SiC–YAG sintered composites from hydroxy hydrogel powder precursors

Yttrium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide hydrogel were derived from yttrium nitrate and aluminium nitrate through hydroxy hydrogel route in which SiC particles were kept dispersed. The gel-like mass was heat treated at 900°C in ambient atmosphere followed by heat treatment at 1400°C in Ar atmosphere. The specimens were then sintered in the temperature range of 1800–1950°C in Ar atmosphere with 30 min soaking. The phases were identified by XRD analysis. Microstructure of the sintered materials were analysed by scanning electron micrograph. With this new method of preparation of powder precursors, the process of sintering was easier and almost theoretical density was achieved with moderate hardness. The mechanism of densification was postulated to be a solid-state initiated liquid phase sintering and the overall process of which was activated by the reactive species formed from hydroxy hydrogel powder precursors.     

Effect of N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NVP), a Bromodomain-Binding Small Chemical,on Osteoblast and Osteoclast Differentiation and Its Potential Application for Bone Regeneration

The human skeleton is a dynamic and remarkably organized organ system that provides mechanical support and performs a variety of additional functions. Bone tissue undergoes constant remodeling; an essential process to adapt architecture/resistance to growth and mechanical needs, but also to repair fractures and micro-damages. Despite bone’s ability to heal spontaneously, certain situations require an additional stimulation of bone regeneration, such as non-union fractures or after tumor resection. Among the growth factors used to increase bone regeneration, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) is certainly the best described and studied. If clinically used in high quantities, BMP2 is associated with various adverse events, including fibrosis, overshooting bone formation, induction of inflammation and swelling. In previous studies, we have shown that it was possible to reduce BMP2 doses significantly, by increasing the response and sensitivity to it with small molecules called “BMP2 enhancers”. In the present study, we investigated the effect of N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in vitro and guided bone regeneration in vivo. We showed that NVP increases BMP2-induced osteoblast differentiation and decreases RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in a rabbit calvarial defect model, the histomorphometric analysis revealed that bony bridging and bony regenerated area achieved with NVP-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) membranes were significantly higher compared to unloaded membranes. Taken together, our results suggest that NVP sensitizes BMP2-dependent pathways, enhances BMP2 effect, and inhibits osteoclast differentiation. Thus, NVP could prove useful as “osteopromotive substance” in situations where a high rate of bone regeneration is required, and in the management of bone diseases associated with excessive bone resorption, like osteoporosis.     

Design of Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer (ASP) Slug and its use in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

Studies have been done to design an optimum composition of alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) slug and its application in flooding to increase the additional recovery of oil. A very low concentration of alkali and surfactant is used to achieve ultra-low interfacial tension between the trapped oil and the injection water, and polymer is used to increase the viscosity of the injection water for mobility control. Based on the experimental results of physico-chemical properties of polymer, surfactant, and alkali and their mutual interaction in solution, an ASP slug of composition SDS: 0.1 wt%, SDBS: 0.075 wt%, polyacrylamide: 2,000 ppm, and NaOH: 0.7 wt% has been recommended for flooding. Two sets of core-flooding experiments have been conducted using the designed ASP slug in a tri-axial core holder to measure the additional recovery of oil. The average additional oil recovery over conventional water flooding was found to be more than 20% of the original oil in place (OOIP).     

Efficient processing of oil–water emulsions confined within 2D cylinders with various microwave irradiations: Role of metallic annulus

Extensive studies have been carried out to investigate the role of metallic annulus on efficient microwave processing of oil–water emulsions confined within 2D cylinders in the presence of lateral/radial irradiations. A preliminary study has been carried out via average power within a sample vs. sample diameter to estimate microwave power absorptions for various o/w and w/o emulsions with specific fractions of the dispersed phase (?) in the absence of metallic annulus. Based on those studies, various regimes (sample dimension) have been identified for each emulsion (o/w or w/o) based on appropriate length scales. Two types of metallic annular configurations have been considered such as circular and square annuli for further analysis via average power vs. aspect ratio (a) distribution for each regime. Based on that study, suitable aspect ratios have been chosen to carry out detailed analysis on spatial power and temperature distributions for each regime with metallic annuli. Finally, optimal heating strategies have been recommended based on two significant factors such as ‘large heating rate’ with ‘minimal thermal runaway’ for various regimes of o/w and w/o emulsions. It is observed that average power absorptions show greater intensification due to metallic annulus for most of the regimes of o/w emulsions than that for corresponding regimes of w/o emulsions due to lateral and/or radial irradiations. However, in general, for regimes with smaller diameters (for both o/w and w/o samples) radial irradiation is favored, whereas for large regimes, lateral irradiation is favored as the optimal heating strategies.     

