Incorporation of monoacetylferrocene to the sulfonated polystyrene ionomers imparted some changes in the properties of sulfonated polystyrene. Sulfonation was carried out by acetic anhydride and concentrated sulphuric acid. The sulfonation reaction and the degree of sulfonation were determined by analytical titration and adiabatic bomb calorimeter . For this purpose, sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) samples with varying percentages of sulfonation were prepared between 0.85% and 6.51%. Monoacetyl ferrocene was used in equivalent amount of sulfonation through addition procedure. FTIR Spectroscopy was one of the major techniques used to support the successful addition of AcFe to the SPS samples. Altering the sulfonation degree did not change the characteristic peak positions, but increased the peak intensities with increasing the degrees of sulfonation. Mechanical properties of resultant polymers were investigated. As a result, elastic modulus of polymers decreased by the amount of monoacetylferrocene. Thermal characteristic were found by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). Thermal analysis revealed that sulfonated polystyrene samples after addition of monoacetylferrocene displayed lower values of Tg. Microscopic analysis were made by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and single phase for each sample was observed. Besides, energy dispersed micro analysis showed an increase in the intensity of the iron (II) peaks that is related to the amount of monoacetylferrocene added to the SPS samples. Flame retardancy for each polymer was also examined and found that addition of monoacetylferrocene to sulfonated polystyrene does not change the Limiting Oxygen Index value (LOI)(17). However, LOI value for polystyrene is 18.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ambiente de sinterização vácuo e argônio na resistência de união (RUMC) de cerâmicas às ligas de Ni-Cr (Fit Cast SB), Co-Cr (Star Loy C) e titânio comercialmente puro (Tritan). A partir de uma matriz de teflon, foram obtidos 60 padrões de resina/cera em forma de cilindro, com 8 mm de comprimento e 5 mm de diâmetro. Os padrões foram incluídos e os anéis foram levados ao forno e submetidos a ciclos térmicos para a expansão do revestimento. Em seguida, os anéis para fundição em Ni-Cr e Co-Cr foram levados à máquina de fundição por indução eletrônica. Os anéis referentes ao titânio foram levados à máquina de fundição por arco voltaico. Após resfriamento dos anéis, as fundições foram desincluídas e jateadas com óxido de alumínio (100 μm). Depois de recortados dos canais de alimentação, os cilindros metálicos foram preparados para aplicação da cerâmica. Em seguida, foi realizada a aplicação e sinterização da cerâmica à vácuo ou em argônio. Para as ligas alternativas, foi utilizada a cerâmica IPS Classic V e para o titânio, a Triceram. Na sequência, os cilindros compostos pelo metal e disco cerâmico (5 mm de diâmetro e 2 mm de espessura) (n=10) foram submetidos aos ensaios de RUMC por cisalhamento na máquina de ensaios universais com célula de carga de 500 Kg e velocidade do travessão móvel de 0,5 mm/min. Após os ensaios, foram realizadas análises das fraturas por meio de microscopia óptica (MO) (15X) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os dados de RUMC (MPa) obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente pelos testes ANOVA e Tukey (α=0,05). Os resultados demonstraram que a sinterização à vácuo propiciou obtenção de maiores valores (MPa) de RUMC (76,58) que a sinterização em argônio (51,31). Quanto às ligas avaliadas, as de Ni-Cr e Co-Cr apresentaram maiores valores de RUMC (71,32 e 71,28, respectivamente) que o titânio cp (49,23); sendo que entre elas não houve diferença estatística. Não houve interação entre os fatores avaliados. De acordo com a MO, houve predomínio de fraturas mistas. Segundo a MEV, os espécimes de Ni-Cr e titânio sinterizados a vácuo apresentaram maior rugosidade de superfície do que os sinterizados em argônio. Para a liga de Co-Cr não houve diferença na topografia de superfície. A sinterização em argônio influenciou negativamente a RUMC dos pares metalocerâmicos analisados. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of firing atmospheres: vacuum and argon on the bond strength of ceramic to Ni-Cr (Fit Cast SB), Co-Cr (Star Loy C) and commercially pure titanium (Tritan) alloys. 