Insertion Of Material Research Articles

Design of a Phantom Mimicking Rectal Lymph Nodes for Magnetomotive Ultrasound

ObjectiveDurable and stable phantoms for verifying and validating the new magnetomotive ultrasound technique are lacking. Here we propose a phantom design to address this need. MethodsA mixture of styrene-butylene/ethylene-styrene (SEBS) in mineral oil and glass beads as a scattering material acted as a bulk material, in which a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) inclusion containing magnetic nanoparticles in water solution and graphite was embedded. The design mimics nanoparticle-laden lymph nodes embedded in mesorectal fat, as would be the clinical scenario for diagnostic support of staging rectal cancer using magnetomotive ultrasound. ResultsThe estimated reflection between the insert and bulk material was 10%, matching the clinical case of a lymph node within fat (9%). Speed of sound, attenuation, and Young's modulus of the bulk material were matched with those of body fat. The insert also matched the acoustic and elastic properties of lymph node tissue except for attenuation, which was lower than that given in the literature. Glass beads and graphite were used to control backscatter levels in the respective tissue mimics, providing a contrast of -3.8 dB that was consistent with clinical image appearance. The magnitude of magnetomotion remained stable in three separate samples over the course of 3 weeks. ConclusionWe have developed a phantom for magnetomotive ultrasound that combines the stability of an oil-based bulk material with the necessity of using a water-based material for the insert. The production procedure may be applied to other phantoms where one tissue type needs to be embedded within another.

Intercalation of Al3+ into Prussian Blue Analogues from Nonaqueous Electrolytes.

Nonaqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) provide advantages, such as high energy density, enhanced safety, and reduced corrosion, making them ideal for advanced energy storage solutions. A key challenge faced by AIBs is the lack of suitable cathode materials for rapid Al-ion insertion /extraction. Herein, K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] 2H2O (KMHCF) is innovatively chosen as a model to investigate the aluminum storage performance of Prussian blue analogues in nonaqueous AIBs. As anticipated, the KMHCF allows for reversible aluminum storage and exhibits characteristic charge/discharge plateaus. Furthermore, carbon combined highly crystalline KMHCF (HC-KMHCF@C) is synthesized through a chelator-assisted preparation method in combination with an in situ carbon compositing technique. With reduced [Fe(CN)6]4⁻ defects, lower interstitial water content, and enhanced conductivity, HC-KMHCF@C exhibits a high aluminum storage capacity (146.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹) and satisfactory cycling performance (maintaining 86.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 800 cycles). The electrochemical reaction mechanism of HC-KMHCF@C is investigated in detail. During the initial charge, K⁺ ions are extracted, shifting the structure from monoclinic to cubic. In subsequent cycles, reversible Al3+ insertion and extraction cause the structure to alternate between monoclinic and cubic phases.

Manipulation of Serum Protein Adsorption by Nanoengineered Biomaterials Influences Subsequent Immune Responses.

The adsorption of serum proteins on biomaterial surfaces is a critical determinant for the outcome of medical procedures and therapies, which involve inserting materials and devices into the body. In this study, we aimed to understand how surface topography at the nanoscale influences the composition of the protein corona that forms on the (bio)material surface when placed in contact with serum proteins. To achieve that, we developed nanoengineered model surfaces with finely tuned topography of 16, 40, and 70 nm, overcoated with methyl oxazoline to ensure uniform outermost chemistry across all surfaces. Our findings revealed that within the studied height range, surface nanotopography had no major influence on the overall quantity of adsorbed proteins. However, significant alterations were observed in the composition of the adsorbed protein corona. For instance, clusterin adsorption decreased on all the nanotopography-modified surfaces. Conversely, there was a notable increase in the adsorption of ApoB and IgG gamma on the 70 nm nanotopography. In comparison, the adsorption of albumin was greater on surfaces that had a topography scale of 40 nm. Analysis of the gene enrichment data revealed a reduction in protein adsorption across all immune response-related biological pathways on nanotopography-modified surfaces. This reduction became more pronounced for larger surface nanoprotrusions. Macrophages were used as representative immune cells to assess the influence of the protein corona composition on inflammatory outcomes. Gene expression analysis demonstrated reduced inflammatory responses on the nanotopographically modified surface, a trend further corroborated by cytokine analysis. These findings underscore the potential of precisely engineered nanotopography-coated surfaces for augmenting biomaterial functionality.

