Mechanical and three‐body abrasive wear behaviour of SiC filled glass‐epoxy composites

Fiber/filler reinforced polymer composites are known to possess high strength and attractive wear resistance in dry sliding conditions. How these composites perform in abrasive wear situations needs a proper understanding. Hence, in this research article the mechanical and three‐body abrasive wear behaviour of E‐glass fabric reinforced epoxy (G‐E) and silicon carbide filled E‐glass fabric reinforced epoxy (SiC‐G‐E) composites are investigated. The mechanical properties were evaluated using Universal testing machine. Three‐body abrasive wear tests are conducted using rubber wheel abrasion tester wherein two different loads and four varying abrading distances are employed. The results showed that the wear volume loss is increased with increase in abrading distance and the specific wear rate decreased with increase in abrading distance/load. However, the presence of SiC particulate fillers in the G‐E composites showed a promising trend. The worn surface features, when examined through scanning electron microscopy, show higher levels of broken glass fiber in G‐E system compared to SiC‐ filled G‐E composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Dielectric spectroscopy-based characterisation of different types of Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) in terms of texture,microstructure and functional groups

Different variants of Paneer were prepared with cow milk (CM), buffalo milk (BM), skimmed milk powder (SMP) and blends (40:60, 50:50, 60:40) of SMP with CM/BM. The Paneer composition, texture, microstructure and spread of functional groups were correlated with the dielectric capacitance values. Results depicted a strong correlation (R² > 0.95) between milk used for Paneer making and its proximate composition in terms of the capacitance value, and it was highest for CM followed by BM; 100% SMP Paneer recorded lowest values. Paneer made from blends of SMP and liquid milk had the lowest transmittance value, indicating higher total protein content.     

Mechanical characterization of jute-basalt hybrid composites with graphene as nanofiller

Natural fibre composites, due to their biodegradable and eco friendly nature, are being explored for potential application in wide areas. But their strengths need to be enhanced. Hybridization of the natural fibres with incorporation of nanofillers helps to tailor the properties of nanofillers, and individual fibers and enhance the properties of resultant composite. The present work aims to explore the mechanical propertis of jute-basalt hybrid composites by incorporating graphene nanofillers of varying concentrations. Basalt, jute and jute-basalt hybrid composites with varying concentrations of graphene (0 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 1 wt%) are prepared. Effect of hybridization of different fibers and influence of graphene on mechanical properties are analyzed. The effect of nature of top and bottom laminates on mechanical properties is also observed. Maximum improvement in tensile strength, flexural strength and hardness is found to be 13 %, 29 % and 55 %, respectively, with hybrid composite containing 1 wt.% graphene compared to hybrid composite without graphene. Impact strength is found to be highest for hybrid composite containing 0.4 wt.% graphene with 17 % increase compared to hybrid composite without graphene.

     

Degradation of wastewater from carbon capture plants using metal-impregnated TiO2 photocatalyst

Amine-based carbon capture (ABCC) is an advanced and cost-effective technology used to reduce the effects of climate change by capturing ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ emitted from different sources. Although it has been demonstrated commercially, amine degradation poses a significant threat to humans and aquatic life. Amine degradation produces a wide variety of complex products such as nitrosamines and some organic acids. Some of these products are carcinogenic and mutagenic in nature and have demonstrated acute toxicity for laboratory animals. In order to mitigate the adverse impact of these compounds on human health and aquatic life, heterogeneous photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process which can degrade a wide variety of chemical species with potent reactive hydroxyl radicals, was considered for the degradation of these compounds. The photocatalytic degradation of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), acetic acid, and formic acid were tested using TiO₂ and metal-impregnated TiO₂ catalysts such as Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu. Various techniques, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV–Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to characterize these catalysts. The operational parameters for the photocatalytic degradation process were chosen as solution pH, catalyst dose, and metal impregnation percentage (imp%), and they were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). pH was found as an important factor, and its impact on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency was more significant than the other operational parameters. The average degradation efficiency of the compounds reached 93.1% for Fe-TiO₂, 92.08% for Co-TiO₂, 89.09% for Ni-TiO₂, 88.81% for Cu-TiO₂, and 86.3% for TiO₂ at the optimum conditions.     

Mutagens in commercial food processing and its microbial transformation

Food Science and Biotechnology - Mutagens are chemical molecules that have the ability to damage DNA. Mutagens can enter into our body upon consumption of improperly cooked or processed food...