Composite Samples Research Articles

Electrospun LaFe1+XO3 nanotubes for enhancing gas sensing to n-butanol

BackgroundIt is imperative to monitor the levels of n-butanol in the environment for the preservation of ecosystems and safeguarding human health. As a potential substitute for n-butanol sensors, the LaFeO3 nanofibers show encouraging promise. MethodsWe have used the electrospinning method to successfully construct a series of Fe doping LaFe1+xO3 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07) nanotubes. Through the use of XRD, FESEM, TEM, and EDS, the sample's morphological structure and composition were examined. Significant findingsWith a quick response/recovery time of 9/15 s, the gas sensor based on LF1.05O3 nanotubes showed a staggering response of 33.6 at 150 °C toward 100 ppm n-butanol. Compared to the other test gases, this sensor demonstrated remarkable n-butanol selectivity. Furthermore, a methodical examination of the sensing mechanism was carried out.

Evaluation of surface response of SiC and fly ash-filled Prosopis juliflora fibre-reinforced epoxy composites under dry sliding wear conditions using Taguchi method

Prosopis juliflora (PJ) fibre-reinforced polymer composites are fabricated with fly ash and SiC as fillers with different weight percentages. Jute layers are also sandwiched for added strength in the structure. The wear behaviour is found for the prepared composition of samples. Pin-on-disc wear testing apparatus is used for the wear performance along with the design of experiments approach using orthogonal arrays of Taguchi’s. The effect of the input parameters (load, sliding velocity, speed) is studied on wear resistance. The experimental design creates sliding wear evaluations based on Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array to identify the most dominating factors influencing the wear rate. This study demonstrates that the most important component affecting the sliding wear rate of the composite materials is followed by the sliding velocity, speed, and load. The result of the wear rate decreases with an increase in filler content and also increases with sliding velocity. The samples with fly ash and SiC fillers reportedly seemed to have the best wear rates.

Gut Microbiome and colorectal cancer: discovery of bacterial changes with metagenomics application in Turkısh population.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer in the world and colonic carcinogenesis is a multifactorial disease that involves environmental and genetic factors. Gut microbiota plays a critical role in the regulation of intestinal homeostasis. Increasing evidence shows that the gut microbiome plays a role in CRC development and may be a biomarker for early diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the clinical prognostic significance of gut microbiota in CRC patients in the Turkish population by metagenomic analysis and to determine the microbial composition in tumor tissue biopsy samples. Tissue biopsies were taken from the participants with sterile forceps during colonoscopy and stored at -80°C. Then, DNA isolation was performed from the tissue samples and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Quality control of the obtained sequence data was performed. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were classified according to the Greengenes database. Alpha diversity (Shannon index) and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis distance) analyses were performed. The most common bacterial species in CRC patients and healthy controls were determined and whether there were statistically significant differences between the groups was tested. A total of 40 individuals, 13 CRC patients and 20 healthy control individuals were included in our metagenomic study. The mean age of the patients was 64.83 and BMI was 25.85. In CRC patients, the level of Bacteroidetes at the phylum taxonomy was significantly increased (p = 0.04), the level of Clostridia at the class taxonomy was increased (p = 0.23), and the level of Enterococcus at the genus taxonomy was significantly increased (p = 0.01). When CRC patients were compared with the control group, significant increases were detected in the species of Gemmiger formicilis (p = 0.15), Prevotella copri (p = 0.02) and Ruminococcus bromii (p = 0.001) at the species taxonomy. Metagenomic analysis of intestinal microbiota composition in CRC patients provides important data for determining the treatment options for these patients. The results of this study suggest that it may be beneficial in terms of early diagnosis, poor prognosis and survival rates in CRC patients. In addition, this metagenomic study is the first study on the colon microbiome associated with CRC mucosa in the Turkish population.

Characterisation of HBV and co-infection with HDV and HIV through spatial transcriptomics

Background and aimsThe intrahepatic processes associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially in the context of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and HIV co-infection, require a better understanding. Spatial transcriptomics can...