Evaluation of Electrochemical Techniques for Characterizing the Kinetics of Porous Insertion-Type Electrodes

The composite-type porous electrode remains the most commonly used electrode for a wide variety of electrochemical energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors, Li-S/Li-air batteries, and even all-solid-state batteries. This is due to its ease of manufacturability and ability to maintain a high electrochemical surface area with adequate ion and electron transport. Understanding porous electrode kinetics is essential to maximize the active material utilization at high rates. A variety of electrochemical techniques exist to characterize the kinetic behavior of porous electrodes. The most popular ones include electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge/discharge, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, and cyclic voltammetry. The purpose of this work was to evaluate which of these four techniques provides the most relevant kinetic information for understanding porous electrode kinetics. To do this, we utilized porous electrodes composed of LiCoO2 as a model insertion-type material, and with varying thicknesses (10 - 40 µm). We find that GITT is an accessible and reliable method for obtaining the effective diffusion coefficient of the porous electrode. It yields consistent results, regardless of electrode thickness and component ratio. On the other hand, the cyclic voltammetry peak current behavior can be easily compromised, even at slow scan rates of 0.01 - 0.1 mV/s, and when using a high conducting domain ratio. When comparing the dQ/dV plot and cyclic voltammetry for observing peaks indicating phase transitions in the insertion material, the dQ/dV plot is less kinetically limited. We utilized the differential relaxation time (DRT) method to analyze electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data. Our findings demonstrate that as thickness increases, charge transfer resistance decreases, while diffusion resistance increases. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation on the differences between electrochemical methods to characterize the kinetics of composite porous electrodes.

(Invited) Electrochemical Random Access Memory for Neuromorphic Computing

Electrochemical random access memory (ECRAM) is a three terminal device that functions by tuning electronic conductance in functional materials through solid-state electrochemical redox reactions, and is one of several emerging device concepts that are currently being investigated in academic and industrial laboratories for enabling energy efficient brain inspired computing. Early demonstrations of nearly ideal analog switching and the realization that electrochemical ion insertion can be used to tune the electronic properties of many types of materials including transition metal oxides, layered 2D material, organic and coordination polymers, has sparked tremendous interest in ECRAM. Depending on the specific material, the resulting changes in conduction can range from gradual increments needed for analog elements, to large, abrupt changes for dynamically reconfigurable adaptive architectures. At its core, ECRAM shares many fundamental aspects with rechargeable batteries, where ion insertion materials are used extensively for their ability to reversibly store charge and energy. Computing applications, however, present drastically different requirements: systems will require many millions of devices, scaled down to less than 100 nanometers, all while achieving reliable electronic-state tuning at scaled-up rates (~109 Hz) and endurances (>1012 cycles), and with minimal energy dissipation and noise. In my presentation, I will briefly cover the history of ECRAM, the recent progress in devices spanning various types of materials, circuits, architectures, and discuss the rich portfolio of challenging, fundamental questions and how we can harness ECRAM to realize a new paradigm for low power neuromorphic computing.

