Corrosion Problems Research Articles

Static and dynamic mechanical properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by replacing steel fibers with plastic steel fibers

To solve the problems of corrosion and explosive spalling of traditional steel fiber ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in practical applications, this study prepared UHPC by replacing steel fibers with plastic steel fibers (UHP-PRSC) and the static and dynamic mechanical behaviors had been investigated by carrying out the static tests and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests. The results show that under static loading, when the volume fraction of plastic steel fibers is 0.1% ∼ 0.5% (substitution rate 5% ∼ 25%), UHP-PRSC exhibits better mechanical properties than normal steel fiber UHPC. The strength of UHP-PRSC is the highest when the volume fraction of plastic fibers is 0.5% and gradually decreases with the increasing volume content of plastic steel fibers. Under dynamic loading, the dynamic mechanical properties of UHP-PRSC are enhanced due to the reinforcing effect of plastic steel fibers at strain rates of 48.8 s-1 ∼ 62.0 s-1, with a 25.4% increase in the dynamic compressive strength of UHP-PRSC compared to normal steel fiber UHPC at a volume fraction of 0.5% (substitution rate 25%) of plastic steel fibers. At higher strain rates, the enhancement effect of plastic steel fibers on UHPC is weakened and even brings negative improvement. The microstructural analysis found that the replacement of steel fibers with plastic steel fibers with a volume content of 0.1% ∼ 0.5% (substitution rate 5% ∼ 25%) could produce a synergistic effect to improve the mechanical properties of UHPC and with the increase in the volume content of plastic steel fibers, the interaction between the two fibers weakened, and the mechanical properties of UHPC decreased. Based on the experimental results, an optimal replacement rate of steel fibers by plastic steel fibers was determined and the fitting parameters of the constitutive model were obtained. This study provides a reference for the feasibility of replacing steel fibers with plastic steel fibers for the preparation of UHPC.

CMAS corrosion behavior of interface for EB-PVD Gd2Zr2O7/YSZ thermal barrier coatings

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) of aero-engine surfaces are facing complex working conditions such as high-temperature oxidation, hot-cold cycling, and CMAS corrosion. Gd2Zr2O7 (GZO)/YSZ bilayer ceramic TBCs are one of the coating systems that have been applied in aero-engine TBCs. One of the failure problems faced by the columnar crystalline bilayer GZO/YSZ TBCs prepared by electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) technology in high-temperature environments is the CMAS high-temperature corrosion problem. In this study, CMAS corrosion tests of GZO/YSZ bilayer structure TBCs were conducted at 1200 °C for 1h, 2h and 4h, respectively. The focus was on exploring the corrosion characteristics and mechanisms of the coating interface and surface after high-temperature corrosion. It was found that CMAS corrosion was dominated at the coating interface, accompanied by coating sintering, resulting in coating spalling at the interface. The coating interface was also analyzed by TEM after 4h corrosion, and it was found that an apatite phase was formed at the GZO/YSZ interface, which was embedded in the lattice of YSZ. Finally, the corrosion failure mechanism of the GZO/YSZ bilayer structure TBCs was proposed by the above CMAS high-temperature corrosion test.

Increasing the Wear Resistance of the Impellers of Electrical Centrifugal Submersible Pumps Through Repair

Objective: This research investigates the challenges of maintaining electrical submersible pumps (ESP) and develop effective repair techniques to enhance their reliability and efficiency. Theoretical Framework: The research draws upon theories and models related to pump maintenance, materials science, and corrosion prevention. Methodology: A case study approach was adopted, focusing on a Weir VTP submersible pump in continuous operation for 15 years. The pump's condition was assessed, and the root causes of erosion and corrosion were identified. Laser cladding with a TiC coating was applied to the damaged areas. Results and Discussion: The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the pump's wear resistance and overall efficiency following the laser cladding treatment. The TiC coating effectively mitigated the effects of erosion and corrosion, extending the pump's lifespan and reducing maintenance costs. Research Implications: The findings of this research contribute to the development of more effective maintenance strategies for submersible centrifugal pumps. The use of laser cladding with TiC coatings can be applied to other types of pumps and machinery operating in harsh environments. This research also highlights the importance of regular inspections and preventive maintenance. Originality/Value: This study provides a practical solution to the problem of erosion and corrosion in submersible centrifugal pumps. The application of laser cladding with a TiC coating is a relatively novel approach, offering a more effective repair method compared to traditional techniques. The results can be applied to improve the reliability and efficiency of pumps in various industries.

