Effect of heating mode on sintering of tungsten

Microwave heating is recognized for its various advantages, such as time and energy saving, very rapid heating rates, considerably reduced processing cycle time and temperature, fine microstructures and improved properties. The present paper investigates the feasibility of consolidating tungsten powders through microwave sintering. A comparative analysis has also been attempted between the sintering response of pure tungsten powder compact in a microwave and conventional furnace.     

Treatment of simulated arsenic contaminated groundwater using GAC‐Cu in batch reactor: Optimization of process parameters

This article deals with the experimental investigation related to the removal of arsenic from a simulated contaminated groundwater by the adsorption onto Cu²⁺ impregnated granular activated carbon (GAC‐Cu) in presence of impurities like Fe and Mn. The effects of adsorbent concentration, pH, and temperature on the percentage removal of total arsenic (As(T)), As(III), and As(V) have been discussed. Under the experimental conditions, the optimum adsorbent concentration for GAC‐Cu has been found to be 6 g/L with an agitation time of 24 h, which reduces the As(T) concentration from 188 to 8.5 µg/L. Maximum removal of As(V) and As(III) has been observed in the pH range of 7–9 and 9–11, respectively. Removal of all the above said arsenic species decreases slightly with increase in temperature. Presence of Fe and Mn increases the adsorption of arsenic species. Under the experimental conditions, at 30°C, maximum % removals of As(T), As(III), As(V), Fe, and Mn are found to be 95.5%, 93%, 98%, 100%, and 40%, respectively. It has also been observed that maximum regeneration (～94%) of spent GAC‐Cu is exhibited by a 5NH₂SO₄ solution.     

Synthesis of cross-linked graft copolymer from [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride and poly(vinyl alcohol) for removing chromium(VI) from aqueous solution

A novel graft copolymer of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride onto poly(vinyl alcohol) has been synthesized and it is cross-linked by glutaraldehyde for the investigation of its efficiency in removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The chemical nature of the ion-exchange resin has been elucidated with the help of chemical test, Fourier transform infrared, thermo gravimetric analysis and DTA. Particle size, surface area, ion-exchange capacity, optimum pH, reaction time and temperature for Cr(VI) extraction were determined. Chromium(VI) adsorption kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamics have been studied. A plausible mechanism for chromium ion-exchange has been suggested.     

Enhanced Phase Stability and Photoluminescence of Eu3+ Modified t-ZrO2 Nanoparticles

Tetragonal ( t ) ZrO₂ nanoparticles have been obtained by a partial Eu³⁺→Zr⁴⁺ substitution, synthesized using a simple oxalate method at a moderate temperature of 650°C in air. The Eu³⁺ additive, 2 mol% used according to the optimal photoluminescence (PL), gives small crystallites of the sample. On raising the temperature further, the average crystallite size D grows slowly from 16 nm to a value as big as 49 nm at 1200°C. The Eu³⁺: t -ZrO₂ nanoparticles have a wide PL spectrum at room temperature in the visible to near-IR regions (550–730 nm) in the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (Eu³⁺), J =1–4, electronic transitions. The intensity of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₄ group is as large as that of the characteristic ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ group of the spectrum in the forced electric-dipole allowed transitions. The enhanced t -ZrO₂ phase stability and wide PL can be attributed to the combined effects of an amorphous Eu³⁺-rich surface and part of the Eu³⁺ doping of ZrO₂ of small crystallites.     

Microstructure and water vapor transport properties of functionalized carbon nanotube‐reinforced dense‐segmented polyurethane composite membranes

