Optimal Properties Research Articles

Investigating key factors for superior CRMC-based mortars cured under CO2 pressurized environment

An exploratory programme was undertaken to individually test the influence of reactive magnesia to waste-based material (biomass fly ash) ratio, water to solids in binder ratio, static compaction pressure, accelerated carbonation curing period, and curing temperature, on the compressive strength results of Carbonated Reactive Magnesia Cement (CRMC)-based mortars. Subsequently, the observed optimal conditions of each parameter were combined to assess their influence when applied together. A total of twenty-four mixture labels were designed, with specimens moulded under static compaction pressure and subjected to a pressurized accelerated carbonation curing under controlled conditions. The devised mortars were evaluated through compressive strength tests, and the microstructure was carried out through TG-DTG, ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, and MIP analyses. The results demonstrated that none of the tested influencing factors can be exclusively considered as the sole determinant for the compressive strength outcomes. Thus, this study highlights the importance of thoroughly considering any modifications in both mixture design and accelerated carbonation curing conditions to achieve the optimal properties of CRMC-based mortars. Additionally, the devised CRMC-based mortars exhibited favourable binding properties with biomass fly ashes, allowing for its secondary use and contributing to waste circularity by avoiding landfill disposal, supporting the development of the waste circularity and CO2 sequestration through mineralization in carbonated materials.

Fabrication of MIL-101(Fe)-embedded biopolymeric films and their biomedical applications

AbstractThe development of wound-dressing materials with superior therapeutic effects, controlled bioactive agent release, and optimal mechanical properties is crucial in healthcare. This study introduces innovative hydrogel films designed for the sustained release of the local anesthetic drug Procaine (PC), triggered by pH changes. These films are composed of MIL-101(Fe) particles and pectin polymers. MIL-101(Fe) was chosen for its high surface area, stability in aqueous environments, and biocompatibility, ensuring low toxicity to normal cells. MIL-101(Fe)-embedded-pectin hydrogels were synthesized and characterized using Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry, particle size analysis, and goniometry. Rheological analysis assessed the hydrogels’ viscoelastic behavior, and UV-spectrophotometry was utilized for drug loading and release studies. The hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning properties, enhancing shape adaptability and recovery, crucial for wound-dressing applications. Controlled drug release was achieved by maintaining the PC solution’s pH between 8.2 and 9.8 during the drug-loading step. The hydrogel film’s impact on wound healing was evaluated through an in vitro wound healing assay, and cytotoxicity was assessed using a WST-1 cell proliferation assay with human dermal fibroblast cells. Results demonstrated that pectin composites enhance cell viability and support fibroblast cell migration without adverse effects, indicating their potential for effective wound healing applications. This study highlights the potential of MIL-101(Fe)-embedded-pectin hydrogels in advancing wound care technology. Graphical Abstract MIL-101(Fe)-embedded pectin film as wound dressing

Refining Alnico 8 magnets with composition optimization of matrix phase, directional solidification and magnetic field annealing

Optimized shape anisotropy of the Fe-Co rich ferromagnetic (α1) phase and the effective separation of the α1 and α2 phases with maximum magnetization difference—where α2 represents a paramagnetic magnetic phase—are the key parameters for maximizing the magnetic properties of Alnico magnets. In this manuscript, efforts have been undertaken to optimize the shape anisotropy of the α1 phase and increase the difference in magnetization and separation between α1 and α2 phases by fine tuning Al and Ni contents, directional solidification and magnetic field annealing methods. At first, Alnico magnets were fabricated by adjusting the content of α2 phase followed by homogenization, magnetic field annealing at high temperature, and low-temperature tempering. Intrinsic coercivity (Hcj) of ⁓146.0 kA/m, remanence (Br) of ⁓0.90 T and maximum energy density ((BH)max) of 46.02 kJ/m3 are achieved in the magnet with 8.2 wt% Al and 12.8 wt% Ni treated in field of 1.5 T for 10 minutes. At the second stage, the magnet with optimal magnetic properties is directionally solidified to develop columnar grains, and then the α1 phase is grown in the direction of the columnar grains by magnetic field annealing to enhance the (BH)max to 79.8 kJ/m3. The axial ratio of the α1 phase increased significantly with the increase of the grain size, particularly in the directionally solidified magnets. The Curie temperature of the α1 phase is noted near 1150 K, while the Curie temperature of the α2 phase is below 400 K. The magnets demonstrated excellent temperature stability, with magnetic properties decreasing by only 10–12 % at 800 K. These results may pave the way for further development of Alnico magnets specifically for high temperature applications.

