Higher Weight Percentage Research Articles

Fixation of Tripotassium Citrate Flame Retardant Using a Sorbitol and Citric Acid Wood-Modification Treatment

Wood modification has been explored in various ways to enhance dimensional stability and reduce flammability, with a focus on environmentally friendly treatments to meet market demands. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of new, potential fire-retardant materials. Specifically, the study examined the combination of tripotassium citrate (TPC), a water-soluble and bio-based fire retardant, with sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA), an eco-friendly thermosetting resin previously studied. While TPC is known to control combustion, its application in wood modification has not been thoroughly researched. To assess the fixation and flammability of these fire retardants, tests were conducted on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), including chemical analysis, dimensional stability, mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and leaching tests. The combination of SorCA and TPC showed high weight percent gain (WPG) values; however, leaching and anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) tests revealed challenges in fixation stability. The dynamic mechanical properties were reduced, whereas the static strength values were in the same range compared with untreated wood. While TPC exhibited high flame retardancy prior to leaching, its efficacy diminished post-leaching, underscoring challenges in fixation and the need for improved retention strategies. Bunsen burner tests conducted on leached specimens indicated enhanced performance even under severe leaching conditions as per the EN 84:2020 procedure. However, cone calorimetry measurements showed less favorable outcomes, emphasizing the necessity for further investigation into optimizing TPC retention and enhancing treatment efficacy.

Structural, optical, and shielding investigation of PVA/Te composite for technological applications

Using the casting process, polymeric films made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) including varying percentages of Te were created to form PVA/Te composite at doping concentrations of Te (0, 4.76, 13.04, 20 wt %), which denoted as PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 respectively. XRD results show semicrystalline nature in PT1 and PT2 however with further increasing of Te contents, a nano-crystallite Te appeared in PT3 and PT4. The absorption spectrum confirms that PT3 film is a good option to be used in UV-shielding. PT4 film shows an abrupt rise in absorption coefficient at 0.5 eV, 1.5 eV and UV regions, hence this qualifies this sample for various optical applications. The optical energy gap of the films varies between 4.94 eV and 3.32 eV for the indirect transitions and between 5.3 eV and 4.5 eV for the direct transitions, the PT4 film has the lowest values of both direct and indirect energy gaps. Several methods were used to measure the average refractive index nav value. Furthermore, the nonlinear refractive index (n2) was estimated. PT4 possesses the highest value of both nav and n2. Furthermore, the radiation shielding coefficients have been estimated according to the Phy-X/PSD online software. The sample with the highest Te concentration, PT4, has the best radiation shielding between the films under investigation. The investigated polymer with high Te weight percentage is an optical system that can be used for solar cells, optoelectronics, electronics, nonlinear optics, optical filters and for radiation shielding.

