Aluminum Containers Research Articles

Combined Steel Treatment with Calcium-Silicon

The method of adding calcium silicon in aluminum containers to a metal when it pours into a ladle from the steelmaking unit has been developed. Industry data were obtained to confirm the possibility of providing a sufficiently high and stable recovery of calcium in the context of production at a particular plant and its effective impact on the composition, physical and chemical condition of a melt and properties of a final product.

Prediction and Determination of Weight and Lycopene Contents of Stored Tomatoes <i>(Lycopersicon esculentum)</i>

The need to develop empirical model equations that describe the changes in the nutritional compositions of stored tomatoes under different environmental conditionsA study was carried out to predict and determine the weight and lycopene contents of stored tomatoes. Three sets of four different types of passive evaporative cooling structures made of clay and aluminium were designed and constructed as part of the study. One set consists of four separate cooling chambers. Two cooling chambers were made with aluminium container (cylindrical and square shapes) and the other two were made of clay container (cylindrical and square). These four containers were separately inserted inside a bigger clay pot inter-spaced with clay soil of 5 cm (to form tin-in-pot, pot-in-pot, tin-in-wall and wall-in wall) with the outside structure wrapped with jute sack. The other two sets followed the same pattern with interspacing of 7 cm and 10 cm, respectively. The set with 7 cm interspace served as the control in which the interspace soil and the jute sacks were constantly wetted at intervals of between 2 to 4 hours depending on the rate of evaporation with water at room temperature. The 5 cm and 10 cm interspaced soil were constantly wetted with salt solution (sodium chloride) at the same interval to keep the soil in moist condition. Freshly harvested matured tomatoes (globe variety) were used for the experiments and the temperature and relative humidity inside the cooling chambers were monitored daily . The weight, lycopene contents, bacterial and fungal counts of these produce were determined at intervals of three days for a period of sixteen days. Mathematical models (using essential regression software package) were developed to predict the weight and lycopene contents of the stored produce at various conditions considered in the study. By substituting different values of predictor variables into the model equations, the expected values of weight and lycopene contents of stored tomatoes were predicted. Further analysis was done using a paired sample t-test using SPSS 16.0 computer software package to show the level of significance between the mean of observed and the predicted values for all the models developed. The mathematical models developed are reasonably accurate to predict the storability of fruits and vegetables in passive evaporative cooling structures.

Heat transfer simulation and retort program adjustment for thermal processing of wheat based Haleem in semi-rigid aluminum containers.

A mixed computational strategy was used to simulate and optimize the thermal processing of Haleem, an ancient eastern food, in semi-rigid aluminum containers. Average temperature values of the experiments showed no significant difference (α=0.05) in contrast to the predicted temperatures at the same positions. According to the model, the slowest heating zone was located in geometrical center of the container. The container geometrical center F0 was estimated to be 23.8min. A 19min processing time interval decrease in holding time of the treatment was estimated to optimize the heating operation since the preferred F0 of some starch or meat based fluid foods is about 4.8-7.5min.

A Novel High-temperature Aircraft-specific Energy Harvester Using PCMs and State of the art TEGs

Energy self-sufficiency is a key enabling factor in realizing any truly autonomous and completely wireless system. With regard to aeronautical applications, creating autonomous wireless sensor nodes can potentially help to drive the maintenance costs for civil aviation companies down, by converting some of the regular maintenance checks to an on demand basis. Thermoelectric energy harvesting can be used in environments where temperature differences occur naturally or are a byproduct of a process, preferentially in areas difficult to reach. By using phase change materials (PCMs) attached to one side of a thermoelectric generator (TEG), the temperature difference across the device can be temporarily enhanced, leading to increased electrical energy production. Thermoelectric energy harvesting using PCMs has been previously explored as an electrical energy source, in sub-freezing temperature environments and its potential has been evaluated most recently both theoretically and experimentally, but most importantly proven over a six month flight test campaign. Furthermore, the performance of tailored TEGs in combination with different PCMs has been studied up to temperatures of 190°C. In order to expand on previous results, state of the art TEG sets made by Micropelt were installed on two identical aluminium containers. The containers were redesigned to include a mounting ring for easier aircraft installation. Simulations as well as experiments in a climate chamber and on a hot plate were performed. With the latter approach the heating rates typically found near the pylon area are mimicked whereas the first is used to assess different potential ambient conditions in general. In addition, previously used erythritol is compared to H120 offered by PCM-Products Ltd., allowing to investigate and to evaluate the effect different PCMs have on the energy output.