(Invited) Self-Discharge of Layered Oxide Cathodes Induced by Carbonate-Mediated Hydrogenation

Significant efforts have been made to improve the energy and power characteristics of cathodes in Li-ion batteries, while the research into cathode self-discharge has lagged behind. Self-discharge is the voltage drop experienced by all rechargeable batteries while stored in the charged state. The voltage drop becomes more problematic with increased cathode voltage and temperature. The physicochemical nature of internal reactions leading to cathode self-discharge is hardly understood and seldom discussed.To tackle this challenge, the structure and redox evolution of commercial LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 electrodes and single crystal cathode thin films upon the self-discharge in carbonate-based electrolyte is revealed by surface-sensitive X-ray scattering, spectrometric and electrochemical characterizations in conjunction with thermodynamic analysis. As evidenced by the interfacial toolkits and theoretical calculations, there is an evolution and growth of cathode surface reduction layer in different types of electrolyte after self-discharged from different potentials. Structural and chemical chacterizations as well as the elemental depth profiles within cathode thin film confirms proton-insertion-induced layered cathode hydrogenation. Calculation shows that such process is both thermodynamically and kinetically favorable and is triggered by the interfacial hydrogen atom abstraction of methylene group in carbonate solvent on delithiated cathode surface. A combination of experimental and theoretical studies reveals the carbonate-mediated cathode hydrogenation mechanism accounting for the voltage drop in the self-discharge. This offers additional understanding regarding defect generation and the degradation mechanism in layered cathodes beyond the traditional behaviors of lithium-diffusion-induced self-discharge and rock-salt phase induced cathode degradation. This study offers foundational knowledge of the interfacial degradation of cathode that can be translated to the rational design of improved cathodes and electrolytes, and the self-discharge mechanism studies in other electrochemical ion insertion materials and devices.

Effect of cutting process using cutting insert of grade UTi20T

In the metal-cutting industry, the precision of the metal-cutting process is of paramount importance. Errors in the metal-cutting process not only lead to damage to the cutting tool but also result in the production of low-quality materials. The incorporation of insert materials in the cutting process is aimed at maintaining cutting precision and achieving superior results. This research seeks to investigate the impact of the cutting process utilizing grade KC5410 cutting insert under minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) Conditions. In this study, machining tests were conducted using the ALPHA 1350S 2-axis computer numerical control (CNC) lathe machine under MQL conditions, employing cutting tool inserts UTi20T supplied by Mitsubishi. Two types of tools were utilized in the cutting process, namely UTi20T. Critical aspects such as cutting force, total power consumption, surface roughness, and tool life were analyzed to provide comprehensive insights into the efficiency of the cutting process. The findings of this study significantly contribute to the understanding of how the integration of Grade KC5410 cutting inserts under MQL conditions can enhance the overall efficiency of metal-cutting operations. The successful machinability assessment was conducted by implementing sustainable machining practices.

The relative clause resisting unification

Abstract Cinque (2020) presents a unified theory positing that various types of relative clauses (RCs) originate from a single, double-headed universal structure via raising or matching. The Frame Noun-Modifying Clause (FRC) as described and analyzed by Matsumoto et al. (2017a, 2017b) presents a significant challenge to Cinque's framework, as it does not conform to any of Cinque's identified RC types, which include amount RCs, kind(-defining) RCs, restrictive RCs and non-restrictive RCs. The FRC eludes derivation via the proposed matching or raising mechanisms. Determining the semantic link between the head noun and the FRC, as well as its external merger position, remains elusive. One might suggest that inserting additional material into the FRC, which incorporates a plausible internal head, could clarify their connection. This approach falls short of providing a systematic and coherent syntactic criterion, relying instead on semantic intuition that lacks operational reliability.

Surface wettability and tribological performance of Ni-based nanocomposite moulds against polymer materials

