Soft Core Research Articles

FPGA-Based Design of a Ready-to-Use and Configurable Soft IP Core for Frame Blocking Time-Sampled Digital Speech Signals

‘Frame blocking’ or ‘Framing’ is a technique that divides a time-sampled speech or audio signal into consecutive and equi-sized short-time frames, either overlapped or non-overlapped, for analysis. The framing hardware architectures (FHA) in the literature support framing speech or audio samples of specific word size with specific frame size and frame overlap size. However, speech and audio applications often require framing signal samples of varied word sizes with varied frame sizes and frame overlap sizes. Therefore, the existing FHAs must be redesigned appropriately to keep up with the variability in word size, frame size and frame overlap size, as demanded across multiple applications. Redesigning the existing FHAs for each specific application is laborious, prompting the need for a configurable intellectual property (IP) core. The existing FHAs are inappropriate for creating configurable IP cores as they lack adaptability to accommodate variability in frame size and frame overlap size. Therefore, to address these issues, a novel FHA, adaptable to accommodate the desired variability, is proposed. Furthermore, the proposed FHA is transformed into a field-programmable gate array-based soft, ready-to-use and configurable frame blocking IP core using the Xilinx® Vivado™ tool. The resulting IP core is versatile, offering configurability for framing in numerous applications incorporating real-time digital speech and audio systems. This research article discusses the proposed FHA and frame blocking IP core in detail.

Finite element analysis and design of a magnetostrictive material based vibration energy harvester with a magnetic flux path

Abstract This work presents the development of a nonlinear 2D finite element (FE) framework for magnetostrictive material based energy harvesters of beam geometry. The FE model is developed in COMSOL Multiphysics and compared with existing literature for validation. The FE model is subsequently used to study the effect of a closed magnetic flux path, consisting of ferromagnetic components, on the harvester output. Specifically, the voltage output is obtained by performing simulations on unimorph type harvester devices with and without a closed magnetic flux path, both operating at the same natural frequency and volume of the magnetostrictive material Galfenol. The harvester design considered here consists of a magnetostrictive layer (Galfenol) bonded to a steel substrate layer, a tip mass, a pick-up coil and a magnetic flux path consisting of soft iron core and NdFeB permanent magnets. Our results demonstrate a voltage gain of around 70% for the closed flux path design. Furthermore, a proof of concept prototype of the modified flux path design is developed, tested under impulse loading, and the voltage, power output are compared with FE simulation results for validation. The simulation results match well with experimental observations at two operating frequencies for the flux path design.

The Comparison of Scar Mobilization Techniques with and without Core Stability Exercises on Scar Tissue Mobility and Lumbopelvic Pain

Abdominal adhesions and lumbopelvic pain can occur after a caesarean section. Many treatment approaches, such as injections, massage, surgical release, soft tissue release, strengthening, stretching and core stability exercises are available for abdominal scars. Physiotherapy treatments are considered safer and more convenient. The study aims to compare the effects of scar mobilization techniques with and without core stability exercises on scar tissue mobility and lumbopelvic pain. The study was a randomized clinical trial conducted at the Rafiqa Hospital and Fatima Hospital, Sargodha, Pakistan. A sample of 30 participants was allocated in Group A and B. Group A received scar mobilization and core stability exercises, while Group B received only scar mobilization, with both groups undergoing 3 sessions per week for total three weeks. The groups were assessed at baseline after the 5th and 9th sessions, using Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Manual Scar Mobility Testing (MSMT), and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Moreover, the data were analyzed using SPSS 25. The mean age of participants was 27.22 ± 4.21, and their body mass index was 27.10 ± 3.53. Both groups showed significant differences within the subject’s scores of disability, pain and scar mobility (p<0.05). Between-group comparison of both groups at post-treatment II showed considerable improvement in pain scores (NPRS score, p<0.05). Whereas non-significant results were in other outcome measures (disability and scar mobility p>0.05) in post-treatment II. Scar mobilization techniques with core stability exercises were more effective than scar mobilization techniques alone in the conservative treatment of females with lumbopelvic and scar pain after caesarean section.

