Stannous Research Articles

Improving strength-conductivity synergy of Al-Cu-(Sn/Er) alloy with nanoscale substructure

As a conductive material for power transmission, Al-Cu alloy is widely used in power engineering, microelectronics and other fields. In view of the contradiction between the conductivity and strength of aluminum alloy, Sn and Er elements were selected to micro-alloy Al-Cu alloy. Al-Cu, Al-Cu-Sn and Al-Cu-Sn-Er alloys were prepared by near-liquidus casting. After solution treatment, it was subjected to three-stage alternating process of rolling and aging. The effects of micro-alloying and alternating process on the microstructure and properties of Al-Cu alloy were studied. The results show that the precipitated phase Al2Cu of Al-1.12 Cu alloy is rod-shaped after the first-stage process, and the average size is about 278±87 nm. The precipitated phases in the Al-Cu-Sn alloy are Al2Cu (average size of about 206±79 nm) and nano-sized β-Sn particles. The fine β-Sn nanoparticles in the Al-Cu-Sn-Er alloy heterogeneously nucleated on Al8Cu4Er (average size of about 167±45 nm), making Al8Cu4Er grow into particles. After secondary processing, stacking faults (SFs) appeared in the substructures of the three alloys, and the precipitated phases were further refined. The size of most precipitated phases in Al-1.13Cu-0.12Sn and Al-1.01Cu-0.15Sn-0.22Er alloys is reduced to nanometer level. After the three-stage process, some of the Al2Cu precipitates in the Al-Cu alloy are also refined to the nanometer level, and the precipitates in the other two alloys are all refined to the nanometer level. Nanotwins also appear in Al-1.01Cu-0.15Sn-0.22Er alloy. The tensile strength of Al-1.13Cu-0.12Sn and Al-1.01Cu-0.15Sn-0.22Er alloys after three-stage alternating process is 303 MPa and 327 MPa, respectively. The elongations are 21.6 % and 23.3 %, respectively. The relative conductivity was 61.7 %IACS and 59.8 %IACS, respectively. The synergistic effect of microalloying of Sn and Er elements and three-stage alternating processing technology not only reduces the size of precipitates and twins in the alloy to the nanometer level, but also adjusts the distribution of dislocation tangles and stacking faults (SFs), improves the substructure configuration, and improves the mechanical and electrical properties of conductive aluminum alloys.

Quadrupolar dinuclear hypervalent tin(iv) compounds with near-infrared emission consisting of Schiff bases based on π-conjugated scaffolds.

Since π-conjugated molecules are commonly used as a scaffold for constructing optoelectronic and functional materials, much effort has been devoted to exploring novel molecular scaffolds for obtaining superior properties. This study focuses on dinuclear hypervalent tin(iv) compounds prepared by the ladderization of Schiff bases using hypervalent tin units. The optical measurements found that introducing hypervalent tin atoms can reinforce the D-π-A system. We synthesized two types of dinuclear hypervalent compounds by simple condensation reactions and observed near-infrared (NIR) emission. Also, depending on the direction of the imine bonds, these molecules had different quadrupolar orientations with D-π-A-π-D and A-π-D-π-A systems followed by negative solvatochromism, which is the unique behavior of quadrupolar-derived absorption. Furthermore, the π-conjugated polymers involving dinuclear compounds showed NIR emission in the wavelength range over 800 nm owing to the distinct expansion of π-conjugation. Our findings could be useful not only for constructing electronic structures with narrow energy gaps but also for designing molecules with unique electronic states and environmental responsiveness.

Mechanical properties of CoCrFeNi-X (X = Ti,Sn) high entropy alloy and tribological properties in simulated seawater environment

Five multimajor element CoCrFeNi-X(X = Ti,Sn) high entropy alloys (HEA) were prepared by vacuum hot press sintering. The phase composition, mechanical properties and tribological properties of CoCrFeNi-X(X = Ti,Sn) alloys in simulated seawater were investigated. The phase structure of CoCrFeNiTi high-entropy alloy is solid solution FCC phase, R phase, σ phase, and Laves phase. But after addition Sn elements, the phase structure become the FCC phase and Ni-Sn solid solution phase. CoCrFeNiTi alloy has lower density (7.17 g/cm3) and higher hardness (750 HV) than that of CoCrFeNiSn. The compressive yield strength of CoCrFeNiTi HEA is better than CoCrFeNiSn HEA. The CoCrFeNiSn high-entropy alloys showed lower wear rates. The main reason is that SnO2 is generated on the wear scar surface, which has good wetting and corrosion inhibition effects, so CoCrFeNiSn HEA shows better wear resistance in simulated seawater. The main wear mechanism of the CoCrFeNiSn HEA is abrasive wear, oxidative wear, exfoliation wear and corrosive wear.

