Adhesion Test Research Articles

Proposition of an aggregate-binder interface index based on the adhesiveness test assessed by digital image processing

Aggregate-binder adhesiveness impacts asphalt mixture performance. Evaluation of this interface within mixes typically involves visual assessment and digital image processing (DIP), often resulting in an average value for this complex property. Current computational simulations overlook the possibility of incomplete aggregate adhesion to the binder, a common occurrence in cases of adhesive/cohesive failure between materials. This study proposes an interface index determined from adhesiveness test results in order to improve computational simulations. For this purpose, twelve adhesiveness tests, following Brazilian standards, including mineral and steel-slag aggregates, and neat and modified binders, were conducted. Software with a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to quantify the percentage of aggregate area coated by binder (%Coated) post-testing. Descriptive statistics and probability distributions were applied to %Coated values, in addition to the quality of measurements using DIP. The DIP values exhibited sensitivity across all examined covering scenarios, with statistical tests suggesting a high likelihood of accurately representing the %Coated parameter from the assessed probability distributions. In conclusion, the developed software enables satisfactory quantification of %Coated. Furthermore, this study indicates that the adhesion test results must be represented considering the data variability, with the Beta distribution being a good way to represent the behavior.

Effect of multiple environmental conditions on the formation process and adhesion strength of ice on asphalt binder surface

Road icing caused by freezing rain significantly impacts driving safety. Since asphalt binder plays a pivotal role in pavement infrastructure, understanding the formation process and adhesion strength of ice on asphalt binder surfaces is crucial for assessing road icing risk. This work investigated the effect of different environmental conditions on asphalt-ice interface adhesion strength via a self-designed low-temperature adhesion testing system. In addition, the icing process on asphalt binder surfaces was observed to analyze the asphalt-ice adhesion strength formation mechanism. Results show that the completion time of water-ice phase transition signified the initial development of asphalt-ice adhesion strength. Moreover, as the internal structure of the ice evolved from transparent to needle-like fine lines to dense, the asphalt-ice adhesion strength gradually increased until it reached stability. At asphalt-ice adhesion began forming after 40 min and stabilized after 80 min, whereas at −8°C, adhesion strength started forming after 20 min and stabilized by 60 min. The growth rates of asphalt-ice adhesion strength for temperatures ranging from −2°C to −10°C were approximately 7.92 kPa/°C, 6.56 kPa/°C, 5.14 kPa/°C, 3.29 kPa/°C, and 1.49 kPa/°C, respectively, showing a positive correlation with temperature and a negative correlation with time. According to heterogeneous nucleation theory, the influence mechanism of temperature and water depth on the nucleation icing process and asphalt-ice adhesion strength is analyzed. lower temperatures lead to asphalt-ice adhesion strength increase originating from the larger supercooling, which reduces the critical nucleation energy and thus accelerates the ice nucleation rate. In addition, the increase in water depth promotes the formation of nucleation sites and further enhances the asphalt-ice adhesion strength. Finally, an asphalt-ice adhesion strength prediction model was developed, with PSO-SVM-G achieving over 90 % accuracy. These results provide insights for evaluating ice adhesion behavior on asphalt surfaces and designing anti-icing asphalt materials.

The effect of laser post-treatment on the microstructure and properties of Al coating on the PEEK substrate

To improve the bonding strength and electrical conductivity(σ) of cold-sprayed Al coatings on polyetheretherketone(PEEK) substrates, laser post-treatment was employed as an effective strengthening method without decomposition of the polymer substrates. Optical and electron microscopy observations were used to examine the microstructures and tensile fracture surfaces of the Al coatings fabricated with various laser powers. X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction were employed to investigate the phase composition and grain information of each coating. Hardness, pull-out adhesion, and electrical conductivity tests were performed to investigate the effect of laser power on the mechanical and physical properties of cold-sprayed Al coatings. The results revealed that despite the formation of several hundred micrometer-sized pores on the PEEK side, the porosity of the laser post-treated Al coatings significantly decreased, and the particle–particle interfaces were greatly healed with increasing laser power. The heat input induced large-scale recrystallization and significantly reduced the dislocation density in the samples. The XRD pattern revealed that no oxidation phase appeared following the laser treatment under the protection of Ar. The electrical conductivity and bonding strength of the Al coatings increased by up to 40 % and 167.4 %, respectively, after the laser post-treatment.

