Enhancing the flash-sinterability of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ proton-conducting electrolyte by nickel oxide doping for possible application in SOFCs

In the present work, effects of nickel oxide doping on flash-sinterability of BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-δ compound were investigated. A single-phase BZCY7 powder was synthesized by the solid-state reaction route. The effects of using 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt% of NiO additive on flash sintering of BZCY7 samples were examined. It was revealed that using 0.5 wt% of NiO additive can reduce the onset temperature of flash sintering in all the applied electric fields in the range of 100–500 V/cm and significantly enhances the sinterability of the BZCY7 compound. Microstructural investigations, using field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray mapping, showed that NiO doping can lead to larger grain sizes, while no detectable segregation or second phase was observed. Utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the total conductivity of samples at 600 and 700 °C was measured as 4.4 × 10^?3 and 7.0 × 10^?3 S/cm for the undoped BZCY7, and 8.6 × 10^?3 and 1.4 × 10^?2 S/cm for the 0.5 wt% NiO doped BZCY7 sample, respectively. The activation energies of conduction were determined as 0.37 and 0.41 eV for the doped and undoped samples, which represent the presence of predominant and facile protonic conduction.     

Optimal sensor placement for source localization based on RSSD

Wireless Networks - Source localization based on the received signal strength (RSS) has received great interest due to its low cost and simple implementation. In this paper we consider the source...     

A new stress-updating algorithm for viscoplasticity

Material behavior beyond the elastic limit can be rate-dependent, and this rate sensitivity can be captured by the viscoplastic material models. To describe the viscoplastic material behavior in structural analysis, an efficient numerical framework is necessary. In this paper an algorithm is proposed for metals for which von Mises yield surface along with Peri?’s viscoplastic model is employed. The efficiency and accuracy of the technique is examined by comparison with different numerical studies. The convergence rate of the proposed algorithm is investigated. Characteristics of the viscoplastic behavior such as relaxation are illustrated in the selected case studies. Finally, application of the algorithm in practice is demonstrated by a boundary value problem.

     

Physical modification of polymeric support layer for thin film composite forward osmosis membranes by metal–organic framework-based porous matrix membrane strategy

Physical modification of support layers (SLs) for thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes is the main goal of this study. Accordingly, the strategy of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based porous matrix membrane (PMM) was used for the fabrication of controllable SLs. Fourteen different TFC FO membranes were successfully fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) technique over the fourteen different SLs made of polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), and twelve MOF-based PMM. The controllable MOF particles, fabricated SLs, and TFC membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle (CA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and developed SHN1 method. The results showed that the PMM strategy can lead to an increase in the degree of crosslinking of polyamide (PA) as a result of physical modification of the original SLs. Also, the PMM strategy reduced the structural parameters and hence the internal concentration polarization (ICP) was controlled. However, according to the characteristic curve, physical modification of the structure of PES and PEI by MOF-based PMM strategy caused a small and dramatic effect (respectively) on the performance of the TFC FO membranes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 137, 48672.     

A near-optimal Algorithm for H 8 identification of fixed order rational models

This paper presents a near-optimal algorithm for H     

Effect of nano-sized calcium carbonate on cure kinetics and properties of polyester/epoxy blend powder coatings

Today's strict environmental laws pose significant challenges for coating's formulators to look for eco-friendly products. Powder coatings, particularly polyester/epoxy blends have demonstrated their ability as alternatives to traditional solvent-borne coatings. Recently, the use of nanoparticles such as nano-CaCO₃ (nCaCO₃) has been suggested as a beneficial strategy towards powder coating application with improved properties. Here, we study the effect of nCaCO₃ on morphology, cure behavior, adhesion and hardness of polyester/epoxy systems. The nanoparticles shape, size and dispersion state were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Furthermore, isothermal cure characterization of the neat and filled systems was performed using a torque rheometer. The most important finding based on the rheological studies was the catalytic effect of nCaCO₃ on cure reaction of polyester/epoxy, leading to the shorter curing time. Moreover, the kinetic analyses of rheograms revealed a marked decrease in the activation energy of the cure process upon raising nCaCO₃ content. Interestingly, pull-off adhesion and hardness tests showed that the hardness and adhesion strength were dramatically increased by the addition of nCaCO₃ into the polyester/epoxy system compared to pure blend resin. Therefore, considering the strong competition in powder coating market, the use of nCaCO₃ as a commercial and inexpensive nanofiller is necessary not only to reduce the dwell time which has benefits in terms of the energy consumption and economics, but also to improve the performance of final polyester/epoxy coating.     

