Gravimetric Measurements (gravimetric + measurement)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Investigations of an ethanolamine-based corrosion inhibitor system for surface treatment of reinforced concrete

MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 7 2004
V. T. Ngala
Abstract Laboratory investigations were performed to assess the efficacy of a proprietary ethanolamine-based corrosion inhibitor system when applied to the surface of reinforced concrete specimens that were chloride-contaminated to varying extents in the presence or absence of carbonation. The corrosion responses of embedded steel bars at various depths of cover were monitored electrochemically during a controlled programme of cyclic wetting and drying undertaken for several months prior to the inhibitor treatment and for approximately eighteen months thereafter. Gravimetric measurements of the quantities and distribution of corrosion on the steel were also made on completion of the exposure tests. Analysis of aqueous extracts from treated concrete revealed that the ethanolamine component of the inhibitor system penetrated to depths of more than 15 mm within the concrete. It was found that, for inhibitor-treated specimens, there was some reduction in the corrosion rate of pre-corroding steel at low cover depths in non-carbonated concrete with modest levels of chloride contamination. At higher levels of chloride contamination and in carbonated specimens, however, the ethanolamine-based inhibitor was apparently ineffective under the conditions investigated. [source]


Shear wave velocity model of the Santiago de Chile basin derived from ambient noise measurements: a comparison of proxies for seismic site conditions and amplification

GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010
Marco Pilz
SUMMARY We determined a high-resolution 3-D S -wave velocity model for a 26 km × 12 km area in the northern part of the basin of Santiago de Chile. To reach this goal, we used microtremor recordings at 125 sites for deriving the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratios that we inverted to retrieve local S -wave velocity profiles. In the inversion procedure, we used additional geological and geophysical constraints and values of the thickness of the sedimentary cover already determined by gravimetric measurements, which were found to vary substantially over short distances in the investigated area. The resulting model was derived by interpolation with a kriging technique between the single S -wave velocity profiles and shows locally good agreement with the few existing velocity profile data, but allows the entire area, as well as deeper parts of the basin, to be represented in greater detail. The wealth of available data allowed us to check if any correlation between the S -wave velocity in the uppermost 30 m (v30S) and the slope of topography, a new technique recently proposed by Wald and Allen, exists on a local scale. We observed that while one lithology might provide a greater scatter in the velocity values for the investigated area, almost no correlation between topographic gradient and calculated v30S exists, whereas a better link is found between v30S and the local geology. Finally, we compared the v30S distribution with the MSK intensities for the 1985 Valparaiso event, pointing out that high intensities are found where the expected v30S values are low and over a thick sedimentary cover. Although this evidence cannot be generalized for all possible earthquakes, it indicates the influence of site effects modifying the ground motion when earthquakes occur well outside of the Santiago basin. [source]


Modeling the mass transfers during the elaboration of chitosan-activated carbon composites for medical applications

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010
A. Venault
Abstract Hydrogels composites composed of chitosan and activated carbon were prepared for medical applications using the vapor-induced phase separation process. Since the gelation process involves mass exchanges between the polymer solution and the air, the kinetics of mass transfer were investigated through experimental and modeling approaches. Among the formulation and process parameters, gravimetric measurements exhibited that mass transfers were mostly controlled by the initial ammonia partial pressure. A nonisotherm mass-transfer model was developed to predict the nonsolvent and solvent exchange rates, therefore, the water and ammonia concentration profiles within the sample during the process. The numerical results were successively validated with gravimetrical kinetic curves obtained in a chamber where the process parameters were controlled. The model aimed also at predicting the pH moving front along the film thickness. The gelation time could also be predicted for different operating conditions (formulation and process parameters). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


Effect of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes on Molecular Interaction and Properties of Polyurethane Composites

MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 19 2006
Nanda Gopal Sahoo
Abstract Summary: Functionalized MWNTs were incorporated into PU by solution mixing to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of composites. A homogeneous dispersion of MWNTs was successfully achieved in PU matrix as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy. It may be attributed to the hydrogen bonds existing between CO groups of hard segments of PU chains and COOH groups of the MWNT-COOH. The incorporation of the MWNTs effectively enhanced the crystallization of the PU matrix through heterogeneous nucleation, and the nucleation effect was more evident at 10 wt.-% functionalized MWNTs as compared to other composite systems. Mechanical properties of the PU-MWNTs composites were assessed as a function of MWNT concentration and dispersion of MWNT in PU matrix. The most significant improvement in mechanical properties was obtained, e.g., 740% increase in modulus and 180% increase in tensile strength over pure PU with 20% MWNT content. The thermal stability of composites due to thermal gravimetric measurements was significantly improved. A possible interaction of H-bonding existed between PU chain and MWNT-COOH. [source]