Generation of a lignin-polyester coating for the corrosion protection of steel surfaces applied by atmospheric plasma spraying

The natural process of metal corrosion causes significant losses in a wide range of industries, requiring substantial efforts to contain its effects. An alternative approach to corrosion protection is the use of renewable organic coating materials. This research proposes the use of lignin-polyester blends as coating materials. Due to the abundance of functional groups in the lignin structure, it can act as corrosion inhibition centers in the coating. The coatings are deposited on stainless steel surfaces by a novel process route via atmospheric plasma powder spraying (APPS). To determine the effect of the lignin content on the corrosion performance, the specific amounts of lignin and polyester have been varied in 10 % increments from 0 % to 100 % with constant coating parameters. The as-produced coatings exhibited thicknesses that ranged from 11 μm to 30 μm, respectively for the pure lignin and polyester coatings. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated the meltability of the lignin and polyester powder through the plasma process. Coatings containing a greater proportion of polyester exhibited superior meltability and better coverage. Furthermore, it was observed that the APPS promoted cross-linking of the lignin particles, as determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This, in conjunction with well-balanced lignin-polyester ratios, was instrumental in achieving advanced corrosion resistance as evidenced by Potentiodynamic polarization measurement (PDP). The lignin proportion between 40 % and 60 % produced the highest corrosion inhibition efficiency, with a maximum inhibition of 96 %. Furthermore, pull-off adhesion tests suggest that lignin contributes to the overall cohesive strength of the blend.

Superhydrophobic-based corrosion mitigation systems and their effectiveness on dissimilar and similar friction stir spot-weld joint aerospace alloys

Traditional rivets have been a longstanding choice for securing aircraft components as permanent fasteners. A new technique called friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is gaining popularity as a rivet replacement. Despite its advantages, dissimilar FSSW joints are susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to property degradation. This study explored the potential of superhydrophobic (SH) coating as a corrosion inhibitor for FSSW joint aerospace alloys, particularly aluminum alloy (AA). The study involved a comparison of the corrosion resistance between SH-coated dissimilar (AA2024-T3 and AA7075-T6) and similar (AA2024-T3 and AA2024-T3) FSSW joint specimens. Notably, SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens demonstrated an exceptional average water contact angle (WCA) of 156°, confirming their SH nature. The study further incorporated the design of experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis to optimize constituent parameters and enhance the performance of SH coating. Durability testing indicated that SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens exhibited high resistance to acetone without influencing the WCA of 148°. Only a slight decrease in the WCA was observed when specimens were submerged in an acidic solution, where the WCA reduced to 142° from the original WCA of 158°. Also, specimens were stable and maintained the WCA of 154° when heat-treated at the temperature of 230 ℃. Moreover, a cross-cut adhesion test revealed that less than 5 % of the coating material was lost in SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens. Additionally, the electrochemical study evaluated the anti-corrosion performance of SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens, where the specimens were immersed for 6 days in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. After 6 days in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, specimens remained very close to SH, maintaining the WCA above 140°. Also, the electrochemical results demonstrated that the anti-corrosion performance of the SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens was enhanced with a lower corrosion rate of 37.56 mpy and current density of 0.428 µA/cm² as compared to the uncoated specimens. The variations in corrosion rates and current densities of the SH-coated dissimilar and similar FSSW joint specimens were very minimal, which proves that the application of SH coating on the FSSW joint specimens is suitable to alleviate corrosion-related problems in FSSW joints.