60 wax/acrylic resin cylinder patterns (8 mm high and 5 mm in diameter) were prepared on a plastic custom mold for metalceramic bond strength (MCBS) test. The patterns were invested in phosphated investment and manipulated on vacuum. The rings were placed in a furnace to burn out patterns and thermally expand the molds. Then, the rings of Ni-Cr and Co-Cr were placed in an electronic machine to cast. The rings related to titanium were positioned in the casting machine with a voltaic arc. After the rings have cooled, the castings were divested manually and abraded with aluminum oxide particles (100 μm). Then, the cylinders were prepared for applying of the ceramic veneering disks. The ceramic was applied and fired in vacuum and argon atmospheres. IPS-Classic ceramic was used for alternative alloys and for titanium, Triceram ceramic. Then, the cylinders composed of metal and ceramic disk (5 mm diameter and 2 mm height) (n=10) were submitted to metal-ceramic bond strength (MCBS) shear tests on an universal testing machine with load cell of 500 Kg at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. After the tests, there were made fracture analysis by optic microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MCBS data (MPa) were statistically analyzed by the ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). The results indicated that the vacuum firing (76.58) promoted higher MCBS values than argon firing (51.31). Among the metals, Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloys presented higher MCBS (71.32 e 71.28, respectively) than titanium (49.23); between two base alloys there was no statistical difference. There was no interaction between the evaluated factors. According to MO analysis, there was predominance of mixed fractures. According SEM, the Ni-Cr and titanium specimens submitted to vacuum presented higher surface roughness than the specimens submitted to argon. For Co-Cr, there was no difference of surface topography. The argon firing influenced negatively the MCBS of metal-ceramic evaluated pairs.

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / Recently much research and development has been done into the creation of desalination systems in South Africa, with particular emphasis on the commercialisation of desalination plants that serve local communities. This has been successful - there are currently plants running at Bitlerfontien, Bushmans River Mouth and Robben Island - although membrane fouling and scaling remains a problem associated with membrane desalination, as it does worldwide The aim of this study was to Investigate the performance of different type of antiscalants on artificially scaled membranes which we prepared inside the lab as well as on scaled membranes which were used in pilot plant. We used two type of anti-sealants in our research: Vitec 3000 and Zinc ions. The effects of these anti-sealants on the membrane were determind and the RO performances of the treated and untreated membrane compared. A suitable autopsy procedure was established and was then used to autopsy the XLE 4040 membranes. The autopsied membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The SEM and OM results clearly showed that scaling had taken place: deposits were observed for both the shell and core samples, which were not present in the images of the untreated membrane, especially when looking at high SEM images magnification. Results also showed that the anti-sealants reduced the fouling and scaling on the membrane surface. As a result, the membrane rejection improved. Rejection and flux results indicated that commercial anti-sealant was more effective in preventing scaling than the Zinc ions. For Vitec anti-sealant case, the flux was in steady state at 36.8 Imh (5% less) after 5 hours compared to around 35 Imh (8% less) for zinc ions case. In addition; SEM images showed that less deposited particles are formed when the membrane was treated with commercial anti-sealant.

Orientadores: Antonio Jose Ramirez, Rubens Caram Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T13:06:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TorresLopez_EdwarAndres_M.pdf: 39783627 bytes, checksum: 03310e12f2969671a1edcad6da907e3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Foi desenvolvido um experimento para estudo in-situ dos processos de deformação a alta temperatura no interior do microscópio eletrônico de varredura, permitindo assim o estudo do fenômeno de trincamento a alta temperatura, denominado fratura por queda de ductilidade. Este experimento teve como finalidade o estudo específico das ligas de níquel AWS A5.14 ERNiCrFe-7 e ERNiCr-3AWS empregadas como metal de aporte para a soldagem de ligas de Ni. Instrumentação cientifica dedicada foi desenvolvida e modificada de modo a superar os desafios impostos pelas condições experimentais adversas associadas as elevadas temperaturas necessárias, à compatibilização do experimento com o nível de vácuo necessário na câmera do microscópio e finalmente, à estabilidade mecânica necessária para o acompanhamento do processo de deformação em escala micrométrica juntamente com os processos de aquecimento e de aplicação de forças elevadas. Utilizando esta instrumentação foram definidas as condições e procedimentos adequados para o acompanhamento do processo de deformação das ligas de Ni AWS A5.14 ERNiCrFe-7 e ERNiCr-3 em temperaturas entre 700 e 1000 °C, de forma a estudar as condições de inicio da fratura