Bioinspired Functional Composites for Enhanced Thermally Conductivity via Fractal-Growth CuNP Fillers.

Thermal conduction for electronic devices has attracted extensive attention in light of the development of 5G communication. Thermally conductive materials with high thermal conductivity and extensive mechanical flexibility are extremely desirable in practical applications. However, the construction of efficient interconnected conductive pathways and continuous conductive networks is inadequate for either processing or actual usage in existing technologies. In this work, spherical copper nanoparticles (S-CuNPs) and urchin-inspired fractal-growth CuNPs (U-CuNPs), thermally conductive metal fillers induced by ionic liquids, were fabricated successfully through the electrochemical deposition method. Compared to S-CuNPs, the U-CuNPs shows larger specific surface contact area, thus making it easier to build a continuous conductive pathway network in the corresponding U-CuNPs/liquid silicone rubber (LSR) thermally conductive composites. The optimal loading of CuNP fillers was determined by evaluating the rheological performance of the prepolymer and the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity performances of the composites. When the filler loading is 150 phr, the U-CuNPs/LSR produces optimal mechanical properties (e.g., tensile strength and modulus), thermal conductivity (above 1000% improvement compared to pure LSR), and heating/cooling efficiency. The enhanced thermal conductivity of U-CuNPs/LSR was also confirmed through the finite element analysis (FEA) overall temperature distribution, indicating that U-CuNPs with larger specific surface contact areas exhibit more advantages in forming a continuous network in composites than S-CuNPs, making U-CuNPs/LSR a promising and competitive alternative to traditional flexible thermally interface materials.

Effects of Y2O3 Content on the Microstructure and Tribological Properties of WC-Reinforced Ti-Based Coatings on TC4 Surfaces

To extend the safety service life of aviation TC4 alloy, the composite coatings of TC4 + Ni-MoS2 + WC + xY2O3 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 wt.%) were prepared on TC4 by coaxial powder feeding laser cladding technology. The results showed that all the coatings had the same generated phases which mainly consisted of TiC, Ti2Ni, Ti2S, matrix β-Ti, and unfused residual WC. Y2O3 formed co-dependent growth relationships with TiC, Ti2S, and Ti2Ni. Meanwhile, TiC-Ti2S, TiC-Ti2Ni, and Ti2S-Ti2Ni coherent composite structure phases were effectively synthesized in all the coatings. With the increase in the Y2O3 content, the exposed area of the matrix increased and other phases refined progressively. When the Y2O3 content in the coatings were 3 and 4 wt.%, the degree of phase refinement in the coatings was consistent and the phases grew along grain boundaries, but microstructure segregated in the 4 wt.% Y2O3 coating. The microhardness of all the coatings was higher than that of TC4 and decreased with the increase in the Y2O3 content. Higher friction coefficients and lower wear rates both appeared in all the coatings than in the substrate, and they presented a trend of decreased first and then increased with the addition of Y2O3, in which the 3 wt.% Y2O3 coating had the lowest friction coefficient and optimal wear resistance. The research found that the Y2O3 could not change the types of phases in the coatings and could serve as a heterogeneous nucleation center for the refinement of the TiC-Ti2S-Ti2Ni coherent structure phase. Meanwhile, except for the matrix phase, Y2O3 could attract other phases to pinning on the grain boundaries of the coatings. The content of Y2O3 was negatively correlated with the hardness and wear resistance of the coating and it had the optimal tribological properties with the moderate amount of Y2O3. The wear mechanism of all coatings was abrasive wear.

