Evaluation of environmentally friendly lubricants for cold forging

The authors proposed double-layer-type environmentally friendly lubricants, which were composed of an undercoat, superior in adhering to a material, and an overcoat, superior in reducing the friction between the material and the die. The performance of these lubricants for cold forging was evaluated by the ring compression test, the combined forward rod-backward can extrusion-type friction test and the combined forward conical can-backward straight can extrusion-type friction test. The double-layer-type lubricants showed comparable friction characteristics and anti-pick-up properties to a conversion coating lubricant, when the film thickness and surface treatment before coating were improved. In a practical application by cold multistage forging, the double-layer-type lubricants showed a similar performance to a conversion coating lubricant.     

Numerical simulation of a polypropylene foam bead expansion process

The production process for expanded polypropylene foam beads (EPP), which consists of steaming, depressurizing, cooling, and ageing operations, was consistently simulated by a set of mathematical models. The models, developed from Yang and Lee's ageing models (Yang and Lee, J. Cell. Plast., 39 , 59 (2003)) for extrusion foam products, were extended in terms of the fundamental aspects of mass and heat transport phenomena. Evaporation and condensation of blowing agents and heat conduction during the steam chest molding and ageing processes were modeled. The governing equations were established by integrating the mass transfer equations of steam and air at the intercellular walls with the constitutive equations of evaporation and condensation in each cell, the equation of heat conduction from the mold to the foam, and the mechanical force balance equation on the cell walls. The models simulate the stress exerted on the steaming chest mold and predict the expansion behavior of cells in the EPP bead‐foam board throughout the ageing process. A sensitivity analysis was also performed by the models to find the key factors which might allow the theoretical determination of the ejection time and shortening of the length of the ageing process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 48:107–115, 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Growth of β-Ga2O3 nanocolumns crossing perpendicularly each other on MgO (1 0 0) surface

β-Ga₂O₃ nanocolumns straightened and crossed perpendicularly each other were deposited on MgO (1 0 0) substrate by vapor phase transport method. Growth of the nanocolumns was examined at steps of 1000, 1050, and 1200 °C in elevation of source-boat temperature. We have drawn out the substrate from deposition-tube at each source-boat temperatures of 1000, 1050, and 1200 °C. Scanning electron microscopy of the sample with source-boat temperature of 1200 °C demonstrated that the straightened and elongated nanocolumns are crossing perpendicularly each other. Typical lengths of the nanocolumns were in the range of several hundreds nanometers below 1050 °C, and those of 1200 °C were in the range of ten to fifteen hundreds nanometers. Diameters of the nanocolumns stayed in the range of few hundreds nanometers, notwithstanding variation of the source temperature. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the nanocolumns are monoclinic β-Ga₂O₃ crystal, and the (4 0 0) plane of β-Ga₂O₃ nanocolumns is parallel to the (1 0 0) plane of MgO substrate.     

Reinforcement of polypropylene by cellulose microfibers modified with polydopamine and octadecylamine

Cellulose microfibers (CMFs) having surfaces modified with polydopamine (PDPA) and octadecylamine (ODA) were prepared, and their reinforcing abilities for polypropylene (PP) were investigated. The PDPA coating was made via self-polymerization of dopamine (P-CMF), and subsequent alkylation was conducted by the reaction with ODA (OP-CMF). The modified CMFs exhibited improved dispersibility in the PP matrix due to the reduced hydrophilicity. The OP-CMF/PP composite prepared by batch mixing had a higher tensile modulus compared to that for the pure PP and composites with unmodified CMFs. However, excess alkylation lowered the tensile modulus, and the presence of an optimal degree of alkylation was demonstrated. The CMF/PP-IM composites fabricated by injection molding exhibited improved tensile properties compared to those prepared by batch mixing. Both the tensile modulus and yield stress were increased by increasing the CMF content and improved by the surface modification of the CMFs.     

Challenges Upon Reactive Plasma Spray Nitriding: Al Powders and Fabrication of AlN Coatings as a Case Study

Reactive plasma spraying (RPS) is a promising technology for the in situ formation of several ceramic coatings. The focus of this paper is to summarize the state of our current knowledge about the RPS process and using the nitriding of Al particles and the fabrication of aluminum nitride coatings, as a case study. The aspects and challenges in this process such as the influence of the plasma power, in-flight time, particle size, nitriding mechanism, splat morphology, in-flight particle diagnostics, N₂ plasma gas, and the feeding rate on the RPS process are analyzed and discussed.     

