Highly porous starch/poly(ethylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) composite nanofiber mesh

In this study, starch‐based hybrid electrospun nanofiber meshes were fabricated by electrospinning. Spinning solutions were prepared by mixing starch and certain amounts of poly(ethylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride). Starch‐based nanofiber meshes became insoluble in water with thermal‐induced esterification of hydroxyl groups onto starch backbone. Morphologic and structure analysis of the electrospun nanofiber meshes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Thermal properties of nanofiber meshes were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal stability of nanofiber meshes were increased with formation of intermolecular bonds between starch and poly(ethylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride). POLYM. COMPOS. 34:1321–1324, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of calcium hydroxide removal techniques on the bond strength of root canal sealers

To evaluate the influence of calcium-hydroxide(CH) with different vehicles on the push-out bond strength of different canal sealers to radicular dentin. 152 decrowned single-rooted human teeth were used. After preparation of root canals with nickel-titanium rotary files, 8 roots served as control groups. Then, the roots were divided as follows: (1) Calasept and (2) Surepaste (n = 72). Roots were further subgrouped according to the CH removal techniques: (1) %17 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) + rotary file, (2) %17EDTA + hand file, and (3) %17EDTA (n = 24). Eight roots from each group sectioned longitudinally, divided into two pairs and photographed by stereomicroscope (n = 16). The remaining 16 roots in CH intracanal dressing groups were further divided into 2 subgroups according to the sealer used: (1) AH-Plus-jet and (2) Apexit-Plus (n = 8). Bond strengths of the root canal sealers to root canal dentin were measured using a push-out test setup. The data were statistically analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance p = 0.05. The push-out bond strength values were significantly affected by type of vehicle and the removal techniques (p < 0.05). The mean bond strength of AH-Plus-jet was significantly higher than Apexit-Plus, regardless of type of vehicle and the removal techniques (p < 0.05). There was no difference between vehicles on CH removal (p > 0.05). When examining the removal techniques, only irrigation with %17 EDTA left significantly larger amount of residue (p < 0.05). AH-Plus-jet showed better dislocation resistance than Apexit-Plus. Type of vehicle does not play a fundamental role in the degree of persistence of CH residues on the dentin walls. Instrumentation improves the removal efficiency of CH from root canal.     

Acetylation of Wood with Various Catalysts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare two different acetylation mechanisms using acetic anhydride (AA) or vinyl acetate (VA) modification with using various catalysts. Acetylation of Scots pine wood flour with acetic anhydride could be significantly improved in the presence of potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate at 100°C. Sodium carbonate had low effect on VA acetylation, potassium acetate was found to be more effective, and potassium carbonate was better for vinyl acetate modification of wood flour. The two modification methods and the effect of different catalysts on AA or VA modification were characterized by infrared and NMR spectra and analyzed in detail. The acetylation of Scots pine flour with VA and AA showed almost the same WPG values for catalysts when based on long reaction times.     

Retention of SO2 Emission of Coal Combustion by Using Lime in Briquetting

In this study, the effect of lime on control of SO₂ emissions was investigated by briquetting of coal particles with various lime contents. The influence of the added lime was determined not only from the view of its contribution to environmental aspects but also in terms of effects on the thermal features and reaction kinetics of coal. The extent of improvement was determined by detailed sulfur analysis. Thermal qualification and reaction kinetics of the coal briquettes with varying lime contents were performed by evolved gas analysis and its complementing kinetic model based on Arrhenius principles. At the end of experiments, utilization of lime was seen to contribute considerably to desulfurization process. However, lime addition had an adverse effect both on the effectiveness of combustion and the liability of the coal briquettes to oxidize.     

Complementary Energy Based Formulation for Torsional Buckling of Columns

A unique formulation for the elastic torsional buckling analysis of columns is developed in this paper based on the principle of stationary complementary energy. It is well known that in displacement based numerical formulations, discretization errors lead to stiffer behavior; hence convergence from above. On the other hand, discretization errors in complementary energy based numerical formulations lead to softer behavior in linear elasticity problems, which is a desired feature from the engineering view point. However, complementary energy based formulations can only overpredict the buckling loads for the flexural buckling problems of columns unless the physical conditions are compromised. In this study a formulation based on the principle of stationary complementary energy is considered for the elastic torsional buckling analysis of columns. The complementary energy expression is obtained from the well known total potential energy functional by using Frederichs’ transformation. In contrast to flexural buckling analysis of columns, it is shown that when the principle of stationary complementary energy is used, the torsional buckling loads can be underpredicted. A mathematical proof is provided to elucidate this property. The convergence behavior of the approximate solutions is illustrated through numerical examples for several columns with different boundary conditions.     