The coupling effect of calcined layered double hydroxides and impressed current cathodic protection system on chloride ion binding and migration of sea sand mortar

Chloride introduced by sea sand and sea water leads to steel bar corrosion. Calcined Layered double hydroxides (CLDH) and impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system were used to adsorb chloride ion and control steel bar corrosion in chloride abundant environment. In this research, chloride binding effect of two kinds of CLDH were investigated in simulated concrete pore solution. Besides, chloride absorption capacity and steel bar corrosion resistance of Mg-Al CLDH was explored in mortar. Further, hydration degree of mortar installed ICCP system and migration of ions around the anode and cathode were detected. Results show that Mg-Al CLDH exhibits excellent chloride binding capacity and corrosion resistance. After installing the ICCP system, corrosion of steel bars in mortar mixed Mg-Al CLDH was controlled. And ions in mortar specimen around anode or cathode exhibits migration phenomenon in different degree. A two stage-four step model was established to explain the degradation of hydration products and ion migration in CLDH-ICCP system. Under the ICCP system, Cl− in pore solution increased at early stage and then decreased both around anode and cathode, the increment process was controlled by desorption of Mg-Al CLDH and decreased process was controlled by degradation of hydration products. Therefore, the CLDH-ICCP system was recommended to solve the problem of steel bar corrosion introduced by marine environment.

SWEL-V: A low-cost salt-water electrolyzer. Comparative analyses with the proton exchange membrane, PEM, electrolyzer

Seawater is the largest resource on earth which makes the hydrogen production directly from seawater an economically attractive solution if the corrosion problems are solved. Traditionally in the electrolysis analysis, both electrodes are made of metals. The produced oxygen and chlorine in the electrolysis process cause high rates of corrosion resulting in using expensive alloys to slow down the corrosion process. A novel solution to the corrosion problem is introduced, tested, and experimentally proved. The novelty of the solution relies on replacing the classic high-cost positive electrodes with a non-metallic, low cost, one [1,2]. The non-metallic electrode is made of surface rock portions with high pore volume and high pores connectivity and saturated with saline water. The experimental results are compared to the freshwater Proton Exchange Membrane PEM electrolyzers. The comparison proved that the novel solution solved the corrosion challenges of the metallic electrodes with excellent efficiency and hydrogen purity.

Preparation and Properties of Na2HPO4∙12H2O/Silica Aerogel Composite Phase Change Materials for Building Energy Conservation.

In this paper, a morphologically stable composite phase change material (CPCM) suitable for use in the field of building energy conservation was developed using Na2HPO4∙12H2O (DHPD) as the phase change material, Na2SiO3∙9H2O (SSNH) as the nucleating agent, and silica aerogel (SA) as the carrier. The results showed that the incorporation of 25 wt% SA resulted in the as-prepared DHPD-SSNH/SA CPCM with a phase change temperature of 30.4 °C, an enthalpy of 163.4 J/g, and a low supercooling degree of 1.3 °C, which also solved the corrosion problem of reinforcing bars caused by the hydrated salt PCM. Meanwhile, DHPD-SSNH/SA CPCM had good shape stability and low thermal conductivity (0.1507 W/(m·K)). The phase change temperature was basically unchanged, and the enthalpy only decreased by 4.8% after 200 cold-heat cycles. In addition, the thermal performance evaluation of CPCM showed that the indoor thermal comfort time of the testing system loaded with PCM board accounted for 50.75%, which was 43.38% higher than that of the one without PCM board (7.37%). The results suggest that the obtained CPCM had a good energy saving effect and great potential in the field of building energy conservation.