Oxidative stability of chelated Sn(II)(aq) at neutral pH: The critical role of NO3- ions.

Tin(II) compounds are versatile materials with applications across fields such as catalysis, diagnostic imaging, and therapeutic drugs. However, oxidative stabilization of Sn(II) has remained an unresolved challenge as its reactivity with water and dioxygen results in loss of functionality, limiting technological advancement. Approaches to slow Sn(II) oxidation with chelating ligands or sacrificial electron donors have yielded only moderate improvements. We demonstrate here that the addition of nitrate to pyrophosphate-chelated Sn(II)(aq) suppresses Sn(II) oxidation in water across a broad pH range. Evidence of hydroxyl radical concentration reduction and detection of a radical nitrogen species that only forms in the presence of chelated Sn(II) point to a radical-based reaction mechanism. While this chemistry can be broadly applied, we present that this approach maintains Sn(II)'s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory efficacies as an example of sustained oral chemotherapeutic functionality.

Effect of alloying elements (Ni, Co, Cr, and Sn) on the mechanical properties of W–Cu alloy system predicted from first principles

Effect of alloying elements (Ni, Co, Cr, and Sn) on the mechanical properties of W–Cu alloy system predicted from first principles

The elemental variance between the "rice" and "non-rice" portions of Maifanitum and its health risk assessment

BackgroundMaifanitum, a mineral used in Chinese medicine, was first documented during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Historical records suggest its multifaceted therapeutic properties, including detoxification and stasis resolution, necrosis removal and tissue regeneration, diuretic and calculi dissolution and prolonging life. The concentration of elements in Maifanitum may vary depending on its origin, different parts, which can affect its effectiveness in different fields of applications. Therefore, the analysis of elements in Maifanitum and the subsequent health risk assessment have been conducted. This provides an important basis for the quality control and application safety of Maifanitum. MethodThe analytical techniques employed in this study are inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), utilized for the quantitative assessment of 60 elements (Refer to Appendix 1) within Maifanitum samples. Based on the test results, chemometric methods are employed to evaluate the characteristics and differences in elemental concentration from different sources and locations. Additionally, a preliminary health risk assessment is conducted for Maifanitum from different origins and various parts. ResultsWe have established a fingerprint of the elements within Maifanitum, demonstrating a commendable level of similarity. The findings from hierarchical cluster analysis（HCA） corroborated with those from principal component analysis (PCA), collectively unveiling a systematic profile of elemental disparities between Maifanitum samples of diverse origins and applications. It also revealed that there are differences in the concentration of Al, Ga, Be, Hf, Na, Sn, Ti, Zr, Gd, Tb, Sr, Pb, Ce, Ba and other elements in different parts of Maifanitum. While Cd, As, and Cu levels in all samples were within the permissible limits as defined by the Chinese Pharmacopeia, Pb concentrations in the majority of samples were found to surpass these standards, albeit slightly in the ''non-rice'' fraction. The assessment of both beneficial and deleterious elements indicates that the ''non-rice'' fraction of Maifanitum possesses superior quality attributes. Moreover, the overall concentration of rare earth elements in Maifanitum is substantially below the established lower threshold for daily human consumption, with no immediate evidence suggesting any adverse health risks. ConclusionThis study provides a basis for the quality control and safety evaluation of Maifanitum in clinical use.

Multiple generations of garnet and their genetic significance in the Niukutou cobalt-rich Pb-Zn-(Fe) skarn deposit, East Kunlun orogenic belt, western China

