Preparation and characterization of high‐molecular‐weight sericin by γ irradiation

We conducted this study to examine the changes in the molecular structure and physiological activities of silk sericin after γ irradiation. Sericin from Bombyx mori was extracted with an Na₂CO₃ solution. The molecular weight distribution of sericin increased in the gel permeation chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results as the irradiation dose increased. Circular dichroism data also revealed that the α‐helix contents decreased with the irradiation dose. Ultraviolet absorption was shown a different pattern between the irradiated and unirradiated sericin. However, the Fourier transform infrared spectrum was not changed in all of the groups. Furthermore, the irradiated sericin was significantly increased in 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazil radical scavenging, and the tyrosinase inhibitory activities increased with irradiation dose. Therefore, γ irradiation was an effective method for producing high‐molecular‐weight sericin and for developing functional foods and cosmetics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Statistical modeling of electrochemical removal of sodium in fermented food composts

Electrochemical removal of sodium ion from fermented food composts was analyzed and statistically modeled by response surface methodology (RSM). Empirical models were developed to describe relationships between the operating variables (operation time, current density and water contents) and three responses (removal efficiency, energy expenditure and energy efficiency). Statistical analysis indicated that operation time and current density have significant effect on all responses. Good agreement between predicted and measured values confirmed the usefulness of the model. The models were verified by additional experimental at optimum conditions.     

Mechanical property enhancement of non‐bonding electrospun mats via adhesive

In the present study, the effect of adhesive on the morphology of different electrospun polymeric mats was investigated. The modification of two polymers, poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl chloride), was carried out by blending the polymers with different amounts of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) adhesive to investigate the effect of different amounts of adhesive with heat hardener in hybrid mats. The introduction of various concentrations of PBA into different polymer solutions led to the formation of point‐bonded electrospun fibrous mats. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that point‐bonded polymer/adhesive fibers were uniformly distributed throughout the mats. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, contact angle measurements and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the different properties of the hybrid mats. The tensile strength of the blended fibrous electrospun mats was increased effectively. This enhancement of the mechanical properties of the mats due to the presence of adhesive increases the number of potential applications of the electrospun mats, especially for mechanically weak polymers. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Strength improvement and purification of Yb2Si2O7‐SiC nanocomposites by surface oxidation treatment

A two‐step processing was developed to prepare Yb₂Si₂O₇‐SiC nanocomposites. Yb₂Si₂O₇‐Yb₂SiO₅‐SiC composites were first fabricated by a solid‐state reaction/hot‐pressing method. The composites were then annealed at 1250°C in air for 2 hours to activate the oxidation of SiC, which effectively transformed the Yb₂SiO₅ into Yb₂Si₂O₇. The surface cracks purposely induced can be fully healed during the oxidation treatment. The treated composites have improved flexural strength compared to their pristine composites. The mechanism for crack healing and silicate transformation have been proposed and discussed in detail.     

Formation and Accumulation of Intragranular Pores in the Hydrothermally Synthesized Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

As highly integrated circuits are demanded for high‐performance electric devices, small sizes of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) as a dielectric material are desirable for the application of multilayer ceramic capacitors. Since the small sizes of the particles degrade the dielectric property, especially below a certain critical size, understanding the probable cause is significant for the high‐performance capacitors. Here, we have demonstrated nanosized BaTiO₃ with average size below 30 nm and a uniform size distribution. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the as‐synthesized BaTiO₃ contains intragranular pores. We have analyzed the correlation between the intragranular pores inside nanoparticles and their phase ratio of cubic and tetragonal. We have found that the presence of the intragranular pores affects low tetragonality of BaTiO₃ particles, and the intragranular pores are generated by the accumulation of hydroxyl groups during hydrothermal reaction. Formation and accumulation of intragranular pores have been investigated by ex‐situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and TEM analysis, suggesting the phase evolution model of nanosized BaTiO₃.     

Effect of oxidation states of Mn in Ca<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> on chemical-looping combustion reactions

We investigated the effect of the oxidation state of Mn in CaMnO₃ perovskite particles to improve their oxygen transfer performance for chemical-looping combustion (CLC). Li was introduced in the Ca site of CaMnO₃ to increase the Mn oxidation state. Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles were synthesized by the solid-state method, and the amount of Li added ranged from 0 to 0.015 mol. The structure of the synthesized Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles was examined using XRD, and all particles were confirmed to have a CaMnO₃ perovskite structure. The shape and chemical properties of the prepared particles were characterized by using SEM and CH₄-TPD. The binding energy and oxidation state of the different elements in the Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles were measured by XPS. When Li was added, the oxidation state of Mn in Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ was higher than that of Mn in CaMnO₃. The oxygen transfer performance of the particles was determined by an isothermal H₂-N₂/air and CH₄-CO₂/air redox cycle at 850 °C, repeated ten times, using TGA. All particles showed an oxygen transfer capacity of about 8.0 to 9.0 wt%. Among them, Ca_0.99Li_0.01MnO₃ particles had the best performance and the oxygen transfer capacity under H₂-N₂/air and CH₄-CO₂/air atmosphere was 8.47 and 8.75 wt%, respectively.     

