The presented study is focused on the modification of commercially available epoxy resin with flame retardants by means of using natural substances, including quercetin hydrate and potato starch. The main aim was to obtain environmentally friendly material dedicated to rail transport that is resistant to the aging process during exploitation but also more prone to biodegradation in environmental conditions after usage. Starch is a natural biopolymer that can be applied as a pro-ecological filler, which may contribute to degradation in environmental conditions, while quercetin hydrate is able to prevent a composite from premature degradation during exploitation. To determine the aging resistance of the prepared materials, the measurements of hardness, color, mechanical properties and surface free energy were performed before and after solar aging. To assess the mechanical properties of the composite material, one-directional tensile tests were performed for three directions (0, 90, 45 degrees referred to the plate edges). Moreover, the FT-IR spectra of pristine and aged materials were obtained to observe the changes in chemical structure. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to achieve information about the impact of natural substances on the thermal resistance of the achieved composites.

The presented research concerns the mechanochemical modification of a snap-cure type of epoxy resin, A.S. SET 1010, with the addition of different amounts of cellulose (0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 per 100 resin), for a novel, controlled-degradation material with possible application in the production of passenger seats in rail transport. Composite samples were prepared on a hydraulic press in ac-cordance with the resin manufacturer’s recommendations, in the form of tiles with dimensions of 80 × 80 × 1 mm. The prepared samples were subjected to thermo-oxidative aging and weathering for a period of 336 h. Changes in the color and surface defects in the investigated composites were evaluated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry (Cie-Lab). The degree of degradation by changes in the chemical structure of the samples was analyzed using FTIR/ATR spectroscopy. Differential scan-ning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests were performed, and the sur-face energy of the samples was determined by measuring the contact angle of droplets. Tests were performed to determine changes in cellulose-filled epoxy resin composites after thermo-oxidative aging and weathering. It was found out that the addition of cellulose did not inflict sufficient changes to the properties within tested parameters. In the tested case, cellulose acted as a natural active biofiller. Our research is in line with the widespread pursuit of pro-ecological solutions in industry and the creation of materials with a positive impact on the natural environment.

1. Brood parasites interact with their hosts for exploitation of host parental abilities and the associated resources. This results in coevolutionary interactions of hosts and parasites. 2. A prime example of such a common specialist brood parasite is the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus and its host races. Hosts use their cognitive abilities to identify parasites and vice versa for their ability to discriminate among potential hosts. 3. We predicted that parasites with relatively large brains for their body size should be more successful at avoiding their hosts, and that hosts with small brains for their body size should more often be exploited by parasites. We also predicted that hosts with relatively large eyes for their body size would have superior discriminatory abilities allowing for superior discrimination against brood parasites. Finally, we predicted that visual ability of specific cuckoo hosts would have evolved exaggerated visual ability as estimated from the relative size of their optic tectum would have resulted in such hosts being more successful as reflected by their higher rate of parasitism. 4. Interspecific variation in size of brain, eye, optic tectum, telencephalon and cerebellum were consistent with these predictions.

This study investigates the possible enhancement of flame resistance in powder-epoxy resin/glass fabric composites. For this purpose, the halogen-free flame retardants containing phosphorous, nitrogen and aluminium were used. The total content of the fillers did not exceed 25 wt%. The laminates assessed for flame retardancy were designed specifically to be used as components of seats in public transport. Thermal resistance of the laminates and the surfaces of partially burned composites were also examined using thermogravimetric and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analyses, respectively. On the basis of the obtained results, it was found that the highest flame resistance (V-0 class, minimum oxygen concentration = 35.5% and maximum average rate of heat emission = 38.5 kW/m2 at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m2) was identified in the laminates with matrix comprising 15 wt% aluminium diethyl phosphinate and 10 wt% melamine polyphosphate. In turn, the laminates with the matrix containing ammonium polyphosphate as the main component achieved only the V-1 flammability class.