Towards an EPR on a Chip Spectrometer for Monitoring Radiation Damage During X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

AbstractElectron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is an essential tool to investigate the effects of ionizing radiation, which is routinely administered for reducing contaminations and waste in food products and cosmetics as well as for sterilization in industry and medicine. In materials research, EPR methods are not only employed as a spectroscopic method of structural investigations, but also have been employed for detection of changes in electronic structure due to radiation damage from high energy X-rays, for example, to monitor radical formation inside biomolecules caused by X-ray irradiation at carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen K-edges at synchrotron facilities. Here a compact EPR spectrometer, based on EPR-on-a-chip (EPRoC) sensor and a portable electromagnet, has been developed as a solution for monitoring radiation damage of samples during their investigation by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at synchrotron facilities. A portable electromagnet with a soft iron core and forced air temperature stabilization was constructed as the source of the external magnetic field. The sweep range of magnetic field inside the most homogeneous region of the portable electromagnet is 12–290 mT. The compact spectrometer performance was evaluated by placing the EPRoC sensor inside either a commercial electromagnet or the portable electromagnet to record the EPR spectrum of tempol, irradiated alanine, and dilithium phthalocyanine (Li2Pc). The potential performance of the portable spectrometer for the detection of radiation damage in organic compounds and transition metal-containing catalysts during XAS measurements in both fluorescence and transmission modes was calculated with promising implications for measurements after implementation in a synchrotron-based XAS spectrometer.

Integrating parametric HFGMC and isogeometric RZT[formula omitted] for multiscale damage modeling of composite structures: A numerical and experimental study

In this research effort, a novel multiscale analysis scheme is proposed for damage modeling of composite laminates, sandwich structures, and stiffened plates relying on capabilities of the parametric HFGMC and isogeometric RZT{3,2} formulations. The Ramberg Osgood (RO) model is incorporated into the micromechanics model to reflect polymer matrix material nonlinearities on the overall homogenized composite behavior. Carbon fibers are assumed to behave in a linear transversely isotropic manner. The higher order RZT{3,2} theory employed at the macro level facilitates efficient applicability of the model to thick composite laminates and soft core sandwiches. On the other hand, it generates all three-dimensional stress components and thus ensures dimensional consistency between micro and macro levels. Numerical discretization and prediction of RZT{3,2} kinematic variables are enabled by performing NURBS based isogeometric analysis (IGA) thereby enhancing modeling efficacy to a significant degree. Soft core plasticity and failure in the composite are evaluated at the macro level through the RO model and Hashin criteria, respectively. Applicability of the method is presented for thin and thick flat composite and sandwich laminates; and further extended to stiffened plates via developing a multipatch formulation. A comprehensive validation of our analysis is conducted by comparing the results with established benchmarks from the literature, experimental data, and three-dimensional finite element method (3D-FEM) simulations. Initially, a moderately thick, simply supported square laminate under transverse loading is examined, a common verification benchmark. Then, results from standard mechanical tests, including tensile, shear, and four-point bending tests on thin laminates, followed by experiments on moderately thick sandwich structures subjected to four-point bending, are presented. Finally, the analysis is extended to a stiffened plate under uniform pressure, demonstrating the method’s accuracy and applicability across diverse structural configurations.

Ultra High multi channel clock frequency(THz, PHz, EHz, ZHz,YHz,XHz,WHz) baud rate speed PRBS Transceiver HDL RTL ASIC Design for Ultra High long Distance Wireless Communication Engineering Smart Computing Products/ Applications