Impacts of corrosion inhibiting admixture and supplementary cementitious material on early strength concrete

This research aimed to evaluate the influence of alccofine 1203 on a mineral admixture and sodium nitrite as a corrosion inhibitor on the properties of concrete. To achieve these aims, an experimental investigation was carried out on a set of composite samples comprising five distinct concrete formulations. Five different mixes for the concrete were used as the overlay materials such as NC as a reference concrete, alccofine concrete (i.e. 25% cement replaced with alccofine), and alccofine concrete with varying dosages of sodium nitrite (i.e. 1%, 1.25%, and 1.5%). Alccofine reduced the workability and water absorption and increased the compressive strength of the concrete (5%) at curing age of 28 days. Adding sodium nitrite further reduced water absorption of the concrete and workability but compressive strength of 29.15% and 26.93% for the curing period of 3 and 7 days, respectively. The pH of the concrete powdered solution became more alkaline with the replacement of alccofine and addition of sodium nitrite. Free chloride content dropped by 48 and 66%, respectively, with the introduction of GGBS and sodium nitrite. Corrosion properties of the concrete samples were examined using open circuit potentials and linear polarization resistance of various concrete mixes after being immersed in 1 M H2SO4 and 3% NaCl environment. The findings indicated a notable improvement in the corrosion resistance, water absorption test, thermal conductivity, strength properties, and microstructural properties of concrete with the incorporation of SN in combination with alccofine. The application of the response surface method allowed for the prediction, validation, and optimization of experimental data using a regression equation.

Trauma patients have reduced ex vivo flow-dependent platelet hemostatic capacity in a microfluidic model of vessel injury.

Trauma is the leading cause of death in individuals up to 45 years of age. Alterations in platelet function are a critical component of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), yet these changes and the potential resulting dysfunction is incompletely understood. The lack of clinical assays available to explore platelet function in this patient population has hindered detailed understanding of the role of platelets in TIC. The objective of this study was to assess trauma patient ex vivo flow-dependent platelet hemostatic capacity in a microfluidic model. We hypothesized that trauma patients would have flow-regime dependent alterations in platelet function. Blood was collected from trauma patients with level I activations (N = 34) within 60 min of hospital arrival, as well as healthy volunteer controls (N = 10). Samples were perfused through a microfluidic model of injury at venous and arterial shear rates, and a subset of experiments were performed after incubation with fluorescent anti-CD41 to quantify platelets. Complete blood counts were performed as well as plasma-based assays to quantify coagulation times, fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Exploratory correlation analyses were employed to identify relationships with microfluidic hemostatic parameters. Trauma patients had increased microfluidic bleeding times compared to healthy controls. While trauma patient samples were able to deposit a substantial amount of clot in the model injury site, the platelet contribution to microfluidic hemostasis was attenuated. Trauma patients had largely normal hematology and plasma-based coagulation times, yet had elevated D-Dimer and VWF. Venous microfluidic bleeding time negatively correlated with VWF, D-Dimer, and mean platelet volume (MPV), while arterial microfluidic bleeding time positively correlated with oxygenation. Arterial clot growth rate negatively correlated with red cell count, and positively with mean corpuscular volume (MCV). We observed changes in clot composition in trauma patient samples reflected by significantly diminished platelet contribution, which resulted in reduced hemostatic function in a microfluidic model of vessel injury. We observed a reduction in platelet clot contribution under both venous and arterial flow ex vivo in trauma patient samples. While our population was heterogenous and had relatively mild injury severity, microfluidic hemostatic parameters correlated with different patient-specific data depending on the flow setting, indicating potentially differential mechanistic pathways contributing to platelet hemostatic capacity in the context of TIC. These data were generated with the goal of identifying key features of platelet dysfunction in bleeding trauma patients under conditions of flow and to determine if these features correlate with clinically available metrics, thus providing preliminary surrogate markers of physiological platelet dysfunction to be further studied across larger cohorts. Future studies will continue to explore those relationships and further define mechanisms of TIC and their relationship with patient outcomes.

Effect of Instrument Lubricant on Mechanical Properties of Restorative Composite.