Hydrate formation and its influence on natural gas pipeline: Simulation study

Natural gas transportation is plagued with the twin problem of hydrate and corrosion that occurs when a hydrate prone gas is conveyed in such a manner that the pipeline operating conditions fall within hydrate formation region of the hydrate phase envelop. This study simultaneously studied this twin problem, establishing their interdependent using gas sample from Niger Delta that was meticulously simulated and analysed for hydrate formation possibilities with the aid of Unism software. CO2 corrosion was simulated using NORSOK M-506 standard model in matlab. Major factors considered are the relationship between corrosion rate and temperature, corrosion rate and PH, corrosion-temperature relationship for varying CO2 mole percent, and PH values. The result from this study established that both type I and type II hydrates could form at the operating conditions of 5OC and 60 bar. Rate of corrosion decreases and increases with increase in PH and temperature respectively to a certain temperature of approximately 78 OC, then a dip in rate of corrosion. Corrosion-temperature relationship for varying PH and CO2 mole percent shows a decrease in corrosion rate with an in increase in PH, and an increase with increase in CO2 mole percent, with a rise as high as 5,7 mm/year at a 3 mole percent. This value and trend portray a bad omen for the affected pipeline. This study recommends that natural gas to be transported by pipeline should be sweetened and processed to remove H2S, CO2 and mercaptans if present and also to satisfy maximum dew point specification.

Aircraft engine fault diagnosis based on fused convolutional Transformer

Aircraft engines will face corrosion and erosion problems when working in harsh gas path environments for a long time, and the fault parameter characteristics are not obvious. Therefore, accurate aircraft engine fault diagnosis methods are of great significance to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. In order to improve the prediction accuracy, an aircraft engine fault diagnosis method based on fused convolutional Transformer is proposed. The self-attention mechanism is used to extract useful features and suppress redundant information. The maximum pooling layer (MaxPool) is introduced into the Transformer model to further reduce the model memory consumption and parameter quantity, and alleviate the overfitting phenomenon. The simulation data set of turbofan engines based on GasTurb modeling is used for verification. The results show that compared with the Transformer network and other traditional deep learning models Back Propagation Neural Networks (BP network), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), the accuracy rates are improved by 6.552%、28.117%、13.189%and respectively 10.29%, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed method and can provide a certain reference for aircraft engine fault diagnosis.

A Review of CiteSpace Visualisation and Analysis of High-Temperature Corrosion Inhibitors for Oil and Gas Fields

With the increasing global energy demand, the exploitation depth of oil and gas fields is gradually increasing. At the same time, importing many high-acid crude oil makes it increasingly heavy and inferior, and its acid value is constantly improving. This change has led to the increasingly severe corrosion problem of oil and gas field equipment, which has become an essential factor affecting the national economy and society's sustainable development. As an economical and practical anticorrosion measure, corrosion inhibitors play a crucial role in the anticorrosion of oil and gas field equipment. Through the research method of biorientation, retrieve the Web of Science database in 2008-2024 about oil and gas field high-temperature corrosion inhibitor research literature information, using CiteSpace measurement analysis software visual analysis in the literature keywords, publications, high citation frequency, cooperation and word clustering information change trend, analyze the research situation of oil and gas field in recent years, summarizes the research hotspot of oil field high-temperature corrosion inhibitor, prominent authors and institutions, reference relationship and development trend. The number of documents on high-temperature corrosion inhibitors in oil and gas fields is smaller, and the authors, institutions, and countries are not closely related. There is less research cooperation on high-temperature corrosion inhibitors in oil and gas fields, and more independent studies exist. China University of Petroleum has the first number of publications, and China is the country with the first number of publications. The study of mass spectrometry for corrosion inhibitors in oil and gas fields is prominent, while the literature on high-temperature corrosion inhibitors is rare.

