Weight Loss Of Samples Research Articles

Properties of oak wood incorporating microencapsulated phase change material

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) incorporated into oak wood via vacuum impregnation have shown promise as thermal energy storage (TES) materials. Physical and chemical properties of MPCMs and resulting Phase Change Energy Storage Wood (PCESW) were analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyses revealed similar particle sizes, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed crystal phase and chemical structure. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry determined thermal properties, including phase change temperature, enthalpy, thermal stability, and conductivity. The MPCMs exhibited a phase change enthalpy of 146.0 J/g and temperature of 35.0 °C, with excellent thermal stability. The FTIR, XRD, and TGA analyses showed unchanged chemical structure, crystallinity ratios, and decomposition in two stages, respectively. The PCESW exhibited a latent heat storage of 3.02 J/g at 25.4 °C. Decay tests demonstrated noticeably reduced weight loss (1.22% and 1.55%) for MPCMW samples treated with Trametes versicolor and Coniophora puteana, compared to unleached control samples (19.7% and 20.8%). These findings indicate the high efficiency and potential of PCESW as a thermal energy storage material.

Experimental investigation on wear behavior of titanium alloy (Grade 23) by pin on disc tribometer

In this paper, investigating the influence of wear properties such as load, distance, and sliding speed are analyzed to statistical behavior of the wear mass loss and co efficient of frictions as response using high-strength titanium alloys (Grade 23). Dry sliding wear tests were performed on the titanium alloys using Pin-on-disc tribometer according to the ASTM G99-95a with ambient circumstances. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed for experiential run to evaluate the tribological behavior. The input parameters are load (30–50 N), sliding speed (1–2 m/s) and sliding distance [1000–2000 m]. The samples weight loss and coefficient of friction were measured during these experiments. EN 31 steel discs with 80 mm-diameter was utilized as counter pairs. The test results showed that the main factors; interaction of sliding speed and sliding distance, and quadratic impacts of sliding speed, had a considerable influence on wear mass loss and co efficient frictions. The sliding distance has most influences on WML and COF with contribution of 60% and 51% respectively. The smallest WML of 0.0262 g and COF of 0.3308 were reached by optimum input parameters.

Effect of Biopolymer Dip-Coating Pretreatments as a Non-Thermal Green Technology on Physicochemical Characteristics, Drying, and Rehydration Kinetics of Santa Maria Pears

This research was conducted to determine the influences of biopolymer dip-coating pretreatments as a non-thermal green technology on the drying behavior, retention of bioactive compounds, and quality properties of pears. The fresh pears were washed, peeled, and diced into cubes of 5 × 5 mm with a 2 mm thickness and were dipped into 0.3% (w/v) solutions of sodium alginate (SA), pectin (PC), xanthan gum (XG), Arabic gum (AG), and gelatin (GE) before hot air drying (70 °C, 2.0 m/s). The weight loss of samples during drying was recorded online, and the moisture ratio (MR) and drying rate were plotted against drying time. Biopolymers significantly decreased the drying time (maximum 33.33% by SA) compared with uncoated samples except for XG. Moisture diffusion coefficients were determined according to Fick’s second law of diffusion by plotting LnMR against drying time, and a linear regression analysis was applied to the data for the determination of moisture diffusion coefficients which ranged from 2.332 to 3.256 × 10−9 m2/s. The molecular transport of momentum, heat, and mass were determined from Newton’s law of viscosity, Fourier’s law, and Fick’s law, respectively. The results indicated that the friction drag force, convective heat, and mass transfer coefficients were 6.104 × 10−6 N, 76.55 W/m2·K, and 0.0636 m/s, respectively. Mathematical modeling showed the suitability of the Midilli and Kucuk and the Peleg models for the prediction of drying and rehydration processes, respectively. Thermal conductivity, specific heat, and density of coated samples ranged from 0.559–0.579 (W/m·K), 3735–3859 (J/kg·K), and 850.90–883.26 (Kg/m3), respectively. The porosity was reduced due to the penetration of biopolymers into the cellular matrix of samples. The highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity belonged to the AG samples. The biopolymers covering the surface of samples produced a protection layer against the loss of bioactive compounds. Biopolymers can be successfully used as a non-thermal green process for improving the drying and quality characteristics of pears at the industrial level.