In the mass-production of microfluidic devices through micro hot embossing/injection moulding, the longevity of mould inserts is influenced by elevated adhesion and friction between the polymer and the mould. Thus, accurate prediction of mould lifespan requires a comprehensive understanding of surface wettability and tribological performance during polymer contact. The current study addresses this gap by characterizing fabricated micro-structured Ni, Ni-WS2, and Ni-PTFE nanocomposite moulds (surface morphologies, crystal structures and microhardness) to investigate inherent lubrication mechanisms. Surface wettability of mould material was systematically studied by measuring the contact angles with eight different polymer melts. Pin-on-disk tests with polymer pins made of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC 8007), polypropylene (PP), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were conducted to elucidate the wear resistance of the nanocomposite moulds. Pressure-dependent friction coefficient and wear resistance were further explored under increasing external loads, simulating the actual moulding processes where contact pressure may vary considerably depending on the part shape. Results indicate that Ni-WS2 exhibits the highest microhardness (532 Hv), followed by Ni-PTFE (465 Hv) and Ni (198 Hv). Notably, Ni-PTFE demonstrates exceptional hydrophobicity against all polymer melts, signifying low surface energy during polymer contact. Moreover, both nanocomposite moulds exhibit reduced friction coefficients and enhanced wear resistance across various polymers. Counterintuitively, despite its lower hardness, the Ni-PTFE mould displays superior wear resistance against the COC pin under higher loads, while the Ni-WS2 mould experiences severe adhesive wear, as observed from wear morphology and profile analysis. This finding establishes the Ni-PTFE as a promising alternative as a mould insert material for precision manufacturing.

Comparison of peri-implant bone level in mandibular implant overdenture retained by locator attachment with varying retentive insert materials: A retrospective study

Comparison of peri-implant bone level in mandibular implant overdenture retained by locator attachment with varying retentive insert materials: A retrospective study

A Review on Tool Life in Coal Measures Rocks

Tungsten carbide inserts in rock drill bits are predominantly used in drilling rocks, particularly in mining industries. The research studies performed on drill bits have been limited to several factors such as collecting failure data of bit components from the field, conducting wear tests considering rock properties, and introducing new coated insert materials. The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for the betterment of tool wear with real-time data is limited. The present study has offered an evaluative perspective of an essential industrial issue. In this review, a concept map presents a visual organization and representation of knowledge obtained during the study. Utilizing the propositions from the concept map, a brief review of the integrated concepts of researchers relating drill bits, failure data, numerical and statistical models, wear analysis, reliability assessment, and prerequisites in developing new materials have been discussed in the backdrop of the present study.

Chronoamperometric analyses of lithium insertion/extraction kinetics of lithium nickel manganese oxide using the diluted electrode method

Understanding the electrode kinetics of Li insertion materials used in Li-ion batteries is important for deducing the power capabilities of the batteries. However, examining the inherent reaction kinetics of these materials is difficult because Li-ion diffusion in the electrolyte within electrode pores is the rate-determining step in conventional electrodes, which mainly comprise active materials. Herein, the Li insertion kinetics of Li[Ni1/2Mn3/2]O4 is analyzed using the diluted electrode method. Results of charge/discharge tests performed at a constant voltage (chronoamperometry) reveal that both, charging (Li extraction) and discharging (Li insertion) in the diluted electrode (Li[Ni1/2Mn3/2]O4 content: 10 wt%), are much faster than those in conventional electrodes (88 wt%). The diluted electrode delivers half the capacity of Li[Ni1/2Mn3/2]O4 in only 20 and 200 s for charging and discharging, respectively, at high overvoltages. This indicates that the reaction kinetics is asymmetric between the charging and discharging processes; charging occurs approximately 10 times faster than discharging. Based on the overvoltage and temperature dependences of the reaction kinetics, phenomenological kinetic equations for the Li insertion/extraction of Li[Ni1/2Mn3/2]O4 are determined. The results of this study not only provide important knowledge for establishing the Li insertion kinetics but are also useful for understanding the power capabilities of all-solid-state batteries.

Liquid-phase diffusion bonding of Al alloy for casting using formate coated insert sheet

Liquid-phase diffusion bonding was performed in air at a bonding temperature of 400 °C, a bonding pressure of 20 MPa, and a heat holding time of 15 min. The specimens for liquid-phase diffusion bonding were AC2C and ADC12, aluminum alloy for casting. After liquid-phase diffusion bonding, solution annealing and aging treatments were also performed on the joints. As a result, the joint strength was improved by about 2 times and the joint efficiency was 90% by using the 3-layer insert material as compared with the Zn single-layer insert material. This was because the Si concentration in the liquid phase decreased by using the 3-layer insert material and Si was discharged to the outer circumference of the joint. By using the 3-layer insert material, the interfacial fracture factor after T6 heat treatment changed from Si particles to Mg oxides.