Estimation of Morphology Characteristics of Porous Poly(propylene) Particles from Degassing Measurements

MACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2008
Marek Bobak
Abstract The transport of reaction species in polyolefin particles affects both the polymerization and the degassing of the powder in the down-stream processing. The morphology of particles , that is, the distribution of polymer and pore phases , predetermines their degassing behavior. We utilize gravimetric measurements to obtain the dynamics of degassing and to determine morphology characteristics of porous poly(propylene) particles. We found that Fick's diffusion model is not generally capable of fitting the shape of degassing curves of porous particles. Therefore we propose a particle model including two sizes of compact polymer granules and demonstrate that the degassing can be described by this model and that the model is capable of estimating fractions of large and small compact zones and the size of large compact zones. [source]


Dynamics of Foaming of Polystyrene Particles

MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2006
Gabriela Salejova
Abstract September 24, 2006 Summary: In this work, we address the industrially relevant problem of the foaming of expandable polystyrene (PS) impregnated by pentane as a traditional down-stream processing in the suspension polymerization of styrene. Once the polystyrene foam is formed by means of a proper foaming agent, e.g., pentane or fluoro- or chloro-hydrocarbons, the blowing agent diffuses out from the cellular structure. Environmental efforts call for the reduced consumption of blowing agents. The dynamics of foaming of polystyrene particles was recorded video-microscopically in our laboratory as the sequence of images of expanding particle located in the small pressure cell placed under the microscope with sufficient depth of focus. The amount of pentane sorbed in PS was controlled by the length of the impregnation period and was determined independently by gravimetric measurements. Strong dependence of the structure of the produced foam and of the foaming dynamics on the amount of sorbed pentane, temperature and particle size is reported and explanations for some observed foaming phenomena are provided. [source]


Zum Korrosionsverhalten von Nicrofer 3033 in hochkonzentrierter Schwefelsäure

MATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 12 2002
H. Werner
Untersuchungen zum Korrosionsverhalten von Nicrofer 3033 (1.4591) erfolgten in 93%iger und 95,99%iger technischer Schwefelsäure bei Temperaturen von 70,200°C. 6-h-Versuche mit gravimetrischer Auswertung und Messung des Freien Korrosionspotentials und 48-h-Versuche mit gravimetrischer Auswertung dienten zur Ermittlung des Einflusses von Schwefelsäurekonzentration und Temperatur bei An- und Abwesenheit von SO2 auf die Beständigkeit von Blechproben. Der Einfluss der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit wurde in 6-h-Versuchen durch Rotation von Rohrproben bei Umfangsgeschwindigkeiten bis 2 m/s untersucht. Aus den Potential- und gravimetrischen Messungen folgt für Temperaturen ab 100°C eine Beständigkeit mit , 0,1 mm/a für Nicrofer 3033 (1.4591) ab etwa 98,5%. Um 125°C scheint jedoch ein Gebiet zu existieren, wo zumindest bei längerer Versuchsdauer die Beständigkeit bis herab zu etwa 97,5% erhalten bleibt. Untersuchungen zum Strömungseinfluss weisen darauf hin, dass in dem genannten Gebiet mit zunehmender Strömungsgeschwindigkeit wieder eine Aktivierung erfolgt. Bei den anderen Temperaturen ist dagegen der Strömungseinfluss gering. Diese Ausweitung des Beständigkeitsbereiches um 125°C belegt, dass die Temperaturabhängigkeit von Nicrofer 3033 (1.4591) in hochkonzentrierter Schwefelsäure nicht monoton ist. Es treten in Abhängigkeit von der Schwefelsäurekonzentration bei unterschiedlichen Temperaturen Korrosionsmaxima und -minima auf. Bei Anwesenheit von SO2 erfolgt nur bei niedrigen Versuchstemperaturen, 80°C, 100°C im 6-h-Versuch und 70°C, 80°C im 48-h-Versuch, eine Einengung des Beständigkeitsbereiches. Contribution to corrosion behaviour of Alloy 33 in high concentrated sulfuric acid Investigations on the corrosive behaviour of Alloy 33 were conducted in 93% and 95,99% technical sulfuric acid at temperatures of 70,200°C. 6-h-tests with gravimetric evaluation and measurement of the free corrosion potential and 48-h-tests with gravimetric evaluation served to determine the influence of the sulfuric acid concentration and the temperature on the resistance of sheet samples at presence and absence of SO2. The influence of the flow rate was examined in 6-h-tests via rotation of pipe samples at circumferential speeds up to 2 m/s. The potential and gravimetric measurements showed that there is a resistance with , 0.1 mm/a for Alloy 33 as from about 98.5% at temperatures from 100°C. However, about 125°C there seems to be a zone at which the resistance down to about 97.5% is kept at least for a long test duration. Examinations on the flow influence indicate that there is a reactivation in the said zone with increasing flow speed. However, the flow influence is low at the other temperatures. This extension of the resistance zone about 125°C proves that the temperature sensitivity of Alloy 33 is not monotonous in highly concentrated sulfuric acid. There are corrosion maxima and minima as a function of the sulfuric acid concentration at different temperatures. If SO2 is present, there is only a limitation of the resistance zone at low test temperatures, 80°C, 100°C in the 6-h-test and 70°C, 80°C in the 48-h-test. [source]


