Solid Composition Research Articles

A synergistic approach to achieving high conduction and stability of CsH2PO4/NaH2PO4/ZrO2 composites for fuel cells

Solid acid composites of CsH2PO4/NaH2PO4/ZrO2 with different weight ratios of CsH2PO4 (CDP), NaH2PO4 (SDP), and ZrO2 were synthesized and characterized.

Strength properties of chemically modified solid woods

A new composite material based on solid wood and polymer composition ‘silor’ under surface modification was obtained. A method of experimental studies of the compressed polymer composition ‘silor’ of solid hardwood by compression along the fibers has been developed. Experimental studies of such composite materials under a rigid test regime have been carried out. Complete diagrams of deformation such materials from the beginning of loading to destruction are constructed (ascending and descending branches). The main mechanical properties of new composite materials based on solid wood are determined. The method of determining the initial modulus of elasticity and modulus of deformation on the basis of graphs "E-η". It is established that the modification of the polymer composition ‘silor’ significantly improves the strength and deformability of hardwood (birch, alder, ash). With surface modification of solid hardwood, the maximum stresses increase by 12–22% in comparison with solid 60 year old wood with a moisture content of 12%. Deformability decreases within 17–25%. The initial modulus of elasticity of the studied samples is higher by 21–38%.

Формирование твердых растворов в системе Au-Co в результате механосплавления при комнатной и низкой температурах по данным рентгеновской дифрактометрии

Alloys of the gold-cobalt system characterized by limited solubility have been synthesized by the high-pressure torsion method. According to the data of X-ray diffraction analysis it was revealed that as a result of mechanical alloying, a phase of a supersaturated solid solution based on gold is formed in the composition of the alloy. Lowering the temperature to cryogenic leads to a redistribution of dissolved cobalt. These results to increase its concentration in the solid solution composition. The solid solution phase is in an ultrafine-grained state. Possible mechanisms for the formation of a supersaturated solid solution in the gold-cobalt system are discussed, taking into account the specific features of the severe plastic deformation and mechanical alloying processes.

Luminescent properties of solid solutions of yttrium-scandium phosphates doped with europium ions

The luminescent properties of solid solutions Y1-xScxPO4 : 0.5 mol.% Eu3+ (x=0,0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1) under excitation by ultraviolet and vacuum-ultraviolet radiation were studied. The influence of disorder of the crystal structure in solid solutions on the structure of Eu3+ luminescence spectra is shown. A non-linear dependence of values of the optical band gap on solid solution composition was obtained and a model was suggested to explain this effect. Keywords: energy transfer, luminescence, solid solutions, ScPO4 : Eu3+, YPO4 : Eu3+.

Clinicoradiological Characteristics in the Differential Diagnosis of Follicular-Patterned Lesions of the Thyroid: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

ObjectivePreoperative differential diagnosis of follicular-patterned lesions is challenging. This multicenter cohort study investigated the clinicoradiological characteristics relevant to the differential diagnosis of such lesions.Materials and MethodsFrom June to September 2015, 4787 thyroid nodules (≥ 1.0 cm) with a final diagnosis of benign follicular nodule (BN, n = 4461), follicular adenoma (FA, n = 136), follicular carcinoma (FC, n = 62), or follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC, n = 128) collected from 26 institutions were analyzed. The clinicoradiological characteristics of the lesions were compared among the different histological types using multivariable logistic regression analyses. The relative importance of the characteristics that distinguished histological types was determined using a random forest algorithm.ResultsCompared to BN (as the control group), the distinguishing features of follicular-patterned neoplasms (FA, FC, and FVPTC) were patient’s age (odds ratio [OR], 0.969 per 1-year increase), lesion diameter (OR, 1.054 per 1-mm increase), presence of solid composition (OR, 2.255), presence of hypoechogenicity (OR, 2.181), and presence of halo (OR, 1.761) (all p < 0.05). Compared to FA (as the control), FC differed with respect to lesion diameter (OR, 1.040 per 1-mm increase) and rim calcifications (OR, 17.054), while FVPTC differed with respect to patient age (OR, 0.966 per 1-year increase), lesion diameter (OR, 0.975 per 1-mm increase), macrocalcifications (OR, 3.647), and non-smooth margins (OR, 2.538) (all p < 0.05). The five important features for the differential diagnosis of follicular-patterned neoplasms (FA, FC, and FVPTC) from BN are maximal lesion diameter, composition, echogenicity, orientation, and patient’s age. The most important features distinguishing FC and FVPTC from FA are rim calcifications and macrocalcifications, respectively.ConclusionAlthough follicular-patterned lesions have overlapping clinical and radiological features, the distinguishing features identified in our large clinical cohort may provide valuable information for preoperative distinction between them and decision-making regarding their management.

