A network-based shortest route model for parallel disassembly line balancing problem

Disassembly lines should be balanced efficiently to increase productivity of the line and to reduce disassembly costs. This problem is called disassembly line balancing problem (DLBP). The objective of the DLBP is usually to find the minimum number of disassembly workstations required. This study introduces parallel DLBP (PDLBP) with single-product and proposes a network model based on the shortest route model (SRM) for solving PDLBP. The proposed model is illustrated via numerical examples. A comprehensive experiment is also conducted to evaluate problem-specific features of disassembly lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study dealing with PDLBP. This paper will present a different point of view regarding DLBP.     

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: effect of iron oleate precursors obtained with a simple way

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different amounts of iron oleate precursor with different oleic acid amounts on the properties of the synthesised nanoparticles by thermal decomposition. The iron oleate precursors which formed from oleic acids in the order of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g, and 0.1 g iron powder was prepared under 200 °C seperately, using a facile solvothermal method under study. Thermal analysis of iron oleat precursors by a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the different amount of oleic acid was seen to have an impact on the thermal properties of iron oleat complexes. During the synthesis of nanoparticles, iron oleate complex in 1-hexadecane kept refluxing for 3 h under air atmosphere resulting in the formation of nanoparticles. The fourier transform infrared spectra measurements and the TGA analysis disclosed that nanoparticles were coated with oleic acid. To the X-ray diffraction patterns, all samples are iron oxide nanocrystals and their crystal sizes increased from 6.4 to 9.8 nm with decreasing oleic acid. Also, the sizes of nanoparticles were found to be in same range as confirmed with the surface observation by a transmission electron microscope. The magnetic properties obtained from a vibrating sample magnetometer revealed that all nanoparticles are superparamagnetic at room temperature. Also, their saturation magnetizations were up to 33.2 emu/g. It is seen that the nanoparticles are superparamagnetic with the desired structural and corresponding magnetic properties and therefore, they could be thought to be convenient for biomedical applications as the particles can be transferred to aqueous phase.     

Amorphization of Thiamine Mononitrate: A Study of Crystallization Inhibition and Chemical Stability of Thiamine in Thiamine Mononitrate Amorphous Solid Dispersions

This study investigated thiamine degradation in thiamine mononitrate (TMN):polymer solid dispersions, accounting for the physical state of the vitamin and the recrystallization tendency of TMN in these dispersions. Results were compared with those from solid dispersions containing a different salt form of thiamine (thiamine chloride hydrochloride (TClHCl)). TMN:polymer dispersions were prepared by lyophilizing solutions containing TMN and amorphous polymers (pectin and PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)). Samples were stored in controlled temperature and relative humidity (RH) environments for eight weeks and monitored periodically by X-ray diffraction and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moisture sorption, glass transition temperature (T_g), intermolecular interactions, and pH were also determined. Similar to the TClHCl:polymer dispersions, thiamine was more chemically labile in the amorphous state than the crystalline state, when present in lower proportions in amorphous TMN:polymer dispersions despite increasing T_g values, when environmental storage conditions exceeded the T_g of the dispersion, and when co-formulated with PVP compared to pectin. When thiamine remained as an amorphous solid, chemical stability of thiamine did not differ as a function of counterion present (TMN vs. TClHCl). However, storage at 75% RH led to hydration of thiamine:PVP dispersions, and the resulting pH of the solutions as a function of thiamine salt form led to a higher chemical stability in the acidic TClHCl samples than in the neutral TMN samples.     

Ruthenium(0) nanoparticles supported on nanotitania as highly active and reusable catalyst in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Ruthenium(0) nanoparticles supported on the surface of titania nanospheres (Ru(0)/TiO₂) were in situ generated from the reduction of ruthenium(III) ions impregnated on nanotitania during the hydrolysis of ammonia borane. They were isolated from the reaction solution by centrifugation and characterized by a combination of advanced analytical techniques. The results reveal that highly dispersed ruthenium(0) nanoparticles of size in the range 1.5–3.3 nm were formed on the surface of titania nanospheres. Ru(0)/TiO₂ show high catalytic activity in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency value up to 241 min⁻¹ at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. They provide unprecedented catalytic lifetime measured by total turnover number (TTO = 71,500) in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. The report also includes the results of kinetic study on the catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane depending on the temperature to determine the activation energy of the reaction (E_a = 70 ± 2 kJ/mol) and the catalyst concentration to establish the rate law of the reaction.     

An Adhesion-Dominated Rolling Friction Regime Unique to Micro-scale Ball Bearings

We demonstrate that micro-scale rolling bearings exhibit friction and wear properties markedly different from their macro-scale counterparts. A microfabricated testing platform uses variable rolling element diameters or vapor-phase lubricated interfaces to independently test friction force with varying contact area and surface energy. A linear, consistent, relationship between friction force and contact area is observed among different rolling element diameters. When surface free energy is altered through the introduction of vapor-phase lubrication, an 83 % decrease in friction is observed. When coupled with observed ball material adhered to the raceway, there is strong evidence for adhesion-dominated rolling friction regime at the micro-scale.     

Accurate gas – Zeolite interaction measurements by using high pressure gravimetric volumetric adsorption method

In this work, we discuss the purification of hydrogen by physical adsorption on zeolites Li–LSX exchanged 78%, 83% and 99%. A newly developed adsorption device is applied to the gas–solid adsorption measurements. Isotherms of hydrogen adsorption are gravimetric volumetrically measured at 293.15 K up to 5 MPa. The accuracy of this new device is compared to NIST gas density data's of hydrogen and nitrogen at 293.15 K. Further the real density of the zeolites is obtained by helium skeleton density measurements at high temperature (650 K). The paper provides an interpretation of hydrogen adsorption capacities according to the gas-surface interaction. Further the isosteric heat of adsorption is obtained for the studied materials and analysed in relation to the zeolite cations exchange rate. Moreover, we discuss the influence of the ratio of cation exchange on hydrogen gas adsorption.     

Polystyrene-based self-aggregating polymers based on UPy units

The synthesis and characterization of a series of polystyrene (PS)-based copolymers, bearing 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) units pendant from the polymer backbone, is reported. The PS-based copolymers are efficiently synthesized by RAFT-mediated free radical polymerization performed on styrene and protected 4-vinylbenzylamine, and post-modification with suitable UPy-derived isocyanates to give the target polymers. Analysis of the samples in solution reveals that the polymer chains aggregate to give organic nanoparticles of discrete and uniform dimensions, whose direct visualization when deposited on surfaces can be achieved using AFM.     

Durability of PEM fuel cell electrocatalysts prepared by microwave irradiation technique

In this study, the durability of the PEM fuel cell electrocatalysts was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) techniques. Accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) were applied to the commercial catalysts and the electrocatalysts prepared by microwave irradiation technique in order to determine the platinum dissolution/agglomeration and carbon corrosion characteristics. The parameters examined for the commercial catalysts were carbon to Nafion (C/N) ratio in the catalyst ink and Pt loading over the carbon support. The parameters examined for the home-made catalysts were the conditions altered in the microwave environment including the base concentration and microwave duration. The hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) were examined before and after ADTs. The results showed that the catalyst properties differently affect the HOR and ORR activities of the catalysts before and after ADTs.