Comparative study of surface preparation for paint adhesion on CF-PEKK composites: Plasma, Chemical, and Flame treatment

Polyether ketone-ketone (PEKK) is a high-performance thermoplastic, and its fiber composites have various engineering applications. Fiber reinforced composites in long-term applications require a protective layer of coatings to avoid environmental degradation. In this work, the surface energy of carbon fiber-PEKK composites was modified by flame, chemical, and plasma treatments to improve paint adhesion. A detailed study was carried out to understand the physical, morphological, and chemical surface characteristics due to different surface treatments. We found through XPS that highly active surface functionalities (− C-Ȯ/−C = Ȯ) due to oxidation at the ketone/ether groups were for surface adhesion. In support of the enhanced surface functionality, we have also evaluated the wetting behavior of paint with respect to different treated surfaces using drop shape analyzer and found that the polar component of the surface free energy increased for all treatments compared to pristine. Surface crystallinity after surface treatment was assessed using XRD; flame and plasma showed reduced surface crystallinities (25.92 % and 38.18 %, respectively), compared to pristine (46.78 %), and yielded a good adherend for coatings. Surfaces with good wettability and functionalities show good adhesion between the paint and PEKK composites as found through adhesion tests following ASTM D3359. The findings demonstrate that plasma surface treatment outperformed flame and chemical treatments in terms of adhesion of the paint to the surface.

Copper metallization of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer composites by surface activation and electrodeposition

The application of polymer metallization in lightweight and high-strength materials for the sporting goods, automotive, aerospace and construction sectors has attracted considerable attention. The present study aims to deposit a thin, uniform copper (Cu) layer on an epoxy‑carbon fiber (epoxy-Cf) composite material for lightweight, high-frequency radio reflector applications (Ka-Band and higher frequencies) required in space missions. In this work, a surface-activated electroplating technique in which the surface of the substrate is activated with a Sn/Ag system, followed by conventional electroplating is studied. Surface activation deposits layers of conducting metal ions on the surface of the epoxy-Cf composite, which significantly improves the electrical conductivity of the composite surface. The subsequent electrodeposition takes place from a CuSO4 solution with a pH value of 4 at three different current density values of 0.05 A/dm2, 0.5 A/dm2 and 1 A/dm2. The presence and abundance of metallic Cu over epoxy-Cf composite were confirmed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology and elemental composition of the coating were characterized by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. With current density and coating thickness, morphology of the deposit changed from cauliflower-like to spherical along with grain refinement. Microhardness test shows a hardness of 330 HV and the pull-off adhesion test gave a bond strength of 1.69 MPa for 27.56 μm thick copper deposit. A major challenge encountered during the deposition of Cu is the oxidation of the metal followed by immediate tarnishing. This issue has been effectively addressed by employing benzotriazole solution as a protective agent.

The Role of The Banking Sector in Angola's Economic Growth

Objective: The main objective of this research project is to analyse the role of the banking sector in Angola's economic growth over 25 years, i.e. from 1995 to 2019. In this sense, the aim was to verify whether the banking sector, in the period 1995-2019, contributed significantly to the growth of the country's economy and whether the evolution of the oil sector conditions the development of the banking sector. Theoretical Framework: Given its importance, various research studies have investigated the association between economic growth and the banking sector. This study, therefore, contributes to the empirical evidence of this relationship. Method: Various statistical techniques were used, namely determining the measures of asymmetry and kurtosis, as well as the Jarque and Bera adherence test, in order to verify the normality of the distributions of the variables used, drawing up the VAR model, identifying the number of periods (LACs) to be analysed in the Granger test and making the identification of causalities more robust, and carrying out the Granger test itself, in order to identify causal relationships between the variables studied. Results and Discussion: A very strong but negative correlation was found between GDP and the banking sector, as well as between the oil sector and the banking sector. These results show that during periods of higher economic growth (closely associated with periods of higher growth in the oil sector), there is an increase in the outflow of money from the financial system, namely through imports, decapitalising the banking sector. Conclusion: The diversification of the economy into other sectors of activity is, therefore, a priority for economic growth and the sustainability of the Angolan financial sector.