Effects of size and static temperature exposure on the shear strength of tungsten bonded CFC blocks for divertor in JT-60SA

The construction of a satellite tokamak, JT-60SA, was completed in 2020. JT-60SA is expected to contribute the research of ITER and developments for DEMO. JT-60SA employs carbon and carbon fiber strengthened carbon (CFC) composites divertors. The divertors will be set on an actively cooled cassette and be remotely handled because of human access restriction into the vacuum vessel due to the radioactivation caused by repeated deuterium plasma operations. An important mission of JT-60SA is high-β steady state plasma research, and during the mission, the use of carbon divertors will be continued. The possibility of metal wall experiments after the complete of high-β steady state plasma research is under discussion. Then the use of remote handled divertor cassette will be a condition, therefore, high performance and appropriate weight divertors are convenient for the operation. One idea is to use clad plates of tungsten and CFC. In previous researches revealed that a sinter bonding method using an insert material of SiC powders + additives was able to join W and CFC. But the research accidentally found out the insert material without explore of the other materials and the size of specimens was small. In present research, some candidates for the insert material were investigated and also the uniformity of strength on a W/CFC block of the expected size were evaluated.

Quantifying the Entropy and Enthalpy of Insertion Materials for Battery Applications Via the Multi-Species, Multi-Reaction Model

The entropy coefficient of a battery cell is the property that governs the amount of reversible heat that is generated during operation. In this work, we propose an extension of the Multi-Species, Multi-Reaction (MSMR) model to capture the entropy coefficient of a large format lithium-ion battery cell. We utilize the hybridized time-frequency domain analysis (HTFDA) method using a multi-functional calorimeter to probe the entropy coefficient of a large format pouch type lithium-ion battery with a NMC 811 cathode and a graphite anode. The measured entropy coefficient profile of the battery cell is deconvoluted into an entropy coefficient for each active material, which is then estimated using an extension of the MSMR model. Finally, we extend the entropy of a material to individual entropy for each gallery as treated by the model.

SAVING THE USE OF ELPIGI GAS IN THE OVEN MACHINE (CALCINATION) USING THE ENERGY SAVING MODE METHOD AT PT. ABC

Energy has become a basic need and as one of the main components in the industry, one of which is the ABC factory, one of the efforts to reduce production costs without affecting the results or quality of production is by means of safe energy modes PT. ABC is a manufacturing company engaged in the machinery industry which produces catalyst products for two-wheeled vehicles and four-wheeled vehicles. Broadly speaking, there are several stages of the catalyst manufacturing process, namely the Slury material preparation stage, the process of inserting material into the catalyst on the Cyzec machine, the material gluing process on the Calcination Oven machine, the OK product stamp process, the Final Inspection process. This research was conducted on the Drying oven machine, the line that uses elpigi gas. Based on the period January - June there has been an increase in the amount of gas bills used, After using the Energy Safe Method the amount of gas used decreased by 1 cubic every day and saved expenses in the period January - April.

Numerical simulation of the bentonite-bonded sand mould compaction process using micro-mechanical parameter relationships

ABSTRACT Commercial software packages for FEM analysis have been used to numerically simulate the behaviour of the complex systems of bentonite-bonded sand mould under pressure and subjected to stress distributions and to predict their performance. The Drucker-Prager model and the Mohr-Coulomb model are two well-known mathematical models used to describe the plastic non-linear behaviour of the soil. Conducting direct shear tests on varying densities of sand can provide the individual parameters necessary for the simulation of the moulding process. A new approach is based on making relationships between micro-mechanical parameters and changes in sand density during the compaction process. COMSOL Multiphysics is a popular software tool used to implement FEM simulations. The steps involved drawing geometry, inserting material properties, mesh generation and time-dependent density, and solving the model. The boundary conditions depend on the particular problem being analysed, which defines the external forces and constraints acting on the structure. The use of a coarse mesh and stationary study may be a computationally efficient approach for the evaluation of the compaction process of green sand. The study found that the maximum displacement value is 6.1*10−3 mm, the maximum volumetric strain value is 8.88*10−5, and the von Mises stress is 4.14*103 N/m2.

