Metall-Matrix-Verbundwerkstoffe auf Eisenbasis

Metal-Matrix-Composites use a reinforcing phase to improve the mechanical properties of the matrix material or achieve a weight reduction. For example in iron and steel industrial applications typically carbides and borides are used to improve wear resistance. The intention of current investigations at the Chair of Metallurgy at the Montanuniversitaet Leoben is to produce a composite with reduced density and consistent or increased stiffness as steel. This paper reviews possible processing routes on steel composites with ceramic reinforcing phases based on a literature survey. A classification of the processing steps based on the origin of the ceramic phase is made and the advantages and disadvantages of these steps are summarized. Two tables are given to present the high amount of possible producing steps and the used investigation techniques for steel-based metal matrix composites.     

Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen technologies with the focus on EU critical raw materials and end-of-life strategies

We present the results of a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for the manufacturing and end-of-life (EoL) phases of the following fuel-cell and hydrogen (FCH) technologies: alkaline water electrolyser (AWE), polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE), high-temperature (HT) and low-temperature (LT) polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), together with the balance-of-plant components. New life-cycle inventories (LCIs), i.e., material inputs for the AWE, PEMWE and HT PEMFC are developed, whereas the existing LCI for the LT PEMFC is adopted from a previous EU-funded project. The LCA models for all four FCH technologies are created by modelling the manufacturing phase, followed by defining the EoL strategies and processes used and finally by assessing the effects of the EoL approach using environmental indicators. The effects are analysed with a stepwise approach, where the CML2001 assessment method is used to evaluate the environmental impacts. The results show that the environmental impacts of the manufacturing phase can be substantially reduced by using the proposed EoL strategies (i.e., recycled materials being used in the manufacturing phase and replacing some of the virgin materials). To point out the importance of critical materials (in this case, the platinum-group metals or PGMs) and their recycling strategies, further analyses were made. By comparing the EoL phase with and without the recycling of PGMs, an increase in the environmental impacts is observed, which is much greater in the case of both fuel-cell systems, because they contain a larger quantity of PGMs.     

Nonoxidative methane activation,coupling, and conversion to ethane,ethylene, and hydrogen over Fe/HZSM‐5, Mo/HZSM‐5, and Fe–Mo/HZSM‐5 catalysts in packed bed reactor

A high abundance of methane and its relatively low price make it an attractive raw feedstock for the production of ethylene, which is in the consumer demand in recent years. Direct catalytic nonoxidative conversion is interesting, because it could be utilized on natural gas well sites. Monometallic and bimetallic Fe and Mo catalysts were prepared for the purpose of the coupling to ethane and ethene. Three supported materials were synthesized with the following loading of metal: 2.5‐wt% Fe, 5.0‐wt% Fe, and 2.5‐wt% Mo on HZSM‐5. Process' chemical reactions were also catalyzed with a constant 2.5‐wt% Mo/HZSM‐5, which had different amounts of Fe, namely, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt%. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), N₂ adsorption/desorption, NH₃ temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were applied for characterization. Coke, accumulated on spent solids, was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Activity was evaluated in quartz‐packed bed reactor. All surfaces suffered from deactivation due to carbon formation. The addition of Fe to Mo increased CH₄ reacted. The highest selectivity for alkenes was achieved over 1.0‐wt% Fe to 2.5‐wt% Mo/HZSM‐5. At the peak of performance, the C‐based reactivity was 52% for olefins and 2% for alkanes. Stability was accomplished over 2.5‐wt% Fe/HZSM‐5, where the rate of C₂ synthesis was comparatively stable for 20 hours of the time on stream. The selective C‐basis yield for C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ was 36% and 23%, respectively. The lowest measured quantity of (carbonaceous) by‐products was deposited on 2.5‐wt% Fe/HZSM‐5 after 26 hours. Propylene was detected very limitedly.     

Corrosion of Mg alloys EV31A,WE43B,and ZE41A in chloride- and sulfate-containing solutions saturated with magnesium hydroxide

This study studied corrosion in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄, 0.1 M NaCl, and 0.6 M NaCl, all saturated with Mg(OH)₂, using weight loss, hydrogen evolution, and electrochemical measurements. Corrosion was similar in all cases. Nevertheless, the corrosion rates were alloy-dependent, were somewhat lower in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ than in 0.1 M NaCl, and increased with NaCl concentration. The corrosion damage morphology was similar for all solutions; the extent correlated with the corrosion rate. The corrosion rates evaluated by the electrochemical methods were lower than those evaluated from hydrogen evolution, consistent with the Mg corrosion mechanism involving the unipositive Mg⁺ ion.     