TiO<sub>2</sub>- Polyurethane Cocopol Blend Nanocomposites as an Anticorrosion Coating for Mild Steel

Mild steels were the most frequently used materials in industries and factories since it possesses unique properties but due to weak environmental changes, these cause deterioration and corrosion to the materials’ surface. To prevent such, protective coatings were applied to protect against corrosion in which by incorporating titanium nanoparticles in polyurethane coatings. Titanium nanoparticles were synthesized using titanium butoxide as a precursor. The obtained nanoparticles were used as an inhibitor mixed with coconut oil-based polyurethane polyol blend against the corrosion on mild steel of 3.5% of sodium chloride solution which has been investigated using the Tafel polarization technique. The polarization curves of the corrosion potential for bare mild steel, along with different amounts of titanium nanoparticles coating, exhibit a positive shift. This shift indicates that the coating film effectively reduces the transport path for the corrosive solution, providing a protective barrier against corrosion. This observation is further supported by the results of the adhesive strength test, which demonstrates that the attachment of the coating films to the metal increases with higher amounts of titanium nanoparticles. This indicates improved adhesion and a stronger bond between the coating and the substrate, enhancing the overall corrosion resistance. The increase of contact angle test confirms the improvement of the coating’s hydrophobicity with the addition of titanium nanoparticles. This suggests that the coating repels water more effectively, further contributing to its protective properties against corrosion. Results also show that the addition of 4wt% of titanium nanoparticles has better anti-corrosion properties than the PU CCP alone, and 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0wt% of titanium added.

Downregulation of Ripk1 and Nsf mediated by CRISPR-CasRx ameliorates stroke volume and neurological deficits after ischemia stroke in mice.

Necroptosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism underlying the sequential recruitment of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion ATPase (NSF) in initiating necroptosis remains poorly understood, and the role of NSF in ischemic stroke is a subject of controversy. Here, we utilized a recently emerging RNA-targeting CRISPR system known as CasRx, delivered by AAVs, to knockdown Ripk1 mRNA and Nsf mRNA around the ischemic brain tissue. This approach resulted in a reduction in infarct and edema volume, as well as an improvement in neurological deficits assessed by Bederson score, RotaRod test, and Adhesive removal test, which were achieved by RIPK1/receptor-interacting protein kinase 3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein signaling pathway involved in neuronal necroptosis. In conclusion, the downregulation of Ripk1 mRNA and Nsf mRNA mediated by CRISPR-CasRx holds promise for future therapeutic applications aimed at ameliorating cerebral lesions and neurological deficits following the ischemic stroke.

Exploring the Feasibility of Eu(TTA)3TPPO as Pigment for Fluorescent Paint

We outline the synthesis of rare earth hybrid organic β-diketonate Eu(TTA)3TPPO complex [Eu: Europium, TTA: Thenoyl Trifluoro Acetone, TPPO: Triphenylphosphine oxide] pigment to formulate luminous paints. Epoxy and urea formaldehyde resins were synthesized by catalytic homo polymerization and solution polymerization technique, respectively. The fluorescent pigment was synthesized at ambient temperature by solution technique, maintaining the stoichiometric ratio at pH 7. Nextly, fluorescent paint was developed on glass substrate with epoxy (E) and urea formaldehyde (UF) resins and toluene as solvent with thickness 0.1 mm, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra and photometric assessment of the complex were carried out to probe its photophysical parameters. The excitation spectra of the synthesized complex depicts a wide-ranging excitation peak at 466 nm with a wide shoulder at 538 nm, while emission spectra discloses an intense peak, recorded at 617 nm which portrays colour in the reddish-orange region of the visible spectrum. The paint compositions were checked for tack-free, hard dry, adhesion, water, salt, alkali and acid spray test to study their resistance against distinct surroundings. The painted panels also portrayed reddish orange emission at a unique wavelength of 617 nm. Amid all the paint compositions, the intensity of the painted panel with urea formaldehyde as a binder was found to be maximum, followed by the painted panel with epoxy as the binder. Photometric evaluation revealed reddish-orange emission from pure pigment as well as painted panels, which portrayed in the visible spectrum. This proposes a way to develop fluorescent paints that find applications in several areas such as flexible displays, glow-in-dark road paints, OLED devices, automotive rare lighting, fluorescent sensors, aircraft cabin and floor lighting, architectural and interior decorations and many more.

