Short Soaking Time Research Articles

Synthesis of high‐quality vanadium nitride particles by one‐step vacuum carbothermal reduction–nitridation method: Theoretical and experimental study

AbstractOwing to its high hardness, favorable stability, and good electrical performance, vanadium nitride (VN) has been extensively used as an alloy additive, an electrode material, a ceramic material, and a catalyst. However, traditional VN synthesis methods require high temperatures and long soaking times. In this study, high‐quality VN particles were prepared from V2O3 powder at a lower temperature and shorter soaking time by a one‐step vacuum carbothermal reduction–nitridation (VCRN) method. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses elucidated the mechanism of this process. Thermodynamic analysis showed that vacuum was conducive to the carbothermal reduction of V2O3, reducing the initial reaction temperature, and the main reaction path was V2O3→VO→VxCy(VC/ V2C/ V8C7/ V6C5)→VN. Kinetic results indicated that the one‐step VCRN method was a gas–solid reaction. Within the temperature range of 1373–1473 K, the rate‐determining step was controlled by the carbothermal reduction–nitridation reaction, combination control of the reduction–nitridation reaction and the interlayer diffusion, and interlayer diffusion control of N2 during the different reaction processes. High‐quality VN particles obtained at a temperature of 1473 K, pressure of 300 Pa, and soaking time of 3 h were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and particle size distributions. The O and N contents, measured by an O/N analyzer, were 0.85% and 19%, respectively, and the C content, measured by a C/S analyzer, was 0.92%. These analyses indicate that high‐quality VN can be obtained by a one‐step VCRN method.

Mechanical cleaning of food soil from a solid surface: A tribological perspective

In this work, a tribological approach was used to distinguish the synergistic effects of mechanical removal and chemical removal (i.e. dissolution) of a layer of representative food soil from a solid surface, using a tribometer, Mini Traction Machine (MTM). Gravimetric and wear measurements of the soil were used to calculate the cleaning rates of burnt tomato puree on a stainless-steel disc, and the corresponding frictional characteristics offers insight of the mechanical removal. The cleaning due to soil dissolution (chemical removal) was quantified by UV–Vis measurements. The overall cleaning rates of food soil featured a linear reduction in mass over time, with a scaled removal rate k = 0.0046 s−1 (5 N applied force and 100 mm s−1 relative velocity), for most cases studied. It was observed that the cleaning rate can be improved with an increasing mechanical load or speed (50% from 1 to 2.5 N and 13% from 50 to 100 mm s−1), but is independent of the initial mass. UV–Vis measurements show that by increasing the load or speed the removal of chunks of burnt tomato puree was enhanced more than removal attributed to dissolution. Similar values of cleaning rates for most experimental parameters were extracted from both the gravimetric and wear measurements. Adhesion and cohesion measurements of the burnt tomato puree were conducted with a micromanipulator. It was found that adhesion forces are higher than cohesion for short soaking times, but for longer times the adhesion forces became weaker and with the additional shear rate in the MTM cleaning experiment, adhesion failure was observed in many cases by the end of the experiment. Indentation measurements showed the change in mechanical properties of the food foulant with a few minutes of soaking in water.

Influence of Short-Time Post-Weld heat treatment on the performance of friction stir welded AA7075 aluminum sheets

Zinc-containing aluminum alloys of the 7xxx series represent materials with highest potential for lightweight applications due to their superior strength combined with low density. Unfortunately, robust processing of these alloys remains a challenge, as these alloys are still considered not being weldable by conventional methods, where hot cracking is a critical issue. However, it has been numerously shown that joints being characterized by excellent properties can be obtained by friction stir welding (FSW). Here, one possibility for further improvement is to perform a post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) to stimulate precipitation hardening after welding. Two different PWHT with 300 s and 10 s soaking time at 480 °C followed by water quenching and artificial aging for 24 h at 120 °C were performed. The heat treatment with a short soaking time led to a higher quasi-static strength as compared to the condition upon PWHT with 300 s soaking time and the FSW condition. Fatigue tests in the low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue regimes revealed a reduction in fatigue strength due to the onset of grain growth near the surface for both PWHT conditions. In consequence, removal of the surface layer led to an improvement in fatigue strength.