Multiferroic Coupling of Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Particles through Elastic Polymers.

Multiferroics are materials that electrically polarize when subjected to a magnetic field and magnetize under the action of an electric field. In composites, the multiferroic effect is achieved by mixing of ferromagnetic (FM) and ferroelectric (FE) particles. The FM particles are prone to magnetostriction (field-induced deformation), whereas the FE particles display piezoelectricity (electrically polarize under mechanical stress). In solid composites, where the FM and FE grains are in tight contact, the combination of these effects directly leads to multiferroic behavior. In the present work, we considered the FM/FE composites with soft polymer bases, where the particles of alternative kinds are remote from one another. In these systems, the multiferroic coupling is different and more complicated in comparison with the solid ones as it is essentially mediated by an electromagnetically neutral matrix. When either of the fields, magnetic or electric, acts on the ‘akin’ particles (FM or FE) it causes their displacement and by that perturbs the particle elastic environments. The induced mechanical stresses spread over the matrix and inevitably affect the particles of an alternative kind. Therefore, magnetization causes an electric response (due to the piezoeffect in FE) whereas electric polarization might entail a magnetic response (due to the magnetostriction effect in FM). A numerical model accounting for the multiferroic behavior of a polymer composite of the above-described type is proposed and confirmed experimentally on a polymer-based dispersion of iron and lead zirconate micron-size particles.

Preparation of ammonium nitrate-based solid composite propellants supplemented with polyurethane/nitrocellulose blends binder and their thermal decomposition behavior

To improve the performance of solid composite propellants (SCPs) supplemented with ammonium nitrate (AN) as an oxidizer, the incorporation of energetic ingredients such as explosives, energetic binders or catalysts is a common effective approach. For this purpose, polyurethane (PU), a typical inert binder, was mixed with nitrocellulose (NC) as an energetic polymer. Numerous composite solid propellant compositions based on AN and NC-modified polyurethane binder with different NC ratios were prepared. The prepared formulations were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), RAMAN spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron densimetry, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A kinetic study was then performed using the iterative Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (It-KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (It-FWO), and non-linear Vyazovkin integral with compensation effect (VYA/CE) methods. The theoretical performances, such as theoretical specific impulse, adiabatic flame temperature, and ideal exhaust gaseous species, were also determined using the NASA Lewis Code, Chemical Equilibrium with Application (CEA). Spectroscopic examinations revealed the existence of NC and full polymerization of PU in the prepared propellants. According to density tests, the density of the propellant increases as the nitrocellulose component increases. According to the thermal analysis and kinetics study, the increase in NC content catalyzed the thermal decomposition of the AN-based composite solid propellants. Based on the theoretical study, increasing the amount of NC in the propellant increased the specific impulse and, as a result, the overall performance.

Effects of Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Cow’s Milk and Goat’s Milk Dadih Inoculated with Various Lactobacillus Species

Dadih is a dairy-based product and it is one of the most popular desserts among Malaysians and Indonesians. It is made from raw milk which naturally contains various types of microorganisms. This study was conducted to develop cultured dadih by inoculating various Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei into dadih made from cow’s milk and goat’s milk. Prior to isolation of LAB from control dadih (dadih without inoculation with LAB), the dadih was stored at 4˚C for 48 hours. The microbiological (general microbial load, viability of and LAB, mould and yeast count) and physicochemical properties (pH, lactic acid content, total soluble solid, colour, texture and proximate composition) of dadih with different LAB strains and without LAB strain were determined. Results showed that L. paracasei spp. paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus casei were isolated from cow’s milk dadih while only L. paracasei spp. paracasei was isolated from goat’s milk dadih. The number of LAB ranged from 5.73 to 6.06 log10 CFU/g for cow’s milk dadih and 5.19 to 5.88 log10 CFU/g for goat’s milk dadih. Results revealed that dadih inoculated with LAB has lower pH and greater amount of lactic acid produced than control dadih. Total soluble solid for dadih with LAB also decreased. Hardness of dadih without LAB culture was higher compared to the inoculated dadih with LAB cultures. Proximate compositions (moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein and total carbohydrate) showed variations due to differential formulations and incorporations of different LAB strains. Findings showed that L. acidophilus was chosen as the best starter culture for both types of dadih because it has significant effects on pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solid and texture of the dadih.

Enhanced Pyroelectric Performance of Lead-Free Zn-Doped Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 Ceramics.