Fabrication and Characterization of Graphene Oxide – Cadmium Sulphide Nanocomposite Coating for Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel Specimen

Abstract The oil and gas sector play a significant role in the Sultanate of Oman’s economic growth and contribute major revenue. Corrosion is a global concern and that strongly affects the industrial sectors. The corrosion problems in oil pipelines would be successfully resolved by means of novel control techniques. This research focused on the fabrication of Graphene oxide (GO) - Cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanocomposite for controlling corrosion in mild steel specimen. Graphene oxide was synthesized from Alovera extract by carbonization process. GO - CdS nanocomposite was prepared and deposited on a mild steel pipe by self-assembly technique. The coated material was used for stability studies at varying pH conditions and exposure period followed by corrosion studies. The testing methods adopted are Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Wet/Dry test and Atmosphere tests were conducted to examine the performance of coating material towards corrosion. The atomic force microscope (AFM) operated in non-contact mode was used to study surface topology of the coated specimen. From the outcome of the corrosion studies, it was established that the GO- CdS Nano composites thin film acted as an ecofriendly corrosion inhibitor to enhance the lifespan of the mild steel pipe. This novel research is aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Goals (UNSD - 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure & UNSDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production) and Oman vision 2040. The results from the study validates that the GO - CdS thin films coated on mild steel pipe could be a viable solution to corrosion issues in oil pipelines owing to their good film stability, minimum film thickness, high durability, and ecofriendly approach.

Eco-friendly nanocomposite particles CuO/Fe2O3 and CuFeO2 as corrosion inhibitors of reinforced steel for concrete

Abstract In the last period of scientific research, the application of nanoscale materials had a huge interest in enhancing sustainability and improving the performance of concrete. This paper discusses lots of experimental truths about nanoparticles (CuO, Fe2O3) and nanocomposite particles (CuFeO2 and CuO/Fe2O3), which are manufactured by green chemistry and their effect on concrete. Because of their advanced properties due to containing the two heavy transition metals iron and copper, these particles can It is possible to bring about a wide development in the field of building and construction, and they may finalize more than one function at the same time. The dispersion of nanoparticles (Nps) in concrete mixtures is a key strategy to achieve the tailoring process, which is used to design new materials with specific properties to perform desired functions or applications. In this paper, resistance against chemical corrosion is achieved. These nanocomposites (Ncps)can improve the microstructure, function, and strength. The SEM, physical, mechanical characterization, workability and electrochemical measurements of the concrete based on those Nps. The results discovered that those Nps are corrosion resistant, contributing to decreased failure corrosion problems, which may lead to continuing to work at the same level throughout the years of service. This communication aims to provide a deep comprehension of the role of (Ncps) admixtures in concrete composites. They provide possible methods to enhance their overall characteristics and establish the basis for a more sustainable and long-lasting future in the building field.

Advancing green technology: demulsifier preparation and evaluation for crude oil emulsion treatment using corn oil

Globally, oil production has steadily increased which causes a rise in the coproduction of oil and water emulsions. These emulsions pose significant challenges in transportation and the oil refinery industry, causing high-pressure drops and corrosion problems due to chlorides in the water. Despite advancements in renewable energy, crude oil remains a primary energy source. The crude oil industry faces numerous challenges, including cost emulsion issues. This study developed a corn oil bio-demulsifier (MFK). A unique demulsifier was tested using FTIR, GC-MS, and TGA. Using the bottle test method, the produced demulsifier MFK was tested with Basrah oil and East Baghdad S1 oil. The emulsion-breaking processes have been studied under several factors, such as settling time, dosage, temperature, pH, water content, and mixing time after demulsifier addition. At 2000 ppm Basrah oil, water separation efficiency reached 75%. For East Baghdad S1 oil, the highest separation result was 43.3% at 4000ppm, after 5 h of settling time at 70°C, with a 30/70 water-to-oil ratio. When studying the pH, the best water separation rate was 86.5% at a pH of 10. The best water content was 92% when the water-to-oil ratio was 50/50, and the best demulsifier mixing time with the emulsion was 2 min with a separation rate of 74.5%. When mixing was increased, undesirable results occurred. This study demonstrated that biodemulsifiers may replace conventional biodemulsifiers in early units while reducing environmental and economic impacts with further study and development.

