Energy Dispersive Spectrometer Analysis Research Articles

Coronal Cementum and Reduced Enamel Epithelium on Occlusal Surface of Impacted Wisdom Tooth in a Human

Background: There is only limited research on the coronal cementum of a tooth, and the mechanisms of its forming process are not well-defined. This report presents a coronal cementum on the occlusal surfaces of enamel in an impacted wisdom tooth in a human, which is not nearly the cervical portion. Materials and Methods: The tooth (Tooth #1) was derived from a 46-year-old female. Histological analysis, including hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and toluidine blue (TB) staining, and Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analysis of the extracted tooth were conducted. Radiographic examination showed that Tooth #1 was horizontally impacted in the maxilla and had the apex of a single root placed between the buccal and palatal roots of Tooth #2. Results: Coronal cementum was distributed widely on the enamel, and reduced enamel epithelium was also found with enamel matrix proteins histologically. The formation of acellular cementum was observed to be more predominant than that of the cellular cementum in Tooth #1. SEM showed that the occlusal cementum connected directly with enamel. Calcium mapping revealed an almost similar occlusal cementum and enamel. In addition, the spectrum of elements in coronal cementum resembled the primary cementum according to SEM-EDS. Discussion: Thus, coronal cementogenesis in impacted human teeth might be related to the existence of reduced enamel epithelium.

Optimization of sodium-ion battery cathode performance by nickel-based Prussian blue epitaxial growth with iron-based Prussian blue core-shell structure

To address the structural defects and poor electrical conductivity of conventional Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) samples, in this study, nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) and nickel hexacyanoferrate epitaxially grown with iron hexacyanoferrate (Ni@FeHCF-X) series of samples were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation combined with epitaxial growth technique, and their structural and electrochemical properties were systematically characterized. X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD) results show that all the samples maintain a cubic crystal system structure, and the diffraction peaks of the (220) and (400) crystal planes are shifted to a lower angle with the epitaxial growth of ferric hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF). The successful embedding of Fe was confirmed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) measurement data. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the samples are in a cubic morphology, and the surfaces gradually become rounded from sharp to rounded with the increase of the Fe content. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analyses confirm the successful construction of the core-shell structure and the homogeneous distribution of the elements. Electrochemical testing showed that the Ni@FeHCF-X samples exhibited higher specific capacities and superior rate performance compared to NiHCF, particularly the Ni@FeHCF-4 sample, which delivered a high specific capacity of 73.4 mAh·g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA·g⁻¹, significantly outperforming the 38.2 mAh·g⁻¹ achieved by NiHCF. Additionally, the capacity retention rate of Ni@FeHCF-4 reached 42.16 %. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further confirmed the reduced charge transfer resistance and enhanced reversibility of the electrochemical reactions in the Ni@FeHCF-X samples. These results demonstrate that Ni@FeHCF-4 significantly enhances the electrochemical performance of the samples in aqueous sodium-ion battery, providing new insights into the design of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

New evidence of syn-eruptive magma-carbonate interaction: the case study of the Pomici di Avellino eruption at Somma-Vesuvius (Italy)

Calcareous lithics are commonly found within the products of some explosive eruptions of Somma-Vesuvius. The pumice fragments from the final phase of the Plinian fallout event of the Pomici di Avellino eruption contain abundant calcareous xenoliths. Previous work on that eruption, including numerical simulations, suggested that the release of CO2 from the entrapment of carbonates may have prolonged the magmatic phase of the eruption by maintaining sufficient driving pressure in the feeding dike. The texture and thermo-metamorphic reactions of carbonate xenolith-bearing pumice fragments of the Pomici di Avellino eruption are analyzed through petrography, scanning electron microscope images, energy dispersive spectrometer analyses, and micro-computed X-ray tomography to deduce the behavior of short-term carbonate-magma interaction and its contribution to the eruption dynamics. Results show that calcareous xenoliths experienced short-term magma-carbonate interaction, which took place in three steps: (i) entrainment, i.e., the mechanical process of carbonate xenoliths entrapment into a magma; (ii) decarbonation, related to high-temperature decomposition reaction of the xenoliths; and (iii) digestion or dissolution of the incorporated calcareous xenoliths into the melt with diffusion of Ca and Mg. The CO2 released during the syn-eruptive decarbonation process thus provided extra volatiles to the rising magma, which may have maintained magma buoyancy longer than expected if only magmatic volatiles were involved in the eruption.