Lead-free Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 (NBT-BT) has gained revived interest due to its exceptionally good high power properties in comparison to commercial lead-based piezoelectrics. Recently, Zn-modified NBT-BT-based materials as solid solution and composites have been reported to exhibit enhanced depolarization temperatures and a high mechanical quality factor. In this work, the pyroelectric properties of Zn-doped NBT-6mole%BT and NBT-9mole%BT ceramics are investigated. The doped compositions of NBT-6BT and NBT-9BT feature a relatively stable pyroelectric property in a wide temperature range of ~37 K (300–330 K) and 80 K (300–380 K), respectively. A threefold increase in detector figure of merit is noted for 0.01 mole Zn-doped NBT-6mole% BT at room temperature in comparison to undoped NBT-6mole%BT and this increase is higher than those of major lead-free materials. A broad range of the temperature-independent behavior for the figures of merit was noted (303–380 K) for Zn-doped NBT-6mole% BT, which is 30 K higher than the undoped material. The large pyroelectric figures of merit and good temperature stability renders Zn-doped NBT-BT an ideal candidate for pyroelectric detector and energy harvesting applications.

Effect of single and multilayered Ti3C2TX MXene as a catalyst and adsorbent on enhanced sonodegradation of diclofenac and verapamil

Single and multilayered Ti3C2TX MXene (referred to as SLM and MLM in this study, respectively) was applied as catalysts in the ultrasonic (US) process to treat selected pharmaceutical compounds including diclofenac and verapamil (VRP). Due to solid surface, elemental composition, and functional groups of Ti3C2TX MXene, the free OH• production was increased by 48.8% for the US treatment with SLM and 59.8% for the US treatment with MLM compared with the US-only treatment. Additionally, adsorption affected the performance during the US treatment in the presence of the catalyst. Thus, the US treatment in the presence of Ti3C2TX MXene had an enhanced performance not only because of increased oxidation but also because of adsorption, particularly between positively charged VRP and negatively charged Ti3C2TX MXene. Moreover, although the degradation of the performance was higher for SLM (85.1%) than for MLM (81.8%), by improving the dispersion and reducing the size via sonication, the US treatment in the presence of MLM showed the highest synergy effect. In other words, the US treatment in the presence of MLM showed higher performance than the simple sum of oxidation and adsorption. These findings confirm that the US treatment in the presence of MLM may be a promising technology to treat various pharmaceuticals as a more degradable, strongly reusable, and less toxic process.

Potential of Waste to Energy Processing for Sustainable Tourism in Nusa Penida Island, Bali

Solid waste management on Nusa Penida Island is one of the problems in tourism in Bali Province. To deal with this issue, the government has implemented various policies, where the policy that becomes an essential issue is the processing of energy waste. To support this, it is necessary to study the potential of waste characteristics on the island of Nusa Penida. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of waste on the island of Nusa Penida as an energy source based on the generation and composition of waste. Solid waste generation and composition were measured based on land and marine debris data. The total waste generation on land and marine debris can reach 6364.4 kg/day and 762.8 kg/day, respectively. The waste composition materials consist of masks, plastics, metals, and biodegradable organics with a value of 4.12%, 32.77%, 19.54%, and 43.57%, respectively. Therefore, the potential use of organic biodegradable as solid fuel can reach 51,933.8 MJ/day or 14,426 kWh/day. However, in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test, the residue was 18.6%.

A facile method to prepare layered solid fillers-based polymer composites with isotropic thermal conductivity

Layered solid particles such as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphite have been employed as anisotropic thermo-conductive fillers in polymer composites. To meet the recent requisite capability of thermal interface materials (TIMs), facile methods to prepare polymer composites with isotropic thermal conductivity utilizing the layered solid fillers have been desired. We accomplished to prepare composites of epoxy and the layered solid fillers with isotropic thermal conductivity. Production of spherical composite particles followed by compression forming of them yielded the polymer composites with isotropic thermal conductivity. The solids loading of the obtained polymer composites surpassed 60 vol%. The thermal conductivity values of the prepared specimens were ∼ 8 Wm−1K−1 for the h-BN/epoxy composite and 28 ∼ 29 Wm−1K−1 for the graphite/epoxy one. The internal solid fillers configuration achieved by integration of the spheres was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Highly efficient solid-liquid separation of anaerobically digested liquor of food waste: Conditioning approach screening and mechanistic analysis