Plasticized PVC composites comprising MWCNT‐RGO hybrid filler–the synergetic effect of hybrids on the dielectric and mechanical properties

AbstractModification of polymers with hybrid fillers has sought much attention in the past few years. The addition of hybrid fillers will lead to a synergistic effect in reinforcing and is advantageous in polymer nanocomposites. One such attempt is presented here that explores the effect of incorporation of hybrid derived from reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on the dielectric and mechanical properties of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PPVC). This system of hybrid composite incorporating RGO‐CNT and PPVC has not been prepared and reported yet. Melt mixing techniques were effectively used for the fabrication of PPVC nanocomposites containing the hybrid filler in different ratios. The prepared composites showed enhanced dielectric strength in the lower frequency region up to 450 and high AC conductivity. The mutual stacking and penetration of the 1D‐2D nanomaterials lead to effective dispersion and enhancement in the electronic conduction. Among the hybrids, the R1C5 (with the filler ration RGO 1 wt% and CNT 5%) was having the optimum properties. The tensile modulus showed a cumulative variation with the addition of CNT. Even though the tensile strength decreased slightly because of the immobilization of the PPVC chains by the hybrid effect, the modulus value showed a marked increase of over 90% from the virgin polymer. The PPVC composite with R1C5 hybrid filler exhibited an EMI shielding efficiency of ⁓23 dB and it was frequency independent. The results suggest the composite R1C5 should be used as a cost‐effective material for applications in the L‐band and S‐band regions.

B-site engineering in rare earth ferrites: Composition and polymorphic control of electrical and photocatalytic functionalities

Rare-earth perovskites possess structural features conducive to co-existence of interesting functionalities. This study establishes structural tunability of B-site tailored GdFeO3 and its implications. Isovalent introduction of In3+ at B-site by hybrid synthesis approach yielded GdInxFe1-xO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) system. The synthesis-route adopted could enable stabilization of metastable C-type and hexagonal (H) polymorphs that eventually led to thermodynamically stable phases in H (hexagonal), O (orthorhombic) and biphasic (H + O) phases. Gradual evolution of phases with respect to temperature as well as composition were studied with XRD, HT-XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Density functional theory was employed to explain prevalence of wide biphasic-field and it was attributed to non-favourable energetics of Fe3+ at trigonal-bipyramidal site in H-polymorph. The system exhibits structure and composition-dependent electrical behaviour and tunable band gap. Detailed study highlighted a very low leakage current(I) and low dielectric loss in In3+-rich polymorphs(H). Typically, GdInO3 shows I of 4 × 10−9A/cm2, high dielectric constant (ε) of 106 with a stable loss of 0.009. The energy storage performance showed decrease in recoverable E-density (Wrec) and increase in energy storage efficiency with In3+-content. Optimum properties were observed for equimolar composition, GdIn0.5Fe0.5O3 (Wrec= 560 mJ/cm3; ɳ= 82 %). An intriguing observation is effect of structure on visible light-catalysed degradation of methylene blue with O-polymorphs showing excellent photodegradation (̴ 99 % dye/180 min) while H-polymorphs performing abysmally. This is explained based on band gaps, surface charges and plausible difference in generation of photo-induced charge carriers.

