Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membranes based on Nafion ionomer and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite

In this study nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nHA) was synthesized and characterized by means of FT-IR, XRD and TEM techniques and a series of proton exchange membranes based on Nafion^® and nHA were fabricated via solvent casting method. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed thermal stability enhancement of the Nafion^® nanocomposite due to the presence of nHA nanopowder. SAXS and TEM analyses confirmed the incorporation of nHA into ionic phase of Nafion^®. Furthermore, the incorporation of elliptical nHA into the Nafion^® matrix improved proton conductivity of the resultant polyelectrolyte membrane up to 0.173 S cm⁻¹ at 2.0 wt% of nHA loading compared to that of 0.086 S cm⁻¹ for Nafion^® 117. Also, the inclusion of nHA nanoparticles into nanocomposite membranes resulted in a significant reduction of methanol permeability and crossover in comparison with pristine Nafion^® membranes. Membrane selectivity parameter of the nanocomposites at 2.0 wt% nHA was calculated and found to be 106,800 S s cm⁻³, which is more than two times than that of Nafion^® 117. Direct methanol fuel cell tests revealed that Nafion^®/nHA nanocomposite membranes were able to provide higher fuel cell efficiency and also better electrochemical performance in both low and high concentrations of methanol feed. Thus, the current study shows that nHA enhances the functionality of Nafion^® as fuel cell membranes.     

复合铸造工艺参数对A356-SiC_p复合材料显微组织和拉伸性能的影响(英文)

研究复合铸造工艺参数对A356-SiCp复合材料显微组织和拉伸性能的影响。在590、600和610°C的温度条件下,分别以200、400和600 r/min的速度对样品进行半固态搅拌,搅拌时间分别为10、20和30 min。分析SiC颗粒在基体材料中的分布、样品的孔隙率和拉伸性能。结果表明,通过延长搅拌时间和降低搅拌温度,可以提升颗粒分布的均匀性;然而,随着搅拌速度的提高,颗粒分布的均匀性呈先上升后下降的趋势。同时还发现,通过增大所有的工艺参数,孔隙率得到了提高。从抗拉特性来看,最佳的搅拌速度、温度和时间分别为400 r/min、590°C和30 min。与孔隙率相比,增强相分布的均匀性对拉伸性能的影响更明显。     

The effects of pretreatments on antioxidative activities of protein hydrolysate from the muscle of brownstripe red snapper (Lutjanus vitta)

Different pretreatments of mince from brownstripe red snapper (Lutjanus vitta) including 1) washing; 2) membrane separation; 3) washing followed by membrane separation and 4) membrane separation followed by washing were conducted prior to hydrolysis. Among the resulting minces, that subjected to membrane separation with subsequent washing (MS/W) contained the lowest remaining myoglobin content, phospholipid content, heme iron and non-heme iron contents (p < 0.05) and showed the lowest TBARS values throughout 9 days of storage at 4 °C in the presence and absence of 0.15 mol L⁻¹ cupric acetate (p < 0.05). When hydrolysates from 1) mince, 2) MS/W and 3) protein isolate from MS/W (PI) with different degree of hydrolysis (DH) (20, 30 and 40%) were prepared using proteases from pyloric caeca of brownstripe red snapper, antioxidative activities determined by DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power and metal chelating activity varied with hydrolysates and DH. Antioxidative activities increased with increasing DH up to 40% (p < 0.05). At all DH tested, hydrolysate prepared from MS/W exhibited the highest antioxidative activities determined by all assays, compared to those from mince and PI (p < 0.05). Hydrolysate from MS/W with 40% DH had the molecular weight lower than 6.5 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. In liposome oxidation system, the addition of hydrolysate from MS/W resulted in the lower TBARS, compared with the control throughout the incubation period of 48 h at room temperature (25-28 °C). Therefore, fish mince with membrane separation followed by washing was the most appropriate source for production of hydrolysate possessing antioxidative activity with the lowered amount of lipids and pro-oxidants.     

