Effect of Fluence and Pulse Overlapping on Fabrication of Microchannels in PMMA/PDMS Via UV Laser Micromachining: Modeling and Experimentation

This article presents modeling and experimental investigations on the effects of process parameters and the viability of directly fabricating microchannels in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers which are suitable for the fabrication of microfluidic devices due to their biocompatibility and transparent properties. Experimental work was conducted using a solid-state Nd:YAG laser with 355 nm ultraviolet (UV) wavelength and 5 ns pulse duration at various energy densities and pulse overlapping (PO). The study was focused on understanding the effects of two main process parameters: fluence and PO. This study closely investigates the effect of varying process parameters on the ablation depth and profile achieved and the resultant microchannel dimensional quality. It presents findings indicating that both process parameters have strong effects on the profile shape and variability of the microchannel width and depth. For PMMA polymer, the lowest dimensional variability for the microchannel profile is obtained with low fluence values and highest PO factor, whereas for PDMS polymer, it was observed that microchannel width and depth decreased linearly with increasing fluence and increased nonlinearly with increasing scanning rate. Further, process modeling is utilized for predicting microchannel profile and ablation depth, and these predictions were validated with experimental results obtained with pulsed laser micromachining at UV wavelength.     

Friction-stir welding of AA 2198 butt joints: mechanical characterization of the process and of the welds through DOE analysis

In this study, rolled plates of AA 2198 T3 aluminium alloy are friction-stir welded in butt configuration varying two fundamental process parameters: rotational and welding speeds. Two sets of empirical models based on regression analysis are developed. The first one predicts the stationary values of the in-plane and downwards forging welding forces in dependence of the process parameters under investigation. The second one predicts the mechanical strength, in particular yield and tensile strength, of the friction-stir welded joints as function of the same parameters. For the development of the empirical models, two 3² full factorial designs are used: one having the stationary values of the welding forces and the other having the yield and tensile strength as observed responses, respectively. Statistical tools such as analysis of variance, F tests, Mallows?? C _P , coefficient of determination etc. are used to build and to validate the developed models. By using the desirability function approach, the optimum process parameters to simultaneously obtain maximum possible yield and tensile strength are found within the investigated range. The developed models can be effectively used to predict the stationary forces and the mechanical proprieties of the joints at 95% confidence level.     

The effect of homogenisation on the stability of pineapple pulp

Pineapple pulp was homogenised at different pressures, and its stability investigated by way of flow curves, particle size distribution, morphology, cloudiness and sedimentation. The particle size of the homogenised pulp ranged from 400 to 100 μm for homogenisation pressures of between 0 and 700 bar. The pineapple pulp showed shear thinning behaviour with increasing flow index (n) after processing at higher pressures. In addition, the pulps with smaller particles showed less serum cloudiness, even though the sedimentation tests showed the highest stability for pulp homogenised between 200 and 300 bar. Above 400 bar, the pulp showed phase separation and higher sedimentation indexes, similar to that observed for the untreated samples, which was attributed to the formation of aggregates because of interparticle attraction.     

An experimental analysis of process parameters to manufacture metallic micro-channels by micro-milling

Miniaturisation of products is a current megatrend, and it presents a wider range of opportunities to expand manufacturing markets. Micro-device design and manufacturing is a growing area of scientific interest for large number of industrial fields. This paper reports the characterisation of micro-milling process to manufacture micro-channels in order to understand the behaviour of process parameters when a standard milling machine is used. This study is based on micro-channel manufacturing through a set of experiments varying parameters such as spindle speed (N), depth of cut per pass (a _p), depth (d), feed per tooth (fz) and coolant application. Materials used were aluminium and copper with a hardness of 21 HRB and 72 HRB copper, respectively. Results are obtained by evaluating dimensions, shape and surface finish of the micro-channel. The use of coolant in micro-milling is found to be a relevant factor to improve micro-channel-achieved dimensions and surface finish. In general, micro-channels in aluminium were found to achieve better quality than those in copper.     

