Preparation and characterization of PVA/OMMT composites

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol/organically modified montmorillonite (HDA/MMT; organoclay) composite was prepared for the intercalation processes. Firstly, the rheological behavior of aqueous montmorillonite dispersions was investigated as a function of solid content. Hexadecylamine (HDA) was added to the montmorillonite dispersion (2%, w/w) in different concentrations in the range of 5 × 10^?4 – 9 × 10^?3 mmol/L. The basal spacing of the organoclay (OMMT) was studied by X‐ray diffraction. The FTIR spectra are obtained from the modified montmorillonite products, which revealed the characteristic absorbencies after treatment with HDA. HDA/MMT/PVA composite, which was produced by the reaction of 1 wt % PVA solution with organoclay complex, is characterized by the rheology, electrokinetic, XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:2315–2323, 2006     

The potentiometric behaviour of copolymers of methacrylic acid in water-ethanol solutions

Summary The synthesis is reported of copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid and of methyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid by radical copolymerization, of copolymers of methyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid by partial alkaline hydrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate), and of block copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid. Modified titration curves of all these copolymers were recorded in water and water-ethanol solutions. In a solution containing 50 mass.% ethanol, only small differences could be observed between the potentiometric behaviour of the individual copolymers and polymethacrylic acid. Also, there were no essential differences in any of the solvents used between the potentiometric behaviour of block copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid, on the one hand, and polymethacrylic acid, on the other. On the contrary, maxima and minima were always observed on the modified titration curves of statistical copolymers with a higher content of the hydrophobic comonomer in solutions with a high water content. Thus, using the modified titration curves, it is possible to decide whether a given copolymer is of the block or statistical type.     

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) as a mouse embryonic stem cells support

A series of swellable ethylene dimethacrylate‐crosslinked poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) sheets of homogeneous (nonporous) structure or with different degrees of swelling and porosities was produced by bulk polymerization in either the absence or the presence of various diluents (porogens). Calculations performed by use of the solubility parameter δ of the reaction components indicate that the solvation conditions of the polymerization system change, depending on the solvating power of the diluent, which thus controls the porosity. Pore volume also seemed to be sensitive to the presence of the linear polymer diluent. Polystyrene (PS) showed, compared with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a higher precipitating ability to form porous PHEMA sheets with an increased pore size because of its higher noncompatibility with newly formed crosslinked PHEMA. Given that PHEMA hydrogel is well known for its biocompatibility, it was used here as a potential carrier of cells in transplantation therapies. Attachment and growth of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells on gelatin‐coated transparent PHEMA hydrogel substrates were examined. Two days after plating, survival and morphology of ES cells were largely similar on both PHEMA hydrogel sheets and in petri dishes as controls. This suggests that PHEMA hydrogels are likely candidates for application in transplantation therapies involving ES cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 425–432, 2003     

Relationship between gliadin peptide structure and their effect on the fetal chick duodenum

Summary The tendency to form a-turn in-gliadin was estimated using the B-cell determinant prediction program based on the Chou and Fasman probability of-turn formation. Six sequences possessing a high probability of-turn formation were found. A statistically high agreement was found between these six sequences and three areas in-gliadin with the occurrence of Pro-Ser-Gln-Gln sequence which has recently been considered responsible for toxicity in coeliac disease. By means of solid-phase synthesis seven peptides were obtained covering the above-mentioned regions. Their toxicity was tested using the fetal chick duodenum. The results support the suggestion that peptides containing the sequences Pro-Ser-Gln-Gln and Gln-Gln-Gln-Pro may be involved in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.

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Beziehung zwischen der Gliadin-Peptid-Struktur und ihr Einfluß auf den fetalen Kückendarm

Zusammenfassung Die Tendenz zur Bildung einer-Umwandlung im-Gliadin wurde bei Anwendung eines mathematischen Programms zur Vorhersage von B-Zelldeterminanten bestimmt, welches auf der Wahrscheinlichkeit der-Umwandlung nach Chou und Fasman basiert. Es wurden 6 Sequenzen gefunden, die eine hohe Wahrscheinlichkeit für die Bildung von-Umwandlungen aufwiesen. Zwischen diesen 6 Sequenzen und 3 Regionen im-Gliadin mit der Sequenz Pro-Ser-Gln-Gln, die kürzlich als verantwortlich für die Toxizität bei Cöliakie angesehen wurden, konnte eine statistisch gesicherte Beziehung gefunden werden. Mittels Festphasensynthese wurden 7 Peptide erhalten, die die oben genannten Regionen überdeckten. Ihre Toxizität wurde im fetalen Kückendarm getestet. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß Peptide, welche die Sequenz Pro-Ser-Gln-Gln und Gln-Gln-Gln-Pro enthalten, an der Pathogenese der Cöliakie beteiligt sein könnten.

