Growth of Sb-Bi gradient single crystals

The growth conditions and structural quality of Sb-Bi gradient single crystals with Bi content from 2 to 18 at %, grown by the Czochralski method with solid phase feed, are investigated. Bi distribution in the crystals along their pulling direction are studied by electron probe microanalysis and the change in the interplanar spacing is analyzed by double-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is established that the pulling rate and feed mass affect the Bi distribution in Sb-Bi single crystals.     

Thermal-performance evaluation of coolant passages with staggered arrays of pin fins

Three-dimensional laminar forced convection including steady-periodic transition is investigated up to periodic-chaotic transition in the fully developed region of coolant passages with staggered arrays of pin fins. Comparative examples concern overall pressure losses and heat transfer characteristics of circular, square and elliptical pins made of nickel and copper. In the numerical model, transient conjugate heat transfer is assumed and space periodicities in pressure, velocity components and temperatures are taken into account. In the range of operative conditions investigated, overall friction factors increase almost linearly with the Reynolds number, while the increase of overall Nusselt numbers with the Reynolds number is characterized by two slope changes connected with the onset of streamwise vortices, and the shedding of transverse vortices, respectively. The use of copper, instead of nickel, increases the overall Nusselt number with all shapes, but is particularly beneficial to the elliptical section. Square pins are characterized by the highest values of friction factors, but are also the best performers as far as convection enhancing is concerned. The reverse is true for the elliptical pins which are characterized by the lowest values of friction factors, but are the worst performers as far as convection enhancing is concerned. On the basis of overall performances, the elliptical pins made of copper are the best choice, at least in the upper range of Reynolds numbers investigated.     

3,4‐[2,2‐Bis(methoxyethoxymethoxymethyl)propylenedithio]‐3′,4′‐(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene: a spiro‐substituted BEDT–TTF analogue

The crystal structure of the title compound [systematic name: 2‐(1,3‐dithiolo[4,5‐b][1,4]dithiin‐2‐ylidene)‐6,6‐bis(methoxyethoxymethoxymethyl)‐1,3‐dithiolo[4,5‐b][1,4]dithiepine], C₂₁H₃₀O₆S₈, a spiro‐substituted BEDT–TTF analogue [BEDT–TTF is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene], has a strongly bent heterocyclic framework. The seven‐membered ring adopts a pseudo‐chair conformation with notably widened ring bond angles, especially at the methylene C atoms [119.49 (11) and 117.60 (11)°]. The axial side chain adopts an extended conformation, but the equatorial side chain curls back on itself and the O atom nearest the ring system is involved in three short contacts to H atoms (2.45–2.53 Å). The molecules pack in centrosymmetrically related pairs, which are isolated from each other by columns of the polyether side chains. This study emphasizes the ease of distortion of the neutral bis(propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene ring structure, and how the need to accommodate side chains can easily override the tendency of these donor systems to form stacks in the crystalline state.     

Mathematical simulation of the evaporation in operation area of a bubble evaporator

Simulation of evaporation in operation area of an evaporator is considered. We obtained a formalized model of this process and optimum conditions of an engineering system on the basis on the analysis.     

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.     

Rheological properties of polyacrylates used as synthetic road binders

Most adhesives and binders, including bitumen for asphalt mixture production, are presently produced from petrochemicals after the refining of crude oil. The fact that crude oil reserves are a finite resource means that in the future, it may become necessary to produce these materials from alternative and probably renewable sources. Suitable resources of this kind may include polysaccharides, plant oils and proteins. This paper deals with the synthesis of polymer binders from monomers that could, in future, be derived from renewable resources. These binders consist of polyethyl acrylate (PEA) of different molecular weight, polymethyl acrylate (PMA) and polybutyl acrylate (PBA), which were synthesised from ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, respectively, by atom transfer radical polymerisation. The rheological properties of these binders were determined by means of oscillatory testing using a dynamic shear rheometer and combinations of stress/strain, temperature and frequency sweeps. The results indicate that PEA can be produced to have rheological properties similar to that of ‘soft’ 100/150 penetration grade bitumen, PMA with similar rheological properties to that of ‘hard’ 10/20 penetration grade bitumen, while PBA, due to its highly viscous nature and low dynamic moduli, cannot be used on its own as a binder. The synthetic polymers were found to be thermo-rheologically simple, and the shift factors, used to produce the dynamic moduli master curves, were found to fit an Arrhenius function.     

Metal complexes of 2-hetarylindandiones-1,3

The chelate and molecular complexes of 2-(2-benzazolyl, perimidyl)-indandiones-1,3 were synthesized for the first time. The structures of the ligands (tautomeric forms) and complex compounds were determined from the X-ray diffraction, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and IR data and the quantum-chemical calculations (RHF SCF in 6-31 G** basis).     

A study of solid-state rhodium(III) sulfates

Solid-state rhodium(III) sulfates and their aqueous solutions were examined by IR and electronic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray powder diffraction analysis, and ¹⁰³Rh and ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy. A study of the spontaneous aquation of freshly prepared solutions showed that this process results in an equilibrium between the subsystems of monomeric and oligomeric complexes. It was found that solid-state rhodium(III) sulfates vary in phase composition, basically consisting of dimeric and trimeric complexes.     

Solid-phase oxidative halodecarboxylation of β-arylacrylic acids with the ceric ammonium nitrate—alkali halide system

The solid-phase oxidation of cinnamic, 4-methoxy- and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acids with Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆—MHal system leads to β-halostyrenes. Similar procedure in the absence of a metal halide results in a cleavage of the C=C bond giving the corresponding benzaldehydes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 114–118, January, 2008.