The Niukutou deposit, situated within the Qimantagh ore-concentrated area of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (EKOB), represents a typical skarn-type Pb-Zn-(Fe) deposit that is also associated with cobalt (Co) mineralization. The main ore minerals include galena, sphalerite, magnetite, hematite, Co-bearing arsenopyrite, cobaltite and glaucodot. This study conducted geochronological and chemical composition analyses of multi-generational garnets from the deposit, aiming to elucidate their genetic significance in the mineralization process. Field and mineralogical observations indicate the presence of three generations of garnets: Grt-I, Grt-II, and Grt-III. The earliest garnet generation (Grt-I) formed during the prograde stage, typically in garnet skarns, and is often replaced by epidote. The second generation (Grt-II), which coexists with pyroxene, also formed during the prograde stage, whereas the third generation (Grt-III) is associated with pyrrhotite stockworks, suggesting its formation during the sulfide stage. Using in-situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating, garnets yield ages of approximately 230–234 Ma, which aligns with the age of 231.8 ± 7.5 Ma obtained from hydrothermal titanite in the deposit. These ages, combined with those of the previous studies, indicate major magmatic and metallogenic activity of 220–240 Ma in the Qimantagh area. Each generation of garnets displays oscillatory zoning characterized by alternating andradite and grossular compositions. The variations in Sn and high field-strength element (HFSE) contents across different garnet generations indicate an increasing trend in oxygen fugacity as mineralization progresses. The high Sn contents in the Niukutou garnets provide geochemical clues for the potential of Sn-W mineralization in this deposit, which should pay attention to in future exploration. Additionally, the high As concentrations in the Niukutou garnets suggest an As-rich hydrothermal fluid, which, owing to the stronger affinity of cobalt for sulfarsenides over sulfides, provides a geochemical indicator for the formation of abundant Co-bearing sulfarsenides rather than cobaltiferous sulfides in the deposit.

Efficient bis(indoyl)methanes synthesis enabled by SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite

This study focuses on the synthesis of SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite materials using sol-gel method and investigates their role in the synthesis of bis(indoyl)methanes via the Friedel–Craft alkylation route. The results, based on TON and TOF, show that 15 wt % SnO2/SiO2 exhibits high production efficiency and greater stability, with yields reaching 91–93% within 80–93 min. The prepared catalysts were characterized using various analytical techniques. The XRD revealed a crystalline size of 25.05 nm. The TEM analysis indicated a reduced particle size of about 25–30 nm. The SEM reflected the porous nature of the material and EDS showed the constituent elements Sn, O and Si with 3.65, 54.93, and 41.44 atomic %, respectively. FT-IR identified the composite framework with bands at 3408, 1620, 1093, 806 and 631 cm−1. The NH3-TPD indicated the presence of both Lewis acidic and Bronsted acidic sites in the composite materials. The BET method revealed a specific surface area and average pore diameter of 331.5814 m2/g. The developed method offers several advantages, such as a simple workup procedure, high yield, nontoxicity, cleanliness, and the ability to recycle and reuse the catalytic materials three times without loss in catalytic activity. These findings demonstrate the potential of SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposites as efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for the synthesizing bis(indoyl)methane derivatives.

Drill Hole Spacing Analysis for Evaluation of Quartz Sand Resources as Residual Material from On-Land Alluvial Tin Processing based on Global Estimation Variance and Kriging Variance, with Case Study in the Bangka and Belitung Islands, Indonesia

On-land alluvial tin mining activities produce residual materials from mineral processing or mineral washing; the major one of these is quartz sand, which can be utilized in the manufacturing industry. As time goes by, the reserves of alluvial tin are decreasing, which is in line with the increasing residual material from abundant mineral processing. Mining procedures are carried out following the Indonesian government regulations, covering mining as well as reprocessing. This motivated us to evaluate the potential of quartz sand at two mining sites in Bangka and Belitung Islands. This study evaluated alluvial tin processing residual quartz sand through drill hole spacing analysis (DHSA) by comparing two geostatistics parameters, namely global estimation variance (GEV) and kriging variance (KV). Drill hole samples were taken with varying spacing, ranging from 50 to 200 m, after which geostatistical analysis was carried out. With several simulations, the incorporation of GEV and KV was able to produce the optimal drill hole spacing with measured resource categories in the range of 40 to 55 m, indicated resources in the range of 55 to 85 m, and inferred resources >85 m. Accordingly, the total estimated quartz sand resources of both sites were obtained.