(Invited) A Study of the SEI Layer Cross-Talk in Si/C Composite Li-Ion Anodes

Composite electrodes, especially silicon/carbon (Si/C) anodes, present significant opportunities for advancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, challenges emerge, particularly in performance metrics when a high weight percentage of Si beyond 8-10 wt.% is employed 1. A nuanced understanding of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in Si/C composites is imperative to overcome these limitations and enhance energy density. Conventional techniques such as ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cryogenic electron microscopy face inherent drawbacks, including exposure to ultrahigh vacuum and the need for solvent washing, potentially altering the SEI layer 2. In contrast, nano-FTIR, utilizing Fourier transform infrared near-field spectroscopy, overcomes these challenges, enabling non-destructive probing of the SEI layer's chemistry and structure at room temperature within an inert atmosphere 3–5.In this study, we engineer custom-patterned electrodes featuring amorphous Si on atomically flat highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) to emulate model composite electrodes. Leveraging nano-FTIR spectroscopy, near-field nanoscale white-light imaging, and atomic force microscopy measurements, our investigation reveals that the SEI on HOPG is enriched in organic lithium ethylene decarbonate (LiEDC), while the SEI on lithiated silicon unveils the presence of inorganic Li2CO3. Notably, we unveil a unique "mixed" SEI layer zone at the Si/HOPG interface, comprising a mixture of dominant SEI species from the surfaces of both the lithiated Si and the HOPG. The coexistence of these species suggests the formation of an SEI layer with presumably unique physicochemical properties, forming along Si-C interfaces in Si/C composite electrodes. These findings provide a comprehensive approach to studying model composite electrodes and offer valuable insights into optimizing the surface passivation of Si/C composite electrodes for high-performance LIBs. Acknowledgments This research was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Vehicle Technologies Office under the Silicon Consortium Project directed by Brian Cunningham and managed by Anthony Burrell. References V. G. Khomenko and V. Z. Barsukov, Electrochim Acta, 52, 2829–2840 (2007).J. Wu, M. Ihsan-Ul-Haq, Y. Chen, and J. K. Kim, Nano Energy, 89, 106489 (2021).X. He, J. M. Larson, H. A. Bechtel, and R. Kostecki, Nat Commun, 13, 1398 (2022).I. Yoon, J. M. Larson, and R. Kostecki, ACS Nano, 17, 6943–6954 (2023).A. Dopilka, Y. Gu, J. M. Larson, V. Zorba, and R. Kostecki, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 15, 6755–6767 (2023).

Dual role of two-dimensional graphene in silica aerogel composite: Thermal resistance and heat node

Incorporating two-dimensional graphene sheets, known for their high in-plane thermal conductivity, into silica aerogel enhances both the thermal insulation and mechanical properties of the composite. This work delves into the impact of graphene doping on the solid thermal conductivity of silica composites and their mechanical characteristics, employing molecular dynamics simulations that encompass both amorphous silica bulk and porous silica aerogel structures. Our findings reveal that graphene–silica interface thermal resistance notably restricts heat conduction in graphene doped silica aerogel, with the most pronounced effect occurring when graphene aligns vertically with the heat flux. Within porous silica aerogel, graphene serves as a “heat node”, bridging and connecting adjacent pores. A notable “trade-off” emerges: high weight percentages of graphene sheets augment heat transfer through the “heat node effect”, whereas the interfacial thermal resistance between graphene and aerogel reduces solid heat transfer, leading to decreased thermal conductivity. Additionally, while the inclusion of graphene sheets offers limited mechanical property enhancements, their two-dimensional structure can cause detachment and slipping from the silica matrix, leading to localized improvements in mechanical strength. This work sets the stage for advancing graphene-based aerogel composites characterized by low thermal conductivity and enhanced mechanical properties.

Verification of the Self-Healing Ability of PP-co-HUPy Copolymers in Epoxy Systems.

This work concerns the verification of the self-healing ability of PP-co-HUPy copolymers dispersed in epoxy systems. PP is the acronym for the Poly-PEGMA polymer, and HUPy refers to the HEMA-UPy copolymers based on ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) moieties. In particular, this work aims to verify whether this elastomer characterized by an intrinsic self-healing ability can activate supramolecular interactions among polymer chains of an epoxy resin, as in the elastomer alone. The elastomer includes a class of polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether methacrylate-based copolymers, with different percentages of urea-N-2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyl pyrimidine-N'-(hexamethylene-n-carboxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA-UPy) co-monomers. The self-healing capability of these copolymers based on possible quadruple hydrogen bond interactions between polymer chains has been verified. The formulated epoxy samples did not show self-healing efficiency. This can be attributed to the formation of phase segregation that originates during the curing process of the samples, although the PP-co-HUPy copolymers are completely soluble in the liquid epoxy matrix EP. The morphological investigation highlighted the presence of crystals of PP-co-HUPy copolymers, which are in greater quantity in the sample containing the highest weight percentage (7.8 wt%) of HUPy units. Furthermore, the crystals act as promotors for increasing the curing degree (DC) of the epoxy systems containing HUPy units. DC goes from 91.6% for EP to 96.1% and 95.4% for the samples containing weight percentages of 2.5 and 7.8 wt% of HUPy units, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows storage modulus values for epoxy systems containing PP-co-HUPy units lower than that of the unfilled resin EP. The values of maximum in Tan δ (Tg), representing the temperature at which the glass transition occurs, are 220 for the unfilled resin EP, 228 for the sample containing 2.5 wt% of HEMA-UPy units, and 211 for the sample containing 7.8 wt% of HEMA-UPy units.

