Density improvement of the sol-gel dip-coated SnO2 films by chemical surface modification

We compare the effect of organic (Tiron (R)) and inorganic (Mn(11)) additives on the low temperature (< 600 degrees C) densification of the sol-gel dip-coated SnO2 films. The structural and compositional properties of the samples were investigated by X-ray reflectometry (XRR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results suggest that the replacement of hydroxyl groups at the particle surface by Tiron (R) reduces the level of agglomeration of the sol, increasing the particles packing and the apparent density of the coatings. Undoped and Mn-doped films drawn from a Tiron (R) containing suspension show after firing at 500 degrees C a porosity reduction of 12 and 8.6%, respectively. The porosity decrease is less pronounced (4.3%) for the film without additives. Both XAS and XPS data show the presence of trivalent manganese. The formation of a non-homogeneous solid solution characterised by the presence of Mn(111) replacing tin atom near to the crystallite surface was evidenced by XAS. Additionally, XPS results reveal the presence of metallic Sn at the surface of films containing Tirono. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improvement of the corrosion resistance of polysiloxane hybrid coatings by cerium doping

Polysiloxane hybrid films were deposited on stainless steel by dip-coating using a sol prepared by hydrolytic co-polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-methacryloxy propyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS), followed by radical polymerization of methacrylic moieties. The TEOS/MPTS ratio was chosen equal to 2 and the Ce/Si ratio varied between 0.01 and 0.1. The effects of cerium concentration and valence (Ce(III) and Ce (IV)) on the structural features of polysiloxane films were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The corrosion protection of stainless steel by the hybrid coatings was investigated by XPS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curves, after immersion in saline and acid solutions. The NMR results have shown for Ce(IV) doped films a high degree of polycondensation of up to 89%. Electrochemical analysis has evidenced that hybrid films with the lowest Ce concentration act as an efficient diffusion barrier by increasing the corrosion resistance and reducing the current densities up to 3 orders of magnitude compared to bare stainless steel. The analysis of structural effects induced by Ce(III) and Ce(IV) species, performed by XPS, indicates that the improved corrosion protection of Ce(IV) doped films might be mainly related to the enhanced polymerization of siloxane groups. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessing the uncertainties of model estimates of primary productivity in the tropical Pacific Ocean

Depth-integrated primary productivity (PP) estimates obtained from satellite ocean color-based models (SatPPMs) and those generated from biogeochemical ocean general circulation models (BCGCMs) represent a key resource for biogeochemical and ecological studies at global as well as regional scales. Calibration and validation of these PP models are not straightforward, however, and comparative studies show large differences between model estimates. The goal of this paper is to compare PP estimates obtained from 30 different models (21 SatPPMs and 9 BOGCMs) to a tropical Pacific PP database consisting of similar to 1000 C-14 measurements spanning more than a decade (1983-1996). Primary findings include: skill varied significantly between models, but performance was not a function of model complexity or type (i.e. SatPPM vs. BOGCM); nearly all models underestimated the observed variance of PR specifically yielding too few low PP (< 0.2 g Cm-2 d(-1)) values; more than half of the total root-mean-squared model-data differences associated with the satellite-based PP models might be accounted for by uncertainties in the input variables and/or the PP data; and the tropical Pacific database captures a broad scale shift from low biomassnormalized productivity in the 1980s to higher biomass-normalized productivity in the 1990s, which was not successfully captured by any of the models. This latter result suggests that interdecadal and global changes will be a significant challenge for both SatPPMs and BOGCMs. Finally, average root-mean-squared differences between in situ PP data on the equator at 140 degrees W and PP estimates from the satellite-based productivity models were 58% lower than analogous values computed in a previous PP model comparison 6 years ago. The success of these types of comparison exercises is illustrated by the continual modification and improvement of the participating models and the resulting increase in model skill. (C) 2008 Elsevier BY. All rights reserved.

Sensor for hydrogen peroxide based on Prussian Blue modified electrode: Improvement of the operational stability

Improvement of the operational stability of amperometric sensors based on Prussian Blue (PB) modified glassy carbon electrodes is presented. The long term performance of the sensors was evaluated by injection of hydrogen peroxide (5 μM in potassium buffer) solutions in a flow-injection system during a period of 5-10 h. The following parameters were investigated and correlated with the performance of the sensor: the times for electrodeposition and electrochemical activation, temperature, storage time, pH, composition of the buffer solution and of volume sample injected. These analytical characteristics of the modified electrode can be emphasized: initial sensitivity of 0.3 A cm-2 M-1, detection limit of ca. 0.5 μM, precise results (r.s.d.< 1.5%) and possibility to carry out around 50 samples (50 μL) per hour.

The improvement in grinding of inlet engine valves by the adoption of the most effective cuting fluid type

In this paper is presented an experimental research in which the grinding of seating surfaces of inlet engine valves was improved by the adoption of the most effective cutting fluid type, matching the new requirements of cutting fluid application. Four different types of cutting fluids (straight oil and three different types of soluble oils) were analyzed. As qualitative and quantitative evaluation parameters of the performance of the cutting fluids, the roughness, the grinding wheel wear, the cutting force and the workpiece residual stress were determined. As a conclusion, the straight oil was the cutting fluid that presented the best results in all of the parameters analyzed. Copyright © 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

The improvement of thin polymer film properties through plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition technique

Thin polymer films were deposited from acetylene and argon mixtures by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition. The effect of the pulse frequency, v, on molecular structure, optical gap, contact angle and hardness of the films was investigated. It was observed progressive dehydrogenation of the samples and increment in the concentration of unsaturated carbon bonds as the pulse frequency was increased. Film hardness and contact angle increased and optical gap decreased with v. These results are interpreted in terms of the chain unsaturation and crosslinking.

Alternative continuation method for loading margin improvement and transmission losses reduction

This paper presents an alternative methodology for loading margin improvement and total real power losses reduction by using a continuation method. In order to attain this goal, a parameterizing equation based on the total real power losses and the equations of the reactive power at the slack and generation buses are added to the conventional power flow equations. The voltages at these buses are considered as control variables and a new parameter is chosen to reduce the real power losses in the transmission lines. The results show that this procedure leads to maximum loading point increase and consequently, in static voltage stability margin improvement. Besides, this procedure also takes to a reduction in the operational costs and, simultaneously, to voltage profile improvement. Another important result of this methodology is that the resulting operating points are close to that provided by an optimal power flow program. © 2004 IEEE.

Optimized allocation of sectionalizing switches and control and protection devices for reliability indices improvement in distribution systems

Reliability of power supply is related, among other factors, to the control and protection devices allocation in feeders of distribution systems. In this way, optimized allocation of sectionalizing switches and protection devices in strategic points of distribution circuits, improves the quality of power supply and the system reliability indices. In this work, it is presented a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model, with real and binary variables, for the sectionalizing switches and protection devices allocation problem, in strategic sectors, aimed at improving reliability indices, increasing the utilities billing and fulfilling exigencies of regulatory agencies for the power supply. Optimized allocation of protection devices and switches for restoration, allows that those faulted sectors of the system can be isolated and repaired, re-managing loads of the analyzed feeder into the set of neighbor feeders. Proposed solution technique is a Genetic Algorithm (GA) developed exploiting the physical characteristics of the problem. Results obtained through simulations for a real-life circuit, are presented. © 2004 IEEE.