Anaerobic digestion is known for its effectiveness and environmental friendliness in treating food waste. However, it produces anaerobically digested liquor (ADL). ADL usually has a high solid content and high concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) carried by suspended solids (SS). Thus, when ADL with amounts of SS reaches the subsequent biochemical treatment units, they negatively impact the microbial stability of corresponding processes, causing unstable effluent qualities. For this reason, the solid-liquid separation of ADL acts as a crucial step for the wide application of anaerobic digestion. In this work, the typical sludge conditioning approaches, including flocculation/coagulation, coagulation, oxidation and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), were systematically screened for their feasibility in enhancing the solid-liquid separation of ADL. The modified Fenton treatment combined with centrifugation was found to be the most effective approach, which realized the removal of 91.36% SS with FeSO4•7 H2O (5.96 g/L) and H2O2 (2.79 g/L) but without pH adjustment of ADL. The mechanism analysis showed that the modified Fenton promoted ADL colloidal aggregates to form looser medium-sized flocs with pores, increased the zeta potential to −17.6 mV, and highly reduced the total interfacial free energy. Also, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were released into liquid phase, which further eliminated the water-retaining properties of solid compositions. The analysis of surface chemical composition suggested that the modified Fenton decreased the hydrophilic component from 53.37% to 43.81% and the relative content of protein-N from 45.43% to 23.57%, while increased carbon chain and hydrocarbyl species. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that SS, zeta potential, Lewis acid-base interfacial free energy, two-dimensional fractal index (2-Df) and C-(N, O) relative content were more sensitive to variations in conditioning approaches than protein-N relative content, and hydroxyl free radical (•OH) played the key role for the modified Fenton to improve SS removal from ADL.

Investigation of the influence of recyclate content on Poisson number of composites

Abstract Composite materials are used in many industries. Their mechanical and physical properties as well as their low weight make them suitable for use in many constructions. Their wide application generates a problem with their disposal. Therefore, it is necessary to design new materials based on waste from polyester–glass laminates in order to introduce a closed circuit in the composite production process. The article presents research aimed at determining solid material composites with polyester–glass recyclate, in order to use these materials for modeling the structure. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the addition of recyclate to the polyester–glass composite on the deformation and the value of the Poisson number of the material. During the study, samples from composites with the addition of polyester–glass recyclate were used. Samples made in accordance with the standard for plastics PN-EN ISO 527-4_2000P were subjected to static tensile test on a universal testing machine, with variable load parameters. During the test, the longitudinal and transverse elongations of the samples were measured using a strain gauge measuring system. On the basis of the measurements, the values of Poisson numbers were determined, which allowed for a preliminary assessment of the impact of the recyclate content in the composite on its deformability.

A three-pronged approach to waste composition determination

Understanding solid waste composition has frequently been cited as one of the most valuable resources to those responsible for the proper management of solid waste. The unique contribution of this article lies in the fact that a waste characterisation study, conducted in a remote rural town in South Africa, was combined with an illegal dumping contents mapping and a household survey. This enabled researchers to gain a more thorough understanding of household waste management practices and challenges in this community, bridging the knowledge gap that is created when illegal dumping and household perceptions are omitted from waste characterisation studies in study areas where illegal dumping is an ongoing concern. The study therefore contributes to understanding the waste behaviour of households within the larger context of the town's waste management practices. Results indicate that, in order for municipalities to fully understand how to manage their waste, the contents of illegal dumping, where present, and household surveys should also be included in waste characterisation assessments.

Wheat and White Sorghum Supernatants as Alternatives to Calotropis procera Extract in Making Cheese

Plant coagulant, animal rennet and microbial coagulant are used as milk coagulating agents resulting in different cheese products. However, emphasis has been on the use of plant coagulant as opposed to that from animal source, rennet. Alternative milk coagulants are therefore investigated instead of animal enzymes. The use of vegetable extracts as milk coagulants has evolved in soft cheese processing. This study explored the potential of plant coagulants as an ideal choice in the production of cheese. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the coagulants on the yield and proximate composition of cheese. To compare them with cheese coagulated with supernatants from fermented white sorghums (WSS) and wheat (WS) in the laboratory. The results were also compared with cheese coagulated with Calotropis procera leaf extract (CPE) in terms of yield, the percentage composition of total solids (TS), fat, protein, lactose ash and the pH of the cheeses. The same parameters were evaluated in the whey (by-product). The minerals, pH and the proximate components in WS and WSS were also compared. Maximum cheese yield was recorded at equal volumes of milk and coagulants. CPE was superior to these other two considering the constituents in all three cheeses. The chemical composition of CPE coagulant was superior to WS and WSS in terms of TS, fat, protein and ash but lower in moisture content compared with the other two. Protein content was higher in cheese prepared with CPE (22%) about six times the amount in raw milk and the least was WSS (12%). Moreover, the cheese made with CPE had the highest yield (31.76g) and differed significantly (P&lt; 0.05) from WSS (28.87g) and WS (29.70g). Also, cheese made with WS (30.57g/ml) had the highest whey volume compared with WSS (28.11g/ml). However, increasing levels of each supernatant with a constant volume of raw milk (100ml) produced higher cheese yield at 100ml of the supernatant and 100ml of milk. Whey from WSS was the most acidic (5.85) of all the three produced but with increased acidity as the storage days increased. The study revealed that cheese with high nutritional quality can be produced with CPE, WSS and WS. The use of equal volume of coagulant (WSS or WS) to raw milk would give optimal cheese yield. This will promote the utilization of WSS and WS, which is naturally left as the waste product.

