Diffraction Techniques Research Articles

Development of Glaze Compositions to Increase the Durability of Decorative Paints Used in Glazed Porcelain

Colorful paint works are carried out to highlight the visuality of ornamental and tableware products, such as cups and plates. As these products come into contact with detergents, food products or grime, erosion and abrasion occur in paint and patterns over time. In this study, transparent glaze compositions that can be applied on patterned products have been developed in order to minimize wear and damage to the paint on ornamental and tableware products such as porcelain cups and plates. It is aimed to have a compatibility with the glaze layer and the porcelain body, to have high transparency and brightness. Different glaze compositions have been implemented to porcelain wares containing precious metallic paints. Then the glazed products were coducted to final firing between 870˚C-900˚C. Colours values of porcelain wares were determined with L-a-b spectrophotometer colours measurment devices and ΔE values was found to be lower than 0.50. Erosion and abrasion resistance were determined by staining test and washing test. According the results, the mass loss values are in the range of 2.7-3.4 mg (24h washing) and 7.9-8.3 mg (168 h washing). The morphology of the samples and the analysis of the phases formed during sintering were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron miscroscopy (SEM and EDX). Quartz-SiO2 and Albite-Na (AlSi3O8) phases were observed in the structure of the glazes. The results showed that glaze compositions with high transparency and wear resistance can be obtained with only 30% frit content.

Microwave-assisted ammonia decomposition over metal nitride catalysts at low temperatures

The negative environmental impact of fossil fuel-based energy systems has unveiled the need to develop a COx-free sustainable hydrogen (H2) economy. Employing a microwave-assisted route, a ternary metal nitride catalyst (i.e., Co2Mo3N), and a low-temperature-pressure NH3 decomposition process, this study investigated the possibility of developing a distributed H2 production process. This study not only explored lower cost-based catalyst systems but also the use of a microwave reactor to increase the energy efficiency of the process. Results from catalytic NH3 decomposition experiments, performed in microwave reactors on Co2Mo3N catalyst, demonstrated the peak energy efficiency (of ∼0.006 kgH2/kWh) at 400 °C in ambient pressure (with an NH3 conversion >90%) which was around ninety times (∼90 x) more efficient than a conventional system. Activation energy calculation also displayed a 20% less energy requirement for the microwave-based process (∼31 kJ mol−1) than the conventional system (∼37 kJ mol−1), indicating the advantage of the microwave-based process. Further microwave-assisted catalytic measurements and characterization of the Co2Mo3N catalyst, using x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images, revealed the excellent stability of this material at its peak performance (at 400 °C) and illustrated the potential of using this catalyst for a sustainable, economic, and energy-efficient approach for producing COx-free H2.

Understanding the hot deformation behavior of Mo[sbnd]42Re alloy: Insights from strain rate sensitivity, microstructure, and misorientation

Mo42Re alloy, as a high-temperature structural and functional material, has broad application prospects in the nuclear industry. In this study, the hot deformation behavior of Mo42Re alloy was systematically investigated using hot compression tests and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques in the temperature range of 1200–1500 °C and strain rate range of 0.001–1 s−1. The results showed that the flow stress of Mo42Re alloy exhibited a strong dependence on temperature and strain rate. The strain rate sensitivity index (m-value) was high under the conditions of 1350–1450 °C and 0.001 s−1. With increasing deformation temperature and decreasing strain rate, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was significantly promoted, and the recrystallized volume fraction increased from 2.79% at 1200 °C/1 s−1 to 20.3% at 1500 °C/0.001 s−1. Meanwhile, the occurrence of and DRX effectively reduced the grain reference orientation deviation (GROD) gradients and kernel average misorientation (KAM) levels within the grains. This study revealed the mechanisms of microstructural evolution during hot deformation of Mo42Re alloy, providing important guidance for optimizing its thermomechanical processing parameters.

High-Pressure Induced Continuous Structural Evolution of Kagome Antiferromagnet MgMn3(OH)6Cl2: A Structural Analogue to Quantum Spin Liquid Herbertsmithite.

