Uptake of trivalent chromium ions from aqueous solutions using kaolinite

The sorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solutions on kaolinite has been studied by a batch technique. We have investigated how solution pH, ionic strength and temperature affect this process. The adsorbed amount of chromium ions on kaolinite has increased with increasing pH and temperature when it has decreased with increasing ionic strength. The sorption of Cr(III) on kaolinite is endothermic process in nature. Sorption data have been interpreted in terms of Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The adsorption isotherm was measured experimentally at different conditions, and the experimental data were correlated reasonably well by the adsorption isotherm of the Langmuir, and the isotherm parameters (q(m) and K) have been calculated as well. The enthalpy change for chromium adsorption has been estimated as 7.0 kJ mol(-1). The order of enthalpy of adsorption corresponds to a physical reaction.     

Deposition and Characterization of Tungsten Carbide Thin Films by DC Magnetron Sputtering for Wear-Resistant Applications

In this study, WC (tungsten carbide) thin films were deposited on high-speed steel (AISI M2) and Si (100) substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering of a tungsten carbide target having 7% cobalt as binding material. The properties of the coatings have been modified by the change in the bias voltages from grounded to 200 V. All the coatings were deposited at 250°C constant temperature. The microstructure and the thickness of the films were determined from cross-sectional field-emission gun scanning electron microscope micrographs. The chemical composition of the film was determined by electron probe micro analyzer. The x-ray diffractometer has been used for the phase analyses. Nanoindentation and wear tests were used to determine the mechanical and tribological properties of the films, respectively. It is found that the increase in the bias voltages increased drastically the hardness and elastic modulus, decreased the friction coefficient values and increased the wear resistance of tungsten carbide thin films by a phase transformation from metallic W (tungsten) to a nonstoichiometric WC_1?x (tungsten carbide) phase.     

Impact of age and cognitive demand on lane choice and changing under actual highway conditions

Previous research suggests that drivers change lanes less frequently during periods of heightened cognitive load. However, lane changing behavior of different age groups under varying levels of cognitive demand is not well understood. The majority of studies which have evaluated lane changing behavior under cognitive workload have been conducted in driving simulators. Consequently, it is unclear if the patterns observed in these simulation studies carry over to actual driving. This paper evaluates data from an on-road study to determine the effects of age and cognitive demand on lane choice and lane changing behavior. Three age groups (20–29, 40–49, and 60–69) were monitored in an instrumented vehicle. The 40's age group had 147% higher odds of exhibiting a lane change than the 60's group. In addition, drivers in their 60's were less likely to drive on the leftmost lane compared to drivers in their 20's and 40's. These results could be interpreted as evidence that older adults adopt a more conservative driving style as reflected in being less likely to choose the leftmost lane than the younger groups and less likely to change lanes than drivers in their 40's. Regardless of demand level, cognitive workload reduced the frequency of lane changes for all age groups. This suggests that in general drivers of all ages attempt to regulate their behavior in a risk reducing direction when under added cognitive demand. The extent to which such self-regulation fully compensates for the impact of added cognitive demand remains an open question.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Novel Composites Based on a Radiation Grafted Membrane for Fuel Cells

Novel composites for fuel cells were prepared via two different methods using a radiation grafted membrane, prepared from poly(ethylene‐alt‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) and styrene, and commercial Nafion®112 as the substrates. The first method was based on chemical polymerisation of pyrrole (Py) on the membrane followed by platinum (Pt) deposition by chemical reduction. The second method was based on direct deposition of Pt on the membrane by several steps of initial composite formation and surface electrodeposition. Polypyrrole (PPy) was coated as a layer only on the surface of the membrane. The thickness of PPy layer, proton conductivity of the composites and Pt loading could be controlled with Py polymerisation time. Moreover, the deposition of Pt on the surface as the granular particles was achieved by the first method while Pt deposition occurred as the aggregates of particles on the surface of the membrane by the second method which yielded wavy and rough surfaces. The first method offered a simple, quick, reproducible and effective procedure, yet some of the Pt particles peeled off from the surface of the composites. The second method required complex, multistep and tedious procedure with a high amount of Pt precursor, while Pt particles were more stable in this case.     

