Optimization Of Material Composition Research Articles

Efficient synthesis of quaternary piezo-photonic materials for pressure visualization and E-signature anti-counterfeiting

Mechanoluminescence (ML) offers a novel approach to photon emissions without requiring extra electrical input. In recent decade, a variety of ML materials have afforded advantageous prospect for various potential applications. Nevertheless, the material composition optimization and application progress are limited by the time-consuming and complicated preparation methods. Here, a one-step rapid microwave-assisted solid-state (MASS) synthesis approach is firstly employed for the preparation of CaZnOS-based quaternary ML materials with lanthanide/transition metal dopants and variable compositions. Notably, this method only takes a total synthesis duration of 20-minute microwave radiation, which can greatly facilitate the efficient preparation of a variety of ML materials. Moreover, bright host emission from the CaZnOS matrix is unexpectedly induced, providing a new opportunity for manipulating multicolor luminescence. Finally, we have proposed that the people’s writing characteristics can be analyzed by using these ML materials, which offers a great potential for pressure visualization, individualized E-signature anti-counterfeiting applications and beyond. This work not only provides a facile one-step synthesis method for the preparation of CaZnOS-based quaternary ML materials that featuring unique host emission, but also suggests the ML materials to be applied in advanced E-signature and on-demand information identification applications, which is of significance for integrated optoelectronic devices in future.

MMF-SMF-MMF optic surface plasmon resonance sensor based on hexagonal plate-like [formula omitted] structure

The manuscript introduces a fiber-optic MSM SPR sensor employing a hexagonal plate-like structure of Co(OH)2/TiO2/Au for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing. This article aims to improve it through optimization of material composition and structure. The MSM structure SPR sensors were fabricated on the surface of single-mode fiber optic using chemical precipitation and physical vapor deposition, where Co(OH)2 and TiO2 served as sensitive materials. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed sensor exhibited significantly higher sensitivity and broader application potential than the gold film control group and the gold film/TiO2 control group. Specifically, the gold film control group had a sensitivity of 1778.44 nm/RIU, while the sensitivity of the TiO2/Au control group was 2230.9 nm/RIU. In contrast, the Co(OH)2/TiO2/Au structure SPR sensor had a sensitivity of 3106.5 nm/RIU, which is far superior to the two control groups. Moreover, the results of repeated measurements indicated that the resonant wavelength error was only within 2 nm. These findings suggest that the Co(OH)2/TiO2/Au structure SPR sensor has promising stability and repeatability, making it suitable for applications in various fields, including chemical sensing and biological sensing.

Environmental impact of adult incontinence products in China in the context of population aging

With the rise of the aging population, the demand for adult incontinence products keeps increasing in developing countries. The increasing market demand for adult incontinence products will inevitably drive up upstream production, leading to more resources and energy consumption, carbon emissions, and heavier environmental pollution. It is imperative to explore the environmental impact of those products and seek opportunities to reduce the environmental impact, which is insufficient. This study aims to fill the gap in research on comparative analysis of energy consumption, carbon emissions, and the environmental impact of adult incontinence products from a life cycle perspective under different energy saving and emission reduction scenarios in the context of aging in China. Based on empirical data from a top papermaking manufacturer in China, this study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to analyze the impact of adult incontinence products from cradle to grave. Then different scenarios in the future are set to explore the potential of and the possible pathways for energy-saving and emission-reduction of adult incontinence products from the perspective of the whole life cycle. The results indicate that the energy and materials inputs are the environmental hotspots of adult incontinence products. Under the future trend of the aging population, the predictable optimization of energy structure, optimization of material composition, and final disposal methods are far from being able to cope with the enormous environmental burden brought by the increase in the consumption of adult incontinence products, especially in 2060 which shows 3.33 to 18.40 times the annual environmental burden under the optimal energy saving and emission reduction scenario, compared to the base year 2020. Research on new environmentally friendly materials and recycling technology should be the focus of the technological development of adult incontinence products.

