Determination of various deformation processes in impact-modified PMMA at strain rates up to 105%/min

The deformation processes in impact-modified PMMA, which deforms homogeneously, were determined by means of the stress/strain experiment (, ) with simultaneous lateral strain measurement (_lat) in a wide range of strain rates () up to 10⁵%/min (impact stress). The elastic, plastic cavitation and plastic shear processes were determined as a function of strain. Therefore we calculated the elastic strain ( _el), the elastic volume expansion ( _{vol el}), the cavitation strain ( _cav), which is identical with the plastic volume expansion ( _{vol pl}), the shear strain ( _sh) and the energy densities (W_el, W_cav, W_sh) related to these three processes.For strains of 3 % onward it was found that plastic shear processes and plastic cavitation processes are responsible for a partial loss of elastically stored energy. Both plastic processes turn out to be mostly anelastic deformations, their amount depending strongly on the strain rate. The contributions of the processes to the total deformation of the unmodified PMMA in its strain range are similar to those of the impact-modified PMMA, and the high impact strength is caused by a shift of the catastrophic rupture to very high strains.     

Liquefaction of corn stover and preparation of polyester from the liquefied polyol

This research investigated a novel process to prepare polyester from corn stover through liquefaction and crosslinking processes. First, corn stover was liquefied in organic solvents (90 wt% ethylene glycol and 10 wt% ethylene carbonate) with catalysts at moderate temperature under atmospheric pressure. The effect of liquefaction temperature, biomass content, and type of catalyst, such H₂SO₄, HCl, H₃PO₄, and ZnCl₂, was evaluated. Higher liquefaction yield was achieved in 2 wt% sulfuric acid, 1/4 (w/w) stover to liquefying reagent ratio; 160°C temperature, in 2h. The liquefied corn stover was rich in polyols, which can be directly used as feedstock for making polymers without further separation or purification. Second, polyester was made from the liquefied corn stover by crosslinking with multifunctional carboxylic acids and/or cyclic acid anhydrides. The tensile strength of polyester is about 5 MPa and the elongation is around 35%. The polyester is stable in cold water and organic solvents and readily biodegradable as indicated by 82% weight loss when buried in damp soil for 10 mo. The results indicate that this novel polyester could be used for the biodegradable garden mulch film production.     

Buffers for the Physiological pH Range: Thermodynamics of the Second Dissociation of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic Acid From 5 to 55°C

The second acidic dissociation constants pK ₂ of the ampholyte N-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (HEPPSO) have been determined at seven temperatures from 5 to 55°C from emf measurements utilizing hydrogen and silver–silver chloride cells without liquid junction. The thermodynamic quantities, G°, H°,S°, and C _p ^o have been calculated from the temperature coefficient of pK ₂. At 25°C, the pK ₂ = 8.042 and at 37°C, pK ₂ = 7.876; hence, buffer solutions of HEPPSO and NaHEPPSOate are important for pH control in the region close to that of clinical fluids (blood serum). Conventional pH values from 5 to 55°C as well as those obtained from liquid junction correction at 25 and 37°C have been reported for three buffer solutions with the compositions (molality scale): (1) equimolal mixture of HEPPSO (0.04 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.04 m) + NaCl (0.12 m); (2) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m); and (3) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m) + NaCl (0.08 m).     

Characterization of fibril reinforced membranes for fuel cells

Characteristics of fibril reinforced membranes developed by Asahi Glass Company are reviewed. PTFE-fibrils <1 μm in diameter are dispersed in ion-exchange membranes uniformly. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, tear strength, creep property and compressive property were examined and compared with non-reinforced membranes. Fibril reinforced membranes, even by the addition of a small amount of PTFE-fibrils (2.7 wt.%), show excellent mechanical strength, especially in creep and tear strength. Cell performance is nearly equal to the one using a non-reinforced membrane and cell voltage stays about the same during the cell operation at 80 °C for 3000 h.     

Application of ammonia intermittent temperature-programmed desorption to evaluate surface acidity of tungsten oxide supported on activated carbon

Intermittent temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia was used to study the strength and population of surface acid sites of tungsten oxide supported on activated carbon pretreated at 350 and 700 degrees C. Catalysts pretreated at 350 degrees C showed two types of surface acid sites and desorption occurred with free readsorption until a temperature of around 300 degrees C was reached. Pretreatment at 700 degrees C produced three different states of ammonia adsorbed on the catalysts and desorption occurred with free readsorption.     