Basalt fibers corrosion in concrete: New perspectives originating from computational modelling techniques employment

Most of engineering disciplines or research areas have recently witnessed strategic changes leading to formulation of new challenges and revision of existing activities. Promoting the environmental aspects to the highest priority level was mostly in common. Seeking for energy efficient solutions, concrete society has mentioned basalt as a promising candidate having a potential to replace steel in the future. The chemical disharmony between basalt and alkaline environment of concrete, however, represents the most challenging tasks that obstructs the replacement procedure due to durability issues. Since only 3.3 % of the research priorities in this area deals with the corrosion and degradation problems, while the mainstream (57.0 %) prefers determination of various material properties, this problem seems to be undervalued. Additionally, computational modelling approaches are surprisingly not applied as frequently (6.1 %) as in other disciplines, although they could provide the essential long-term research. Simplified methods therefore still dominate these estimations approaches. This paper therefore brings an overview on basalt fiber corrosion in concrete, while summarizing the most topical gaps slowing down the basalt application progress. Since these gaps originate mostly from the simplifications adopted, specific solutions are proposed respectively, exploiting the unique advantages and possibilities of computational modelling approaches that are omitted. The topicality as well as the potential of the advanced approach is demonstrated on a critical example dealing with corrosion analysis evaluation in a specific wall segment. Highlighting the differences between simplified- and advanced techniques outputs, the main findings are concluded, and the most topical gaps are identified.

Surface Reaction-Diffusion-Coupled Simulation of Ni–Fe–Cr Alloy under FLiNaK Molten Salt

A molten salt reactor is one of the fourth-generation reactors and is considered to be a feasible replacement for current reactors due to their many advantages. However, there are a number of issues that remain; one of which is the corrosion of the materials. Corrosion problems in molten salt reactors have been reported since The Molten Salt Reactor Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s. There have been many attempts to mitigate the corrosion problem, but a fundamental solution has not yet been achived. In this study, surface reaction-diffusion-coupled simulations were performed to simulate the corrosion of a Ni–Cr–Fe material, a prototype of Hastelloy N, which is being promoted as a structural material for molten salt reactors in F–Li–Na–K eutectic salts. This surface reaction-diffusion-coupled simulation framework was developed to study which corrosion reactions are dominant in molten salt environment corrosion where a large number of oxidation–reduction reactions exist, the correlation between composition of alloy and corrosion rate, and the effect of Cr depletion on corrosion.

Investigation of temperature assisted corrosion failure of an aircraft turbine blade

