The influence of combined emulsifier 2 in 1 on physical and crystallization characteristics of edible fats

The aim of this research was to examine the physical and crystallization characteristics of two type of edible fats with the addition of combination of two kind of emulsifiers and with the addition of, so-called, combined emulsifier 2 in 1. NMR technique was used for measuring the solid fat content (SFC) of fats on different temperatures, as well as for crystallization rate under static conditions, by measuring the change of SFC in a function of time. Also, the possibility of applying of Gompertz’s mathematical method to define kinetics of crystallization was investigated. The hardness of fats was defined by penetration on texture analyser, while the rheological properties were determined using the rotational rheometer. The samples of both fats with emulsifier 2 in 1 added have a lower crystallization rate with less amounts of crystals formed, which indicates better spreadability comparing with samples that contain the combination of two emulsifiers. This is also shown by physical determination, since emulsifier 2 in 1 significantly reduced the values of hardness and work of shearing, as for the values of yield stress and tixotropy curve area. Emulsifier 2 in 1 would significantly facilitate the handling in confectionery industry because it can be used instead of the combination of two different type of emulsifiers, which are usually combined in order to give the necessary technological characteristics of confectionery products that contain the fat phase. Also, this emulsifier would improve the quality of those products since it showed better emulsifying properties than combination of two different emulsifiers.     

Dielectric characteristics of vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr and CuBi contacts before and after short-circuit breaking operations

This paper presents the results of the degree of irreversible changes of dielectric properties of vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr and CuBi contacts before and after short-circuit breaking operations. Tests of dielectric properties were performed on four different types of switching vacuum chamber with RMF electrodes in the form of a spiral disk with slots. The paper describes the configuration of measuring system for determining the dielectric properties of circuit breakers with DC, AC and pulse voltage. It also describes the measuring procedure. The results were analyzed and the experimentally obtained random variable breakdown voltage is found to belong to Weibull distribution in all cases. Based on these results it was found that for the vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr contacts and CuBi breakdown occurs by the emission mechanism after stopping of diffuse arc with the initial breakdown at the anode. It was also found that significant reduction of the breakdown voltage occurs only after a short-circuit current breaking for a constricted arc. Only in this case, the significant difference between circuit breakers with CuBi and CuCr contacts is observed. This difference is explained by the fact that breakdown voltage for a constricted arc strongly depends on the shape of the applied voltage by the action mechanism of micro particles generated during the breaking of the arc current for the vacuum circuit breakers with CuBi contacts and it is caused by material of contacts. The results confirm the lower degree of irreversible changes of dielectric properties of vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr contacts in operation.     

Thermal properties of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and their binary mixtures as phase change energy storage materials

In the present work, we describe the chemical synthesis of 3-HFAs as prominent derivatives of fatty acids and assess if they could be applied as phase change materials (PCM). In addition, 3-HFAs were obtained by depolymerization of a bacterial biopolymeric material, polyhydroxyalkanoate. Thermal properties of 3-hydoxyoctanoic, decanoic, and dodecanoic acids are reported for the first time. These materials showed the potential to be applied as PCM in temperature range from 33°C to 66°C. In order to expand the temperature range for application of 3-HFAs as PCM, eutectic mass ratios of three kinds of binary mixtures of 3-HFAs were calculated, and their properties were predicted using the Schröder-van Laar equation. Thermal properties of these mixtures were validated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. These results showed that eutectics considerably expanded the scope of applications of 3-HFAs as PCMs. 3-HFAs originating from biotechnologically obtained polyhydroxyalkanoates also showed potential to be applied in development of PCMs.     

Truing of diamond wheels – Geometry,kinematics and removal mechanisms

An investigation is made into traverse truing of diamond grinding wheels using various truing grit types, grit sizes and truing parameters. Geometry and kinematics of the truing contact are modeled. Specific energies are found to depend on truing-grit size but not on truing parameters, indicating little to no size effect. Removal mechanisms are analyzed via SEM examination of diamond- and truing-wheel swarf. A fundamental relationship is established relating the truing compliance number to the truing efficiency, which encompasses truing parameters and truing- and diamond-grit sizes. Recommendations are made for optimum conditions to minimize force-constrained truing time.     