Effect of ionic interactions on the oxidation of Fe(II) with H2O2 in aqueous solutions

The oxidation of Fe(II) with H₂O₂ has been measured in NaCl and NaClO₄ solutions as a function of pH, temperature T (K) and ionic strength (M, mol-L^–1). The rate constants, k (M^–1-sec^–1), d[Fe(II)]/DT=-k[Fe(II)][₂O₂]at pH=6.5 have been fitted to equations of the formlog k = log k₀+ AI ^1/2+BI+CI ^1/2/T Where log k₀=15.53-3425/T in water; A=–2.3, –1.35; B=0.334, 0.180; and C=391, 235, respectively, for NaCl (=0.09) and NaClO₄ ( =0.08). Measurements made in NaCl solutions with added anions yield rates in the order B(OH) ₄ ^– >HCO ₃ ^– >ClO ₄ ^– >Cl^–>NO ₃ ^– >SO ₄ ^2– and are attributed to the relative strength of the interactions of Fe²⁺ or FeOH⁺ with these anions. The FeB(OH) ₄ ⁺ species is more reactive while the FeCO ₃ ⁰ , FeCl⁺, FeNO ₃ ⁺ and FeSO ₄ ⁰ species are less reactive than the FeOH⁺ ion pair. The general trend is similar to our earlier studies of the oxidation of Fe(II) with O₂ except for B(OH) ₄ ^– . The effect of pH on the logk was found to be a quadratic function of the concentration of H⁺ or OH^– from pH=4 to 8. These results have been attributed to the different rate constants for Fe²⁺ (k₀) and FeOH⁺ (k₁) which are related to the measured k by, k=k_0Fe + k_1FeOH, where _i is the molar fraction of species i. The rates increase due to the greater reactivity of FeOH⁺ compared to Fe²⁺. k₀ is independent of composition and ionic strength but k₁ is a function of ionic strength and composition due to the interactions of FeOH⁺ with various anions.     

Degree of hydration in cement paste and C<Subscript>3</Subscript>A-sodium carbonate-water systems

This research provides a fundamental understanding of the early stage hydration of Portland cement paste, tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) paste at water to cement ratio of 0.5 and C₃A suspension at water to cement ratio of 5.0 modified by 2 or 4 mass% of sodium carbonate. A high conversion of unreacted clinker minerals to gel-like hydration products in the cement-Na₂CO₃ pastes takes place rapidly between 1^st to 24^th h. Contrary the Ca(OH)₂ formation within the same time interval is retarded in the excess of CO₃²⁻ ions due to intensive rise and growth of CaCO₃ crystals in hydrated cement. Later, the conversion of clinker minerals to the hydrate phase is reduced and higher contents of calcite and vaterite relative to that of Ca(OH)₂ in comparison with those found in the Portland cement paste are observed. As a consequence a decrease in strength and an increase in porosity between hardened Portland cement paste without sodium carbonate and those modified by Na₂CO₃ are observed. C₃A hydrates very quickly with sodium carbonate between 1^st and 24^th h forming hydration products rich in bound water and characterized also by complex salts of (x)C₃A·(y)CO₂·(zH₂O type, whereas C₃A-H₂O system offers C₃AH₆ as the main hydration product. Higher content of the formed calcium aluminate hydrates in C₃A-Na₂CO₃-H₂O system also contributes to early strength increase of Portland cement paste.     

Optical spectroscopy of chromium doped (CH3)2NH2X(SO4)2·6H2O (X=Al, Ga) single crystals

Chromium doped (CH₃)₂NH₂Al(SO₄)₂·6H₂O (DMAAlS) and (CH₃)₂NH₂Ga(SO₄)₂·6H₂O (DMAGaS) single crystals were grown and investigated using the methods of optical spectroscopy. It was found that the Cr³⁺ ions in the two crystals are situated in a strong crystal field in which the ²E state is the lowest. The single narrow R-line associated with the ²E–⁴A₂ phosphorescence of Cr³⁺ in DMAAlS in a ferroelectric phase indicates an undistorted octahedral site, whereas important distortion of O_h symmetry and structural disorder was inferred from spectral data obtained with DMAGaS:Cr³⁺ in a low temperature phase. Results of optical investigation are discussed taking into account the structural data.     

The dissociation quotients of formic acid in sodium chloride solutions to 200°C

The dissociation quotients of formic acid were measured potentiometrically from 25 to 200°C in NaCl solutions at ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.3 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mol-kg^–1. The experiments were carried out in a concentration cell with hydrogen electrodes. The resulting molal acid dissociation quotients for formic acid, as well as a set of infinite dilution literature values and a calorimetrically-determined enthalpy of reaction, were fitted by an empirical equation involving an extended Debye Hückel term and seven adjustable parameters involving functions of temperature and ionic strength. This regressional analysis yielded the following thermodynamic quantities for 25°C: logK=–3.755±0.002, H^o=–0.09±0.15 kJ-mol^–1, S^o=–72.2±0.5 J-K^–1-mol^–1, and C _p ^o =–147±4 J-K^–1-mol^–1. The isocoulombic form of the equilibrium constant is recommended for extrapolation to higher temperatures.     

在役桥梁结构延性系数的动力评价方法

以桥墩的基本振型函数为基础,推导出基于试验动力参数的在役桥梁结构延性系数的计算公式,并给出了结构非弹性地震力的求解方法。对室内钢模型桥利用冲击力锤法进行了模态试验和静力对比试验,实测参数与理论值相差仅2%,在此基础上利用给出的公式可以求得桥墩的变形增加系数为2.78。结果表明,在场地土条件未知的情况下,利用动力试验法对在役桥梁结构延性系数进行评价是可行的。