Synthesis of ultrafine VN particles by vanadium trioxide reduction–nitridation in a CH4–N2 atmosphere: Mechanistic and experimental study

Owing to its high hardness, favourable stability, and good electrical performance, vanadium nitride (VN) is extensively used as an alloy additive, electrode material, ceramic material, and catalyst. However, the traditional synthesis methods for VN require high temperatures and long soaking times. Herein, ultrafine VN particles were prepared at a lower temperature and shorter soaking time from V2O3 powder in the presence of a CH4–N2 gas mixture. Thermodynamic analyses, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, and experimental investigations were performed to investigate the mechanisms of this process. Thermodynamic analysis showed that V2O3 reacts with the CH4–N2 gas mixture under atmospheric pressure at a lower temperature to produce VN. The interactions between CH4, V2O3, and N2 at the atomic level were systematically clarified, and the important role of N2 molecules was determined using AIMD simulations. N2 not only reacts with V2O3 to form V–N bonds but also acts as a medium for adsorbed CH4 molecules to decompose and act as a further reducing agent. The experimental results showed that ultrafine VN particles were obtained at a heating temperature of 1173 K, soaking time of 1.5 h, CH4:N2 molar ratio of 1:2, and gas flow rate of 0.9 L/min. The final product was characterised by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The O and N content measured by an O/N analyser is 0.34% and 16.2%, respectively, and the C content by a C/S analyser is 4.87%.

Fabrication of poly(lactic acid) foam with high expansion ratio and oriented cellular structure by restricting cold crystallization

The foaming behavior of semi-crystalline polymers is significantly affected by their crystallization. To achieve high expansion ratio of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams, we thought its cold crystallization should be restricted. Therefore, we used a short soaking time of CO2 to fabricate high-expansion PLA foams. Dynamic mechanical analysis of unfoamed PLA showed that only one rubbery plateau was observed owing to complete cold crystallization under a soaking time of 40 min at 10 MPa. The crystal morphology demonstrated that a short soaking time of 3 min could restrict the cold crystallization of PLA. Owing to plasticization of CO2, PLA crystallization of was accelerated at low temperatures (40–80 °C) but hindered at high temperatures (80–130 °C) at 10 MPa. Foaming results showed that under a soaking time of 3 min, a high expansion ratio exceeding 10 was achievable over a wide foaming temperature range of 90 to 115 °C because more amorphous regions were preserved at 10 MPa. In addition, the prepared foams presented an oriented cellular structure. Compared with the isotropic foam, the anisotropic foam exhibited higher compressive strength and heat resistance. The prepared PLA foams have good application prospects in the fields such as cushioning, packaging, and construction.

A hybrid material extrusion device with local debinding and sintering

To date, debinding and sintering of parts fabricated through material extrusion (MEX) has been done in a time-consuming disconnected approach, with geometries initially shaped, then debinded and lastly sintered. Little progress has been made to process MEX bodies within the same device, eliminating part transportation to sophisticate and expensive equipment. This study shows that debinding and sintering in-situ, within the same volume, can be achieved efficiently by selectively applying local energy on the as-built green parts. A hybrid device is disclosed, combining traditional MEX with local debinding and sintering. The hybrid machine is integrated with a low intensity infrared diode laser and an induction heater, whereby the combination of concentrated energies during the manufacturing process can lead to near-net shaped geometries. The results establish that the main binder matrix of a Highly Filled (HF) stainless steel 316 L filament can be removed effectively across the entire 3D volume during the shaping stage. It is further reported that local sintering of debinded geometries results in high densities with short soaking times, being a promising improvement compared to conventional methods. Local thermal debinding and sintering allows to simplify the processing of MEX parts, avoiding the use of toxic agents and expensive post-processing equipment.

Low temperature atmospheric synthesis of WAlB and Mn2AlB2 MAB phases by modified molten salt shielded synthesis method

Nowadays, transition metal-based boride-like layered MAB phases are getting more attention due to their excellent combination of metal-ceramic properties, like good thermal and electrical conductivity, oxidation and thermal shock resistance, excellent wear resistance etc. So far, WAlB was synthesized at high temperature (1550 °C) with 24 hr soaking time by aluminium flux technique with nominal single-phase purity, which requires huge investment and production costs. However, Mn2AlB2 was recently synthesized using KBr salt via molten salt shielded synthesis (MS3) at a relatively low temperature 1000 °C for a longer soaking time (12 hr) which may enhance the chances of oxidation. Therefore, the motivation of this work is to synthesize WAlB and Mn2AlB2 MAB phase at lower temperatures with high purity via a newly developed simple, cost-effective, environmental-friendly method named modified molten salt shielded synthesis method. This paper synthesized both these phases with high yield at lower temperatures and much shorter soaking time than earlier reported literature.