MgMn3(OH)6Cl2 serves readily as the classical Heisenberg kagome antiferromagnet lattice spin frustration material, due to its similarity to herbertsmithite in composition and crystal structure. In this work, nanosheets of MgMn3(OH)6Cl2 are synthesized through a solid-phase reaction. Low-temperature magnetic measurements revealed two antiferromagnetic transitions, occurring at ∼8 and 55 K, respectively. Utilizing high-pressure synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction techniques, the topological structural evolution of MgMn3(OH)6Cl2 under pressures up to 24.8 GPa was investigated. The sample undergoes a second-order structural phase transition from the rhombohedral phase to the monoclinic phase at pressures exceeding 7.8 GPa. Accompanying the disappearance of the Fano-like line shape in the high-pressure Raman spectra were the emergence of new Raman active modes and discontinuities in the variations of Raman shifts in the high-frequency region. The phase transition to a structure with lower symmetry was attributed to the pressure-induced enhancement of cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion, which is caused by the mutual substitution of Mn2+ ions from the kagome layer and Mg2+ ions from the triangular interlayer. High-pressure ultraviolet-visible absorption measurements support the structural evolution. This research provides a robust experimental approach and physical insights for further exploration of classical geometrical frustration materials with kagome lattice.

Numerical and experimental study on effect of induction heating parameters on the coating of Zn layer on mild steel

The objective of the study is to determine the most effective induction heating parameters for melting pure zinc selectively over the mild steel substrate surface. The numerical simulation on effect of induction heating parameters on the mild steel substrate is studied using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software. The optimised effective parameters are used for the experimental analysis for the validation. Variables such as coil configuration, stand-off distance (SOD), coil current and frequency were systematically changed, and optimal settings were chosen on the basis of time temperature contour curve and the heating rate within the material. Results of the numerical analysis portrayed that a pancake coil geometrical configuration, SOD of 2 mm, coil current of 300 A and alternating frequency of 300 kHz were found as the optimum set of parameters for the effective surface repair. An experimental investigation was carried out by depositing a thin layer of zinc on mild steel substrate using the optimized parameters. The surface integrity of the coated specimen was examined through the high-resolution optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) techniques. The hardness property of the coated specimen was examined with a Vickers microhardness tester. The microstructure analysis and hardness measurement showed that consistent coating is achieved without affecting the base metal/substrate properties. The experimental results very much coincide with the numerical simulation.

The Topological Transformation of Trefoil Knots to Solomon Links via Diels-Alder Click Reaction.

The quest for more efficient, user-friendly, and less wasteful topological transformations remains a significant challenge in the realm of postassembly modifications. In this article, high yields of two molecular trefoil knots (Rh-1, Ir-1) were obtained using ligand 3,6-bis(3-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (L1) with reactive tetrazine units and binuclear half-sandwich organometallic units [Cp*2M2(μ-TPPHZ)(OTf)2](OTf)2 (Rh-B, M = RhIII; Ir-B, M = IrIII). 2,5-Norbornadiene was used as an inducer of the Diels-Alder click reaction to modulate rapidly and efficiently the transformation of Trefoil knots to Solomon links. However, the key to achieving this topological structural change is the subtle increase in site steric of the pyridazine fragments (L2), which allows the molecular structures to spread and bend in three-dimensional space, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, ESI-TOF/MS, elementary analysis and detailed solution-state NMR techniques.

Quantitative analysis of the Permian sediments of Karoo Basin of South Africa using combined petrophysical and X-ray analytical techniques

This study quantifies the petrophysical parameters and determines the impact of mineralogy on the petrophysical parameters of the Permian sediments of the main Karoo Basin, South Africa. Conventional well logs from KDD-01 well, thirty-two and forty-two samples are investigated for mineral and composition analyses using X-ray diffraction and fluorescent techniques, respectively. Three intervals of Abrahamskraal Formation (500–513m), dolerite sill that intruded the Abrahamskraal Formation (513–530m), and Waterford Formation (1014–1048m) are investigated. The results show that the average porosity of the Abrahamskraal Formation is 2.9%, the dolerite interval has an average value of 1.8%, whereas the Waterford Formation has an average value of 2.1%. The average permeability for the Abrahmaskraal Formation is 0.05mD, dolerite 0.04mD, and the Waterford Formation is 0.08mD, respectively. No hydrocarbon was detected. The low values of petrophysical properties may be associated with the pore network, which is poorly connected, intense precipitation of secondary minerals, and pore infilling during burial diagenesis. Quartz mineral dominates in the Abrahamskraal Formation, with an average value of 47% and 61% in the Waterford Formation.In comparison, plagioclase is the main mineral constituent in the dolerite, with an average of 44%. Based on the combined petrophysical and geochemistry classification scheme, the formations evaluated belong to the type III pore structure. The type III pore structure is a poor and ineffective reservoir, with rock porosity usually less than 6% and a permeability of less than 0.15mD. However, regarding the mineral elemental ratio, the Abrahamskraal and the Waterford Formations meet the type II pore structure criteria, while the dolerite is type III. This paper has produced a helpful rock classification scheme based in the Karoo Basin, South Africa, using petrophysical and geochemical data for the first time.