3D and 4D Printing of PETG-ABS-Fe3O4 Nanocomposites with Supreme Remotely Driven Magneto-Thermal Shape-Memory Performance.

This study introduces novel PETG-ABS-Fe3O4 nanocomposites that offer impressive 3D- and 4D-printing capabilities. These nanocomposites can be remotely stimulated through the application of a temperature-induced magnetic field. A direct granule-based FDM printer equipped with a pneumatic system to control the output melt flow is utilized to print the composites. This addresses challenges associated with using a high weight percentage of nanoparticles and the lack of control over geometry when producing precise and continuous filaments. SEM results showed that the interface of the matrix was smooth and uniform, and the increase in nanoparticles weakened the interface of the printed layers. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 25.98 MPa for the pure PETG-ABS sample to 26.3 MPa and 27.05 MPa for the 10% and 15% Fe3O4 nanocomposites, respectively. This increase in tensile strength was accompanied by a decrease in elongation from 15.15% to 13.94% and 12.78%. The results of the shape-memory performance reveal that adding iron oxide not only enables indirect and remote recovery but also improves the shape-memory effect. Improving heat transfer and strengthening the elastic component can increase the rate and amount of shape recovery. Nanocomposites containing 20% iron oxide demonstrate superior shape-memory performance when subjected to direct heat stimulation and a magnetic field, despite exhibiting low print quality and poor tensile strength. Smart nanocomposites with magnetic remote-control capabilities provide opportunities for 4D printing in diverse industries, particularly in medicine, where rapid speed and remote control are essential for minimally invasive procedures.

Efficient phosphate and hydrogen recovery from sludge fermentation liquid by sacrificial iron anode in electro-fermentation system

Electro-fermentation (EF) has been extensively studied for recovering hydrogen and phosphorus from waste activated sludge (WAS), while was limited for the further application due to the low hydrogen yield and phosphorus recovery efficiency. This study proposed an efficient strategy for hydrogen and vivianite recovery from the simulated sludge fermentation liquid by sacrificial iron anode in EF. The optimum hydrogen productivity and the utilization efficiency of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) reached 45.2 mmol/g COD and 77.6% at 5 d in pH 8. Phosphate removal efficiency achieved at 90.8% at 2 d and the high crystallinity and weight percentage of vivianite (84.8%) was obtained. The functional microbes, i.e., anaerobic fermentative bacteria, electrochemical active bacteria, homo-acetogens and iron-reducing bacteria were highly enriched and the inherent interaction between the microbial consortia and environmental variables was thoroughly explored. This work may provide a theoretical basis for energy/resource recovery from WAS in the further implementation.

Introducing a nano-scale surface morphology parameter affecting fracture properties of CNT nanocomposites

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) particles and membranes improve interlaminar fracture toughness of nanocomposites. The novelty of this study is to introduce the effect of a new nanoscale parameter - CNT network (bundle) size to interphase thickness ratio - on modes I and II interlaminar fracture toughness of CNT Polymer Nanocomposites (PNCs). This investigation includes the stochastic distribution function of CNT bundle size, interphase thickness, and modes I and II fracture toughness of PNCs based on an extensive experimental study at the nano- and macro-scales. The Atomic Force Microscopy PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanics Mapping technique was used to collect 500 datasets for a low-weight percentage of CNT PNC and 180 datasets for a high-weight percentage of CNT PNC. Each dataset included CNT bundle size and interphase thickness at the nanoscale. Double cantilever beam and end-notched flexure experiments were conducted to collect 600 modes I and II fracture toughness data. Two-, three-, and four-parameter Weibull models were used to simulate the nano- and macro-scale material properties of CNT PNCs. Results indicate that (i) a lower CNT bundle size to interphase thickness ratio improves fracture toughness, and (ii) a four-parameter Weibull model is the most efficient model for simulated data.