The Key Objective is HDL RTL Design Architecture of Ultra high multi Clock Frequency Speed Rate ( MHz, GHz, THz, PHz, EHz, ZHz, etc) Bits Per Second Baud Rate ) P.R.B.S(Pseudo Random Binary Sequence) Transceiver Soft A.S.I.C IP Core product for identification of the property of Different Pseudo Random Binary Sequence Patterns (Seed Words) of 2e 7 -1, 2e10 -1, 2e 15 -1, 2e 23 -1, 2e 31 -1 tapped elements as per C.C.I.T.T-I.T.U Standards and IEEE-754 Single and Double Data Rate Data Precision Standards (32 bit & 64 Bit Data Width ) suited for Very Advanced Futuristic Hi-tech Smart High Speed Long Distance Wireless Digital Communication A.S.I.C Products / Applications like Space/Satellite, Aerospace and Large Data Processing and computing like High Speed Internet and Cloud Computing based Hi-Fi Industrial Data Automation Standard Ultra High Speed Wireless Communication A.S.I.C products and Applications-3G,4G,5G etc. The Multi channel PRBS Transceiver consists Transmitter and receiver of different PRBS patterns- 2e7 -1, 2e10 -1, 2e15 -1, 2e23 -1, 2e31 -1 NRZ. The data input transmitted and received serially in the form bit by bit. These different pattern sequences are Designated as per CCITT ITU 0.151/O.152/O.153 & AT&T Standards. The Aim and purpose of invention of Ultra high multichannel Clock frequency PRBS Transceiver is for transmit and receive data serially by using Tx_in and Tx_out, rxin, rxout signals and The Transceiver is processed the low frequency signal input with different high speed carrier wave frequencies in the form of different PRBS pseudo random binary sequence seed word bit/byte patterns -2e7 -1, 2e10 -1, 2e15 -1, 2e23 -1, 2e31 -1 NRZ and also on receiver side processed with the above patterns. Materials and Methods: Transmission and reception of Data serially based on the Deterministic random seed word pattern methods of different PRBS 2e7 -1, 2e10 -1, 2e15 -1, 2e23 -1, 2e31 -1 tapped sequence Elements and All these PRBS are purely synchronized with Ultra high clock frequency(MHz, GHz, THz, PHz, EHz, ZHz, YHz, XHz, WHz). The Soft IP Core Designed by System Verilog HDL/ Verilog HDL. RTL Design Simulation done by Synopsys VCS 2020.1 software and Altera Model-Sim Software and Logic Design Flow & Synthesis done by Xilinx ISE and Altera Quartus EDA Tools. Results: Generation of Simulation Display and waveform for Ultra High Clock frequency(MHz, GHz, THz, PHz, EHz, ZHz, YHz, XHz, WHz) Synchronized Pseudo Random Binary Sequence (PRBS) Register Transfer Level (RTL) Generators, Transceiver for efficient and effective High Quality Data transmission and Reception of Various tapped sequence patterns for Identification of property of different PRBS patterns2e7 -1, 2e10-1, 2e15-1, 2e23 -1, 2 31 -1 NRZ of Ultra high speed Long distance wireless engineering Applications/ products.

Primary BAP1-absent atypical meningioma arising from median nerve within infraclavicular brachial plexus: illustrative case.

The authors present the only known case of a World Health Organization grade II ectopic meningioma occurring in the infraclavicular brachial plexus, causing pain within the axilla not associated with a primary malignant meningioma of the central nervous system. Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare entities, the majority of which are schwannomas or neurofibromas. Ectopic meningiomas only represent 1%-2% of all meningiomas. To date, there is one other published case specifically of a primary ectopic meningioma located in the brachial plexus. Following the dissection of the left axilla, a dominant rubbery tumor involving the median nerve was encountered. The tumor capsule contained areas of hemorrhage and a soft core with nerve fascicles coursing through, which were not compromised during internal tumor debulking. The tumor lacked a clear pseudocapsule that is characteristically seen in schwannomas. Histopathological studies confirmed an atypical epithelioid neoplasm with elevated numbers of mitotic figures and BAP1 gene deletion. Primary meningiomas arising outside the central nervous system are exceedingly rare. For this unusual higher-grade primary ectopic meningioma located in the distal brachial plexus, surgery with the goal of gross-total resection, adjuvant radiation, additional imaging, and genetics screening were recommended. Close follow-up is warranted. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24226.

Do cracked jaws of the four-jaw chuck of a large lathe pose a danger?

