Improvement of gas meter performance using polymer materials

The measuring elements of both dry‐ and wet‐type gas meters are composed of a diaphragm and rotary drum. In this article an explanation on the principle of measuring and the structure of the gas meter for each of these two types was discussed. Such applications were made as follows: synthetic rubber was used for the measuring diaphragm, engineering plastic was employed instead of metal for the measuring drum, and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was used for the casing, respectively. As a result, an improvement in the gas resistance performance and productivity, which led to a lighter weight, more compactness and a lower cost of productions was achieved. Also the influence of the solubility of the measured gas to the plastic on the measured valve was discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

长江堤防工程地质信息处理模型及技术方法

长江中下游的主要防洪工程是长江干堤 ,长江堤防线路长、工程浩大、堤基工程地质水文地质条件复杂 ,涉及大量的已有地质数据和资料。今后在整治加固堤防的工程地质勘察工作中 ,还需随时进行数据的收集、存储、检索、分析、统计和维护 ,随时调用这些数据进行综合处理、编制报告和图件 ;在防汛期间可以针对堤防险工险段的险情 ,随时查询和调用有关的资料、数据或者图件 ,提供采取抢险措施决策的地质依据。这既提高了地质数据的利用价值和利用率 ,又保证了信息的准确性、完整性和共享性。因此 ,建立合理的长江堤防工程地质信息处理模型及其成熟的技术方法具有重要的意义。     

Theoretical and experimental approaches to kinetics at the collapse transition of a homopolymer

Summary We discuss some recent theoretical studies of the kinetics of the collapse transition in homopolymers. An isolated polymer is modelled using computer simulation, and a time-dependent mean-field theory. The mean-field theory is analysed analytically for early stages, and for short polymers the equations are studied numerically. The results of simulation and theory are compared yielding, we argue, a consistent physical picture. Quantitative comparisons are not yet given, but seem relatively promising. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4– 1994.     

Analysis of the crystallization kinetics in poly(ethylene oxide) by calorimetric measurements

Summary Differential scanning calorimetric measurements in the early stage of isothermal crystal growth of polyethylene oxide are analysed in the light of irreversible thermodynamics. An accurate evaluation of the equilibrium melting temperature is done by fitting the thermograms obtained at different undercoolings and referring to the activation energy values already known from the literature. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Standardization and certification in the area of environmentally degradable plastics

Environmentally degradable polymers and plastics (EDPs) are a group of polymeric materials experiencing a rapid growth in number as well as in their applications and quantities used. The assessment of their key characteristic - degradability, including eventually biodegradability as the ultimate stage, is scientifically and technically a challenging issue and has led to differing interpretations in the past. In order to standardize techniques and criteria a number of standards were established by different standardization bodies which are also used as a basis for certification schemes. An up-to-date inventory of the rapidly growing standardization body is presented with basic interpretation to help guide the non-expert. A basic introduction to EDPs and polymer degradation is added for clarity.     

Tribological properties of ormosil coatings

Transparent plastics are not scratch resistant. The damage leads to a loss of optical properties. Coatings prepared using either tetraethoxysilane or colloidal silica particles embedded in glymo is a way to avoid these disadvantages. Tribological experiments are carried out to better understand the surface modification due to a sliding friction. It is shown that the wear track is not directly related to usual mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and the hardness of the coating. The different stages leading to material loss are discussed in term of particle removal and debris circulation (accumulation or elimination) through the friction track. The mechanical properties of the film combined with the film to substrate adhesion are expected to play an important role as it can be deduced from results obtained as a function of the coating composition.     

Geometry,stability and aromaticity of β-diketiminate-coordinated alkaline-earth compounds

Alkaline-earth (Ae) metals have attracted a wealth of interdependent research from synthetic chemists. In Ae-catalyzed organometallic reactions, β-diketiminate is a typical ligand used to stabilize Ae catalysts by forming six-membered rings comprising Ae metals. Herein, studies focusing on the configuration of β-diketiminate-coordinated Ae compounds observed that the CC and CN bonds are homogeneous and unchanged. Furthermore, energetic studies observed that the formation of the Ae-incorporated six-membered rings results in enhanced stability of >20 kcal/mol. The nucleus-independent chemical shifts, anisotropy of the induced current density, and molecular orbital analyses demonstrated the non-aromaticity of the β-diketiminate-coordinated Ae compounds. The improved stability of these compounds can be explained by the delocalization of the π electrons derived from the β-diketiminate moiety.