ESR and FTIR studies on electron beam‐irradiated low‐density polyethylene blends

Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) composites modified with a resin based on ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer (surlyn) and/or citric acid were electron beam‐irradiated and investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) at room temperature. ESR studies were carried out directly after irradiation and after various time intervals up to 72 h postirradiation. The irradiated samples showed the ESR spectrum of seven lines that was assigned to the formation of allyl radical. The nature and yield of the allyl radical of the different LDPE samples were analyzed as a function of time after irradiation. Also, the radical concentration, decay, decay rate, and kinetics of radical decay were evaluated. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis at a series of different temperatures upon cooling from room temperature to ?175°C and the reverse heating to +125°C was also carried out. The structural changes while cooling and heating of LDPE samples were investigated using FTIR spectrometry. The results showed that cooling of unirradiated LDPE samples to ?175°C results in a decrease of the intensities of IR bands. However, heating the samples from ?175°C up to +125°C led to a consequence increase in the intensities of the IR bands. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3461–3469, 2007     

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation for homogeneous nucleation of metal nanoparticles during vapor phase synthesis

We present a free‐energy driven kinetic Monte Carlo model to simulate homogeneous nucleation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) from vapor phase. The model accounts for monomer‐cluster condensations, cluster–cluster collisions, and cluster evaporations simultaneously. Specifically, we investigate the homogeneous nucleation of Al NPs starting with different initial background temperatures. Our results indicate good agreement with earlier phenomenological studies using the Gibbs# free energy formulation from Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT). Furthermore, nucleation rates for various clusters are calculated through direct cluster observations. The steady‐state nucleation rate estimated using two different approaches namely, the Yasuoka‐Matsumoto (YM) and mean first passage time (MFPT) methods indicate excellent agreement with each other. Finally, our simulation results depict the expected increase in the entropy of mixing as clusters approach the nucleation barrier, followed by its subsequent drastic loss after the critical cluster formation resulting from first‐order phase transitions. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 18–28, 2018     

Effect of expandable graphite and ammonium polyphosphate on the thermal degradation and weathering of intumescent fire-retardant coating

This research aims to study the effect of ammonium polyphosphate and expandable graphite on the intumescent coating formulations (ICF). The coating presented in this research article is based on carbon source expandable graphite (EG), blowing agent melamine, acid source ammonium polyphosphate (APP), epoxy resin as a binder with polyamide amine. The stability of the developed coating was verified at 950°C for 1-hour fire test. The results showed that the coating is stable and well bond with the steel substrate. The char was characterized by using FESEM, XRD, FTIR, DTA, TGA, XPS, Py-GCMS and Weathering Test. The morphology of the char was studied by SEM of the coating after furnace fire test. XRD and FTIR show the presence of graphite, borophosphate; boron oxide and sassolite in the residual char. TGA and DTG disclosed that EG improved the residual mass of coating. XPS analysis showed the char residue of IF5-APP-EG contains carbon and oxygen contents 47.50 and 40.70, respectively. Py-GCMS analysis described that the IF5-APP-EG released less gaseous compounds. The weathering test illustrated that's the char expansion of coatings samples was decreased due to the presence of a humid environment and UV light. The IF5-APP-EG showed the maximum char expansion, lower substrate temperature and high residual weight among the studied formulations.     

Physicochemical Characteristics of Nigella Seed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigella sativa</Emphasis> L<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>) Oil as Affected by Different Extraction Methods

The physicochemical properties of crude Nigella seed (Nigella sativa L.) oil which was extracted using Soxhlet, Modified Bligh–Dyer and Hexane extraction methods were determined. The effect of different extraction methods which includes different parameters, such as temperature, time and solvent on the extraction yield and the physicochemical properties were investigated. The experimental results showed that temperature, different solvents and extraction time had the most significant effect on the yield of the Nigella oil extracts. The fatty acid (FA) compositions of Nigella seed oil were further analyzed by gas chromatography to compare the extraction methods. The C16:0, C18:1 and C18:2 have been identified to be the dominant fatty acids in the Nigella seed oils. However, the main triacylglycerol (TAG) was LLL followed by OLL and PLL. The FA and TAG content showed that the composition of the Nigella seed oil extracted by different methods was mostly similar, whereas relative concentration of the identified compounds were apparently different according to the extraction methods. The melting and crystallization temperatures of the oil extracted by Soxhlet were −2.54 and −55.76 °C, respectively. The general characteristics of the Nigella seed oil obtained by different extraction methods were further compared. Where the Soxhlet extraction method was considered to be the optimum process for extracting Nigella seed oil with a higher quality with respect to the other two processes.     