Rapid Identification of Greigite in Lacustrine Sediments Using SIRM/χ and χARM: Insights From the Cuo E Core, Tibetan Plateau, China

AbstractThe Cuo E (CE) core contains the entire Quaternary stratigraphy of the CE Lake (31°24′–31°.32′ N, 91°28′–91°33′E, Tibetan Plateau, China). Here, we study the magnetic properties of 1,748 samples from the CE core, combined with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray energy dispersive spectrometer analysis on selected samples. The main magnetic minerals appear to be magnetite and greigite. To further quantify the presence of greigite in CE core, 84 samples were analyzed using rock magnetism in more detail including: susceptibility (χ) versus temperature, coercivity component analysis of acquisition curves of the isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), and principal component analysis of the first‐order reversal curve (FORC) diagrams. The greigite content and saturation IRM over susceptibility (SIRM/χ) appear to be exponentially related. SIRM/χ can be used as greigite concentration indicator. We also propose a rapid way to identify greigite in the CE core: When SIRM/χ increases and anhysteretic remanent susceptibility (χARM) increases only slowly, the sample contains greigite. Samples with SIRM/χ < 15 kA/m also follow this relation. This greigite detection method has a lower limit of detection than the traditionally used SIRM/χ parameter. It is also faster than FORC analysis and thus particularly suitable for analysis of large sample collections. Twenty greigite‐bearing layers were identified in the CE core using this method. The location of the Jaramillo subchron in the CE core is controversial in the currently available magnetostratigraphy, possibly related to the presence of greigite in this core interval.

Effects of different valence of starting oxides on the structure and properties of Co-Mn-Fe-Zn-Ni-O high-entropy ceramics

In this work, using different manganese sources, Co-Mn-Fe-Zn-Ni-O high-entropy ceramics (HECs) were synthesized via the solid-phase method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed that the HECs consist of rock salt and spinel phases, and the choice of raw materials has a great influence on the phase composition and lattice distortion of HECs. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analyses showed that the HECs have dense microstructures, with the major elements conforming to iso-atomic ratios. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy data showed that Mn3+ ions with Jahn-Teller effects distort the [MnO6] octahedra, affecting the electrical properties and aging stability of the material. The room-temperature resistivity of the HEC systems ranged from 20.81 kΩ cm to 35.43 kΩ cm, and the B25/50 resistivity values varied between 4037 K and 4048 K. The resistance drift was observed to be less than 0.70 % after aging at 125 °C for 1000 h. Impedance analyses suggested that the electrical properties of the high-entropy ceramics can be modulated by tailoring the grain size and grain boundary morphology. Selecting suitable raw materials based on valence-induced effects and the tendency of ions to occupy specific sites offers new insights into the design and synthesis of tailor-made high-entropy NTC ceramics.

Improved stabilization of loess soil using magnesium oxysulfate cement-based ecological composite binder

