Assessing fiber

Light Microscopic Method. Phase contrast microscopy (PCM) accurately assesses fiber exposure levels for fibers 5 pm in length and >0.25 pm in diameter. Furthermore, PCM cannot differentiate between asbestos and nonasbestos fibers. Currently, the standard method for the determination of airborne asbestos particles in the workplace is NIOSH Method 7400, Asbestos by Phase Contrast Microscopy (NIOSH 1994a). OSHA considers that sampling and analytical procedures contained in OSHA Method ID-160 and NIOSH Method 7400 are essential for obtaining adequate employee exposure monitoring. Therefore, all employers who are required to conduct monitoring are required to use these or equivalent methods to collect and analyze samples (OSHA 1994). In NIOSH Method 7400, asbestos is collected on a 25 mm cellulose ester filter (cassette-equipped with a 50 mm electrically-conductive cowl). The filter is treated to make it... 

The correct viscose age or ripeness for spinning varies according to the type of fiber being made. Ripeness can be assessed by estabHshing the salt concentration necessary to just coagulate the viscose dope. The preferred test uses sodium chloride (salt figure) although ammonium chloride is the basis of the alternative method (Hottenroth number). 

The overall objective of research under way as of ca 1997 is to develop a system of sale by description for fine and medium wools whereby the buyer is presented only with measured data on the principal characteristics of the raw wool, as well as an assessment of the less important characteristics by an independent skilled appraiser (8). A scheme for assessing the risk of the presence of colored fiber content in greasy wool has been proposed which depends on production parameters and on the age and sex of the sheep (5). Instmmentation and computer algorithms for the measurement of style and handle... 

The reinforcing capacity of asbestos fibers in a cement matrix constitutes another key criteria for the evaluation of asbestos fibers. This property is assessed by preparing samples of asbestos —cement composites which, after a standard curing period, are tested for flexural resistance. The measured mpture modub are converted into a parameter referred to as the fiber strength unit (FSU) (34). 

E. Lord, The Origin and Assessment of Cotton Fiber Maturity, 2nd ed.. The International Institute for Cotton, Manchester, UK, 1982. 

In fastness to peroxide bleaching, ISO 10S-N02, the specimen is immersed ia a standard bleaching solution containing hydrogen peroxide (or sodium peroxide for viscose) where the composition of the bleaching Hquor is dependent on the fibers used ia the test specimen as are the pH and time of exposure (1—2 h). The objective of the test is to assess the colorfastness usiag typical bulk bleaching conditions for the fiber under test. 

The single filament pull out test, sometimes called the microdebond test, has received attention for some years as a way to assess the adhesion between fibers and matrices in fiber composite [90,91]. It provides a direct measure of interfacial adhesion and can be used with both brittle and ductile matrix resins. 

The quantitative assessment of the degree of crystallite orientation by x-ray examination is not free of ambiguity. From a comparative analysis [23] in which results obtained from the consideration of (105) and from three different variations of equatorial reflection were compared, the conclusion was that the first procedure can lead to underrated results, i.e., to the underestimation of the orientation. However, it can be assumed that this does not result from an incorrect procedure, but from ignoring the fact that the adjacent (105) reflex can overlap. The absence of the plate effect of the orientation is characteristic of the orientation of crystallites in PET fibers. The evidence of this absence is the nearly identical azimuthal intensity distributions of the diffracted radiation in the reflexes originating from different families of lattice planes. The lack of the plate effect of orientation in the case of PET fiber stretching has to do with the rod mechanism of the crystallite orientation. 

The orientation of crystallites in PET fibers can also be assessed quantitatively by means of IR spectro-graphic examination. In this case, the basis for the assessment are the values of dichroic ratio (R) of the crystalline absorption bands in the fiber spectrogram. The determination of the values of fc is made using Fraser s dependence [24,25] modified by Chranowski [26] ... 

The amorphous orientation is considered a very important parameter of the microstructure of the fiber. It has a quantitative and qualitative effect on the fiber de-formability when mechanical forces are involved. It significantly influences the fatigue strength and sorptive properties (water, dyes), as well as transport phenomena inside the fiber (migration of electric charge carriers, diffusion of liquid). The importance of the amorphous phase makes its quantification essential. Indirect and direct methods currently are used for the quantitative assessment of the amorphous phase. 

The quantitative assessment of the overall orientation of PET fibers is generally made on the basis of fiber optical anisotropy measurements, i.e., measurements of the optical birefringence of the fiber. The determination of the value of optical birefringence makes it possible to determine the value of Hermans function of orientation based on the equation ... 

As for the tenacity, which describes the fiber s resistance to the action of the tensile force, the quantitative index assumed most often is the tensile strength (crj (cN/tex). For the quantitative assessment of tenacity an index of mechanical long life (t) is used, proposed by Zurkow and Abasow [46,47]. This index defines the time after which, when applying a definite tensile strength and a definite temperature, the fiber breaks. 

Since fibers cannot be comminuted to fragments shorter than lc, it was proposed in [149] to call the parameter lo the ultimate realizable (attainable) strength ([Pg.20]

Today, we have well-tried methods of experimental assessment of the shear strength at the fiber-binder interphase [247]. Generalization of a wealth of... 

Provide a detailed assessment of the technology of CVD and its relation to the production of coatings, fibers, powders, and monolithic shapes. 

From the practical viewpoint it is important to be able to distinguish infants and children with this condition from less benign disorders such as the spinal muscular atrophies. Careful histochemical assessment of muscle biopsies with histographic analysis is recommended. Most biopsies from CFTD patients show type 1 fibers which are small in relation to type 2 fibers. A revised definition of CFTD states that... 

A related problem in eomposites is the need to design optimal fiber orientations for a eomposite part given the set of stress vectors and levels to whieh the part will be subjected. These design eonsiderations would be useful in designing airframe eomponents sueh as parts for the tail, wing, or fuselage. A similar problem is assessment of the peiformanee penalties that might result from imperfections in manufacture. 

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