Interactive instabilities of thin‐walled laminated composite pultrusion box columns

The problem of interactive buckling and post‐buckling of intermediate length thin‐walled columns built of laminated plate elements subjected to compressive load has been proposed and solved analytically. Pultrusion columns have wide‐range applications in high‐rise building due to their low weight and high load carrying capacity. Classic stability theory and laminate theory were implemented to prove the existence of mixed‐mode buckling in thin‐walled pultrusion columns. Interactive stability modes can result in lower loading capacity of most compressive members and affects their post‐buckling behaviour in major proportions. Interactive buckling load analysis has been performed by means of a simplified theoretical model and verified by means of numerical analysis. The calculations were carried out for commonly used square section thin‐walled composite columns dimensions. The post‐buckling performance of selected sections has been investigated and an optimum layup configuration criterion for each section has been extracted according to pre‐ and post‐critical behaviour. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recapitulating Antioxidant and Antibacterial Compounds into a Package for Tissue Regeneration: Dual Function Materials with Synergistic Effect

Oxidative damage and infection can prevent or delay tissue repair. Moreover, infection reinforces reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which makes the wound's condition even worse. Therefore, the need for antioxidant and antibacterial agents is felt for tissue regeneration. There are emerging up-and-coming biomaterials that recapitulate both properties into a package, offering an effective solution to turn the wound back into a healing state. In this article, the principles of antioxidant and antibacterial activity are summarized. The review starts with biological aspects, getting the readers to familiarize themselves with tissue barriers against infection. This is followed by the chemistry and mechanism of action of antioxidant and antibacterial materials (dual function). Eventually, the outlook and challenges are underlined to provide where the dual-function biomaterials are and where they are going in the future. It is expected that the present article inspires the designing of dual-function biomaterials to more advanced levels by providing the fundamentals and comparative points of view and paving the clinical way for these materials.     

The post-annealing effect on tribological and corrosion behaviors of CrN/AlCrN multilayered coating applied by CAE-PVD

The present study investigated the wear and electrochemical behaviors of CrN/AlCrN multilayered coatings post-annealed at 300, 450, and 600°C temperatures. The cathodic arc evaporation technique has been utilized to deposit the coatings. Scanning electron microscope, field emission SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and Rockwell-C indenter methods were used to characterize the coatings and to investigate the interdiffusion between the multilayered CrN/AlCrN and the H13 base metal. The results showed that the sharp interface of the CrN and AlCrN layers was blurred by the annealing process supporting the interdiffusion of the layers. The reciprocating wear test and the microhardness tester were used to evaluate the coatings’ mechanical behavior. The hardness and roughness of the coatings were increased by increasing the post-annealing temperature. The smallest wear rates were observed for the samples treated at 300 and 450°C, which were approximately 17 times and 12 times smaller than the wear rate of the sample annealed at 600°C. Electrochemical testing was used to study the corrosion behavior of the coatings. The results showed that by increasing annealing temperature, corrosion resistances of the coatings are improved. As a result, the corrosion current density of the 600°C annealed coating was approximately 434 times smaller than as-deposited coatings.     

Artificial intelligence enabled smart machining and machine tools

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Artificial intelligence (AI) in machine tools offers diverse advantages, including learning and optimizing machining processes, compensating errors,...     

Circuit breakers in HVDC systems: state-of-the-art review and future trends

High voltage direct current (HVDC) systems are efcient solutions for the integration of large-scale renewable energy sources with the main power grids. The rapid development of the HVDC grid has resulted in a growing interest in DC circuit breakers (DCCBs). A fast and reliable circuit breaker is a necessary requirement in the development of large scale HVDC grids. This paper provides a comprehensive review and survey of the HVDC CBs and discusses potential research directions. Operational principles and the main features of various DCCBs are described and their merits and shortcomings are also highlighted.     

A computationally-cost effective model for fluid flow in redox flow batteries

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) hold great potential for large-scale, extended-duration stationary energy storage. Here, a novel computationally cost-effective hydraulic-electrical analogous model (HEAM) for fluid flow in RFBs is developed. The HEAM demonstrated that lowering the electrode compression and enhancing the channel area lowers the pump power loss independent of the flow fields and electrodes. Additionally, the HEAM helped elucidate the deficiencies of flow distribution in interdigitated flow fields (IFFs) and suggested designing wider manifolds and/or shorter channels improve the flow distribution. Moreover, the HEAM suggested shallower and/or wider channels, and more permeable electrodes enhance the flow penetration rate above the channels. Finally, the HEAM showed that the average penetration depth in the electrode above the ribs (h_pen) was the critical parameter in the fluid-flow modeling of IFFs and was inversely proportional to the permeability. Hence, there is a trade-off between the pump power loss and h_pen when configuring electrode permeability.