Using a wetting resin or adhesive system as an instrument lubricant when placing composite layers is commonly practiced to improve handling. This study investigated whether instrument lubricants affected strength, stiffness, or hardness. Composite beams (TPH Spectra) were fabricated using a stainless steel mold (25×2.5×2 mm) in two steps, where the second half (12.5 mm) was added and cured against a cured first half (n=15). The composite surface at the open end of the first half was smoothed using an instrument lubricated with wetting resin (Ultradent) or universal adhesive (ScotchBond Universal), enough to prevent sticking, or without lubrication. An additional beam of each group was characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Monolithic specimens were also fabricated. After 24 hour storage (37°C, 100% humidity), the beams' flexural strength and stiffness were determined by four-point bending. Vickers surface hardness was measured on 24-hour composite samples in 2 mm deep acrylic cavities, cured after the surface was smoothed with the two instrument lubricants or no lubricant (n=10). Hardness was remeasured after finishing with a series of contouring and polishing discs. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test at 0.05 significance level. There were significant differences (p<0.001) in flexural strength and stiffness among groups. While strength and stiffness were not affected by using a wetting resin as instrument lubricant, use of a universal adhesive increased strength and stiffness significantly, achieving monolithic values. Scanning electron micrographs showed less porosities at the interface when using instrument lubricants. Surface hardness was significantly reduced in groups in which instrument lubricants were used, but finishing/polishing restored original hardness (p<0.001). Lubricating an instrument with a wetting agent did not adversely affect physical or surface properties, provided the surface was finished and polished. If a universal adhesive was used as lubricant, the strength and stiffness of a layered composite could be increased, reaching monolithic values.

Tunable Magnetic and Dielectric properties of BaMg0.4Al0.4Fe11.2O19 and SiO2 Composites for High-Frequency Applications

Abstract This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of Mg and Al co-doped M-type Barium hexaferrite (BaMg0.4Al0.4Fe11.2O19) powder via the sol-gel method. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the single-phase structure of the synthesized powder. Morphological properties were examined through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), revealing hexagonal particle morphology with an average size of approximately 60 nm for BaMg0.4Al0.4Fe11.2O19. To fabricate composites, commercially purchased SiO2 was used to prepare the composites of (1–x) BaMg0.4Al0.4Fe11.2O19+ (x) SiO2 {where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7). The composites were prepared using the mixing method followed by microwave sintered at 1000°C/90 min. FESEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to analyze the morphology and elemental composition of the composites. The composites ' frequency-dependent complex permittivity was measured over 300 kHz to 3 GHz. Magnetic hysteresis (M-H) loops were used to analyze the magnetic properties of composite samples. A reduction in magnetic saturation was observed with increasing SiO2 concentration, while there was a slight increase in coercivity for the composite samples compared to pure hexaferrite. Coercivity remained relatively unchanged with varying SiO2 concentrations in the composites.

Native Oxide Layer Role during Cryogenic‐Temperature Ion Implantations in Germanium

Herein, the structural properties and chemical composition of Ge samples implanted with tellurium at cryogenic temperatures are analyzed, focusing on the role of the native oxide. For germanium, cryogenic‐temperature implantation is a requirement to achieve hyperdoped impurity concentrations while simultaneously preventing surface porosity. In this work, the critical role of the thin native germanium oxide is demonstrated when performing ion implantations at temperatures close to the liquid nitrogen temperature. The structural and chemical composition of tellurium‐implanted samples as a function of the implanted dose from 5 × 1014 to 5 × 1015 cm−2 is analyzed. After a laser melting process, the incorporated oxygen is diffused to the surface forming again a GeOx layer which retains a large fraction of the total implanted dose. These detrimental effects can be eliminated by a selective etching of the native oxide layer prior to the ion implantation process. These effects have been also observed when implanting on Si substrates. This work identifies key aspects for conducting implantations at cryogenic temperatures, that are otherwise negligible for ion implanting at room temperature.

Native Oxide Layer Role during Cryogenic‐Temperature Ion Implantations in Germanium

Herein, the structural properties and chemical composition of Ge samples implanted with tellurium at cryogenic temperatures are analyzed, focusing on the role of the native oxide. For germanium, cryogenic‐temperature implantation is a requirement to achieve hyperdoped impurity concentrations while simultaneously preventing surface porosity. In this work, the critical role of the thin native germanium oxide is demonstrated when performing ion implantations at temperatures close to the liquid nitrogen temperature. The structural and chemical composition of tellurium‐implanted samples as a function of the implanted dose from 5 × 1014 to 5 × 1015 cm−2 is analyzed. After a laser melting process, the incorporated oxygen is diffused to the surface forming again a GeOx layer which retains a large fraction of the total implanted dose. These detrimental effects can be eliminated by a selective etching of the native oxide layer prior to the ion implantation process. These effects have been also observed when implanting on Si substrates. This work identifies key aspects for conducting implantations at cryogenic temperatures, that are otherwise negligible for ion implanting at room temperature.