Exploring the Feasibility of Eu(TTA)<sub>3</sub>TPPO as Pigment for Fluorescent Paint

We outline the synthesis of rare earth hybrid organic β-diketonate Eu(TTA)3TPPO complex [Eu: Europium, TTA: Thenoyltrifluoroacetone, TPPO: Triphenylphosphine oxide] pigment to formulate luminous paints. Epoxy and urea-formaldehyde resins were synthesized by catalytic homo polymerization and solution polymerization technique, respectively. The fluorescent pigment was synthesized at ambient temperature by solution technique, maintaining the stoichiometric ratio at pH 7. Nextly, fluorescent paint was developed on glass substrate with epoxy (E) and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins and toluene as solvent with thickness 0.1 mm, respectively. Photoluminescence spectra and photometric assessment of the complex were carried out to probe its photophysical parameters. The excitation spectra of the synthesized complex depict a wide-ranging excitation peak at 466 nm with a wide shoulder at 538 nm, while emission spectra disclosed an intense peak, recorded at 617 nm which portrays color in the reddish-orange region of the visible spectrum. The paint compositions were checked for tack-free, hard dry, adhesion, water, salt, alkali, and acid spray test to study their resistance against distinct surroundings. The painted panels also portrayed reddish-orange emission at a unique wavelength of 617 nm. Amid all the paint compositions, the intensity of the painted panel with UF as a binder was found to be maximum, followed by the painted panel with epoxy as the binder. Photometric evaluation revealed reddish-orange emission from pure pigment as well as painted panels, which are portrayed in the visible spectrum. This proposes a way to develop fluorescent paints that find applications in several areas such as flexible displays, glow-in-dark road paints, OLED devices, automotive rare lighting, fluorescent sensors, aircraft cabin and floor lighting, architectural and interior decorations, and many more. Received: 23 January 2024 | Revised: 1 April 2024 | Accepted: 27 May 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Vyankatesh Rajhans: Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Visualization. N. Thejo Kalyani: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Resources, Writing – review & editing, Supervision, Project administration. Akhilesh Ugale: Software, Writing – review & editing. S. J. Dhoble: Supervision, Project administration.

Development of inorganic anticorrosive coatings for steel bars: Corrosion resistance testing and design

A densely structured three-dimensional geopolymer network could effectively impede the migration and diffusion of chloride ion. This study developed one kind of efficient and cost-effective and multi-component geopolymer coating (MGC) for inhibiting and delaying the corrosion of steel. The influence of alkali content, metakaolin replacement ratio, polyvinyl alcohol content, and titanium dioxide content on the fluidity, setting time, and rheological properties of MGC was investigated. Accelerated corrosion tests were carried out to determine the optimal formulation of MGC. The corrosion resistance of MGC prepared by different coating method was compared to commercial organic metal coatings, for which the salt spray test, adhesion test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test were conducted. The results showed that the dip-coated specimen of MGC exhibited 63.8% decrease in mass loss, 59.5% decrease in adhesive strength loss, and 38.1% increase in impedance modulus compared to commercial organic metal coatings. Furthermore, the corrosion protection mechanism of MGC was elucidated by analyzing its microstructural characteristics including the functional groups formed on the surface of coated steel bars. In terms of cost, MGC reduced the total cost by about 15 times compared to commercial organic metal coatings.

A Comparative Study on Dip Coating and Corrosion Behavior of Ti-13Zr-13Nb and Commercially Pure Titanium Alloys Coated with YSZ by Taguchi Design

This work evaluates experimentally the corrosion and tip testing of Ti-13Zr-13Nb joint implant alloys and commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) covered with YSZ nanoceramic. Through the use of the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) approach, the dip coating process produced a thin sticky covering. The effects of temperature, YSZ concentration, duration, and the level of Ti alloy substrate grinding during dip coating were investigated using a L9-type orthogonal Taguchi array to determine the deposition yield. The thickness and adhesion tests that were utilized to optimize the dip coating conditions served as the input data, and the Ti alloys were coated using the ideal dip coating technique parameters as previously mentioned. For commercial Ti, the ideal values for YSZ coating thickness and adhesion were 60°C, 10 seconds, 10% concentration, and 250 degrees of grinding; correspondingly, for Ti-13Zr-13Nb, the ideal values were 60°C, 10 seconds, 15% concentration, and 400 degrees of grinding. For both Cp-Ti and Ti-13Zr-13Nb, the obtained thickness and removal area (adhesion) were 58.5µm and 11.45%, respectively, and 69.5µm and 9.33%, respectively. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images were used to study the coated alloys; optical microscopy and AFM were used to identify the microstructure and thickness measurements of the coated surfaces; EDAX was used to analyze the coating composition; and XRD was used to analyze the formed phases. The optimized coated Ti alloys' corrosion resistance was investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) using electrochemical methods such as cyclic polarization and Tafel polarization, and the adhesion strength of the coatings was measured using a tip tester. The following corrosion-resistant values were used to compare Ti-13Zr-13Nb and coated Cp-Ti: In Ringer's solution at 37°C, both coating alloys—Cp-Ti and Ti-13Zr-13Nb—improved corrosion resistance; however, the coated Ti-13Zr-13Nb alloy demonstrated greater corrosion resistance than the coated Cp-Ti alloy (5.417×10-3 and 1.042×10-2, respectively).

