Strip-electromechanical model solution for piezoelectric plate cut along two semi-permeable collinear cracks

A strip electric saturation and mechanical yielding model solution is proposed for a piezoelectric plate cut along two equal collinear semi-permeable mode-I cracks with electrical polarization reaching a saturation limit and normal stress reaching a yield stress along a line segment in front of the cracks. By using Stroh formalism and complex variable technique, we derived the analytical solution for the field quantities. Three different situations are investigated when developed electrical saturation zone is bigger/smaller or equal to the developed mechanical yield zone. Numerical results show that the effect of different electric boundary conditions on the crack opening displacement and crack opening potential drop is significant and should not be ignored. The influence of electric load displacement on the energy release rate is also investigated for PZT-4, PZT-5H and BaTiO₃ ceramics, and it may assists for the correct choosing of ceramic for specific job.     

Effect of Fe addition on the crystallization behaviour and Curie temperature of CoCrSiB-based amorphous alloys

The crystallization behaviour and Curie temperature of melt-spun Co_{71? x} Fe _x Cr₇Si₈B₁₄ (x?=?0, 2, 3.2, 4, 6, 8 and 12?at.%) amorphous alloys have been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed two stages of crystallization. The first stage of crystallization (T _X1) in the alloy with 6?at.%?Fe was the highest and it had the highest activation energy. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the primary crystalline phase is hcp-(CoCr)₂Si for Fe-free alloy, whereas (CoFeCr)₂Si and (CoFeCr)₃Si phases were formed with the addition of Fe. hcp-Co was also formed along with these phases. The secondary crystalline phases were fcc-Co and various boron-rich phases. The Curie temperature of the alloys also changed with the addition of Fe to the system. Like the primary crystallization temperature, the Curie temperature of the alloys did not vary systematically with the Fe content. The addition of Fe to the Co-based system changes the nearest-neighbour interaction. This changes the exchange interaction between the transition metal elements. Due to the asymmetry in the Bethe–Slater curve, a systematic variation with Fe addition was not observed in the Curie temperature measurement.     

An eco-safe approach to benzopyranopyrimidines and 4H-chromenes in ionic liquid at room temperature

An environmentally benign, ionic liquid promoted multicomponent protocol to benzopyrano(2,3-d)pyrimidines and 4H-chromenes has been developed at room temperature. Results of the reaction depend on the nature of the nucleophile used in the reaction. Secondary amines result in the formation of benzopyrano(2,3-d)pyrimidines, whereas thiols give rise to 4H-chromenes under the same set of reaction conditions.     

Fabrication and characterization of electrochemical double layer capacitors using ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolyte with chemically treated activated charcoal electrodes

The present investigation deals with electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) made up of ionic liquid (IL)-based gel polymer electrolytes with chemically treated activated charcoal electrodes. The gel polymer electrolyte comprising of poly(vinylidine fluoride-co-hexafluropropylene) (PVdF-HFP)–1-ethyl-2,3-dimethyl-imidazolium-tetrafluroborate [EDiMIM][BF₄]–propylene carbonate (PC)–magnesium perchlorate (Mg(ClO₄)₂) exhibits the highest ionic conductivity of ~8.4?×?10^?3?S?cm^?1 at room temperature (~20 °C), showing good mechanical and dimensional stability, suitable for their application in EDLCs. Activation of charcoal was done by impregnation method using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as activating agent. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) studies reveal that the effective surface area of treated activated charcoal powder (1,515 m²?g^?1) increases by more than double-fold compared to the untreated one (721 m²?g^?1). Performance of EDLCs has been tested using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and charge–discharge techniques. Analysis shows that chemically treated activated charcoal electrodes have almost triple times more capacitance values as compared to the untreated one.     