Reservoir water effects on earthquake performance evaluation of Torul Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dam

This study presents earthquake performance analysis of the Torul Concrete-Faced Rockfill (CFR) Dam with two-dimensional dam-soil and dam-soil-reservoir finite element models. The Lagrangian approach was used with fluid elements to model impounded water. The interface elements were used to simulate the slippage between the concrete face slab and the rockfill. The horizontal component of the 1992 Erzincan earthquake, with a peak ground acceleration of 0.515g, was considered in time-history analysis. The Drucker-Prager model was preferred in nonlinear analysis of the concrete slab, rockfill and foundation soil. The maximum principal stresses and the maximum displacements in two opposite directions were compared by the height of the concrete slab according to linear time-history analysis to reveal the effect of reservoir water. The changes of critical displacements and principal stresses with time are also shown in this paper. According to linear and nonlinear time-history analysis, the effect of the reservoir water on the earthquake performance of the Torul CFR Dam was investigated and the possible damage situation was examined. The results show that the hydrodynamic pressure of reservoir water leads to an increase in the maximum displacements and principal stresses of the dam and reduces the earthquake performance of the dam. Although the linear time-history analysis demonstrates that the earthquake causes a momentous damage to the concrete slab of the Torul CFR Dam, the nonlinear time-history analysis shows that no evident damage occurs in either reservoir case.     

Improved wear properties of magnesium matrix composite with the addition of fullerene using semi powder metallurgy

The present study aims to fabricate fullerene (C60) reinforced magnesium matrix composite via semi powder metallurgy in hot press system under high purity argon atmosphere. Improvement of wear resistance of pure magnesium with the addition of fullerene is also aimed with this study. Hardness and wear tests at room temperature were performed to investigate the mechanical effect of fullerene nanoparticles. Microstructures of fabricated composites were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results clearly show that hardness performance was improved up to 0.5 wt. % fullerene addition directly. A uniform distribution was also achieved according to the mapping and line EDX analysis for the lower content of fullerene. Agglomeration of fullerene was observed for 1 wt. % reinforced composite. Wear performances of pure magnesium were also improved when harder fullerene reinforcements incorporated into the matrix. Abrasion and oxidation were main wear mechanism for unreinforced and fullerene reinforced composites. Enhancement of hardness and wear performances might be attributed to the high specific surface area of fullerene and achievement of uniform distribution of reinforcement in magnesium matrix.     

Wear,thermal, and physical properties of fluorine-containing polyimide/silica hybrid nanocomposite coatings

This study prepared fluorine and SiO₂ particles containing organic–inorganic hybrid polyimide nanocomposite coatings (PISFs) with inorganic content in the range of 5–20% in pure polyimide solutions via the sol–gel process. Polyimide hybrid structures containing fluorine and SiO₂ particles were synthesized by using perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate. These formulations were applied on aluminum sheets by using a 75 μm wire wound applicator, and the coatings were cured for 8 h at room temperature and then 24 h at 100 °C. Increased inorganic contents caused slight decreases in the initial decomposition temperatures, but the char yield values increased for PISF15 and PISF20. All samples exhibited hydrophobic properties. When all samples were compared, PISF5 and PISF10 exhibited hydrophobicity, high wear resistance and thermal properties. Additionally, PISF5 and PISF10 showed high adhesion, hardness, and methyl ethyl ketone solvent resistance. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47399.     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Hydraulic Performance of Slit-check Dams in Subcritical Flow Condition

Water Resources Management - Slit-check dams have a flow regulation function under normal flow conditions as well as holding large solid (debris flow control). However, the effects of such...     

Synthesis and characterization of whitlockite from sea urchin skeleton and investigation of antibacterial activity

In the present study, undoped whitlockite and ZnO doped-Whitlockite, which is the second most abundant inorganic material in bone structure, were synthesized from sea urchin skeleton. The obtained bioceramic materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and SEM and their antibacterial activities were determined using the inhibition zone diameters of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as gram negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus as gram positive bacterium after 24 h incubation. The characterization studies showed that nano size homogenous biocereamic whitlockite (Ca_2.86Mg_0.14(PO₄)₂) was synthesized from the sea urchin skeleton. After dopping process, the main structure of the whitlockite keeps stable, showing a dopping concentration-independent character. On the other hand, the peaks belonging to ZnO were started to seen in the XRD pattern with increasing the level of ZnO-concentration (after 7 %). All experimental results point out that the obtained whitlockites are viable nominate candidates for bioceramic materials and the results of antibacterial sensitivity prove the inhibitory effect towards Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus for ZnO-doped-whitlockite.