Molten salt-assisted synthesis of carbo-nitride TiC0.5N0.5 and MAX phases Ti2AlC0.5N0.5 and Ti3AlCN at low temperature under different atmospheres

Transition metal-based carbo-nitride solid solution phases have wide application in electrical, electronic, automotive, and refractory industries due to the excellent combination of metallic and ceramic properties. Mainly, carbo-nitride phases were synthesized by high-temperature solid-state diffusion, carbothermal reduction-nitridation, HIP, SHS, pressureless sintering at high temperature, etc. All the methods required considerable investment and production costs, limiting their application in the larger area of research. To overcome all the problems related to the synthesis, one simple, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly method is required where synthesis will be carried out at a lower temperature with a shorter soaking time. Molten salt-assisted synthesis method fulfils these requirements by accelerating the diffusion rate for phase formation through a chemically inert liquid medium. In this manuscript, carbo-nitride TiC0.5N0.5 and MAX phases Ti2AlC0.5N0.5 and Ti3AlCN have been synthesized using this method with a different atmosphere (Ar, N2, and Air) at a relatively lower temperature with a shorter period of time and characterized by XRD, SEM, particle size analyzer, and HRTEM. The relative density was measured by Archimedes’ principle in case of all the samples and electrical conductivity of the respective samples was determined by the four-probe method.

Flux crystal growth of rubidium–iron silicates and germanates and their ion-exchange using alkali nitrate salts

Single crystals of two new rubidium ferrites, RbFeSiO4 and RbFeGeO4, were grown out of a eutectic RbCl–RbF melt. Both compounds crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Ima2 and exhibit a three-dimensional porous framework structure composed of statistically disordered (Fe/T)O4 (T = Si, Ge) tetrahedra that corner-share to generate large channels running down the c-axis. These channels are occupied by Rb ions to maintain charge balance. RbFeSiO4 can also be prepared via a solid-state reaction by mixing and heating stoichiometric amounts of Rb2CO3, Fe2O3 and elemental Si; however, a similar approach for preparing RbFeGeO4 yielded a mixture of RbFeGeO4 and RbFeGe2O6. Powder second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements of RbFeSiO4 determined that the material is SHG-active with an intensity of 0.5 times of α-SiO2. First principles calculations in the form of density-functional theory indicated that it would be possible to ion exchange the Rb cation for other alkali metal cations. Applying a molten alkali nitrate salt-bath treatment at low soak temperatures of 350 °C–450 °C and short soak times of ∼16 h resulted in the almost complete replacement of rubidium with potassium and the partial replacement of rubidium with cesium, yielding K0.92Rb0.08FeSiO4, K0.91Rb0.09FeGeO4, and Cs0.48Rb0.52FeGeO4. No ion-exchange was observed when RbFeSiO4 was soaked in molten CsNO3; however, it was possible to force the exchange by using a CsCl melt at 680 °C to yield Cs0.13Rb0.87FeSiO4.

Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) Combined with Prophylactic Corneal Cross-Linking for Correction of Myopia: Regional Analysis of Corneal Morphology.

IntroductionThis study evaluated the outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) combined with prophylactic corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in correcting myopia in cases with increased estimated risk of postoperative corneal ectasia, detected by regional analysis of corneal morphology.MethodsThe retrospective study included 180 eyes of 99 patients. Group 1 (94 eyes of 49 patients) with increased risk of postoperative corneal ectasia, as detected by “Ectasia Risk Factor Score System for LASIK”, underwent femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK (FS-LASIK) combined with prophylactic CXL, using short riboflavin soaking time and low UV energy. Group 2 (86 eyes of 50 patients) with normal corneal topography, who underwent FS-LASIK alone, were used as controls. Refractive and visual outcomes and Scheimpflug topo/tomography were analyzed preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, and 12 months postoperatively. Mean regional corneal curvature (M) values for three subregions (the central 3.0 mm region, the paracentral 3.0–6.0 mm region, and the peripheral 6.0–9.0 mm region) of both anterior and posterior surfaces were calculated.ResultsAn increase in flattening of the peripheral anterior region and more steepening of the posterior paracentral region were shown at 12 months compared to 1 month postoperatively in group 1. The findings were significantly more pronounced than in group 2 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.035, respectively). The refractive and visual outcomes were comparable in the two groups.ConclusionsProphylactic CXL seems to influence corneal regional reshaping after surgery, while not affecting the 1-year visual and refractive results.

