Creating and Justifying Research and Development Value: Scope,Scale, Skill and Social Networking of R&D

In this paper we describe a framework for analysing the creation and justification of Research & Development. The 4S framework is developed for analysing the scope, scale, skills and social network aspects of Research & Development value. The framework is based on social system theory, a process contingency model, and recent Research & Development metrics. We present a first empirical assessment based on a workshop using the 4S framework for leveraging Research & Development. Results that assist in the assessment of value creation utilising R & D within networks are very relevant in high tech industries. The multi–dimensional process approach of this framework seems promising for understanding and managing R&D value creation, but needs further operationalisation. Case studies are described and a Dutch network on leveraging R&D has been initiated.     

Quality of subcutaneous,intermuscular and intramuscular fat tissue using elevated quantities of medium chain fatty acids in pig fattening

The present study comprised fat tissue samples of 46 (partly 23) pig carcasses randomly obtained from each one of four production systems: common fattening, pigs fattened on a low-fat diet and pigs grown on diets enriched with medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in low or high amounts (0.3% and 3.6% C₈ with C₁₄, respectively). As models for subcutaneous, intermuscular and intramuscular fat tissues, back fat, dissected belly fat tissue and belly meat were used. In all fat tissues, the contents of MCFA were significantly elevated only with the high dietary content of MCFA, with a preferential retention of the MCFA in the storage tissues. In the MCFA supplemented groups, linoleic acid contents were slightly lower in subcutaneous and intermuscular fat as compared to the control group, in the group with the low-fat diet linoleic acid was considerably lower in all tissues. In spite of the only marginal differences in fatty acid pattern, the penetrometrically assessed firmness of backfat as well as the oxidative resistance of back and belly fat were almost twice as high in the high-MCFA group as in the other groups. In the low-fat group, water content of the back fat (16.9%) was higher than the average of the other groups (14.5%). The implications for routing assessment of fat tissue properties at slaughter plants are discussed.     

Double necking in polymer tensile deformation

After initial necking of tensile polymer samples the deformation front moves along the gauge length at a stress which is smaller than the yield stress. The still undeformed parts of the sample are therefore subjected to conditions which favour deformation by a creep mechanism. If the extension rate is right, secondary necking becomes possible. Boundary conditions are discussed.     

Dynamic mechanical behavior of high‐density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer blends: The effects of the blend ratio,reactive compatibilization,and dynamic vulcanization

The effects of the blend ratio, reactive compatibilization, and dynamic vulcanization on the dynamic mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends have been analyzed at different temperatures. The storage modulus of the blend decreases with an increase in the EVA content. The loss factor curve shows two peaks, corresponding to the transitions of HDPE and EVA, indicating the incompatibility of the blend system. Attempts have been made to correlate the observed viscoelastic properties of the blends with the blend morphology. Various composite models have been used to predict the dynamic mechanical data. The experimental values are close to those of the Halpin–Tsai model above 50 wt % EVA and close to those of the Coran model up to 50 wt % EVA in the blend. For the Takayanagi model, the theoretical value is in good agreement with the experimental value for a 70/30 HDPE/EVA blend. The area under the loss modulus/temperature curve (LA) has been analyzed with the integration method from the experimental curve and has been compared with that obtained from group contribution analysis. The LA values calculated with group contribution analysis are lower than those calculated with the integration method. The addition of a maleic‐modified polyethylene compatibilizer increases the storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss factor values of the system, and this is due to the finer dispersion of the EVA domains in the HDPE matrix upon compatibilization. For 70/30 and 50/50 blends, the addition of a maleic‐modified polyethylene compatibilizer shifts the relaxation temperature of both HDPE and EVA to a lower temperature, and this indicates increased interdiffusion of the two phases at the interface upon compatibilization. However, for a 30/70 HDPE/EVA blend, the addition of a compatibilizer does not change the relaxation temperature, and this may be due to the cocontinuous morphology of the blends. The dynamic vulcanization of the EVA phase with dicumyl peroxide results in an increase in both the storage and loss moduli of the blends. A significant increase in the relaxation temperature of EVA and a broadening of the relaxation peaks occur during dynamic vulcanization, and this indicates the increased interaction between the two phases. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2083–2099, 2003     

XPS investigations of electrochemically formed passive layers on Fe/Cr-alloys in 0.5 M H2SO4

Passive layers on Fe20Cr and Fe15Cr were prepared by anodic oxidation in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The preparation of the sputter-cleaned samples and their transfer to the ultrahigh vacuum was performed under protection of purified argon without any contact to the laboratory atmosphere. The prepassive layer consists of a homogeneous film with Cr(III)hydroxide and Cr(III)-sulphate with a low content of Fe(II). In the passive potential range a bilayer structure with enrichment of Cr(III)-oxides with an outer hydroxide and an inner oxide part is formed. Iron exists only in a bivalent oxidation state. In the transpassive potential range a pronounced change of the layer composition was observed: The outer part of the transpassive layer is formed predominantly by Fe(III) species whereas the inner part still contains a strong enrichment of Cr₂O₃.     

Methane coupling at low temperatures on Ru(0001) and Ru(11¯20) catalysts

The conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons on single crystal Ru catalysts has been investigated using combined elevated-pressure kinetic measurements/surface science studies. The reaction consists of activation of methane on Ru(0001) and Ru(11¯20) surfaces to produce carbonaceous intermediates at temperatures between 350 and 700 K and rehydrogenation of these species to ethane and propane at 370 K. It is found that under the reaction conditions employed, the maximum yield in ethane/propane production occurs at 500 K on both surfaces. Influence of the hydrogenation temperature on the production of ethane and propane is also examined. On Ru(0001), the yields of ethane and propane maximize at = 400 K, whereas no maximum yield was observed on Ru(11 0) in the 300–500 K temperature range. Under optimum reaction conditions, hydrocarbon products consist of 16% ethane and 2% propane. High-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) has been used to identify various forms of hydrocarbonaceous intermediates following methane decomposition. An effort is made to relate the hydrocarbon intermediates identified by HREELS to the gas phase products observed in the elevated pressure experiments.