A hybrid ANN/PSO optimization of material composition and process parameters for enhancement of mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed sample

PurposeThis paper aims to study the effects of inorganic CaCO3 nanoadditives in the polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and fused filament fabrication (FFF) process parameters on the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed components.Design/methodology/approachThe PLA filaments containing different levels of CaCO3 nanoparticles have been produced by mix-blending/extrusion process and were used to fabricate tensile and three-point bending test samples in FFF process under various sets of printing speed (PS), layer thickness (LT), filling ratio (FR) and printing pattern (PP) under a Taguchi L27 orthogonal array design. The quantified values of mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed samples in the uniaxial and the three-point bending experiments were modeled and optimized using a hybrid neural network/particle swarm optimization algorithm. The results of this hybrid scheme were used to specify the FFF process parameters and the concentration of nanoadditive in the matrix that result in the maximum mechanical properties of fabricated samples, individually and also in an accumulative response scheme. Diffraction scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests were conducted on a number of samples and the results were used to interpret the variations observed in the response variables of fabricated components against the FFF parameters and concentration of CaCO3 nanoadditives.FindingsThe results of optimization in an accumulative scheme showed that the samples of linear PP, fabricated at high PS, low LT and at 100% FR, while containing 0.64% of CaCO3 nanoadditives in the matrix, would possess the highest mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed PLA components.Originality/valueFFF is a widely accepted additive manufacturing technique in production of different samples, from prototypes to the final products, in various sectors of industry. The incorporation of chopped fibers and nanoparticles has been introduced recently in a few articles to improve the mechanical characteristics of produced components in FFF technique. However, the effectiveness of such practice is strongly dependent on the extrusion parameters and composition of polymer matrix.

Optimization of Material Composition and Compression Molding Process Parameters to Maximize Mechanical Properties of Recycled Polypropylene (r-PP) Composite Reinforced with Ironwood Powder

It could potentially be possible to create more sustainable materials by using wood waste as reinforcement in recycled polymer material. This study aims to optimize material composition and compression molding parameters to maximize the mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene composites reinforced with ironwood powder using the Taguchi orthogonal L9 design of experiment. The composites were manufactured in two-step extrusion and compression molding. The parameter levels used in this study are ironwood loading of 10%, 20%, and 30% with the addition of three different levels of coupling agent and manufactured using the molding temperature of 165℃, 175℃, 185℃ as well as pressure holding time of 3 minutes, 6 minutes, and 9 minutes. Tensile testing was conducted in accordance with ASTM D 638 type V standard. The S/N ratio analysis revealed different optimum parameters for tensile strength and elastic modulus. Therefore, the grey relation analysis was performed. It was found that the optimum composition and parameter variation for tensile strength and elastic modulus are 10% mass fraction of ironwood, 3% of MAPP, molding temperature of 165℃, and pressure holding time of 9 minutes. The ANOVA indicated wood powder loading as the most significant parameter on the mechanical properties of the composite. The material composed of recycled polypropylene and waste of ironwood can be considered a promising sustainable material for engineering-related applications.

Local resolution of currents through electrical joints consisting of materials with different conductivity

Within this work the impact of contact materials with higher volume resistivity as leaded solder are investigated in terms of comparability of the current conduction through the joint. An approach was developed to experimentally determine the qualitative local current density by magnetic field imaging (MFI) at ribbon-to-ribbon contact samples. The result reveals that the MFI technique on a symmetric sample design allows the evaluation of the current paths in two-dimensional contact areas. Different resistivities of the contact material result in characteristic differences in current distribution through the joint. Low resistive Sn60Pb40-soldererd contacts exhibit localized current injection whereas the tested contact based on electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) show an extended current flow through the ECA-based contact. A FEM-based simulation model to mimic the used setup was developed and confirmed the results by taking different contact material resistivities into account. For materials with resistivities larger than 1 · 10−3 Ω · cm current injection was found to spread-spatially within the tested contact geometry. Contact material development as well as contact design can benefit from that approach, allowing consumption and material composition optimization. A further advantage is the feasibility of the method to study production failures like inhomogeneous ECA distribution enabling a non-destructive monitoring of process stability and root cause analysis.

A New Material Selection Method Based on Weighted Mean Values of Overall Performance Scores from Different Multicriteria Decision-Making Methods

There are many multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods applicable to material selection. It may produce considerable differences between the material selection results. However, it is unknown which MCDM method has more rational result and there is no rational method to determine final overall performance scores of alternative materials. We propose a new method to determine final overall performance scores and final ranks of alternative materials combined with results from different MCDM methods in material selection. The outline is as follows. First, calculate the overall performance scores and ranks of the alternative materials using some different MCDM methods. Second, calculate mean values of the rank correlation coefficients between the rankings obtained from different MCDM methods and assign the mean values as the priority weights of each MCDM method. Finally, calculate the weighted mean values of the overall performance scores obtained from different MCDM methods and determine them as final overall performance scores of the alternative materials. To illustrate the effectiveness, we apply the proposed method to select best tool holder materials. The method may help material designers and engineers to apply different MCDM methods to material selection and multi-objective optimization of material composition and process, much more effectively and actively.