High-temperature deformation behavior and microstructural evolution of TC17 alloy

The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of TC17 alloy were investigated by hot compression tests at 700–950 ℃ with strain of 0.9 and strain rate of 0.001–10 s-1. A modified Arrhenius-type constitutive equation was established to describe the hot deformation characteristics. The spheroidization process of α phase was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the lamellar α phase forms a groove through the boundary splitting mechanism, and the gradually deepened groove eventually leads to the splitting of the lamellar α phase, and then diffuses to the surrounding under the termination migration mechanism. Finally, the lamellar α phase spheroidizes. The microstructure evolution during hot compression was analyzed by electron backscatter diffraction technique. The results show that the spheroidization of lamellar α phase is the main softening mechanism of TC17 alloy at low temperature. With the increase of temperature, dynamic recrystallization gradually transforms into the main softening mechanism of TC17 alloy. At the same time, the discontinuous dynamic recrystallization at the subgrain boundary and the continuous dynamic recrystallization at the subgrain rotation of TC17 alloy were found.

Twinning–Detwinning-Dominated Cyclic Deformation Behavior of a High-Strength Mg-Al-Sn-Zn Alloy during Loading Reversals: Experiment and Modeling

The deformation behavior of a high-strength Mg-Al-Sn-Zn alloy under loading reversals has been thoroughly examined through a combination of experimental measurements and crystal plasticity modeling. We focused on an age-treated alloy fortified by distributed Mg2Sn particles and Mg17Al12 precipitates, which underwent two distinct loading cycles: tension-compression-tension (TCT) and compression-tension-compression (CTC), aligned with the extrusion direction (ED). The initial and deformed microstructures of the alloy were analyzed using the electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) technique. Notably, the alloy displays tensile and compressive yield strengths (YS) of 215 MPa and 160 MPa, respectively, with pronounced anelastic behavior observed during unloading and reverse loading phases. Utilizing the elasto-viscoplastic self-consistent model incorporating a twinning–detwinning scheme (EVPSC-TDT), the cyclic stress–strain responses and resultant textures of the alloy were accurately captured. The predicted alternation between various slip and twinning modes during plastic deformation was used to interpret the observed behaviors. It was found that prismatic <a> slip plays an important role during the plastic deformation of the studied alloy, and its relative activity in tensile loading processes accounts for up to ~66% and ~67% in the TCT and CTC cases, respectively. Moreover, it was discerned that detwinning and twinning behaviors are predominantly governed by stresses within the parent grain, and they can concurrently manifest during the reverse tensile loading phase in the TCT case. After cyclic deformation, the area fractions of residual twins were determined to be 7.51% and 0.93% in the TCT and CTC cases, respectively, which is a result of the varied twinning–detwinning behavior of the alloy in different loading paths.

Trivalent Gd incorporated Zn2SiO4 phosphor material for EPR and luminescence investigations

Abstract Zn2SiO4:Gd3+ powder was obtained by the sol–gel preparation technique and then characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The sample exhibited photoluminescence in the ultraviolet spectral zone with a maximum emission wavelength of 314 nm. Ultraviolet emission in the range of 305–320 nm is also called ultraviolet-B emission. This UV range emission is used in lamps for skin treatment and phototherapy. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum recorded for the Zn2SiO4:0.015Gd3+ phosphor revealed g values of 3.46, 2.64, and 2.20, confirming the presence of Gd3+ ions in the small ligand field. Furthermore, Gd3+ ions attain tetrahedral symmetry in the prepared host compound.

Microstructures and micromechanical behaviors of high-entropy alloys investigated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques: A review

Microstructures and micromechanical behaviors of high-entropy alloys investigated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques: A review

Unrecoverable lattice rotation governs structural degradation of single-crystalline cathodes.