Study on mechanical properties of polyurethane mixtures with different fillers combined with industrial problems

This paper mainly introduces the classification of polyurethane mixtures. To produce new polyurethane composites used in manufacturing, the team researched Polyurethane combined with different composites and showed the mechanical properties of the composites on a chart. When reducing-graphene oxide (GO) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes are mixed with polyurethane, the composite can increase Young’s Modulus to 615 MPa and tensile strength to 657 MPa with a weight reduction of 5%. Glass fibre filled with Polyurethane also provides a fairly Young’s Modulus (over 10000 MPa) with a high weight percent up to 20%. How to increase the content of reduced GO and carbon nanotubes in polyurethane filling will be a problem worthy of further exploration.

Effects of Salt Stress on Physiological and Agronomic Traits of Rice Genotypes with Contrasting Salt Tolerance.

Salinity is one of the major constraints to crop production. Rice is a main staple food and is highly sensitive to salinity. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of salt stress on physiological and agronomic traits of rice genotypes with contrasting salt tolerance. Six contrasting rice genotypes (DJWJ, JFX, NSIC, HKN, XD2H and HHZ), including three salt-tolerant and three salt-sensitive rice genotypes, were grown under two different salt concentrations (0 and 100 mmol L-1 NaCl solution). The results showed that growth, physiological and yield-related traits of both salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice were significantly affected by salt stress. In general, plant height, tiller number, dry weight and relative growth rate showed 15.7%, 11.2%, 25.2% and 24.6% more reduction in salt-sensitive rice than in salt-tolerant rice, respectively. On the contrary, antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase), osmotic adjustment substances (proline, soluble protein, malondialdehyde (MDA)) and Na+ content were significantly increased under salt stress, and the increase was far higher in salt-tolerant rice except for MDA. Furthermore, grain yield and yield components significantly decreased under salt stress. Overall, the salt-sensitive rice genotypes showed a 15.3% greater reduction in grain yield, 5.1% reduction in spikelets per panicle, 7.4% reduction in grain-filling percentage and 6.1% reduction in grain weight compared to salt-tolerant genotypes under salt stress. However, a modest gap showed a decline in panicles (22.2% vs. 22.8%) and total spikelets (45.4% vs. 42.1%) between salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice under salinity conditions. This study revealed that the yield advantage of salt-tolerant rice was partially caused by more biomass accumulation, growth rate, strong antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment ability under salt stress, which contributed to more spikelets per panicle, high grain-filling percentage and grain weight. The results of this study could be helpful in understanding the physiological mechanism of contrasting rice genotypes' responses to salt stress and to the breeding of salt-tolerant rice.

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using turnip root (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa) extract and their antibacterial efficacy

Biosynthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), especially those synthesised by plant extracts, are extensively utilised in the fields of pharmacy and medicine due to their ability to exhibit a wide range of biological functions. The current study is focused on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from various concentrated silver nitrate solutions using turnip root extract as a reducing and stabilising agent and to assess the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of these AgNPs. For the study, we employed microwave-assisted reduction to examine the impact of microwave energy on the resulting AgNPs in comparison to the conventional heating method. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the crystalline nature of the as-prepared AgNPs, while field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed the majority of spherical-shaped AgNPs had an average grain size of 47.5 nm. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) indicates the high weight percentage of the produced AgNPs than for extract residue, especially for the AgNPs that are prepared with microwave assistance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to reveal the functional groups that are related to many phytochemical compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which act as reducing and stabilizing agents. High zeta potential measures (−22.77 and −38.83 mv) approved the high stability of the synthesised AgNPs as higher zeta potentials typically correlate with greater stability. The antibacterial activity behaviour of the produced NPs against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria was significantly acceptable for both heating techniques, as observed from the measured inhibition zone.

Sonodegradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water Using Red Mud and Rice Husk Biochar Catalysis

This research evaluated the effectiveness of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic degradation in aqueous solution using red mud and rice husk biochar (RMC) as catalytic material for ultrasound-supported degradation process. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were applied to study the characteristics of the catalytic material. The results demonstrated that the main components of RMC catalytic material are C, O, Si, and Fe elements with high weight percentage of 26.56%, 50.89%, 1.86% and 10.26%, respectively, and with high crystallized mix ratio. These are beneficial for SMX degradation reactions in water under the effect of ultrasound irradiation. The SMX degradation products were analyzed using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effect of pH, contact time, initial concentration, and catalyst weight on degradation effectiveness were also investigated. The highest degradation efficiency of 75% at the treated rate of 15 mg SMX/g RMC was observed at pH = 3, contact time of 180 minutes, initial concentration of 20 mg SMX/L. This suggested a new solution to utilize the waste resources for waste treatment.

(Digital Presentation) Designing New Complex Hydrides Based on Transition Metals for Hydrogen Storage Applications

The widespread implementation of the hydrogen economy demands access to materials with a high weight percentage of hydrogen. Mg-based hydrogen storage alloys have become a research hot-spot in recent years owing to their high hydrogen storage capacity, good reversibility of hydrogen absorption/desorption, low cost, and abundant resources. However, high decomposition temperature of Mg-based hydrideslimits their practical usage. Hydrogen is lightest of all elements, typically it need large volumes or high pressures to store appreciable amount of hydrogen.To overcome these challenges research activities are currently going on metal hydrides and complex hydrides based on transition metal. The main challenges come when endothermic decomposition enthalpy is considered. It becomes difficult to release the hydrogen at ambient thermodynamic conditions. On the other hand, the meta-stable hydrides are characterized by a low reaction enthalpy and a decomposition reaction that is thermodynamically favourable under the ambient conditions. The good kinetics along with evolution of hydrogen around the room temperature possessed by these materials offer much promise for underground storage and it can be used as a grid energy.The present research specifically focus on transition metal based complex hydrides such as NaMgMnH6 and NaMgFeH6 for hydrogen storage and especially predicted the crystal structure of the same using VASP simulation package. ABCX6 and AB2X6 were taken as reference composition A,B,C and X were substituted with Na, Mg, transition metals(Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and H, respectively.From the ICSD database search the corresponding structural variants were considered as trial structure to predict the ground state structure of these newly designed compounds. using the predicted ground state structure for these compounds, important properties like formation energy, hydrogen site energy, partial density of states(pDOS), electron density(ED), Mulliken effective charge(MEC), Bader electron charge(BEC), Born effective charge, ELF and COHP were calculated. the calculated properties of these compounds were compared with the well known reference compounds. We found that both NaMgMnH6 and NaMgFeH6 are stable with negative formation energy and als othey are semiconductors with the band gap value of 0.51eV and 1.01 eV, respectively. from the calculated electronic structure we found that both these materials are having indirect band behaviour. Analysing the electronic density of states, charge density and various charges mentioned above the chemical bonding behaviour was established as iono-covalent in nature. from the force as well as stress minimisation considering 53 structural variants as input the ground state structure, its space group, equilibrium lattice parameters and atom positions are listed. Also from the energy vs. volume curve for the ground state structure, the equilibrium volume, bulk modulus and pressure derivatives were found out. Among NaMgMnH6 and NaMgFeH6 our spin polarised calculation show that NaMgMnH6 is possesing spontaneous magnetic polarisation with substantial magnetic moment at the Mn site. Among the considered paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, as well as A-, C-,and G- antiferromagnetic configurations the G type antiferromagnetic configuration is found to be the ground state for NaMgMnH6.