Ausforming and tempering of a novel ultra-high strength steel

Ferrium® M54® is a recently developed high-performance steel with medium C and high Ni–Co contents. A processing route involving ausforming (rolling) and tempering was investigated. An ultra-fine martensitic block structure with high dislocation density was obtained, and the fully processed specimen showed an outstanding strength-elongation balance with a 1726 MPa yield strength, 2222 MPa ultimate tensile strength, and a 15.5% total elongation. Comparing the ausformed specimen and the direct-quenched (non-ausformed) baseline specimen, higher degrees of block refinement and dislocation number density in the former both contributed to the high strength of the as-ausformed condition. After tempering, the dislocation density of the ausformed specimen decreased to levels close to that of the direct-quenched specimen, but microstructural refinement persisted. Meanwhile, M2C precipitation hardening compensated for the loss of strength from dislocation recovery. Also, the acceleration of precipitation due to ausforming enabled a lower tempering temperature or shorter soaking time. Ausforming has been demonstrated as an effective way to highly refine the martensitic microstructure and further enhance the performance of secondary hardenable steel products.

Synthesis of low temperature firing scheelite-type BaWO4 microwave dielectric ceramics with high performances

The synthesis of scheelite-structured BaWO 4 ceramics at low temperatures using a Li 2 O–B 2 O 3 –BaCO 3 –CuO (LBBC) glass frit is reported in this study. Composite ceramics with the chemical formula BaWO 4 - x LBBC ( x = 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) were synthesized via the standard solid-phase method. A compact BaWO 4 matrix containing glass crystallized when sintered at 850 °C for only 30 min. The BaWO 4 ceramic with 1 wt% LBBC glass exhibits optimum microwave dielectric performance with Q × f = 58,855 GHz, ε r = 8.33, and τ f = −61.43 ppm/°C. A results of XRD and SEM analyses, microwave properties and the liquid-phase sintering mechanism for the ceramics are presented. • The Q × f value remained excellent for 58855 GHz while the temperature decreased from 1100 °C to 850 °C. • The compound was still the pure BaWO 4 phase. • The shorter soaking time (30min) can effectively reduce the energy consumption.

Quality Improvement of White Pepper with Processing through Optimizing the Ratio of Starter Culture from Acetobacter sp., Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus

Fermentation process using known microbial species can be exploited for the processing of white pepper. It is expected to generate quality of white pepper in a short period soaking time. This research aimed to study characteristics of white pepper through a fermentation process by addition of combination isolates of Acetobacter sp., B. subtilis, and B. cereus. After threshing, 2 kg of fresh pepper berries was soaked in water mixed with starter culture. The experiment used a completely randomized design, two replications. The treatment consisted of: A) starter culture ratio of Acetobacter sp.: B. subtillis: B. cereus (A1 = 0:0:0; A2 = 1:1:1; A3 = 2:1:1; A4 = 1:2:1; and A5 = 1:1:2) and soaking time (B1 = 5 and B2 = 7 days). Fermented pepper was decorticated, washed, and dried. The best treatment was fermented for 7 days with the combination isolates of Acetobacter sp., B. subtilis, and B. cereus with ratio 2:1:1. This condition produced white pepper in fulfilling in requirement of SNI standards with piperine and essential oil contents and TPC of 5.95%, 2.95% and 1.1 x 102 CFU/g, respectively. This process is expected to generate high quality of white pepper in a short soaking time.

