Influence of alloying and secondary annealing on anneal hardening effect at sintered copper alloys

This paper reports results of investigation carried out on sintered copper alloys (Cu, 8 at%; Zn, Ni, Al and Cu-Au with 4 at%Au). The alloys were subjected to cold rolling (30, 50 and 70%) and annealed isochronally up to recrystallization temperature. Changes in hardness and electrical conductivity were followed in order to investigate the anneal hardening effect. This effect was observed after secondary annealing also. Au and Al have been found to be more effective in inducing anneal hardening effect.     

Influence of degree of deformation in rolling on anneal hardening effect of a cast copper alloy

This paper reports results of investigations carried out on a cast copper alloy containing 8 at.% Al. The alloy, and pure copper for the sake of comparison, were subjected to cold rolling with a final reduction of 30, 50 or 70%. The cold rolled copper and copper alloy samples were isochronally and isothermally annealed up to the recrystallization temperature. The hardness, strength and electrical conductivity were measured and X-ray and DSC analyses performed. Anneal hardening effect was observed in the alloy in the temperature range 180–300°C, followed by an increase in the electrical conductivity. The amount of strengthening increases with increasing degree of prior cold work. The X-ray analysis shows a change in the lattice parameter during annealing when anneal hardening effect was observed. The DSC analysis shows the exothermic character of this effect.     

Comparative Analysis of Rhamnolipids from Novel Environmental Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A comparative analysis of rhamnolipids from environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was undertaken to evaluate strain-specific rhamnolipid fingerprints obtained under different growth conditions. Environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa produced rhamnolipids on different types of substrates, including cheap and renewable sources like sunflower oil from deep fryers and sunflower oil mill effluent. Rhamnolipids were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization interface mass spectrometry, which allowed fast and reliable identification and quantification of the congeners present. The highest concentration of total rhamnolipids of 3.33 g/l was obtained by the strain P. aeruginosa 67, recovered from petroleum contaminated soil, and strains D1 (1.73 g/l) and D2 (1.70 g/l), recovered from natural microbial consortia originated from mazut-contaminated soil, grown on sunflower oil as a carbon source. Di- to mono-rhamnolipids ratios were in the range of 0.90–5.39 for different media composition and from 1.12 to 4.17 for different producing strains. Rhamnolipid profiles of purified mixtures of all tested strains are similar with chain length from C₈–C₁₂, pronounced abundance of Rha–C₁₀–C₁₀ and Rha–Rha–C₁₀–C₁₀ congeners, and a low content of 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)-alkanoic acids. Concentrations of major congeners of RLs were found to slightly vary, depending on strain and growth conditions, while variations in minor congeners were more pronounced. Statistically significant increase of critical micelle concentration values was observed with lowering the ratio of total mono- to di-rhamnolipids ratio indicating that mono-rhamnolipids start to form micelles at lower concentration than di-rhamnolipids.