This work investigates the influence of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) on microstructure and water vapor transport properties of segmented polyurethane (SPU) membranes. SPUs were reinforced with four different concentration of MWNT viz. 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 2.5 wt%. Presence of the microcrystals in all SPU‐MWNT composite membranes was detected by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The percent crystallinity of SPU‐MWNT at 0.25 wt% content of MWNT was increased slightly when compared with the pristine SPU sample. However, further increase of MWNT decreases the order structure. Glass transition temperature was increases with increasing MWNT content in the SPUs, which signifies that MWNT could also affect the amorphous region of SPU. WAXD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results evidenced the interaction between SPUs and MWNT. In comparing the water vapor transport properties of MWNT‐SPU composite membranes, it was observed that at 0.25 wt% of MWNT in SPU, water vapor transport property increases slightly at soft segment crystal melting temperature. Further increase of MWNT content has no significant influence on the water vapor transport properties. However, at 2.5 wt% of MWNT in SPU matrix, water vapor transport was decreases due to the increase of stiffness in the polymer chains. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of friction stir welded joint of low nickel austenitic stainless steel and modified ferritic stainless steel

Friction stir welding (FSW) of dissimilar stainless steels, low nickel austenitic stainless steel and 409M ferritic stainless steel, is experimentally investigated. Process responses during FSW and the microstructures of the resultant dissimilar joints are evaluated. Material flow in the stir zone is investigated in detail by elemental mapping. Elemental mapping of the dissimilar joints clearly indicates that the material flow pattern during FSW depends on the process parameter combination. Dynamic recrystallization and recovery are also observed in the dissimilar joints. Among the two different stainless steels selected in the present study, the ferritic stainless steels shows more severe dynamic recrystallization, resulting in a very fine microstructure, probably due to the higher stacking fault energy.     

Effect of microstructure and chemical composition of hardfacing alloy on abrasive wear behavior

Hardfacing, a surface modification technique, is used to rebuild the surface of a workpiece. The economic success of the process depends on selective application of hardfacing material and its chemical composition for a particular application. In this context, three hardfacing electrodes having different chemical compositions have been selected and their abrasive wear responses was compared with that of mild steel. The emphasis has been made to realize the effect of microstructure and chemical composition on the wear response of the hardfacing material with respect to mild steel. It has been observed that the wear rate of hardfacing alloys is lower than that of mild steel. The hardfacing alloy having the highest chromium content exhibits the lowest wear rate.     

Effect of Dynamic Change in Strain Rate on Mechanical and Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of a Mild Steel

The current work analyzes the effect of the dynamic change in strain rate during tensile loading of a mild steel on its mechanical and stress corrosion behavior in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The sample experiences high strain rate (10^?2 s^?1) up to 10, 15 and 20% of total deformation and then very low strain rate of 10^?6 s^?1 till fracture without any unloading in between. The behavioral characteristics of the steel under these circumstances are found to be different from that exhibited during complete loading till fracture both at high and slow strain rates separately. Total strain increases with the increase in the strain at which change in strain rate happens, and this is attributed to the generation of large number of dislocations at higher strain rate and subsequently release of dislocation at low strain rate during change over due to more time available for dynamic recovery. This observation is common for both in air and corrosive environment. One unique observation in this study is the higher total strain and lower strength observed during dynamic change in strain rate in the corrosive environment compared to that in air, which is attributed to the hydrogen-induced plasticity mechanism.     

Ru(II)–CO complexes of thioarylazoimidazoles: Syntheses,structures, spectroscopy and DFT calculation

The complexes, cis-(CO)-trans-(Cl)-[Ru(SRaaiNR)(CO)₂Cl₂] (2) and trans-(Cl)-[Ru(SRaaiNR)(CO)Cl₂] (3) (SRaaiNR = 1-alkyl-2-{(o-thioalkyl)phenylazo}imidazoles; R = Me (1a) and Et (1b)) have been synthesized and characterized. The structural confirmation is achieved by single crystal X-ray structure determinations. The complexes show Ru(III)/Ru(II) couple and ligand reductions. Electronic structure and spectral properties of the complexes have been explained with the DFT and TDDFT calculation.     

Studies on Hg(II) ion retention properties of cross-linked graft copolymer of acrylic acid and its analytical application

The effects of different parameters such as time, concentration, pH and temperature, on metal ion retention properties of the polymer have been investigated. Metal ion adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics have been studied. A plausible mechanism for mercury ion retention has been suggested. Mercuric ion has been isolated quantitatively from various synthetic mixture containing metal ions (Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺).