Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(ether-block-amide) Membranes

Poly(ether-block-amide) membranes were made via casting a solution on a nonsolvent (water) surface. In this research, effects of different parameters such as ratio of solvent mixture (n-butanol/isopropanol), temperature, composition of coagulation bath (water) and polymer concentration, on quality of the thin film membranes were studied. The mechanism of membrane formation involves solution spreading, solvent–nonsolvent exchange, and partial evaporation of the solvent steps. Solvent- nonsolvent exchange is the main step in membrane formation and determines membrane morphology. However, at higher temperature of polymeric solution greater portion of solvent evaporates. The results showed that type of demixing process (mutual affinity between solvent and nonsolvent) has important role in film formation. Also, addition of solvent to the nonsolvent bath is effective on membrane morphology. The film quality enhances with increasing isopropanol ratio in the solvent mixture. This behavior can be related to increasing of solution surface tension, reduction of interfacial tension between solution and nonsolvent and delayed solvent-nonsolvent demixing. Uniform films were made at a temperature rang of 60–80 °C and a polymer concentration of 4–7 wt%. Morphology of the membranes was investigated with scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Pervaporation of ethyl butyrate/water mixtures was studied using these membranes and high separation performance was achieved. For ethyl butyrate/water mixtures, It was observed that both permeation flux and separation factor increase with increasing ethyl butyrate content in the feed. Increasing temperature in limited range studied resulted in decreasing separation factor and increasing permeation flux.     

Anodic electrodeposition of Ag1− x Cu x O microcrystals

We demonstrate the anodic electrodeposition of copper-doped AgO at high pH using a silver counter-electrode. Precipitates from a mixture of nitrates and NaOH provided source material for the deposition, and application of a moderate anodic voltage (0.9 V) to the substrate led to deposition of crystalline nanoparticles with incorporated copper. Further increase of the NaOH concentration reduced the amount of copper in the crystals, and higher voltages degraded the crystal quality. XRD confirms the underlying structure to be that of AgO, and Auger and energy dispersive x-ray analyses confirm copper concentrations of approximately 3 % in the crystals.     

Dynamic bifurcations analysis of a micro rotating shaft considering non-classical theory and internal damping

In this study, the dynamic bifurcation of a viscoelastic micro rotating shaft is investigated. The non-classical theory (the modified couple stress theory) and the Kelvin Voigt model are used for modeling the viscoelastic micro shaft. The transverse equations of motion are derived using the variational approach. The reduced order model of the system is obtained by the Galerkin method. Using the Routh–Hurwitz criteria the stability regions of the system are extracted in which the effect of the length scale parameter is significant. Using the center manifold theory and the normal form method the double zero eigenvalue bifurcation is analyzed. The results show that the internal and external damping coefficients, the rotational speed and the material length scale parameter influence the critical speed, amplitude, and phase of a non-trivial solution, and radius of limit cycle (periodic solution). Also, it is seen that by increasing the dimensionless length scale parameter (material length scale per radius of the shaft) the radius of the limit cycle is decreased, whereas the critical rotational speed and the rate of the phase are increased. However, the radius of the limit cycle concerning the classical theory is higher than that of regarding the modified couple stress theory. Furthermore, with an increase of the external damping coefficient the radius of the limit cycle is linearly decreased; however, the critical speed of the system is increased. Additionally, by decreasing length scale parameter the results of the modified couple stress theory approach the classical theory ones.     

A novel technique based on diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectrometry and back-propagation artificial neural network for estimation of particle size in TiO2 nano particle samples

Determination of particle size is one of the critical parameters in nanotechnology. The relationship between particle size and diffuse reflectance (DR) spectra in near-infrared region has been applied to introduce a method for estimation of particle size. Back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) as a nonlinear model was applied to estimate average particle size based on near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectra. Thirty five different nano TiO₂ samples with different particle size were analyzed by DR-FTNIR spectrometry and the obtained data were processed by BP-ANN. The network was trained by 30 samples and was evaluated by the remaining 5 samples. In order to establish whether the new method is applicable for estimation of particle size of nano structured samples, the optimized model was applied to analyze 44 nano TiO₂ samples. It was observed that ANN using the back-propagation algorithm is capable of generalization and could correctly predict the average particle size of nano-sized particles.     

Hydrophobin purification based on the theory of CO2-nanobubbles

Purification is a critical step to obtain hydrophobin HFBII for use in positive applications. In this study, hydrophobin HFBII was produced by Trichoderma reesei via submerged fermentation. Using the CO₂-foam fractionation method yielded a fourfold increase in protein concentration. The foamate (α_L-HFBII) was dried using a nano spray-dryer under optimal temperature. The gushing activity of the dried foamate (α_S-HFBII) decreased. Addition of Tween 80 to the foamate before the drying process partially prevented the deactivation of hydrophobin HFBII. The purity of the powder was enhanced based on the theory of CO₂-nanobubbles in a CO₂-rich environment. The collected CO₂-nanobubbles were added to an apolar–polar system and the interface of these two phases was collected. After evaporation of the apolar phase, the purity of the hydrophobins assembled on the surface of the liquid was significantly improved.     

Application of QR Decomposition Algorithm for Multivariate Calibration in High Overlapping Systems

An accurate and stable algorithm, QR Decomposition Algorithm (QRDA) is initially presented into the chemistry field. The basic principle of QR Multivariate Calibration Algorithm (QRMCA) is investigated, and the complexes system of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium sulfate (SS), and sodium Carbonate (SC) with serious overlapping absorption peaks is analyzed by QRMCA. According to our survey, QRDA can avoid matrix inverting, reduce the orders of matrixes, and speed up the operation of matrices. So, it has bright prospects in chemometrics. The process of the QR Decomposition Algorithm (QRDA) was implemented by an orthogonal and upper triangular matrix decomposition that is robust and convenient. Then it was applied to overcome the problem of overlapping spectra of different components in detergent-washing powder.     

Direct syntheses,characterization and optical analysis of PbX2 (X = I,Br and Cl) nanoparticles without any additives

Lead iodide, bromide and chloride nanoparticles (NP-PbX₂, X = I, Br and Cl) with various morphologies were successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal method without any additives or stabilizers. By treating the PbX₂ in EtOH/CH₂Cl₂ solution at 170 °C for 12 h, the corresponding PbX₂ nanoparticles were synthesized. The average sizes of PbX₂ nanoparticles were between 30 and 80 nm. The structure, morphology, surface and size of PbX₂ nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction powder, Scanning Electron Microscopy, solid state Photo Luminescent, BET surface area and solid state UV.     

Reward maximization in general dynamic matching systems

Queueing Systems - We consider a matching system with random arrivals of items of different types. The items wait in queues—one per item type—until they are “matched.” Each...     

Free-edge stress analysis of general composite laminates under extension, torsion and bending

In this study, based on the reduced form of elasticity displacement field for a long laminate, an analytical method is established to exactly obtain the interlaminar stresses near the free edges of generally laminated composite plates subjects to extension, torsion, and bending. The constant parameters being in the displacement field, which describe the global deformation of a laminate, are appropriately calculated by using the improved first-order shear deformation theory. Reddy’s layerwise theory is subsequently employed for analytical and numerical examinations of the boundary layer stresses within arbitrary laminated composite plates. Various numerical results are developed for the interlaminar normal and shear stresses along the interfaces and through the thickness of laminates near the free edges. Finally the effects of end conditions of laminates and geometric parameters on the boundary-layer stress are studied.