Determining optimum carob powder adsorbtion for cleaning wastewater: intelligent optimization with electro-search algorithm

Wireless Networks - In this study, effective and fast removal efficiency of carob powder (as an absorbent material from liquid phase) was investigated by focusing on the dangerous paint methylene...     

High‐temperature strength and plastic deformation behavior of niobium diboride consolidated by spark plasma sintering

Bulk niobium diboride ceramics were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1900°C. SPS resulted in dense specimens with a density of 98% of the theoretical density and a mean grain size of 6 μm. During the SPS consolidation, the hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) was formed from B₂O₃ on the powder particle surface and residual adsorbed nitrogen in the raw diboride powder. The room‐temperature strength of these NbB₂ bulks was 420 MPa. The flexural strength of the NbB₂ ceramics remained unchanged up to 1600°C. At 1700°C an increase in strength to 450 MPa was observed, which was accompanied by the disappearance of the secondary h‐BN phase. Finally, at 1800°C signs of plastic deformation were observed. Fractographic analysis revealed a number of etching pits and steplike surfaces suggestive of high‐temperature deformation. The temperature dependence of the flexural strength of NbB₂ bulks prepared by SPS was compared with data for monolithic TiB₂, HfB₂ and ZrB₂. Our analysis suggested that the thermal stresses accumulated during SPS consolidation may lead to additional strengthening at elevated temperatures.     

Formation of Ferroelectric Phases in Sb–S–I Glasses

We have investigated devitrification of glasses within infrared transmitting xSbSI–(100 ? x)Sb₂S₃ pseudo‐binary series, which forms SbSI and Sb₂S₃ ferroelectric crystal phases. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray powder diffraction results show unusual behavior for the formation of the SbSI phase, which occurs by two parallel processes: one‐dimensional crystallization at low temperature which starts from the sample surface, and three‐dimensional bulk crystallization that continues the transformation to crystalline state at higher temperatures. The ratio of the intensities of the high‐temperature exothermal peak to the low‐temperature peak in DSC scans increases as the particle size and heating rate are increased. In contrast to the SbSI phase, the temperature of crystallization for the Sb₂S₃ phase does not depend on the particle size. Models are proposed for the origin of the various crystallization mechanisms.     

Numerical use of {m,n}-approximation method thermoelastic anisotropic thin shell theory equations represented in a special form

A linear uncoupled quasi-static theory of thermoelastic anisotropic thin shells of constant thickness is formulated. In the derivation of equations and boundary conditions, a variant of the {$m,n$}-approximation method, which is based on the variational principle of the thermoelasticity theory, is used. According to this method, the unknown functions are represented in the form of a series of Legendre polynomials in the transverse coordinate that agree with the force boundary conditions on the facial surfaces. From the system of equations of the constructed theory for generalised displacements, strains, and stresses, a system of equations for generalised displacements is obtained; this system is solved for the second derivatives of generalised displacements with respect to one of the Gaussian parameters of the middle surface. For a system of partial differential equations represented in such a form, the known techniques for the reduction of systems of two-dimensional equations to normal systems of ordinary differential equations, which can be solved by standard numerical methods, can be applied. The system of equations for generalised displacements is reduced to a normal system of ordinary differential equations in the case of a plane deformation of a cylindrical panel. Through the use of these equations and the S. K. Godunov method of orthogonal successive substitutions, the bending problems of a planar beam subjected to a mechanical load or a thermal load and a circular cylindrical panel exposed to a thermal load are numerically solved. It is demonstrated that the proposed equations are particularly suitable for the analysis of boundary effects in planar beams and circular cylindrical panels.     

Oxidation of γ‐irradiated microbial cellulose results in bioresorbable,highly conformable biomaterial

Conformability to tissues and adequate mechanical strength are clinically useful properties of resorbable biomaterials used in soft tissue repair. Microbially derived cellulose is attractive as a high strength, highly conformable, and biocompatible material for tissue repair, but is not naturally resorbable. Here we show that controlled oxidation of microbial cellulose sheets that have been pre‐irradiated with γ‐radiation results in a resorbable and fully conformable membrane that can be rapidly rehydrated in aqueous fluids. In vitro studies showed that degradation of the resorbable membranes occurs in two major phases: (1) initial rapid degradation of about 70–80% of the entire sample followed by (2) slower degradation of an additional 5–10% which eventually levels off leaving a small amount of nonresorbable material. In vivo, prototype materials showed marked degradation at all time points, with the most rapid degradation occurring in the first 2–4 weeks. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39995.     

High‐Pressure Synthesis of Tantalum Nitride Having Orthorhombic U2S3 Structure

Among binary compounds, there is a high potential for discovery of novel members (polymorphic phases or compounds) of the nitrides of transition metals group due to a pronounced dependence of the oxidation state of the metals (M) on pressure. The power of high pressure–high temperature (HP‐HT) route for synthesis of binary nitrides has already been demonstrated by the discovery of cubic nitrides of the group 4 and 14 elements, of crystalline polymorphs of P₃N₅, and by reports on formation of four noble metal nitrides. It is anticipated that such HP products exhibit, in addition to enhanced elastic and mechanical behavior, other functional properties making them interesting for industrial applications. Here, HP–HT synthesis research is extended to nitrides of group 5 elements, resulting in the discovery of a novel hard tantalum nitride, exhibiting U₂S₃ structure: η‐Ta₂N₃ (Pbnm, a = 8.1911(17) Å, b = 8.1830(17) Å, c = 2.9823(3) Å). The stoichiometry is supported by two independent means, verifying that η‐Ta₂N₃ is the first thermodynamically stable transition metal nitride with a N:M ratio exceeding 4:3. Due to its high hardness and peculiar texture (needle‐like and granular crystallites), η‐Ta₂N₃ may find practical applications as a hard fracture resistant material.     

Liquid phase formation in the system Al2O3–Y2O3–AlN: Part II. Thermodynamic assessment

The mixing parameters of liquid phase in the Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃–AlN system were assessed based on differential thermal analysis (DTA) and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) investigations of selected compositions. Phase diagram of the Y₂O₃–AlN system was calculated. Liquidus surface of the Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃–AlN system was constructed and compared with experimental results on primary crystallisation fields. Calculated temperatures of invariant reactions were in agreement with DTA results. Vertical sections of the Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃–AlN system were calculated and compared with experimental data