Seasonal changes in the physicochemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosol at the research station “Ice Base Baranova Cape” (Severnaya Zemlya archipelago)

Since 2017 we have carried out aerosol sampling at the research station “Ice Base Baranova Cape” (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) with the purpose of studying the variations in aerosol physicochemical characteristics: the concentrations of ions, microelements, organic and elemental carbon (ОС and ЕС), as well as the isotopic composition of carbon δ13C in the aerosol. The average summed concentrations of ions throughout the period of measurements were 1,99 μg/m3, the concentrations of elements were 51,1 ng/m3; and those of ОС and ЕС were 398 and 25 ng/m3, respectively; the isotopic composition of carbon δ13C was–27.6 ‰. The main contribution (73 %) to the ion composition of atmospheric aerosol is due to “marine” ions Na+ and Cl-, and the contribution to the elemental composition is due to terrogenic Fe and Al (71 %). The large enrichment coefficients (with respect to Na+ in sea water) were manifested for ions SO 2-, K+, and Ca2+. Aerosol enrichment by these ions is the largest in the warm period. In the aerosol elemental composition, we identified large enrichment coefficients (with respect to Al in the Earth’s crust) in elements Se, Sn, Sb, Mo, As, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Cd, indicating their technogenic origin. The nearest sources of aerosol enrichment by technogenic elements are plants for mining and processing mineral resources in the Taymyr Autonomous Okrug. The statistical generalization of the multiyear data allowed us to calculate for the first time the annual average behavior of the chemical composition of aerosol in the study region. With respect to the seasonal variations, the ions and elements can be divided into three groups: 1) with winter maximum (Na+, Cl-, Mg2+, Br-; Se, Cd, V, Co, As); 2) with summer (PO 3-, NH +, CH SO3-, F-) or autumn (Al, Ti, Li, Sr, Fe, Zn, Ba, Ni) maximum; 3) with poorly defined or indefinite variations in other ions (NO -, K+, SO 2-, Ca2+) and elements (Cu, Pb, Mo, W, Sn, Cr, Sb, Mn). As most of the other characteristics, the annual behaviors of the ОС and ЕС concentrations are characterized by the general maximum in the winter-spring period. In addition, a second maximum is manifested in the ОС content in the summer-autumn period. The average monthly carbon isotopic composition in the aerosol varies in the range from –28.3 ‰ (February) to –27.3 ‰ (May).

Multiple Tin Compounds Modified Carbon Fibers to Construct Heterogeneous Interfaces for Corrosion Prevention and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

HighlightsExcellent impedance matching through component modulation engineering.Rich heterogeneous interfaces are constructed to realize excellent electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance.Long-term corrosion protection and excellent EMW absorption properties.

New Piezoceramic SrBi2Nb2-2xWxSnxO9: Crystal Structure, Microstructure and Dielectric Properties.

By using the method of high-temperature solid-phase reaction, the new piezoceramic SrBi2Nb2-2xWxSnxO9 was obtained, where partial substitution of niobium (Nb) atoms with Sn4+ and W6+ atoms in the compound SrBi2Nb2O9 occurred in the octahedra of the perovskite layer (B-position). X-ray diffraction investigations showed that these compounds are single-phase SrBi2Nb2-2xWxSnxO9 (x = 0.1, 0.2) and two-phase SrBi2Nb2-2xWxSnxO9 (x = 0.3, 0.4), but all of them had the structure of Aurivillius-Smolensky phases (ASPs) with close parameters of orthorhombic unit cells. It corresponded to the space group A21am. The temperature dependences of the relative permittivity ε/ε0 and the tangent of the dielectric loss angle tan d were defined at various frequencies. It was found that doping SrBi2Nb2-2xWxSnxO9 (x = 0.1) improved the electrophysical properties of the compound: losses decreased, and the relative permittivity increased. This result was obtained for the first time. Moreover, a new result was obtained that indicated an improvement in the electrophysical properties of SrBi2Nb2O9 using the chemical element Sn (tin). This refutes the previously existing opinion about the impossibility to use Sn as a doping element.

A Review of Nanocarbon-Based Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Renewable and non-renewable energy harvesting and its storage are important components of our everyday economic processes. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), with their rechargeable features, high open-circuit voltage, and potential large energy capacities, are one of the ideal alternatives for addressing that endeavor. Despite their widespread use, improving LIBs’ performance, such as increasing energy density demand, stability, and safety, remains a significant problem. The anode is an important component in LIBs and determines battery performance. To achieve high-performance batteries, anode subsystems must have a high capacity for ion intercalation/adsorption, high efficiency during charging and discharging operations, minimal reactivity to the electrolyte, excellent cyclability, and non-toxic operation. Group IV elements (Si, Ge, and Sn), transition-metal oxides, nitrides, sulfides, and transition-metal carbonates have all been tested as LIB anode materials. However, these materials have low rate capability due to weak conductivity, dismal cyclability, and fast capacity fading owing to large volume expansion and severe electrode collapse during the cycle operations. Contrarily, carbon nanostructures (1D, 2D, and 3D) have the potential to be employed as anode materials for LIBs due to their large buffer space and Li-ion conductivity. However, their capacity is limited. Blending these two material types to create a conductive and flexible carbon supporting nanocomposite framework as an anode material for LIBs is regarded as one of the most beneficial techniques for improving stability, conductivity, and capacity. This review begins with a quick overview of LIB operations and performance measurement indexes. It then examines the recently reported synthesis methods of carbon-based nanostructured materials and the effects of their properties on high-performance anode materials for LIBs. These include composites made of 1D, 2D, and 3D nanocarbon structures and much higher Li storage-capacity nanostructured compounds (metals, transitional metal oxides, transition-metal sulfides, and other inorganic materials). The strategies employed to improve anode performance by leveraging the intrinsic features of individual constituents and their structural designs are examined. The review concludes with a summary and an outlook for future advancements in this research field.