Abstract All the jaws of a four-jaw chuck mounted on the faceplate of a large lathe were received by the material testing laboratory to undergo metallurgical failure analysis. Each of the four jaws exhibited cracks in the fillet radius between one of the gripping surfaces and the long horizontal part. The cracks were just visible to the unaided eye und had been discovered by an alert mechanic. One of the jaws was selected for further material analysis for which the crack was opened to undergo fractographic evaluation. The analysis also involved the evaluation of the material using optical emission spectrometry, the preparation of a metallographic sample, and hardness testing. The cracks occurred as a result of repeated overload at the crack initiation sites located in the fillet radius. This was not a single overload event which would not have caused the jaws to crack, but a series of overload events. The situation did not pose a safety hazard to the staff since the soft and tough core of the case-hardened jaws would have retarded, if not stopped, crack growth. A sudden disastrous failure of the jaws by breaking off, for example, and extremely heavy components crashing down as a result were not an imminent threat. This dangerous failure scenario would have been enabled if the jaws had been through-hardened. Instead, casehardening heat treatment had been applied which is the correct choice for this type of component.

Harmonizing microstructures and enhancing mechanical resilience: Novel powder metallurgy approach for Zn–Mg alloys

Zinc alloys are recognised for their excellent biocompatibility and favourable corrosion rates, making them suitable for bioabsorbable implants. However, their mechanical properties necessitate improvement to fulfil the rigorous requirements of biomedical applications. This research focuses on engineering pseudo-harmonic structures within zinc alloys through a comprehensive method combining mechanical alloying, spark plasma sintering, and hot extrusion techniques. This fabrication process results in a composite material characterised by a soft core surrounded by a continuous, three-dimensional, ultrafine-grained hard shell. The experiment involved blending pure zinc with Zn–1Mg alloy powder, leading to the formation of both ductile zinc and fine-grained Zn–1Mg regions. While the Mg2Zn11 intermetallic phase was found to enhance the alloy's mechanical strength, the presence of oxide shells adversely affected the material's properties. The elimination of these shells via hot extrusion markedly improved the alloy's tensile strength, reaching an average value of tensile strength of 333 ± 7 MPa. This study provides significant insights into the material engineering of zinc-based alloys for biodegradable implant applications, demonstrating a viable approach to optimising their mechanical performance.

Temporal resistance fluctuations during the initial filtration period of colloidal matter filtration

Membrane filtration processes with flux reversal for backwashing are employed to manage fouling during colloidal fluid treatment. This flux reversal accompanies filtration cycles where the total resistance increases over time. However, little is known about the initial phase of filtration. We focus on early filtration phase and present a microfluidic filtration system that allows precise observation of filtration resistances under constant flux or constant pressure operation for soft matter dead-end filtration with subsequent percolation of pure solvent. We identified temporal hydraulic resistance fluctuations during the start-up phase, which significantly differed from the steady-state condition. We focus on the experimental filtration of soft core–shell poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic-acid microgels and observed a distinct peak in filter cake resistance with a subsequent reduction down to 50% of the initial peak resistance. To comprehend the phenomenon, we complement the experiments with temporal and spatial confocal microscopy studies linking cake compression and cake density gradients to its resistance. By comparing filtration, dialysis, and centrifugation as different microgel purification methods, we discover microgel shell degradation leading to detached polymer chains permeating in the downstream which causes the observed resistance reduction. This result demonstrates the permeation-induced degradation of macromolecular colloids during membrane filtration.

