Influence of substrate temperature on crystalline copper aluminium oxide thin films synthesized through chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique

Copper aluminium oxide (CuAlO₂) of well ordered crystalline films were deposited on to glass substrates with Cu/Al ratio r = 0.8 at the substrate temperatures of 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C. Films which were characterized had a thickness of the order of few micrometers. Films deposited at the optimized deposition temperature (450 °C) revealed well-crystalline CuAlO₂ phase with XRD peak at 2θ = 31.7° corresponds to (006) reflection. The peak positions of the core level XPS spectra, confirm the presence of delafossite CuAlO₂ phase. The optical transmission of 80 % has been observed in the visible spectrum. The obtained band gap energy is 4.1 eV. From the observed results it was evidenced that the substrate temperature has strong influence on the structural and optical properties of the spray pyrolysed copper aluminium oxide films.     

Effect of Carbon Nanotube on High-Temperature Formability of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

Room-temperature tensile properties of AZ31 alloy have significantly been improved when reinforced with carbon nanotube via ingot metallurgy process. However, high-temperature (up to 250 °C) elongation-to-failure tensile test of the developed nanocomposite revealed a considerable softening in the AZ31 alloy matrix accompanied by an incredible ductility increment (up to 132%). Microstructural characterization of the fractured samples revealed that the dynamic recrystallization process has induced a complete recrystallization in the AZ31 alloy at a lower temperature (150 °C) followed by substantial grain growth at a higher temperature used in this study. Fractography on the fractured surfaces revealed that the room-temperature mixed brittle-ductile modes of fracture behavior of AZ31 alloy have transformed into a complete ductile mode of fracture at high temperature.     

Chryseobacterium meningosepticum in a parapneumonic effusion in a chronic kidney disease patient on hemodialysis

Chryseobacterium meningosepticum is an uncommon human pathogen, which is an inhabitant of soil and water. It should be included in the list of suspected nosocomial infections, especially in patients with immunocompromised status. C. meningosepticum infections are not common but are clinically important because the organism is naturally resistant to multiple antibiotics. We report a case where the bacterium was isolated from the pleural fluid from a chronic kidney disease patient on hemodialysis, who developed pneumonia with complicated parapneumonic effusion. To the best of our knowedge, this is the first case where C. meningosepticum is isolated from the pleural effusion, from India.     

Investigation of a single pit/defect evolution during the corrosion process

The investigation of a single pit/defect evolution due to localized corrosion that is commonly observed in a wide range of aluminum alloys is reported. Electrochemical experiments, microscopy and computations were used to predict stresses around a single pit/defect. It was observed that the pit/defect profile changing its shape from slightly conical to more hemispherical shape with increasing corrosion time. Also, stress distribution and levels vary non-linearly around a single pit/defect. The results also indicate that the evolution of these pits/defects may lead to nucleation of a crack over time, which can be predicted from these stresses.     

Kinetics of self-repair in inorganic glasses: modeling and experimental verification

A novel concept of self-repairable glass useful as seals in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is proposed, developed, and used for making metal-glass–ceramic seals for enhancing reliability and life. In this concept, cracks created during SOFC operation are repaired by the crack healing process driven by the viscous flow of the glass. An approach for studying the kinetics of crack healing in glasses responsible for the self-repair is described and used to study the crack healing behavior. The cracks are created by a microindenter, and the progression of healing of cracks thus created on a silicate glass surface is experimentally determined at different annealing temperatures and times. Sequential changes in the crack morphology during thermal healing are also studied to identify the three stages of crack healing process. A crack healing model, based on the relationship among crack length, time, temperature, glass viscosity, and its flow behavior is developed in order to describe and predict the time required for self-repair on a glass surface. The predictions from the developed model is then compared with the experimental data and found to be in good agreement. These results also demonstrated the relative importance of the different stages of crack healing on the overall healing or self-repair behavior.