Exploring the rheological and mechanical properties of alkali activated mortar incorporating waste foundry sand: A comprehensive experimental and machine learning investigation

Alkali-activated materials, known for their economical and eco-friendly nature, are becoming popular as a viable substitute for traditional cement-based materials in the field of construction. This research thoroughly examines the intricate rheological characteristics and compressive strength (CS) of alkali-activated mortar (AAM). It specifically explores the use of waste foundry sand (WFS) as an environmentally conscious and sustainable alternative to river sand. The addition of WFS significantly improves the CS of AAM, demonstrating 35 % enhancements at a 30 % sand replacement level. The rheological properties of customized AAM mixtures were targeted to achieve optimal use in 3D printing. The increasing replacement level of WFS in the matrix induced a non-linear reduction in yield stress (37 % decrease at 30 % replacement) accompanied by a concurrent rise in plastic viscosity (38 % increase at 30 % replacement). Considering the intricate interplay between rheological parameters and CS, AAM containing 15 % sand replacement exhibited optimal properties. Moreover, through rigorous experimentation, a comprehensive dataset of 64 samples was established by varying the amount of river sand, WFS, and water content in the mix. Machine learning models—including AdaBoost, decision tree, K-nearest neighbors, stochastic gradient descent, gradient boosting, random forest, neural network, gene expression programming, and support vector machine—were developed to predict CS, yield stress, and plastic viscosity of the AAM. Modeling errors, including MSE, RMSE, MAE, and MAPE, were falling in the acceptable limits. Specifically, most models demonstrated a high level of prediction having R2 > 0.90 across training and validation datasets. In conclusion, this study not only highlights the optimized properties of AAM but also validates the efficacy of various machine learning models in predicting crucial parameters for AAM formulation.

Improved ferroelectricity and endurance in Ca doped Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films

Doped Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 materials have drawn increasing attention due to the excellent ferroelectric properties, but the relevant research is just in the preliminary stage and the reported doped systems are rare. In this work, Ca doped Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (Ca:HZO) ferroelectric films were successfully fabricated via chemical solution deposition and investigated for the first time. It is observed that Ca doping induces a phase transformation from monoclinic to orthorhombic/tetragonal and then to monoclinic/tetragonal. The highest orthorhombic phase fraction is achieved in 2.5 mol% Ca doped HZO film, contributing to the optimum ferroelectric property with the largest remnant polarization of 14.00 μC/cm2 after 105 cycles. Additionally, the leakage current density is observed to decrease with increasing Ca content, which is mainly associated with the changes of grain size and surface roughness. As a result, the endurance is significantly improved in the Ca doped films, and an excellent endurance of 1010 cycles is achieved in the 2.5 mol% Ca doped film. These results suggest that Ca doping can enhance the ferroelectric and endurance properties of HZO films by optimizing the phase and morphological structure.

Low permittivity germanate LaAlGe2O7 ceramics: Synthesis, sintering behavior, spectral characteristics and microwave dielectric properties

Novel low permittivity LaAlGe2O7 ceramics was prepared by a solid-state reaction method, and the relationship between microstructure and microwave properties was revealed. XRD and Rietveld refinement confirmed that the crystal structure of LaAlGe2O7 is monoclinic P21/c space group. Raman spectroscopy reflects the trend of internal structural order and phonon-damping behavior of LaAlGe2O7 ceramics. The ceramic sintered at 1250 °C exhibited the best surface morphology and optimum microwave dielectric properties of εr = 9.22, Q × f = 33417 GHz, τf = −71.68 ppm/°C. The lattice energy and packing fraction are used to explain the change of Q × f value. The relationship between phonon damping behavior and microwave dielectric properties was revealed. The temperature stability was studied by bond valence. The LaAlGe2O7 ceramics is a strong candidate for the substrate material of millimeter wave communication.

A series of Ba12M0.5Zr0.5Nb9O36 (M=Ni, Mg, Co, and Zn) microwave dielectric ceramics with hexagonal perovskite structure

A series of hexagonal perovskite Ba12M0.5Zr0.5Nb9O36 (M = Ni, Mg, Co, Zn) ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction method. XRD and Rietveld refinement results showed that all ceramic samples belong to the hexagonal perovskite structure with R-3m space group. With different B-site ion substitution, variation of permittivity (εr) can be ascribed to the average ion polarizability. Ceramics with highest relative density exhibit maximum quality factor (Q×f) values. Among all samples, the optimal microwave dielectric properties of εr = 35.2, Q×f = 57,985 GHz, and τf = 26.4 ppm/°C for Ba12Mg0.5Zr0.5Nb9O36 were obtained, which indicated that Ba12Mg0.5Zr0.5Nb9O36 ceramic is a candidate material for microwave communication applications.