Transitioning from polycrystalline to single-crystalline nickel-rich cathodes has garnered considerable attention in both academia and industry, driven by advantages of high tap density and enhanced mechanical properties. However, cathodes with high nickel content (>70%) suffer from substantial capacity degradation, which poses a challenge to their commercial viability. Leveraging multiscale spatial resolution diffraction and imaging techniques, we observe that lattice rotations occur universally in single-crystalline cathodes and play a pivotal role in the structure degradation. These lattice rotations prove unrecoverable and govern the accumulation of adverse lattice distortions over repeated cycles, contributing to structural and mechanical degradation and fast capacity fade. These findings bridge the previous knowledge gap that exists in the mechanistic link between fast performance failure and atomic-scale structure degradation.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of spinel structured transition metal ferrites supported on reduced graphene oxide against pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi.

One of the global challenges for living things is to provide pollution and harmful microbes-free environment. In this study, magnetically retrievable spinel-structured manganese zinc ferrite (Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) (MZF) was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. Further, the MZF with different weight percentages (10 wt%, 50 wt%, and 80 wt%) were supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The phase purity and morphology of MZF and MZF/rGO nanocomposite were confirmed by x-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, UV-visible spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses of the as-synthesized nanocomposites were examined for the detection of various chemical groups, band gap, and thermal properties, respectively. The MZF/rGO nanocomposite exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activity againstEggerthella lenta, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,andCandida albicanscompared to bare MZF and rGO. The high surface area of rGO plays a crucible role in antimicrobial analysis. Additionally, the antibacterial and antifungal activity is compared by synthesizing various metal ferrites such as MnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4, and Fe3O4. The 50 wt% MZF/rGO nanocomposite exhibits significantly high antibacterial activity. However, 10 wt% MZF/rGO nanocomposite shows good antifungal activity than Fe3O4, MnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4, MnZnFe2O4, 50 wt%, and 80 wt% MZF/rGO nanocomposites. These findings suggest that the prepared ferrite nanocomposites hold promise for microbial inhibition.

Sublimation‐Induced Vapor Deposition of Cyanuric Acid‐Melamine Supramolecular Single Crystals on Surfaces

AbstractHerein, a low‐temperature sublimation‐based vapor deposition (SVD) method is developed to synthesize hexagonal crystal plates of cyanuric acid‐melamine (CAM) with outstanding crystallinity. Through meticulous design of the reaction apparatus and careful selection of source materials, substrate‐confined SVD in a tube furnace is explored to grow single crystals of CAM in hexagonal shapes. Additionally, the orientation preference of the (202) facet is revealed, corresponding to the 2D arrangement of the H‐bonded network, of single‐crystalline plates on surfaces using selected area electron diffraction and X‐ray diffraction techniques. By employing atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for topography characterization, a mechanism of three‐stage step‐growth crystallization is proposed, including nucleation, in‐plane expansion, and out‐of‐plane growth. Furthermore, it is found that the interactions among melamine molecules in CAM synthesized via SVD are more intense compared to those in CAM synthesized via water‐based methods, as evidenced by infrared and photoluminescent spectra studies. Subsequent nanoindentation tests on the (202) facet of CAM single‐crystalline plates reveals a reduced modulus and hardness of 12.8 and 0.82 GPa, respectively. This methodology addresses the longstanding challenge of synthesizing hexagonal CAM single crystals and provides valuable insights for the fabrication of functional organic crystalline materials.

Effect of process parameter on the flowability of nanocrystalline CoNiCrAlY powder synthesized by mechanical milling

The present study concerns understanding the effect of process parameters on the characteristics and flowability of nanocrystalline CoNiCrAlY powder synthesized by mechanical milling. Mechanical milling has been conducted in a planetary ball mill with tungsten carbide (WC) ball, with ball to powder ratio of 10:1 at 300 rpm speed, using 1% stearic acid and toluene as process control agent (PCA) with time varying from 10 h to 36 h. The synthesized nanocrystalline powder were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction technique, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Subsequently, flowability in terms of Hausner ratio was assessed by Tap Density Tester. Average particle size of the powder was found to decrease from 33 μm to 22 μm after 10 h of milling and further increases to 43 μm and 38 μm after 25 and 36 h of milling, respectively, in stearic acid medium. However, in toluene medium particle size continuously decreases from 33 μm to 9.7 μm with increasing milling time. The particle morphology changes from spherical to platelet shape at low milling hours in both of the media. After 25 h of milling, the shape of the particles is nearly spherical for stearic acid and irregular for toluene used as a PCA. Crystallize size was found to decrease with increasing milling time from 147 nm to 7.7 nm and to 6.4 nm in stearic acid and toluene media, respectively. There was presence of γ, γʹ, β, hcp-Co, Al2O3 and AlOOH phases on the powder particles milled in both the medium. The measured Hausner ratio of the powders was found to vary from 1.18 to 1.32 in stearic acid medium, and was found to increase with increasing milling time. On the other hand, in toluene media flowability decreases (Hausner ratio increases from 1.33 to 1.44) with increasing milling time.