Investigation of Collagen-Incorporated Sodium Alginate Bioprinting Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is a promising area that is aimed at tissue regeneration and wound repair. Sodium alginate (SA) has been widely used as one of the most biocompatible materials for tissue engineering. The cost-efficiency and rapid gel ability made SA attractive in would healing and regeneration area. To improve printability and elasticity, many hydrogel-based bioinks were developed by mixing SA with other natural or synthetic polymers. In this paper, composite SA/COL bioink was used for the bioprinting of artificial cartilage tissue mimicries. The results showed that the concentration of both SA and COL has significant effects on filament diameter and merging. A higher concentration of the bioink solution led to better printing fidelity and less deformation. Overall, a higher SA concentration and a lower COL concentration contributed to a lower shrinkage ratio after crosslinking. In summary, the SA/COL composite bioink has favorable rheological properties and this study provided material composition optimization for future bioprinting of engineered tissues.

Editorial: Dental Ceramics: From Science and Technology to Clinical Application

Editorial: Dental Ceramics: From Science and Technology to Clinical Application

Supercurrent decay in ballistic magnetic Josephson junctions

We investigate transport properties of ballistic magnetic Josephson junctions and establish that suppression of supercurrent is an intrinsic property of the junctions, even in absence of disorder. By studying the role of ferromagnet thickness, magnetization, and crystal orientation we show how the supercurrent decays exponentially with thickness and identify two mechanisms responsible for the effect: (i) large exchange splitting may gap out minority or majority carriers leading to the suppression of Andreev reflection in the junction, (ii) loss of synchronization between different modes due to the significant dispersion of the quasiparticle velocity with the transverse momentum. Our results for Nb/Ni/Nb junctions are in good agreement with recent experimental studies. Our approach combines density functional theory and the Bogoliubov-de Gennes model and opens a path for material composition optimization in magnetic Josephson junctions and superconducting magnetic spin valves.

The Effect of Hypoxic and Normoxic Culturing Conditions in Different Breast Cancer 3D Model Systems.

The field of 3D cell cultures is currently emerging, and material development is essential in striving toward mimicking the microenvironment of a native tissue. By using the response of reporter cells to a 3D environment, a comparison between materials can be assessed, allowing optimization of material composition and microenvironment. Of particular interest, the response can be different in a normoxic and hypoxic culturing conditions, which in turn may alter the conclusion regarding a successful recreation of the microenvironment. This study aimed at determining the role of such environments to the conclusion of a better resembling cell culture model to native tissue. Here, the breast cancer cell line MCF7 was cultured in normoxic and hypoxic conditions on patient-derived scaffolds and compared at mRNA and protein levels to cells cultured on 3D printed scaffolds, Matrigel, and conventional 2D plastics. Specifically, a wide range of mRNA targets (40), identified as being regulated upon hypoxia and traditional markers for cell traits (cancer stem cells, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, pluripotency, proliferation, and differentiation), were used together with a selection of corresponding protein targets. 3D cultured cells were vastly different to 2D cultured cells in gene expression and protein levels on the majority of the selected targets in both normoxic and hypoxic culturing conditions. By comparing Matrigel and 3DPS-cultured cells to cells cultured on patient-derived scffolds, differences were also noted along all categories of mRNA targets while specifically for the GLUT3 protein. Overall, cells cultured on patient-derived scaffolds closely resembled cells cultured on 3D printed scaffolds, contrasting 2D and Matrigel-cultured cells, regardless of a normoxic or hypoxic culturing condition. Thus, these data support the use of either a normoxic or hypoxic culturing condition in assays using native tissues as a blueprint to optimize material composition.

