Effects of silicone and ascorbyl palmitate on the quality of palm olein used for frying of prawn crackers

The effects of ascorbyl palmitate (AP) and silicone on the quality changes of refined, bleached and deodorised palm olein (RBD olein) during intermittent frying of prawn crackers for 4.5 h per day were evaluated. The percentage polar components, the C18:2/C16:0 fatty acid ratio, and the acid value of used frying oil without additives were comparable to those for oil containing 200 mg kg^?1 AP. Oil with 2 mg kg^?1 silicone as well as oil containing 200 mg kg^?1 AP plus 2 mg kg^?1 silicone that had been used for frying had lower percentage polar components, higher C18:2/C16:0 ratios and lower acid values than RBD olein without additive. The results showed that silicone had a protective effect on the oil but that the rate of deterioration of the oil in the presence of AP was comparable to that of oil without additive during frying of prawn crackers. The results also showed that the extent of oil oxidation in RBD olein subject to static heating at 180°C for 4.5 h per day for four consecutive days was comparable to that of RBD olein without additive that had been used for frying of prawn crackers.     

Pull-out steel fasteners from a laminated composite subjected to external pressure

Single steel fasteners of circular cross-section have been pulled out of predrilled laminated glass/epoxy composite cylinders located in a pressure cell in which external pressures of up to 56 MPa were applied. An analysis is presented which relates the external pressure, p_o, to the interfacial pressure, p_i, in terms of the elastic properties of the fastener and the composite and the radial clearance between them in the absence of an external pressure. The value of the coefficient of static friction, μ = 0·1, calculated from these experiments suggests that the observed axial pull-out forces of 2·5 kN for similar fasteners fired directly into the composite material, cannot be accounted for solely in terms of interfacial friction. Some evidence is presented which suggests that plastic deformation of the fastener surface into interstices within the surrounding material during impact penetration contributes to the initial resistance to pull-out.     

Crocodile Skin-Inspired Protective Composite Textiles with Pattern-Controllable Soft-Rigid Unified Structures

Functional textiles with desirable protective properties (i.e., high cut-, stab-, and abrasion resistance) and wearability (i.e., excellent flexibility and permeability) remain unmet goals for personal protective equipment. Herein, inspired by crocodile skin, a unique and soft-rigid unified structure (SRUS) is reported by integrating rigid protective blocks onto a soft textile substrate while obtaining a high cut-, stab-, and abrasion-resistant composite textile that is flexible, waterproof, and breathable. Rigid blocks, consisting of epoxy resin reinforced by inorganic powders, strongly adhere to the soft textile surface with small intervals between each other via a pattern-controllable integrated molding (PCIM) approach. Consequently, the SRUS design guarantees superior protective performance through rigid protective blocks and satisfactory flexibility and permeability via soft textiles and intervals. The SRUS textile achieves excellent cut-resistance (58 N), the highest grades of stab- (38 N) and abrasion-resistance (600 r mg⁻¹), and good flexibility (65 mN cm) and permeability (60 mm s⁻¹) values, indicating a distinct combination of desirable protective and wearable performance. The proposed SRUS protective textiles, incorporating the PCIM approach, offer a novel strategy for manufacturing functional soft composite textiles that combine high protective performance and good wearability, opening up a new avenue for the development of personal protective equipment.