Glass microparticle- versus microsphere-filled experimental dental adhesives

This study aimed to formulate antibacterial dental adhesives. Phosphate-substituted methacrylate adhesives were modified with 0–20 wt % copper-doped glass microparticles. Two shapes of microparticles were used: regular shaped (microspheres) and irregular shaped (microparticles). The morphology/composition, roughness, monomer conversion (DC%), thermogravimetric analysis, and antibacterial action against S. mutans and P. aeruginosa and ion release were investigated. The results showed that microspheres produced adhesives with a relatively smoother surface than microparticles did. The DC% of adhesives increased with increasing glass filler content. Filled adhesives showed polymer decomposition at ~315 °C and glass melting at 600–1000 °C. The weight loss percent of adhesives decreased with increasing weight percent of fillers. Glass microparticles at 0–20 wt % significantly increased the antibacterial action of adhesives against both bacteria. Glass microspheres at 0–5 wt % significantly increased the antibacterial action of adhesives against both bacteria. Only 20 wt % microparticle-filled adhesive showed an inhibition zone similar to tobramycin (positive control). Microparticle-filled adhesives (with >5 wt % filler) significantly reduced S. mutans more than their microsphere counterparts. Microsphere-filled adhesives (with ≤5 wt % filler) significantly reduced P. aeruginosa more than their microparticle counterparts. Microsphere-filled adhesives showed higher Cu release than their microparticle counterparts. Accordingly, phosphate-substituted methacrylate filled with glass could be used as an antibacterial adhesive. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47832.     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of low-temperature sintered lead zirconate titanate ceramics with 0.78PbO-0.22CuO flux addition

Liquid phase sintering of lead zirconate titanate (abbreviated as PZT) ceramics with a 0.78 PbO-0.22 CuO (10:1 in weight ratio) flux was investigated. A small amount sintering flux consisting of a stoichiometrically mixed oxide of PbO-CuO with a eutectic composition successfully accelerated densification of the PZT ceramics far below the conventional sintering temperature. With the 3 wt% flux additions, full densifications of the PZT ceramics were achieved at temperatures as low as 825 °C. The results obtained in the crystal structure, microstructure, and electrical property analyses suggest that the Cu²⁺ impurity ion substitutes as an acceptor center for the perovskite B-site without forming isolated secondary phases. Defect associates of the Cu²⁺ impurities and charge compensating oxygen vacancies appear to affect dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the sintered PZT samples in both positive and negative ways by forming defect dipoles. When the Cu²⁺ content is small, slightly improved dielectric and piezoelectric performances were achieved, though ferroelectric relaxation was obviously developed at the higher Cu²⁺ contents. For the PZT samples sintered at 825 °C with 3 wt% flux addition, relative dielectric permittivity was 2200 and dielectric loss was less than 2%. Remnant polarization, coercive fields, and piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) were 32 μC/cm², 8.9 kV/cm and 373 pC/N, respectively.     

Effect of boron addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 6.5% V-5% W high speed steel

The effect of adding 0.04% additional boron to 6.5% V-5% W high speed steel was investigated. The microstructure characterization, phase identification, and carbide identification of the materials were performed using SEM/EDS and XRD. The cell size and carbide volume fraction were examined using image analysis software. The boron distribution was observed by PTA Boron Tracking. The addition of 0.04% more boron to a HSS alloy exerted a cell refining effect on the sample. The cell refinement of dendritic structures in the alloy containing boron may be attributed to the constitutional supercooling effect associated with the fairly small distribution coefficient for boron in iron. The addition of boron increases the bending strength of the material by more than 10%, as well as increasing its hardness.     

Origin of Surface Irregularities on Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al Beta Titanium Alloy

We studied the origin of different characteristics and properties of a Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al beta (β) titanium alloy with surface height irregularities that occurred during machining. The height differences were observed in two different regions, labeled as “soft region” and “hard region.” The present study showed a higher Fe and a lower Al content in the hard region, which resulted in higher β-phase stability to resist primary alpha (α_p) phase precipitation caused by a failure of the solution treatment process. In contrast, the soft region contained a higher volume fraction of α_p phase and a lower volume fraction of the matrix, which consisted of a combination of β and secondary alpha (α_s) phase. A high number of α_s/β interface in the matrix with a predicted hardness of 520 HV generated an improvement of hardness in the hard region. Therefore, the hard and the soft regions had different abilities to resist wear during machining process, resulting in surface height irregularities.