Limpet-inspired design and 3D/4D printing of sustainable sandwich panels: Pioneering supreme resiliency, recoverability and repairability

Sandwich panels, characterized by their solid exterior and thick, soft core, find extensive applications ranging from maritime to aerospace sectors due to their exceptional resilience and energy absorption/dissipation capabilities. The natural limpet, known for its resilience to mechanical loading, serves as inspiration in the present research to introduce innovative repairable core shells. Limpet-inspired shells with elasto-plastic and brittle behaviors are designed and 3D/4D printed using polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and resins via fused filament fabrication (FFF) and liquid crystal display (LCD) techniques. While PLA filament exhibits an elasto-plastic response with a shape-recovery feature, the resin results in brittle structures for LCD-printed design. The study demonstrates that the FFF-printed PLA shell can fully recover residual plastic deformations, while the LCD-printed PLA shell exhibits a mechanical fracture behavior very similar to the natural limpet with brittle properties. A nonlinear finite element model (FEM) is also developed to replicate the large deformations of the samples under quasi-static compression with a high level of accuracy. Experimental and numerical results reveal that the samples with material, mechanical behavior, and geometry close to the natural limpet result in the maximum energy dissipation per unit mass. Two bio-inspired cores are then tessellated to introduce a new class of sustainable sandwich panels with supreme recoverability, resiliency, and repairability. A three-point bending test is numerically carried out on sandwich panels using FEM, and their energy absorption and dissipation capacities are studied. Results demonstrate that the proposed sandwich panels can achieve almost 7.33 and 1.17 times higher energy dissipation per unit mass than those developed based on a recycled thermoplastic bottle cap core. This pioneering research sets a new benchmark for structural design in terms of resiliency, recoverability, repairability, and sustainability.

Tailoring properties of directed energy deposited Al-Mg alloy by balancing laser shock peening and heat treatment

Wire arc-directed energy deposition (WADED) has shown great advantages and potential in fabricating large-scale aluminum (Al) alloy components. However, WADED Al alloys typically exhibit low strength and reliability due to pore defects and lack of work hardening or precipitation strengthening. This study utilized a combination of laser shock peening (LSP) and annealing to regulate the microstructure of WADED Al-Mg4.5Mn alloy and enhance mechanical properties. The effects of LSP and annealing on phase composition, pore distribution, and microstructures at multiple scales were systematically investigated to reveal the mechanical property improving mechanism. The results demonstrated that LSP-induced plastic deformation formed a defect-free zone by closing near-surface pore defects. LSP created the hardened layer with gradient mechanical properties by inducing gradient changes in grain size, the number of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs), and dislocation density along the depth direction. The annealing process promoted grain coarsening and reduced excessive dislocations and LAGBs, weakening the work hardening effect caused by LSP. Furthermore, the high-density dislocations and high stored energy generated by LSP accelerated the recrystallization, facilitating growth of near-surface grains. The defect-free zone, dislocation strengthening, and LAGBs strengthening were responsible for the increase in strength, while the synergistic deformation between hardened layers and soft core facilitated maintaining excellent elongation. The strength and elongation of WADED Al alloy can be synergistically improved by balancing the effects of LSP and heat treatment.

Structural characteristics and in vitro starch digestibility of oil-modified cooked rice with varied addition manipulations

Lipid has crucial applications in improving the quality of starchy products during heat processing. Herein, the influence of lipid modification and thermal treatment on the physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of cooked rice prepared with varied addition manipulations was investigated. Rice bran oil (RO) and medium chain triglyceride oil (MO) manipulations were performed either before (BC) or after cooking (AC). GC–MS was applied to determine the fatty acid profiles. Nutritional quality was analyzed by quantifying total phenolics, atherogenic, and thrombogenic indices. All complexes exhibited higher surface firmness, a soft core, and less adhesive. FTIR spectrum demonstrated that the guest component affected some of the dense structural attributes of V-amylose. The kinetic constant was in the range between 0.47 and 0.86 min−1 wherein before mode presented a higher value. The lowest glucose release was observed in the RO_BC sample, whereas the highest complexing index was observed in the RO_AC sample, indicating that the dense molecular configuration of complexes that could resist enzymatic digestion was more critical than the quantity of complex formation. Despite the damage caused by mass and heat transfer, physical barrier, intact granule forms, and strengthened dense structure were the central contributors affecting the digestion characteristics of lipid-starch complexes.