The technology of loess solidification plays a crucial role in addressing issues such as soil erosion, with the key material in this process being the loess stabilizer. To tackle the high energy consumption problem associated with traditional loess stabilizers primarily composed of Portland cement, this study employed a more ecological sustainable alternative by incorporating solid waste coal gangue and magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement as a binding agent for consolidating loess. The alterations in bulk density, porosity, mineral structure, and microstructure of the consolidated soil with different MOS content were systematically investigated and validated. The pore size of MOS-solidified loess decreased significantly to a range of 0.04–3.60 μm compared to 0.80–3.88 μm for pure loess. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analysis revealed that the addition of MOS binder generated hydrated magnesium silicate (M-S-H), Mg(OH)2, and a small amount of 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7H2O phase which filled the gaps between soil particles and bonded them together effectively. When the proportion of MOS binder added reached 11 %, the compressive strength of stabilized loess after curing for 28 days increased up to 9.4 MPa. After immersion in water for 24 h, the strength only decreased by 5.3 %, with a softening coefficient of 94.7 %. The test results consistently indicate that the enhancement in mechanical properties can be attributed to the binding effect facilitated by MOS. The ecological composite binder based on coal gangue and MOS demonstrates great potential in the field of soil stabilization.

Preparation and Magnetic Properties of Low-Loss Soft Magnetic Composites Using MgO-Phenolic Resin Coating.

Optimizing the interface between a magnetic powder matrix and an oxide-insulating layer is an effective method to improve the permeability and lower eddy current loss of iron-based soft magnetic composites. In this study, in order to improve the bonding strength of the substrate and insulation layer, soft magnetic composites were prepared by pressing and heat treating with reduced iron powder as a magnetic matrix, high-temperature MgO nanoparticles as insulating coating, and phenolic resin as an adhesive. The effects of MgO content on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the composites were investigated. The results of a scanning electron microscopy and an energy-dispersive spectrometer analysis corroborate that the results obtained regarding the frequency characteristics and the resistivity of the iron powder agree with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis and confirm their improvement by the presence of an insulating layer of MgO. The resistivity of the sample coated with 4 wt.% MgO is nearly 45 times higher than that of the uncoated sample under the same conditions. The MgO-insulating film formed on the surface of iron powder makes the coated sample have low effective grain size, high resistivity, and low magnetic loss at a high frequency. At 1 kHz, the magnetic loss of the 4 wt.% MgO-coated sample is reduced by 77.3%, and the magnetic loss is only 5.8% compared with the uncoated sample at 50 kHz. This magnetic loss separation study shows that the addition of MgO insulation material can effectively reduce the eddy current loss of the magnetic powder core. The 4 wt.% MgO-coated sample has the lowest hysteresis loss factor and relatively low eddy current loss factor, so it can be determined that the addition of 4 wt.% MgO is the optimum content to attain a low magnetic loss.

Solvothermal preparation of CuO/g-C3N4 and photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin

Composite materials CuO/g-C3N4 (CuOCN) were prepared using a solvothermal method to investigate their degradation effect on ciprofloxacin (CIP). The materials were characterized through X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry (DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The toxicity of degradation products of CIP was assessed through antibacterial experiments, and the degradation mechanism of CIP was investigated using quenching agent capture and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The results of XRD and FTIR indicate that the CuOCN composite has been successfully synthesized. The photocatalytic experiment shows that adding 15% (w/w) of Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3 in melamine (CuOCN2) has a relatively good degradation effect on CIP and can be reused multiple times. The TEM results indicate that both CuO and g-C3N4 have a layered structure and are attached together. HRTEM analysis reveals that the two components in CuOCN2 are arranged in a layered structure, with CuO displaying two crystal planes. Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analysis reveals that the proportion of CuO in the three composite materials is 7.86% (w/w), 15.93% (w/w), and 84.83% (w/w), respectively. DRS detection reveals that the greater the amount of CuO added, the broader the visible light absorption range of the composite material, and the narrower the bandgap width. The photocurrent and photoresistance indicate that CuOCN2 exhibits a good photoelectric effect. XPS analysis shows that the CuOCN2 composite material possesses both the chemical composition and structure of CuO and g-C3N4. During the catalytic degradation process of CIP, four active substances, h+, e−, ·O2 −, and ·OH, were produced, leading to a reduction in the toxicity of the degradation products. Through HPLC-MS analysis, it was found that CIP undergoes reactions such as defluorination, ring opening of piperazine, and quinolone during degradation, resulting in reduced toxicity. This study provides an experimental basis for the degradation of CIP by CuOCN2.