Combustion synthesis of boron nitride via magnesium reduction using additives

This study is aimed at enhancing the product yield in combustion synthesis of h-BN using Mg reduction of B2O3 as the boron source under a low N2 pressure by using additives. The reactant powders and the additives were placed in perforated aluminum containers without pressing. Due to a loose and highly porous structure of the powder stack, the surrounding N2 can penetrate easily into it and the N2 generated by NaN3 or C3H6N6 escapes easily, addition of these two additives only increases slightly the product yield in the low content region but decreases the product yield in the high content region due to decreasing temperature. Addition of inert particles (i.e., MgO or BN) increases the product yield only when the temperature is higher than the melting point of boron, under which coalescence of molten boron is suppressed due to capillary spreading of the molten boron on the particles. When the temperature is lower than the melting point of boron, addition of the inert particles decreases the product yield because of their cooling effect. NH4X (X=Cl or Br) was found the most effective in enhancing the product yield because it creates an easier route for the nitridation of boron by first converting boron to BXx, which then reacts with N2 under the reduction of H2. A product yield of 67% was achieved by simultaneous addition of NH4Cl and BN under a N2 pressure of 1.6MPa.

Optimization of mangroveleaf extraction by mixture design and investigation of its antimicrobial effect on Listeria innocua, Enterococcus faecium and Escherichia coli

در این پژوهش اثر حلال های آب، اتانول، متانول و گلیسیرین هر کدام در پنج سطح (صفر، 25/31، 33/83، 125 و250 میلی لیتر) با استفاده از‌ هندسه مخلوط برای استخراج عصاره برگ گیاه حرا استفاده شد. از مدل چند جمله ای شف و بهینه‌ سازی عددی به منظور مدل سازی و بهینه سازی عصاره استفاده گردید. مدل چند جمله ای شف به طور معنی‌داری قادر به پیش بینی بازده حاصل از استخراج عصاره برگ حرا می باشد (میزان ضریب تبین و ضریب تبین اصلاح شده به ترتیب 94/0 و84/0 وغیر معنی دار بودن آزمون ضعف برازش و مقدار اندیس F ( 62/14) نشان دهنده صحت مدل برای پیش بینی بازدهی عصاره می باشد). به علاوه میزان ضریب تغییرات 6/14% محاسبه شد که نشان دهنده تکرار پذیری قابل قبول برای داده های آزمایشی است. میزان تابع مطلوبیت بهینه سازی 94/0 محاسبه شد که نشانگر صحت عملیات بهینه سازی می باشد. بر این اساس، فرمولاسیون بهینه حاوی گلیسیرین (صفر میلی لیتر)، آب (22/28 میلی لیتر)، متانول ( 83/59 میلی لیتر) و اتانول (95/161 میلی لیتر) بود. اثر ضد میکروبی عصاره های برگ گیاه حرا بر سه باکتری 33090 Listeria innocua ATTC، Enterococcus faecium ATTC 51559 وEscherichia coli ATTC 25992 به سه روش (انتشار در آگار به کمک دیسک، حداقل غلظت ممانعت کننده رشد و حداقل غلظت کشندگی) در هشت غلظت مختلف بررسی شد. نتایج نشان داد بیشترین اثر بازدارندگی بر Listeria innocua و بالاترین میزان مقاومت در برابر عصاره، مربوط به Escherichia coli بود، همچنین با افزایش غلظت عصاره ها قطر هاله باز دارندگی به طور معنی داری (05/0p