Enhancing comprehensive performances of polybenzoxazine through integration of soft core–soft shell cellulose‐based nanoparticles

AbstractTo further increasing the toughness performance of thermoset resins without sacrificing their other properties is still a challenge task. In this study, the soft core–soft shell nanoparticles based on polydopamine‐modified cellulose nanocrystals (P‐CNC) were synthesized and seamlessly integrated with Bisphenol A‐aniline benzoxazine (BA‐a). Notably, the results underscore the remarkable impact of a mere 0.2 wt% of P‐CNC on BA‐a, boosting the impact strength of the modified system to 19.5 kJ/m2. This achievement represents a substantial 140.7% increase compared with pure polybenzoxazine. Moreover, the flexural strength reaches 133.4 MPa, surpassing pure polybenzoxazine by 16.2%. And the modified system exhibits a 10% weight loss temperature (Td10) at 321.7°C, accompanied by a char yield of 27.6%. This holistic approach results in a notable enhancement of the toughness performance while concurrently maintaining the flexural strength and the thermal stability of the modified system. Consequently, the integration of soft core–soft shell nanoparticles emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing thermoset resin properties without undermining their existing exceptional attributes.Highlights The core–shell nanoparticles were made by dopamine and cellulose nanocrystals. The core–shell nanoparticles can enhance the toughness of polybenzoxazine. Nanoparticle‐matrix interactions and deformation led to improved properties.

Hard shell, soft core? Multi-disciplinary and multi-national insights into mental toughness among surgeons.

With the prevalence of burnout among surgeons posing a significant threat to healthcare outcomes, the mental toughness of medical professionals has come to the fore. Mental toughness is pivotal for surgical performance and patient safety, yet research into its dynamics within a global and multi-specialty context remains scarce. This study aims to elucidate the factors contributing to mental toughness among surgeons and to understand how it correlates with surgical outcomes and personal well-being. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, this study surveyed 104 surgeons from English and German-speaking countries using the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ-18) along with additional queries about their surgical practice and general life satisfaction. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied to investigate the variations in mental toughness across different surgical domains and its correlation with professional and personal factors. The study found a statistically significant higher level of mental toughness in micro-surgeons compared to macro-surgeons and a positive correlation between mental toughness and surgeons' intent to continue their careers. A strong association was also observed between general life satisfaction and mental toughness. No significant correlations were found between the application of psychological skills and mental toughness. Mental toughness varies significantly among surgeons from different specialties and is influenced by professional dedication and personal life satisfaction. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to foster mental toughness in the surgical community, potentially enhancing surgical performance and reducing burnout. Future research should continue to explore these correlations, with an emphasis on longitudinal data and the development of resilience-building programs.

A compressible layerwise third-order shear deformation theory with transverse shear stress continuity for laminated sandwich plates

Sandwich structures with a soft core typically exhibit multiple deformation modes such as bending, twisting and compression when subjected to transverse loads. Compressive behavior of soft core significantly affects the structural response, which is usually neglected in conventional plate theories. Additionally, conventional plate theories do not take into account transverse shear stress continuity. In order to address this concern and precisely characterize the characteristics of arbitrary multilayer laminated structures, a novel electromechanical coupled finite element model is developed. This model is based on a compressible layerwise third-order shear deformation theory with a soft core. Notably, the proposed model theory requires only twelve degrees of freedom for each quadratic element node. The accuracy of the model is validated first. Afterwards, several numerical investigations are carried out for piezolaminated sandwich structures with different width-to-thickness ratios, reinforcement angle and skew angle. The results demonstrate the applicability of the current model in predicting the behavior of laminated sandwich plates.