High hydrogen peroxide concentration-low exposure time of plasma-activated water (PAW): A novel approach for shelf-life extension of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) steak

A new method for using plasma-activated water (PAW; 100 ppm H2O2) to improve the cold (4 °C) shelf-stability of Asian sea bass steaks (ASBS) was established. Soaking with PAW, created utilizing oxygen and argon, for 30–120 s successfully extended the shelf-life of ASBS by suppressing microbial growths below the permissible level (7 log CFU/g) for 25 days, whereas control reached the microbiological limit after 10 days (p < 0.05). PAW-treated samples had lower accumulation rates of total volatile base nitrogen (< 25 mg/100 g), trimethylamine (< 5 mg/100 g), and propanal (< 400 nmol/g) than control (p < 0.05). PAW improved lipid stability (TBARS <2 mg/kg) but promoted protein oxidation (protein carbonyl ~0.01–0.02 nmol/mg). Hardness and water holding capacity of PAW treatments were better preserved during storage than control as indicated by higher breaking force and lesser expressible moisture drip. Although metmyoglobin tended to stay stable during storage, all treatments' surface total color change tended to increase by 2–5 folds. Overall, argon-produced PAW with 100 ppm H2O2 and a short soaking time (30 s) seemed to be a promising method for protecting the quality and safety of ASBS.

Microscale investigation of DNAPL displacement by engineered graphene quantum dots in heterogeneous porous media

This x-ray microtomography study investigates the dynamic pore-scale displacement of a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) such as heavy crude oil in a heterogeneous aquifer rock using carbonaceous nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized from Wyoming coal and consisted of a mixture of graphene quantum dots (GQD) and engineered graphene quantum dots (E-GQD) in equal proportions. Synergistic interactions between GQD and E-GQD at the oil/water interface reduced the DNAPL/brine interfacial tension (IFT) from 13.4 mN/m to 5.4 mN/m. In addition, the nanofluid mixture altered the wettability of the minerals found in the rock (quartz, carbonate, and feldspar) from oil-wet to water-wet with average contact angles of 66°, 51°, and 60°, respectively. The wettability alteration was more pronounced in carbonates due to the tendency of GQD to adsorb on these surfaces. Analyses of the saturation profiles and pore-scale fluid occupancy maps revealed that the wettability alteration was not instantaneous and required a short soaking time for the fluid-rock interactions to take place. IFT reduction alone was not enough to displace the DNAPL at the early stages of nanofluid flooding because of the high density and viscosity of the oil. As a result, the nanofluid did not outperform brine after 1 pore volume (PV) of injection. On the other hand, the nanofluid was able to invade small pores that were not accessible to brine after 3 PV of injection due to both IFT and contact angle reduction, which lowered the threshold capillary pressure of these pores. Subsequently, more medium and large pores were invaded by the nanofluid as the injection continued, leading to an 11% increase in DNAPL recovery after 20 PV of nanofluid injection, as compared to waterflooding. This incremental recovery is significant considering that the experiments were performed with a heavy oil at ambient temperature, which is more representative of aquifer conditions. Thus, the GQD-based nanofluid has the potential to achieve much larger recoveries in deeper heavy oil reservoirs provided enough soaking time is allowed. The insights provided by this study could be used to validate pore-scale network models or guide in the design and selection of more effective nanomaterials for aquifer remediation or enhanced oil recovery applications.

Effect of strain rate on mechanical properties and microstructure of TRIP steel

TRIP effect is one of the important features for TRIP steel. A Nb-Mo microalloyed TRIP steel was developed by employing two different soaking time during annealing, and tensile tests at three different strain rate for specimens after annealing were performed. The microstructures and the volume fraction of retained martensite were examined and analyzed. The result indicated that TRIP steel showed significantly different behaviour at different strain rates. The ultimate tensile strength and total elongation decreased with the strain rate increasing. The dynamic strain aging effect might occur at low strain rate. With shorter soaking time during annealing, microstructure with ultra-refined grain size could be achieved. Fracture surfaces were different at different strain rate. As strain rate increases, the fraction of retained austenite to martensite transformation at failure point decreases which leads to the difference of mechanical properties.