In this study, the root cause of a recurring corrosion problem at the tip of an internally cooled high-pressure turbine blade (HPT) of a turbofan engine was investigated. A two-pronged strategy was utilized involving (i) experimental techniques to identify the blade material and corrosion products, and (ii) computational methods to analyze the fluid flow over the blade. In the experimental thrust, an array of techniques was employed to determine the chemical composition, microstructure, corrosion products and microhardness values while the airflow, pressure distribution and thermal profile over the blade were found through computational paradigms. The blade was a Ni-based superalloy containing typical gamma (γ) and gamma prime (γ′) phases, with an average microhardness value of 389 HV at room temperature. SEM analysis of the corroded area revealed oxides of iron, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, and silicon (FCMAS) most of which were not part of the base alloy. To determine the temperature profile and pressure distribution on the blade, a conjugate heat transfer analysis using Ansys CFX was conducted. A combination of experimental data from the engine ground running test station and analytical equations was used to find the required boundary conditions for the computational analysis. Pressure distribution over the entire blade was found which showed higher flow velocities and cross flows at the blade tip which potentially cause erosion at that region in the presence of impurities in the incoming air. Temperature distribution over the entire blade was also obtained, and it was found that the highest temperatures for the internally cooled blade occurred at the tip region which were in the range of ∼1060 °C–1250 °C (average ∼1114 °C). The temperature on the tip was high enough to cause the melting of the impurities that ingress the coating and cause its degradation during thermal cycling. This exposes the base alloy to FCMAS and causes corrosion. These high temperatures (1060–1250 °C) also induced phase transformation and increased the brittleness (∼22 % increase in hardness) which aggravated the presence of corrosion and resulted in crack formation and blade rejection.

Application of Torrefaction for Improved Fuel Properties of Sunflower Husks

Sunflower husk (SFH) contributes 45–60% of the total sunflower seed weight and is a by-product of the sunflower oil industry. Among other elements, SFH ash contains K, Na, Ca and Mg. These elements cause rapid growth of ash deposits on convective heating surfaces of the boiler, resulting in reduced efficiency. The aim of this paper is to examine the possibility of producing quality fuel from SFH by its pretreatment with the technique of torrefaction in a fluidized bed in superheated water vapor. Continuous monitoring of the innovative SFH torrefaction process allowed for the determination of optimal process durations. SFH could be converted into a biofuel, having high calorific value and suitable characteristics for co-combustion with coal. Furthermore, the torrefaction in a fluidized bed of superheated water vapor allowed for a 6-fold reduction in the required process duration in comparison with data reported from the literature for the process of torrefaction in a dense bed, along with a 3-fold reduction in the chlorine content in SFH ash. These effects are beneficial to resolve the problem of corrosion on convective heating surfaces of boilers. However, torrefaction in superheated water vapor did not significantly reduce the content of alkaline and alkaline-earth elements in SFH ash. Still, this issue may be alleviated by significantly increasing the duration of SFH pretreatment.

Corrosion and Protection of Chinese Bronze Relics: A Review

The corrosion problem affecting ancient Chinese bronze relics and the protective measures required post-excavation are crucial for the study of historical cultural heritage and for ensuring heritage revitalization and sustainable development. This work includes a statistical analysis, clusters information, and thoroughly examines international research on bronze relic corrosion and protection. It delves into the timeline and trends of research, the main countries leading the research efforts, the research content, and the relationships between these factors. A comprehensive review is provided on the corrosion principles, materials, detection methods, and protection techniques for bronze. The study explores the corrosion principles and processes of bronze from a materials science perspective both before and after excavation. It summarizes non-destructive detection methods and examines specific factors that influence corrosion. Furthermore, the article reviews current corrosion protection methods for bronze and related protection materials, including commonly used strategies such as surface corrosion inhibitors and organic resin coatings for protection. It also discusses the potential application of advanced corrosion protection methods in the realm of metal materials in recent years to safeguard bronze. Proposing innovative solutions, the study suggests the possibility of constructing biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces to create a barrier isolating humid air from contacting bronze materials, thereby reducing the adhesion of corrosive media to the substrate and significantly diminishing the likelihood of corrosion. In conclusion, the article looks towards the future, considering the challenges and potential development directions for the corrosion protection of bronze and related protection materials.

