A study on the effect of polishing fluid volume in ball end magnetorheological finishing process

Ball end magnetorheological finishing is a unique process that utilizes a magnetically controlled ball of polishing fluid at the tip of the rotating tool to finish workpiece of different materials and shapes. The aim of this research is to study the effect of polishing fluid volume on finishing spot size and the surface finish associated with it. A magnetostatic simulation is done to find the variation of flux density in the working gap and on the workpiece surface. The maximum limit of the polishing fluid volume is selected on the basis of area of threshold magnetic flux density (minimum value required for finishing) region on the workpiece surface. The surface characteristics and the diameter of the finished spot are analyzed by varying the fluid volume. The surface obtained with high fluid volume is poorly finished and has scratch marks as the excess fluid flows out from the working gap and forms a thick ring at the periphery of the tool tip. Contrary to this, if the fluid volume is too less, then it merely rotates over the workpiece surface without causing any finishing action. An optimum range of fluid volume produces a good quality surface finish with constant finished spot size.     

Growth and characterization of Ni:DLC composite films using pulsed laser deposition technique

The structure and surface morphology of Ni-incorporated diamond like carbon (Ni:DLC) films have been investigated. These films were deposited on Si substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. A KrF Excimer laser (λ = 248 nm) was used for co-ablation from multi component Ni–graphite target. The concentration of Ni was varied by ablating the Ni part of the target with various numbers of laser pulses. The SEM and AFM analysis reveals that the surface is composed of segregates of Ni which increases with the increase in Ni content during the growth process. The structural investigations by XRD and Raman spectroscopy provided information about the orientation of the incorporated constituent and the ordering of the carbon species. Maximum height of the nano structures which were observed on the surface was ∼50 nm. The G-peak of the graphite was shifted towards higher wave number due to enhancement in SP² sites which have been increased due to the increase in the Ni concentration. A small change in the surface roughness ranging from 7.78 nm to 13.1 nm due to increased Ni concentration was also observed.     

Long‐Range Nanoparticle Surface‐Energy‐Transfer Ruler for Monitoring Photothermal Therapy Response

A recent gold nanotechnology‐driven approach opens up a new possibility for the destruction of cancer cells through photothermal therapy. Ultimately, photothermal therapy may enter into clinical therapy and, as a result, there is an urgent need for techniques to monitor the tumor response to therapy. Driven by this need, a nanoparticle surface‐energy‐transfer (NSET) approach to monitor the photothermal therapy process by measuring a simple fluorescence intensity change is reported. The fluorescence intensity change is due to the light‐controlled photothermal release of single‐stranded DNA/RNA via dehybridization during the therapy process. Time‐dependent results show that just by measuring the fluorescence intensity change, the photothermal therapy response during the therapy process can be monitored. The possible mechanism and operating principle of the NSET assay are discussed. Ultimately, this NSET assay could have enormous potential applications in rapid, on‐site monitoring of the photothermal therapy process, which is critical to providing effective treatment of cancer and multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections.     

Size selective excitonic transition energies in strongly confined CdSe quantum dots

We report on the synthesis of CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) of different radii (R). Size dependent optical properties like increase in the confinement energy with decreasing radius for different excitonic transitions are studied. Different excitonic transitions are calculated from the second derivative of UV-vis absorption spectra of as synthesized CdSe QDs. The transitions are assigned to specific states by calculating the transition energies using effective mass approximation. A close matching of the transition energies with the experiment suggesting that the second derivative of the absorption spectra could provide a direct knowledge of the electronic transition for the direct band gap semiconductor quantum dots.     

Spin glass behaviour in the Co2−xZnxTiO4 compound

A.c. susceptibility measurements were carried out on the disordered spinel system Co_2–x Zn _x TiO₄ (0<x<1) between 10 and 80 K. Our measurements show three peaks in the versus T curve for Co₂TiO₄ and CoZnTiO₄ compounds. In both compounds two peaks are very close to each other, indicating that the Néel and semi-spin glass temperatures are very close. A third peak indicates the presence of the semi-spin glass to spin glass transition. In Co_1.5Zn_0.5TiO₄ only one peak is observed which indicates spin glass ordering at 26 K. Furthermore, the A-site canting present in Co₂TiO₄ and CoZnTiO₄ has a collinear and magnetic structure, indicating strong A-B coupling. X-ray analysis indicated that compounds of the system Co₂Zn_xTiO₄ synthesized with cubic symmetry. From transport properties it was found that the activation energy and thermoelectric coefficient decrease with increasing concentration of Zn in the system. The mobility of the system calculated from infrared measurements is typically of the order of 10^–9cm²V^–1s^–1.     