Multivariate analysis of the summer herbaceous vegetation and environmental factors of the sub-tropical region

Understanding the distribution of the plant species of an unexplored area is the utmost need of the present-day. In order to collect vegetation data, Quadrat method was used having size of 1 m2. The composite soil samples from each site were tested for various edaphic properties. PC-ORD v.5 was used for the classification of the vegetation while CANOCO v.5.1 was used for ordination of the data and to find out the complex relationship between plants and environment. Survey was conducted during summer season and a total of 216 herbaceous species were recorded from forty different sites of District Kohat, Pakistan. Cluster Analysis (CA) and Two-Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) classified the vegetation of forty sites into six major plant groups i.e., 1. Paspalum paspalodes, Alternanthera sessilis, Typha domingensis, 2. Cynodon dactylon, Parthenium hysterophorus, Brachiaria ramosa, 3. Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis minor, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, 4. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Aristida adscensionis, Boerhavia procumbens, 5. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Aristida adscensionis, Pennisetum orientale and 6. Heteropogon contortus, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Chrysopogon serrulatus. They were named after the dominant species based on their Importance Value (IV). The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) analysis further confirmed the vegetation classification. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that the species distribution in the area was strongly affected by various environmental factors including status, soil characteristics, topography and altitude.

Multivariate analysis of the summer herbaceous vegetation and environmental factors of the sub-tropical region

Understanding the distribution of the plant species of an unexplored area is the utmost need of the present-day. In order to collect vegetation data, Quadrat method was used having size of 1 m2. The composite soil samples from each site were tested for various edaphic properties. PC-ORD v.5 was used for the classification of the vegetation while CANOCO v.5.1 was used for ordination of the data and to find out the complex relationship between plants and environment. Survey was conducted during summer season and a total of 216 herbaceous species were recorded from forty different sites of District Kohat, Pakistan. Cluster Analysis (CA) and Two-Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) classified the vegetation of forty sites into six major plant groups i.e., 1. Paspalum paspalodes, Alternanthera sessilis, Typha domingensis, 2. Cynodon dactylon, Parthenium hysterophorus, Brachiaria ramosa, 3. Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis minor, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, 4. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Aristida adscensionis, Boerhavia procumbens, 5. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Aristida adscensionis, Pennisetum orientale and 6. Heteropogon contortus, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Chrysopogon serrulatus. They were named after the dominant species based on their Importance Value (IV). The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) analysis further confirmed the vegetation classification. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that the species distribution in the area was strongly affected by various environmental factors including status, soil characteristics, topography and altitude.

Anomalous Conductive Properties of Polymer Composites with Carbon Nanotubes: Why Power Laws Are Not Universal

The conductive properties of CNT/polymer composites have been extensively studied. However, the impact of CNT distribution in the matrix on the composite polarization remains underexplored and poorly understood. Since it is difficult to achieve a uniform distribution of CNTs in polymers, most researchers have focused only on indiscriminately aggregated states. In this article, a new blending method was suggested to prepare a series of epoxy resin-based composite samples with varying levels of CNT uniformity/aggregation and the same filling fractions. Notably, the permittivity values turned out to be inversely related to the composite uniformity: the lowest permittivity values were obtained in the most uniform formulation, and vice versa. With 0.1% CNT, the real part values of the most uniform and aggregated samples were 6.6 and 16.2 at 107 Hz and 11.6 and 370.5 at 101 Hz, respectively. For the filler content of 0.1–0.5%, the conductive properties were largely determined by the distribution of CNTs and not their content. Within the entire frequency range, the uniform sample with 0.2% CNT exhibited significantly lower permittivity than the aggregated sample with 0.1% CNT. These findings emphasize the importance of the aggregation factor and underscore the non-universality and limitations of the percolation theory and power laws. The observed phenomenon is best explained by the micro-capacitor model, or the Maxwell–Wagner polarization, and suggests that a significant portion of the literature in the field needs to be reconsidered.