Evolution of ordering in iron oxide nanoparticle monolayers using electrophoretic deposition

Iron-oxide nanoparticle monolayers and multilayers were assembled using dc electrophoretic deposition. The rate of deposition and the total particle deposition were controlled by varying the concentration of nanoparticles and the deposition time, respectively. Using scanning electron microscopy, we performed a time-resolved study that demonstrated the growth of the monolayer from a single isolated nanoparticle to a nearly complete layer. We observed tight, hexagonal packing of the nanoparticles indicating strong particle-particle interaction. Multilayer growth was assessed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, revealing a monolayer-by-monolayer growth process.     

An experimentally based thermo-kinetic hardening model for high power direct diode laser cladding

High power direct diode laser (HPDDL) based cladding is found to be an economical process for repairing or building valued components and tools that are used in the automotive, aerospace, nuclear and defense industries. In this study, a 2-kW HPDDL of 808 nm in wavelength, rectangular-shaped laser spot of 12 mm × 1 mm with uniform distribution (top-hat) of laser power is used to carry out the experiments. An off-axis powder injection system is used to deposit tool steel H13 on the AISI 4140 steel substrate. A number of experiments are carried out by changing the laser power and scanning speeds while keeping a constant powder feed rate to produce different sizes of clad. An experimentally based finite element (FE) thermal model is developed to predict the cross-sectional temperature history of the cladding process. The temperature-dependent material properties and phase change kinetics are taken into account in this model. As-used experimental boundary conditions are adopted in this model. The acquired temperature history from the FE model is used to predict the temperature gradient, rates of heating and cooling cycles, and the solidification of the clad to the substrate. The FE thermal model results are coupled with thermo-kinetic (TK) equations to predict the hardness of the clad to the substrate. Metallurgical characterization and hardness measurements are performed to quantify the effect of processing parameters on the variation of clad geometry, microstructure, and the change of hardness of the clad to the substrate. The results show that a good metallurgically bonded clad of hardness uniformity is achieved.     

Active Protein Aggregates Produced in Escherichia coli

Since recombinant proteins are widely used in industry and in research, the need for their low-cost production is increasing. Escherichia coli is one of the best known and most often used host organisms for economical protein production. However, upon over-expression, protein aggregates called inclusion bodies (IBs) are often formed. Until recently IBs formation represented a bottleneck in protein production as they were considered as deposits of inactive proteins. However, recent studies show that by choosing the appropriate host strain and designing an optimal production process, IBs composed from properly folded and biologically active recombinant proteins can be prepared. Such active protein particles can be further used for the isolation of pure proteins or as whole active protein particles in various biomedical and other applications. Therefore interest in understanding the mechanisms of their formation as well as their properties is increasing.     

Study of a hollow laser beam for cladding

Laser cladding, as a promising manufacturing technology, has been widely used in industry for component recovery and surface modification. In this paper, a hollow laser beam was proposed to optimize the laser intensity distribution. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model was developed using ANSYS to investigate the thermal field in the clad deposited by a hollow laser beam. The thermal results, such as the temperature distribution and the cooling rate, were investigated. The effect of the hollow ratio between the inner and outer radius of the hollow beam on the molten pool shape was also studied. The temperature at the boundary of the molten pool was higher than at the center. A clad with a flat metallurgical bonding was formed. The microstructure in the clad was mainly consisted of fine dendrites except the large columnar structures along the bonding. The hardness distribution of the clad was associated with the grain size distribution and the dilution by the substrate. The molten pool was not able to be generated with a high hollow ratio, while overheated at the center with a low hollow ratio. Based on the comparison with the Gaussian laser beam, the hollow laser beam could effectively alleviate the overheating at the center of the clad.