Compact images of spaces with a weaker metric topology

If X is a space that can be mapped onto a metric space by a one-to-one mapping, then X is said to have a weaker metric topology. In this paper, we give characterizations of sequence-covering compact images and sequentially-quotient compact images of spaces with a weaker metric topology. The main results are that (1) Y is a sequence-covering compact image of a space with a weaker metric topology if and only if Y has a sequence of point-finite cs-covers such that for each y ∈ Y. (2) Y is a sequentially-quotient compact image of a space with a weaker metric topology if and only if Y has a sequence of point-finite cs*-covers such that for each y ∈ Y. Supported by the NNSF(10471084) of China.     

Maximizing lifetime of a wireless sensor network via joint optimizing sink placement and sensor-to-sink routing

Wireless sensor networks typically contain hundreds of sensors. The sensors collect data and relay it to sinks through single hop or multiple hop paths. Sink deployment significantly influences the performance of a network. Since the energy capacity of each sensor is limited, optimizing sink deployment and sensor-to-sink routing is crucial. In this paper, this problem is modeled as a mixed integer optimization problem. Then, a novel layer-based diffusion particle swarm optimization method is proposed to solve this large-scaled optimization problem. In particular, two sensor-to-sink binding algorithms are combined as inner layer optimization to evaluate the fitness values of the solutions. Compared to existing methods that the sinks are selected from candidate positions, our method can achieve better performance since they can be placed freely within a geometrical plane. Several numerical examples are used to validate and demonstrate the performance of our method. The reported numerical results show that our method is superior to those existing. Furthermore, our method has good scalability which can be used to deploy a large-scaled sensor network.     

The influence of organo-modified sepiolite on the flame-retardant and thermal properties of intumescent flame-retardant polylactide composites

Polylactide (PLA) composites based on intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) and organo-modified sepiolite (OSEP) were prepared via direct melt compounding. The uniform dispersion of OSEP in the PLA matrix was observed by TEM, but some agglomerates still existed at the high loading. Tensile results showed that high loading of the conventional IFR led to a reduction in tensile strength of PLA composites; however, replacing a portion of the IFR with modified sepiolite in the PLA matrix improved this result. The thermal degradation temperature of the PLA/IFR/OSEP composites determined by thermogravimetric analysis was lower than that of neat PLA, as a consequence of the catalyzed carbonization induced by the addition of IFR and OSEP. The formulation with 13 mass% IFR and 2 mass% OSEP exhibited the highest LOI value of 32 vol% and also reached UL-94 V-0 rating in the vertical burning tests. Furthermore, the co-addition of IFR and OSEP gave rise to a significant reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PLA composites during combustion, particularly in the case of PLA/IFR13/OSEP2 (82% reduction in PHRR and 69% in THR). The excellent fire resistance of PLA/IFR13/OSEP2 could be attributed to that IFR catalyzed carbonization of PLA to form the char, while OSEP resulted in further stabilization in the charred layers.     

Investigation of thermal decomposition of polymer nanocomposites with different char residues

The pyrolysis process of polypropylene (PP), PP‐based nanoclay composites, acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS), and ABS/metal hydroxide nanorods (MHR)/grapheme nanosheets (GNS) composites in a cone calorimeter test was simulated with a recently developed numerical codes, the Federal Aviation Administration ThermaKin. First, the heat release rate (HRR) and the surface temperature as a function of time were compared with experiment data. With reasonable input parameters, the pyrolysis behaviors were predicted reasonably. Subsequently, the influence of the properties of char residue on the HRR was discussed. The char residue of PP/nanoclay acted as a heat transfer barrier, while the char layer of ABS/MHR/GNS acted as a mass transfer barrier. Finally, the sensitivity of the residue characteristic parameters to the model output was discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular simulations of host-guest interactions between zeolite framework STW and its organic structure-directing agents

Zeolites have been widely applied in many chemical processes owing to their featured microporous framework structures. Organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs) play an important role during of the formation of zeolite frameworks via non-bonding host-guest interactions. Understanding these interactions is crucial to the design of OSDAs and the synthesis of target zeolites. Here, we report a molecular simulation study in the host-guest interactions between zeolite framework STW and 21 alkylated imidazolium and pyrazolium cations that have been used as the OSDAs for the synthesis of STW-type zeolites. We find that OSDAs that have successfully directed the formation of STW exhibit stronger host-guest interactions than unsuccessful ones. Furthermore, we find all successful OSDAs possess relatively more negative atomic charges on nitrogen atoms and smaller dipole moments. According to this finding, we have designed seven new alkylated imidazolium and pyrazolium cations that may be suitable for zeolite STW, and verified their structure-directing capability by molecular simulation calculations.     