por queda de ductilidade nestes materiais. Porém, a instrumentação desenvolvida permite não apenas estudar o fenômeno de fratura por queda de ductilidade e avaliar o desempenho de ligas experimentais, mas também o estudo tanto qualitativo como quantitativo de diversos outros fenômenos de fratura e transformação de fase / Abstract: An in-situ high temperature deformation experiment was developed and adapted be performed within the vacuum chamber of a scanning electron microscope in order to study the high temperature cracking phenomenon known as ductility-dip cracking. This experiment was specifically applied to the study of Ni-base alloys AWS A5.14 ERNiCrFe-7 e ERNiCr-3, which are commonly used as filler metal to weld Ni- and Fe- based alloys. Dedicated scientific instrumentation was developed and modified to overcome the challenges imposed by the severe experimental conditions as elevated temperatures and forces, the compatibleness with the microscope vacuum chamber, and the required mechanical stability to track deformation processes at the micro scale. Using this instrumentation were defined and optimized the conditions to study the deformation of Ni-base alloys AWS A5.14 ERNiCrFe-7 e ERNiCr-3 alloys between 700 and 1000 °C and therefore, helps to elucidate the causes of ductility-dip cracking phenomenon . However, the developed instrumentation is a powerful tool to perform several other qualitative and quantitative studies of deformation, cracking phenomena and phase transformations in different materials / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

The diversity of the Eriophyoidea is largely unknown and their systematic study mostly entails alpha-taxonomy which is critically important for these mites. Eriophyoid morphology is almost exclusively studied on slide-mounted specimens, and truly permanent specimen slides cannot be prepared and are eventually lost. Shortcomings in taxon descriptions are persistent, and too few morphological characters are available for systematic use, particularly for phylogenetic studies. The fragile, simplified and minute eriophyoid bodies, and the inadequacy of study methods and technology, including preparation and light microscopy, contribute to these problems. The present eriophyoid classification is widely accepted, relatively stable and useful. The major part of the classification, however, is probably artificial, and some taxon delimitations and identifications are becoming increasingly difficult. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is only sporadically used to supplement conventional descriptions of eriophyoid mites, and their phylogeny has hardly been studied. In the present study some aspects of eriophyoid systematics and its improvements by incorporating SEM for morphological study and phylogenetic analyses for testing and improving the naturalness of the present eriophyoid classification, are used and appraised. The morphology of about 64 species, mostly from South Africa, was studied with low-temperature (cryo) SEM. The specimens remained turgid and the shape of the mites largely unaltered. A general overview of the contribution of the SEM study towards systematic morphology of the Eriophyoidea is presented. Discrepancies between species descriptions from slide-mounted specimens and the SEM images were found. These include body form, interpretation of structures, resolution and information on minute morphology, and the presence of secretions. Some of these differences were caused by artefacts introduced with slide-mounting of specimens. The SEM study includes a comparative morphological study of the gnathosoma, including a review and appraisal of characters presently used in eriophyoid systematics. New morphological information was found, including new characters that may be of systematic use. Morphology studied with SEM should be routinely incorporated into eriophyoid descriptions, which is not presently the case. The phylogeny of the Eriophyoidea was studied at genus level, using morphological data, to test the monophyly of the present suprageneric taxa. Three data matrices with 66, 60 and 27 informative characters of 316 (including most Diptilomiopus spp.), 64 and 17 eriophyoid ingroup species respectively were analyzed with parsimony analyses, and trees were searched under different parameters. This was done to find different hypotheses regarding the taxon relationships, to roughly assess the robustness of the tree groups, and to use different approaches: a very comprehensive taxon sample, but with low ratio of characters to taxa; an exemplar species sample to improve the ratio between characters to taxa; and a very small taxon sample with a good ratio between characters and taxa, but very little inclusion of variation found in the Eriophyoidea. Most groups found were supported only by homoplasy, but many made biological sense and various potentially monophyletic groups, additional