Interface engineering towardhigh‐efficiencyalloy anode for next‐generation energy storage device

AbstractAlloy materials are considered as the promising anodes for next‐generation energy storage devices attributed to their high theoretical capacities and suitable working voltage. However, further commercialization is hindered by their remarkable volume change during cycling. The interface engineering has been proposed as an effective strategy to alleviate the volume expansion and improve the electrochemical performance of alloy anode. In this review, we discuss the failure mechanisms for alloy anode during charging/discharging processes. Then the mechanisms of interface engineering for alloy anode were proposed. Next, the interface engineering strategies for alloy anode such as artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), structure control, and electrolyte composition design toward improved performance were summarized. Finally, the challenge and perspective of interface engineering of alloy anodes was discussed. This review may promote the development of alloy anode with improved electrochemical performance for practical renewable energy applications.image

Microanalysis using secondary ion emission By Raimond Castaing and Georges Slodzian

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is an analytical technique used to probe the composition of solids through the sputtering of the sample with a focussed primary ion beam and analyzing the emitted secondary ions generated under impact. These secondary ions ranging from elementals to low molecular weight organics offer precious information on the molecular composition and spatial organization within samples. Today, the combination of modern SIMS methodologies and instrumentation offers the most sensitive surface analysis approach, with elemental detection limits ranging from parts per million to parts per billion. In this month’s special feature article, we retrace the steps taken by Raimond Castaing and Georges Slodzian who in the early 1960’s developed a SIMS instrument based on a magnetic double focusing sector field mass spectrometer and using argon for the primary ion beam. This seminal work was first published in 1962, in French, in the Journal de Microscopie, which limited access to the scientific community at large. This article is now available in English and is beautifully prefaced by Georges Slodzian who revisits his steps as a young graduate student in the Castaing laboratory and discusses the scientific legacy of this article in the development of modern SIMS instrumentation.

Characterization and Analysis of Household Solid Waste Composition to Identify the Optimal Waste Management Method: A Case Study in Hanoi City, Vietnam

A survey on household solid waste generation and physical composition was conducted in Hanoi City, the capital of Vietnam. The study sampled 110 households in specific areas with different population density and household scale. Household solid waste was classified into 13 main categories and 25 sub-categories. The results showed that average generation rate of waste in Hanoi City is 0.63 kg per person per day with a slightly higher rate in rural areas than urban ones. The largest proportion was food and garden waste at 78.9% followed by plastic and paper. Plastic waste was segregated into plastic and nylon, and nylon was double that of plastics in household solid waste. Compared to previous studies, this study found a higher portion of organic matter in the waste characterization that could be attributed to the changes in lifestyle patterns associated with COVID-19. This situation provides challenges and opportunities for introducing biomass technology to recover energy.

Investigation on effect of coal fly ash on properties of corn straw pyrolysis products

The impact of coal fly ash (FA) is often ignored in the co-utilization of biomass and coal. Therefore, the influence of FA on the properties of pyrolysis products made from corn straw (CS) was investigated in this study. First, the distribution of co-pyrolysis bio-oil was investigated using pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry at 500°C-800 °C. Then, in a free-falling fixed-bed reactor, FA and CS were co-pyrolyzed, gaseous product yields were computed, and solid product composition and morphology were determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, respectively. According to the findings, FA greatly promoted the degradation of oxygen-containing components in bio-oil and the formation of aromatic compounds at higher temperatures. The CS5-FA1 was the most favorable ratio for bio-oil production at 800 °C. Furthermore, the addition of FA had the highest stimulating effect on CO2 at 500 °C and 800 °C, and the yield of the other pyrolysis gases (CH4, CO, and H2) was also increased at 800 °C.