Application of single and mixtures of red sandalwood and other natural dyes for dyeing of jute fabric: studies on colour parameters/colour fastness and compatibility

Single and binary mixtures of aqueous extracts of red sandalwood (RSW) with aqueous extract of other natural dyes like manjistha (MJ), jackfruit wood (JFW), marigold (MG), sappan wood (SW) and babool (BL) in different proportions are applied on bleached jute fabric for its dyeing after double pre-mordanted with myrobolan and aluminium sulphate applied in sequence under optimised conditions of mordanting with effects of use of different proportions of binary mixture of selective natural dyes on colour strength and other colour. Parameters and colour fastness properties have been investigated. Compatibility of selective binary mixture of dyes was also judged by a relatively newer colour index parameter established earlier from this laboratory. Binary of mixture of RSW and MJ is found to be most compatible with rating 4 (in 0–5 scale), and mixture of RSW:MG and RSW:JFW is found to have average compatibility having rating 3. Dyed fabric samples have also been further treated with cationic dye-fixing agents namely N-cetyl-N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetrimide and Sandofix-HCF to improve wash fastness. Treatment with 2% CTAB or Sandofix-HCF improves the wash fastness to nearly 1 unit. Treatment with 1% benztriazole improves the light fastness of natural dyed jute textiles nearly half to one unit. The possible chemistry and mechanisms for such improvement in wash fastness by CTAB and improvement of light fastness by benztriazole for jute have also been discussed to explain the observed effects.     

Failure analysis of air pre-heater tubes of a petrochemicals plant

Heat resistant alloy tubes used in the higher temperature range of 1150–1273 K depends on the protective scale integrity for prevention of corrosion induced premature failures in a mixed gas environment with potential corrodents for oxidation, carburization and sulphidation attack. Cast HK40+Nb alloy tubes of an air pre-heater unit of a petrochemical industry failed prematurely after 13,000 h in service. The unit used smoke gas containing gaseous corrodents that could cause oxidation/sulphidation/carburization type of attack. Failed parts showed crack/punctures below the corrosion product filled pits. The crack occurred in the fully carburized zone present at the thinned out centre of the pit. Factors like excessive temperature cycling, overheating, presence of impurities either in the pre-heating gas mixture or that got introduced while in operation were found to be the reasons for breach of protective scale integrity leading to unwarranted corrosion attack resulting in thinning of tube material and internal corrosion penetration which finally led to premature failure.     

Inventory model with two rates of production for deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments

Some decentralized smoothing problems are solved by applying a forward-pass fixed-interval smoother formula in discrete-time systems. It is assumed that a simple estimation structure consists of a global processor and of two local processors. Two cases are considered for the problems of decentralized smoothing and smoothing update: when the local backward-pass information filtered estimates are available, and when the local-smoothed estimates are available. Some features of present algorithms are discussed from the point of view of data transmissions and numerical computations, etc.     

Relationship between Growth, Structure and Superconductivity of Single Crystal YBa2Cu3O7-δ

We study the crystal growth of YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O _7- with additives, using ac susceptibility, X-ray diffraction and STM. One specific additive, BaF ₂ , dramatically improves both the crystal growth and the superconducting properties. A cluster growth model is proposed to describe the function of the additive. F _– reduces the Al contamination of Cu-O chains, and the orthorhombicity increases. On a nanometer scale, the roughness of the chains decreases markedly. Superconductivity is further enhanced using non-contaminating crucibles. Large single crystals with T _C = 93.7 K and T _C = 0.1K were grown in Y ₂ O ₃ or BaZrO ₃ crucibles using the BaF ₂ additive.     

Structural,Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Microwave-Assisted High-Energy Ball Milling Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite

Abstract

In the present work, the effect of high-energy ball milling (HEBM) of starting precursors of hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂)/HA system on the processing temperature, morphological, mechanical, and electrical properties are highlighted. Calcination and sintering of HA system were carried out in microwave furnace. XRD study confirmed the evolution of HA phase and EDX analysis confirmed Ca/P ratio ～1.65. Grain size of HA samples, synthesized by using microwave-assisted HEBM technique was found to be in the order of 54–75?nm. Enhanced dielectric and mechanical properties were obtained in HA samples.     

Studies on spinel cobaltites,MCo2O4 (M = Mn,Zn, Fe,Ni and Co) and their functional properties

Optimization of electrodes for charge storage with appropriate processing conditions places significant challenges in the developments for high performance charge storage devices. In this article, metal cobaltite spinels of formula MCo₂O₄ (where M = Mn, Zn, Fe, Ni and Co) are synthesized by oxalate decomposition method followed by calcination at three typical temperatures, viz. 350, 550, and 750 °C and examined their performance variation when used as anodes in lithium ion batteries. Phase and structure of the materials are studied by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Single phase MnCo2O4,ZnCo2O4 and Co3O4 are obtained for all different temperatures 350 °C, 550 °C and 750 °C; whereas FeCo₂O₄ and NiCo₂O₄ contained their constituent binary phases even after repeated calcination. Morphologies of the materials are studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM): needle-shaped particles of MnCo₂O₄ and ZnCo₂O₄, submicron sized particles of FeCo₂O₄ and agglomerated submicron particle of NiCo₂O₄ are observed. Galvanostatic cycling has been conducted in the voltage range 0.005–3.0 V vs. Li at a current density of 60 mA g^?1 up to 50 cycles to study their Li storage capabilities. Highest observed charge capacities are: MnCo₂O₄ – 365 mA h g^?1 (750 °C); ZnCo₂O₄ – 516 mA h g^?1 (550 °C); FeCo₂O₄ – 480 mA h g^?1 (550 °C); NiCo₂O₄ – 384 mA h g^?1 (750 °C); and Co₃O₄ – 675 mA h g^?1 (350 °C). The Co₃O₄ showed the highest reversible capacity of 675 mA h g^?1; the NiO present in NiCo₂O₄ acts as a buffer layer that results in improved cycling stability; the ZnCo₂O₄ with long needle-like shows good cycling stability.