to taxa in the present classification, are proposed for further study. The robustness and convergence of these groups on monophyly are discussed. The Phytoptidae was found to be polyphyletic. Part of the Nalepellinae is probably positioned outside the remainder of the Eriophyoidea, while the rest of the Phytoptidae were positioned in smaller subgroups among the Eriophyidae. The Phytoptinae and Sierraphytoptinae, including Pentasetacus, may group together. The Eriophyidae never grouped together with much support, and the family is both polyphyletic and paraphyletic. The Diptilomiopidae was largely found to be monophyletic, with a relatively strong phylogenetic structure. The Rhyncaphytoptinae is mainly paraphyletic, and the Diptilomiopinae polyphyletic, but part of the Diptilomiopinae may be monophyletic. Three new Diptilomiopus spp. from South Africa are described as part of the study: D. faurius sp. nov. from Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. (Proteaceae); D. apobrevus sp. nov. and D. apolongus sp. nov. from Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. ex Arn. (Icacinaceae). They were leaf vagrants not causing any observable symptoms. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

[pt] Limas de NiTi Profile® 25/.04 após sua usinagem não recebem tratamento superficial de polimento gerando pontos concentradores de tensão conseqüente áreas de trinca e fraturas. Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes condições superficiais de limas endodônticas na resistência à torção. Foram avaliadas e caracterizadas por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura dezoito limas rotatórias de NiTi Profile® 25/.04. Utilizou-se 6 limas que não foram submetidas a tratamento químico (Grupo I), 6 limas tratadas com Ácido Nítrico 8% e Ácido Fluorídrico 4% em solução durante 2 minutos (Grupo II) e 6 limas tratadas com a mesma solução porém em tempo de 2 minutos e trinta segundos (Grupo III). Analisaram-se as limas com e sem tratamento superficial carregadas em ensaio de torção e suas fractografias em Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura. As variáveis avaliadas foram torque aplicado no momento da fratura e ângulo máximo de rotação até a fratura. Os valores obtidos nos ensaios mecânicos referentes ao ângulo máximo de rotação e torque máximo foram analisados estatisticamente através do teste estatístico T-student. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto aos valores de torque máximo entre o Grupo II e Grupo III e ângulo máximo entre os Grupos I e III. / [en] NiTi Profile® 25/.04 files do not undergo surface polishing treatments after machining, and therefore exhibit local stress concentrators and, consequently, areas of cracking and fractures. The effect of different surface conditions on the torsional strength of endodontic files were evaluated. 18 NiTi Profile® 25/.04 rotary files were examined by scanning electron. A group of 6 files (Group I) were not subjected to any chemical treatment, another group of 6 (Group II) were treated for 2 minutes using a solution of 8% Nitric Acid, 4% Flouridic Acid, and a further 6 (Group III) were treated with the same solution fot 2.5 minutes. All the file, with and without treatment, were loaded in a torsion test and fractography of the samples was undertaken by scanning electron microscopy. The variables investigated were, torque at fracture and maximum angle of rotation at fracture. The results obtained in these mechanical tests were subjected to a statistical analysis utilizing the T-Student test. It can be concluded from these results that there was a statistically significant difference between the maximum torque results for groups II and III, and between the maximum angle results for groups I and III.

Tato Diplomová práce se zabývá povrchovou analýzou nanokompozitní folie polyetherimidu (PEI) vyztuženého exfoliovanými grafitickými nanodestičkami (xGnP). Analyzovány byly take vzorky nevyztužené PEI folie a samostatné nanodestičky. Vzorky nanokompozitu a PEI folie byly plazmaticky leptány s využitím argonového plazmatu po dobu 1, 3 a 10 hod. Skenovací elektronová mikroskopie (SEM) byla použita pro charakterizaci samostatných nanodestiček rozptýlených na křemíkovém substrátu, původních či leptaných vzorků PEI folie a nanokompozitu. Nanodestičky byly identifikovány při povrchu leptané nanokompozitní folie. Mikroskopie atomárních sil (AFM) byla použita pro zobrazení povrchové topografie separovaných nanodestiček a odkrytých destiček při povrchu leptaného kompozitu. Povrchová drsnost (střední kvadratická hodnota, vzdálenost nejnižšího a nejvyššího bodu) leptaného nanokompozitu narůstala s prodlužující se dobou leptání. Akustická mikroskopie atomárních sil (AFAM) byla použita pro charakterizaci elastické anizotropie leptaných kompozitních vzorků. Nanoindentační měření umožnila charakterizaci lokálních mechanických vlastností PEI a nanokompozitních folií.