Boosting corrosion resistance of Mg-Li alloy: Implanting bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces into MAO matrix for enhanced protection

The corrosion problem has significantly impeded the practical application of Mg-Li alloys. In this report, a method that combines micro-arc oxidation (MAO) with electrochemical deposition is developed to create a superhydrophobic matrix on Mg-Li substrate. The combination approach harnesses the superiority of both coverages, including MAO as the dense, firmly bonded ceramic oxide layer on the metal substrate and the superhydrophobic surface (SHS) implanted into MAO matrix. The MAO-SHS coating exhibits high mechanical stability, maintaining the superhydrophobicity due to the “implanting effect” even after a long distance of friction effect. For corrosion inhibition, compared to the bare Mg-Li with icorr of 9.26 × 10−5 A/cm2, the icorr for MAO and MAO-SHS is 7.83 × 10−6 A/cm2 and 7.50 × 10−9 A/cm2, respectively, representing the reduction of approximately one and four orders of magnitude. Focusing the atmospheric corrosion inhibition, MAO-SHS proves to manipulate the dynamic evolution of saline solution evaporation and salt particle deliquation. The salt particle crystalized from saline solution on MAO-SHS is found to have significantly smaller contact area than that of the bare Mg-Li and MAO. By employing atomic force microscopy, the adhesion force of salt particle is revealed as ca. 45 nN, 13 nN, and 2 nN for salt particle on Mg-Li, MAO, and MAO-SHS, respectively. This suggests that the salt can be more easily removed from the MAO-SHS surface, thereby reducing the susceptibility to corrosion. The in situ deliquation is conducted to understand the formation of the droplet on different surfaces. The air in the SHS layer hinders chloride ingress and the SHS layer seals the pores in MAO layer, proving the synergistic effect afforded by MAO-SHS to achieve superior corrosion resistance.

Preparation and erosion resistance of SiC-based ceramic-PCM sensible-latent heat composite heat storage materials

Alloy phase change materials (PCM) are key materials in latent heat storage systems for solar thermal power generation, however, their application is limited by the high corrosion and oxidation problems of alloys. To reduce the erosion problem of alloy PCM, SiC-based ceramic encapsulated flake graphite (EG) modified Al-Cu28-Si6 alloy was used to successfully prepare composite PCM with high compatibility and oxidation resistance. Adopting static erosion test method, the composite PCM was subjected to 50 thermal cycles (25–1000 °C holding time of 10 h was recorded as 1 cycle). The results showed that SiC-based ceramics have excellent corrosion resistance to composite PCM with 10 wt% EG added, which due to the excellent reticulation and encapsulation of EG. Based on the Young-Laplace equation and the contact angle, the erosion resistance mechanism of silicon carbide ceramic alloys has been revealed. SiC-based ceramic-PCM sensible heat-latent heat composite heat storage material was expected to be used for high-temperature heat storage in solar thermal power generation.

Problematic Workplace Behaviours in the Software Development Profession: Using Transactional Analysis to Diagnose Toxicity and Improve Relationships at Work

The growing and unmet demand for coding skills is becoming critical in a world that is ever-more driven by digital technologies, embedded algorithms and artificial intelligence systems. However, sustainability of the profession is threatened because of the failure to attract and retain women developers, which has been an ongoing and corrosive problem for decades and remains unresolved. While many previous studies attribute ‘toxic’ workplace cultures in the software development industry, as a major contributing factor, few examine their root causes and almost none offer practical solutions. To address this lack of both knowledge and effective response, we propose a novel approach building on psychoanalytical Transactional Analysis (TA) theory that is little used in the field of management and organisation studies. TA theory provides a framework using common and simplified language to better understand why communications in the workplace fail, and how occupying incompatible ego states might lead to ‘ negative’, ‘ problematic’ and, in the worst cases, ‘ toxic’ behaviours and workplaces. We propose a TA-based model (OCTAPos) that helps explain how crossed communications at work can result in a lack of acceptance of women in the workplace and attrition among female software developers and the resultant dearth of diverse coders. We further propose a theoretically informed HRM Structured TA Response (STAR) to help increase self-awareness, emotional intelligence, empathy and mutual understanding, with the ultimate aim of positively impacting prevailing attitudes, behaviours and organisational culture to achieve more inclusive and sustainable recruitment and retention in the longer term.