Preparation and thermal energy storage properties of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate)/fatty acids composites as form‐stable phase change materials

This work is focused on the preparation, characterization, and determination of thermal energy storage properties of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA)/fatty acid composites as form‐stable phase change material (PCM). In the composite materials, the fatty acids act as latent heat storage material whereas PnBMA serves as supporting material, which prevents the leakage of the melted fatty acids. The maximum encapsulation ratio for all fatty acids was found to be 40 wt%. The composites that do not allow PCM leakage in melted state were identified as form‐stable PCMs. The compatibility of fatty acids with PnBMA is investigated by optical microscopy (OM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. Thermal properties and thermal reliability of the form‐stable composite PCMs were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC analysis revealed that the form‐stable composite PCMs had melting temperatures between 29.62°C and 53.73°C and latent heat values between 67.23 J/g and 87.34 J/g. Thermal stability of the composite PCMs was studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis and the results indicated that the form‐stable PCMs had good thermal stability. In addition, thermal cycling test showed that the composite PCMs had good thermal reliability with respect to the changes in their thermal properties after accelerated 5,000 thermal cycling. On the basis of all results, it was also concluded that the prepared form‐stable composite PCMs had important potential for many thermal energy storage applications such as solar space heating of buildings by using wallboard, plasterboard or floors integrated with PCM. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of thermal cycling on micro-tensile bond strength of composite restorations bonded with multimode adhesive

Objective: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of thermal cycling on the micro-tensile bond strength (Mtbs) of multimode adhesive agents. Materials and methods: Eight freshly extracted caries-free human third molars were used. The flat dentin surfaces were prepared and polished with 600-grit SiC abrasive paper for standard smear layer formation. The teeth were restored using Single Bond Universal Adhesive [(total etch (G1, G2)/self etch (G3, G4)]?+?Filtek Z550 and All-Bond Universal Adhesive [(total etch (G5, G6)/self etch (G7, G8)]?+?Aelite all-purpose. The specimens in groups G1, G3, G5, and G7 were subjected to thermal cycling (1000 cycles at 5–55 °C, for a 30?s dwell time), while the specimens in other groups were not exposed to an aging procedure. The Mtbs test was determined in all procedures. Data were submitted to three-way ANOVA and post hoc tests. The significance level was set at?=?0.05. Results: Group five was highly affected by the thermal cycling following the total etch procedure, while group one was not significantly affected. Group seven was highly affected by thermal cycling, while group three was not significantly affected after the self etch procedure. Group eight exhibited a higher mean Mtbs value after the thermal cycling procedure. Conclusion: The bond strength of multimode (universal) adhesives was found to be material dependent. The total etch procedure showed a higher Mtbs value than the self etch procedure.     

Processing and electrical properties of (1 − x)[(1 − y)(Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3)–y(Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3)]–xPbTiO3 ceramics

Ferroelectric ceramics in the vicinity of morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) with compositions represented as (1 ? x)[(1 ? y)(Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃)–y(Pb(Yb_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃)]–xPbTiO₃ were prepared by solid state reaction. The addition of PYbN to PMN–PT decreased the sintering temperature from 1200 °C (y = 0.25) to 1000 °C (y = 0.75). The PT content, where the MPB was observed, increased with the PYbN addition. A remanent polarization value of 28.5 µC/cm² and a coercive field value of 11 kV/cm were measured from 0.62[0.25PMN–0.75PYbN]–0.38PT ceramics, which were close to the ones measured from PMN–0.32PT ceramics. In addition, the Curie temperature was found to increase with PYbN additions.     

Engineered catalyst layer design with graphene-carbon black hybrid supports for enhanced platinum utilization in PEM fuel cell

In this study, a new approach was applied to prepare platinum/reduced graphene oxide/carbon black (Pt/rGO/CB) hybrid electrocatalysts. Unlike literature firstly GO and CB in varying ratios are homogeneously mixed with a high shear mixer and then Pt was impregnated onto the hybrid support structure according to the polyol method. According to our approach CB was used as a spacer and intercalating agent in both Pt impregnation and electrode preparation to avoid restacking and increase the Pt utilization. Thus rGO/CB based hybrid support can ease the diffusion while it is promoting to the use of high electrical connectivity and surface area of graphene. The maximum power density of 645 mW cm^?2 with Pt utilization efficiency of 2.58 kW/gPt was achieved with the hybrid containing the smallest amount of CB. It seems that this small amount of CB effectively modifies the electrode structure. The enhanced fuel cell performance can be attributed to synergistic effects from graphene and CB providing better mass transport and Pt utilization in the catalyst layer.