Prussian blue analogue based integrated membrane electrodes for desalination and selective removal of ammonium ions in a rocking-chair capacitive deionization

Capacitive deionization (CDI) technology has shown significant promise in selective removal of nutrients from wastewater. In this study, a novel inorganic integrated membrane electrodes (i-IMEs) were developed with Prussian blue analogues (PBAs), cation insertion materials, as a coating on activated carbon (AC) electrode to replace cation exchange membrane. When the i-IMEs were operated in a rocking-chair CDI (RCDI) system for continuous desalination, a high specific adsorption capacity (SAC) of 42.7 mg/g and an impressive charge efficiency of 71.6 % were obtained. Moreover, taking advantage of PBAs' ion-selective properties for monovalent cations especially NH4+, this IME-RCDI achieved highly selective removal of cations compared to a RCDI with bare AC electrodes. The selectivity coefficients (Si/j) of NH4+ to divalent cations (such as Ca2+) and monovalent cations (such as Na+) were determined to be 2.15 and 1.95, respectively. These values are much higher than those obtained for AC electrodes, which were 0.3 and 1.07, respectively. Overall, this work demonstrates that the incorporation of PBAs in the i-IME-RCDI configuration offers superior desalination performance and selective removal capabilities for specific ions such as NH4+.

Influence of ethylene oxide monomeric units on the bonding of poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) onto nickel‑manganese‑cobalt oxides

Polymers are very attractive materials in the field of all solid-state batteries not only because they act as binders, and even electrolytes if properly doped by salts, in electrodes but also because they can bring their unique ease of processing in large scale production by technologies such as extrusion. The issue of their adhesion, or at least wetting, onto materials such as metal oxides, is nevertheless of major importance since it plays a major role in charge transfer through interfaces. The present study shows the importance of the composition of polyethylene carbonate (PEC) that can be used as binder and solid electrolyte basis, on its bonding to NMC of the 622 type (LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2) frequently used as insertion material in positive electrodes. Indeed, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy in the vicinity of the glass transition of the polymers reveals a significant bonding for one over three different PEC used in this study. The bonding was also clearly visible on images obtained by scanning electron microscopy and indirectly confirmed by rheological measurements. A deep analysis of the structure of the polymers by 1H NMR shows a significant difference in the content of ethylene oxide units. This difference was thought to be at the origin of the bonding.

Influence of honeycomb structures on fluids transmission and heat retention properties; An initiative towards stretchable weaves

The aesthetics and functionality of honeycomb woven assemblies qualifies them for a range of applications expanding across home textiles, fashion, functional apparels, and technical products. Researchers have explored honeycomb assemblies with the focus on shrinkage, sound absorption, thermal conductivity, and heat protection properties analysis via variation in their cell sizes. However, very minimal research is found on analysis of honeycomb woven fabric assemblies’ thermal comfort characteristics by employing different weft insertion sequence and materials (cotton and stretchable yarns). This study reflects the thermal conductivity, dry fluid transmission (air permeability), wet fluid transmission (moisture management), and stiffness attributes of twelve stretchable honeycomb woven assemblies consisting of single ridge, double ridge, and brighton honeycomb weave structures along with different weft sequences of cotton and Type 400 (T-400) stretch yarns. Characterization data showed that single ridge honeycomb structure supports the highest dry fluid transmission property; however, brighton honeycomb offers the highest heat retention property. Double ridge honeycomb highlights the capability of the highest wet fluid transmission property, and brighton honeycomb has immense stiffness. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) also showed that honeycomb structures, weft yarn sequence and material have a statistically significant impact on thermal conductivity and fluid transmission behaviors with p-values less than 0.05.