     

Microstructure and physical properties of transparent thoria-yttria ceramics

The investigation of microstructure, some electrical and optical parameters of transparent ThO₂-15 mol % yo_1.5 ceramics has shown: (a) a very low porosity, close to zero; (b) a higher electrical conductivity than is usual for ThO₂ ceramics of the same composition, with the activation energy 1.12 eV; (c) a relative permittivity _r 33 under the given conditions; (d) confirmation of a single-phase fluorite-type cubic structure by means of Raman and infrared spectra.     

Design of Lu2O3-reinforced Cf/SiC-ZrB2-ZrC ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites: Wetting and interfacial reactivity by ZrSi2 based alloys

The wettability and infiltration of molten ZrSi₂ and ZrSi₂-Lu₂O₃ alloys into C_f/SiC and B₄C-infiltrated C_f/SiC composites were investigated to understand the interfacial interactions that occur during the development of C_f/SiC-ZrC and C_f/SiC-ZrB₂-ZrC-Lu₂O₃ materials. A significant evaporation of Si from the liquid affected the wetting behaviour of the alloy when tested in a vacuum at 1670 °C. The better wetting and spreading of the alloy over the surface was observed for the composites with lower overall porosity (12 %). On the other hand, the formation of an outer dense layer, followed up by the uniform infiltrated region up to ～ 1 mm was observed for the C_f/SiC with higher porosity (21 %). The infiltrated alloy reacted with SiC matrix to form ZrC or with B₄C-infiltrated SiC matrix to form ZrB₂-ZrC-SiC. The Lu₂O₃ particles were not wetted by the melt, and were pushed away of the reaction zone by the solidification front.     

Microstructure and properties of TiB/Ti-6Al-4V coatings produced with laser treatments

TiB/Ti-6Al-4V metal-matrix composite (MMC) layers were produced on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by laser cladding. A TiB₂/Ti powder mixture was used as a precursor to obtain a dispersion of TiB needles in the Ti alloy matrix, with the aid of an exothermic reaction between TiB₂ and Ti. A eutectic microstructure was obtained that consisted of an extremely homogeneous dispersion of TiB eutectic needles in the Ti alloy matrix, having a volume fraction as high as 0.33. Also, an equilibrium-like microstructure was found, consisting of a dispersion of both primary and eutectic TiB needles inside the Ti alloy matrix. An analysis of the geometry of the layers was performed and proved successful in determining the percentage of B. Further, it correctly predicted the variation of atomic B content as a function of laser power. The relative wear resistance coefficient, defined as the wear coefficient of the uncoated matrix divided by that of coating, shows an improvement by a factor as high as 1500 for the eutectic microstructure. This paper was presented at the 2nd International Surface Engineering Congress sponsored by ASM International, on September 15–17, 2003, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and appeared on pp. 411–18 of the Proceedings.     

A comparative study of surface integrity of Ti–6Al–4V alloy machined by EDM and AECG

The electrical discharge machining (EDM) process produces the recast layer with or without cracks on the surface that requires a remedial post-treatment in the manufacture of critical or highly stressed surfaces. One of the frequently used post-treatment processes is also the abrasive electrochemical grinding (AECG) and it has been widely used in the precision machining of difficult-to-cut materials due to an enhanced surface integrity and productivity. The aim of this study is to investigate improvability of surface integrity in terms of machining voltage, electrolyte flow rate and table feed rate parameters of AECG in EDMed Ti6Al4V alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrograph (EDS) and surface roughness measurement were performed to study the surface characteristics of the machined samples. Experimental results indicate that the AECG process effectively improves the surface roughness and eliminates the EDM damages completely by setting suitable grinding parameters.     

The Price of Anarchy in Network Creation Games Is (Mostly) Constant

We study the price of anarchy and the structure of equilibria in network creation games. A network creation game is played by n players {1,2,…,n}, each identified with a vertex of a graph (network), where the strategy of player i, i=1,…,n, is to build some edges adjacent to i. The cost of building an edge is α>0, a fixed parameter of the game. The goal of every player is to minimize its creation cost plus its usage cost. The creation cost of player i is α times the number of built edges. In the SumGame variant, the usage cost of player i is the sum of distances from i to every node of the resulting graph. In the MaxGame variant, the usage cost is the eccentricity of i in the resulting graph of the game. In this paper we improve previously known bounds on the price of anarchy of the game (of both variants) for various ranges of α, and give new insights into the structure of equilibria for various values of α. The two main results of the paper show that for α>273?n all equilibria in SumGame are trees and thus the price of anarchy is constant, and that for α>129 all equilibria in MaxGame are trees and the price of anarchy is constant. For SumGame this answers (almost completely) one of the fundamental open problems in the field—is price of anarchy of the network creation game constant for all values of α?—in an affirmative way, up to a tiny range of α.