Specific Gravity Properties Research Articles

Study of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Carbon-Jute Reinforced Polyester Hybrid Composites

The effect of the fiber orientation of thermosetting polyester resin with carbon and jute fiber-a natural polymer hybrid composite has been investigated by experiments. The tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, specific gravity and three body wear tests. The natural polymer hybrid composite is developed by the traditional method of fabricating the composite i.e. by hand lay-up technique. The proportion by weight of fibers and resin are kept constant, while varying the fiber orientation. The laminates are kept for curing at room temperature condition. Specimens are developed according to ASTM standards. Experimental results showed that hybridization of the composite with natural and synthetic fibers shows enhanced mechanical properties. The content of natural reinforcements is 60% in the developed hybrid composite. The effect of untreated jute placed at different fiber orientation has significant effect on the flexural, impact, hardness and specific gravity properties than tensile properties. The wear property has shown good resistance if the presence of carbon fiber. An overall comparison between the properties of the developed natural polymer hybrid composite revealed that the presence of carbon fiber woven mat on both the sides of the composite has played the critical role by balancing the properties and reducing the overall cost

Synthesis of alumina impregnated with potassium iodide catalyst for biodiesel production from rice bran oil

In this work, a catalyst based on alumina impregnated with potassium iodide was synthesized and tested in the process of transesterification of rice bran oil with methanol. The reaction took place in a reflux system, with a molar ratio of 15:1 methanol:oil. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation of alumina with a solution of KI followed by calcination at 773K for 3h. The effect of concentration of the catalyst in the yield was verified in the range of 1–5wt.%, and the properties of specific gravity and kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel were determined. The increasing of the yield of the reaction was observed for high amount of catalyst. When 5wt.% of the catalyst was used in the process, the best results was obtained, with 95.2% yield. As expected, the specific gravity and kinematic viscosity decreased with the catalyst amount. From TG analysis, it was observed a mass loss of 96.2%, evidencing the high activity of the catalyst for the process.

Lotus Fiber Production and its Property

Lotus fiber is produced from lotus stalks with pool dipping，sodium hydroxide boil degum and hydrogen peroxide bleach methods. The spinning properties of specific gravity, linear density, relative strength, relative strength variation coefficient and break elongation were tested. The components and structure of the lotus fiber have been analyzed and indicated with chemical, infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffractometer (X-RD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the lotus fiber has similar components, properties and spinning performance with jute and belongs to natural cellulose fiber.

Hot-mix recycling of asphalt concrete airfield pavements

The hot-mix recycling of existing airfield pavements is cost effective and can produce asphalt concrete mixtures with material properties equivalent to those of new materials for airfield pavements. Recycled pavement mixes from four different airfields were investigated for performance and current material properties compared to the original or “as constructed” properties. Pavement samples were obtained from each recycled pavement. Properties such as field density, maximum theoretical density, asphalt content, and aggregate gradation were obtained. The recovered asphalt cement was evaluated for penetration, viscosity, and specific gravity. The aggregate properties of specific gravity, absorption, percentage of crushed and flat and elongated particles were also determined. The mixtures were recompacted to determine a laboratory density and void properties. A pavement condition survey was performed at each location to determine its condition and amount and types of distress experienced by the pavement.

The upgrading of petroleum residuum and coal in catalytic coprocessing

The combined catalytic reactions using different types of petroleum residuum and coal were performed at 425°C and 60 minutes in the presence of hydrogen to upgrade both materials to high quality synthetic fuels. In order to improve this coprocessing technology, the effect of the chemical and physical properties of both materials on the coprocessing product yields was investigated through a parametric study. In all reaction combinations, substantial increase in maltene production and high coal conversions of over 84% were observed regardless of petroleum residuum type and coal rank. The petroleum residuum properties of specific gravity and conradson carbon residue had effects on asphaltene production and coal conversion. The results of quantitative analysis for the amount of coal upgraded during coprocessing lead to conclude thata large amount of coal converted to maltene fraction due to high catalytic activity and reactive hydrogen donor richness of coprocessing system. However, most of the heavier fractions were formed primarily from coal regardless of the type of residuum used.

Flow of vegetable oil-pesticide blank-formulation mixtures through agricultural spray nozzles

Properties of specific gravity, viscosity and flow rate were measured for cottonseed and soybean oil mixed with selected blank pesticide formulations without the active ingredient, i.e., blank-formulations. Fluid temperature ranged from 5 to 70 C for the measurements. Specific gravity of soybean oil mixtures was found to vary approximately 5% inversely with temperature over the temperature range. Above 65 C the mixtures exhibited approximately the same viscosity. Cottonseed oil viscosity remained less than the soybean oil viscosity over the entire range of temperatures studied. Addition of blank-formulation materials resulted in more reduction in viscosity at lower temperatures. Flow rates were measured over the temperature range for selected mixtures through different sizes and types of hydraulic spray nozzles. Fitted equations were derived to predict the necessary pressure correction for temperature for each nozzle and mixtures tested.