Efficacy of ozonated olive oil against peri-implant microbes isolated from peri-implantitis.

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and antimicrobial activity of ozone gel against oral biofilms grown on titanium dental implant discs. The experiment used medical grade five titanium discs on which peri-implant isolated biofilms were grown. The experimental groups were control, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Granulicatella adiacens (G. adiacens), (n = 6). The oral microbes grown on titanium discs were exposed to ozone gel for 3 minutes and the antibacterial activity was assessed by turbidity test and adherence test for the antibiofilm activity test. Bacterial morphology and confluence were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (n=3). Two bacterial species were identified from the peri-implant sample, S. mutans and G. adiacens. The results showed that adding ozone to the bacterial biofilm on titanium dental implants did not exhibit significant antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Moreover, there was no significant difference in antibiofilm activity between control and treatment groups. However, significant antibacterial and antibiofilm effect was exhibited by ozone gel against G. adiacens. Ozonated olive oil can be considered as a potential antimicrobial agent for disinfecting dental implant surfaces and treating peri-implantitis.

Influence of Soda and Kraft lignin in polyurethane coatings for the corrosion protection of mild steel in 3.5 % NaCl solution

This study highlights the potential of coconut shell biomass waste-derived lignins (CSL) as corrosion inhibitors to reinforce the coating properties of polyurethane. The utilization of CSL involves a green approach to prepare eco-friendly metallic coatings. Herein, lignin was extracted via Kraft and Soda pulping processes. The present findings indicated that the percentage yield of Soda lignin (SL) (26.43 ± 0.75 %) was significantly higher than that of Kraft lignin (KL) (8.52 ± 0.39 %). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization corrosion monitoring techniques were used to evaluate the anticorrosive performance of modified polyurethane coatings on mild steel exposed to 3.5 % NaCl solution. In this study, doping concentration of 5 wt% KL and SL into polyurethane attained the optimum anticorrosion performance. The surface conditions of uncoated and coated mild steel substrates were investigated through scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, salt spray and adhesion tests. EDX analysis demonstrated that polyurethane added with 5 wt% doping concentration of SL contained the highest content of Fe (86.05 wt%) compared to 5 wt% KL which contained 79.64 wt% of Fe, whereas neat polyurethane coating contained 75.43 wt% of Fe. Hence, enhanced corrosion protection of polyurethane through the addition of CSL, particularly SL, possesses a viable and an effective green approach to utilize coconut shell biomass waste for the application as a potential corrosion inhibitor in organic coatings.

Effects of Adding Graphite to Epoxy Resin on its Mechanical Properties and Mild-to-Severe Wear Performance at its Heat Distortion Temperature

In this study, epoxy/graphite composites were fabricated based on different weight fractions (0, 3, 6, and 9 wt.%) of graphite powder for bearing applications. The mechanical and tribological properties were assessed. Adhesive wear tests covered the severe regions, where the interface temperature (IFT) exceeded the heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the epoxy. Graphite additions improved elastic modulus and hardness but decreased fracture strain and toughness of the composites. The tribological behaviors in the mild wear region were improved as the graphite content increased. In the mild wear region, the increase in graphite additions showed a good improvement by reducing the specific wear rate (SWR) and coefficient of friction (COF). In the severe wear region, the neat epoxy and higher graphite concentrations exhibited a dramatic increase in SWR, whereas the lowest addition of 3 wt.% exhibited good wear performance. For epoxy, the reason was that IFT exceeded its HDT, while the aggregation of graphite particles was the main reason in the case of higher graphite concentrations. SEM examinations showed severe wear signs—high ploughing and fracture—when IFT exceeded the HDT. However, by reducing the IFT, graphite additions did not show such severe wear features due to the accelerated heat dissipation.

