Laser nitriding of tool steel: thermal stress analysis

In this paper, bees algorithm (BA) has been used for determine the optimal number of material handling equipment (MHE) used on the production centers. The unmet demands become zero at the end of the planning horizon, i.e., the part demands are totally satisfied through the horizon. The newly developed model provides network information, such as unmet demands and number of loaded and empty of MHE at any given time and centers. Consequently, the model provides a tool for helping managers with planning and decision-making in manufacturing systems. Computational tests showed that small-sized instances can be solved by the exact approach in a fair amount of central processing unit time, but it is not feasible for medium and large-sized instances. To tackle this problem, a bees algorithm is proposed to solve the model. The algorithm is a search procedure inspired by the way honeybees forage for food. The results obtained show the robust performance of the bees algorithm.     

Laser cutting of 7050 Al alloy reinforced with Al2O3 and B4C composites

In the present study, laser cutting of 7050 aluminum alloy sheets reinforced with Al₂O₃ and B₄C particles are carried out. The cut geometry is examined using scanning electron microscope and the optical microscope. The lump parameter analysis technique is used to formulate and determine the kerf width size. The predictions for kerf width are compared with experimental data. The percentage kerf width size variation along the cut edges is determined and the influence of the laser power level and duty cycle of the laser pulses on the percentage kerf width size variation is examined. It is found that 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% Al₂O₃ composite results in relatively large kerf width size as compared to its counter parts that corresponding to 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% B₄C composite. The kerf width size predicted agreed with the experimental data for both composites.     

Crystal structures of high affinity human T-cell receptors bound to peptide major histocompatibility complex reveal native diagonal binding geometry

Naturally selected T-cell receptors (TCRs) are characterised by low binding affinities, typically in the range 1-100 microM. Crystal structures of syngeneic TCRs bound to peptide major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) antigens exhibit a conserved mode of binding characterised by a distinct diagonal binding geometry, with poor shape complementarity (SC) between receptor and ligand. Here, we report the structures of three in vitro affinity enhanced TCRs that recognise the pMHC tumour epitope NY-ESO(157-165) (SLLMWITQC). These crystal structures reveal that the docking mode for the high affinity TCRs is identical to that reported for the parental wild-type TCR, with only subtle changes in the mutated complementarity determining regions (CDRs) that form contacts with pMHC; both CDR2 and CDR3 mutations act synergistically to improve the overall affinity. Comparison of free and bound TCR structures for both wild-type and a CDR3 mutant reveal an induced fit mechanism arising from restructuring of CDR3 loops which allows better peptide binding. Overall, an increased interface area, improved SC and additional H-bonding interactions are observed, accounting for the increase in affinity. Most notably, there is a marked increase in the SC for the central methionine and tryptophan peptide motif over the native TCR.     

Synthesis of esters: Development of the rate expression for the Dowex 50 Wx8-400 catalyzed esterification of propionic acid with 1-propanol

The kinetics of the esterification reaction of propionic acid with 1-propanol over the ion-exchange resin Dowex 50Wx8-400 has been studied in this investigation. Kinetic experiments were conducted using a 1 L Lab-Max system at a stirrer speed of 900 rpm over a temperature range of 303.15 -333.15 K. The catalyst loading was varied from 10 to 60 g dry cat/L and acid to alcohol molar ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 2:1 and 4:1 were employed. The equilibrium constants for this reaction were determined in separate experiments at 303.15, 313.15 and 323.15 K. The values were equal to 33.18, 30.62 and 28.37, respectively, with a standard enthalpy change of reaction of 6.4 kJ/mol. These values show the reaction to be mildly exothermic. It was found that both external and internal diffusion limitations did not affect the overall reaction rate. The conversion of propionic acid increased with increasing temperature and catalyst loading and decreased with increasing initial mole fraction of acid. The increase in chain length of acid or alcohol or branching had a retarding effect on the conversion. Several kinetic models were tested to correlate the kinetic data, the pseudo-homogeneous (P-H) model, the Eley-Rideal (E-R) model, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model, the modified Eley-Rideal (M-E-R) model and the modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood (M-L-H) model. In all models, the activity coefficients were estimated using UNIFAC to account for the non-ideal thermodynamic behavior of reactants and products. A correction factor for the resin affinity for water (α) was used in both M-E-R and M-L-H models. The above models predicted the kinetic behavior of the studied system with an overall error ranging from 1.65% to 13.32%. Water was found to be more strongly adsorbed than other species present in the system. The M-E-R model between adsorbed 1-propanol and non-adsorbed propionic acid which assumes surface reaction as the rate controlling step, with α equal to 2, was found to be the best model with the least overall error (1.65%). The activation energy for the esterification was estimated to be 67.3 kJ/mol by this model.     