Analyzing the synergistic effects of hard ceramic TiB2 and rare earth oxide La2O3 on mechanical behaviour, wear resistance, and residual stress of AA6061-T6 hybrid composite fabricated via ultrasonic-assisted stir casting

This investigation involves the fabrication of an aluminium metal matrix composite using AA6061-T6 alloy as the matrix, incorporating 2 wt% of hard ceramic (TiB2, 14 μm particle size) and 0.5 wt% of rare earth oxide (La2O3, 40–50 nm particle size) reinforcement powders through ultrasonic assisted stir casting. The study examines the microstructure, residual stress, and mechanical properties alongside performing pin-on-disk wear tests. Taguchi's optimization and ANOVA are used to optimize the wear rate of the composite using three control parameters: Load, Sliding Distance, and Sliding Speed. Results from optical micrography and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis confirm the uniform distribution of TiB2 and La2O3 particles within the AA6061-T6 volume when ultrasonic stirring is employed. The composite's microhardness is found to increase by 25.15 %, and its tensile strength by 31.32 % compared to the base alloy due to a higher dislocation density. ANOVA highlights Load as the primary influencer, contributing 69.54 %, followed by Sliding Distance (17.45 %) and Sliding Speed (12.56 %). The optimal parameters for minimizing wear rate are found to be Load (20 N), Sliding Distance (1500 m), and Sliding Speed (2.5 m/s). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of worn surfaces reveal various mechanisms such as abrasion, delamination, and adhesion, with abrasion being the dominant mechanism. Residual stress increases with the addition of TiB2 and La2O3 particles in the matrix, showing transitions from tensile to compressive stress from the inner to the outer surface of the composite casting.

Evaluation of the performance of air micro-nano bubbles for cleaning in place to reduce the reverse osmosis membrane clogging

This paper investigates the effect of air micro-nano bubbles (AMNBs) on increasing the efficiency of the cleaning in place (CIP) process for reverse osmosis (RO) systems used in petrochemical industries. A membrane from the desalination unit was extracted as the test section over which surface have been formed various types of clogging. The test set-up included, a Lab-Scale Plate-and-Frame Module (LSPFD) accompanied by a micro-nano bubble generator. The ratio of permeate flux and salt rejection in four states before CIP, after conventional CIP, after treatment with AMNBs, and after the conventional CIP along with AMNBs were recorded as 24.4, 26.9, 25.1, 27.3 and 68.2, 77.4, 70.1, 81.8 %, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS) analysis clearly show a notable reduction in clogging on the membrane when AMNBs are employed. Therefore, cleaning intervals of the industrial RO membranes increase resulting in the extension of their life-span.

Surface Functionalization of Bamboo via Photo-Grafting Tannic Acid for Enhanced Silver Ion Loading Properties.

Photo-grafting is a gentle, simple, and precise approach to incorporating specific functional molecules for the surface functionalization of substrates. In this work, ultraviolet (UV)-induced tannic acid (TA) grafting onto the surface of bamboo was proposed as a viable strategy for functionalizing bamboo. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) clearly indicated that TA was successfully introduced to the bamboo's surface. The optimal conditions for the grafting reaction were determined to be 15 mM Methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate (BB), 30 mM TA, 20 min, and a pH = 8. Under these conditions, the amount of TA grafted onto the bamboo's surface was measured to be 19.98 μg/cm2. Results from Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analyses showed that the silver ion loading capacity of tannic acid-grafted bamboo was significantly improved compared to that of raw bamboo and tannic acid-impregnated bamboo. Furthermore, the presence of TA grafted on the bamboo's surface exhibited a positive correlation with the loading of silver ions, indicating that grafted TA plays an important role in the surface functionalization of bamboo. We believe that photo-grafted TA may help generate multifunctional bamboo with diverse properties.

