Industrial Technology Research Articles

Development of a Diamond Composite in the NI-CO-FE3P-SN-WC System Via Free Sintering for Use in Multi-Find Diamond Pearls

Objective: The main objective of this study is to manufacture a diamond composite with a metallic matrix based on Ni-Co-Fe3P-Sn-WC, using the Free Sintering process through cold uniaxial compaction, intended for the production of pearls for diamond wire saws, used in cutting ornamental stones. Theoretical Framework: The multi-wire technology represents an advancement in cutting ornamental stone blocks, allowing the simultaneous production of multiple slabs. Powder metallurgy is the predominant technique used in the manufacturing of pearls for diamond wire saws. Through testing, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and shear tests, it is possible to evaluate the alloy's strength, diamond crystal adhesion, and failure behavior of the alloy. Methodology: The adopted methodology involves the processing and characterization of pearls for diamond wire saws, following the techniques of powder metallurgy. Initially, parametric calculations were performed using Excel, providing a basis for subsequent analyses. Diamond-coated pearls were produced with different proportions of constituent elements, and uniaxial compressive strength tests and microstructural characterization were conducted to evaluate the results. Results and Discussion: In the adhesion tests to the metal tube, the pearls produced with the NICOFE alloy showed similar performance to the commercial pearls "A" and "B," with satisfactory direct shear strength values. However, some point defects were observed, such as porosity in the transition zone, creating a weaker bond, negatively impacting the final strength of the composite. Analysis of the commercial samples indicated that diamond abrasion was not related to the composition of the sintered alloy. Research Implications: This research suggests significant economic and technological implications, such as the development and nationalization of technology for the ornamental stone industry. The use of the NICOFE alloy could strengthen the local industry by providing a viable and more accessible alternative for the production of diamond pearls. Originality/Value: The NICOFE blend presents technical advantages for manufacturing diamond wire pearls, highlighting the environmental benefits from reduced cobalt use and economic advantages by offering more accessible materials for the ornamental stone industry.

FEATURES OF THERMAL STABILISATION OF FLAX-CONTAINING “STRETCH” FABRICS

The analysis showed that achieving 15…30 % elasticity requires an input of textured yarns of about 40 %, while the same effect can be achieved by inputting 2…4 % elastane yarns. This makes it possible to produce stretch fabrics consisting of 96…98 % natural fibres. It is shown that the two-winding technology of joining elastane yarns with flax yarns allows the process to be carried out at a speed of at least 200 metres per minute. The article presents a laboratory technique for determining the process parameters for thermal stabilisation of flax-containing stretch fabrics to ensure a given elastic elongation of the fabric in the transverse direction. The possibility of producing stretch fabrics with a natural fibre content of at least 96 % is shown. The modes of fabric heat treatment to obtain elastic elongation from 12 to 36 % are given. The presented technique can be recommended for use in production conditions at the initial stage of industrial technology development.

Progress of emerging non-volatile memory technologies in industry

Progress of emerging non-volatile memory technologies in industry

Application of graph neural network in computational heterogeneous catalysis.

Heterogeneous catalysis, as a key technology in modern chemical industries, plays a vital role in social progress and economic development. However, its complex reaction process poses challenges to theoretical research. Graph neural networks (GNNs) are gradually becoming a key tool in this field as they can intrinsically learn atomic representation and consider connection relationship, making them naturally applicable to atomic and molecular systems. This article introduces the basic principles, current network architectures, and datasets of GNNs and reviews the application of GNN in heterogeneous catalysis from accelerating the materials screening and exploring the potential energy surface. In the end, we summarize the main challenges and potential application prospects of GNNs in future research endeavors.

