Fire resistance performance is one of the most important requirements in geological storage conditions in order to improve the resistance of storage packages to high thermal constraints (in the case of a fire for example). With the need to develop new fire-resistant materials, the aim of the present study was to develop fire-resistant geopolymer binders based on Callovo-Oxfordian (COx) argillite. Two types of kaolin with different degrees of purity were mixed with argillite in various proportions. These mixtures were calcined at 600 or 750°C. In order to assess the fire resistance of activated materials, thermal treatment at 1000°C was performed. The compressive strength and mineralogical composition of the samples were investigated before and after heat treatment. The results showed that the addition of argillite improved significantly the thermomechanical properties of kaolin-based geopolymers containing impurities, especially the mixture containing 67% argillite and calcined at 750°C. This phenomenon was not observed for the pure-kaolin geopolymer. Improvement of fire resistance was due to the formation in situ of leucite and zeolite-type phases (KAlSi2O6 and KAlSiO4) and of wollastonite (CaSiO3) at high temperature, which is linked to the Ca available in the raw materials.

Recently, universities and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have initiated the development of nanosatellites because of their low cost, small size and short development time. The challenging aspects for these satellites are their small surface area for heat dissipation due to their limited size. There is not enough space for mounting radiators for heat dissipation. As a result, thermal modelling becomes a very important element in designing a small satellite. The paper presents detailed and simplified generic thermal models for CubeSat panels and also for the complete satellite. The detailed model takes all thermal resistances associated with the respective layers into account, while in the simplified model, the layers with similar materials have been combined and are represented by a single thermal resistance. The proposed models are then applied to a CubeSat standard nanosatellite called AraMiS-C1, developed at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Thermal resistance measured through both models is compared, and the results are similar. The absorbed power and the corresponding temperature differences between different points of the single panel and complete satellite are measured. In order to verify the theoretical results, thermal resistance of the AraMiS-C1 and its panels are measured through experimental set-ups. Theoretical and measured values are in close agreement.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of cavy (Galea spixii) epididymal sperm following addition to TES or TRIS extenders and using a thermal resistance test (TRT), as well as fluorescence analysis as a complementary method to predict the viability of these gametes. Nine testicle–epididymis complexes were used for sperm collection using a flotation method. Epididymis tails were sliced and one was immersed in 3 ml of TRIS buffer, and the other in 3 ml of TES, for 5 min. After sperm recovery, the samples were subjected to a TRT which involved incubation in a water bath at 37°C for 3 h. During incubation, sample parameters were assessed at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 or 180 min intervals. Results indicated that the TRIS diluent was more efficient than TES (P < 0.05) for the maintenance of sperm parameters in Spix's yellow-toothed cavies over the whole TRT, maintaining sperm longevity for an extended time. In conclusion, we indicate the use of TRIS diluent for recovery and maintenance of longevity of epididymal sperm from cavies (G. spixii).

The effects of various parameters, such as thermal properties of substrates, thermal interface materials (TIMs) and heat sinks on the thermal performance of the light emitting diode (LED) light bars and backlight module are investigated experimentally and numerically in terms of junction temperature (Tj) and thermal resistances from junction to air (Rj-a). The results show that the measured Rj-a of the light bars by powering-on five LEDs in the test is different from one by powering-on only one LED, resulting from the extra heat coming from the adjacent LED packages affecting the Tj for the case of powering-on five LEDs. For the modules, Rj-a is significantly reduced by using the heat sinks for all backlight modules, and aluminum and iron heat sinks do not show any obvious difference in heat dissipation along with any substrates and TIMs. Furthermore, both experimental and simulation results show that the thermal conductivity of the substrates are more important and dominant than TIM and heat sink for the Rj-a of the backlight modules concerned, and also demonstrate that the thermal field for the local model can represent the one in full-scale backlight module.

The possibility of cooling enhancement of flat plate heat pipes (FPHPs) by tilting was examined experimentally in this study. All of the FPHPs were made of Al and were partially filled with acetone. They had the same size of 120 mm (length) by 36 mm (width) by 2.5 mm (thickness) and the same liquid filling ratio of 25.1%. The effects of six tilting angles of -30°, -15°, -10°, 0°, 45°, and 90° were explored. The results showed that the thermal resistance decreased and the effective thermal conductivity increased when the tilting angle was increased. By increasing the tilting angle from 0° to 45° and further to 90°, the maximum effective thermal conductivity increased by a factor of 1.205 from 4561 W/mK to 5497 W/mK and of 1.212 to 5530 W/mK, respectively. The corresponding maximum heat transport capability increased by a factor of 2.89 from 39.8 W to 115 W and of 3.27 to 130 W. Hence, by proper tilting into positve angles, cooling enhancement of the FPHPs can be greatly achieved.

Flat heat pipes having mesh capillaries were investigated experimentally in this study. An apparatus was designed to test thermal performance of plate type copper water heat pipe having one or two layers of #50 or #80 mesh capillary structures with 5 to 50 W heat input. The working fluid, water, is charged in volumes equivalent to 25%, 33%, or 50% of the internal space. In addition to horizontal orientation, heat pipes were tested with the evaporator section elevated up to 40 degree inclination angle. Temperature distribution of the heat pipe was measured, and the evaporator, adiabatic and condensation resistances were calculated separately. The effects of mesh size, charge volume fraction, and inclination angle on thermal resistance were discussed. In general, the #80 mesh yielded lower thermal resistance than the #50 mesh. Inclination angle has a more significant effect on condenser than evaporator. Analysis of evaporation and condensation in flat heat pipes was conducted and semi-empirical correlations were derived. The present evaporation correlation predicts evaporation resistance between −20% and +30%, and the condensation correlation predicts most condensation resistance data within ±30% for 25% and 33% charge volume fraction.

Chez Potamopyrgus jenkinsi soumis à des températures décroissantes, on note que :(1) Les juvéniles sont légèrement moins résistants que les adultes.(2) Les générations d'hiver (oligo ou eucalciques) placées dans leur eau d'origine sont plus résistantes que les générations d'été.(3) Les adultes oligocalciques sont plus résistants que les adultes eucalciques.(4) L'adaptation des mollusques oligocalciques à une eau eucalcique est peu favorisante et parfois même défavorisante (jeunes d'hiver, par exemple).(5) L'adaptation des mollusques eucalciques à une eau oligocalcique fragilise les individus vis-à-vis des températures décroissantes.

La présente étude montre que, chez Potamopyrgus jenkinsi soumis à des températures croissantes : 1 - les juvéniles sont moins résistants que les adultes ; 2 - les générations d'hiver sont moins résistantes que les générations d'été ; 3 - les individus eucalciques sont plus résistants que les individus oligocalciques ; 4 - l'adaptation des individus oligocalciques à un milieu eucalcique accroît leur résistance thermique ; 5 - inversement, l'adaptation des individus eucalciques à une eau oligocalcique diminue leur résistance thermique.