Static and Dynamic Corrosion Characteristics of Plasma-Sprayed Fe-70Cr Coatings by Molten Sulfur and Sodium Polysulfides in Sodium Sulfur Cells

The sodium sulfur (NaS) cell comprises of sodium and sulfur electrodes separated by a beta alumina solid electrolyte (BASE). To avoid radical oxidation of the sodium and sulfur by oxygen or other oxidants in ambient environments, all the electrochemical components need to be protected by a hermetically sealed metal container. Joints between the adjacent structural parts are bonded by advanced gastight sealing technologies, such as electron beam welding (EBW), thermal compression bonding (TCB), and glass sealing for metal-metal, metal-ceramic, and ceramic-ceramic joints, respectively. For a contemporary sodium central type tubular cell for energy storage systems (ESS) applications, the metal container is made of aluminum alloys, and its inner surface is exposed to molten sulfur and/or sodium polysulfides (Na2Sx), at its operating temperatures of 300~350oC. However, since aluminum sulfides (AlSx), corrosion products of the aluminum alloys formed on the inner surface, may lead to an abrupt increase in cell resistance due to their high electrical resistivities, and cause cell failure by catastrophic corrosion, the inner surface needs to be appropriately coated with a conductive material. The coating material should have a high electrical conductivity, but also form a continuous conductive layer at a sufficiently slow growth rate during service. In this study, an Fe-(65~75)Cr alloy has been coated on the inner surface of the aluminum container via the argon shrouded plasma spray process. The coated containers were used to construct different types of sodium sulfur cells, and static and dynamic corrosion experiments have been conducted for up to 9 months. Results from the experiments will be discussed focusing on the characterization of corrosion products, and corrosion kinetics in order to predict the lifetime of the coating which is critical to ensure the long term durability of sodium sulfur cells.

Pre-ignition confinement and deflagration violence in LX-10 and PBX 9501

In thermal explosions of the nitramine octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)-based explosives LX-10 and PBX-9501, the pre-ignition spatial and temporal heating profile defines the ignition location. The ignition location then determines the extent of inertial confinement and the violence of the resulting deflagration. In this work, we present results of experiments in which ∼23 g cylinders of LX-10 and PBX 9501 in thin-walled aluminum confinement vessels were subjected to identical heating profiles but which presented starkly different energy release signatures. Post-explosion LX-10 containment vessels were completely fragmented, while the PBX 9501 vessels were merely ruptured. Flash x-ray radiography images show that the initiation location for the LX-10 is a few mm farther from the end caps of the vessel relative to the initiation location of PBX 9501. This difference increases deflagration confinement for LX-10 at the time of ignition and extends the pressurization time during which the deflagration front propagates in the explosive. The variation in the initiation location, in turn, is determined by the thermal boundary conditions, which differ for these two explosives because of the larger coefficient of thermal expansion and greater thermal stability of the Viton binder in LX-10 relative to the estane and bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) acetal/formal binder of the PBX 9501. The thermal profile and initiation location were modeled for LX-10 using the hydrodynamics and structures code ALE3D; results indicate temperatures in the vicinity of the ignition location in excess of 274 °C near the time of ignition. The conductive burn rates for these two explosives, as determined by flash x-ray radiography, are comparable in the range 0.1–0.2 mm/μs, somewhat faster than rates observed by strand burner experiments for explosives in the temperature range 150–180 °C and pressures up to 100 MPa. The thinnest-wall aluminum containment vessels presented here rupture at lower pressures, in the range 10 MPa, suggesting that moderately higher temperatures and pressures are present near the deflagration front. For these explosives, however the most important property for determining deflagration violence is the degree of inertial confinement.