From Function to Relation: Exploring the Dual Influences of Warmth and Competence on Generative Artificial Intelligence Services in the Hospitality Industry

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a transformative force in the rapidly-evolving hospitality industry. This study examined the correlation of acceptance of GenAI services with perceived warmth and competence, and the consequent correlations with customer outcomes in the hospitality industry. Employing a Hospitality Service Dialogue System prototype, this study collected responses from 1,306 hotel guests. Perceptions of warmth and competence correlated with increased customer intention to use GenAI services and satisfaction. Satisfaction correlated significantly with customer–brand identification and attachment. The Technology Readiness Index moderated the relationships of warmth and competence with the acceptance of GenAI services. This investigation extends the stereotype content model and the behaviors from intergroup affect and stereotypes map framework by integrating them with the technology acceptance literature, unveiling service innovations enabled by technology in the hospitality industry. This study provides hotel managers, technology developers, and marketers with strategic directions for implementing GenAI.

Domestic groundwater wells in Appalachia show evidence of low-dose, complex mixtures of legacy pollutants.

Lack of water quality data for private drinking water sources prevents robust evaluation of exposure risk for communities co-located with historically contaminated sites and ongoing industrial activity. Areas of the Appalachian region of the United States (i.e., Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia) contain extensive hydraulic fracturing activity, as well as other extractive and industrial technologies, in close proximity to communities reliant on private drinking water sources, creating concern over potential groundwater contamination. In this study, we characterized volatile organic compound (VOC) occurrence at 307 private groundwater well sites within Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. The majority (97%) of water samples contained at least one VOC, while the average number of VOCs detected at a given site was 5 ± 3. The majority of individual VOC concentrations fell below applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contamination Levels (MCLs), except for chloroform (MCL of 80 μg L-1; n = 1 at 98 μg L-1), 1,2-dibromoethane (MCL of 0.05 μg L-1; n = 3 ranging from 0.05 to 0.35 μg L-1), and 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (MCL of 0.2 μg L-1; n = 7 ranging from 0.20 to 0.58 μg L-1). To evaluate well susceptibility to VOCs from industrial activity, distance to hydraulic fracturing site was used to assess correlations with contaminant occurrences. Proximity to closest hydraulic fracturing well-site revealed no statistically significant linear relationships with either individual VOC concentrations, or frequency of VOC detections. Evaluation of other known industrial contamination sites (e.g., US EPA Superfund sites) revealed elevated levels of three VOCs (chloroform, toluene, benzene) in groundwaters within 10 km of those Superfund sites in West Virginia and Ohio, illuminating possible point source influence. Lack of correlation between VOC concentrations and proximity to specific point sources indicates complex geochemical processes governing trace VOC contamination of private drinking water sources. While individual concentrations of VOCs fell well below recommended human health levels, the low dose exposure to multiple VOCs occurring in drinking supplies for Appalachian communities was noted, highlighting the importance of groundwater well monitoring.

Towards a framework for implementing blockchain technology in the construction industry of Sri Lanka

PurposeThe construction industry is often criticised due to inherited challenges: poor payment practices, inadequate collaboration, etc. Blockchain has the potential to address these issues with its salient features. Nonetheless, adopting blockchain and smart contracts (B&SC) within the construction industry is a comprehensive endeavour due to its intricate nature. The situation is bleak in Sri Lanka due to numerous barriers such as limited technical expertise, cost implications and many others. Hence, this paper aims to examine these barriers, appropriate strategies to overcome them, explore potential blockchain-applicable areas and formulate a framework to adopt B&SC in the construction industry of Sri Lanka (CISL).Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a mixed research approach. The barriers for the adoption of B&SC to the CISL and their applicable areas were distinguished through a questionnaire survey and analysed using the Relative Importance Index. Strategies to overcome them were identified through expert interviews and analysed utilising manual-content analysis.FindingsThe study identified 15 barriers, 12 strategies and 9 areas for integrating B&SC for the CISL. The analysis indicated that having fewer blockchain-powered applications, the reluctance of the enterprises to bear costs to integrate blockchain and sluggish adaptation to new digital technologies are significant barriers. Further, conducting an industry-wide digitalisation analysis, developing an industry-wide digitalisation strategy and recruiting skilful IT staff were pointed out as the pivotal strategies. Moreover, payment and supply chain management were identified as areas with high potential.Originality/valueThis study unveils an analysis of barriers, strategies and areas in adopting B&SC for CISL and formulates a framework. It can be deployed as a guideline for implementing B&SC in the CISL.