Edible Coating from Breadfruit Starch and Chitosan for Food Packaging

Lectures that encompass Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can encourage awareness about sustainable development by integrating current issues, such as the potential of breadfruit starch and chitosan for making edible coatings for food packaging. This work aimed to study the development of edible coating from breadfruit starch (BS) and chitosan (CH) for food packaging based on SDGs aspects and as preliminary research to develop worksheets for prospective chemistry teacher students. BS-CH edible film developed by solvent evaporation method, thickness measurement, and physical properties for application on chili, carrot, and sweet potato which. The results showed that the optimal comprehensive properties of the film were obtained when the mass ratio of 3% AS to 1% CH was 7:3. The solubility test results show that the addition of CH ratio increases the swelling of the film before the dissolution process. The tensile strength and elongation of the film increased with the addition of CH until the optimum condition with tensile strength values of 3.01 MPa and 58.26%. The optimum mass ratio was applied through the coating of carrot, chili, and sweet potato which can prevent mass weight and mushroom. Apart from that, student opinion data was generated in the form of potential edible coating topics in the theme of ESD issues. In addition, student opinion data was generated in the form of expectations of edible coatings topics in ESD-laden chemistry learning, including understanding and applying ESD principles and the context of edible coatings and introducing the potential of edible coatings in society so that it is expected to improve 21st-century skills. The results of this research show the need to integrate the topic of edible coating of breadfruit starch and chitosan in worksheets for prospective chemistry teacher students.

In silico Approaches for Exploring the Pharmacological Activities of Benzimidazole Derivatives: A Comprehensive Review.

This article reviews computational research on benzimidazole derivatives. Cytotoxicity for all compounds against cancer cell lines was measured and the results revealed that many compounds exhibited high inhibitions. This research examines the varied pharmacological properties like anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant activities of benzimidazole derivatives. The suggested method summarises In silico research for each activity. This review examines benzimidazole derivative structure-activity relationships and pharmacological effects. In silico investigations can anticipate structural alterations and their effects on these derivative's pharmacological characteristics and efficacy through many computational methods. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and virtual screening help anticipate pharmacological effects and optimize chemical design. These trials will improve lead optimization, target selection, and ADMET property prediction in drug development. In silico benzimidazole derivative studies will be assessed for gaps and future research. Prospective studies might include empirical verification, pharmacodynamic analysis, and computational methodology improvement. This review discusses benzimidazole derivative In silico research to understand their specific pharmacological effects. This will help scientists design new drugs and guide future research. Latest, authentic and published reports on various benzimidazole derivatives and their activities are being thoroughly studied and analyzed. The overview of benzimidazole derivatives is more comprehensive, highlighting their structural diversity, synthetic strategies, mechanisms of action, and the computational tools used to study them. In silico studies help to understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of benzimidazole derivatives. Through meticulous alterations of substituents, ring modifications, and linker groups, this study identified the structural factors influencing the pharmacological activity of benzimidazole derivatives. These findings enable the rational design and optimization of more potent and selective compounds.

Antimicrobial adhesive self-healing hydrogels for efficient dental biofilm removal from periodontal tissue

