An evaluation of microstructure and microhardness in copper subjected to ultra-high strains

The microstructure and microhardness of copper subjected to large strains either using one or a combination of severe plastic deformation (SPD) processing techniques was evaluated. The individual SPD techniques used include equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), high-pressure torsion (HPT), and chip formation during machining (M). Microstructural characterization using orientation imaging microscopy provided detailed information on the grain sizes and misorientation statistics after different processing routes. Vickers indentation analysis was used to evaluate the hardness of the deformed samples. The results show that excellent microstructures and properties are achieved when these three processes are used in combination, including grain sizes in the range of ~0.2–0.3 μm and hardness values up to >1,900 MPa.     

Colloidal graphenes as heterogeneous additives to enhance protein crystal yield

In the structural analysis of proteins via X-ray diffraction, a rate-limiting step is in favourable nucleation, a problematic obstacle in successful generation of protein crystals. Here graphene and graphene oxide were applied to protein crystallisation trials, offering improvements in crystalline output and nucleation.     

Electrochemical investigation of chromium nanocarbide coated Ti–6Al–4V and Co–Cr–Mo alloy substrates

This study investigated the electrochemical behavior of chromium nano-carbide cermet coating applied on Ti–6Al–4V and Co–Cr–Mo alloys for potential application as wear and corrosion resistant bearing surfaces. The cermet coating consisted of a highly heterogeneous combination of carbides embedded in a metal matrix. The main factors studied were the effect of substrate (Ti–6Al–4V vs. Co–Cr–Mo), solution conditions (physiological vs. 1 M H₂O₂ of pH 2), time of immersion (1 vs. 24 h) and post coating treatments (passivation and gamma sterilization). The coatings were produced with high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray technique at atmospheric conditions to a thickness of 250 μm then ground and polished to a finished thickness of 100 μm and gamma sterilized. Native Ti–6Al–4V and Co–Cr–Mo alloys were used as controls. The corrosion behavior was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization, mechanical abrasion and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under physiologically representative test solution conditions (phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4, 37 °C) as well as harsh corrosion environments (pH ～ 2, 1 M H₂O₂, T = 65 °C). Severe environmental conditions were used to assess how susceptible coatings are to conditions that derive from possible crevice-like environments, and the presence of inflammatory species like H₂O₂. SEM analysis was performed on the coating surface and cross-section. The results show that the corrosion current values of the coatings (0.4–4 μA/cm²) were in a range similar to Co–Cr–Mo alloy. The heterogeneous microstructure of the coating influenced the corrosion performance. It was observed that the coating impedances for all groups decreased significantly in aggressive environments compared with neutral and also dropped over exposure time. The low frequency impedances of coatings were lower than controls. Among the coated samples, passivated nanocarbide coating on Co–Cr–Mo alloy displayed the least corrosion resistance. However, all the coated materials demonstrated higher corrosion resistance to mechanical abrasion compared to the native alloys.     

High surface area methyltriethoxysilane-derived aerogels by ambient pressure drying

In this paper we report the synthesis of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) based aerogels by non-supercritical/ambient pressure drying. The alcogels have been aged in different concentrations of silane precursor solutions before drying and aerogels with low density and high porosity were obtained. The 60% vol silane aged aerogel shows a surface area of 416 m²/g with a pore volume of 0.99 cm³/g and a maximum surface area of 727 m²/g was obtained for 80% vol silane aged aerogel. The non-silane aged sample possess a surface area of 471 m²/g with a total pore volume of 0.83 cm³/g. The aerogels show broad pore-size distribution. The FT-IR studies reveal the retention of Si–C bond in the network and the formation of a hydrophobic gel. The ²⁹Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁹Si MAS-NMR) studies were also employed to characterize the local environment around the silicon atoms and to obtain information on the condensation degree of the gel network. By varying the hydrolysis pH, highly flexible aerogels have also been successfully prepared. The porosity studies on the flexible aerogels are also presented here.     