Prefab: New Technologies and Prospects of the Construction Industry

Statement of the problem. The main factors in the construction industry are: the cost of the project, its duration and uniqueness. Their achievement is facilitated by the currently developing pre-fabrication, the essence of which is reduced to the factory or factory manufacture of parts with their subsequent assembly into structural elements, modules and objects in general. At the same time, technologies, organization of construction and management of prefab processes have not been worked out to date. Results. A systematic review of the implementation of buildings using prefab technology with high factory readiness is proposed. An overview of modules that can be integrated into on-site projects with less waste and higher quality control compared to projects that use a traditional type of construction is provided. The difference between the prefab method and the modular assembly of a construction object is emphasized. An overview of the prefab products currently on the market is given. Conclusions. The article substantiates the directions of improving the quality of manufactured buildings inherent in prefab technologies, as well as the environmental friendliness and energy efficiency of this technology. A fragment of a BIM model with a calendar and construction schedule for the construction of a prefab house, prefab technologies used in Russia and in particular in Novosibirsk, is presented.

Roadmap, current situation, and prospects of low-carbon development technologies in Chinese steel industry

Roadmap, current situation, and prospects of low-carbon development technologies in Chinese steel industry

Unlocking the Trade-off Between Intrinsic and Interfacial Thermal Transport of Boron Nitride Nanosheets by Surface Functionalization for Advanced Thermal Interface Materials.

The increasing computing power of AI presents a major challenge for high-power chip solution and heat dissipation. Boron nitride nanosheet-based thermal interface materials (BNNS-based TIMs) exhibit excellent electrical insulation property, ensuring the secure and stable operation of chips. However, the efficiency of micro/nano interfacial thermal transport is limited, impeding further enhancements in the thermal conductivity (TC) of BNNS-based TIMs. Here, a strategy of surface functionalization is reported to unlock the trade-off between the intrinsic and interfacial thermal transport of BNNS within TIMs. These results suggest that the surface functionalization maintains the intrinsic high TC of BNNS while significantly increasing binding energy between micro/nano interfaces in BNNS-based TIMs, effectively reducing interfacial thermal resistance of BNNS joint interfaces and interfaces between BNNSs and the matrix by 50% and 26.1%, respectively. The BNNS-based TIMs exhibit excellent TC (≈21-25W/(m·K)) and ultralow Young's modulus, which can promote the development of flexible high-performance chip cooling technology in the AI industry.

Robotics and Automation Roadmap: Thailand Perspectives

Robotics and automation are the key industries supporting Thailand’s strategic initiatives toward Thailand 4.0. This paper presents the development of an industry roadmap guiding the future research and development of related technologies in Thailand. The roadmap project was recently conducted during 2021–2022. The strategic targets for the future development of robotics and automation in Thailand were set to increase productivity and reduce adoption cost for the short term (2022–2023); create market opportunities for AI and industrial IoT technologies with data platform for the medium term (2024–2026); and prepare the Industry 5.0 system supporting emerging applications of digital twins and metaverse for the long term (2027–2030).

Crack Development and Electrical Degradation in Chromium Thin Films Under Tensile Stress on PET Substrates

