Stratospheric Ozone in the Post-CFC Era

Vertical and latitudinal changes in the stratospheric ozone in the post-chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) era are investigated using simulations of the recent past and the 21st century with a coupled chemistry-climate model. Model results reveal that, in the 2060s when the stratospheric halogen loading is projected to return to its 1980 values, the extratropical column ozone is significantly higher than that in 1975-1984, but the tropical column ozone does not recover to 1980 values. Upper and lower stratospheric ozone changes in the post- CFC era have very different patterns. Above 15 hPa ozone increases almost latitudinally uniformly by 6 Dobson Unit (DU), whereas below 15 hPa ozone decreases in the tropics by 8 DU and increases in the extratropics by up to 16 DU. The upper stratospheric ozone increase is a photochemical response to greenhouse gas induced strong cooling, and the lower stratospheric ozone changes are consistent with enhanced mean advective transport due to a stronger Brewer-Dobson circulation. The model results suggest that the strengthening of the Brewer-Dobson circulation plays a crucial role in ozone recovery and ozone distributions in the post-CFC era

Neškodljivost kalupnih pjesaka sa bentonitom i svijetlećim nositeljima ugljika

Procedures have been developed to determine the volume, rate and composition (particularly BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)) of gas evolution from moulds and cores prepared with various binders as a means of harmfulness of moulding sands. The rate of gas evolution from green sands with four different lustrous carbon carrier and BTEX content were determined. The gas evolution rates are highest in the range of about 20 to 30 s after contact with molten metal. In practice during the first 200-250 s the total emission of gases generated in investigated samples occurred. The main emitted component from the BTEX group was benzene.Postupci su razvijeni za određivanje volumena, brzine i sastava (posebice BTEX: benzen, toluen, etilbenzen, xilana) i PAH (policiklički automatski hidrokarbonati) plina koji nastaje iz kalupa i jezgri na različitim nosačima u težnji za neškodljivost kalupnih pijesaka. Brzine nastajanja plina iz pripravljenih pijesaka sa 4 različita svijetleća nositelja ugljika i sadržajem BTEX su određeni. Brzine nastajanja plina su najveće u razini 20 do 30 s poslije dodira sa rastopljenim metalom. Praktično, tijekom prvih 200-250 s ostvaruje se ukupna emisija stvorenih plinova u istraživanim uzorcima. Iz BTEX skupine, benzen je glavna emitirajuća komponenta

Synthesis of a polyurethane/clay nanocomposite used as coating: interactions between the counter ions of the clay and the isocyanate

peer reviewedThe use of nanocomposites in textile applications, and in particular of polyurethane (PU) coatings reinforced by various additives [clay and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)], has grown in recent years. Some interesting results have been obtained, especially with Cloisite 30B (a montmorillonite organo-modified by an alkyl ammonium cation bearing two primary hydroxyl functions): the thermal behavior and the reaction to fire were improved, but the structure (microcomposite, exfoliated, intercalated) was not really determined. This study focuses on polyurethane coatings reinforced with Cloisite 30B. The interactions between the diisocyanate and the counterions of Cloisite 30B and the structure obtained were demonstrated and discussed

(Plasticized) polylactide/clay nanocomposite textile : thermal, mechanical, shrinkage and fire properties

peer reviewedVarious quantities of Cloisite® 30B (from 1% to 4% in weight) have been added to a polylactide matrix by melt blending to produce polylactide-based nanocomposites. Then, these blends have been melt-spun to produce multifilaments yarns. It is demonstrated that it is necessary to use a plasticizer to spin a blend with 4% in weight of Cloisite® 30B. The properties of these yarns have been studied (dispersion of the clay, thermal, mechanical and shrinkage properties). A decrease of the tensile properties is observed when the quantity of Cloisite® 30B increases, but an improvement of the thermal and shrinkage properties is highlighted. These multifilaments have been knitted and the flammability studied using cone calorimeter at 35 kW/m2. A strong decrease, up to 38%, of the heat release rate has been measured

Designing of polylactide/clay nanocomposites for textile applications: effect of processing conditions, spinning and characterization

peer reviewedAn experimental study was carried out to design polylactide (PLA)-clay nanocomposites for developing fibers. PLA and 1-10 wt % of a selected organomodified bentonite (Bentone® 104-B104) were melt mixed to examine the effect of processing conditions (temperature, shear, residence time) on the morphology of performed polymer nanocomposites (PNC). Because of a good compatibility with PLA matrix, the dispersion of B104 occurred under different conditions without difficulty, and a similar morphology was obtained. The results obtained showed that at low temperature of mixing, the shear stress exerted on polymer has a key role on the extent of intercalation and delamination. Upscale experiments were further performed using optimized conditions and 4 wt % B104 was added to PLA matrix by melt blending to produce PNC for spinning. Then, the recovered PNC were melt spun to produce multifilaments yarns, and it was demonstrated that surprisingly, it is not necessary to use a plasticizer to spin a blend with 4 wt % B104. The properties of the yarns have been studied in terms of clay dispersion as well as thermal, mechanical, and shrinkage properties. B104 could be added up to 4 wt % into PLA without detrimentally sacrificing the tensile strength of melt-spun filaments, especially at high draw ratio. Interestingly, the PNC-based multifilaments were knitted and the flammability studied using cone calorimeter at 35 kW/m2. A strong decrease, up to 46%, of the heat release rate was measured

NETKIT: a software component-based approach to programmable networking

While there has already been significant research in support of openness and programmability in networks, this paper argues that there remains a need for generic support for the integrated development, deployment and management of programmable networking software. We further argue that this support should explicitly address the management of run-time reconfiguration of systems, and should be independent of any particular programming paradigm (e.g. active networking or open signaling), programming language, or hardware/ operating system platform. In line with these aims, we outline an approach to the structuring of programmable networking software in terms of a ubiquitously applied software component model that can accommodate all levels of a programmable networking system from low-level system support, to in-band packet handling, to active networking execution environments to signaling and coordination