Microstructure transformation and stress-strain behavior of isotactic polypropylene under large plastic deformation

The macroscopic stress-strain behavior of monoclinic polypropylene samples was investigated at 70°C under uniaxial tension and simple shear by means of a special videometric testing system that gives access to the constitutive equation of plastic behavior at constant strain rate up to large deformation. At several levels of plastic strain, the microstructural evolution of the material was characterized by means of X-ray scattering, densitometry and viscoelastic analysis. It appears that the strain hardening is high in tension, whereas it is nearly zero in shear. This behavior is associated with the development of a fiber texture in tension, which differs drastically from the planar crystalline texture developed in shear. Furthermore, it is shown that structural damage takes place as the plastic deformation proceeds in tension, while only little damage is recorded in shear. A viscoplastic model has been developed that specifically tales into account the various slip systems activated in the polypropylene crystallites and the elastic interactions of the lamellae through a self-consistent scheme. Simulations based on this model reproduce correctly the contrasting strain-hardening in tension and in shear and the different crystalline textures induced for these two loading paths.     

Interaction between dietary protein and fat in triglyceride metabolism in the rat: Effects of soy protein and menhaden oil

The objective of the present study was to determine the mechanisms by which dietary proteins interact with dietary lipids in the regulation of triglyceridemia in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=56) were subjected to 28-d experimental diets containing different combinations of proteins (20% w/w) and lipid sources (14% w/w): (i) casein-menhaden oil, (ii) casein-beef tallow, (iii) soy protein-menhaden oil, and (iv) soy protein-beef tallow. Significant protein-lipid interactions were observed on triglyceridemia and hepatic cholesterol in fasted rats. The combination of casein and beef tallow was associated with high plasma TG and hepatic cholesterol concentrations, which were reduced by substitution either of soy for casein or of menhaden oil for beef tallow. Therefore, triglyceridemia and liver cholesterol remained low with soy protein feeding, independently of the lipid source, as well as with menhaden oil feeding, regardless of the protein source. The menhaden oil diets reduced plasma cholesterol, hepatic TG, and TG secretion compared with beef tallow diets independently of the dietary protein source. Modifying the source of dietary proteins and lipids had no effect on post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity. These results demonstrate that soy protein can lower rat triglyceridemia relative to casein when associated with beef tallow consumption, whereas menhaden oil can attenuate hypertriglyceridemia when rats are fed casein. The data further suggest that part of the hypotriglyceridemic effect of soy protein in the rat may be mediated by reduced hepatic lipid synthesis, as is the case for menhaden oil.     

Sterols,methyl sterols,triterpene alcohols and fatty acids of the kernel fat of different malagasy mango(Mangifera indica) varieties

The kernel fat content of 16 different mango varieties collected from the Northwestern part of Madagascar island were examined. The fat content (22–54%) was determined by chloroform/methanol extraction. Investigation by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) revealed 15 fatty acids, mainly palmitic (7–12%), stearic (22–40%), oleic (41–48%) and linoleic (7–17%). Significant correlations were observed among the main fatty acids. Testing for the sterol fraction in 15 mango varieties allowed us to separate and quantitatively analyze 7 sterols by GLC. The main sterols wereβ-sitosterol (47–76%), stigmasterol (12–23%) and campesterol (7–12%). The stigmasterol/campesterol ratio (1.2:2.3) was lower in mango kernel fat than in cocoa butter. Among the 4-methyl sterol fractions, gramisterol, lophenol, obtusifoliol and citrostadienol were tentatively identified by GLC. Lupeol, cycloartenol,α- andβ-amyrins and friedelinol were tentatively identified by GLC in the triterpene alcohols fractions.     

Application of the percolation model to gelation of an epoxy resin

The percolation model has been applied to the study of gelation of the TGDDM-DDS system (tetraglycidyldiaminodiphenylmethane–diaminodiphenylsulfone) at a mass concentration of 100–30. For each temperature the experimental viscosity curves are satisfactorily described by a percolation law. Using the degree of chemical reactions, X, as a variable, a very clear change in the reaction mechanism with temperature can be shown. Then a rate of advancement of effective reactions, Y, is defined. This value only takes intermolecular-type reactions into account, and is probably the only variable on which viscosity depends in a percolation law: η = B(1 ? Y/Y_c)^?p. We obtain Y_c= 0.45 and p= 2.0. Comparing X_c and Y_c at the gel point, we obtain information on the proportion of intramolecular reactions with temperature. It is also demonstrated that the critical percolation threshold agrees closely with the gel point determined experimentally on log G″= f(t) curves.     