ObjectivesOral biofilms, including pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, are involved in the initiation and progression of various periodontal diseases. However, the treatment of these diseases is hindered by the limited efficacy of many antimicrobial materials in removing biofilms under the harsh conditions of the oral cavity. Our objective is to develop a gel-type antimicrobial agent with optimal physicochemical properties, strong tissue adhesion, prolonged antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility to serve as an adjunctive treatment for periodontal diseases. MethodsPhenylboronic acid-conjugated alginate (Alg–PBA) was synthesized using a carbodiimide coupling agent. Alg–PBA was then combined with tannic acid (TA) to create an Alg–PBA/TA hydrogel. The composition of the hydrogel was optimized to enhance its mechanical strength and tissue adhesiveness. Additionally, the hydrogel’s self-healing ability, erosion and release profile, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis were thoroughly characterized. ResultsThe Alg–PBA/TA hydrogels, with a final concentration of 5 wt% TA, exhibited both mechanical properties comparable to conventional Minocycline gel and strong tissue adhesiveness. In contrast, the Minocycline gel demonstrated negligible tissue adhesion. The Alg–PBA/TA hydrogel also retained its rheological properties under repeated 5 kPa stress owing to its self-healing capability, whereas the Minocycline gel showed irreversible changes in rheology after just one stress cycle. Additionally, Alg–PBA/TA hydrogels displayed a sustained erosion and TA release profile with minimal impact on the surrounding pH. Additionally, the hydrogels exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis, effectively eliminating its biofilm without compromising the viability of MG-63 cells. SignificanceThe Alg–PBA/TA hydrogel demonstrates an optimal combination of mechanical strength, self-healing ability, tissue adhesiveness, excellent biocompatibility, and sustained antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis. These attributes make it superior to conventional Minocycline gel. Thus, the Alg–PBA/TA hydrogel is a promising antiseptic candidate for adjunctive treatment of various periodontal diseases.

Multifunctional Si3N4-skeleton-reinforced graphite flake composites with preferred orientation integrate excellent mechanical, thermophysical, and electromagnetic shielding properties

Si3N4-skeleton-reinforced graphite flake (GF/Si3N4) composites with preferred orientation were fabricated using a combination of vacuum infiltration and plasma-activated sintering to produce highly oriented graphite-based composites with excellent strength, favorable thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and effective electromagnetic shielding properties. The impact of Si3N4 content on the microstructure, bending strength, thermophysical properties, and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the composites was systematically examined. The composites exhibited reasonable anisotropy (Lotgering factor f > 93 %), endowing them with high thermal conductivity in the basal plane direction of the GF. The formation of SiC at the Si3N4/GF interface increased the interfacial bonding and effectively suppressed the thermal expansion of GF perpendicular to the basal plane from ∼28 × 10−6/K to ∼8 × 10−6/K. The composite with 21 vol.% Si3N4 exhibited the optimal properties, including a satisfactory bending strength of 128 MPa, good thermal conductivity of 247 W/m/K, a suitable thermal expansion of 9.4 × 10−6/K, and good electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 30 dB. Hence, the fabricated GF/Si3N4 composites demonstrate significant potential as high-orientation graphite-based composites for multifunctional thermal management.

Anti-Spectral Interference Waveform Design Based on High-Order Norm Optimized Autocorrelation Sidelobes Properties

This paper introduces a robust waveform design method aimed at reducing the impact of electromagnetic interference in radar systems, thereby enhancing target detection accuracy. We propose utilizing a high-order p-norm to characterize the peak sidelobe level (PSL) of the waveform. Additionally, the method incorporates spectral zero-trapping within known interfering frequency bands to mitigate interference effects. A unified optimization objective function is developed to ensure optimal correlation properties of waveforms for dual-use in radar and communication systems. By employing the AdamW algorithm for dynamic adjustment of the iteration factor, combined with a gradient descent search, this method refines both the autocorrelation of the waveform and its resilience to known disturbances. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach significantly improves autocorrelation performance over randomly generated initial waveforms. Moreover, the introduction of spectral zero-trapping notably enhances interference suppression in targeted frequency bands, thereby boosting overall signal performance. Our method effectively balances interference rejection with the minimization of sidelobe levels, offering a pragmatic waveform solution for complex radar environments.

Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Dye Using BiVO₄/g-C₃N₄ Composites under Visible Light Irradiation

This study evaluates the degradation of methylene blue through photocatalysis using BiVO4/g-C3N4 material with the help of visible light. Material characterization was conducted using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data. The characterization results show that the crystal structure of BiVO4/g-C3N4 is a heterojunction between monoclinic BiVO4 and hexagonal g-C3N4, with a crystal size of about 10.16 nm and a band gap energy value of about 2.16 eV. The morphology formed is a combination of sheet and rod-like. This study optimized the photocatalytic activity of the composite by analyzing the variation of g-C3N4 concentration, degradation time, and methylene blue pH. The results show that the BiVO4/g-C3N4 sample has optimal photocatalytic and adsorption properties in sample B (1:3) with pH 7 and a degradation time of 150 minutes. Under these conditions, the BiVO4/g-C3N4 composite successfully degraded methylene blue by 94.14%. The rate kinetics of the photocatalytic reaction followed first order, with *OH species playing the most role in the degradation mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of BiVO4/g-C3N4 as an effective photocatalyst material for organic pollutant degradation applications, offering a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment.

Selective Laser Melting Process Optimization and Mechanical Properties Evolution of AlSi10Mg by Determining Temperature of the Build Chamber using Arduino IDE and Coding Algorithm

Selective Laser Melting Process Optimization and Mechanical Properties Evolution of AlSi10Mg by Determining Temperature of the Build Chamber using Arduino IDE and Coding Algorithm

Multi-Objective Optimization and Mechanical Properties Analysis of Steel-PVA Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites.

When steel fiber and PVA fiber produced in China and PVA fiber made in Japan are prepared according to the appropriate proportions, the mechanical properties of hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HFRCC) are better, which is beneficial to cost control and has wide application prospects. The effects of the volume content of steel fibers and the volume substitution rate of PVA fibers on the tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength of HFRCC were analyzed using the factor optimization method and principal component analysis (PCA). Through the principal component analysis of HFRCC, a mathematical model for comprehensive performance evaluation was established, and a multi-objective optimization was carried out. The results show that compared with the matrix, the tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength of concrete increase significantly when the volume content of steel fibers is 0.2-0.4% and the volume substitution rate of domestically produced PVA fibers in China or PVA fibers produced in Japan is 50-100%. The maximum cost reduction is 88.25%, and the strength index of HFRCC can reach the optimum; the weights of each factor on the performance of HFRCC were obtained through mathematical statistics. Combined with a variable correlation analysis, these indicators should be noted when optimizing the performance of HFRCC. The research results can provide a basis for the preparation of HFRCC.

Recent Advances and Prospects in β-type Titanium Alloys for Dental Implants Applications.

Titanium and its alloys, especially Ti-6Al-4V, are widely studied in implantology for their favorable characteristics. However, challenges remain, such as the high modulus of elasticity and concerns about cytotoxicity. To resolve these issues, research focuses on β-type titanium alloys that incorporate elements such as Mo, Nb, Sn, and Ta to improve corrosion resistance and obtain a lower modulus of elasticity compatible with bone. This review comprehensively examines current β titanium alloys, evaluating their mechanical properties, in particular the modulus of elasticity, and corrosion resistance. To this end, a systematic literature search was carried out, where 81 articles were found to evaluate these outcomes. In addition, this review also covers the formation of the alloy, processing methods such as arc melting, and its physical, mechanical, electrochemical, tribological, and biological characteristics. Because β-Ti alloys have a modulus of elasticity closer to that of human bone compared to other metal alloys, they help reduce stress shielding. This is important because the alloy allows for a more even distribution of forces by having a modulus of elasticity more similar to that of bone. In addition, these alloys show good corrosion resistance due to the formation of a noble titanium oxide layer, facilitated by the incorporation of β stabilizers. These alloys also show significant improvements in mechanical strength and hardness. Finally, they also have lower cytotoxicity and bacterial adhesion, depending on the β stabilizer used. However, there are persistent challenges that require detailed research in critical areas, such as optimizing the composition of the alloy to achieve optimal properties in different clinical applications. In addition, it is crucial to study the long-term effects of implants on the human body and to advance the development of cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to guarantee the quality and biocompatibility of implants.