Prediction of extrudate swell in polymer melt extrusion using an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) based finite element method

Accurate prediction of extrudate (die) swell in polymer melt extrusion is important as this helps in appropriate die design for profile extrusion applications. Extrudate swell prediction has shown significant difficulties due to two key reasons. The first is the appropriate representation of the constitutive behavior of the polymer melt. The second is regarding the simulation of the free surface, which requires special techniques in the traditionally used Eulerian framework. In this paper we propose a method for simulation of extrudate swell using an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) technique based finite element formulation. The ALE technique provides advantages of both Lagrangian and Eulerian frameworks by allowing the computational mesh to move in an arbitrary manner, independent of the material motion. In the present method, a fractional-step ALE technique is employed in which the Lagrangian phase of material motion and convection arising out of mesh motion are decoupled. In the first step, the relevant flow and constitutive equations are solved in Lagrangian framework. The simpler representation of polymer constitutive equations in a Lagrangian framework avoids the difficulties associated with convective terms thereby resulting in a robust numerical formulation besides allowing for natural evolution of the free surface with the flow. In the second step, mesh is moved in ALE mode and the associated convection of the variables due to relative motion of the mesh is performed using a Godunov type scheme. While the mesh is fixed in space in the die region, the nodal points of the mesh on the extrudate free surface are allowed to move normal to flow direction with special rules to facilitate the simulation of swell. A differential exponential Phan Thien Tanner (PTT) model is used to represent the constitutive behavior of the melt. Using this method we simulate extrudate swell in planar and axisymmetric extrusion with abrupt contraction ahead of the die exit. This geometry allows the extrudate to have significant memory for shorter die lengths and acts as a good test for swell predictions. We demonstrate that our predictions of extrudate swell match well with reported experimental and numerical simulations.     

Charged spherically symmetric solution in Mikhail-Wanas field theory

A set of coupled differential equations obtained by Wanas in the Mikhail-Wanas generalized field theory is completely integrated.     

Shielded suspended dielectric guide

The dispersion characteristics of a shielded suspended dielectric are computed using mode matching technique. From the dispersion characteristics the dielectric and conductor loss, quality factor and wave impedances are derived. The dimensions of shielded suspended dielectric are same as that of a rectangular metallic wave guide at K_a band.     

Synthesis of the C10–C24 fragment of (+)-cannabisativine

The stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C24 fragment of (+)-cannabisativine has been achieved. The key steps involved in this strategy are the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, the diastereoselective allylation of an imine, and the ring closing metathesis (RCM).     

Ultratrace Analysis of Dopamine Using a Combination of Imprinted Polymer-Brush-Coated SPME and Imprinted Polymer Sensor Techniques

A combination approach in solid-phase microextraction, based on a molecularly imprinted polymer-brush coating on an optical fiber coupled with a complementary molecularly imprinted polymer sensor, has been adopted for isolation, preconcentration, and analysis of dopamine at ultratrace levels in highly dilute aqueous samples. This combination enabled enhanced (up to 8.5-fold) preconcentration of the analyte, which is appropriate for achieving a stringent detection limit in clinical diagnosis of several neurodegenerative diseases. The detection limit of dopamine in biological samples was 0.018 ng mL^?1 with a relative standard deviation less than 2.1% and without any non-specific contributions.     

Green solid-phase peptide synthesis 4. γ-Valerolactone and N-formylmorpholine as green solvents for solid phase peptide synthesis

Herein, we report the use of γ-valerolactone (GVL) and N-formylmorpholine (NFM) as DMF substitutes in polystyrene based SPPS. The solubility of selected amino acids and coupling reagents were studied in GVL and NFM, followed by their use in the successful synthesis of Aib-enkephalin pentapeptide (H-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-NH₂) and Aib-ACP decapeptide (H-Val-Gln-Aib-Aib-Ile-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Asn-Gly-NH₂).     

Preparation of electrodeless discharge lamps for emission studies of uranium isotopes at trace level

A simplified method for preparation of electrodeless discharge lamp for uranium isotopes with specific concerns for ²³²U is described. Micro-gram quantities of solid uranium oxides and aqueous solution of uranium nitrate have been used as a starting material for in situ synthesis of uranium tetraiodide. High temperature iodination reaction is carried out in the presence of inert gas neon. By careful design, the preparation time and surface area of quartz reaction tubes have been reduced considerably. The latter decreases the level of contamination which has a direct bearing on the operational lifetime of the lamps. Incorporation of steps to purify the product from an unwanted material improved the stability of the lamps. The procedure provides a safe and convenient way of handling ²³²U in particular but can be extended in general to any actinides having radioactivity similar to that of freshly separated ²³²U. Characteristic emission of uranium isotopes have been recorded by Fourier Transform Spectrometer to show the satisfactory operation of the lamps as well as their usage for studying emission spectra of the specific isotope.     

Multilayer mirror as a substrate for total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

X-ray field intensity generated over a multilayer surface during a strong Bragg reflection condition has been used to analyze the particulate matter deposited on its surface, for the average particles size distribution and detection sensitivity of various elements. The elemental detection sensitivities achieved at Bragg reflection condition are compared to those obtained at incidence angles below critical angle, under total external reflection condition. The results obtained indicate that when big size particles (> 1 μm) are distributed over a large surface area, the observed fluorescence yields deteriorate by 15–18% in the total external reflection condition, due to strong sample absorption effects. In such a case, use of a multilayer mirror as a sample carrier and fluorescence excitation under Bragg reflection condition provides better fluorescence yield and hence improved detection sensitivity for an element.     

Characterization of trace embedded impurities in thin multilayer structures using synchrotron X‐ray standing waves

X‐ray standing wave (XSW) field generated under Bragg reflection condition in a periodic Mo/Si multilayer structure has been used to determine the concentration and location of various trace element contaminants embedded in different layers of that multilayer structure. We have used intense synchrotron X rays for XSW analysis. It is observed that various trace element impurities such as Cr, Fe, Ni and W get embedded unintentionally in the multilayer structure during the deposition process. Consequences of such impurity incorporation on the optical properties of the multilayer structure are discussed in hard and soft X‐ray regions. Present measurements are important in order to optimize the deposition methods on one hand and to better correlate the measured optical properties of a multilayer structure with theoretical models on the other. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A New Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Ascorbic Acid Using Leuco Malachite Green

A new simple and sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) at trace level using a new reagent, leuco malachite green (LMG). AAreacts with potassium iodide‐iodate solution under acidic conditions to liberate iodine and the liberated iodine selectively oxidizes LMG to MG dye. The colour of the dye was measured at 620 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 0.8–8 iμg μAA per 25 mL of final solution (0.032–0.32 ppm). The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the method were found to be 2.98 × 10⁵ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, 0.0042 μg cm⁻², and respectively. Statistical treatment of the experimental results indicates that the method is precise and accurate. The method is free from interference of common ions and many of the ingredients commonly found in pharmaceuticals. The reliability of the method was established by parallel determination against Leucocrystal violet (LCV) method. The method described was satisfactorily applied for the determination of AA in fruit juices, pharmaceuticals and biological samples.