Thermal and mechanical-induced phase transformations during YAG and alumina–YAG syntheses

The preparation of pure Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) and 50 vol% Al₂O₃–YAG composite powders by a wet chemical route is presented. The role of the synthesis temperature during reverse-strike precipitation has been investigated, showing its relevant effect on the purity and homogeneity of YAG powder. The composite material was prepared by comparing two different synthesis routes. A composite powder was synthesized via reverse-strike temperature-controlled co-precipitation. In the latter case, a pure-alumina precursor was firstly reverse-strike precipitated and then doped with an yttrium salt solution. For both syntheses, the role of thermal and mechanical pre-treatments on the phase development was demonstrated.     

The calorimetric investigation of phosphoric acid-N,N-dimethylformamide system

Solution and mixing enthalpies for the orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄)-N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) system were measured over the whole concentration range at 25 °C. The standard value of solution enthalpy of phosphoric acid in DMF and the standard transference enthalpy of H₃PO₄ from water to DMF were calculated. The mixing enthalpy concentration dependence permitted making assumptions on complex formation in the system under investigation.     

Role of solvent in the compatibility of a vinylchloride–vinylacetate–maleic acid terpolymer and nitrocellulose blends

The compatibility of cast films of a vinylchloride–vinylacetate–maleic acid terpolymer (VMCH) and nitrocellulose (NC) blends is influenced by solvents. Transparent films of VMCH/NC blends are obtained when cast from solvents such as tetrahydrofuran or cyclohexanone, whereas hazy films are obtained when cast from solvents such as acetone or ethylacetate. Visible spectroscopy and phase morphology were used to analyse the compatibility–incompatibility of the blend. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies demonstrate that the transparent film is compatible, but the hazy film is incompatible. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) studies establish that a greater interaction is observed between the polymer pair in case of the compatible blend than in the case of the incompatible blend. A solvent dependency of blend compatibility is reflected in this study. The conformational state of the polymers in solution, which is responsible for the compatibility phenomena, may depend on the donor number and/or Taft-β value of the solvent. The greater the donor number and/or the Taft-β value, the higher may be the level of interaction between the solvent and the polymer molecules, which in turn may give a compatible blend after removal of the solvent.     

New In-situ Sampling and Analysis of the Production of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Powders from Liquid Precursors using a Novel Wet Collection System in a rf Inductively Coupled Thermal Plasma Reactor. Part 1: Reactor System and Sampling Probe

A new reactor and a novel in-situ sampling technique were developed for the study of the synthesis of CeO₂ powders produced from dissolved cerium nitrate salts. The conical reactor minimized particle recirculation and provided a highly symmetrical and undisturbed plasma flow suitable for the analysis of the phenomena affecting the formation of CeO₂ powders. Both a calorimetric study of the reactor and a thermodynamic analysis of CeO₂ formation were conducted. The sampling probe is described and near-isokinetic sampling was achieved. The sampled particles were collected using a miniature wet collection system, i.e. a mist atomizer and a custom-made spray chamber. A numerical simulation of the velocity and temperature fields of the plasma gas in the reactor was done using Fluent. A comprehensive droplet-to-particle formation mechanism presented elsewhere is revisited and expanded based on calorimetry, thermodynamics of CeO₂ formation, numerical simulations and collected particles. No traces of other oxidation states other than CeO₂ were found.     

Modern Analysis

The important advances being made in modern analytical methods are indicative of the fundamental changes that are occuring in the theory and practice of “analytical chemistry”. “Information optimization” demands a new approach in teaching and research, and calls for the intergration of chemistry with other scientific and technical disciplines.     

Study of process parameters for starch,gluten, and glycerol mixtures

This work involved a study of the effect of processing variables (temperature, water content, rotor speed, and time) on the mechanical properties of starch:gluten:glycerol mixtures in the weight ratio of 40:40:20. The properties of the materials were affected by the processing variables. The torque decreased with water content, indicating that water facilitates the plasticization of mixtures, whereas the increase in temperature accelerated the evaporation of water, thus increasing the torque. Ultimate tensile strength was achieved at the lowest temperature (110°C) and the highest water content (20%), whereas maximum elongation was achieved for the material processed at the highest temperature, 150°C, and the fastest rotor speed, 70 rpm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic characteristics of solvation of individual ions in ethanol at −50 to 55°C

Experimentally determined are the enthalpies of solution of 12 electrolytes (LiBr, LiI, NaBr, NaI, NaBPh₄, Et₄NCl, Et₄NBr, Pr₄Br, Bu₄NBr, Am₄NBr, Ph₄PCl, Ph₄PBr) in ethanol at –50 to 55°C. _sH^o values obtained on the basis of four different extrapolation equations are analyzed. The effect of temperature changes on the thermodynamic parameters of solvation indindividual ions are calculated using thermodynamic data for the salt crystals (lattice) with the assumption that _solvC _p ^o (Ph₄P⁺)=_solvC _p ^o (Ph₄P^-).     

MORPHOLOGY OF POLYBUTADIENE “SHISH KEBABS”

Shish kebab structure of cis-1 , 4-polybutadiene has been obtained by quiescent solution crystallization at suitable temperature. The morphology and growth mechanism of formation of shish kebab structure have been studied in detail.The higher the molecular weight the faster the sample crystallizes.     

一种基于二进小波变换的自适应滤波方法

根据信号和噪声经小波变换后在不同尺度上有不同的特征，将相邻尺度二进小波变换值的相关量进行归一化处理并与小波变换值比较来判断信号与噪声，以噪声在各尺度的方差作为终止迭代的标准，提出了一种基于二进小波变换小波域选择噪声的自适应滤波方法。研究了模拟信号的去噪过程、半峰宽和信噪比对去噪结果的影响，并对模拟含噪信号和含噪毛细管电泳信号去噪前后的结果进行了比较。实验结果表明：由于该方法具有良好的自适应性和显著的滤波效果，必将得到广泛的应用。     

Surface chemical analysis of raw cotton fibres and associated materials

The surface chemical composition of raw unscoured cotton was successfully investigated by the surface analytical techniques X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The presence of non-cellulosic material at the fibre surface was established and determined to be a complex mixture of fatty acids, alcohols, alkanes, esters and glycerides. The effect of scouring and bleaching was to reduce the surface concentration of these materials but even after aqueous processing some non-cellulosic material residue was still detected at the fibre surface.