Vibration emission as a potential source of information for abrasive waterjet quality process control

The paper deals with basic research of vibration generated at abrasive waterjet cutting of materials and their analysis of frequency spectrum in the plane cut. As an experimental material, stainless steel AISI 309 has been used. Experimentally controlled factor involved in the experiment was abrasive mass flow rate with values m _a ?=?250 and 400 g min^?1 at a constant traverse speed v?=?100 mm min^?1. The vibrations were recorded during experimental cutting by sensors PCB IMI type 607A11 placed on experimental material along the cut at a distance of 50 mm from the cutting plane. Data collection was carried by NI PXI measurement system and frequency analyzer Microlog GX-S. Signal was evaluated by virtual instrument created in the object-programming environment LabView 8.5. Various sizes of amplitudes were observed depending on the distance of abrasive waterjet cutting process from the beginning of the cut. Two peaks of frequency bands have been also found: the first between 500 and 600 Hz and the other at approximately 12.5 kHz. Using this method is possible to ensure the determination of technology efficiency of the material removal process.     

Spectral properties of chalcone containing triphenylamino structural unit in solution and in polymer matrices

Novel chalcones (3-phenyl-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-ones) substituted on one end (position 3) with electron donating diphenylaminophenyl substituent and on the other end (position 1) with thiophenes with variable electronic effects (CH-1-CH-5) were prepared. The spectral properties of these molecules in solvents such as chloroform, cyclohexane, acetonitrile, methanol and incorporated into polymer matrices of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were compared with those of 3-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-phenyl]-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (CH-1m) and 3-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(4-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (CH-2m). The longest wavelength absorption band of model chalcones CH-1m and CH-2m was in the range of 400-420 nm and did not appear to be influenced by the medium. The fluorescence increased with the addition of acetonitrile, while it was effectively quenched in methanol. The strong electron-attracting nitro group quenched the fluorescence of CH-2m in nearly all solvents. In contrast, the fluorescence became more intense when the molecule was incorporated in a polymer matrix. The longest wavelength absorption band of novel chalcones was observed in the range of 410-450 nm in all media. The fluorescence of chalcones was red-shifted to the range of 530-575 nm and was most intense in chloroform. The quantum yield of fluorecence was the highest in chloroform for the chalcone with a methyl-thiophene (0.49) and low for the chalcone with a fluorenyl-thiophene group (0.07). The fluorescence of all chalcones (CH-1-CH-5) was effectively quenched in polar acetonitrile and methanol, and was less intense relative to chloroform when incorporated into a polymer matrix and more intense relative to other solvents. The lifetime of fluorescence was in the range of 1-4 ns. The Stokes shift was in the range of 4000-5000 cm⁻¹ in chloroform, and lower in all other media. The spectral behavior of model chalcones CH-1m and CH-2m and novel chalcones with diphenylamino substituents was similar, producing observable fluorescence in several polymer matrices. The effect of the solvent on the fluorescence is discussed in terms of negative and positive solvatokinetic effects.     

Porous silicon nitride–based drug delivery carrier

Tetracalcium phosphate/monetite biocement was modified with the addition of 30 wt% highly porous silicon nitride/α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) microgranules. The volume ratio of Si₃N₄ and α-TCP in microgranules was 1:1 and showed good in vitro simulated body fluid bioactivity with precipitation of hydroxyapatite particles. The intention of addition of microgranules to the biocement was to have a carrier of drug, which can be released into the body in due time. Granules prepared by the freeze granulation of starting mixture of silicon nitride and calcium phosphate and subsequent sintering at 1100°C have a suitable pore structure for the foreseen use. The pore volume was almost 1000 mm³/g with the open porosity of 77 vol%. This porosity and the biocompatible composition of silicon nitride–based granules gave a chance to fabricate a suitable composite cement for dexamethasone (DMZ) drug release into the human body. An accelerated release of dexamethasone from composite cement was observed and the full amount of DMZ was released from the composite biocement after 10 days. The presented results are a good base to adjust the total drug release time by the mixing of an appropriate amount of drug infiltrated ceramic granules with the tetracalcium phosphate/monetite cement.     

Non-damage deep etching of SiC by hybrid laser-high temperature chemical processing

SiC is considered as preferred material for micro-electro-mechanical system in the future. The excellent mechanical property and chemical stability make it difficult to perform deep etching. The hybrid laser-high temperature chemical etching is investigated to realize non-damage deep etching of SiC. The influences of defocus, laser pulse interval, laser intensity, and pulse number on etching depth are researched. The optimized laser parameter for SiC non-damage deep etching is laser intensity of 10 × 10⁹ W/cm² with a pulse interval of 10 ms. In order to analyze the interaction mechanism, the temperature field and laser-induced liquid jet in the liquid environment are calculated numerically. It is concluded that the material removal mechanism consists of laser heating vaporization during laser pulse, mechanical effect of laser-induced liquid jet impact between two adjacent laser pulses and chemical etching in laser-induced local high-temperature environment. The chemical reaction between SiC and mixture of HF, and HNO₃ solution produces gases and fluosilicic acid and effectively reduces the roughness of the modified layer making the surface smoother, and also removes the microcracks on the side wall of the etched region.