Studies of surface and gas reactions in a catalytically stabilized combustor

A numerical investigation of a catalytically stabilized thermal (CST) combustor was conducted for a multichannel catalyst bed, and both the catalyst bed and thermal combustor were simultaneously modeled. The numerical model handled the coupling of the surface and gas reaction in the catalyst bed as well as the gas reaction in the thermal combustor. The behavior of the catalyst bed was investigated at a variety of operating conditions, and location of the flame in the CST combustor was investigated via an analysis of the distribution of CO concentration. Through parametric analyses of the flame position, it was possible to derive a criterion to determine whether the flame is present in the catalyst bed or the thermal combustor for a given inlet condition. The results showed that the maximum inlet temperature at which the flame is located in the thermal combustor increased with increasing inlet velocity.     

Catalytic degradation of waste polyolefinic polymers using spent FCC catalyst with various experimental variables

Liquid-phase catalytic degradation of waste polyolefinic polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PP) over spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst was carried out at atmospheric pressure with a stirred semi-batch operation. The effect of experimental variables, such as catalyst amount, reaction temperature, plastic types and weight ratio of mixed plastic on the yield and accumulative amount distribution of liquid product for catalytic degradation was investigated. The initial rate of catalytic degradation of waste HDPE was linearly increased with catalyst amount (4-12 wt%), while that was exponentially increased with reaction temperature (350-430 ‡C). Spent FCC catalyst in the liquid-phase catalytic degradation of polymer was not deactivated fast. The product distribution from catalytic degradation using spent FCC catalyst strongly depended on the plastic type. The catalytic degradation of mixed plastic (HDPE: LDPE: PP: PS=3: 2: 3: 1) showed lower degradation temperature by about 20 ‡C than that of pure HDPE.     

Efficiency of mineral admixtures in mortars: Quantification of the physical and chemical effects of fine admixtures in relation with compressive strength

This work is the fourth part of an overall project the aim of which was the development of general mix design rules for concrete containing different kinds of mineral admixtures. The two first parts presented the separation and quantification, by means of an empirical model based on semi-adiabatic calorimetry measurements, of the different physical effects responsible for changes in cement hydration (short terms) when chemically inert quartz powders were used in mortars. Part three dealt with an intensive experimental program, presenting and commenting more than 2000 compressive strength measurements. This program concerned 1 day to 6 months old mortars containing up to 75% of inert and pozzolanic admixtures. All these compressive strength results are analyzed in this fourth part and the influence of three effects, namely dilution, heterogeneous nucleation and the pozzolanic effect, are discriminated and quantitatively evaluated. An efficiency concept is proposed in order to take into account the effect of mineral admixture in mortars from both the physical and chemical points of view. It uses an efficiency function ξ(p) that has notable properties: it is independent of time, independent of fineness and independent of the type of mineral admixture.     

Study of UAV tracking based on CNN in noisy environment

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Recently, there are lots of tracking methods proposed to improve the performance of visual tracking in videos with challenging situations, such as background...     

Team cognition in a cyber defense context: focus on social support behaviors

In the face of increasingly prominent cyber security issues, the organization of cyber team analysts has become crucial to thwart cyber threats. Few studies have examined the functioning of the team and the interaction between individuals in a cyber defense context and how the context influences team adaptation. The present study investigates team cognition in a cyber defense context and in particular the nature of task- or team-centered communication among analysts during a cyber defense simulation exercise. Results indicate that markers of situation assessment and shared mental models are both strategically present and linked. Nevertheless, the frequency of these markers varies depending on the quantity and quality of problems encountered; in particular, variations in social support behaviors are observed. Decreasing social support behaviors during high level activities suggests the adaptation of social behaviors depending on the threats and attacks on the system. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of theories and potential consequences for strategic adaptation and team resilience.

     

Upcycling by grafting onto semi-crystalline polymers using supercritical CO2

The creation of graft copolymers by selectively grafting a second polymer to the amorphous fraction of a semi-crystalline polymer in supercritical CO₂ is demonstrated herein. The graft copolymer is synthesized by free radical polymerization of a vinyl monomer within the semi-crystalline polymer below its melt temperature. Such conditions afford selective grafting on the amorphous regions (block “B”) while leaving the crystalline domains (block “A”) unmodified. Accordingly, unique A-B, A-B-A, A-B-A-B-A, and so forth. block structures are formed. In this work, styrene is polymerized within polyamide 6, polyethylene terephthalate, and isotactic polypropylene. Purification of these material is performed to remove the un-grafted homopolymer, allowing for determination of the graft yield, the portion of polymer which covalently bonds to the semi-crystalline matrix. Grafting yields achieved in polyamide 6, polyethylene terephthalate, and isotactic polypropylene were 98%, 59%, and 15%, respectively. Property enhancements were observed upon further characterization of polystyrene-polyamide 6 copolymers, including high glass transition temperatures, the ability to be remelted, and tunable grafting molecular weight. Additionally, hydrophobicity is controlled by varying polystyrene composition. The remarkable range of accessed properties demonstrates this as a potential route to upcycling plastics.