Relationship between droplet size and fluid flow characteristics in miniemulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Static mixer (SM) can be applied for emulsification, but the fundamental understanding of the nature of fluid flow and mixing in static mixers, is however poor. Droplet size is a very important parameter in miniemulsion systems and affects strongly the mechanism of particle formation in polymerization reactions. In this study, static mixer was used as homogenization device for emulsification of methyl methacrylate (MMA). Re number (Re) was obtained for SM inserted tube in different flow rates. It was demonstrated the nature of fluid flow was turbulent under our experimental conditions. The relationship between droplet size—the most important variable in our study—and Weber number (We) was investigated. The results showed that the ratio of the droplet size to the pipe diameter was fit as an exponential function with an order of −0.35. The polymerization of created droplets under certain We values by SM showed that it is possible to obtain a reasonable 1 : 1 copy of droplets to the particles. All these, indicate that using relationship between We and droplet size allow one to obtain acceptable condition of droplet nucleation in miniemulsion polymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Respiratory burst activity of blood and milk neutrophils in dairy cows during different stages of lactation.

The non-stimulated and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated luminol-augmented cellular chemiluminescence (CL) response and viability of milk and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were determined in lactating dairy cows during different stages of lactation. In the first study, ten healthy cows each in early, mid and late lactation were compared. In a second study, the same measurements as in the first study were evaluated longitudinally in 12 cows during 1 month following parturition. The CL activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) content of milk PMN and macrophages (M) were also compared. Milk M did not possess MPO activity and were devoid of any luminol-enhanced CL. The CL activity of milk and blood PMN was significantly lower in early lactation than in mid and late lactation (P < 0.001). Whereas little changes were observed in viability of blood PMN, the viability of milk PMN was lower in early lactation than in mid and late lactation (P < 0.001). The percentage of PMN in isolated milk cells was also lower during early lactation than during mid and late lactation (P < 0.001). The CL activity in response to PMA during early, mid and late lactation increased 13, 59 and 42-fold in blood PMN and 1.7, 2.6 and 2.4-fold in milk PMN, respectively, in comparison with non-stimulated PMN. The CL activity, both in milk and blood PMN. the milk PMN viability and the percentage of milk PMN were lowest between 3 d and 11 d post partum. These observed changes immediately after calving could contribute to a higher susceptibility to mastitis in that period.     

Analysis of transport phenomena within PEM fuel cells – An analytical solution

Transport phenomena within PEM fuel cells are investigated and a comprehensive analytical solution is presented. The methodology couples the transport within the fuel cell supply channels and the substrate which is composed of five different layers. The layers are all treated as macroscopically homogeneous porous media with uniform morphological properties such as porosity and permeability. The locally volume-averaged equations are employed to solve for transport through the porous layers. The problem encompasses complex interfacial transport phenomena involving several porous–porous as well as porous–fluid interfaces. Chemical reactions within the catalyst layers are also included. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is employed to solve for the flow field and species concentration distributions. Throughout the analysis, the choice of the gauge parameters involved in the perturbation solutions for velocity and concentration is found to be inherently tied to the physics of the problem and therefore an important physical metric. The analytical solution is found to be in excellent agreement with prior computational simulations. The analytical results are used to investigate several aspects of transport phenomena and their substantial role in PEM fuel cell operation. The solution presented in this work provides the first comprehensive analytical solution representing fuel cell transport phenomena.