Optimization of Material Composition of Li‐Intercalated Metal–Organic Framework Electrodes Using a Combination of Experiments and Machine Learning of X‐Ray Diffraction Patterns

AbstractAlthough individual Li‐intercalated metal–organic frameworks (iMOFs) exhibit properties that make them suitable for use as electrodes in Li‐ion batteries, none of these materials have the ideal combination of electrochemical characteristics. Using the high specific capacity and low polarization of 2,6‐naphthalene dicarboxylate dilithium as a basis for improvement, 26 iMOFs from different combinations of aqueous terephthalic, 2,6‐naphthalene dicarboxylic, and 4,4′‐biphenyl dicarboxylic‐based solutions with Li source are synthesized to obtain a material with the optimal electrochemical performances. For a more comprehensive search of the optimal ratio of raw material solutions, a machine learning‐based prediction model is constructed, using a combination of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and the experimentally derived characteristics of the 26 iMOFs. With this model, the optimal iMOF ratio is found to be a 2,6‐naphthalene dicarboxylic acid‐rich ternary solution of raw material. It is concluded that the improvement in the electrochemical properties originates from a change in the iMOFs crystal structure caused by synthesis from three solutions. As the model is independent of fabrication parameters such as heating temperature, it can also be used for evaluation of synthesis procedures. Hence, the XRD data‐based machine learning method introduced in this study is a powerful tool for practical material development.

High energy storage efficiency and thermal stability of A‐site‐deficient and 110‐textured BaTiO3–BiScO3 thin films

AbstractThe development of thin film dielectrics having both high energy density and energy conversion efficiency, as well as good thermal stability, is necessary for practical application in high‐temperature power electronics. In addition, there is a demand for the development of new Pb‐free high‐energy density dielectric materials due to environmental concerns. In this regard, thin films of weakly coupled relaxors based on solid solutions of BaTiO3–BiMeO3 have shown good promise, because they exhibit a remarkably large polarization over a wide temperature range. Nevertheless, the performance of Pb‐free thin films has lagged behind that of their Pb‐based counterparts in terms of thermal stability and energy conversion efficiency. Toward this end, most recent studies on BaTiO3–BiMeO3 systems have focused on the optimization of material composition, while relatively less attention has been paid to other aspects such as defect chemistry and crystallographic texture. In this study, we examine the effects of A‐site vacancy and crystallographic texture on the energy storage performance of BaTiO3–BiScO3 thin films synthesized using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). It is shown that a high energy storage density (Wr) of ~28.8 J/cm3 and a high efficiency of η >90% are achieved through a combination of moderate A‐site vacancy concentration and (110) crystallographic texture. Furthermore, Wr remains nearly temperature independent while a high efficiency of η >80% is maintained for temperatures up to 200°C, which constitutes one of the best performances for Pb‐free ferroelectric films for high‐temperature capacitor applications.

Controllable white light generation from novel BaWO4: Yb3+/Ho3+/Tm3+ nanophosphor by modulating sensitizer ion concentration

Generation of white light requires a proficient strategy for appropriate mixing of red, green and blue emissions in appropriate proportion through optimization of material composition. However, it is quite challenging to develop a single host material showing emission in full visible region, which can be excited by a single excitation source. Herein, a series of Yb3+-sensitized Ho3+/Tm3+ co-doped BaWO4 nanophosphors synthesized by hydrothermal method is reported. The effect of different concentration of sensitizer ion (Yb3+) on the luminescence properties of BaWO4:Yb3+/Ho3+/Tm3+ crystal is investigated in detail to obtain white light. The phosphors exhibited red, green and blue luminescence centered at 651 nm, 539 nm and 482 nm respectively under a 980 nm excitation. The obtained novel nanophosphor could be a major potential candidate for nanobiotechnology and optoelectronics device applications.

Electrospun thermosensitive hydrogel scaffold for enhanced chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Hydrogels have demonstrated the excellent ability to enhance chondrogenesis of stem cells due to their hydrated fibrous nanostructure providing a cellular environment similar to native cartilage. However, the necessity for multi-step processes, including mixing of hydrogel precursor with cells and subsequent gelation in a mold to form a defined shape, limits their off-the-shelf usage. In this study, we developed a hybrid scaffold by combining a thermosensitive hydrogel with a mechanically stable polymer, which provides a facile means to inoculate cells in a 3D hydrogel with a mold-less, single step cell seeding process. We further showed that the hybrid scaffold enhanced chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells, demonstrating its potential for cartilage tissue engineering.

