The Hydroloysis of ammonia borane by using Amberlyst-15 supported catalysts for hydrogen generation

Resin catalysts have the advantage of having various properties and long lifetime due to their ability to be regenerated easily, which makes them attractive supports. In this paper, a comparative study was conducted to optimize the dehydrogenation reaction condition using two different types of support materials: alumina (Al₂O₃), and Amberlyst-15 and to improve the catalytic activity as well as preparing an efficient and low-cost system for practical application, ruthenium metal catalyst was incorporated on Amberlyst-15 resin (a sulfonic acid type based upon a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer) to release H₂ via hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. Using ruthenium (Ru) catalysts based on Amberlyst-15 support material and comparing the results with Al₂O₃ as the common supporting material is considered to be studied for the first time. The effect of temperature (20–50 °C), the initial ammonia borane concentration (0.05–0.5 %wt), and catalyst amount (0.2–0.5 g) on the produced H₂ yield was also investigated. Ru@Amberlyst-15 nanoparticle was discovered to be an effective catalyst for hydrogen evolution via the hydrolysis of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency value (TOF) of 343.3 min^?1, while Ru@Al₂O₃ yielded a TOF of 87.5 min^?1 at the room temperature. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Amberlyst-15 supporting effect on ruthenium metal leads an increase in the hydrogen production rate.     

Hydrogen adsorption on natural and sulphuric acid treated sepiolite and bentonite

In this study, hydrogen (H₂) adsorption on sepiolite and bentonite and those of acid treated forms were studied at 77 K using volumetric apparatus up to 100 kPa. Both clay minerals were treated with 100 ml of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 M H₂SO₄ solutions at 80 °C for 5 h. Differences in the structures of the sepiolite and bentonite samples before and after the acid treatments were determined by XRD, XRF, TG, DTA and N₂ adsorption methods. The level of H₂ adsorption of original and acid treated sepiolite samples (1.332–2.252 mmol/g) was higher than those of the bentonite samples (0.341–1.003 mmol/g). The variation in the H₂ adsorption capacities during the acid treatment was also discussed.     

Micro milling of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V: 3-D finite element modeling for prediction of chip flow and burr formation

Cutting process of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V is considered difficult due to chemical affinity between tool and work material, adhesion, built-up edge and burr formation, and tool wear resulting in loss of productivity. Three dimensional (3-D) chip flow together with local field variables such as temperature, elastic/plastic strain, strain-rate and velocity in the shear zones during micro milling process can be predicted using continuum-mechanics based 3-D Finite Element (FE) modelling and simulation of elastic/viscoplastic work material deformations. This paper provides much needed process insight for chip flow, built-up edge and burr formation by using modeling work with experimental validation. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of the 3-D chip morphology and burrs demonstrate ductile fractured surfaces together with localized instability and failure behaviors. FE simulations are utilized to investigate the effects of micro milling operation i.e. up and down milling and tool edge radius on 3-D chip flow, built-up edge, and 3-D burr formation. Simulated results are compared with measurements of chip morphology, shape, and dimensions together with tool edge condition of built-up edge and chip adhesion yielding to good agreements.     

Home-making practices and social protection across borders: an example of Turkish migrants living in Germany

This article explores how Turkish migrants in Germany turn their physical houses into homes through actual day-to-day practices. It does so by drawing on participant observation and qualitative interviews. Rather than referring to home merely as a physical place, this article investigates in detail migrants’ home-making practices, particularly those activities related to social protection. In making their homes, migrants simultaneously make reference to multiple locales, material artifacts, and social relationships in countries of emigration and immigration. Through the examination of home-making practices, this article is an attempt to portray the symbolic and material expressions with transnational elements of the home unfolding in migrants’ everyday life.