The effects of concentration-dependent morphology of self-assembling RADA16 nanoscaffolds on mixed retinal cultures

RADA16 self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds (SAPNSs) have been shown to have positive effects on neural regeneration following injury to the central nervous system in vivo, but mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that RADA16 SAPNSs form scaffolds of increasing fiber density with increasing peptide concentration which in turn has a concentration-dependent effect on neurons and astrocytes in mixed retinal cultures. Importantly, we report that the final nanoscale fiber architecture is an important factor to consider in designing scaffolds to promote regeneration in the central nervous system.     

The Use of Methane‐Containing Syngas in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: A Comparison of Kinetic Models and a Performance Evaluation

The nickel‐based anodes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can catalytically reform hydrocarbons, which make natural gas, gasification syngas, etc., become potential fuels in addition to hydrogen. SR and water–gas shift (WGS) often occur inside SOFCs when operated on these fuels. Their reaction rates affect the partial pressures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the local temperatures and the related Nernst voltages. Consequently, the reaction rates affect the electrochemical reactions in the fuel cell. Three different kinetic models were used to characterize methane SR in a tubular SOFC; the results of each model were evaluated and compared. The polarizations of the fuel cell results of these models were validated against experimental data. The performance of a fuel cell operated with different fuels and based on a selected kinetic model was further studied in terms of the anode oxygen partial pressure, the thermo‐electrochemical distribution, and the system level performance.     

Interleaving-Based Cyclic Delay Diversity OFDM Systems over Spatially Correlated Channels

Cyclic delay diversity employing multiple transmit antenna provides increased frequency selectivity and thereby improves the frequency diversity in coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). However, spatial correlation due to insufficient spacing between transmit antennas degrades the diversity performance. In this paper, the correlation of effective channel frequency response (CFR) of CDD OFDM is analysed and then propose constellation rotation and adjacent interleaving (CRAI) scheme over spatially correlated channel. In the proposed scheme, the subcarrier constellation is rotated by a known angle and then imaginary parts of rotated adjacent subcarriers are interleaved. The squared Euclidean distance of the codewords is derived to show the effect of constellation rotation. Adjacent interleaving is shown to exploit the frequency diversity by reducing the variation in average channel power (ACP) due to spatial correlation. Simulation results reveal that the proposed scheme performs well in spatial correlated channel and thereby improves the bit error rate (BER) performance.     

Controlled Mesoporosity in SiOC via Chemically Bonded Polymeric “Spacers”

Silicon oxycarbides with controlled porosity in the mesopore range have been obtained through high‐temperature pyrolysis of newly developed reactive siloxane formulations. The starting gels have been synthesized via Pt catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction between polyhydromethylsiloxane (PHMS) and vinyl‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) of different molecular weights in the presence of tetravinyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane as a crosslinking enhancer. In our approach, the PDMS serves the double purpose of size‐controlling templating agent as well as solvent at the early stages of the synthesis. During the curing step, the vinyl‐terminated PDMS is chemically bonded to the preceramic network through the extremely efficient hydrosilylation reaction and “solidify.” Accordingly, its removal during pyrolysis occurs through decomposition of a solid phase with retention of the formed porosity. The structural and morphological evolution of the preceramic gels containing the molecular spacers have been investigated as a function of the thermal treatment temperature by N₂ physisorption measurements, thermogravimetry, and SEM analyses. The results show that the pore size distribution of the resulting SiOCs depends on the molecular weight of the PDMS and is directly related to the molecular volume assumimg that the PDMS chains are entangled into spheroidal shapes. The total pore volume is related to the initial amount of templating PDMS assuming its complete decomposition during pyrolysis.     

Gas Sensing Behavior of Mesoporous SiOC Glasses

In this study, for the first time, we report the gas sensing behavior of aerogel‐derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) glasses. The SiOC glass pyrolyzed at 1400°C has specific surface area of 150 m²/g with pore size in the 2–20 nm range. SiOC sensor shows good response to 5 ppm NO₂ at 300°C. NO₂ response completely disappears at 400°C, and from this temperature SiOC sensor starts respond to H₂. The optimum sensitivity for H₂ is obtained at 500°C. SiOC sensor is very selective; it is not sensitive to other gases such as acetone vapor or CO, even at high concentrations.