In situ preparation, structures, photoluminescence and semiconductor properties of two novel cadmium compounds

Two novel cadmium compounds (me2-4,4'-H2bipy)9[(CdCl3)-HCl-(CdCl3)](CdCl3)4(CdCl4)6 (1) and (me2-4,4'-H2bipy)9[(CdCl3)-HCl-(CdCl3)]3[CdCl4(H2O)]6 (2) (me = methyl; 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) have been synthesized through solvothermal reactions and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The me2-4,4'-H2bipy moiety was obtained via in situ reactions. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that both compounds are crystallized in the P 3 ( – ) 1 c space group of the hexagonal system and both are characterized by a 0-D isolated structure. Powder photoluminescent characterization reveals that compounds 1 and 2 show an emission in the blue or red region of the spectrum. Compounds 1 and 2 possess wide energy band gaps of 3.49 and 5.01 eV as found by the solid-state UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum.

Wear Resistance Behavior of Low-, Mid-, and High-Phosphorus Electroless Ni-P Coatings Heat-Treated in the Air Environment

The high-temperature heat treatment of electroless nickel–phosphorus (Ni-P) coatings in an air environment, and its consequences have scarcely been investigated. This work investigated tribological characteristics of the high-temperature, heat-treated, electroless Ni-P coatings on steel substrates with low-, mid-, and high-phosphorus content for which the average phosphorus content was 2.4 wt.%, 7.1 wt.%, and 10.3 wt.%, respectively. X-ray fluorescence and energy dispersive spectroscopy were implemented to determine the phosphorus content of the coatings. The oxidation of Ni and the formation of the NiO layer on the coating surface was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction technique. A reciprocating sliding method on a ball-on-flat system was utilized to evaluate the coating’s friction and wear behavior. Among the coatings with varying phosphorus content, a high hardness of 1086 HV was found for high-phosphorus coating when heat-treated at 400 °C in an air environment, and that was decreased to 691 HV when heat-treated at 650 °C. The oxidation of nickel in the electroless Ni-P coating occurred when heat-treated at 400 °C in an air environment, and this phenomenon was increased more when the temperature was increased to 650 °C. The characteristics of the NiO layer that formed on the surface of the heat-treated electroless Ni-P coating were influenced by the concentration of phosphorus, which caused different colors of NiO to be seen on the Ni-P coating surface. A greenish black NiO layer on the low-phosphorus and black NiO layer on the mid- and high-phosphorus Ni-P coating was developed during heat treatment at 650 °C in an air atmosphere. The adhesion and tribological characteristics of the Ni-P coatings were affected by the NiO layer developed on the heat-treated Ni-P coating surfaces. The Ni-P coatings with mid- and high-phosphorus content showed enhanced wear-resistance characteristics when they underwent heat treatment in an air atmosphere at the high temperature of 650 °C. The wear volume obtained for as-plated mid-phosphorus and high-phosphorus Ni-P coatings was 0.111 mm3 and 0.128 mm3, respectively, and that was reduced to 0.031 mm3 and 0.051 mm3, respectively, after the high-temperature heat treatment.

Improving the optical and dielectric characteristics of PVA/PVP/PEG/ZnWO4/CdS blends