Enhancement of Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Ti6Al4V Alloy through Hollow Cathode Discharge-Assisted Plasma Nitriding.

In order to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy, a Ti-N compound layer was formed on the alloy by plasma nitriding at a relatively low temperature (750 °C) and within an economical processing duration (4 h), in a mixture of NH3 and N2 gases with varying ratios. The influence of the gas mixture on the microstructure, phase composition, and properties of the Ti-N layer was investigated. The results indicated that the thickness of the nitrided layer achieved in a mixed atmosphere with optimal proportions of NH3 and N2 (with a ratio of 1:2) was substantially greater than that obtained in an atmosphere of pure NH3. This suggests that appropriately increasing the proportion of N2 in the nitriding atmosphere is beneficial for the growth of the nitrided layer. The experiments demonstrated that the formation of the surface nitrided layer significantly enhances the corrosion and wear resistance of the titanium alloys.

From waste to an added-value commodity: challenges in valorization opportunity of tin-residual sand for silica-based industry

Abstract Extensive tin mining activities produce sand piles with high silica, leaving vast environmental and economic responsibilities. The circular economy implementation can address these problems by valorizing quartz sand as industrial sand. Therefore, the study assesses the quartz sand left over from tin mining and processing activities on Bangka Island to become a valuable product within the CPQvA Framework consisting of classification (C), potential utilization (P), quantity and viability (Qv), and application (A). The criteria comprise 12 weighted questions to define the criticality indices categorized as easy, moderate, and difficult. With complex purification technology, quartz sand can be used as silica sand for ceramics, foundry mould, refractory bricks, glass, and solar cells. The quantity is large and feasible for a factory scale with expensive investment and operational costs. The product performance shows good quality from a technical aspect. Due to impurities content and its complex purification technology, the valorization of quartz sand produces a difficult criticality index for the solar cells, a moderate criticality index for the glass and ceramics industry, and an easy criticality index for the glaze, refractory brick, and foundry mold industries. Therefore, proven and efficient purification technology is crucial for further research.

Uniformly dispersed zinc-tin alloy as high-performance anode for aqueous zinc ion batteries

Uncontrolled dendrite and side reactions of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) hinder their commercial application. To overcome these obstacles, a novel zinc alloy anode for multifunctional AZIBs was designed by incorporating metal elements into the zinc anode. The metal elements are intended to improve the overall electrochemical performance of the battery by solving the zinc anode problem in an “incorporation” manner. In this study, the effect of Sn-induced surface structure reconstruction on the diffusion and deposition behavior of Zn2+ was investigated using binary zinc alloy (Zn@Sn) as a zinc anode. The zinc anode with Zn (002) crystal plane as the preferred crystal plane was able to inhibit the disordered growth of zinc dendrites, and the introduction of Sn elements enhanced the anti-hydrogen evolution reaction ability of the zinc anode. At a current density of 1.2 mA cm–2, the Zn@Sn symmetric cell was able to maintain stable operation for 1000 h, demonstrating a more prominent deposition/stripping stability. This work provides a promising strategy and new insights into the design of electrolyte-anode interfacial protection.