Characterizations and solubility profile of novel senary SiO2–CaO–Na2O–P2O5–CaF2–SrO glass structure modified with Nb2O5

The solubility/degradability of bioactive glasses play crucial role in bone tissue engineering applications owing to the release of ions from their structure, which exert therapeutic effects on tissues. The present study evaluates the findings of a detailed investigation on the main features and solubility behaviors of newly formulated Nb incorporated glasses (Nb-BGs). New glass formulation in SiO2–CaO–Na2O–P2O5–CaF2–SrO–xNb2O5 (x: 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mol. %) system was successfully synthesized by melt-quenching technique. Glass composition was verified with Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer analysis and its amorphous nature, functional groups of the matrix and morphological features were identified via X-Ray diffraction analyses, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, respectively. Network connectivity (NC) of the Nb-BGs was assessed with respect to the role of Nb2O5 in the glass matrix as network former, modifier, or both. In order to evaluate the in vitro solubility of Nb-BGs, released concentrations of particular ions from the glass compositions were determined at certain time points and comprehensively discussed with several mathematical models such as zero-order, first-order, second-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas for the first time. Results showed that the incorporation of Nb2O5 (up to 1.5 mol. %) increased the density, oxygen density as well as NC values of newly formulated glasses. Si, Na and Ca ions which play a main role in well-defined Hench's mechanism followed mostly second-order release kinetics for all glasses in the mathematical models studied. When the Nb content increase (to 1.5 mol. %) in glass composition, the release mechanism of Si ion according to Korsmeyer-Peppas model shifts from the diffusion mechanism to an erosion-dominant release mechanism.

Chemometrics as a tool for monitoring corrosion degradation of the selected alloys in real conditions

AbstractMonitoring of the corrosion process of alloys in real conditions often results in extensive data, which is characterized by complex interdependence, but by a large degree of mutual deviation. First of all, the large dispersion of the obtained results makes it very difficult to draw accurate conclusions about the real influence of the tested parameters on the corrosion behavior of alloys. On the other hand, in many cases, the high interdependence between the corrosion factors can also greatly burden the analyzed system and thus make it significantly difficult to recognize the main influence. Multivariate analysis, especially the principal component analysis, is becoming increasingly popular in processing of this type of data, due to its ability to recognize and eliminate redundant data. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of using multivariate analysis methods in the processing of the corrosion test results obtained under real conditions. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that used multivariate method in combination with energy dispersive spectrometer analysis can be successfully used to identify the most important corrosion factors (type of corrosion environment, exposure time and technological production processes), as well as their influence on the degradation of the tested TiNi alloys under the given conditions.

The interactive force between fat, oil, and grease (FOG) deposits and the effect of food waste disposers on kitchen drainage systems

Food waste disposers (FWDs) streamline kitchen waste management and facilitate waste classification, whether they would increase the potential of blockage in kitchen drainage system is still unknown. This study conducted a theoretical analysis of the interactive forces between fat, oil, and grease (FOG) deposits and their aggregation on pipe walls. The study involved grading food waste particles processed by FWDs using sieving and weighing techniques to determine the mean weight diameter (MWD) of various aggregations. A full-scale experimental system, implemented in a 60-m high test tower, simulated blockages in horizontal pipes of high-rise buildings. The effect of pipeline materials and particle sizes on blockage were examined by measuring the adhesion of deposits on horizontal pipes. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis suggested that liquid bridge force is a primary factor in aggregate formation. Hand-cut particles formed aggregates with the highest MWD value. Particle size analysis revealed that sizes ranging from 2.36 to 4.75 mm, 1.18–2.36 mm, and 0.60–1.18 mm constituted over 80 % of particles ground by FWDs, with an average size of 2.16 mm. Results of full-scale experiment indicate particle diameters, friction coefficients and lipophilic coefficient significantly affected the propensity of these aggregates to adhere to pipes. Notably, particles processed by FWDs tended to cause blockages more frequently than hand-cut particles. These findings elucidate the deposition mechanism of FOG deposits and offer strategies to reduce blockages in kitchen drainage systems, such as reducing current grinding particle size by 18 % to 1.77 mm or selecting pipes like cast iron and high-density polyethylene.

