The effect of grass fiber filler on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber

Natural rubber is reinforced with a novel type of grass fiber (Cyperus Tegetum Rox b). The effects of fiber loading of different mesh sizes on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of grass fiber filled natural rubber composite are studied. Since 400 mesh grass fiber loaded natural rubber composite shows superior mechanical properties, therefore the effect of silane coupling agent was studied for this particular composite. Here composites were prepared by using water leached grass fiber. Optimum cure time increases with the increase in fiber loading but the change in scorch time is less. The same trend of increase in optimum cure time is observed in the presence of Si69. But the value is higher compared to that of rubber composite without Si69. With increase in the fiber loading, modulus and hardness of the composite increases but tensile strength decreases. The mechanical properties of the composite, namely moduli at 200 and 300% elongation and hardness increase in the presence of Si69 but tensile strength is less compared to that of the composite without Si69. Elongation at break is not much affected due to the presence of Si69. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effects of Beating,Web Forming and Sizing on the Surface Energy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> Kraft Fibres Evaluated by Inverse Gas Chromatography

In this work attention has been focused on the effects of papermaking beating, web forming and sizing operations on the physical/chemical surface properties of bleached Eucalyptus globulus kraft fibres. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to determine the dispersive component of surface tension (γ_s^d) as well as the acidic/basic character (according to the Lewis concept) of the solid surfaces (pulp fibres and pulp handsheets). The results have shown that the main effect of beating is to increase the fibre's Lewis acidic character. Web forming caused a strong decrease in γ_s^d and significant increments in the adhesion works of both acidic and basic probes, lowering the ratio between the two. Nevertheless, the surface of handsheets still exhibited a dominant acidic character. The sizing operation did not change the dispersive component of the surface tension significantly but decreased the difference between the adhesion works of the acidic and basic probes, rendering the handsheet surface less Lewis acidic and more Lewis basic. Thus, although internal sizing is expected to strongly influence liquid spreading at the paper surface and liquid penetration of the fibre's network, it is concluded that beating and web forming lead to important changes in the surface energetic properties of the Eucalyptus globulus kraft fibres.     

C120异构富勒烯分子的AM1半经验量子化学研究

以哑铃状2C60聚合体、花生壳状2C60聚合体以及C120富勒烯分子为研究对象,采用AM1半经验量子化学方法,计算了3种C120异构富勒烯分子的几何构型、电子结构、分子能量、疏水常数、极化率与偶极矩;然后,根据计算结果,分析对比了3种C120异构体分子的化学稳定性与物理化学特性.研究结果表明,3种C120分子的形成均为吸热反应,它们的稳定性排序为:C120富勒烯>花生壳状2C60>哑铃状2C60分子.     

触头用银合金粉末的氧化性能和氧化后的组织结构

通过热重实验和扫描电子显微等方法，研究了４种触头用银合金粉末的氧化性能及氧化后的组织结构。发现Ａｇ－Ｓｎ－ＲＥ合金粉末氧化以后，在粉末表层形成一层纯银层，其组织结构理想；它的氧化性能最好，适于制备触头材料。Ａｇ－Ｓｎ－ＲＥ合金粉末的优良氧化性能与其氧化后理想的组织结构有关。稀土元素可以降低合金粉末的氧化温度，其它影响作用有待于进一步研究。     

IMPACT PROPERTIES OF METALLOCENE - CATALYZED ETHYLENE-α-OLEFIN COPOLYMERS

The impact properties of two selected metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-butene copolymers and one conventionalcopolymer were evaluated using Izod impact test. It is found that the metallocene-catalyzed copolymer shows superior impactproperties. This result was explained on the basis of the more homogeneous inter-molecular composition distribution andnarrower molecular weight distribution, which leads to more homogeneous morphology with fewer defects. Stepwisecrystallization improves the impact properties, especially in the crack propagation process, to a large extent. This is due to thedecrease of entanglements by stepwise crystallization, which is advantageous for the chain slip and shear. The polymer withheterogeneous intra-molecular composition distribution exhibits a more evident improvement of impact properties understepwise crystallization.     

2-苯基苯并咪唑衍生物非线性光学性质的从头算研究

采用HF／6-31G^*方法优化分子构型，在此基础上用CPHF方法系统地研究了多种基团取代的2-苯基苯并咪唑衍生物的二阶非线性光学系数βvec，并对βvdc的影响因素进行了探讨，为进一步设计综合性能优良的有机非线性光学材料提供理论指导．     

Preparation and properties of composites made from rice straw and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

Rice straw was employed for the preparation of lignocellulosic‐poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites. The effect of pretreatment of rice straw, concentration of PVC, pressure as well as pressing temperature on the mechanical properties and water absorption was studied. Also, the effect of lignin as coupling agent on the mechanical properties and water absorption of composite was studied. Composites of rice straw comprising both PVC and a coupling agent offer superior properties compared to those made from only rice straw and PVC. The extent of improvement in the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of composites depended not only on the pretreatment of rice straw, concentration of PVC and lignin but also on pressure and pressing temperature. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of medium and chemical modification on thermal characteristics of Β-lactoglobulin

The thermal properties of -lactoglobulin (-LG) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under different medium conditions.pH, neutral salts, protein perturbants, and polyols all affected the DSC characteristics of -LG. Acylation with fatty acids also changed the thermal properties, particularly peak width at half-height. The results suggest that the structural stability of -LG is controlled by non-covalent forces, particularly electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Disulfide bonds did not contribute to the thermal response of -LG. Fatty N-acyl-amino acids caused marked increases in thermal stability and decreases in denaturation enthalpy, and additional peaks were observed in the presence of some palmitoyl derivatives.Contribution No. 2310, Centre for Food and Animal Research.We thank D. Raymond for her excellent technical assistance.     

Partial molar enthalpy properties and correlation of excess molar enthalpy data of acetonitrile + diethylamine or S-butylamine mixtures at various temperatures and atmospheric pressure

Experimental data of excess molar enthalpy of binary mixtures of acetonitrile + diethylamine or S-butylamine mixtures as a function of composition at 288.15, 293.15, 298.15 and 303.15 K at atmospheric pressure have been used to calculate excess partial molar enthalpy and partial molar enthalpy of each component as a function of composition as well as partial molar enthalpy properties at infinite dilution. The Flory and Prigogine–Flory–Patterson (PFP) theories were applied to correlate the data. The results of the calculations as well as the influence of temperature and isomers chain on the partial molar enthalpy properties are discussed.     

Photocatalytic TiO2 Coatings: Effect of Substrate and Template

Summary. Transparent TiO₂ films with a high photodegradation activity towards an azo dye in aqueous solution were prepared by sol–gel processing. Films on soda–lime glass supports protected with a thin silica barrier layer exhibited better crystallization and monodisperse nanoparticles, higher absorption of light below 370 nm, and higher photocatalytic activity than those films deposited on bare glass supports proving the detrimental effect of interdiffused sodium ions on the development of the anatase nanostructure. The effect of substrate was more pronounced in thinner films (300 nm) than in thicker ones (1200 nm), which were achieved by adding a template (i.e. Pluronic F127) to the sol.