可调谐激光吸收光谱法与气相色谱法监测甲烷的对比研究

甲烷是一种重要的温室气体,它对大气中温室效应的贡献仅次于二氧化碳.针对环境空气中甲烷的测定,从测量原理、测量过程和测量装置等方面比较了可调谐二极管激光吸收光谱和气相色谱法两种测量方法.结果表明用上述两种方法测得的甲烷的日变化趋势具有良好的一致性.相比较而言,后者造价更低,并且更方便.     

Effect of annealing temperature on photocatalytic activity of ZnO thin films prepared by sol-gel method

Zinc oxide thin films are deposited on Si and quartz substrates using the sol-gel method. The thin films, annealed at 400, 600 and 800 °C respectively, are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectrometer (FL) and the photocatalytic activity is tested by the decomposition of methyl orange dye under UV illumination. The results show that the mean grain size, surface-to-volume ratio, rms roughness and degradation efficiency of the thin films increases with increasing annealing temperature. In particular, ZnO thin film annealed at 800 °C exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity, degrading methyl orange by almost 88% in 180 min. Photocatalytic reaction mechanism of the ZnO thin films is discussed in detail, and the oxygen defects are proposed to be the active sites of the ZnO photocatalyst.     

Improved flame retardant properties of epoxy resin by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives

Flame retardant additives of montmorillonite (MMT) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were embedded in epoxy resin to improve the resin's flame retardant properties. MMT was fluorinated to exfoliate its layers and enhance its dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT was also fluorinated to create hydrophobic functional groups for improved dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT reduced the degradation rate of the epoxy resin and increased the char yield. Limiting oxygen index also increased showing first order against char yield. The exfoliated MMT acted as an energy storage medium to hinder thermal transfer within the epoxy resin. The activation energy increased almost two times by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives. The fluorination of the additives, MMT and MWCNT significantly improved the flame retardant properties of the epoxy resin.     

Effect of the preparation method on the catalytic performance of Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> for methane oxidation

The layered structure oxide Ca₃Co₄O₉ particle was synthesized by two routes of citrate sol–gel method. The structure, morphology and surface property of Ca₃Co₄O₉ was characterized by XRD, SEM and XPS, respectively. The catalytic activity of Ca₃Co₄O₉ for methane combustion was tested in a fixed bed quartz tubular microreactor. The catalysis results reveal that the catalytic activity is sensitive to the texture of Ca₃Co₄O₉ by different route. TG measures confirm that the small particle size of Ca₃Co₄O₉ favors the oxygen transformation on the surface, which can be ascribed the random distribution of the crystal axes in irregular Ca₃Co₄O₉ particle.     

基于SEM与FTIR研究改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料的热氧老化机理

钢渣是冶金工业中产生的主要固体废弃物,其产量约为每年粗钢产量的15%~20%。由于技术的局限,导致我国钢渣利用率较低,仅为年钢渣产量的10%,同时加之管理制度的不健全,导致钢渣大量露天堆放,对土地资源、地下水源,以及空气质量形成严重影响。面对上述问题,以热闷渣、电炉渣和风淬渣研发改性钢渣微粉,并且将改性钢渣微粉与复合橡胶进行复合制备改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料。依据《硫化橡胶或热塑性橡胶热空气加速老化和耐热试验》（GB/T3512—2014）对改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料进行热氧老化处理,采用平衡溶胀法测定改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料的交联密度,扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、热重分析仪（TGA）和傅里叶转换红外光谱仪（FTIR）分别测试其微观形貌、失重率和结构组成,从微观层面阐述改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料的热氧老化机理。结果表明在热氧老化前期老化作用在改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料表面,其内部以交联键形成反应为主;在热氧老化中期老化作用已经作用改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料内部,造成交联键断裂反应速度高于交联键形成反应速度,形成大量断裂交联键;在热氧老化后期由于改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料内部已经存在大量断裂交联键,导致主链及交联键断裂速度降低,交联键形成反应占优势。改性钢渣微粉以热闷渣（SiO₂含量高）为原材料,有利于形成聚合物大分子链贯穿炭黑网络的结构,提高综合性能,尤其是物理机械性与滞后性;以电炉渣、风淬渣（Fe₂O₃含量高）制备改性钢渣微粉,有利于热传导性能的改善,不仅提高改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料的耐热性,而且提高其硬度与脆性。热氧老化过程中改性钢渣/橡胶复合材料内部在橡胶分子链α-H上发生了不同程度的氧化反应,并在橡胶分子链周围生成了羟基、羧基和醇类化合物,双键烯氢含量降低。