High-temperature oxidation resistance behavior and mechanism of HfSiO4-modified C/SiC composites

To enhance the oxidation resistance of C/SiC composites, HfSiO4 was introduced into C/SiC composites to modify the matrix utilizing two cyclic alternating preparation modes, thereby yielding the C/SiC-HfSiO4 composites with a composite matrix. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), a comprehensive investigation was conducted into the oxidation behavior and mechanism of the prepared composites. Results reveal that the C/SiC-HfSiO4 composites prepared using cyclic alternating preparation modes display the reduced oxidation mass loss and enhanced retention of flexural strength, despite of having higher porosity. In short, the introducing of HfSiO4 can effectively improve the oxidation resistance of C/SiC composites. The effects of the matrix particle refinement and the synergy between the HfSiO4 and SiO2 jointly lead to the enhanced oxidation resistance.

Investigation of dual work function metal (DWFM) gate stacks with ALD TaAlN and TaAlC for multi threshold voltages (VTHs) engineering in MOS device integration

This study investigates methods to modulate the effective work function (EWF) and control the multiple threshold voltages (VTHs) of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices by applying metal electrodes with different work function materials (WFMs), including a single layer of n-type (TaAlC) and p-type (TaAlN) as well as their stacked structures, through atomic layer deposition (ALD). Dual-Work-Function-Metal (DWFM) gate is a crucial aspect of confirming the feasibility of metal gate stacks in MOS devices for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integration scheme. The gate stack structure of p-Si/IL (Inter layer)/HfO2/DWFM (p/n-type compatible metal stack)/W exhibits good adhesion and even chemical composition distribution, as evidenced by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis. By fabricating MOS capacitors using this WFM structure and extracting EWF from the measured capacitance-voltage (C–V) characteristics, EWF values of 4.62 eV and 4.99 eV were identified both before and after annealing using forming gas, indicating pWFM-like properties. These properties are attributed to the strengthened Al–O bonds and reduced CO peaks seen in x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The use of different Ta precursor from Tris(diethylamido)(tert-butylimido)tantalum(V) (TBTDET) as well as TaCl5 resulted in the increase of the EWF following the unique p-WFM like feature. As candidates for WFM electrode in metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with the DWFMs (n/p stacks) were evaluated, resulting in a VTH of 0.84 V that places in the middle of the VTH shift range from 0.6 V (nWFM) to 1.16 V (pWFM), approximately. The DWFMs allow for modulation of the EWF, which in turn reduces ambiguity in addressing replacement metal gate (RMG) challenges and opens up new avenues for achieving multi-VTH solutions in CMOS integration schemes.

Temperature dependent deformation behavior and texture evolution in AA6082 aluminum alloy: An integrated experimental and crystal plasticity simulation approach

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the texture and temperature dependent deformation behavior of the aluminum alloy AA6082. The study is performed using a combination of experimental deformation tests and computational simulations using a crystal plasticity (CP) framework. The primary objective is to identify the critical influence of temperature on local stress states and dislocation density within the material during tensile tests. From an experimental perspective, the study employs ex-situ deformation tests and subsequent electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data in combination with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS) analysis at 200 °C and 400 °C. The experimental EBSD data are adopted, preprocessed and converted into a geometry file for the numerical simulations. On the computational front, a dislocation density-based material model is adopted for CP simulations. The physical and fitting parameters of the model are calculated, adopted from the literature, or calibrated by comparing the global simulation results with experimental stress-strain observations under uniaxial tensile load at room temperature, 200 °C and 400 °C. Empirical functions for solid solution strengthening, dislocation density, fitting parameters controlling mean free path and dislocation annihilation have been derived that can be used to quickly interpolate them for any intermediate temperature. These functions combined with other model parameters can now be used for temperature-dependent CP modeling of AA6082. The isothermal grain-scale simulation and ex-situ experimental results confirmed a noteworthy texture transformation at higher temperatures, characterized by a reduction in the primary Cube orientation and its transition into a Copper orientation due to the stretching process. The correlation between the experimental results and the simulations on macro- and micro-scales is reasonable, indicating the accuracy and effectiveness of the CP approach in predicting the temperature dependent deformation behavior and texture evolution in aluminum alloys.