Development of Model Equations for Selecting Optimum Storage Parameters for Stored Cabbages

A study was carried to develop model equations for selecting optimum storage parameters for stored cabbages in passive evaporative cooling structures.Three sets of four different types of passive evaporative cooling structures made of two different materials; clay and aluminium were designed and constructed as part of the study. One set consists of four separate cooling chambers. Two cooling chambers were made with aluminium container (cylindrical and square shapes) and the other two were made of clay container (cylindrical and square). These four containers were separately inserted inside a bigger clay pot inter-spaced with clay soil of 5 cm (to form tin-in-pot, pot-in-pot, tin-in-wall and wall-in wall) with the outside structure wrapped with jute sack. The other two sets followed the same pattern with interspacing of 7 cm and 10 cm, respectively. The set with 7 cm clearance served as the control in which the interspace soil and the jute sacks were constantly wetted at intervals of between 2 to 4 hours depending on the rate of evaporation with water at room temperature. The other two sets (5 cm and 10 cm interspaced soil) were constantly wetted with salt solution (sodium chloride) at the same interval to keep the soil in moist condition. Freshly harvested matured cabbages were used for the experiments and the temperature and relative humidity were monitored daily. The vitamin A, vitamin E, bacterial and fungal counts of this produce were determined at intervals of three days for a period of 21 days. Mathematical models (using essential regression software package) were developed to predict the vitamin A and vitamin E contents of the stored produce at various conditions considered in the study. Further analysis by optimization process revealed optimum storage conditions for the stored produce using essential regression software package. Optimum values of 8.86IU and 4.03 mg/ml in storage were obtained for vitamin A and vitamin E contents, respectively for stored cabbages at various conditions.

Reduced root water uptake after drying and rewetting

AbstractThe ability of plants to extract water from soil is controlled by the water‐potential gradient between root and soil, by the hydraulic conductivity of roots, and, as the soil dries, by that of the soil near the roots (rhizosphere). Recent experiments showed that the rhizosphere turned hydrophobic after drying and it remained temporarily dry after rewetting. Our objective was to investigate whether rhizosphere hydrophobicity is associated with a reduction in root water uptake after drying and rewetting. We used neutron radiography to trace the transport of deuterated water (D2O) in the roots of lupines growing in a sandy soil. The plants were grown in aluminum containers (28 × 28 × 1 cm3) filled with a sandy soil. The soil was initially partitioned into different compartments using a 1‐cm layer of coarse sand (three vertical × three horizontal compartments). We grew plants in relatively moist conditions (0.1 < θ < 0.2). Three weeks after planting, we let the upper left compartment of soil to dry for 2–3 d while we irrigated the rest of the soil. Then, we injected D2O in this compartment and in the upper right compartment that was kept wet. We monitored D2O transport in soil and roots with time‐series neutron radiography. From the changes of D2O concentration inside roots, we estimated the root water uptake. We found that root water uptake in the soil region that was let dry and rewetted was 4–8 times smaller than that in the region that was kept moist. The reduced uptake persisted for > 1–0.5 h. We conclude that a reduction in hydraulic conductivity occurred during drying and persisted after rewetting. This reduction in conductivity could have occurred in roots, in the rhizosphere, or more likely in both of them.

Standoff detection of hidden objects using backscattered ultra-intense laser-produced x-rays

Ultra-intense laser-produced sub-ps X-ray pulses can detect backscattered signals from objects hidden in aluminium containers. Coincident measurements using primary X-rays enable differentiation among acrylic, copper, and lead blocks inside the container. Backscattering reveals the shapes of the objects, while their material composition can be identified from the modification methods of the energy spectra of backscattered X-ray beams. This achievement is an important step toward more effective homeland security.