Herbicidal Effects of Pyroligneous Acid for Control in Weed Seed Bank

Aims: Pyroligneous liquor, a by-product extracted from wood pyrolysis during charcoal production, is mainly discarded. Pyroligneous liquor has a phytotoxic effect and can be used environmentally as an herbicide of natural and sustainable origin for plant control. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of pyroligneous liquor to control the plant seed bank. Study Design: Different concentrations of pyroligneous liquor (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100% (v/v)) were tested in soil samples with 10 replications each. Statistical analysis of the data found was carried out using the OriginPro 2018 software, employing a nonlinear regression model. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out in the Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi – To, Brazil. Soil collection and formal analyzes carried out between January 2023 and August 2023. Methodology: The soil was collected with the aid of a digger, with five subsamples within the useful area of ​​the plot and constituted a composite sample. After collection, samples from the Seed Banks were separated to quantify the seeds present in the soil seed bank, the other half of the sample, the soil was divided into 10 gerbox boxes for each treatment and benches were placed with natural light and kept under irrigation to stimulate germination. Throughout the experiment, temperature and relative humidity were monitored, remaining on average at 26.4°C and 73.5%, respectively. From the pyroligneous liquor obtained, dilutions were made with distilled water at liquor concentrations 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100%(v/v) that were used in the treatments. Results: Higher pyroligneous liquor concentrations inhibited seed germination, while lower concentrations had less impact. Conclusion: These findings suggest that pyroligneous liquor can be used to control of weed seed bank.

Assessment of hydropedological characteristics at medium-sized landslide sites in Manafwa catchment, Mount Elgon, Uganda

ABSTRACT Though strongly linked to landslides, hydropedological characteristics are inadequately investigated in Manafwa catchment. This study investigated hydropedological characteristics at medium landslide sites in Manafwa catchment. The design included 12 infiltration experiments that were conducted at each site. To determine the selected soil physical properties, composite soil samples were extracted from the infiltration sites for soil laboratory analysis. Soil cores were extracted to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and bulk density. The observed high infiltration rates and rapid Ksat underscore the susceptibility of the studied sites to landslide hazards. Additionally, soil organic matter, clay content, and bulk density further contribute to the understanding of the hydropedological factors influencing landslide occurrences. These findings reveal the need for comprehensive investigations into hydropedological characteristics of other landslide categories to assist in landslide risk assessment and management strategies.

The effects of postfire regeneration patterns on soil microbial metabolic limitation based on eco-enzyme stoichiometry in the boreal forest of China

Postfire regeneration is essential for maintaining the stability and functionality of forest ecosystems following wildfires. However, it is unclear whether regeneration patterns affect carbon (C), nitrogen (N), or phosphorus (P) limitations on microbial metabolism in the soil. In this study, we investigated the soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) in different forest types regenerated by five patterns (Dahurian larch monocultures, Dahurian larch and birch mixed plantations, Mongolian pine monocultures, Mongolian pine and birch mixed plantations, and naturally regenerated forests). Based on the principles of ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, we elucidated the spatiotemporal variation in energy (C) and nutrient (N or P) limitations on soil microbial metabolism by collecting a total of 135 composite soil samples across three seasons in the five regeneration patterns. The regeneration pattern had a significant effect on the activities of C-, N- and P-acquiring soil extracellular enzymes (P<0.05). The P-acquiring enzyme activity was 2.71 times greater than the C-acquiring enzyme activity and 3.44 times greater than the N-acquiring enzyme activity across all forest types and seasons. The activities of microbial metabolic C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes showed similar seasonal dynamic patterns, with the exception of L-leucine aminopeptidase. In all forest types, the activities of enzymes responsible for acquiring C, N, and P were linearly correlated with one another according to the findings from standard major axis regression analysis (P<0.001). The values of the enzymatic vectors were greater than 45°, indicating that P rather than N was the dominant constraint on soil microbial metabolism. Forests with mixed regeneration patterns had greater P limitations than did the corresponding monoculture forests. Soil temperature was the common soil variable affecting the activities of EEAs across seasons, while the contents of soil organic carbon, dissolved carbon, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen were the significant driving factors of EEAs in a single season. However, forest productivity, including tree density, stand basal area, and forest stand volume had a predominant influence on microbial metabolic P limitation. This study suggests a pronounced role of P in soil microbial metabolism within boreal forests regenerated after wildfires.

Various Morphologies of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) and Their Effect on the Thermomechanical Properties of Thermoset Epoxy Resin Composites.

This research aims to highlight the importance of diverse forms of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as strengthening elements in epoxy composites. It explores the influence of three different forms of g-C3N4 and their concentrations on the mechanical properties of the epoxy composites. Various characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were utilized to comprehend the effects of g-C3N4 morphology and particle size on the physical and chemical characteristics of epoxy resin. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, strain, modulus, and fracture toughness, were determined for the composite samples. SEM analysis was performed to examine crack morphology in samples with different reinforcements. Findings indicate that optimal mechanical properties were achieved with a 0.5 wt% bulk g-C3N4 filler, enhancing tensile strength by 14%. SEM micrographs of fracture surfaces revealed a transition from brittle to rough morphology, suggesting increased toughness in the composites. While the TGA results showed no significant impact on degradation temperature, dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated a 17% increase in glass transition temperature. Furthermore, the improvement in thermal breakdown up to 600 °C was attributed to reinforced covalent bonds between carbon and nitrogen, supported by FTIR results.