Controlled synthesis of Sn doped Cu–Ni3S2 on Ni foam as efficient electrocatalyst for urea oxidation reaction and oxygen evolution reaction

Hydrogen production technology by urea-assisted electrocatalytic water decomposition has become one of the important means to alleviate carbon emissions and water pollution. In this paper, we first doped Sn and Cu element into the Ni3S2 material by hydrothermal method on the Ni foam support. This Cu–Sn–Ni3S2 material exhibits superior urea (potential of 1.42 V at 100 mA cm−2) and water oxidation (potential of 1.63 V at 100 mA cm−2) properties, which is one of the best electrochemical performance reported up to now. Analysis of experiment demonstrate that the increase in catalytic performance is assigned to faster charge transfer, more exposure of reaction centres and smaller resistance owing to doping of Sn and Cu. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis demonstrates that introduction of Sn and Cu increases the adsorption energy of urea and improves the conductivity of the Cu–Sn–Ni3S2 material, and the co-doping of the two changes the electron state density of the active site, thereby promoting the catalytic performance. This work provides insights into the development of efficient bifunctional electrodes for urea oxidation and oxygen evolution reaction through doping strategies.

Preparation and electrochemistry study of a new Ti-based PbO2 electrode with Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox interlayer in Cu electrowinning

Copper (Cu) is a crucial non-ferrous material, and in this research, a new composite layered anode, Ti/Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox/PbO2, was developed for the hydrometallurgical process. The anode was created using thermal decomposition and subsequent electrodeposition, with Ti serving as the matrix and Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox as the interlayer. The study identified that the optimal molar ratio of Ta:Ti was 4:1, the ideal number of coating layers was 3, and the preparation temperature was 550 °C. The addition of Sn element improved the bonding force of the coating, preventing it from detaching even if it fails, while the inclusion of Ru enhanced the electrode’s service life. Moreover, the deposited PbO2 layer demonstrated a rich porous structure. In a long-cycle copper electrodeposition application, anodes with optimal preparation parameters showed higher current efficiencies and reduced energy consumptions compared to the Ti/Sn-SbOx/PbO2 baseline electrode, energy consumption reduced by 220.8 kWh per ton of copper product. This research presents a valuable strategy for designing and constructing high-performance electrodes for nonferrous electrolysis and other similar applications.

Microalloying effects on the mechanical and electrical properties of CuCrSnZnSi alloys

The dissolution of CrxSi compounds at the grain boundaries of Cu-0.2 wt%Cr-0.252 wt%Sn-0.166 wt%Zn-0.014 wt%Si alloy into the matrix is more complete after solid solution treatment, but a small amount of CrxSi compounds remains inside the grains. After annealing, Cr is precipitated in the matrix as a nanophase, whereas Sn, Zn, and Si are dispersed in the matrix as solid solutions. Quantitative analysis and characterization of the strengthening mechanism and electrical conductivity of the alloy were conducted herein, and the calculated results were consistent with the experimental results. Grain boundary scattering, Cr nanophase scattering, and solid solution scattering of elemental Si had a relatively small impact on the electrical conductivity of the alloy. Solid solution scattering of the Sn and Zn elements affected the electrical conductivity of the alloy more significantly. In addition, grain boundary strengthening contributes the most to the increase in yield strength, followed by nanophase precipitation strengthening, solid solution strengthening, and dislocation strengthening. The quantitative calculation of microalloying can provide a basis for the composition ratio of alloys with different performance requirements, reduce the number of experiments, improve research and development efficiency, and reduce costs.

Associations between Non-Essential Trace Elements in Women's Biofluids and IVF Outcomes in Euploid Single-Embryo Transfer Cycles.

Previous studies have found inconsistent associations between heavy metals and metalloids (cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic), and reproductive outcomes. The biofluid concentrations of ten non-essential trace elements (Hg, Pb, As, Ba, Sr, Rb, Cs, Sn, Ni, and Co) were evaluated in 51 Spanish women undergoing ICSI, PGT-A, and SET/FET. Nine out of ten non-essential elements were detectable in follicular fluid, whole blood, and urine collected the day of vaginal oocyte retrieval (VOR) and the day of embryo transfer and then analyzed by ICP-MS or Tricell DMA-80 for mercury. Elevated mercury and strontium concentrations in follicular fluid were associated with poor ovarian response and preimplantation outcomes. Worst preimplantation outcomes were also identified in women with elevated whole-blood strontium or mercury, urinary arsenic, barium, and tin the day of VOR. High concentrations of urinary rubidium on VOR day were linked with enhanced fertilization and blastocyst development. Excessive titanium in whole blood was associated with lower odds of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and achieving a live birth in a given IVF cycle. Excessive urinary arsenic on the day of embryo transfer was associated with lower odds of live birth. Although these preliminary results need to be confirmed in larger populations, distinguishing organic and inorganic element forms, our findings show that some non-essential elements have a detrimental impact on human IVF outcomes.