Mechanical Properties Anisotropy of Cold-Rolled and Solution-Annealed Ni-Based Hastelloy C-276 Alloy

This work describes a correlation among texture, in-plane anisotropy in tensile properties, and yield locus in Ni-based Hastelloy C-276 alloy. The alloy exhibits moderate values of in-plane anisotropy and anisotropy index, which has been attributed to the presence of moderate overall intensity of texture. The alloy displays two slopes in true plastic stress–strain curve and follows a Ludwigson relation. At low plastic strains, the sample displays the presence of annealing twins and less strain localization at grain boundaries, while the formation of deformation twins and high strain localization within the deformation twins and at the grain boundaries are observed in a high-strained region. The 45-deg and 67.5-deg orientation samples show relatively low ductility and low work-hardening exponent. This has been explained based on dislocation storage capacity and dynamic recovery coefficient using Kock–Mecking–Estrin analysis.     

Zn in Athenian Black Gloss Ceramic Slips: A Trace Element Marker for Fabrication Technology

The black‐colored pottery slips produced in Athens from the 6th to 4th centuries B.C., had a consistent composition achieved through processing and refinement of raw clay. Little direct evidence has been established as to what were these refinement methods. To better understand how the slip material was prepared, the major and trace elemental compositions of 19 slips from different ceramic vessels and their corresponding bodies of Athenian red‐figure and black‐figure vases were determined using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICPMS). Notably higher Zn concentrations were found in the slips (271–1959 ppm) than in their corresponding body ceramics (<361 ppm). The Zn concentrations in the slips were also found to be above the natural background for typical clay (between 10 and 300 ppm) suggesting an unintentional anthropogenic enrichment of this metal. Based on the abnormally high Zn content of the slip, it is speculated that the clay was treated using vitriol (concentrated acid mine runoff which is rich in Zn), to induce flocculation and remove carbonate mineral phases from the raw material that, if present, would prevent the slip from vitrifying. This same signature of elevated levels of Zn with a corresponding Ce anomaly is also observed for black glosses produced in Corinthian and Etrurian (Italy) workshops indicating that these trace element signatures were imparted to the material by means of shared methods of manufacturing instead of being indicative of a single unique source for this material.     

Synthetic lubricants in India — an overview

Different synthetic products currently available and which find wide application as lubricants, are described, and their merits and demerits compared with the mineral based lubricants are outlined. Some of the major synthetic lubricants used in Indian industries are identified. The Indian chemical industry's potential to meet some of the requirements of synthetic lubricants is discussed and the need to create additional facilities in India for the manufacture of certain critical products, is described.     

Phase behaviour modelling of Athabasca bitumen for in situ combustion applications

Phase behaviour modelling of reservoir fluid is a fundamental step for reservoir simulation. Furthermore, as the complexity of the recovery process increases, the fluid model plays a more important role in the reliability of the simulation outputs. Although the in situ combustion enhanced oil recovery method (ISC) is one of the most complex recovery techniques available in the petroleum engineering literature, for most of the simulation jobs related to this elaborate process only simple and rudimentary fluid characterization layouts are considered. In this work, the principal fluid properties of Athabasca bitumen with regard to the ISC process are recognized, extracted from the literature, validated for consistency, and used for the development of an inclusive and accurate fluid model. Then the fluid model is fully developed while considering the ISC reaction kinetics so that the model has both accuracy, indispensable for phase behaviour modelling, and consistency, essential for the reactions definitions.     

Estimation of the Kubelka—Munk scattering coefficient from single particle scattering parameters

Computer colour matching of paints is based on the determination of the Kubelka—Munk absorption (K) and scattering coefficients (S) of pigments. K and S are sensitive to particle size in the range of sizes employed in paint technology. The K—M theory does not provide any guidelines for the correction of the values of K and S with a change in particle size. On the other hand the Mie theory linear scattering coefficient can be calculated from a knowledge of size and refractive index of the pigment. A number of relations correlating the K—M scattering coefficient and the linear scattering coefficient have been proposed in the literature. Attempts are made to estimate the K—M scattering coefficient using a relation suggested by Mudgett and Richards and to make a comparison with experimental values. The Mie theory equations being complex, simplified equations applicable to pigment sizes for the calculation of Mie theory parameters are proposed. The viability of the simplified equations has been established by comparing the results with those obtained using the full Mie equations.The K—M scattering coefficient for titanium dioxide pigments has been determined from reflectance measurements. The particle size of titanium dioxide has been determined by a light scattering method. The K—M scattering coefficient calculated from the linear scattering coefficient obtained using the simplified expressions agrees with experimental results. This suggests a method for the correction of the values of K and S with changes in pigment particle size.     

Validation of Tuba1a as Appropriate Internal Control for Normalization of Gene Expression Analysis during Mouse Lung Development

The expression ratio between the analysed gene and an internal control gene is the most widely used normalization method for quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) expression analysis. The ideal reference gene for a specific experiment is the one whose expression is not affected by the different experimental conditions tested. In this study, we validate the applicability of five commonly used reference genes during different stages of mouse lung development. The stability of expression of five different reference genes (Tuba1a, Actb Gapdh, Rn18S and Hist4h4) was calculated within five experimental groups using the statistical algorithm of geNorm software. Overall, Tuba1a showed the least variability in expression among the different stages of lung development, while Hist4h4 and Rn18S showed the maximum variability in their expression. Expression analysis of two lung specific markers, surfactant protein C (SftpC) and Clara cell-specific 10 kDA protein (Scgb1a1), normalized to each of the five reference genes tested here, confirmed our results and showed that incorrect reference gene choice can lead to artefacts. Moreover, a combination of two internal controls for normalization of expression analysis during lung development will increase the accuracy and reliability of results.     

Steady state behaviour and maintenance planning of a desulphurization system in a urea fertilizer plant

This paper presents the steady state behaviour and maintenance planning of the desulphurization process in the fertilizer industry. The process consists of four subsystems, A, B, C and D in series with three states; good, reduced and failed. One standby unit is provided for each pump. Taking constant failure and repair rates for each subsystem, mathematical modelling is done using the Chapman-Kolmogorov birth-death process. An expression for steady state availability is given. Based on the data available from a medium sized ammonia production process, the behaviour of each working unit in the process has been analysed. The computed results are discussed with the concerned plant personnel which is helpful to the management for implementing any future plan regarding design modification of the system/processes.     

Combined Effect of Turbulence,Load Orientation and Rotor Flexibility on the Performance of Three-Lobe Bearings

A three-lobe journal bearing is analytically investigated to determine its dynamic performance when three main parameters, i.e. turbulence, load orientation, and rotor flexibility are varied. Reynolds numbers up to 12000, rotor dimensionless flexibilities up to 4, and load orientations up to 30 degrees on either side of the vertical load line are considered. Thus, almost all cases of practical interest are studied. The stability of a three-lobe bearing improves due to turbulence at high Sommerfeld numbers (more than 0.6) for a rigid rotor, while it is virtually the same for flexible rotors. Conversely, the load orientation has a pronounced effect on stability for both rigid and flexible rotors.