Form-Stabilized Polyethylene Glycol/Palygorskite Composite Phase Change Material: Thermal Energy Storage Properties,Cycling Stability,and Thermal Durability

In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material (PCM) was incorporated with palygorskite (Pal) clay to develop a novel form-stable composite PCM (F-SCPCM). The Pal/PEG(40 wt%) composite was defined as F-SCPCM and characterized using SEM/EDS, FT-IR, XRD, DSC, and TGA techniques. The DSC results revealed that the F-SCPCM has a melting temperature of 32.5°C and latent heat capacity of 64.3 J/g for thermal energy storage (TES) applications. Thermal cycling test showed that the F-SCPCM had good cycling thermal/chemical stability after 500 cycles. The TGA data proved that that both cycled and non-cycled F-SCPCMs had considerable high thermal durability. Consequently, the created F-SCPCM could be considered as an additive material for production of green construction components with TES capability. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:909–916, 2020. © 2020 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Potential of pulsed electric field to control Aspergillus parasiticus,aflatoxin and mutagenicity levels: Sesame seed quality

Seed processing technologies are essential for seed safety and functionality through protection of physicochemical quality, pathogen inactivation, aflatoxin detoxification and alleviation of mutagenicity. Design of a pilot-scale unit of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to treat sesame seeds with respect to quality parameters, Aspergillus parasiticus inactivation and aflatoxin reduction as well as alleviation of aflatoxin mutagenicity were prompted in this study. PEF energy ranged from 0.97 to 17.28 J achieved maximum reductions of peroxide value and acidity number of 67.4 and 85.7%, respectively, and did not change color L*, a*, b* and hue values. A 60% reduction of A. parasiticus counts occurred at the maximum PEF energy. Aflatoxins G1, G2, B1, and B2 contents decreased by 94.7, 92.7, 86.9, and 98.7%, respectively. Except for the samples treated by 2.16 J with 100 μg/plate and by 6.80 J with 10 μg/plate, PEF treatment provided elimination of aflatoxin mutagenity. It is concluded that PEF treatment can be used to treat sesame seeds with preservation of physicochemical properties, inactivation of A. parasiticus and decomposition of aflatoxins with reduced mutagenicity.     

Prediction of energy consumption for LoRa based wireless sensors network

Wireless Networks - This paper shows a method for predicting the lifetime of a wireless sensor network based on the LoRa Ra-01 wireless modules. To develop a prediction model of the energy...     

Investigation of the relationship between intergranular corrosion and retrogression and reaging in the AA6063

AA6063 was heat treated with different retrogression temperatures and durations, and the effect of heat treatment conditions on the microstructure, hardness, electrical conductivity, intergranular corrosion (IGC) and electrochemical corrosion behaviours of the AA6063 was determined compared with the T6 condition. The IGC test was applied according to the BS EN ISO 11846: 2008 standard. Moreover, potentiodynamic polarization tests were applied to determine the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of the heat‐treated samples. Electrochemical corrosion tests were carried out by using a Ivium Compactstat potentiostat in 3.5 wt.%. NaCl solution at 24°C with a scanning rate of 0.5 mV/s. The corrosion test cell consisted of the reference electrode (Ag/AgCl), working electrode (test sample) and a reference electrode (platinum). The effect of IGC on the microstructure of AA6063 and corrosion depth values was investigated by using a stereo optical microscope and a light metal microscope, respectively. Corrosion depth examinations were performed on microstructures taken from the cross‐sections of the samples. The chemistry of the precipitates formed at grain boundaries and distribution of the precipitates in the microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X‐ray and transmission electron microscope analyses. The results showed that retrogression and reaging heat treatment improves both the corrosion resistance and the mechanical properties of AA6063. After 50°C/15 min RRA heat treatment, the highest corrosion resistance and a higher hardness value than the T6 level were obtained.     

Investigation of engineering properties for usability of Lefke stone (Osmaneli/Bilecik) as building stone

Lefke stone is a sandstone that has been widely used in mosques, madrasas, churches, and houses as building stone. The geological features and engineering properties of Lefke stone outcropped in the southern part of Osmaneli/Bilecik were investigated in field and laboratory studies. Samples acquired during the fieldwork were tested to determine the physical, mechanical, durability, and hygrothermal properties in the laboratory. The mean physico-mechanical properties of Lefke stone yielded apparent density of 2.38 g/cm³, specific gravity of 2.68 g/cm³, total porosity of 11.26%, 2.93% water absorption by weight, uniaxial compressive strength of 94 MPa, flexure strength of 11.45 MPa, a 3.90 MPa point load strength, 4.5–5 Mohs hardness, and field Schmidt hammer rebound value of 36. According to durability tests, Lefke stone is resistant to CaCl₂ salt mist but has low resistance to SO₂ aging. Salt crystals placed in the discontinuities of the rock caused slight crack growth. The stone’s resistance to crystallization of sodium sulphate salt is low, and an increase in the volume of salts crystallized in the rock results in low corner strengths. A capillary water-absorption value of 0.0016 kg/m².h places Lefke stone into the category of very low water absorption capacity and permeability. The water vapor diffusion resistance factor (μ) less than 1 indicates that the sandstone has high breathability. Its performance in historical buildings, field observations, and values obtained through laboratory tests confirm that Lefke sandstone can be used as a building stone.