An experimental investigation of the global environmental impact of the R22 retrofit with R422D

In recent years a new refrigerant, R422D, has been introduced as substitute of R22 for refrigeration systems. This new fluid is an easy-to-use, non-ozone-depleting HFC refrigerant and, differently from its predecessor (R407C), it is compatible with mineral oil. However, R422D has a very high GWP, and it tends to worsen the efficiency of retrofitted R22 systems. Consequently, even if R422D respects the limits of Montreal Protocol, its global environmental impact could be high. In this paper, we report an experimental analysis in terms of TEWI aimed to identify the global environmental impact of R22 systems retrofitted with R422D. For this purpose, we considered a direct expansion refrigerator for commercial applications and we investigated energy consumption with the temperature of the cold reservoir set to −5, 0, 5, 10 °C. The experimental investigation confirmed that the system, when retrofitted with R422D, leads to an increase of TEWI. Therefore an optimization analysis aimed to eco-friendly scenarios was performed.     

Transcritical CO2 refrigerator and sub‐critical R134a refrigerator: A comparison of the experimental results

This paper describes experiments comparing a commercial available R134a refrigeration plant subjected to a cold store and a prototype R744 (carbon dioxide) system working as a classical ‘split‐systems’ to cool air in residential applications in a transcritical cycle. Both plants are able to develope a refrigeration power equal to 3000 W. The R744 system utilizes aluminium heat exchangers, a semi‐hermetic compressor, a back‐pressure valve and a thermostatic expansion valve. The R134a refrigeration plant operates using a semi‐hermetic reciprocating compressor, an air condenser followed by a liquid receiver, a manifold with two expansion valves, a thermostatic one and a manual one mounted in parallel, and an air cooling evaporator inside the cold store. System performances are compared for two evaporation temperatures varying the temperature of the external air running over the gas‐cooler and over the condenser. The refrigeration load in the cold store is simulated by means of some electrical resistances, whereas the air evaporator of the R744 plant is placed in a very large ambient. The results of the comparison are discussed in terms of temperature of the refrigerants at the compressor discharge line, of refrigerants mass flow rate and of coefficient of performance (COP). The performances measured in terms of COPs show a decrease with respect to the R134a plant working at the same external and internal conditions. Further improvements regarding the components of the cycle are necessary to use in a large‐scale ‘split‐systems’ working with the carbon dioxide. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Serologic responses to Rhodococcus equi in individuals with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection

Thirty healthy blood donors, 15 workers from horse-breeding farms, 69 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative persons at risk for HIV infection, 125 HIV-infected subjects without Rhodococcus equi infection, and nine HIV-infected patients with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia were evaluated in order to detect serum antibodies to Rhodococcus equi precipitate-soluble antigen by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Whereas EIA values for healthy donors, horse farm workers, individuals at risk for HIV infection, and HIV-positive subjects without Rhodococcus equi infection were comparable, HIV-infected patients with rhodococcal disease had significantly higher Rhodococcus equi antibody levels (p < 0.0001). The clinical outcome of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia was more severe in subjects who had low levels of specific antibodies, whereas patients who recovered had elevated Rhodococcus equi antibody levels over time. Immunoblot studies showed that both Rhodococcus equi-infected patients and foals recognized a protein band of approximately 60 kDa in the Rhodococcus equi precipitate-soluble antigen. On the other hand, the Rhodococcus equi-infected patients did not react with the diffuse 15 to 17 kDa virulence-associated proteins that represent important virulence factors both in mice and horses.     

Effect of Date Palm Coproducts and Annatto Extract on Lipid Oxidation and Microbial Quality in a Pork Liver Pâté

Dates are an interesting source of bioactive compounds, and coproducts from the date industry are of potential use in the manufacturing of meat products. In the present research, spreadable pork liver pâtés were made using fresh date coproducts (2.5% and 7.5%) as a potential functional ingredient and an ethanolic annatto extract (128 mg/kg) as colorant. The effect of these 2 ingredients on the lipid oxidation and microbial quality of the pâtés was assessed during 21 d of storage. The pâtés containing 7.5% date paste were seen to have the highest content of phenolic compounds during storage. The combination of 2.5% date paste and annatto protected pâtés against lipid oxidation throughout the 21 d of storage, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances values being 0.47 mg MDA/kg at the end of this period, while other combinations increased oxidation compared to the control pâté. The control and those made with 2.5% date paste alone showed the highest counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, while the addition of annatto and/or 7.5% date paste reduced this count. The results suggest that a combination of both ingredients is necessary to reduce oxidation and microbial growth, but whereas the concentration of 2.5% is more appropriate to reduce oxidation, the combination with 7.5% date paste reduces the microbial counts. Both ingredients could have an opportunity of valorization in the meat industry for improving the quality.