TEKNOLOGI PEMBUATAN TELUR ASIN DENGAN PENERAPAN METODE TEKANAN OSMOTIK

ABSTRACT The technology that produces salted eggs is generally a simple technology. differences in the production process and quality of salted egg products are determined based on the processing method. The aim of this study salted eggs can be made in a short time through manipulation of osmotic pressure factors, soaking eggs in vinegar can open the semipermeable membrane on the egg shell so that the salt solution quickly enters in eggs. The research method is first to select duck eggs with good quality, then clean them, prepare a solution of acetic acid with a concentration of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. Then soak the eggs in a solution of acetic acid with time variations of 5,10,15 and 20 minutes. then wrap the eggs with red rock powder dough, put the egg packages into the heating device for 3 hours with a temperature of 60oC, clean the duck eggs, the last process is the SNI test and the organoleptic test.From this research, the results obtained for the salt content with a short soaking time (5 minutes) and the concentration of 15% acetic acid soaking solution had met the SNI 4277.1996 standard, namely a minimum of 2%. In this case, the soaking process of eggs using acetic acid functions to open the pores of the egg shells so that the oscillic salt process is faster. The results showed that the higher the concentration of acetic acid and the longer the immersion time, the salt osmosis rate was getting faster and the salt content in the eggs was getting higher, and with the osmotic pressure factor manipulation method salted eggs can be made in a short time namely 3 hours.

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of a crossbred brown rice variety (UKMRC-9) shows high GABA content

The neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a functional food ingredient of growing importance in the preparation of GABA-enriched germinated brown rice (GBR). Quantification of GABA levels during germination in a locally developed high yielding red rice variety (UKMRC-9) was carried out via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis using pre-column chemical derivatisation with 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde (HN) using a UV detection system. Factors that influence rice germination such as soaking time and temperature were also studied. The results of this study showed that the UKMRC-9 rice variety soaked in water for 6 hours at 35 °C yielded the highest value for both germination percentage (95.4±1.2%) and GABA content (411 μg g-1). This suggests that long soaking times of 1-4 days can be substituted by short soaking times to produce high GABA levels in germinated brown rice.

Microstructure evolution of WC-20Co cemented carbide during direct selective laser melting

ABSTRACT The feasibility of selective laser melting (SLM) was investigated for manufacturing WC-20Co cemented carbide in this study. Both the microstructure analysis and finite element simulation were used to investigate the sintering mechanisms of cemented carbides during SLM process. Characterisation of WC grain size and distribution for SLM processed cemented carbides, as well as the finite element simulation, was conducted. It was shown that during SLM processing, extremely high sintering temperature combined with the short soaking time contributes to the unique inhomogeneous microstructure and densification behaviour of cemented carbide samples. The synergy of laser power and scanning speed determines the maximum sintering temperature during SLM processing.

Sono-hydro priming process (ultrasound modulated hydration): Modelling hydration kinetic during paddy germination

Application of ultrasound technology in modulating the hydration process during paddy germination was analyzed in this study. The effect of hydropriming (24 h) and sono-hydro priming (ultrasound priming, 12 h) on the hydration behaviour of paddies was determined at different temperatures (25–40 °C). Ultrasound pulse was applied for 10 min after every one hour for sono-hydro priming. Germination potential and microstructure analysis of treated paddies were also performed. Downward concave curve observed in hydration process of paddies indicates initial high-water absorptionthrough diffusion process. Sono-hydro priming process showed higher hydration rate compared to hydropriming. The changes in moisture content during hydration processes fitted to theoretical (Fick's model) and empirical model (Peleg model) exhibited high regression coefficient (R2 > 0.95) indicating suitability for predicting hydration behaviour in both paddies for germination. The Peleg model adequately predicted saturation moisture content and sono-hydro priming efficiently increased the water absorption rate. Effective moisture diffusivity determined from Fick's diffusion model increased for sono-hydro priming. Activation energy estimated from effective moisture diffusivity required in sono-hydro priming (Ea = 20.32 and 19.19 KJ/mol respectively) for pigmented rice and non-pigmented rice was lower than hydropriming (Ea = 27.11 and 32.15 KJ/mol respectively). Both hydration processes were endothermic and non-spontaneous inferred from thermodynamic properties. Sono-hydro priming exhibited < 95% germination potential with shorter soaking time (12 h) owing to the high mass transfer rate. SEM micrograph revealed water absorption through various micro-cavities during sono-hydro priming. Thus, sono-hydro priming potentially reduced the soaking process (approximately 50%) with higher germination rate in paddies beneficial for commercial malting of grains.