New ways to improve the damping properties in high‐performance thermoplastic vulcanizates

The incorporation of viscoelastic materials represents an effective strategy to reduce the vibratory level of structural components. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a special type of viscoelastic material that combines the elastomeric properties of rubbers with the easy processing of thermoplastics. In the present work, we propose innovative ways to improve the damping properties of high‐performance TPVs by using rubbers with carboxylic functionalities. For that, TPVs from physical blends of carboxylated hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XHNBR) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared. The chain dynamics of different mixed crosslink systems containing peroxide, metal oxides and hindered phenolic antioxidants were investigated in order to find the most suitable strategy to design a high‐performance TPV system with upgraded damping properties. The results indicate that the damping performance of the TPV system can be tailored by controlling the type and magnitude of the bonding interactions between the mixed crosslink system and the XHNBR rubber phase. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of TPV systems containing carboxylic rubbers as high‐performance damping materials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of cerium oxide additive and aloe vera biodiesel on a CI engine

Diesel is the main source of world transportation due to higher combustion efficiency, compliance, consistency and cost-economy. It is also a major contributor to the world prosperity since it is used extensively. Diesel engine’s emissions are the serious hazard to the world environment and it is measured to be the major causes of air pollution. The demand in biofuels for years created a scope for aloe vera into biodiesels. Aloe vera, having higher calorific value vnthan other plant sources used as biodiesels, enhanced us in making another alternative biodiesel, which has lesser emissions and better performance. In this research work, four biodiesel blends from aloe vera oil with cerium oxide additive are explored for their performance and emission characteristics. The results proved B30 (30% biodiesel, 68% diesel and 1% cerium oxide) gives good performance when compared to other blends.     

Solution combustion synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles as corrosion inhibitor

In this study, combustion synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles was reported using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as starting material as well as urea, glycine, glucose, and citric acid as fuels. The influence of fuel type on structure, microstructure, band gap, and corrosion inhibition was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that CeO₂ nanoparticles with different morphologies were obtained depending on the fuel type. Microstructural changes from unreacted gel to sponge-like morphologies were resulted by varying the fuel type from urea, glycine, and glucose to citric acid. In addition to Ce–O bonds, Fourier transform infrared analysis showed carbon bonds of carbonaceous compositions from incomplete combustion which were declined during combustion reaction. Furthermore, corrosion analyses showed that samples synthesized using urea fuel released the most Ce⁺⁴ ions and could have better protection than other samples.     

载铜树脂处理高含盐氨氮废水的性能

针对高含盐氨氮废水，选择具有不同功能基团的树脂为载体，进行负载Cu2+改性制得载铜树脂并对其处理高含盐氨氮废水的性能进行研究。在筛选出最佳载铜树脂的基础上，研究pH及Na+浓度、树脂投加量、反应时间对载铜树脂处理高含盐氨氮废水效果的影响，通过对吸附氨氮前后的载铜树脂进行SEM和EDS表征分析并构建吸附动力学模型以进一步探究配位吸附的过程。结果表明，Cu2+可与螯合树脂D751稳定结合且在宽pH值下均表现出耐盐性和良好的氨氮吸附效果；在室温(25℃)、pH=11及Na+浓度4 g/L、树脂投加量8 g/L、反应时间60 min的条件下，D751载铜树脂对氨氮的去除率为34.8%。D751载铜树脂吸附氨氮后其表面出现明显的晶状结构物质，该物质可能为铜氨络合物。D751载铜树脂对高含盐氨氮的吸附符合准二级动力学模型。     

High-temperature behavior of oxide dispersion strengthening CoNiCrAlY

To fabricate oxide dispersion strengthened bond coatings, commercial Co–30wt-%Ni–20Cr–8Al–0?4Y powder was milled with 2% additions of Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃ or Y₂O₃ + HfO₂. Low-pressure plasma sprayed, free-standing specimens were oxidised in air + 10%H2O at 1100 °C both isothermally (100 h) and in 500, 1?h cycles. Dry air cyclic testing conducted at both ORNL and FZJ showed remarkably similar results. In general, the water vapour addition caused more scale spallation. Two LPPS specimens without oxide additions were tested for comparison. The specimens with 2%Al₂O₃ addition exhibited the best behaviour as the powder already contained 0?4%Y. Additions of 2%Y₂O₃ and especially 1%Y₂O₃ + 1%HfO₂ resulted in over-doping as evidenced by high mass gains and the formation of Y- and Hf-rich pegs. Scanning transmission electron microscopy of the isothermal specimens showed no Hf and/or Y segregation to the alumina scale grain boundaries in the over-doped specimens.     

Fabrication of 3D Ni nanosheet array on Crofer22APU interconnect and NiO-YSZ anode support to sinter with small-size Ag nanoparticles for low-temperature sealing SOFCs

A novel low-temperature sealing method was developed to seal solid oxide fuel cells. The 3D Ni nanosheet array was pre-fabricated on faying surfaces of Crofer22APU interconnect and NiO-YSZ anode-support. Then it was covered with Au film without changing its morphology. This special nanostructure improved sintering efficiency between Ag nanoparticles and substrates. A dense joint was obtained at the low-temperature between 250 °C–300 °C. This method effectively avoided the oxidation of interconnect during sealing. When joints were sealed at 300 °C, the shear strength reached 16 MPa. The fracture was mainly located in the central Ag layer, presenting a significant plastic deformation. Due to the effective protection of Ni layer, joints also possessed excellent oxidation resistance in oxidizing atmosphere at 800 °C for 400 h. After high-temperature oxidation, the shear strength was increased to 23 MPa, revealing an increasement of 43.8% compared with the as-sealed condition (16 MPa). This sealing method has great potential in sealing solid oxide fuel cells. It also can be extended to seal other energy-conversion devices.     

Exergy analysis of the diesel pre-reforming solid oxide fuel cell system with anode off-gas recycling in the SchIBZ project. Part I: Modeling and validation

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems with anode off-gas recirculation (AGR) and diesel pre-reforming are advantageous because they can operate with the current fuel infrastructure. In the SchIBZ-project, the prototype of such a SOFC system for maritime applications has already been commissioned. In this first paper, we model the system devices to conduct an exergy analysis of this real SOFC plant and validate them with experimental values from experiments in laboratory scale. The results of our simulation agree well with the experimental values. The calculations with the validated results may be closer to the real thermodynamic behavior of such system components than previous literature.     

Tunable Spectrum Selectivity for Multiphoton Absorption with Enhanced Visible Light Trapping in ZnO Nanorods

Observation of visible light trapping in zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) correlated to the optical and photoelectrochemical properties is reported. In this study, ZnO NR diameter and c‐axis length respond primarily at two different regions, UV and visible light, respectively. ZnO NR diameter exhibits UV absorption where large ZnO NR diameter area increases light absorption ability leading to high efficient electron–hole pair separation. On the other hand, ZnO NR c‐axis length has a dominant effect in visible light resulting from a multiphoton absorption mechanism due to light reflection and trapping behavior in the free space between adjacent ZnO NRs. Furthermore, oxygen vacancies and defects in ZnO NRs are associated with the broad visible emission band of different energy levels also highlighting the possibility of the multiphoton absorption mechanism. It is demonstrated that the minimum average of ZnO NR c‐axis length must satisfy the linear regression model of Z _p,min = 6.31d to initiate the multiphoton absorption mechanism under visible light. This work indicates the broadening of absorption spectrum from UV to visible light region by incorporating a controllable diameter and c‐axis length on vertically aligned ZnO NRs, which is important in optimizing the design and functionality of electronic devices based on light absorption mechanism.