Biopolymer-based trimetallic nanocomposite synthesis,characterization and its application in the catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Gum kondagogu (GK), a natural biopolymer was successfully employed in the synthesis of trimetallic (AgAuPd) nanocomposites and characterized...     

Evaluation of Carbon Partitioning in New Generation of Quench and Partitioning (Q&P) Steels

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) and a novel combined process of hot straining (HS) and Q&P (HSQ&P) treatments have been applied to a TRIP-assisted steel in a Gleeble®3S50 thermomechanical simulator. The heat treatments involved intercritical annealing at 800 °C and a two-step Q&P heat treatment with a partitioning time of 100 seconds at 400 °C. The “optimum” quench temperature of 318 °C was selected according to the constrained carbon equilibrium (CCE) criterion. The effects of high-temperature deformation (isothermal and non-isothermal) on the carbon enrichment of austenite, carbide formation, and the strain-induced transformation to ferrite (SIT) mechanism were investigated. Carbon partitioning from supersaturated martensite into austenite and carbide precipitation were confirmed by means of atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Austenite carbon enrichment was clearly observed in all specimens, and in the HSQ&P samples, it was significantly greater than in Q&P, suggesting an additional carbon partitioning to austenite from ferrite formed by the deformation-induced austenite-to-ferrite transformation (DIFT) phenomenon. By APT, the carbon accumulation at austenite/martensite interfaces was observed, with higher values for HSQ&P deformed isothermally (≈ 11 at. pct), when compared with non-isothermal HSQ&P (≈ 9.45 at. pct) and Q&P (≈ 7.6 at. pct). Moreover, a local Mn enrichment was observed in a ferrite/austenite interface, indicating ferrite growth under local equilibrium with negligible partitioning (LENP).

     

Direct Experimental Observations on Concurrent Microstructure and Magnetic Property Developments in Non-Grain Oriented Electrical Steel

Non-grain oriented electrical steel, with minor in-grain orientation gradients, was subjected to interrupted tensile deformations and concurrent microtexture, magnetic property and residual stress measurements. After the upper yield point, clear signatures of mechanical stress relief were observed. Changes in orientation gradients led to annihilation of low-angle (1 to 3 deg) boundaries. Prior deformation compressive residual stresses became tensile and magnetic properties improved. Beyond an optimum true strain of 0.01, this boundary annihilation ceased, compressive stresses were generated, and magnetic properties degraded.     

Topological design of channels for squeeze flow optimization of thermal interface materials

Performance of thermal interface materials (TIMs) used between a microelectronic device and its associated heat spreader is largely dependent on the bulk thermal conductivity of the TIM, but the bond-line thickness (BLT) of the applied material as well as the interfacial contact resistances are also significant contributors to overall performance. Hierarchically Nested Channels (HNCs), created by modifying the surface topology of the chip or the heatsink with hierarchical arrangements of microchannels in order to improve flow, have been proposed to reduce both the required squeezing force and the final BLT at the interfaces. In the present work, a topological optimization framework that enables the design of channel arrangements is developed. The framework is based on a resistance network approximation to Newtonian squeeze flow. The approximation, validated against finite element (FE) solutions, allows efficient, design-oriented solutions for squeeze flow in complex geometries. A comprehensive design sensitivity analysis exploiting the resistance network approximation is also developed and implemented. The resistance approximation and the sensitivity analysis is used to build an automated optimal channel design framework. A Pareto optimal problem formulation for the design of channels is posed and the optimal solution is demonstrated using the framework.     

Sequence-dependent clustering of parts and machines: A Fuzzy ART neural network approach

This study addresses the problem of identifying families of parts having a similar sequence of operations. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of cellular manufacturing, group technology, just-in-time manufacturing systems, and for streamlining material flows in general. A pattern recognition approach based on artificial neural networks is proposed, and it is shown that the Fuzzy ART neural network can be effectively utilized for this application. First, a representation scheme for operation sequences is developed, followed by an illustrative example. A more comprehensive experimental verification, based on the mixture-model approach is then performed to evaluate its performance. The experimental factors include size of the part-machine matrix, proportion of voids, proportion of exceptional elements, and vigilance threshold. It is shown that this neural network is effective in identifying good clustering solutions, consistently and with relatively fast execution times.     

Modelling of wind energy‐based microgrid system implementing MMC

Nowadays, renewable energy systems have come up with more potential in power generation so as to meet the power demand. Among all the renewable systems, the wind energy generating system is believed to be at the peak. However, the wind energy‐based microgrid system is associated with many problems such as fluctuations in output voltage due to the fluctuated wind speeds and harmonics generations in the system. To address these issues, this article proposes a new method in order to achieve harmonic mitigation across its output by maintaining constant voltage. Nevertheless, particular attention has been given to the form and function of modular multilevel converter with multi‐winding transformer connected to the grid. Modular multilevel converter has been implemented with an advanced voltage controller tuned to control the voltage at its output. Also, a new system topology has been introduced with two wind turbines that are interconnected to multi‐winding transformer through asynchronous generators. The proposed system has been implemented with constant and variable wind speeds, and their respective results have also been analysed. The proposed scheme shows its effectiveness by theoretical calculations, verified by simulation and experimental results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evolution of Microstructure and Texture During Deformation and Recrystallization of Heavily Rolled Cu-Cu Multilayer

A Cu-Cu multilayer processed by accumulative roll bonding was deformed to large strains and further annealed. The texture of the deformed Cu-Cu multilayer differs from the conventional fcc rolling textures in terms of higher fractions of Bs and RD-rotated cube components, compared with the volume fraction of Cu component. The elongated grain shape significantly affects the deformation characteristics. Characteristic microstructural features of both continuous dynamic recrystallization and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization were observed in the microtexture measurements. X-ray texture measurements of annealing of heavily deformed multilayer demonstrate constrained recrystallization and resulted in a bimodal grain size distribution in the annealed material at higher strains. The presence of cube- and BR-oriented grains in the deformed material confirms the oriented nucleation as the major influence on texture change during recrystallization. Persistence of cube component throughout the deformation is attributed to dynamic recrystallization. Evolution of RD-rotated cube is attributed to the deformation of cube components that evolve from dynamic recrystallization. The relaxation of strain components leads to Bs at larger strains. Further, the Bs component is found to recover rather than recrystallize during deformation. The presence of predominantly Cu and Bs orientations surrounding the interface layer suggests constrained annealing behavior.     

Study of Non-lubricated Wear of the Al–Si Alloy Composite Reinforced with Different Ratios of Coarse and Fine Size Zircon Sand Particles at Different Ambient Temperatures

In the present work, a detailed study of ceramic reinforcement of different size ranges in the matrix of LM13 alloy on the friction and wear behavior has been carried out. For this purpose, LM13/Zr composite containing 10 wt% zircon sand particles of different size ranges using stir casting process has been developed. Zircon sand particles were incorporated in two ways: firstly as single size reinforcement and secondly dual size reinforcement. Durability of the composites was tested by finding the wear rate of the composite against the steel disk by pin-on-disk method. Addition of zircon sand particles in the LM13 alloy improves the hardness of the composite as well as wear resistance. Wear rate of the developed composites was tested under different test conditions by varying the applied load and ambient temperatures. Wear rate of the composite changes significantly at different ambient temperatures. SEM analysis of the worn surfaces was done to know the operative wear mechanism.