Research was conducted to observe bacterial growth on the surface of metals in a static bioreactor. Metal and non-metal samples were subjected to bacterial exposure (1 day and 9 days). The metal samples were surface treated prior to bacterial exposure. The microstructures of the surface treated samples were analyzed by optical microscopy. After exposure, the microstructures of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis suggested that microbial attachment on the surface was related to the underlying microstructure of steel. The preferential attachment of microbes could potentially be influenced by cathodic and anodic regions created by the electrolytic cells.

1) Aims To explore the ultrastructure of interstitial cells in the upper lamina propria of the human bladder, to describe the spatial relationships and to investigate cell-cell contacts. 2) Methods Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), 3-View SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to analyze the 3D ultrastructure of the upper lamina propria in male and female human bladders. 3) Results 3View-SEM image stacks as large as 59µm x 59µm x 17µm (xyz) at a resolution of 16nm x 16nm x 50 nm and high resolution (5nm x 5nm x 10nm) FIB-SEM stacks could be analyzed. Interstitial cells with myoid differentiation (mIC) and fibroblast like interstitial cells (fIC) were the major cell types in the upper lamina propria. The flat, sheet-like ICs were oriented strictly parallel to the urothelium sheet-like morphology. No spindle shaped cells were present. We furthermore identified one branched cell (bIC) with several processes contacting urothelial cells by penetrating the basal membrane. This cell did not make any contacts to other ICs within the upper lamina propria. We found no evidence for the occurrence of telocytes in the upper lamina propria. 4) Conclusions Comprehensive 3D-ultrastructural analysis of the human bladder confirmed distinct subtypes of interstitial cells. We provide evidence for a foremost unknown direct connection between a branched interstitial cell and urothelial cells of which the functional role has still to be elucidated. 3D-ultrastructure analyses at high resolution are needed to further define the subpopulations of lamina propria cells and cell-cell interactions.

Formaldehyde-based adhesives have been reported to be detrimental to health. Petrochemical-based adhesives are non-renewable, limited and costly. Therefore, the improvement of environmental-friendly adhesive from natural agricultural products has awakened noteworthy attention. A novel adhesive for wood application was successfully prepared with enhanced shear strength and water resistance. The Fourier transmform infrared spectra showed the surface functionalities of the functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNTs) and soy protein isolate nanocomposite adhesive. The attachment of carboxylic functional group on the surface of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) after purification contributed to the effective dispersion of the CNTs in the nanocomposite adhesive. Hence, enhanced properties of FCNTs were successfully transferred into the SPI/CNTs nanocomposite adhesive. These unique functionalities on FCNTs however, improved the mechanical properties of the adhesive. The shear strength and water resistance of SPI/FCNTs was higher than that of the SPI/CNTs. SEM images showed the homogenous dispersion of CNTs in the SPI/CNTs nanocomposite adhesive. The carbon nanotubes were distributed uniformly in the soy protein adhesive with no noticeable clusters at relatively reduced fractions of CNTs as shown in the SEM images, which resulted into better adhesion on wood surface. Mechanical (shear) mixing and ultrasonication with 30 minutes of shear mixing both showed an improved dispersion of CNTs in the soy protein matrix. However, ultrasonication method of dispersion showed higher tensile shear strength and water resistance than in mechanical (shear) mixing method. Thermogravimetric analysis of the samples also showed that the CNTs incorporated increases the thermal stability of the nanocomposite adhesive at higher loading fraction. Incorporation of CNTs into soy protein isolate adhesive improved both the shear strength and water resistance of the adhesive prepared at a relatively reduced concentration of 0.3%.The result showed that tensile shear strength of SPI/FCNTs adhesive was 0.8 MPa and 7.25MPa at dry and wet state respectively, while SPI/CNTs adhesive had 6.91 MPa and 5.48MPa at dry and wet state respectively. There was over 100% increase in shear strength both at dry and wet state compared to the pure SPI adhesive. The 19% decrease in value of the new adhesive developed compared to the minimum value of ≥10MPa of European standard for interior wood application may be attributed to the presence of metallic particles remaining after purification of CNTs. The presence of metallic particles will prevent the proper penetration of the adhesive into the wood substrate. The type of wood used in this study as well as the processing parameters could also result into lower value compared to the value of European standard. Therefore, optimization of the processing parameter as well as the conversion of carboxylic acid group on the surface of the CNTs into acyl chloride group may be employed in future investigation. However, the preparation of new nanocomposite adhesive from soy protein isolate will replace the formaldehyde and petrochemical adhesive in the market and be of useful application in the wood industry. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)