Combination of heat treatment and chitosan coating to improve postharvest quality of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

The synergistic application of hot water dip at 42 °C for 30 min and 1% chitosan coating on differentiation in postharvest quality traits, microstructure as well as microbiological evolution of wolfberry fruits was investigated. Fresh wolfberry fruits were stored at 2 ± 0.5 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 28 days. Results indicated the combination of prestorage heat treatment and chitosan coating maintained higher levels of ascorbic acid, total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity as well as lower decay, compared with untreated wolfberry fruits. The possible mechanism was that the heat treatment almost sealed open stomata to limit the sites of pathogen penetration into fruits independently, followed by the biofilm formed by chitosan which controlled secondary infections as well as slowed changes in fruit respiration and metabolic activity in wolfberries. The synergistically treated fruit also exhibited a higher acceptability obtained by sensory analysis after cold storage. In this sense, the integrated application of heat treatment and chitosan coating could be regarded as an effective strategy to extend storage life and maintain the postharvest quality of wolfberry fruits.     

Slow strain rate technique for studying hydrogen induced cracking in 34CrMo4 high strength steel

Alloy hardened steels offer excellent combination of mechanical properties, hardenability and corrosion resistance. 34CrMo4 is a medium carbon, low alloy steel widely used due to a good combination of high-strength, toughness and wear resistance. However, this steel experiences hydrogen embrittlement (HE), a complex phenomenon depending on the composition and microstructure. This work estimates de loss of the mechanical properties caused by hydrogen in electrochemically H-charged specimens in absence of mechanical stress but also, at low strain rate and constant load. H-charging for 2 and 6 h induce YS losses of about 40% and 71% and UTS losses of 39% and 59%, respectively. The synergistic effect of the stress and the H-charging process leads to a higher loss, 91%, and a faster brittle fracture even though hydrogen content is similar to those firstly H-charged and then tested in air.     

300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀行为及机制

摘要：为了研究300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀行为及腐蚀机制，采用失重法，宏观、微观腐蚀形貌分析，三维表面轮廓分析及电化学分析的研究方法，来表征腐蚀实验现象并进行分析。结果表明：300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀产物为FeOOH、Fe2O3、Fe(OH)3和Fe3O4；腐蚀速率随着腐蚀时间逐渐降低，腐蚀后期（72h）腐蚀速率降低50%；腐蚀初期以点蚀为主，点蚀坑通过横向扩展，逐渐发展为后期的均匀腐蚀，腐蚀表面形貌呈沟壑状；外腐蚀层对基体的保护能力很弱，Cr元素在锈层靠近基体的一侧偏聚使内腐蚀层具有一定的抗腐蚀性。     

Corrosion of hot-dip-galvanised steel and zinc alloy-coated steel in ammonia and ammonium chloride

There are many potential causes of corrosion in animal buildings. Animals exhale large quantities of moisture into the air creating high relative humidity in the building if the moisture is not properly vented. High humidity increases the potential for condensation. In addition, ammonia may be found in large quantities in animal buildings. Ammonia is released from manure and urine. In addition, ammonium chloride is used as a nitrogen source in fertilisers. In this study, the atmospheric corrosion of hot-dip-galvanised steel and zinc alloy-coated steel such as zinc–aluminium and zinc–aluminium–magnesium has been studied in atmospheres containing different levels of ammonia. Investigations have also been conducted at different levels of ammonium chloride. The results are discussed in view of the mechanisms of corrosion of zinc and zinc alloy-coated steel in ammonia and ammonium chloride-containing environments.     

Abrasive waterjet micro-machining of channels in metals: Comparison between machining in air and submerged in water

Abrasive water jet technology can be used for micro-milling using recently developed miniaturized nozzles. Abrasive water jet (AWJ) machining is often used with both the nozzle tip and workpiece submerged in water to reduce noise and contain debris. This paper compares the performance of submerged and unsubmerged abrasive water jet micro-milling of channels in 316L stainless steel and 6061-T6 aluminum at various nozzle angles and standoff distances. The effect of submergence on the diameter and effective footprint of AWJ erosion footprints was measured and compared. It was found that the centerline erosion rate decreased with channel depth due to the spreading of the jet as the effective standoff distance increased, and because of the growing effect of stagnation as the channel became deeper. The erosive jet spread over a larger effective footprint in air than in water, since particles on the jet periphery were slowed much more quickly in water due to increased drag. As a result, the width of a channel machined in air was wider than that in water. Moreover, it was observed that the instantaneous erosion rate decreased with channel depth, and that this decrease was a function only of the channel cross-sectional geometry, being independent of the type of metal, the jet angle, the standoff distance, and regardless of whether the jet was submerged or in air, in either the forward or backward directions. It is shown that submerged AWJM results in narrower features than those produced while machining in air, without a decrease in centerline etch rate.     

Toughness enhancement and equivalent initial fracture toughness of cementitious composite reinforced with aligned steel fibres

Based on theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the impact of steel fibres on the stress intensity factor (SIF) at the crack tip for cementitious composite was studied. The enhanced toughness of steel fibre reinforced cementitious composite (SFRC) in resisting cracks was explained by the decrement of SIF caused by steel fibre inclusions at the crack tip of the composite. The equivalent initial fracture toughness was used to characterize the crack initiation of SFRC. A simplified method for determining the of SFRC was proposed based on a linear regression method. Fracture tests were conducted on three‐point bending notched beams with different steel fibre volume fractions and specimen sizes to study the crack initiation behaviour of aligned steel fibre reinforced cementitious composite (ASFRC). of ASFRC was calculated, and the size effect of was analysed. The results showed that slightly increased with the steel fibre volume fraction and gradually became stable. For the tested specimens, whose heights varied between 40 and 100 mm, the specimen size had little impact on the .     

Damage mechanism at different transpassive potentials of solution-annealed 316 and 316l stainless steels

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), anodic polarization and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to investigate the damage mechanism in the transpassive potential region of AISI ...