Heat transfer enhancement in a slot channel via a transversely oscillating adiabatic circular cylinder

Heat transfer enhancement in a uniformly heated slot channel due to vortices shed from a transversely oscillating adiabatic circular cylinder is investigated. Effects of the cylinder motion and vortex shedding on heat transfer are systematically assessed by varying the cylinder oscillation frequency from 75% to 125% of the natural vortex shedding frequency of a fixed cylinder within the same domain. Numerical simulations at Re = 100 and 0.1 ? Pr ? 10 are performed using spectral element discretization of Navier-Stokes and energy equations in a moving domain based on an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation. Results within the thermally developing flow region show heat transfer enhancement due to the placement of a stationary cylinder compared to the straight channel case. Transverse oscillations of the cylinder further increase the wall heat transfer coefficient. Pumping power in the channel and the power necessary to oscillate the cylinder is also provided for comparisons. Cylinder oscillations with 75% of the natural vortex shedding frequency is shown to yield the best results with only 10% more power to pump the fluid, compared with the fixed cylinder case.     

Palynological investigation of some selected species of family Fabaceae from Pakistan,using light and scanning electron microscopy techniques

Pollen morphology of 11 species of family Fabaceae that is, Trifolium alexandrinum, Trifolium resupinatum, Arachis hypogaea, Lathyrus aphaca, Medicago lupulina, Vicia sativa, Lathyrus odoratus, Pongamia pinnata, Melilotus indicus, Medicago polymorpha, Medicago sativa from Pakistan has been investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen were generally tricolporate, radially symmetrical, isopolar, elliptic in equatorial view and triangular in polar view under LM. Results showed that pollens were per‐prolate (T. alexandrinum), prolate (T. resupinatum, V. sativa, L. odoratus, Melilotus indicus, M. polymorpha, M. sativa) and sub‐prolate (A. hypogaea, L. aphaca, M. lupulina, P. pinnata). The larger polar/equatorial (P/E) ratio was found in T. alexandrinum (2.26 μm) and the smallest was found in M. lupulina (1.21 μm). The exine of T. resupinatum was 3.00 μm in thickness while others posses smaller exine thickness. The larger pore diameter was found in P. pinnata (16.01 μm) while others have smaller. The length of colpi was larger in Arachis hypogaea (32.24) while others posses smaller. Eight types of surface ornamentation (Psilate, faintly rugulate). Perforate and rugulate to verrucate have been observed under SEM. The pollens were europalynous type. Pollen morphology proved to be useful for the specific delimitation and serve as a tool for the identification and classification of taxa at specific and generic levels and can also be used as a key for the taxonomic features. Diversity in exine sculpture is helpful indicative characters for the isolation of closely related species. Hence, it is clear that both qualitative and quantitative characters of pollen can be useful for differentiating between taxa at specific level.     

