Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen technologies with the focus on EU critical raw materials and end-of-life strategies

We present the results of a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for the manufacturing and end-of-life (EoL) phases of the following fuel-cell and hydrogen (FCH) technologies: alkaline water electrolyser (AWE), polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE), high-temperature (HT) and low-temperature (LT) polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), together with the balance-of-plant components. New life-cycle inventories (LCIs), i.e., material inputs for the AWE, PEMWE and HT PEMFC are developed, whereas the existing LCI for the LT PEMFC is adopted from a previous EU-funded project. The LCA models for all four FCH technologies are created by modelling the manufacturing phase, followed by defining the EoL strategies and processes used and finally by assessing the effects of the EoL approach using environmental indicators. The effects are analysed with a stepwise approach, where the CML2001 assessment method is used to evaluate the environmental impacts. The results show that the environmental impacts of the manufacturing phase can be substantially reduced by using the proposed EoL strategies (i.e., recycled materials being used in the manufacturing phase and replacing some of the virgin materials). To point out the importance of critical materials (in this case, the platinum-group metals or PGMs) and their recycling strategies, further analyses were made. By comparing the EoL phase with and without the recycling of PGMs, an increase in the environmental impacts is observed, which is much greater in the case of both fuel-cell systems, because they contain a larger quantity of PGMs.     

Feasibility study to control fiber distribution for enhancement of composite properties via three-dimensional printing

The distribution of fibers in the composite (which takes into account both their locations and orientations) is one of the important factors that affect the mechanical properties of FRCs. However, this parameter depends on various factors during composite fabrication, and controlling the distribution of fibers in the produced material represents a significant challenge. In this study, the applicability of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for controlling fiber distributions was evaluated. The fibers fabricated using a 3D printer were placed inside a mold to produce cementitious composites. Three-point bending tests were conducted and the results of the experiment were discussed.     

Optimization of C/TiCx duplex diffusion barrier coatings for SiCf/Ti composites based on interfacial structure evolution exploration

Introducing a carbon single coating is a popular method used to protect SiC_f/Ti composites from severe interface reactions. However, carbon coatings lose their protective effect on SiC fibres at high temperature, even after a short period time. As such, given the strong demand for high temperature applications in aeronautics and astronautics a more coating which is more effective at high temperatures is desirable. In order to improve the high temperature interfacial stability of SiC_f/Ti composites, a C/TiC_x duplex coating system with different C contents in TiC_x was introduced to explore the protection of fibres at 1200?°C for 1?h. The results show that the C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC coating system protects the SiC fibres most effectively. Based on insights from the evolution of the interface structure, TiC_x has been identified as an interfacial reaction product from the C single coating, exhibiting a gradient in C content and grain size, which is different from a deposited TiC layer with a well-distributed composition and structure. The different coating structure gives rise to different ability to resist C diffusion at high temperatures, in which poor resistance ability appears in TiC_x interfacial reaction layer coming from C single coating due to short-circuit diffusion in C-rich fine-grained TiC layer and fast intracrystalline diffusion trigged by amounts of vacancies in sub-stoichiometric coarse-grained TiC layer. Therefore, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings with a thick, coarse-grained quasi-stoichiometric TiC layer could effectively inhibit C diffusion by comparison to C single coatings, and is more effective than C/rich-carbon TiC duplex coatings due to the existence of short-circuit diffusion in the latter. As such, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings appear to be an optimal diffusion barrier for SiC_f/Ti composites at high temperature.     

Development of a noble aluminum-pigmented metallic polymer: Recommendations for visible flow and weld line mitigation

We investigated the appearance of flow and weld lines when metallic pigments are used in polymer blends and how such lines can be eliminated by improving the pigment particle shape and optimizing pigment loading. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer and two types of aluminum flakes, lamellar and three-dimensional (3D), were blended in a twin-screw extruder with a screw diameter of 25 mm. The temperatures from the hopper to the nozzle were 140, 180, 220, 220, 220, 220, and 220°C. Weld and flow lines were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of specially manufactured injection specimens. In the flow line region, traditional lamellar flakes were randomly oriented, while 3D flakes exhibited a distinct and stable orientation. Based on these observations, flow and weld lines in a finished metal/polymer blend can be minimized by using 3D metal particles in place of lamellar flakes. We also investigated the effects of aluminum flake loading on weld and flow line visibility. At low loading, weld lines were clearly visible due to the lack of pigmentation in the front of the polymer flow. Conversely, high loading resulted in relatively high concentrations of pigment near the weld line area, reducing weld line visibility. These findings suggest that there is an optimum metal loading level where the visibility of flow and weld lines is minimized.     

In vivo Kinetic Biodistribution of Nano‐Sized Outer Membrane Vesicles Derived from Bacteria

Evaluation of kinetic distribution and behaviors of nanoparticles in vivo provides crucial clues into their roles in living organisms. Extracellular vesicles are evolutionary conserved nanoparticles, known to play important biological functions in intercellular, inter‐species, and inter‐kingdom communication. In this study, the first kinetic analysis of the biodistribution of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs)—bacterial extracellular vesicles—with immune‐modulatory functions is performed. OMVs, injected intraperitoneally, spread to the whole mouse body and accumulate in the liver, lung, spleen, and kidney within 3 h of administration. As an early systemic inflammation response, increased levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 are observed in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, the number of leukocytes and platelets in the blood is decreased. OMVs and cytokine concentrations, as well as body temperature are gradually decreased 6 h after OMV injection, in concomitance with the formation of eye exudates, and of an increase in ICAM‐1 levels in the lung. Following OMV elimination, most of the inflammatory signs are reverted, 12 h post‐injection. However, leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are increased as a late reaction. Taken together, these results suggest that OMVs are effective mediators of long distance communication in vivo.