Influence of the loading path on the strength of fiber-reinforced composites subjected to transverse compression and shear

The influence of the loading path on the failure locus of a composite lamina subjected to transverse compression and out-of-plane shear is analyzed through computational micromechanics. This is carried out using the finite element simulation of a representative volume element of the microstructure, which takes into account explicitly fiber and matrix spatial distribution within the lamina. In addition, the actual failure mechanisms (plastic deformation of the matrix and interface decohesion) are included in the simulations through the corresponding constitutive models. Two different interface strength values were chosen to explore the limiting cases of composites with strong or weak interfaces. It was found that failure locus was independent of the loading path for the three cases analyzed (pseudo-radial, compression followed by shear and shear followed by compression) in the composites with strong and weak interfaces. This result was attributed to the fact that the dominant failure mechanism in each material was the same in transverse compression and in shear. Failure is also controlled by the same mechanisms under a combination of both stresses and the failure locus depended mainly on the magnitude of the stresses that trigger fracture rather than in the loading path to reach the critical condition.     

Gold ultra-microelectrode arrays: application to the steady-state voltammetry of hydroxide ion in aqueous solution.

Gold ultra-microelectrode arrays are used to explore the electrochemical oxidation of hydroxide ions and are shown to be analytical useful. Two types of ultra-microelectrode arrays are used; the first consist of 256 individual electrodes of 5 microm in radius, 170 of which are electrochemically active in a cubic arrangement which are separated from their nearest neighbour by a distance of 100 microm. The second array compromises 2597 electrodes of 2.5 microm in radius and of which 1550 of which are electrochemically active in a hexagonal arrangement separated by the nearest neighbour by 55 microm. Well defined voltammetric waves are found with peak currents proportional to the concentration of hydroxide ions in the range 50 microM to 1 mM. Detection limits of 20 microM using the 170 ultra-microelectrode and 10 microM with the 1550 ultra-microelectrode array are shown to be possible but with a higher sensitivity of 4 mA M(-1) observed using the 1550 ultra-microelectrode array compared to 1.2 mA M(-1) with the 170 ultra-microelectrode array.     

Preparation and electrochemical behavior of ordered rh adlayers on Pt(100) electrodes

Rhodium adlayers on Pt(100) substrates have been prepared by electrodeposition from dilute Rh(III) acidic solutions. The initially disordered layer is electrochemically annealed by applying a polarization program consisting of high-sweep-rate multicycle sequences between 0.05 and 0.78 V(RHE) in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4). In this way, a pseudomorphic Rh monolayer can be prepared on Pt(100) substrates. The degree of order of the electrochemically annealed layer has been evidenced not only through voltammetric experiments but also by means of scanning tunneling microscopy with atomic resolution for iodine-protected adlayers, which show a c(2 x 2) structure. The electrochemically induced ordering of the Rh adlayer appears to be a consequence of the repeated cycles of adsorption/desorption of H and, especially, oxygenated species. Voltammetry in sulfuric acid solutions permits examination of the energetics of H/anions and OH/O adsorption as a function of the Rh coverage. The first monolayer adsorbs both hydrogen and oxygenated species more strongly than the second one. This can be explained through an electronic effect caused by the underlying Pt(100) substrate.     

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance characterisation of glycosaminoglycans using chemometric techniques

Various types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) including heparins, chondroitin sulfates, dermatan sulfate and hyaluronic acid were studied from their proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra using chemometric techniques. Despite the complexity of the 1H NMR signals, data analysis using principal component analysis enabled the different GAG classes to be distinguished and permitted their classification according to their chemical structure. The analysis of the composition of the major disaccharide unit and other relevant chemical structures in the heparin samples was performed using partial least squares regression.     

Losartan potassium,a non‐peptide agent for the treatment of arterial hypertension

In the title compound, potassium 2‐butyl‐4‐chloro‐1‐{[2′‐(5‐tetrazolido)­bi­phenyl‐4‐yl]­methyl}‐1H‐imidazol‐5‐yl­methanol, K⁺·C₂₂H₂₂ClN₆O^?, the imidazole and tetrazole rings are at angles of 85.0 (2) and 51.8 (1)°, respectively, to the phenyl rings to which they are attached, while the dihedral angle between the latter two rings is 46.7 (1)°. The coordination sphere of the metal cation consists of six tetrazoyl N atoms, the methanol O atom and the π cloud of one of the phenyl rings. These interactions determine the formation of columns of molecular anions that lie parallel to the b axis, while hydrogen bonding contributes to intercolumnar cohesion. Far from the centre of the columns, the hydro­carbon chain is immersed in a hydro­phobic environment.     

Inorganic-metalorganic hybrids based on copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyanions and dinuclear copper(II)-oxalate complexes. Synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, and magnetic properties

Reaction of in situ generated copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalates and copper(II)-bipyridine-oxalate complexes in the corresponding alkaline acetate buffer led to the formation of hybrid metal organic-inorganic compounds K(2)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)].14H(2)O (1), K(14)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}](2)[SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)].55H(2)O (2), (NH(4))(4)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}].10H(2)O (3), and Rb(4)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}].10H(2)O (4). Their structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The main structural feature of these compounds is the presence of copper(II)-monosubstituted alpha-Keggin polyoxoanions as inorganic building blocks, on which the mu-oxalatodicopper metalorganic blocks are supported. Compound 1contains the discrete hybrid polyanion [{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)](2)(-), whereas the polymeric hybrid polyanion [{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)](n)(4)(n)(-) gives a monodimensional character to compounds 2-4. Magnetic and EPR results are discussed with respect to the crystal structure of the compounds. DFT calculations on both the [Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(4)(mu-ox)](2+) cationic complex and the metalorganic blocks have been performed in order to determine the optimized geometry and the magnetic coupling constants, respectively.     

Determination of propazine by differential pulse polarography in micellar and emulsified media

An electroanalytical study of the herbicide propazine's reduction process in micellar solutions and oil-in-water emulsions is reported. The anionic surfactant sodium pentanesulphonate was chosen as the most suitable. The differential pulse polarograms of micellar solutions had two reduction peaks below pH 2.0, whereas only one peak was obtained above pH 2.O. Ethyl acetate was chosen as the organic solvent to form propazine emulsions. Unlike in micellar solutions, the DPP polarograms of propazine emulsions showed only one peak even at pH < 2.0, suggesting that propazine hydrolysis was hindered in the emulsified medium. The limiting current is diffusion-controlled and the electrode process is irreversible. Propazine can be determined by differential pulse polarography over the 1.0 × 10^–1 – 1.0 × 10^–1moll^–1 and 1.0 × 10^–15 – 4.0 × 10^–1 moll^–1 concentration ranges and the limit of detection was 2.8 × 10^–1 moll^–1. Of the potential interferents simazine, methoprotryne and terbutryn (alls-triazines), thiram (a dithiocarbamate), dinoseb (nitrophenolic), and heptachlor (chlorinated cyclo-diene herbicide), only the first two were significant (10% error for equimolar concentrations). The method was applied to the determination of propazine in spiked drinking water. At a concentration level of 2.0 × 10^–1 moll^–1 a recovery of 94 ± 6% was obtained, after tenfold concentration on Sep-Pak.     

Mössbauer studies on one-dimensional iron phthalocyanines

Summary Magnetic moments and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra at room temperature and at liquid nitrogen temperature of polynuclear ligand-bridged iron phthalocyanines, FePcL (L = pyrazine and 4,4-bipyridyl), are reported. The experimental data are in agreement with a pseudo-octahedral environment around the iron(II) cation. Partially oxidized derivatives, FePc(pz)I_0.26 and FePc(bipy)I_1.06 have been synthesized and their⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra and magnetic moments within the same temperature range obtained. Oxidation is shown to be metal centred and the iodine is found to be in I^– form for FePc(pz)_0.26 and as both I^– and I ₃ ^– species for FePc(bipy)I_1.06. While the magnetic moment of FePc(pz) increases upon oxidation, the opposite occurs for FePc(bipy).