Restoration of heavily polluted branches of the Shatt Al-Arab river, Iraq

In view of the desire to improve the water quality of the heavily polluted branches of the Shatt al-Arab River at the City of Basrah, it was proposed to maintain effective flushing as well as contracting sewerage system. The present study was conducted in order to examine the water quality of these branches in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed flushing system. It has been found that their waters contained very low levels of dissolved oxygen and relatively high amounts of both COD and BOD₅. The annual average water quality parameters for Basrah Branches were: dissolved oxygen 3.4 ppm; pH 7.67; hydrogen sulphide 1.4 ppm; ammonia 97 μg-at. N l⁻¹; COD 15.9 mg l⁻¹; BOD₅ 12.7 mg l⁻¹; dissolved silicates 202 μg-at. Si l⁻¹; dissolved reactive phosphate 13.4 μg-at. P-PO₄³⁻ l⁻¹; nitrate 10.4 μg-at. N-NO₃⁻ l⁻¹; nitrite 2.1 μg-at. N-NO₂⁻ l⁻¹ and chlorophyll-α 14.3 mg m⁻³. Based on our calculations, it has been concluded that the proposed system is effective, thus within a flushing cycle all of the above mentioned parameters will become within the acceptable values of the Shatt al-Arab water quality. Moreover, this system has no appreciable effect upon the water quality characteristics of the Shatt al-Arab River due to the fact that it discharges a high volume of water annually. However, It has been recommended to dredge the deposited sludge to a minimum depth of 50 cm.     

Proposal of an equivalent linearization method to predict seismic hysteretic energy demand considering stiffness degradation effects

To overcome complexities and shortcomings of previous studies, a new method is proposed to derive an equivalent linear model for predicting seismic hysteretic energy demand of bilinear single degree of freedom (SDOF) models. A new displacement spectrum is defined, which represents hysteretic energy. It is found that by increasing initial period and damping of a nonlinear system in the correct proportion and defining a linear model with these characteristics, the new developed displacement can be achieved. Error minimization is applied through an algorithm to find the optimum equivalent period corresponding to an equivalent damping utilizing two sets of far‐field and near‐field earthquakes. To analyze the effects of stiffness degradation, the proposed algorithm has been implemented on modified Clough hysteretic model as well. Comparing the results, effects of stiffness degradation on the ratio of equivalent to initial period is evident in the short period range, while with increasing initial period, the effect can almost be neglected at higher values of ductility. Nonlinear regression analysis is carried out to provide the equations for predicting equivalent linear parameters as a function of ductility. Despite the previous predictive equations, the proposed model is independent of earthquake characteristics and response‐related parameters, which has increased efficiency as well as simplicity.     

Protection of titanium metal by nanohydroxyapatite coating with zirconia and alumina second phases

In this study hydroxyapatite (HA)/zirconia/alumina composite coatings on titanium metal was carried out using Sol-Gel dip coating and calcination process. Hydroxyapatite-Alumina-Zirconia sol, coated samples in three processes by changing final sol stirring time, aging time, calcination temperature of synthesized powder and prepared coating and rate of coating. Some parts of prepared sol were also synthesized and became powder in all three processes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to estimate the particle size of the surface and for morphological analysis. The functional group and crystallization characteristics of the powders were analyzed using (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Results show that the morphology of HA-Alumina-Zirconia coatings is more homogenous in the second process with 2 hours final sol stirring time, 20 hours aging time under stirring at 60, 675°C calcination temperature for coating and 850°C for powder and 60mm/min rate of dip coating.     

Cold Spray Deposition of Freestanding Inconel Samples and Comparative Analysis with Selective Laser Melting

Cold spray offers the possibility of obtaining almost zero-porosity buildups with no theoretical limit to the thickness. Moreover, cold spray can eliminate particle melting, evaporation, crystallization, grain growth, unwanted oxidation, undesirable phases and thermally induced tensile residual stresses. Such characteristics can boost its potential to be used as an additive manufacturing technique. Indeed, deposition via cold spray is recently finding its path toward fabrication of freeform components since it can address the common challenges of powder-bed additive manufacturing techniques including major size constraints, deposition rate limitations and high process temperature. Herein, we prepared nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 samples with cold spray technique and compared them with similar samples fabricated by selective laser melting method. The samples fabricated using both methods were characterized in terms of mechanical strength, microstructural and porosity characteristics, Vickers microhardness and residual stresses distribution. Different heat treatment cycles were applied to the cold-sprayed samples in order to enhance their mechanical characteristics. The obtained data confirm that cold spray technique can be used as a complementary additive manufacturing method for fabrication of high-quality freestanding components where higher deposition rate, larger final size and lower fabrication temperatures are desired.