Non-traditional machining processes by means of velocity shear instability in plasma

The material removal within different machining process can be performed in distinct modalities. One of the modality is based on the effect of impact phenomenon. In this paper theoretical model of non-traditional machining process based on impact phenomenon is discussed. The material is removed from the surface due to the impact of ions. The velocity of ions is equal to the velocity at which the electrostatic ion-cyclotron instability driven by parallel flow velocity shear generated by massive ions takes place. The main ways for the material removal as consequence of the impact phenomenon are the microcracking, microcutting, melting and vaporizing of small quantities from the work-piece surface layer.     

Hydrogenation behavior on 30 nm vanadium thin films with two different adhesion conditions

The influence of a thin polycarbonate de-adhesion layer on the hydrogen concentration is studied on 30 nm vanadium films deposited on glass substrates, using electrochemical hydrogenography in an optical microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. It is shown that the optical reflection provides information about the de-adhesion morphology (buckles) while the optical transmission signal gives information about concentration and film thickness changes. Artificially patterned samples allow simultaneous studying adhered and de-adhered film parts, for similar mean concentrations. The optical data clearly show a different hydrogen behavior of the two parts. Data interpretation suggests higher local hydrogen content in the adhered film parts than for the detached films parts. Strong changes in the optical transmission of the adhered film parts can be attributed to strong morphological changes at the film surface. These changes are mainly attributed to grain sliding processes in the vanadium film.     

Structural and Luminescence Studies on Barium Sodium Borosilicate Glasses Containing Uranium Oxides

Barium sodium borosilicate glasses containing different amounts of uranium oxides were prepared by conventional melt quench method and investigated for their structural aspects by ²⁹Si and ¹¹B MAS NMR technique combined with steady‐state luminescence and lifetime measurements. Based on MAS NMR studies, it is confirmed that uranium ions act as network modifier up to 15 wt% and beyond which a separate uranium containing phase is formed. From the luminescence studies, it is inferred that uranyl species is in a highly distorted environment. For more than 15 wt% uranium oxide incorporation, weaker U–O–U linkages are formed at the expense stronger U–O–Si/B linkages, as suggested by the excited state lifetime value of the uranyl species as well as red shift in emission peak maximum. For glass samples containing more than 25 wt% uranium oxides, crystalline barium uranium silicate gets phase separated from glass matrix as confirmed by XRD studies.     

Iodine speciation studies on Bunsen reaction of S–I cycle using spectroscopic techniques

Bunsen reaction is an important step of sulfur–iodine cycle for hydrogen production from thermochemical splitting of water. Polyiodide species generated during the separation process need to be identified for complete understanding of the mechanism involved. Speciation of these polyiodide species formed during Bunsen reaction can lead to better understanding of kinetics of the process. HIx species formed have been analyzed using UV–visible and Raman spectroscopic techniques. Peak corresponding to HI₃ species have been ascertained and their conversion to higher HI₅, HI₇ …… species has been observed.     

FTIR micro‐reflectance absorption spectroscopic analysis of chemisorbed reaction films for tribological applications

Chemisorbed reaction films (CRFs) were prepared by using iron (Fe) particles (100–200 mess size) and thio (sulfur) derivatives of ethyl octadecenoate and methyl 12‐hydroxy octadecenoate in the light viscosity paraffin liquid medium. The reaction was conducted in a simulated condition of tribo‐chemical situation. CRFs were obtained in solid amorphous phase. The CRFs were examined for elemental composition and layer analysis using C‐H‐N‐O‐S analyzer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy micro‐reflectance absorption spectroscopic technique. Further, the CRFs were isolated into organic solvent soluble fractions using polar solvents of increasing polar strength. Their elemental analyses were studied, and chemical constitutions were known. Friction coefficient and wear scar diameter were evaluated by high frequency reciprocating rig, PLINT TE‐77 machine. Thermal stability was studied using thermogravimetric analysis technique in nitrogen environment. These studies inferred that CRFs appeared varying in its composition, luster, phase, chemical structure and thermal stability. Nonetheless, these were also found anomalous in elemental distribution throughout the layer structure of the CRFs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of heating the catalytic converter on emission characteristic of gasoline automotive vehicles

Gasoline engines have been widely used as engineering machinery, automobile and shipping power equipment due to their excellent drivability and economy. At the same time, gasoline engines are major contributors to various types of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), and other harmful compounds. With the increasing concern of environment and more stringent government regulation on exhaust emissions, the reduction in engine emissions such as particulate matter and NO_x is a major research objective in engine development. In this article the effect of heating the catalytic converter on emission characteristic of automotive vehicles in its starting phase of combustion has been studied. In this work, the emission characteristic of hydrocarbons has been improved from 800 to 15 ppm, CO from 4 to 0.07 (V/V%) and NO_x from 1200 to 115 ppm.     

Occurrence and Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Residential Soils from National Capital Region,Uttar Pradesh,India

This study aims to investigate the level of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and identification of their potential sources in residential soils. During the study, a total 36 soil samples collected from twelve residential locations at Sahibabad-Ghaziabad area of western Uttar Pradesh, India, a constituted part of the National Capital Region of India. Samples extracted using ultrasonication, cleaned with silica and analyzed by diode array detector–high-performance liquid chromatography using acetonitrile/water as mobile phase. The 25th and 75th percentile concentration of ∑PAHs was 264 μg kg^?1 and 584 μg kg^?1, respectively, with mean and median of 445 μg kg^?1 and 421 μg kg^?1. The detection frequency of PAHs in all samples was lower for low molecular weight PAHs (19%) than high molecular weight PAHs (81%). The concentration of seven probable carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 67% of the ∑PAHs. PAHs toxicity potential as benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalent ranged between 2.52–253 μg BaP_TEQ kg^?1. Composition profile of PAHs with different aromatic rings and selected diagnostic molecular ratios suggested the local pyrogenic sources of PAHs from vehicular emissions, diesel engines, biomass combustion, gasoline, and coal combustions.     

Low-Temperature Sintering of La(Ca)CrO3 Powder Prepared through the Combustion Process

Ultrafine La(Ca)CrO₃ (LCC) powder was prepared through the glycine–nitrate gel combustion process. It was shown for the first time that the use of relatively inexpensive CrO₃ as a starting material for chromium has potential for the bulk preparation of sinter-active LCC powder. As-prepared powder, when calcined at 700°C, resulted in LCC along with a small amount of CaCrO₄. The calcined powder was found to be composed of soft agglomerates with a particle size of ≈70–290 nm. The cold pressing and sintering of the calcined powder at 1200°C resulted in the mono-phasic La_0.7Ca_0.3CrO₃ with density ≈98% of its theoretical value. This is the lowest sintering temperature ever reported for La_0.7Ca_0.3CrO₃. The conductivity of the sintered La_0.7Ca_0.3CrO₃ at 1000°C was found to be ≈57 S/cm in air. The sintering and electrical behavior achieved for La_0.7Ca_0.3CrO₃ may find application as an interconnect material for high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells if problems with chemical expansion and poor conductivity in fuel can be overcome.