Developmental Immunotoxicity of Aluminium Containing Food Additive: an Experimental Study

Developmental Immunotoxicity of Aluminium Containing Food Additive: an Experimental Study

Direct Determination of Potentially Toxic Elements in Rice by SS-GF AAS: Development of Methods and Applications

The development of methods for direct determinations of Al, Cd, and Pb in rice by SS-GF AAS is presented. Heating program optimization associated with the use of an adequate chemical modifier containing Pd + Mg allowed direct analysis against aqueous calibrations. The obtained LOD values were 114.0, 3.0, and 16.0 μg kg⁻¹ for Al, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Important parameters associated with a solid sampling analysis were investigated, such as minimum and maximum sample mass size and analyte segregation. Seventeen rice samples available in São Paulo City were analyzed, and all of them presented analyte mass fractions less than the maximum allowed by legislation. The influences of rice washing and the cooking procedure were also investigated. The washing procedure diminished the Al and Pb total mass fractions, indicating an exogenous grain contamination. The cooking procedure diminished the Cd total mass fraction. Rice cooking using an aluminum container did not cause a significant increase in the Al mass fraction in the rice, indicating no translocation of this element from container to food. In general, coarse rice presented higher levels of Al when compared to polished or parabolized rice.

Where do roots take up water? Neutron radiography of water flow into the roots of transpiring plants growing in soil

Where and how fast does water flow from soil into roots? The answer to this question requires direct and in situ measurement of local flow of water into roots of transpiring plants growing in soil. We used neutron radiography to trace the transport of deuterated water (D₂O) in lupin (Lupinus albus) roots. Lupins were grown in aluminum containers (30 × 25 × 1 cm) filled with sandy soil. D₂O was injected in different soil regions and its transport in soil and roots was monitored by neutron radiography. The transport of water into roots was then quantified using a convection-diffusion model of D₂O transport into roots. The results showed that water uptake was not uniform along roots. Water uptake was higher in the upper soil layers than in the lower ones. Along an individual root, the radial flux was higher in the proximal segments than in the distal segments. In lupins, most of the water uptake occurred in lateral roots. The function of the taproot was to collect water from laterals and transport it to the shoot. This function is ensured by a low radial conductivity and a high axial conductivity. Lupin root architecture seems well designed to take up water from deep soil layers.

Keeping quality of cow milk in different containers with or without sodium bicarbonate

The keeping quality of raw cow milk at room temperatures was evaluated in different containers with or without sodium bicarbonate. Milk samples stored in containers of glass, tinned iron, plastic, aluminium, earthen and bronze at 12 to 20oC were analyzed every two hours for acidity and clot-on-boiling (COB) tests. Milk from the organised dairy farm kept well in aluminium containers up to ten hours, but milk from villages deteriorated after six hours. The keeping qualities of milk were poorer in other containers, and worst in earthen container. In COB test, milk from BAU dairy farm showed no changes for eight hours in all containers. Milk in aluminium container kept 14 hours, but only eight hours in earthen pot. Milk collected from villages kept for ten hours in aluminium container and six hours in earthen container. After mixing sodium bicarbonate 0.05 and 0.1%, milk kept well up to 16 hours, and up to 20 hours with 0.15% based on acidity test. Addition of Na2Co3 improved the keeping quality till 24 hours of storage at 10 – 19oC in aluminium container. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v29i2.14348 Bangl. vet. 2012. Vol. 29, No. 2, 90-95

A COMPRESSIBLE LAGRANGIAN FRAMEWORK FOR MODELING THE FLUID–STRUCTURE INTERACTION IN THE UNDERWATER IMPLOSION OF AN ALUMINUM CYLINDER

We propose a fully Lagrangian monolithic system for the simulation of the underwater implosion of cylindrical aluminum containers. A variationally stabilized form of the Lagrangian shock hydrodynamics is exploited to deal with the ultrahigh compression shock waves that travel in both air and water domains. The aluminum cylinder, which separates the internal atmospheric-pressure air from the external high-pressure water, is modeled by a three-node rotation-free shell element. The cylinder undergoes fast transient deformations, large enough to produce self-contact along it. A novel elastic frictionless contact model is used to detect contact and compute the non-penetrating forces in the discretized domain between the mid-planes of the shell. Mesh quality in the vicinity of the cylinder is guaranteed by regenerating the mesh in the air and water domains when large displacements occur. A monolithic fluid–structure interaction (FSI) system is then solved. Two schemes are tested, implicit using the predictor/multi-corrector Bossak scheme, and explicit, using the forward Euler scheme. The results of the two simulations are compared with experimental data.