In this article a preparation method of epoxy resin/glass fabric composites with reduced flammability and smoke emission was presented. For this purpose the two groups of powder-epoxy compositions containing: (1) melamine polyphosphate (MPP) and aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlDPi); (2) ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and dipentaerythritol (DPE) were used as matrices in six-ply glass fabric reinforced composites. The flame retardants content was 25 wt %. In addition, the 10–15 wt % of zinc borate (ZB) as a smoke reducing agent was added to each compositions. The flame resistant and smoke emission of prepared laminates designed for application in public transport components were evaluated. It was found that with the increase of zinc borate content, the emission of fumes decreased. The lowest maximum of specific optical density (Dsmax = 312.2), specific optical density in the first 4 minutes of the test [Ds(4) = 304.1] and cumulative specific optical densities in the first 4 minutes of the test (VOF4 = 707.6 min) have been achieved for composite containing 10 wt % of MPP, 15 wt % of AlDPi and 15 wt % of ZB. Furthermore, this composite was characterized by V0 class by UL94 test, limiting oxygen index LOI = 36.8 % and maximum average rate of heat emission MAHRE = 80 kW/m2.

This paper investigates the reinforcement of rigid polyurethane foams with carbon nanotubes or graphite in order to improve their mechanical and thermal properties as well as fire resistance. A small addition of carbon nanotubes (up to 0.05wt.%) improves the mechanical strength by about 20%, which was attributed to the strengthening effect of nanotubes and the change in the foam structure, i.e. the smaller size of pores and their narrower distribution. For higher nanotube content, the pore size does not change but the overall porosity significantly increases which results in a decrease in the mechanical strength. The thermal stability of nanocomposite foams and their flammability increase as a result of the formation of a carbon layer forming at the polymer surface. The addition of graphite greatly improves the fire resistance of polyurethanes foams but significantly deteriorates the bending strength due to the poor adhesion to the polyurethane matrix.

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of different types of carbon filler on the thermal stability and flammability of rigid polyurethane foams. As a filler, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphite fakes were used. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the structure of foam and dispersion of nanofiller in polymer matrix. Thermal stability of these composites was determined by thermogravimetry analysis. Test was carried out under both nitrogen and air atmosphere. The degradation products were evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG) combined with infrared spectroscopy (TG–IR) measurements. The activation energy was measured by the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method from the TG curves. Flammability tests like limiting oxygen index and smoke density were also measured. No significant changes in the thermal stability of the composites were observed. The activation energy of sample containing carbon filler increased. Based on TG–IR, one can notice that there were no differences in the emitted volatile products during thermal degradation. Carbon filler enhanced fire retardancy of polyurethane foam; however, graphite gives better results.

In this work, the influence of carbon nanotubes addition on foam structure and mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foam/nanotube composites was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to reveal the foam porous structure and distribution of carbon nanotubes. To determine the mechanical properties, three point bending tests were carried out.

Natural selection may favour sexually similar brain size owing to similar selection pressures in males and females, while sexual selection may lead to sexually dimorphic brains. For example, sperm competition involves clear-cut sex differences in behaviour, as males display, mate guard and copulate with females, while females choose among males, and solicit or reject copulations. These behaviours may require fundamentally different neural government in the two sexes leading to sex-dependent brain evolution. Using two phylogenetic approaches in a comparative study, we tested for roles of both natural and sexual-selection pressures on brain size evolution of birds. In accordance with the natural-selection theory, relative brain size of males coevolved with that of females, which may be the result of adaptation to similar environmental constraints such as feeding innovation. However, the mode of brain size evolution differed between the sexes, and factors associated with sperm competition as reflected by extra-pair paternity may give rise to sexually size dimorphic brains. Specifically, species in which females have larger brains than males were found to have a higher degree of extra-pair paternity independently of potentially confounding factors, whereas species in which males have relatively larger brains than females appeared to have lower rates of extra-pair paternity. Hence, the evolution of sperm competition may select for complex behaviours together with the associated neural substrates in the sex that has a higher potential to control extra-pair copulations at the observed levels. Brain function may thus be affected differently in males and females by sexual selection.

A specification/generation software tool for building hard real-time distributed systems was redeveloped to generate Ada 95 rather that Ada 83 and targeted to the GNAT Ada 95 compiler under Sun Solaris. The resulting simulator was tested with missile flight simulation code. Language issues discovered and paradigms used are discussed with recommendations in the paper. Performance data is provided.