New Chemical Fibers Obtained from Wood, Activated by Steam Explosion Treatment

The article presents resource and energy saving environmentally friendly technology for efficient processing of wood waste (chipped wood, sawdust) into chemical fibers, such as lyocell type, compatible with the entire spectrum of natural and synthetic fibers, as well as having stable durability and reliability in the manufactured materials. The optimal parameters of the NMMO solvent were determined to achieve the minimum viscosity of the spinning solution. It has been given that it can be used for wear of the materials produced. The spinning solution was chosen for the NMMO solvent.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Starch Graft Copolymer Applied as Dispersant in Coal-Water Slurry

In this paper, a starch-based dispersant for Chinese Shenhua coal-water slurry (CWS) was synthesized by radical polymerization using styrene sulfonate and acrylic acid as graft monomers in oxidation-reduction initiator system. Chemical structure and thermal performance of the copolymer were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FT-IR) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The rheological characteristics of the slurry were studied by varying dispersant dosage and shear rate，and the results show, At coal concentration of 66 wt%, dispersant dosage of 0.4 wt% and shear rate of 100 s-1, the CWS gives the minimum viscosity of 848 mPa•s. Bleeding ratio tests indicate the dispersant can stabilize the slurry. Based on the above, the starch-based dispersant has due structure and a bright prospect for the application for CWS.

Powerplant Lubricant Selection for Improved Efficiency and Environmental Impact Reduction

Computational models were used to optimize bearing performance by adjusting a number of lubricant properties. This computational optimization showed that the most beneficial characteristics to hydrodynamic bearing operation were high viscosity index (VI) and high specific heat capacity. Four environmentally adapted synthetic lubricants were developed to provide these characteristics including: ISO VG32 with 259 VI, ISO VG22 with 245 VI, ISO VG22 with 336 VI, and ISO VG15 with 226 VI. A full scale bearing test machine was then operated with these lubricants in addition to mineral based turbine oils, ISO VG68 with 103 VI and ISO VG32 with 105 VI, to determine the effect on bearing performance and to validate the models. The new lubricants reduced bearing power loss by up to 20% and significantly reduced bearing temperatures with somewhat reduced film thickness. The machine was then operated to provide equivalent minimum viscosity with the new lubricants by varying inlet temperature, finding that changes in power loss were less substantial with equivalent minimum viscosity. Comparison of simulated and experimental results led to development of a simple, practical method to estimate benefits and operational parameters for lubricants based on viscosity grade, viscosity index and a simplified description of the machine’s bearings. Other, less tangible, factors considered are bio-degradeability and impact of power loss reduction.

Effects of Temperature on Rheology of Olive Oils

In this study, the rheological properties of different samples of olive oils, from the same producer were obtained in a wide range of temperature. At constant temperatures, the shear rate was also varied to obtain heating effects. It was found that all the samples reach a minimum viscosity in the temperature range of 120°C–150°C before thickening to higher viscosities. The viscosity remained almost unchanged in high shear rates regardless of temperature, indicating no shear thinning effects. No thixotropic effects were observed for the olive oils. These findings can provide insight into the microstructural, physiological and sensory changes at frying (high) temperatures.

Rheological Properties and Gelcasting Behavior of Ultrafine ZrO2 Suspension

Ultrafine ZrO2 suspension with stable high solid loading was prepared, and ZrO2 ceramic materials with uniform structures were fabricated through gelcasting. Zeta potential of the ultrafine ZrO2 suspensions with A-type dispersant, triammonium citrate, and without dispersant was measured. The influencing factors on suspension flowability as the content of dispersant, pH value, solid loading, and milling time were studied in detail. And the optimum premixed solution/initiator (APS)/catalyst (TEMED) ratio for gelcasting was investigated. The results showed that A-type dispersant was suitable for dispersing of ultrafine ZrO2 particles in aqueous premixed solutions; the optimized content of dispersant was 2%~2.5% of ZrO2 volume; ZrO2 suspension displayed a minimum viscosity at pH 10.66; the upper limit of solid loading was 54vol.%; and the appropriate milling time was 12 hours. When premixed solution/initiator (APS)/catalyst (TEMED) ratio was 100/1/0.5, ZrO2 suspension has a better gelcasting behavior.

Resistant starch and starch pasting properties of a starch synthase IIa-deficient wheat with apparent high amylose

The bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) analysed in this study has been produced by genetically eliminating the starch synthase IIa and shows apparent high amylose (HA) in the flour starch. Some starch properties of the HA wheat were analysed. The HA wheat contained 2.8–3.6% resistant starch (RS), much more than the normal (control) wheat, which contained almost no RS. Autoclaving the HA and normal wheat starches increased RS. The former contained 10.5% RS and the latter 5.9 or 6.8% RS. Swelling of the HA wheat starch and its pasting properties using Rapid ViscoAnalyzer (RVA) were investigated. Swelling power (g/g) of the HA wheat in 0.1% AgNO3 and swelling volume (mL/g) in urea solution were significantly less than those of the normal wheat. The RVA profile of the HA wholemeal and starch also differed from the normal. The peak viscosity, minimum viscosity, and final viscosity of HA were low, and breakdown (peak minus minimum viscosity) was very small. These findings show that amount of resistant starch and pasting properties are unique in the HA wheat starch, probably caused by lack of starch synthase IIa.

STRUCTURAL VISCOSITY IN SOME LYOPHILIC SOLS: I. THE FLOCCULATION OF GELATIN AND CASEIN BY AGAR

The relative viscosities of mixtures of gelatin and agar sols were measured at varying pressures using the overflow viscosimeter. All the sols showed wide deviations from Poiseuille's law, with regions of structure and turbulence at low and high pressures, respectively. A minimum viscosity was found for a intermediate mixture, showing a dehydrating action of the agar on the gelatin. This effect was masked in a similar series using casein and agar, due to the much greater difference in relative viscosity of the two sols. A marked structural turbulence was found in the region of structure in many cases. The relation between velocity of flow and pressure is expressed by a parabolic equation.