Determination of baggage build opportunity and unit loading device storage requirements within domestic and international airport baggage hall operations

To enable airports and airlines to make best use of the new, fully and semi-automatic robotic baggage processing technologies, it is necessary to improve the utilisation of unit load devices (ULDs). ULDs are aluminium containers of various fixed sizes, as defined by the International Air Transport Association (2004), which can store passenger hold baggage within the baggage hall, the apron or on capable aircraft. This paper develops a model which determines the proportion of baggage that can be loaded into the ULDs of an outbound flight by reusing the same aircraft's ULD's from the inbound flight. The paper investigates the criticality of in-bound aircraft ‘brakes on time’ (the point in time when an arriving aircraft has taxied onto the aircraft stand, stopped and the brakes of the aircraft have been applied) relative to the departure time of the same aircraft on its next rotation, and the effect this has on both the quantity of available ULDs that can be built and the quantity that need to be stored on site. The model produces results for a range of aircraft types which will be useful to airlines and ground-handling operators seeking to make more efficient use of ULDs. More efficient use of these assets will benefit airports because of the potential to free up additional space in airside areas that already suffer from considerable degrees of congestion.

The relationship between plasma aluminum content, lymphocyte DNA damage, and oxidative status in persons using aluminum containers and utensils daily

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the in vivo effect of the plasma aluminum content on lymphocyte DNA damage, the plasma protein carbonyl (PC) content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidative capacity (TAC) levels in aluminum exposed and non-exposed humans. Design and methodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from in vivo aluminum exposed and non-exposed humans and the above parameters were measured. ResultsThe mean values of lymphocyte DNA damage, plasma MDA, PC levels, and aluminum concentrations were found to be significantly higher in the aluminum exposed group than within the control group (p<0.01). On the other hand, plasma TAC levels were found to be significantly lower in the aluminum exposed group than in the control group (p<0.001). Significant positive correlations were found to exist between lymphocyte DNA damage and the aluminum concentration (r=0.643, p<0.001), DNA damage and MDA (r=0.491, p<0.001), and DNA damage and PC (r=0.548, p<0.01). A negative correlation was found between TAC and DNA damage (r=−0.600 p<0.001) in the aluminum exposed group. ConclusionFindings from the study revealed that an increased plasma aluminum concentration was associated with increased oxidative stress and increased DNA damage in aluminum exposed humans.

An improved procedure for low‐temperature embedding of high‐pressure frozen and freeze‐substituted plant tissues resulting in excellent structural preservation and contrast

Here we describe refinements in the processing of high-pressure frozen samples of delicate plant tissues for immuno-electron microscopy. These involve: shortened freeze-substitution schedules, lower temperatures during processing and polymerisation, the avoidance of temperature fluctuations and the optimisation of heat transfer from the specimens using small disposable aluminium containers. The application of these modifications leads to very good structural preservation and selective membrane contrast. As a result, the versatility of the method is increased since not only immuno-electron microscopical studies can be performed but often the quality is also quite suitable for structural investigations.

A compact SEOP 3He neutron spin filter with AFP NMR

We developed AFP NMR in an aluminum container for polarized noble gas nuclei. The radio frequency magnetic field inside the aluminum container was designed from computer simulations. The polarization loss by the AFP spin flip of 3He was measured to be as low as 3.8×10−4. With this technique, a compact in-situ polarizing 3He neutron spin filter with AFP NMR is demonstrated.