A mechanical strong yet ductile CoCrNi/Cr2B composite enabled by in-situ formed borides during laser powder bed fusion

The design of metal matrix composites predominantly focusses on synergistically integrating the intrinsic properties of matrix and reinforcing phase aiming to achieve outstanding strength and ductility simultaneously. In metal matrix composites, the reinforcing phase invariably faces challenges such as agglomeration and non-uniform distribution, resulting in a significant reduction in mechanical properties. Here, we propose a method to overcome this barrier through an in-situ alloying of laser powder bed fusion i.e., redistributing the reinforcing phase (Cr2B boride) in medium entropy alloy matrix (CoCrNi). The in-situ alloying can be achieved by a mixture of CoCrNi powders and B4C particles. After remelting, a nano-sized core-shell structure is developed by establishing “soft core” of CoCrNi matrix embedded with “hard shell” of Cr2B boride. Such nano-sized core-shell structure mainly contributes to a yield strength (867 ± 1.6 MPa), a high tensile strength (1200 ± 13 MPa) and a decent ductility (17 ± 0.5%) of the CoCrNi/Cr2B composite due to the load bearing strengthening and hetero-deformation induced hardening. Additionally, the crack propagation can be suppressed by the CoCrNi matrix/Cr2B interface. The insights provide a new design strategy of in-situ formation of the nano-sized core-shell structure to develop the metal matrix composites with high strength and ductility.

Optimizing FeSiCr-Based Soft Magnetic Composites Using the Deionized Water as the Phosphating Solvent.

To prepare a soft magnetic powder core, the magnetic powder surface has to be insulated by phosphating treatment. Organic chemicals such as ethanol and acetone are generally used as solvents for phosphoric acid, which may cause serious environmental problems. This work proposed deionized water as the environmentally friendly phosphating solvent for FeSiCr powder. The soft magnetic composites (SMCs) were prepared using phosphoric acid for inorganic coating and modified silicon polymer for organic coating. The effect of different phosphating solvents, including deionized water, ethanol, and acetone, on the structure and magnetic properties of SMCs were investigated. It is found that the solvent affects the phosphating solution's stability and the phosphoric acid's ionization. The phosphoric acid is more stable in deionized water than in ethanol and acetone. The phosphating reaction in deionized water is also more stable in deionized water, resulting in a dense phosphate coating on the particle surface. The effects of phosphoric acid concentration and temperature on the magnetic properties of FeSiCr-based SMCs were further studied. With the increase in phosphoric acid concentration and temperature, the magnetic permeability and saturation magnetization of the powder core decrease, and the core loss decreases, followed by an increase. The optimized combination of properties was obtained for the SMCs phosphated with 0.2 wt.% phosphoric acid in deionized water at 35 °C, including a high effective permeability μe of 25.7, high quality factor Q of 80.2, low core loss Pcv of 709.5 mW/cm3 measured at 0.05 T @ 100 kHz, and high withstanding voltage of 276 V, due to the formation of uniform and dense insulating coating layers. In addition, the SMCs prepared with phosphated powder show good corrosion resistance. The anti-corrosion properties of the SMCs using deionized water as a phosphating solvent are better than those using ethanol and acetone.

A novel carbon‐flax bioepoxy hybrid composite bone plate with enhanced bio‐mechanical performance

AbstractThis study aimed to pioneer a transformative approach in orthopedic implant design by developing and analyzing a groundbreaking carbon‐flax reinforced bioepoxy hybrid composite bone plate. The primary objectives of the present research were to enhance the bio‐mechanical performance of orthopedic implants and explore the potential applications of the novel material for orthopedic implants. Hybrid composite plate was fabricated mimicking the human bone with the soft inner core and a rigid outer coating. Mechanical properties for the hybrid composite were obtained through material characterization studies as per ASTM standards. The hybrid composite bone plates were tested as per bio‐mechanical test standard and the results were correlated with the finite element simulations. The maximum stress value in the experiments for the biomechanical four‐point bending tests was 331.74 MPa, and the corresponding strain value was 0.0337. The maximum equivalent stress and strain values obtained from simulation were in line with the findings of the experiments. The current research signifies a paradigm shift in orthopedic implant technology. The carbon‐flax bioepoxy hybrid composite offers remarkable potential for orthopedic applications, promising safer and more durable solutions for patients in need of bone repair or replacement.

Impact of Viscosity on Human Hepatoma Spheroids in Soft Core–Shell Microcapsules (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 11/2024)

Impact of Viscosity on Human Hepatoma Spheroids in Soft Core–Shell Microcapsules (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 11/2024)