This work aims to create novel nanocomposite blended polymers by incorporating (1−x)ZnWO4-xCdS into poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend to employ these nanocomposites in various optoelectronic applications. This study focused on investigating the structural, optical and electrical features of PVA/PVP/PEG/(1−x)ZnMn2O4-xCdS blends. The x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope techniques were used to explore the structure and morphology of the formed samples. The structure and percentages of ZnWO4 and CdS in different fillers were performed using Rietveld method. The doped blends exhibited significant absorption of UVA and UVB types. The greatest amounts of absorption were observed when the filler contained 25 % CdS. The direct and indirect optical band gaps of the doped blend became 5.02 and (1.88, 2.37) eV as the amount of CdS became 25 % in the filler sample. The refractive index, optical dielectric constant, optical conductivity, and nonlinear optical parameters are affected by the amount of CdS in the fillers. The fluorescence spectra for the blends affected by the excitation wavelength and amount of CdS in the filler. The maximum energy density of the doped blend was reached when the amount of CdS in the filler reached 25 %. The purities of emitted color in the undoped blend are 83 % and 74 % under excitation wavelengths of 317 nm and 380 nm. The purity of the blend experienced a slight change when loaded with filler samples. As the ZnWO4 doping of the PVA/PVP/PEG blended polymer rose, its electrical dielectric constant and ac conductivity first enhanced and then irregularly declined as the filler's CdS content rose. Incorporating (1−x)ZnWO4-xCdS into the nanocomposite enhanced their optical and electrical properties, making them a potential material for flexible optoelectronic and energy storage uses.

Tailored Ni‐Zn‐Cu ferrite/EPDM nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization, and multifaceted properties for mechanical and electrical applications

AbstractIn this study, we prepared Ni‐Zn‐Cu Fe2O4 ferrite/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. First, Ni‐Zn‐Cu Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized with a tailored composition of NiZn(0.3)Cu(0.2)Fe2O4(2). Subsequently, these nanoparticles were incorporated into the EPDM rubber matrix through a two‐roll mixing mill. Scanning electron microscopy and x‐rays diffraction techniques were used to explore their morphology and structure. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify metal‐oxygen bonds in the nanoparticles and their incorporation in the nanocomposites. Similarly, curing properties, including optimum cure time, scorch time, and torque profiles, were evaluated using a moving die rheometer. While, mechanical properties of these composites, such as tensile strength and Young's modulus, were determined with a universal testing machine. Tensile strength improved from 0.11 MPa to 0.22 MPa (100% increase), whereas, the Young's modulus increased from 0.03 MPa to 0.052 MPa (86% increase). Additionally, we investigated the dielectric properties of these nanocomposites, encompassing permittivity, resistivity, and dielectric constant, using a dielectric properties analyzer. Our findings revealed a significant reduction in dielectric resistivity of nanocomposites (from 33.2 GΩ to 23.38 GΩ) upon the introduction of Ni‐Zn‐Cu Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles, indicating the formation of a continuous nanofiller network within the EPDM matrix. Interestingly, as the nanofiller loading increased, both dielectric permittivity and dielectric constant exhibited a gradual rise. The permittivity value increased from 2.31 to 2.39 (Fm−1), while the dielectric constant increased from 0.0091 to 0.0179.Highlights Synthesized Ni‐Zn‐Cu Fe2O4; tuned composition NiZn(0.3)Cu(0.2)Fe2O4(2). Integrated ferrite into EPDM; optimized mixing for enhanced properties. Employed SEM, XRD, and FTIR; revealed morphology, structure, and bonding. Evaluated curing using MDR; unveiled optimal time and torque profiles. Explored dielectric properties; demonstrated reduced resistivity, heightened permittivity.

UV-Irradiation Effects on the Structural, Optical and Electrical Characteristics of Soft Blended Polymeric Materials Loaded with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)

Undoped and doped polyvinylpyrrolidone/carboxy-methyl cellulose/zinc sulfide/nickel oxide (PVP/CMC/ZnS/NiO) nanocomposite blends with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using sol-gel and solid-state reactions and casting techniques. Various blends were formed and their composition and morphologies were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The structures of the nano-fillers were examined using the XRD technique. The influence of the concentrations of MWCNTs on the linear and nonlinear optical parameters of PVP/CMC/ZnS/NiO nanocomposite blends was examined. The optical band gap energies were decreased from (direct, indirect: 5.31, 5.06) eV for undoped blends to 4.38 and 3.34 eV for the blends doped with the highest concentration of MWCNTs (0.15 wt%). The refractive indices of the various blends were calculated based on the obtained optical band gap energies using various models. The effect of MWCNTs concentrations on the dielectric constants, energy density, electric modulus and ac conductivity at room temperature of the PVP/CMC/0.5ZnS-0.5NiO/x wt% MWCNTs samples were explored using an Inductance, L, Capacitance, C, and Resistance, R (LCR) meter bridge.