The mechanical and electrical deterioration of chromium (Cr) thin films sputtered onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates under tensile strain was studied. Understanding mechanical and electrical stability due to imposed strain is particularly important for device reliability, as the demand for flexible electronic devices increases. Cr thin films, widely spread across the field of electronic and sensor applications, face crack propagation with electrical degradation with tensile stress that can seriously compromise the performance. Accordingly, this study offers new findings on how Cr film thickness might influence crack formation and electrical resistance differently and also the general guidelines for flexible electronic component design with respect to long-term durability. Electrical resistances were measured while mechanically stretching 100- and 200 nm thin sheets. The study focused on crack development and propagation mechanisms in both film thicknesses and their effects on percentage change in electrical resistance (PCER). Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize surface morphology and observe cracks as the strain rose. Early crack formation in 100 nm Cr films led to rapid PCER increases due to quick crack propagation and fast electrical degradation. Thicker 200 nm films, however, showed a more gradual PCER rise with fewer but deeper cracks, indicating a regulated strain response. Unlike the sharp PCER spike in 100 nm films, 200 nm samples were more variable, with three out of four showing a slight PCER decrease at the end, hinting at partial crack repair or conductive realignment before full failure. These results underscore the role of layer thickness in managing crack propagation and electrical stability, relevant for flexible electronics and strain sensors. This paper is aligned with the ninth goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Target 9.5: Enhance Research and Upgrade Industrial Technologies.

Improvement of superconducting, morphological, and flux pinning ability of YBa2Cu3O7−y matrix with oxygen and Mn2O3 impurity

Abstract In the current work, the influence of oxygen and Mn2O3 impurity levels intervals 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.30 on various key properties such as electrical resistivity, superconducting, flux pinning ability, stabilization of ceramic system, and morphological properties of YBa2Cu3O7-y (Y-123) superconductor were examined by electrical resistivity, critical current density, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron dispersive x-ray (EDX) measurements. The EDX test results indicated that all the Y-123 ceramics produced possessed different composition distributions on the sample surface. SEM photomicrographs also confirmed the improvement in the appearance of surface morphology and crystallinity quality of the YBa2Cu3O7-y system. Moreover, the development in the interaction quality between grains, pinning ability and strength quality of 2D coupled vortices was obtained with the oxygen ambient and optimum manganese impurity addition highly dispersing throughout the intra grain and inter-grain boundary couplings due to the increase in the artificial flux pinning nucleation sites in the Y-123 system. Thus, the best sample with the highest Jc value of 98 A/cm2 showed the most resistance to the applied magnetic field and current. Similarly, the same sample exhibited the greatest superconductive offset (98.320 K) and onset (100.504 K) temperatures values based on the development of the Cu-O coordination and stability of the crystal structure. In conclusion, this comprehensive study based on the analysis of oxygen and Mn2O3 impurity addition mechanism through the YBa2Cu3O7-y ceramic matrix may open a new and applicable field for advanced engineering, heavy industry technology and large-scale applications.

An industrial robot based sawing method for natural stone sculpture

Abstract The advancement of industrial robot technology has opened up a new direction for stone sculpture machining. However, whether through traditional hand carving or modern industrial robotic grinding, a significant amount of natural stone must be removed, typically in the form of stone powder. This process not only decreases machining efficiency but also results in the wastage of stone resources due to the generation of stone powder, which can negatively impact the ecological environment. In order to enhance the efficiency of stone sculpture machining while reducing natural stone waste and environmental pollution, a method for the efficient and green sawing of natural stone sculptures using industrial robots is proposed. First, based on the processing characteristics of diamond wire saw, a mathematical model is developed for the ruled surface generated by the saw's movement and its corresponding compensated surface. Second, with the contour curve of the model as the directrix, an enveloping ruled surface is generated. Next, the minimum volume ruled surface model is generated by Boolean operation using the enveloping ruled surface and the model bounding box. Then, the contour curve corresponding to the minimum volume ruled surface model (the directrix of the envelope ruled surface) is utilized as the machining path for an integrated robotic diamond wire cutting system. A ruled surface model of Stanford Bunny was obtained by sawing a marble block using the robotic diamond wire cutting system. The experimental results show that the material removal rate of the robotic diamond wire cutting is 1.37 times that of saw blade cutting and 2.30 times that of grinding. The volume of stone powder generated during the processing was 0.16 × 10⁷mm³, accounting for only 1.47% of the total stone powder produced during the grinding process. In summary, the proposed method not only enhances processing efficiency but also reduces natural stone waste and mitigates environmental pollution.