The analysis of long-time-exposed tars from wood shingles from church roofs and facades in mid-Sweden

ABSTRACT Poor condition of roofs in terms of decay of shingles and loss of tar-based surface treatments has been revealed in a number of churches at various geographical locations in mid-Sweden. The condition of tars obtained from shingles of selected churches in mid-Sweden were analysed and obtained data were compared with geographical locations of the churches. According to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy result, dehydroabietic acid was the dominant compound found in the exposed tars from the churches except in church of Malung where similar amounts of retene was found. Oxidised resin acids were found in exposed tars from the churches but not in commercially available pit burned tar. Tar from church shingles had higher char residues than the pit burned tar which was totally consumed when heated under nitrogen gas up to 750°C using thermogravimetric analysis. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis revealed higher amounts of silicates in some exposed tars; however, these compounds constituted only a minor portion of the organic matter in these specimens. Based on the data obtained in the study other factors rather than simply geographical location of churches seemed to be of importance to explain differences of the investigated properties of the church tars.

Mechanical octacalcium phosphate coatings on the plasma electrolytic oxidized pure titanium for bio-implant use

In this study, OCP powder was used for mechanical coating on the plasma electrolytic oxidized (PEO) implant surface to improve bioactivity. PEO treatment was performed on the surface of the implant using a solution mixed with calcium acetate and calcium glycerophosphate, and creates porosity through a pulsed DC power supply. For compositional analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis was employed to calculate OCP content and X-ray diffractometer analysis was used to confirm the crystal structure. Also, wettability, surface roughness, hardness, elastic modulus, and corrosion resistance testing were performed. Significantly, the reduction in OCP particle size decreased, and pore filling with OCP smaller particles increased as mechanical coating time increased from 0 to 12 h. Surface and cross-sectional morphology showed the presence of OCP on the substrate. Also, surface roughness, contact angles, hardness, and elastic modulus were reduced as mechanical coating time increased. Corrosion resistance was found to be the highest for mechanical OCP coating for 6 h surface treatment on the PEO-treated CW-Ti.

Thermocapillarity transition-induced unconventional thermal behavior and dilution in laser welding of metals with dissimilar sulfur content

An enhanced three-dimensional transient Thermal-Fluid-Dilution model, integrating a sub-model that accounts for surface tension, is proposed to investigate the unconventional thermal behavior and dilution induced by the surface-active element (sulfur) during the laser joining process of 304SS with higher sulfur content and pure nickel with lower sulfur content. Surface tension is modeled as a function dependent on local temperature and the concentration of the surface-active element (sulfur) at the free surface. The temperature and sulfur-dependent surface tension initially generate an unconventional driving force, subsequently leading to the transitions of heat transfer, flow pattern, and species dilution. Specifically, the inclusion of the sulfur effect results in a redistribution of larger surface shear stress along the transition boundary, causing unconventional flow behavior. The temperature coefficient of surface tension (TCST) is the coexistence of TCST (-) and TCST (+), leading to a novel flow pattern with combined inward-outward flows. Moreover, the anomalous flow exhibits observed phenomena such as the rotation of the major axis (RA) and center line shift (CLS) within the melt pool, showing more reasonable simulated melt pool dimensions when accounting for the sulfur effect. Additionally, the dilution model integrated with the unconventional flow pattern presents a more uniform concentration distribution compared to the conventional dilution. Finally, the simulated distribution of alloy elements is validated effectively by experimental data obtained from Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analysis.