A novel facile synthesis and characterization of molybdenum nanowires

We describe a straightforward technique to synthesize pure Mo nanowires (NWs) from Mo₆S_yI_z (8,2 <y + z ≤ 10) NWs as precursor templates. The structural transformations occur when Mo₆S_yI_z NWs are annealed in Ar/H₂ mixture leading to the formation of pure Mo NWs with similar structures as initial morphologies. Detailed microscopic characterizations show that large diameters (>15 nm) Mo NWs are highly porous, while small diameters (<7 nm) are made of solid nanocrystalline grains. We find NW of diameter 4 nm can carry up to 30 μA current without suffering structural degradation. Moreover, NWs can be elastically deformed over several cycles without signs of plastic deformation.     

高山庇护所 斯诺文尼亚

<正>建设单位:PD Ljubljana Matica项目计划:庇护所结构工程:AKT II, Hanif Kara, Edward Wilkes实施及现场协调:PD Ljubljana Matica,Matevz Jerman, Davor Rozman项目情况:2016年竣工主承包商:Permiz d.o.o., Bostjan Perme OFIS和AKT II的建筑师同哈佛大学设计研究生院、Freeaproved、PD Ljubljana Matica、Rieder和Rockwool的学生合作完成了这个项目。     

The Role of Vitamin A in Retinal Diseases

Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that occurs in various chemical forms. It is essential for several physiological processes. Either hyper- or hypovitaminosis can be harmful. One of the most important vitamin A functions is its involvement in visual phototransduction, where it serves as the crucial part of photopigment, the first molecule in the process of transforming photons of light into electrical signals. In this process, large quantities of vitamin A in the form of 11-cis-retinal are being isomerized to all-trans-retinal and then quickly recycled back to 11-cis-retinal. Complex machinery of transporters and enzymes is involved in this process (i.e., the visual cycle). Any fault in the machinery may not only reduce the efficiency of visual detection but also cause the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the retina. This review provides a comprehensive overview of diseases that are directly or indirectly connected with vitamin A pathways in the retina. It includes the pathophysiological background and clinical presentation of each disease and summarizes the already existing therapeutic and prospective interventions.     

Upregulation of Cathepsin X in Glioblastoma: Interplay with γ-Enolase and the Effects of Selective Cathepsin X Inhibitors

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly primary brain tumor in adults. Understanding GBM pathobiology and discovering novel therapeutic targets are critical to finding efficient treatments. Upregulation of the lysosomal cysteine carboxypeptidase cathepsin X has been linked to immune dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases, but its role in cancer and particularly in GBM progression in patients is unknown. In this study, cathepsin X expression and activity were found to be upregulated in human GBM tissues compared to low-grade gliomas and nontumor brain tissues. Cathepsin X was localized in GBM cells as well as in tumor-associated macrophages and microglia. Subsequently, potent irreversible (AMS36) and reversible (Z7) selective cathepsin X inhibitors were tested in vitro. Selective cathepsin X inhibitors decreased the viability of patient-derived GBM cells as well as macrophages and microglia that were cultured in conditioned media of GBM cells. We next examined the expression pattern of neuron-specific enzyme γ-enolase, which is the target of cathepsin X. We found that there was a correlation between high proteolytic activity of cathepsin X and C-terminal cleavage of γ-enolase and that cathepsin X and γ-enolase were colocalized in GBM tissues, preferentially in GBM-associated macrophages and microglia. Taken together, our results on patient-derived material suggest that cathepsin X is involved in GBM progression and is a potential target for therapeutic approaches against GBM.     

Multiphase visualisation of fat containing β-lactoglobulin-κ-carrageenan gels by confocal scanning laser microscopy, using a novel dye, V03-01136, for fat staining

In this study, the gel strength and visible microstructure of fat containing β-lactoglobulin-κ-carrageenan gels were investigated using puncture testing and confocal scanning laser microscopy, respectively. The gel strength was closely linked to the visible microstructure of the whey protein network as stained with Rhodamine B. Covalent labelling of κ-carrageenan with FITC prior to gel formation enabled localisation of the hydrocolloid phase, but caused a significant drop in the gel strength. This effect coincided with the observed reduction of the κ-carrageenan intrinsic viscosity, which was found to be a result of the labelling process. The use of a novel dye, V03-01136, for the staining of fat allowed for the specific and concurrent visualisation of the protein, hydrocolloid and fat phases under the conditions applied in the study.     

Linkages between manufacturing strategy, benchmarking, performance measurement and business process reengineering

An empirical analysis is presented for researching linkages between manufacturing strategy, benchmarking, performance measurement (PM) and business process reengineering (BPR). Although the importance of these linkages has been described in conceptual literature, it has not been widely demonstrated empirically. The survey research was carried out in 73 medium and large-sized Slovenian manufacturing companies within the mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronic industries. The resulting data were subjected to reliability and validity analyses. Canonical correlation analysis was used to test six hypotheses.The results confirmed the need for a strategically-driven BPR approach and the positive impact of performance measurement on BPR performance.