Enhancement of thermal,mechanical, ignition and damping response of magnesium using nano-ceria particles

Magnesium (Mg)-based nanocomposites owing to their low density and biocompatibility are being targeted for transportation and biomedical sectors. In order to support a sustainable environment, the prime aim of this study was to develop non-toxic magnesium-based nanocomposites for a wide spectrum of applications. To support this objective, cerium oxide nanoparticles (0.5?vol%, 1?vol%, and 1.5?vol%) reinforced Mg composites are developed in this study using blend-press-sinter powder metallurgy technique. The microstructural studies exhibited limited amounts of porosity in Mg and Mg-CeO₂ samples (< 1%). Increasing presence of CeO₂ nanoparticles (up to 1.5?vol%) led to a progressive increase in microhardness, dimensional stability, damping capacity and ignition resistance of magnesium. The compressive strengths increased with the increasing addition of the nanoparticles with a significant enhancement in the fracture strain (up to ~48%). Superior energy absorption was observed for all the composite samples prior to compressive fracture. Further, enhancement in thermal, mechanical and damping characteristics of pure Mg is correlated with microstructural changes due to the presence of the CeO₂ nanoparticles.     

Crystallization behavior of star-shaped poly(ethylene oxide) with cubic silsesquioxane (CSSQ) core

The crystallization behavior of well-defined star-shaped cubic silsesquioxane-poly(ethylene oxide) (CSSQ-PEO) and linear PEO were studied in terms of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). It was found in DSC analysis that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the crystallization temperature (T_c) of CSSQ-PEO are different from those of linear PEO. The presence of CSSQ in PEO reduced the overall crystallization growth rate. This effect can be ascribed to the reduction of the mobility of the PEO crystallites in the presence of CSSQ and the star structure of the polymer. The Ozawa method is qualitatively satisfactory for describing the nonisothermal crystallizations of linear PEO and CSSQ-PEO. The presence of CSSQ leads to the diffusion- and nucleation-controlled mechanisms in the crystallization process of CSSQ-PEO whilst only the nucleation-controlled mechanism was observed in the case of linear PEO. The apparent activation energy required for crystallization was calculated using the Kissinger method. The isothermal crystallization morphology of PEO and CSSQ-PEO were also examined by cross-polarizing optical microscopy (CPOM). The CPOM images indicated the spherulite growth is slower in CSSQ-PEO as compared to linear PEO. It was also investigated that more number of PEO spherulites in CSSQ-PEO were observed, which sizes are markedly smaller than the spherulites developed in linear PEO. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies showed that the crystallization peaks for linear PEO and CSSQ-PEO appeared at different temperature revealing the crystallization process and crystal growth rate are different from each other. However, no significant distortion of the crystal structure of PEO was evaluated in the presence of CSSQ.     

Delaminations at the free edge of a composite laminate

The concept of a fracture process zone where damage takes place is used to analyse the delaminations at the free edges of angle ply laminates under uniaxial tension. The use of a fracture process zone removes the singularity in the interlaminar stresses and enables the initiation and growth of delaminations to be modelled for a perfect laminate without any assumed prior defects. Two different models for the stress displacement relationship in the fracture process zone are examined: a constant stress up to critical displacement and a linear relationship. Finite element analysis shows that there is little difference in the predictions obtained from the two models. An approximate analysis is presented for the constant stress stress-displacement model which is shown to agree with a finite element solution and experimental data. Hence it is argued that the approximate method using a constant stress model for the fracture process zone is sufficient for accurate prediction of delaminations.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Inks: Review on the Past and Recent Technology Roadmaps

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles for silver ink formation has attracted broad interest in the electronic part printing and semiconductor chip industry due to the extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties of these materials. The preparation of silver nanoparticles through a physical or chemical reduction process is the most common methodology applied to obtain nanoparticles with the required size, shape and surface morphology. The chemical solution or solvent carrier applied for silver ink formulation must be applied simultaneously with the direct writing technique to produce the desired adherence, viscosity, and reliable performance. This review paper discusses the details concerning the past and recent advancement of the synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and silver ink formation. A review on the advantages of various sintering techniques, which aim to achieve the electrical and mechanical properties of the required printed structure, is also included. A brief summary concerning the recent challenges and improvement approaches is presented at the end of this review.     

Fabrication of Copper Nanowire Films and their Incorporation into Polymer Matrices for Antibacterial and Marine Antifouling Applications

With the ban of tributyltin, copper‐based biocides are now widely used in antifouling coatings as the major active ingredients. Given the past experience of heavy‐metal accumulation in harbors with limited water exchange, there is a significant interest in developing copper materials that greatly reduce the amount of copper ions released into marine surroundings. In this paper, copper nanowires (NWs) encapsulated in polymer matrices are investigated as the means to control the release of copper ions and to achieve a long‐lasting antifouling effect. Very long CuNWs with high aspect ratio in organic solution are drop‐coated onto substrates to fabricate uniform thin films. They are then incorporated into an elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. A small amount of CuNWs in PDMS can inhibit barnacle cyprid settlement, while it exhibits low mortality to cyprids and nauplii present in the surrounding seawater environment. The low levels of copper released after 50 days suggest that the intersecting and interconnected CuNWs embedded in PDMS could potentially release copper ions continuously over a few years in seawater. This approach provides a novel platform to use hybrid materials as effective marine antifouling coatings, and may be applied to fouling release materials to enhance their antifouling properties.     

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viral markers in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Singapore

This paper reviews studies on the basic principles of biostimulation of wound healing by various low-energy lasers. It looks at the mechanism of action of biostimulation as well as the laser's effect on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and would healing.