Influence of processing on fracture toughness of Si3N4 + graphene platelet composites

Silicon nitride + 1 wt% graphene platelet composites were prepared using various graphene platelets (GPL) and two processing routes; hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and gas pressure sintering (GPS). The influence of the processing route and graphene platelets’ addition on the fracture toughness has been investigated. The matrix of the composites prepared by GPS consists of Si₃N₄ grains with smaller diameter in comparison to the composites prepared by HIP. The indentation fracture toughness of the composites was in the range 6.1–9.9 MPa m^0.5, which is significantly higher compared to the monolithic silicon nitride 6.5 and 6.3 MPa m^0.5. The highest value of K_IC was 9.9 MPa m^0.5 in the case of composite reinforced by the smallest multilayer graphene nanosheets, prepared by HIP. The composites prepared by GPS exhibit lower fracture toughness, from 6.1 to 8.5 MPa m^0.5. The toughening mechanisms were similar in all composites in the form of crack deflection, crack branching and crack bridging.     

New Approximation Bounds for Lpt Scheduling

We provide new bounds for the worst case approximation ratio of the classic Longest Processing Time (Lpt) heuristic for related machine scheduling (Q||C _max?). For different machine speeds, Lpt was first considered by Gonzalez et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 6(1):155–166, 1977). The best previously known bounds originate from more than 20 years back: Dobson (SIAM J. Comput. 13(4):705–716, 1984), and independently Friesen (SIAM J. Comput. 16(3):554–560, 1987) showed that the worst case ratio of Lpt is in the interval (1.512,1.583), and in (1.52,1.67), respectively. We tighten the upper bound to $1+\sqrt{3}/3\approx1.5773We provide new bounds for the worst case approximation ratio of the classic Longest Processing Time (Lpt) heuristic for related machine scheduling (Q||C _max). For different machine speeds, Lpt was first considered by Gonzalez et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 6(1):155–166, 1977). The best previously known bounds originate from more than 20 years back: Dobson (SIAM J. Comput. 13(4):705–716, 1984), and independently Friesen (SIAM J. Comput. 16(3):554–560, 1987) showed that the worst case ratio of Lpt is in the interval (1.512,1.583), and in (1.52,1.67), respectively. We tighten the upper bound to 1+?3/3 ? 1.57731+\sqrt{3}/3\approx1.5773 , and the lower bound to 1.54. Although this improvement might seem minor, we consider the structure of potential lower bound instances more systematically than former works. We present a scheme for a job-exchanging process, which, repeated any number of times, gradually increases the lower bound. For the new upper bound, this systematic method together with a new idea of introducing fractional jobs, facilitated a proof that is surprisingly simple, relative to the result. We present the upper-bound proof in parameterized terms, which leaves room for further improvements.     

A Robust Missing Data-Recovering Technique for Mobility Data Mining

Based on location information, users’ mobility profile building is the main task for making different useful systems such as early warning system, next destination and route prediction, tourist guide, mobile users’ behavior-aware applications, and potential friend recommendation. For mobility profile building, frequent trajectory patterns are required. The trajectory building is based on significant location extraction and the user’s actual movement prediction. Previous works have focused on significant places extraction without considering the change in GSM (global system for mobile communication) network and is based on complete data analysis. Since network operators change the GSM network periodically, there are possibilities of missing values and outliers. These missing values and outliers must be addressed to ensure actual mobility and for the efficient extraction of significant places, which are the basis for users’ trajectory building. In this paper, we propose a methodology to convert geo-coordinates into semantic tags and we also purposed a clustering methodology for recovering missing values and outlier detection. Experimental results prove the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

Structural characteristics of modified natural zeolite

Natural zeolite of Slovak provenience has been modified with magnetic nanoparticles at selected temperatures of 20, 50 and 85 °C with the aim to enhance its sorption properties. The pore, surface and structural properties of zeolite/iron oxide composite were characterized using nitrogen adsorption measurements, electron probe microanalysis and powder X-ray diffraction. The crystallinity of the host zeolite was strongly influenced by the temperature of iron oxide particles precipitation, but it was still retained. It followed from the nitrogen adsorption measurements that the surface area and the pore volume of zeolite composites have increased in relation to the precipitation temperature, the best sorption properties were revealed at the composite prepared at 85 °C. As followed also from the SEM images, the iron oxide nanoparticles being of size 30 nm are forming mesoporous aggregates adsorbed on the zeolite surface. Fractal analysis used to describe the modified geometry of zeolite composites has given the values of surface fractal dimension between 2.36 and 2.51.     

Preparation and Compaction Behaviour of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Coated Iron Microparticles

The poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) coatings onto surface of iron particles were electrochemically prepared and the effect on both surface structure and internal structure of the resulted material after compaction was carried out.The electrochemical polymerization treatment was performed in a fluidized bed electrolyzer using sulphuric acid solution containing potassium persulphate and methyl methacrylate(MMA).The surface topography and the microstructure of the samples were observed by scanning electron mic...     

Lactic acid fermentation of apricot juice by mono- and mixed cultures of probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains

Food Science and Biotechnology - Apricot is a popular fruit in the world with rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and elements as well as has high antioxidant capacity. In this study, fermentation of...     

Impact of enterprise information systems on selected key performance indicators in construction project management: An empirical study

Wireless Networks - Business results and enterprise performance depends on various factors. First of all, there are primarily human resources and their knowledge, skills and competencies....     

An HPLC-MS approach for analysis of very long chain fatty acids and other apolar compounds on octadecyl-silica phase using partly miscible solvents

A novel approach for analyzing underivatized very long chain fatty acids (C16-C26) and other apolar compounds such as triacylglycerols is described. It is based on reversed-phase HPLC separation followed by mass spectrometric detection. Partly miscible solvents are used for stepwise gradient elution starting with a methanol/water and ending with a methanol/n-hexane binary mixture. The developed technique does not need derivatization, and analysis is fast (fatty acids were separated in 2-min-long chromatograms) and robust. The developed method is also very sensitive; a quantitation limit in the low-picogram range was achieved for fatty acids. The separation mechanism and advantages of the suggested technique are discussed and illustrated in the case of blood analysis and plant oil characterization.     

Microstructure and fracture toughness of Si3N4 + graphene platelet composites

Silicon nitride + 1 wt% graphene platelet composites were prepared using various graphene platelets (GPLs) as filler. The influence of the addition of GPLs on the microstructure development and on the fracture toughness of Si₃N₄ + GPLs composites was investigated. The GPLs with thickness from 5 nm to 50 nm are relatively homogeneously distributed in the matrix of all composites, however overlapping/bundle formation of GPLs was found, containing 2–4 platelets as well. The single GPLs and overlapped GPLs are located at the boundaries of Si₃N₄, and hinder the grain growth and change the shape of the grains. The fracture toughness was significantly higher for all composites in comparison to the monolithic Si₃N₄ with the highest value of 9.9 MPa m^0.5 for the composite containing the GPLs with smallest dimension. The main toughening mechanisms originated from the presence of graphene platelets, and responsible for the increase in the fracture toughness values are crack deflection, crack branching and crack bridging.