (–CH₂– ^?CH–CH₂–), allyl (–CH₂–^?CH=CH–CH–CH₂–) and polyenyl (–^?CH–[CH=CH–] _m –) with m > 3) radicals for both control and vitamin E-doped samples. The concentrations of radiation-induced primary radicals (RIPRs) were found to decrease proportionally with the heat/diffusion time. While the EPR spectra of the control samples showed only polyethylene (PE) radicals, the spectra of vitamin E-doped samples were found to exhibit vitamin E radicals in addition to PE radicals. Of particular interest, the heat involved during vitamin E diffusion plays a significant role in reducing the radiation-induced primary radicals of UHMWPE. For 120 min of heat/diffusion time, the available quantity of primary radicals in control samples were found to be ~7.5 % of initial radicals. The leftover amounts of these primary radicals for vitamin E-doped samples were approximately ~10.0 %. In addition to this, EPR power saturation techniques were also used to assess the effects of initial heat/diffusion treatment on the oxygen-induced residual radicals (OIRRs): R₁ (–^?CH–[CH=CH–] _m –) with m > 3 and R₂ (^?OCH–[CH=CH–] _m –) with m = 2 or 3. It was found that the concentration of OIRRs also decreases proportionally with initial heat/diffusion time. The remaining amount of OIRRs relative to leftover RIPRs after heat/diffusion was found to be approximately 4.0 % in controls and was still found to be 10.0 % in vitamin E-doped UHMWPE. This may indicate that vitamin E slows down the oxidation processes, which may contribute to the strong oxidation resistance of vitamin E-doped UHMWPE.     

Aflatoxin species: their health effects and determination methods in different foodstuffs

Carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of aflatoxin species are known in literature. Their intake over a long time period might be health-dangerous for human even at trace levels. It is well known that different foodstuffs can be contaminated by aflatoxin species through growing and storage. Due to the serious health effects, sensitive determination of aflatoxin species in any matrices related with the human being is very crucial at trace levels. In literature, there are sensitive techniques to analyze the different samples for the contents of their aflatoxin species. Each technique has some advantages and disadvantages over the other techniques. This review aims to summarize the different health effects of aflatoxin species, development of analytical techniques and applications of developed techniques in a variety of matrices.      

Phase diagrams of a nonequilibrium mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 Ising system in an oscillating magnetic field

The phase diagrams of the nonequilibrium mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 Ising ferrimagnetic system on square lattice under a time-dependent external magnetic field are presented by using the Glauber-type stochastic dynamics. The model system consists of two interpenetrating sublattices of spins σ=3/2 and S=2, and we take only nearest-neighbor interactions between pairs of spins. The system is in contact with a heat bath at absolute temperature T_abs and the exchange of energy with the heat bath occurs via one-spin flip of the Glauber dynamics. First, we investigate the time variations of average order parameters to find the phases in the system and then the thermal behavior of the dynamic order parameters to obtain the dynamic phase transition (DPT) points as well as to characterize the nature (first- or second-order) phase transitions. The dynamic phase diagrams are presented in two different planes. Phase diagrams contain paramagnetic (p), ferrimagnetic (i₁, i₂, i₃) phases, and three coexistence or mixed phase regions, namely i₁+p, i₂+p and i₃+p mixed phases that strongly depend on interaction parameters.     

Active vibration suppression of multilayered plates integrated with piezoelectric fiber reinforced composites using an efficient finite element model

The active vibration suppression of hybrid composite and fiber metal laminate (FML) plates integrated with piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) sensors and actuators is studied for the first time, using an efficient and advanced layerwise plate theory. Unlike the conventional finite elements, the equipotential condition of electroded surfaces of sensors is satisfied exactly and conveniently using a novel concept of electric node. The effective electromechanical properties of the PFRC laminas are computed using a coupled three-dimensional iso-field micromechanical model. Numerical results are presented for both classical constant gain velocity feedback (CGVF) and optimal control strategies. The instability phenomena in CGVF control with conventionally collocated actuator-sensor pairs, and its remedy with a truly collocated arrangement are illustrated. The effect of segmentation of electrodes on the control response is studied. The segmentation of electrodes leads to a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) configuration. The effects of piezoelectric fiber orientation, volume fraction and dielectric ratio of PFRC on the control response and the actuation/sensing authority are investigated for cantilever and simply supported plates.     

Performance comparison between plastic-based fiber bundle and multimode fused coupler as probes in displacement sensors

Fiber optic displacement sensors with bundled and fused coupler fiber probes are being investigated. The effects of axial displacements on the detected output voltages are also investigated for fiber bundle probe sensor. The resolutions obtained are 0.9 and 4.0 μm, for the front and back slopes, respectively. A comparison is made with a commercial plastic based multimode fused coupler which gives a better range of 2.0 mm. This is longer than that achieved by the fiber bundle probe which is only 0.4 mm and has a lower resolution of 34 μm for the case of 50:50 coupling ratio.     

Preparation of stable dispersion of graphene using copolymers: dispersity and aromaticity analysis

In this study, effectiveness of non-ionic block copolymers such as Lugalvan BNO12 and Triton X series (Triton X100 & Triton X405) has been reported for graphene dispersion in aqueous solutions. Stability of the aqueous graphene dispersions is investigated using UV–visible spectroscopy, Rheological, and Conductivity studies. Adsorption isotherms are constructed to determine the amount of polymers adsorbed on the surface of graphene by the spectroscopic analysis. Lugalvan BNO12 has been found to be adsorbed in higher amounts on the graphene surface compared to the Triton X series polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy investigations indicated grafting of polymers chains to the graphene surfaces. The dispersions prepared with optimum concentrations (as determined from adsorption isotherms) of polymers have shown lower viscosity and conductivity values. Lugalvan BNO12 has been found to be a better stabilizer for graphene than the Triton X series dispersants because the former contains two aromatic rings in its structure that acts as an anchoring group and helps in the stabilization of graphene dispersion in comparison to the single aromatic group in the Triton X series. The experimental results reported have shown that the aromaticity of polymeric dispersants plays significant role in the aqueous graphene dispersions. The non-ionic block copolymers that assisted dispersed graphene are potential candidates for the fabrication of various devices such as sensors, batteries, and supercapacitors applications.     

利用二氧化碳的缓慢释放控制聚丙烯酰胺在含柠檬酸铬水溶液中的粘度

Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) has been widely used for water shut-off and profile control to enhance oil recovery. Herein, we reported a novel technique by which the crosslinking between HPAM and Cr³⁺ in aqueous solutions at 60 ℃ can be delayed effectively. Citric acid was selected as an organic complexing agent of Cr³⁺ so that the crosslinking between HPAM and Cr³⁺ can be prevented completely. Due to the decomposition of the bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) embedded in solution, CO₂ released from solution and the pH value of solution increased gradually. The degree of ionization of HPAM and its ability to complex with Cr³⁺ increased accordingly. When the complexation of Cr³⁺ with HPAM is stronger than that with citric acid, the viscosity of the HPAM solution increased significantly. Under the closed condition, together with the existence of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), the release of CO₂ was very slow and the condition was highly controlled so that the ionization of HPAM was prevented initially. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonding interactions between HPAM and melamine embedded in solution previously also postponed the ionization of HPAM. As a result, the crosslinking between HPAM and Cr³⁺ can be delayed for almost one month, completely meeting the requirements for deep water shut-off and profile control to enhance oil recovery.