MXene-Based Current Collectors for Advanced Rechargeable Batteries.

As an indispensable component of rechargeable batteries, the current collector plays a crucial role in supporting the electrode materials and collecting the accumulated electrical energy. However, some key issues, like uneven resources, high weight percentage, electrolyticcorrosion, and high-voltage instability, cannot meet the growing need for rechargeable batteries. In recent years, MXene-based current collectors have achieved considerable achievements due to its unique structure, large surface area, and high conductivity. The related research has increased significantly. Nonetheless, a comprehensive review of this area is seldom. Herein the applications and progress of MXene in current collector are systematically summarized and discussed. Meanwhile, some challenges and future directions are presented.

Influence of nanoparticles concentrations on Cr–C–Al2O3 and Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings electrodeposited from trivalent chromium bath

In the current study, Cr–C–Al2O3 and Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited on copper substrates using a modified trivalent chromium electroplating bath containing 80 nm Al2O3 and 50 nm SiC powder, respectively. The influence of concentrations of Al2O3 and SiC nanoparticles on the coatings’ crystalline structure, surface morphology, hardness, and corrosion behavior were studied. The crystalline structure, composition, and surface morphology of the coatings were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The corrosion resistance test was carried out by the potentiodynamic polarization method. The microhardness was studied via Vickers Microhardness Test. The incorporation of Al2O3 and SiC nanoparticles into the Cr matrix is critical in enhancing microhardness. From the EDX analysis, it was determined that the highest weight percentage (wt%) of Al2O3 and SiC nanoparticles in the Cr–C– Al2O3 and Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings was deposited from the baths containing 40 g/L Al2O3 and SiC, respectively. Moreover, the Cr–C–Al2O3 and Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings achieved the highest hardness values at concentrations of 40 g/L Al2O3 and 10 g/L SiC, respectively. The addition of nanoparticles enhanced the hardness of the coatings by 17% (Cr–C–Al2O3) and 13% (Cr–C–SiC) compared to the as-plated chromium coating. The study highlights the dispersion hardening effect of the nanoparticles, which effectively strengthens the nanocomposite coatings. However, the incorporation of agglomerated nanoparticles formed surface defects, such as microholes and gaps in the coatings, reducing their corrosion resistance. This was evidenced by a shift in corrosion potential (Ecor) towards more negative values and an increase in the corrosion current density (icor). Notably, increasing the Al2O3 concentration increased particle content and microhardness in the Cr–C–Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings, whereas this effect was not observed for Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings. The hardness of the Cr–C–SiC coatings exhibited a decrease as the nanoparticle concentration increased, primarily due to the poor wettability of SiC particles. This led to the agglomeration of particles and the formation of a defective microstructure. In addition, this study presents a novel approach for the electrodeposition of Cr–C–Al2O3 and Cr–C–SiC nanocomposite coatings, effectively incorporating Al2O3 and SiC nanoparticles into the chromium matrix. The investigation of nanoparticle concentrations and their impact on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, hardness, and corrosion resistance provides valuable insights for the development of nanocomposite coatings with enhanced mechanical and protective properties.

Biogenic Nanoparticles Silver and Copper and Their Composites Derived from Marine Alga Ulva lactuca: Insight into the Characterizations, Antibacterial Activity, and Anti-Biofilm Formation.