Titania and titania-silver nanoparticle deposits made by Liquid Flame Spray and their functionality as photocatalyst for organic- and biofilm removal

Titania and titania-silver nanoparticle deposits were made by Liquid Flame Spray technique, in which the liquid precursor is injected into a high temperature flame, where it will evaporate and nucleate to nanosize particles. One-step and two-step methods were used for preparation of titania-silver deposits. The amount of silver added was 1 wt%. The deposits were collected in the flame zone on steel and glass surfaces and were analyzed by TEM, EDS, XPS and SAXS. The titania deposits consisted of porous nanosized titania agglomerates of primary particles (~10 nm). With silver addition, small spherical silver metal particles (~2 nm) were detected on the agglomerates. An increase in the photocatalytic activity was verified by stearic acid decomposition and biofilm removal using Deinococcus geothermalis as the model organism.     

Polyesters bearing furan moieties

Summary This paper describes a preliminary set of results concerning novel systems in which the synthesis of furanic polyesters was conducted according to a transesterification procedure. Regular linear macromolecular structures were thus obtained with molecular weights well above those previously reported for similar polyesters prepared by more conventional routes.     

Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of (La0.70−xNdx)Sr0.30Mn0.70Cr0.30O3 with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30

The structural, magnetic and electrical properties of (La_0.70−xNd_x)Sr_0.30Mn_0.70Cr_0.30O₃ perovskites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) prepared by the usual ceramic procedure were investigated. Structural Rietveld refinement revealed that these compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral perovskite structure when x = 0, 0.10 and 0.20, while for x = 0.30 the structure becomes orthorhombic (Pbnm). It was found that the substitution of La by Nd reduces the Curie temperature (T_C). The FC, ZFC, M(H) and AC susceptibility measurements show typical canted-antiferromagnetism for the Nd-doped samples, in which a ferromagnetic component coexists with predominant antiferromagnetic interactions. The values of the magnetization (M(H)) decrease very slightly when increasing the Nd content, compared to the undoped sample (M_S values at 5 T and 2 K are, respectively, 47.9, 47.3 and 47.5 emu/g for x = 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30, compared to 48.2 emu/g for x = 0), indicating that the Nd³⁺ contribution is negligible compared to the total moment of the ferromagnetic (Mn/Cr) network. The resistivity increases by several orders of magnitude with Nd-doping and the semi-conducting behaviour persists in the whole temperature range. The interaction between Mn⁴⁺–O–Cr³⁺and Cr³⁺–O–Cr³⁺ is responsible for the semi-conducting state.     

Laser melting of Ti-15Al-20Nb alloy

Titanium aluminides have become promising materials for high-temperature applications, but the relatively poor oxidation resistance and elevated- temperature strength of these alloys limit their application to temperatures lower than 1000 °C. Niobium addition improves the properties of titanium aluminide. However, the mechanical, metallurgical, and corrosion properties of Ti- Al- Nb may be improved by treatment with a laser beam. Consequently, the present study examines the properties of Ti- 15Al- 20Nb alloy subjected to the Nd:YAG laser melting process. Hardness in the surface region increases to twice the base material hardness, and corrosion resistance improves considerably after laser treatment.     

Effect of root pass filler metal on microstructure and mechanical properties in the multi-pass welding of duplex stainless steels

This paper is focused on the estimation of the effect of root pass chemical composition, in multi-pass GTA Weldments, on microstructure and mechanical properties of duplex stainless steel welds. We used two different filler metals, the super duplex ER 2594 and duplex ER 2209. Microstructures of different passes of welded joints are investigated using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The relationship between mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and microstructure of welded joints is evaluated. It is found that the tensile and toughness properties of the first weldment, employing the combination of ER 2594 in the root pass and ER 2209 in the remaining, are better than that of the second weldment employing ER 2209 all passes, due to the root pass grains refinement and its alloy elements content as chromium Cr and nitrogen N. The microstructure indicates the presence of austenite in different forms on the weld zone of ER 2209, same in the case of ER 2594, but with higher content and finer grains size, in particular Widmanstätten austenite WA. Potentiodynamic polarization tests of the first weld metal evaluated in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature have been demonstrated a corrosion resistance higher than that of the second weld metal. This work addressed the improvement of the corrosion resistance using appropriate filler metal without getting any structural heterogeneity and detrimental changes in the mechanical properties.     

Neural robust control for perturbed crane systems

In this paper, we present a new control methodology for perturbed crane systems. Nonlinear crane systems are transformed to linear models by feedback linearization. An inverse dynamic equation is applied to compute the system PD control force. The PD control parameters are selected based on a nominal model and are therefore suboptimal for a perturbed system. To achieve the desired performance despite model perturbations, we construct a neural network auxiliary controller to compensate for modeling errors and disturbances. The overall control input is the sum of the nominal PD control and the neural auxiliary control. The neural network is iteratively trained with a perturbed system until acceptable performance is attained. We apply the proposed control scheme to 2- and 3-degree-of-freedom (D.O.F.) crane systems, with known bounds on the payload mass. The effectiveness of the control approach is numerically demonstrated through computer simulation experiments.