Antioxidant activity of Robusta coffee peel extract (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) and its formulation as a face serum gel

Abstract The utilization of coffee peel becomes crucial in the coffee manufacturing process since the amount of coffee peel waste produced is proportional to the amount of coffee harvested. The ethanolic extract of Robusta coffee peel contains polyphenolic, which known as natural antioxidants. Phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity of Robusta coffee peels by the DPPH radical scavenging assay, and their formulation into a face serum gel were carried out. Phytochemical screening showed that Robusta coffee peel extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and triterpenoids. The antioxidant activity of Robusta coffee peel extract gave an IC50 value 27.9657 µg/mL, which is considered to have very significant antioxidant activity. Formulas I and II of the serum gel formulation contain 0.006% and 0.009% of the Robusta coffee peel extract, respectively. The organoleptic, viscosity, pH, spreadability, adhesion, and stability tests have met all of the parameters. The serum gel passed the preparation’s irritation test without showing any signs of irritation. The antioxidant activity of face serum gel gave an IC50 value of 56.2754 µg/mL in formula I, which was categorized as having strong antioxidant activity, and 30.3451 µg/mL in formula II, which was categorized as having very strong antioxidant activity. In summary, Robusta coffee peel extract has the potential to be a natural antioxidant and might be made into a face serum gel preparation.

Co-pyrolysis of waste wood and plastic to produce quasi graphitic carbon: enhanced biochar properties for metal coatings through safe sequestration and green technology

Use of waste polystyrene as an additive in the preparation of biowaste derived char can provide significant new properties that enhance the performance of the epoxy coating on steel surface. This work establishes a cost-effective Quasi-graphitic carbon (QGC) derived from the co-pyrolysis of Eucalyptus wood chips and polystyrene as a mix in epoxy (EP) matrix for enhanced the coating properties. The QGC material was characterized by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM-EDX, TGA, etc. Results show the incorporation of 0.1 wt.% QGC to the EP matrix enhances corrosion resistance by 98.6 % and boosts mechanical properties with a 245.45 % increase in hardness and a 57.31 % rise in elastic modulus compared to pure EP coatings. Microscopic analysis reveals a smoother, more compact surface with fewer structural defects comapred to pure EP coating. Adhesion tests score the category of 4B, 5B, and water contact angle improve to 102.8°, compared to 61.6° for pure EP coatings. These eco-friendly materials, created through environmentally conscious processes can be a safe alternative to the conventional toxic chemicals used to protect against corrosion,particularly in marine environments.

Microstructural transformation and failure mechanism of CrN/CrTiSiN coatings experienced annealing post-treatment

There are great efforts for enhancing the characteristics of PVD multilayered coatings and one solution could be heat treating the coated part. The current research analyzed the effect of annealing temperatures on the microstructural transformation and failure mechanism of CrN/CrTiSiN multilayered coatings. The coatings were annealed in air at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 1000 °C for 1 h. The characterization methods included XRD, XPS, FESEM, EDS, and Rockwell-C adhesion tests. The findings indicated that the as-deposited coating exhibited a consistent structure of the CrN phase. During the process of annealing from 500 to 700 °C, the CrN phase transforms into the Cr2N phase. At 800 °C, the structure is fully composed of Cr2N. At 900 °C, the elevated annealing temperature causes the Cr2N phase to change into the Cr2O3 phase. The volume fraction of the Cr2O3 phase increases until the temperature reaches 1000 °C. The results showed that the transition of Cr2N → Cr2O3 within the coating's thickness would lead to peeling off the coating due to an increase in the lattice volume. The EDS mapping shows that raising the annealing temperature for a constant time will result in more oxygen infiltration into the coating's thickness.