Bacterial pathogens cause pain and death, add significantly to the expense of healthcare globally, and pose a serious concern in many aspects of daily life. Additionally, they raise significant issues in other industries, including pharmaceuticals, clothing, and food packaging. Due to their unique properties, a great deal of attention has been given to biogenic metal nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and their applications against pathogenic bacteria. This study is focused on biogenic silver and copper nanoparticles and their composites (UL/Ag2 O-NPS, Ul/CuO-NPs, and Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs) produced by the marine green alga Ulva lactuca. The characterization of biogenic nanoparticles UL/Ag2 O-NPS and Ul/CuO-NPs and their composites Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs has been accomplished by FT-IR, SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, and the zeta potential. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) experiments were conducted to prove antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and anti-biofilm. The FTIR spectroscopy results indicate the exiting band at 1633 cm-1, which represents N-H stretching in nanocomposites, with a small shift in both copper and silver nanoparticles, which is responsible for the bio-reduction of nanoparticles. The TEM image reveals that the Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs were hexagonal, and the size distribution ranged from 10 to 35 nm. Meanwhile, Ul/CuO-NPs are rod-shaped, whereas UL/Ag2 O-NPS are spherical. The EDX analysis shows that Cu metal was present in a high weight percentage over Ag in the case of bio-Ag/Cu-NCMs. The X-ray diffraction denotes that Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs, UL/CuO-NPs, and UL/Ag2 O-NPS were crystalline. The results predicted by the zeta potential demonstrate that Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs were more stable than Ul/CuO-NPs. The antibacterial activity of UL/Ag2 O-NPS, Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs, and UL/CuO-NPs was studied against eleven Gram-negative and Gram-positive multidrug-resistant bacterial species. The maximum inhibition zones were obtained with UL/Ag2 O-NPS, followed by Ul/Ag/Cu-NCMs and Ul/CuO-NPs in all the tested bacteria. The maximum anti-biofilm percentage formed by E. coli KY856933 was obtained with UL/Ag2 O-NPS. These findings suggest that the synthesized nanoparticles might be a great alternative for use as an antibacterial agent against different multidrug-resistant bacterial strains.

Advanced properties and failure characteristics of hybrid GFRP-matrix thin laminates modified by micro glass powder filler for hard structure applications

Fiber reinforced polymer has been used in a broad scope of engineering equipment due to its outstanding advantages. This study investigated the effect of glass powder filler in the matrix modification of glass fiber reinforced polymer that can be further applied for hard structures. The composites were manufactured using a vacuum-assisted resin infusion method with 0, 2,5, 5, and 7,5 wt percentages of glass powder filler. The results have shown that adding glass powder filler in glass fiber reinforced polymer modifies the physical characteristics and enhances the mechanical properties compared to the neat composite. The failure mechanism obtained from the fracture surface investigation demonstrates bridging mechanisms formed effect of glass powder filler addition in the glass fiber reinforced polymer. The strengthening mechanism is formed to enhance the interfacial bonding between the fiber and the matrix. The results reveal the optimum filler addition percentage at 2,5 wt%. Adding 2,5 wt% glass powder filler enhances the flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength by 18,86% and 19,54%, respectively. The glass powder addition offers higher resistance to interlaminar damage. Additional glass powder with a higher weight percentage above the threshold induced microvoid and agglomeration phenomenon.

Evaluation of physicochemical and biocompatibility characteristics of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents

The attractive properties of gadolinium-based nanoparticles as a positive contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have piqued the interest of both researchers and clinicians. Nonetheless, due to the biotoxicity of gadolinium (III) ions' free radicals, there is a need to address this issue. Therefore, this research aimed to develop and evaluate of physicochemical and biocompatibility characteristics of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (Gd2O3-NPs) as MRI contrast agents. Whereby, the Gd2O3-NPs were synthesized via sol-gel method at various annealing temperatures of (500 °C−1100 °C). The results showed that the Gd2O3-NPs annealed at a temperature of 1000 °C exhibited prominent physicochemical properties in comparison to other annealing temperatures such as high saturation magnetization, colloidal stability with a highly positive surface charge, high crystallinity percentage, high weight percentage of gadolinium Gd and small energy band gap of 4 eV. Moreover, during the heating process, the complete decomposition of gadolinium hydroxide (Gd(OH)3) resulted in a significant increase in signal intensity in T1-weighted MRI images. The enhanced signal intensity in MRI is caused by structural changes in tissues or the contrast agent, which affect their interaction with the magnetic field, leading to the increased signal due to molecular conformation, aggregation, and mobility influencing T1 relaxation properties. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of Gd2O3-NPs synthesized at 1000 °C was assessed through MTT assay tests on Hep G2 cells, which demonstrated good biocompatibility without any cytotoxic effects. The sol-gel technique shows promise in synthesizing Gd2O3-NPs with remarkable properties for various applications, including MRI contrast agents, by controlling annealing temperature.

CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, ORGAN PROPORTION, HAEMATOLOGY, SERUM CHEMISTRY AND DIGESTIBILITY OF BROILER CHICKENS FED UMUCASS 36 CASSAVA ROOT MEAL

A week old 150 Arbor Acre strain of broilers fed UMUCASS 36 cassava root meal were used to evaluate the carcass characteristics, organ proportion, blood and serum chemistry and digestibility of the birds. The cassava was harvested, washed, peeled, chipped, oven dried and milled. The processed cassava root meal was used to formulate five diets, at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels designated D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 respectively to replace maize. The birds were assigned in a Completely Randomized Design to five treatments with three replicates of ten birds per replicate. The carcass characteristics of broilers fed diet D2 was more superior and significantly (P>0.05) different from other broilers on the other diets. The superiority reflected in the bled weight, plucked weight, dressed weight and dressing percentage with the following values: 2136.67g, 2056.67g, 1723.33g and 77.71% respectively. The same trend was seen the values of the cut parts. Broilers on diet D5 had the highest percentage weight in heart (0.81%), liver (3.81%), gizzard (3.31%) and kidney (1.29%) while broilers on diet D2 had the least percentage of heart weight (0.38%), liver (1.33%), gizzard (1.11%) and kidney (0.57%). The experimental diets had no deleterious effects on the haematology and the blood serum of the broilers. Broilers placed on diet D2 had the best digestibility coefficients in all the digestibility parameters when compared with broiler chickens fed other diets. From the ongoing, it can be concluded that broilers on diet D2 performed best therefore, diet D2 is recommended.

Effect of Paraffin Impregnation Modification on Bamboo Properties and Microstructure

Phase-change energy-storage paraffin regulates the thermal management of buildings, and the material can regulate room temperature as it absorbs and discharges heat. As a porous adsorbent material, bamboo has high permeability. The aim of this study was to increase the amount of paraffin inside bamboo and the latent heat of the phase change. It was performed using vacuum pressurization (VP) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) impregnation treatments. The effect of UHP impregnation and properties of bamboo were studied. The weight gain, paraffin loss and dimensional changes were measured and compared. The morphology of UHP-impregnated bamboo were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The main conclusions are as follows: After UHP impregnation, the highest weight gain was 42%. The loss of paraffin was low, and a high weight percentage gain was maintained. The crystallinity of cellulose decreased to 24% at 100 MPa. The latent heat of the bamboo slices was up to 25.66 J/g at 50 MPa, and the phase change temperature was close to room temperature. At 150 MPa, the hydroxyl content was reduced, and the hydrophilicity decreased. In addition, the content of substances such as hemicellulose in the amorphous zone was reduced under UHP, no new characteristic peaks appeared, and no chemical modifications occurred. The vascular bundles were compressed and dense, and the pores and cell gaps decreased. The thin-walled cells were deformed, and the original cell structure was completely destroyed. The surface of the cells was wrapped or covered with paraffin, confirming that the paraffin could impregnate the bamboo cells under UHP. Therefore, bamboo impregnated with paraffin can regulate temperature and save energy in buildings. It is resistant to biological attacks, and UHP improves the impregnation efficiency.