Preparation of acetamiprid-loaded polymeric microcapsules: Influence of preparation parameter in emulsion system on microcapsule characteristics

Microencapsulation of pesticides is a promising technique for avoiding high initial doses and multiple applications of the chemicals to agricultural land which cause environmental pollution. It is because the formulation is possible to improve the stability of the chemicals against environmental degradation and control the release rate. In the present study, polymeric microcapsules prepared by the solvent evaporation method via water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion were used as immobilization supports of acetamiprid, a water-soluble pesticide. The pesticide was loaded in the microcapsules by impregnating the polymeric supports with acetamiprid dissolved in an organic solvent. Increased volume ratio (ϕ) of inner aqueous phase to oil phase in the emulsion system contributed to more pores in the microcapsules and increase in the content of acetamiprid in the polymeric supports. Release rate of acetamiprid from the microcapsules could be controlled by changing ϕ.     

Contribution of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells to the Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Skin Wounds

Chronic infections are considered one of the most severe problems in skin wounds, and bacteria are present in over 90% of chronic wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently isolated from chronic wounds and is thought to be a cause of delayed wound healing. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, unique lymphocytes with a potent regulatory ability in various inflammatory responses, accelerate the wound healing process. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of iNKT cells in the host defense against P. aeruginosa inoculation at the wound sites. We analyzed the re-epithelialization, bacterial load, accumulation of leukocytes, and production of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In iNKT cell–deficient (Jα18KO) mice, re-epithelialization was significantly decreased, and the number of live colonies was significantly increased, when compared with those in wild-type (WT) mice on day 7. IL-17A, and IL-22 production was significantly lower in Jα18KO mice than in WT mice on day 5. Furthermore, the administration of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific activator of iNKT cells, led to enhanced host protection, as shown by reduced bacterial load, and to increased production of IL-22, IL-23, and S100A9 compared that of with WT mice. These results suggest that iNKT cells promote P. aeruginosa clearance during skin wound healing.     

Enhanced degradation in nanocomposites of TiO2 and biodegradable polymer

Nanocomposites of titamium dioxide (TiO2) particles and biodegradable poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) were fabricated by melt-blending using a high-shear extruder. TiO2 particles were highly dispersed in the PBS matrix by high-shear processing, and the addition of TiO2 particles into PBS did not decrease its mechanical strength. The photocatalytic decomposition and biodegradable properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated by UV irradiation or enzymatic degradation methods in vitro. It was found that both the esterase enzyme and UV irradiation decomposed the nanocomposites. Photocatalytic decomposition of PBS clearly depended on the size and dispersibility of TiO2 particles in PBS polymer. Higher dispersibility and smaller size of TiO2 particles were effective on the photocatalytic oxidation of PBS. In addition, decomposition rate under a simultaneous UV irradiation treatment and immersion in an enzyme solution was higher than those under UV irradiation or immersion in an enzyme solution. These results indicate that the nanocomposites can easily be decomposed not only by an enzyme in soil or compost, but also by photocatalytic oxidation of TiO2 under sunlight.     

Computational cavitation flows at inception and light stages on an axial-flow pump blade and in a cage-guided control valve

Cavitation flows induced around an axial-flow pump blade and inside a high pressure cage-type valve are simu-lated by a two-dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes analysis with the simplest treatment of bubble dynamics.Thefluid is assumed as a continuum of homogeneous dispersed mixture of water and vapor nuclei.The analysis isaimed to capture transient stages with high amplitude pressure change during the birth and collapse of the bubbleespecially at the stage of cavitation inception.By the pump blade analysis,in which the field pressure is moderate,cavitation number of the inception and locations of developed cavitation are found to agree with experimental re-suits in a wide flow range between high incidence and negative incidence.In the valve flow analysis,in which thewater pressure of 5MPa is reduced to 2MPa,pressure change responding to the bubble collapse between the vaporpressure lower than 1 KPa and the extreme pressure of higher than 10~4 KPa is captured through a stable computa-tion.Location of the inception bubble and pressure force to the valve plug is found agree well with the respectiveexperimental features.