Synthesis of Metal‐Free Phthalocyanines in Functionalized Ammonium Ionic Liquids

A convenient, fast, efficient, and ecofriendly synthesis of metal‐free phthalocyanines from various substituted phthalonitriles in different hydroxyalkylammonium ionic liquids in the presence of 1,8‐diazabicyclo‐[5,4,0]‐undec‐7‐ene (DBU) is reported in moderate yields. The effect of concentration of DBU and temperature on the synthesis of phthalocyanine in N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐N,N‐dimethylbutylammonium bromide ionic liquid has been examined, and the ionic liquid has been recovered and reused conveniently.     

A Convenient Synthesis of 2-Styrylchromones by Modified Baker-Venkataraman Transformation Using Phase Transfer Catalysis

Condensation of 2-hydroxyacetophenones 1 with cinnamic anhydrides 2 in the presence of tetra-n-butyl ammonium hydrogen sulphate in benzene-aqueous potassium carbonate biphase medium give 1-(2-hydrcxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-4-pentene-l, 3-diones 3 which on cyclodehydration using p-toluene sulphonic acid in dimethylsulphoxide give 2-styrylchromones 4 in high yields.     

MULTIPLE EMULSIONS STABILIZED BY COLLOIDAL MICROGRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE

Multiple emulsions stabilized by colloidal microcrystalline cellulose (CMCC, Avicel RC591) at the w/o and o/w interfaces, and by the addition of Span 80 or Span 85 at the w/o interface, were studied by means of brightfield microscopy, freeze-etch electron microscopy, droplet size distribution analysis and rheologic measurements. Stable multiple emulsions were prepared by incorporation of sodium chloride in the innermost aqueous phase, thereby creating an osmotic gradient preventing loss of the inner aqueous phase to the external aqueous phase. Freeze-etch electron microscopy of the multiple emulsions indicated the presence of a network of microcrystalline cellulose at the outer o/w interface. It may be assumed that the surfactant directly stabilized the w/o interface by adsorption at the interface, as well as indirectly by facilitating wetting of the microcrystalline cellulose by the oil. From rheologic measurements, the existence of a three-dimensional network in the external aqueous phase was indicated by the considerable degrees of thlxotropy and significant static yield values of these multiple emulsions.     

Biphasic kinetic investigations on the evaluation of non-salt forming reductants for Pu(IV) stripping from tributyl phosphate and N,N-dihexyl octanamide solutions in n-dodecane

The relative stability of different oxidation states of actinide elements is influenced by the nature of complexes formed and redox equilibria in aqueous/non-aqueous solutions. The reduction/stripping studies on Pu(IV) ions from loaded organic phases of 1.1 M tributyl phosphate and of 1.1 M N,N-dihexyl octanamide in n-dodecane were studied using organic soluble tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBH) and aqueous soluble reductants like acetaldoxime (AX) and hydroxyurea (HU). These studies were carried out as a function of reductant and nitric acid concentration (0.5–4 M HNO₃) and of time. The changes in Pu oxidation states were followed by spectrophotometry for TBH and by distribution ratio values for AX and HU as reductants. Spectrophotometric investigations using TBH as reductant showed that it was desirable to strip Pu(III) formed after reduction of Pu(IV) in the organic phase, which may otherwise be reconverted to extractable Pu(IV) by in situ generated HNO₂ from oxidative degradation of TBH to tert-butyl quinone. Similarly, the biphasic reduction/stripping of Pu(IV) using AX and HU as reductant rate was affected adversely with increased aqueous phase acidity. This data will help in the accurate simulation of Pu separation processes using these reductants in mixer-settlers/pulsed columns or centrifugal contactors.     

Liquid crystal parameters through image analysis

A technique which combines image analysis and polarising optical microscope (POM) is a useful tool for the physical investigation of discotic liquid crystals, such as hexabutoxytriphenylene and hexahexyloxytriphenylene. This investigation includes the phase transitions, optical properties and order parameter as a function of temperature. Textures of discotic liquid crystals are captured as a function of temperature using POM. These microscopic textures are analysed using MATLAB software to compute statistical parameters, Legendre moments, optical parameters and order parameters of discotic liquid crystal samples. Compared with other techniques in the literature, the proposed methodology is a reliable and very simple technique for the physical investigation of liquid crystals.