The Structure and Bond Strength of Composite Carbide Coatings (WC-Co + Ni) Deposited on Ductile Cast Iron by Thermal Spraying

An investigation was conducted to determine the role of Ni particles in the WC-Co coating produced with the supersonic method on microstructure, mechanical, and wear properties in a system of type: WC-Co coating/ductile cast iron. The microstructure of the thermal-sprayed WC-Co + Ni coating was characterized by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes as well as the analysis of chemical and phase composition in microareas (EDS, XRD). The microstructure of the WC-Co + Ni coating consisted of large, partially molten Ni particles and very fine grains of WC embedded in cobalt matrix, coming to the size of nanocrystalline. Moreover, the results were discussed in reference to examination of bending strength considering cracking and delamination in the system of (WC-Co + Ni)/ductile cast iron as well as hardness and wear resistance of the coating. It was found that the addition of Ni particles was significantly increase resistance to cracking and wear behavior in the studied system.     

Reduced Mating Success of Female Tortricid Moths Following Intense Pheromone Auto-Exposure Varies with Sophistication of Mating System

Mating disruption is a valuable tool for the management of pest lepidopteran species in many agricultural crops. Many studies have addressed the effect of female pheromone on the ability of males to find calling females but, so far, fewer have addressed the effect of pheromone on the mating behavior of females. We hypothesized that mating of female moth species may be adversely affected following sex pheromone auto-exposure, due to abnormal behavioral activity and/or antennal sensitivity. Our results indicate that, for Grapholita molesta and Pandemis pyrusana females, copulation, but not calling, was reduced following pre-exposure to sex pheromone. In contrast, for Cydia pomonella and Choristoneura rosaceana, sex pheromone pre-exposure did not affect either calling or copulation propensity. Adaptation of female moth antennae to their own sex pheromone, following sex pheromone auto-exposure, as measured by electroantennograms, occurred in a species for which identical exposure reduced mating success (G. molesta) and in a species for which such exposure did not affect mating success (C. rosaceana). These results suggest that pre-exposure of female moths of certain species to sex pheromone may further contribute to the success of pheromone-based mating disruption. Therefore, we conclude that, in some species, mating disruption may include a secondary mechanism that affects the mating behavior of female moths, in addition to that of males.     

Novel Lytic Enzyme of Prophage Origin from Clostridium botulinum E3 Strain Alaska E43 with Bactericidal Activity against Clostridial Cells

Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium capable of producing botulinum toxin and responsible for botulism of humans and animals. Phage-encoded enzymes called endolysins, which can lyse bacteria when exposed externally, have potential as agents to combat bacteria of the genus Clostridium. Bioinformatics analysis revealed in the genomes of several Clostridium species genes encoding putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidases with anti-clostridial potential. One such enzyme, designated as LysB (224-aa), from the prophage of C. botulinum E3 strain Alaska E43 was chosen for further analysis. The recombinant 27,726 Da protein was expressed and purified from E. coli Tuner(DE3) with a yield of 37.5 mg per 1 L of cell culture. Size-exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments showed that the protein is dimeric in solution. Bioinformatics analysis and results of site-directed mutagenesis studies imply that five residues, namely H25, Y54, H126, S132, and C134, form the catalytic center of the enzyme. Twelve other residues, namely M13, H43, N47, G48, W49, A50, L73, A75, H76, Q78, N81, and Y182, were predicted to be involved in anchoring the protein to the lipoteichoic acid, a significant component of the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall. The LysB enzyme demonstrated lytic activity against bacteria belonging to the genera Clostridium, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Deinococcus, but did not lyse Gram-negative bacteria. Optimal lytic activity of LysB occurred between pH 4.0 and 7.5 in the absence of NaCl. This work presents the first characterization of an endolysin derived from a C. botulinum Group II prophage, which can potentially be used to control this important pathogen.     

Identification of the Zirconia Phases by Means of Raman Spectroscopy for Specimens Prepared by FIB Lift-Out Technique

Oxidation of Metals - The zirconium–zirconia interface that developed during high-temperature corrosion of pure zirconium was investigated. Samples were oxidized at...     

Molecular dynamics computer simulations of 5 keV C60 bombardment of benzene crystal

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics computer simulations have been used to investigate the damage of a benzene crystal induced by 5 keV C₆₀ projectile bombardment. The sputtering yield, mass distributions and the depth distributions of ejected organic molecules are analyzed. The temporal evolution of the system reveals that impinging C₆₀ cluster leads to creation of almost hemispherical crater. Most of the molecules damaged by the projectile impact are ejected into the vacuum during cluster irradiation. This “cleaning up” effect may explain why secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis of some organic samples with cluster projectiles can produce significantly less accumulated damage compared to analysis performed with atomic ion beams.     

The influence of end mill helix angle on high performance milling process

The results of experimental research on the influence of the helix angle on high performance milling of AlZn5.5MgCu alloy are presented. End mills with a wavy shape of a cutting edge, dedicated to rough high performance machining, were used. The helix angle was changed in the range of 20° to 50° with a step of 5°. During the milling tests, three cutting force components were measured. After each test cutting, chips were collected and analyzed. A recording of the chip evacuation process using a high-speed camera was also conducted. The influence of the helix angle on cutting force components was determined and the mathematical models of the forces were calculated. The significance of coefficients in the obtained equations was analyzed as well. The recorded images of the chip evacuation were analyzed. The displacement and the angle of the chip evacuation were determined. Based on the analysis of the selected images the impact of the helix angle on the direction and evacuation velocity of chips was determined. The size and shape of the obtained chips was also analyzed.

     

Cellular automaton model for surface diffusion

Following our mesoscopic analysis of diffusion process in a strongly coupled adsorbate we propose a novel cellular automaton model for the same processes. Mutual interactions between adsorbate particles are modeled using lattice Boltzmann equation collision term, while their interactions with the solid are mimicked by a lattice Boltzmann-Lorentz collision term. Using Chapman-Enskog procedure we obtain an explicit expression for the diffusion coefficient and derive macroscopic equations which exhibit properties similar to those known from our earlier approach. Comparison of our model with other cellular automata models of diffusion processes is provided.     

Oxidized rapeseed oil methyl ester as a bitumen flux: Structural changes in the ester during catalytic oxidation

Structural changes occurring in the rapeseed oil methyl ester upon catalytic oxidation at 200 °C were examined. Oxidative decomposition of fatty acid chains to lower molecular weight compounds and the formation of oligomers were the major oxidation pathways at 200 °C. FT-IR and ¹H NMR examinations, as well as the fall in iodine number, revealed the disappearance of double bonds. Quantitative analysis of the rapeseed oil methyl ester and the liquid products of its oxidation showed that oxidation of fatty acid methyl esters possessing three and two double bonds was practically complete whereas for structures possessing one double bond the loss of unsaturation amounted to 25% only. The decrease in iodine number from about 110 to about 65 and the 1.5-fold increase in molecular weight of the liquid products in the course of 25-h oxidation suggest that only a part of the unsaturated bonds in the fatty acid methyl ester was engaged in the formation of liquid oligomers and volatile oxidation products. The addition of dicumyl peroxide promoted the formation of organic peroxides during the initial stage of oxidation, which resulted in a higher molecular weight of the liquid products. The volatile oxidation products were found to contain lower molecular weight aldehydes, ketones, free fatty acids and their methyl esters, alkylfurans, lactones, n- and isoalkanes. The reaction schemes for their formation were presented. The results of the study are of importance to the optimization of the conditions for oxidation of the ester in order to obtain a quality ecological bitumen flux.