Investigating nanoporous silicon explosive devices

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 7 2009
Monuko du Plessis
Abstract The explosive properties of nanoporous silicon, impregnated with an oxidant, were researched. A structural model was used to extract the pore and crystallite dimensions from gravimetric measurements, as well as the specific surface area, porosity and statistical distribution of crystallite diameters. The properties of three different oxidants were investigated. It was found that there is an optimum pore size for the most energetic explosion. It was also demonstrated that the nano-explosion could be initiated within 100 ,s using NaClO4 as oxidant and a thin film aluminium fuse as heating element. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


An external heat pulse method for measurement of sap flow through fruit pedicels, leaf petioles and other small-diameter stems

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 12 2009
MICHAEL J. CLEARWATER
ABSTRACT The external heat ratio method is described for measurement of low rates of sap flow in both directions through stems and other plant organs, including fruit pedicels, with diameters up to 5 mm and flows less than 2 g h,1. Calibration was empirical, with heat pulse velocity (vh) compared to gravimetric measurements of sap flow. In the four stem types tested (Actinidia sp. fruit pedicels, Schefflera arboricola petioles, Pittosporum crassifolium stems and Fagus sylvatica stems), vh was linearly correlated with sap velocity (vs) up to a vs of approximately 0.007 cm s,1, equivalent to a flow of 1.8 g h,1 through a 3-mm-diameter stem. Minimum detectable vs was approximately 0.0001 cm s,1, equivalent to 0.025 g h,1 through a 3-mm-diameter stem. Sensitivity increased with bark removal. Girdling had no effect on short-term measurements of in vivo sap flow, suggesting that phloem flows were too low to be separated from xylem flows. Fluctuating ambient temperatures increased variability in outdoor sap flow measurements. However, a consistent diurnal time-course of fruit pedicel sap flow was obtained, with flows towards 75-day-old kiwifruit lagging behind evaporative demand and peaking at 0.3 g h,1 in the late afternoon. [source]


Water uptake behavior of layered silicate/starch,polycaprolactone blend nanocomposites

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2008
C Javier Pérez
Abstract The water uptake behavior of biodegradable layered silicate/starch,polycaprolactone blend nanocomposites was evaluated. Three different commercial layered silicates (Cloisite Na+, Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 10A) were used as reinforcement nanofillers. Tests were carried out in two different environments: 60 and 90% relative humidity using glycerol solutions. The clay/starch,polycaprolactone blend nanocomposites were obtained by melt intercalation and characterized by gravimetric measurements and tensile tests. The intercalated structure (determined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction) showed a decrease in water absorption as a function of clay content probably due to the decrease of the mean free path of water molecules. The diffusion coefficient decreased with clay incorporation but a further increase in the clay content did not show an important effect on this parameter. Elongation at break increased with exposure showing matrix plasticization. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites deteriorated after exposure whereas they remained almost constant in the case of the neat matrix. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]