Pressurised chamber design for conducting rolling contact experiments with liquid refrigerant lubrication

A novel pressurised chamber was designed to construct a special purpose test rig to achieve saturated liquid state of refrigerants for lubricated rolling contact fatigue experiments. Traditional bench testing using refrigerants as the lubricant is difficult due to the gaseous phase at standard atmospheric conditions. Pressurising the concentrated contact test chamber is therefore necessary to evaluate at a liquid state and therefore simulate practical applications. The gas/liquid phase transitions have a significant influence on the lubricant properties and hence wear mechanisms. It is necessary to modify the wear test conditions for the Hydrocarbon (HC) and Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants to obtain realistic simulation of refrigerator compressor tests. The chamber design and test rig are described in this paper. A preliminary experimental study of the influence of the HC (R600a) on rolling wear of the silicon nitride (Si₃N₄)/steel elements using the pressurised chamber is presented. Rolling fatigue test methods are adopted to measure the wear performance of silicon nitride/steel bearing materials. In this case the rolling wear mechanisms of Si₃N₄ were measured using R600a refrigerant lubrication.     

Adsorption of copper from aqueous solution on Brassica cumpestris (mustard oil cake)

The adsorption behavior of various heavy metals on mustard oil cake (MOC) was studied. The maximum adsorption of Cu(II) was observed followed by Zn(II), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II). The adsorption of Cu(II) was found to be dependent on initial concentration of solution, pH, adsorbent dose, temperature and contact time. The adsorption followed pseudo-first-order and second-order kinetics but pseudo-second-order kinetic model was better obeyed since experimental data agreed well with theoretical data. Thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Attempts were also made to desorb Cu(II) from the adsorbent and regeneration of the spent adsorbent. The breakthrough and exhaustive capacities were found to be 5 and 10 mg g(-1), respectively.     

Reactive brazing of ceria to an ODS ferritic stainless steel

This research study shows that a ceria ceramic can be bonded to an ODS ferritic stainless steel (MA956) by reactive brazing using a Ag₆₈-Cu_27.5-Ti_4.5 interlayer. The ability to join these materials provides an alternative to the current ceramic interconnects used in the development of solid oxide fuel cells. Initial results show that the ceramic-metal bonds survived the bonding process irrespective of the degree of porosity within the ceria ceramic. Metallographic analyses indicate that a reaction zone formed along the ceria/braze interface, which was not only titanium rich, but also consisted of a mixture of copper oxides. When the ceramic-metal bonds were exposed to high bonding temperatures or when subjected to thermal cycling at 700°C, this reaction layer increased in thickness and had a detrimental affect on the mechanical strength of the final joints.     

Adsorption of proteins on electro-conductive polymer films

Shapable electro-conductive (SEC) polymer films (polyanion-doped polypyrrole films) show several interesting properties for bioelectrochemical applications. The SEC film can be used as an inert, stable and hydrophobic electrode in aqueous solution over a wide potential range. In this study, the physical and the potential-assisted adsorption of various proteins on the SEC film is described. Because of the hydrophobic surface characteristic proteins easily adsorb and retain on the film surface by strong hydrophobic interactions. The amount of the adsorbed protein varies from 2.2 to 4.8 μg cm⁻² depending on the protein when the film is incubated for 22 h in the protein solution. The adsorption is effectively accelerated and enhanced by applying a positive potential in the range from 0.4 V to 1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The potential-assisted adsorption process is completed by 10–15 min and the amount of the adsorbed protein is nearly doubled as compared to the adsorption without potential. The adsorbed protein is chemically very stable in comparison with the protein in solution. More than 85% of the initial adsorbed proteins retains on the surface after three weeks of incubation in buffer solution. The initial adsorption rate is studied by quartz crystal micro-balance measurements on a thin polymer film coated quartz crystal. In addition, the SEC film surface is etched with air plasma which leads to a four-fold increase of the adsorption of proteins.