Various Morphologies of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) and Their Effect on the Thermomechanical Properties of Thermoset Epoxy Resin Composites

This research aims to highlight the importance of diverse forms of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as strengthening elements in epoxy composites. It explores the influence of three different forms of g-C3N4 and their concentrations on the mechanical properties of the epoxy composites. Various characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were utilized to comprehend the effects of g-C3N4 morphology and particle size on the physical and chemical characteristics of epoxy resin. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, strain, modulus, and fracture toughness, were determined for the composite samples. SEM analysis was performed to examine crack morphology in samples with different reinforcements. Findings indicate that optimal mechanical properties were achieved with a 0.5 wt% bulk g-C3N4 filler, enhancing tensile strength by 14%. SEM micrographs of fracture surfaces revealed a transition from brittle to rough morphology, suggesting increased toughness in the composites. While the TGA results showed no significant impact on degradation temperature, dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated a 17% increase in glass transition temperature. Furthermore, the improvement in thermal breakdown up to 600 °C was attributed to reinforced covalent bonds between carbon and nitrogen, supported by FTIR results.

BST@Copper Nanowire/Epoxy composites with excellent microwave absorption in the X-band

In this work, hybrid epoxy nanocomposites containing varying loading of copper nanowires (CuNW), Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST), and BST@CuNW hybrid nanoparticles were prepared and analyzed for their microwave absorption characteristics. The nanoparticles used in this study were prepared using a facile co-precipitation and hydrothermal methodology. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for their morphology and phase determination. While the XRD results confirmed the presence of BST and CuNW, the SEM micrographs obtained on the hybrid BST@CuNW nanoparticles show BST anchored on the CuNW surfaces. A series of epoxy composites containing varying loading of synthesized nanoparticles were prepared and characterized for their microwave properties, such as complex permittivity, shielding effectiveness, and power coefficients. The results indicate that nanocomposites containing BST@CuNW hybrids exhibited enhanced dielectric loss and more significant microwave power absorption compared to samples with equivalent CuNW and/or BST loading. The best composite sample, i.e., a one-millimeter-thick epoxy containing 10:15 (wt/wt) CuNW: BST hybrid nanoparticles with an estimated density of 1.49 g/cc attenuated 99.1 % of incident microwave power and exhibited a shielding effectiveness value of 21.2 dB in the X-band (8–12 GHz) of the microwave frequency spectrum. These lightweight polymer composites with high microwave absorption in the X-band are useful for military and civilian applications.

Validity of zinc oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized in food wastes extract in treating real samples of printing ink wastewater; prediction models using feed-forward neural network (FFNN)

In the present study, biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles in food wastewater extract (FWEZnO NPs) was used in the photocatalytic degradation of real samples of printing ink wastewater. FWEZnO NPs were prepared using green synthesis methods using a composite food waste sample (2 kg) consisted of rice 30%, bread 20 %, fruits 10 %, chicken 10 %, lamb 10%, and vegetable 20%. The photocatalysis process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) as a function of time (15–180 min), pH 2–10 and FWEZnO NP (20–120 mg/100 mL), while the print ink effluent after each treatment process was evaluated using UV–Vis-spectrophotometer. The behaviour of printing ink wastewater samples for photocatalytic degradation and responses for independent factors were simulated using feed-forward neural network (FFNN). FWEZnO NPs having 62.48 % of the purity with size between 18 and 25 nm semicrystalline nature. The main functional groups were –CH, CH2, and –OH, while lipid, carbon-hydrogen stretching, and amino acids were the main component in FWEZnO NP, which contributed to the adsorption of ink in the initial stage of photocatalysis. The optimal conditions for printing ink wastewater were recorded after 17 min, at pH 9 and with 20 mg/100 mL of FWEZnO NPs, at which the decolorization was 85.62 vs. 82.13% of the predicted and actual results, respectively, with R2 of 0.7777. The most significant factor in the photocatalytic degradation was time and FWEZnO NPs. The FFNN models revealed that FWEZnO NPs exhibit consistency in the next generation of data (large-scale application) with an low errors (R2 0.8693 with accuracy of 82.89%). The findings showing a small amount of catalyst is needed for effective breakdown of dyes in real samples of printing ink wastewater.