Optimization of material composition to minimize the thermal stresses induced in FGM plates with temperature-dependent material properties

A hybrid genetic algorithm with the complex method is developed for the optimization of the material composition of a multi-layered functionally graded material plate with temperature-dependent material properties in order to minimize the thermal stresses induced in the plate when it is subjected to steady-state thermal loads. In the formulation, the plate is artificially divided into an n l -layered plate, and a weak-form-based finite layer method is developed to obtain the displacement and stress components induced in the n l -layered plate using the Reissner mixed variational theorem. Two thermal conditions, namely the specified temperature and heat convection conditions, imposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate are considered. The through-thickness distributions of the volume fractions of the constituents are assumed as certain specific/non-specific function distributions, such as power-law, sigmoid, layerwise step and layerwise linear function distributions, and the effective material properties of the plate are estimated using the Mori–Tanaka scheme. Comparisons with regard to the minimization for the peak values of the stress ratios induced in the FGM plates with various optimal material compositions are conducted.

Copper Interconnects Based on Copper(I) Oxide Particle-Based Precursor Ink Technology—Material Composition Optimization and Reliability

Recently, printed electronic devices built on flexible plastic substrates have gained considerable market share in the consumer electronics area. In these devices, the conducting metal lines connecting various components are typically fabricated using a low-cost metal or metal oxide particles-based ink technology in contrast to conventional/expensive photolithography with subtractive or additive metal deposition technology. In this paper, fabrication of Cu metal lines over glass was evaluated by application of Cu(I) oxide Cu2O nano-particle-based ink precursor material consisting of an organic polymer reducing agent dispersed in a simple organic solvent and subsequently reducing the oxide particles through a laser beam-based sintering/reduction process. The ink precursor composition was optimized for the lowest specific resistivity values of the fabricated Cu lines by varying the Cu2O particle weight %, ratio of nano-particle to the organic polymer reducing agent and the molecular wt. of the polymer. The reliability of these Cu lines was tested by baking them upto 400 °C and it was determined that the use of an organic polymer reducing agent can protect the Cu from oxidation around 370 °C without affecting the specific resistivity value. Detailed analyses of the metal lines fabricated with this technology are discussed using X-ray diffraction study for metal/metal oxides contents and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for an organic polymer degradation mechanism. In addition, application of Cu2O nano-particle-based precursor technology to repair open circuit lines has been demonstrated.

Thermodynamic modeling of the Sr–Co–Fe–O system

This paper reviews and assesses phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of phases in the Sr–Co–Fe–O system, with a focus on oxides, especially the SrCo1−xFexO3−δ perovskite. In our work, the SrCo1−xFexO3−δ perovskite was modeled with a three-sublattice model, where the three sublattices correspond to the A, B and oxygen sites in an ABO3 perovskite, respectively. A number of other important ternary oxide phases in Sr–Co–O and Sr–Co–Fe–O were also considered. Available thermodynamic and phase diagram data were carefully assessed. A thermodynamic description of Sr–Co–O was derived using the CALPHAD approach and was further extrapolated to that of Sr–Co–Fe–O. The thermodynamic database of Sr–Co–Fe–O established in this work allows for calculating phase diagrams, thermodynamic properties, cation distribution and defect chemistry properties, and therefore enables material composition optimization for various applications, including solid oxide fuel cells and oxygen membranes.

Simultaneous isogeometrical shape and material design of functionally graded structures for optimal eigenfrequencies

A new optimization strategy for eigenfrequency optimization of functionally graded (FG) structures within the framework of isogeometric analysis (IGA) approach is introduced. The proposed methodology which utilizes a concurrent procedure by combining the shape and material composition optimization of these structures employs an extended form of the standard IGA method by allowing for gradation of material properties through patches. The distributions of the graded material properties are considered as imaginary surfaces over the computational domain and captured in a fully isogeometric formulation using the same NURBS-based parameterization which is employed for the geometry modeling as well as the solution approximation. Considering the in-plane coordinates of the control points defining the design boundary surfaces as well as the applicates of all the control points describing the variations of material properties as design variables, we subsequently adopt a mathematical programming algorithm to simultaneously find the optimum shape and material composition of FG structures. A couple of illustrative numerical examples in 2D elasticity with eigenfrequencies as their either constraints or objective functions are presented to demonstrate the high performance of the proposed methodology. It will be seen that the obtained results by this concurrent optimization procedure have much better dynamic performance compared to the optimal results of the simple shape or material composition design.

Based on the Orthogonal Design to Study the Design and Optimization of Material Composition for Curing Compound

Wax emulsion was modified by adding high polymer latex,in order to improve the film-forming ability and sealing ability of wax emulsion,and improve the brittleness of parafilm to prevent it from cracking. By orthogonal design experiment to analysis the dosage of various materials for curing compound,and based on effective water retention and concrete compressive strength ratio the two indicators to determine the optimal mixture ratio of curing compound.