Advances in digital twin technology in industry: A review of applications, challenges, and standardization

Advances in digital twin technology in industry: A review of applications, challenges, and standardization

Factors That Facilitated the Development of Blockchain Technology in the AEC Industry: Study Based on System Dynamics

Factors That Facilitated the Development of Blockchain Technology in the AEC Industry: Study Based on System Dynamics

Near-infrared spectroscopy for analysing livestock diet quality: A systematic review

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive and fast technology that has been increasingly used to analyse livestock diet quality. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to examine the utilisation of NIRS technology for analysing livestock diet quality, with a focus on identifying trends, methodologies, and challenges in recent research. We conducted a systematic search of the literature on five electronic databases and retrieved 718 studies that have been published on the subject. Fifty-four studies were subsequently selected and investigated in depth. These studies were categorised into two groups, namely benchtop and portable, based on the types of NIRS devices utilised, with a majority employing the reflectance spectra mode. Our analysis found that standard normal variate (SNV), detrend (DT), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) are the most commonly used spectral data processing methods. The findings indicate that NIRS technology can provide accurate and reliable measurements of key livestock diet quality parameters such as crude protein, fibre, and moisture content. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with NIRS technology and provide recommendations for future research directions to further advance the use of NIRS technology in the livestock industry.

Guest Editorial Enabling Technologies and Systems for Industry 5.0: From Foundation Models to Foundation Intelligence

Guest Editorial Enabling Technologies and Systems for Industry 5.0: From Foundation Models to Foundation Intelligence

Integrated physical safety–cyber security risk assessment based on layers of protection analysis

The extensive application of information technology in process industries has increased production efficiency but has also introduced new risks. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically analyse the risks within factories to ensure the stable operation of their production systems. This study proposes an integrated risk assessment method based on layers of protection analysis (LOPA), which combines physical safety and cyber security analyses to provide comprehensive risk assessments for the process industry. The method first identifies the hazardous scenarios and protection layers relevant to a process facility. It then identifies potential cyberattack types and existing countermeasures. Subsequently, the functional impacts of attacks on protection layers and potential coupling relationships are discussed. Using common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) and semi-quantitative methods, the probability of attack is determined to optimize the probability of failure on demand (PFD) of the protection layers. Finally, a case study of a steam separator in a catalytic cracking unit is used to quantitatively explore the potential attacks and risks of coupled protection layers. The application of Bayesian network (BN) is used for further validation of the method. This study offers a novel quantitative tool for risk assessment in the process industry, which can enhance the security and reliability of industrial production and control systems.

Analysis of the interfacial evolution characteristics of hollow droplet impact on a liquid pool

The impact dynamics of a hollow droplet on a liquid pool have significant implications across various industrial applications. This study employs numerical simulations to explore the dynamic evolution of the interface during the impact of a hollow droplet on a liquid pool. The investigation focuses on the effects of varying the hollow ratio Dr and liquid pool depth h* while maintaining a constant volume of liquid within the droplet shell. The findings reveal that both the hollow ratio Dr and pool depth h* critically influence the formation of ejecta + lamella, and vortex rings after the impact of a hollow droplet on a liquid pool. The confinement effect of the pool bottom can influence the evolution of the splashing, while the internal air in the hollow droplet can absorb a part of the impact energy during the collision. Specifically, at shallow pool depths, the interface primarily evolves into ejecta + lamella structures, whereas at greater pool depths, vortex ring formation is predominant. Furthermore, an increase in the hollow ratio leads to a reduction in the critical pool depth hc* at which the transition between these interfacial modes occurs. These findings indicate that, in practical applications involving the impact of hollow droplets on liquid pools, sufficient attention should be given to the pool depth. This enhances our understanding of the bottom pressure, droplet impact, and vortex formation, which is of significant relevance to related industrial technologies.