Analysis of physicochemical properties of dry-cured beef made from Hanwoo and Holstein meat distributed in South Korea

The purpose of the study is to check the possibility of developing dry-cured meat from Hanwoo (South Korean native cattle) and Holstein cattle considering the differences between breeds and use this data for the preparation and development of dry cured ham unique to South Korea. Same-grade Semitendinosus muscle from Hanwoo and Holstein was cured using a curing agent with 4.6% salt content at 4 °C for 7 days, and then aged for 70 days. Data was analyzed through physicochemical characterization, and the manufacturing period was established through weight loss, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Moisture content and weight loss of both samples significantly decreased during the manufacturing process (P < 0.05). TBARS was significantly higher in Hanwoo and VBN in Holstein (P < 0.05). According to the values of VBN (less than 20 mg/100 g) and TBARS (less than 2 mg MDA/kg), dry aging for 5 weeks is appropriate for both samples. The principal component analysis of 5 weeks-aged Holstein showed a dramatically changing trend due to myofibril fragmentation as indicated by Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. In addition, 5 weeks-aged Holstein contains methanethiol (cheese), butan-2-one (butter), and 3-3-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-hexadiene (fatty acid-derive) compounds that represent fermentation and aging flavors. Therefore, the possibility of product development was confirmed by the 5-week aging of Holstein dry-cured ham.

Mild heat treatment achieved better inactivation of Salmonella and preservation of almond quality than ultraviolet light and chemical sanitizers

This study was conducted to compare the effects of ultraviolet light (UV), chemical sanitizers, and heat treatments on Salmonella inactivation and preservation of almond quality. Whole, skinless, and sliced almonds, representing different shape and surface topography, were inoculated with a Salmonella cocktail consisting of S. Montevideo, S. Newport, S. Typhimurium, S. Heidelberg, and S. Enteritidis. Inoculated almonds (50 g) were treated by UV (30 mW/cm2, 30 or 60 min), 75 °C heat (up to 150 min), and chemical sanitizers (3 % hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 1 % cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 30 or 60 min) alone or in combinations. Uninoculated almonds were similarly treated for analyzing color, visual appearance, and weight changes. In general, UV treatment alone was ineffective in inactivating Salmonella; the 30- and 60-min UV treatments reduced Salmonella by 1.3 (± 0.1) and 1.7 (± 0.1), 2.7 (± 0.2) and 3.3 (± 0.1), and 1.3 (± 0.1) and 1.7 (± 0.1) log CFU/g on whole, skinless, and sliced almonds, respectively. Prior wetting of almonds with water and chemical solutions in a few cases significantly (P < 0.05) increased the UV inactivation of Salmonella. The most pronounced Salmonella killing effect achieved by the combined treatments were: 1-min H2O2 dipping followed by 60-min UV treatment for whole (3.0 logs) and skinless almonds (3.8 logs) and 1-min CPC dipping followed by 60-min UV treatment for sliced almonds (3.0 logs). However, none of those achieved >4 log reductions of Salmonella as required by FDA. The 30-min UV treatment produced discolored but overall acceptable almonds, whereas the 60-min UV treatment led to deteriorated almonds including a dark color, oil extraction, and shrunk kernel size. Prior wetting reduced the sample weight loss but caused local burning and kernel cracking. A sequential approach of a 60-min 75 °C heat treatment and two 30-min wet UV treatments successfully reduced Salmonella by >4 logs, but more severe kernel cracking occurred. In contrast, a single heat treatment of vacuum packaged whole almonds at 75 °C for 150 min was capable of achieving >5 log reductions of Salmonella while preserving almond color and visual qualities and minimizing weight loss. These results clearly demonstrated that the heat treatment was a much better processing technology than UV and sanitizers for raw almond pasteurization.

Medical-Grade Poly(Lactic Acid)/Hydroxyapatite Composite Films: Thermal and In Vitro Degradation Properties.

Production of biocompatible composite scaffolds shifts towards additive manufacturing where thermoplastic biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are used as matrices. Differences between industrial- and medical-grade polymers are often overlooked although they may affect properties and degradation behaviour as significantly as the filler addition. In the present research, composite films based on medical-grade PLA and biogenic hydroxyapatite (HAp) with 0, 10, and 20 wt.% of HAp were prepared by solvent casting technique. The degradation of composites incubated in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) at 37 °C after 10 weeks showed that the higher HAp content slowed down the hydrolytic PLA degradation and improved its thermal stability. Morphological nonuniformity after degradation was indicated by the different glass transition temperatures (Tg) throughout the film. The Tg of the inner part of the sample decreased significantly faster compared with the outer part. The decrease was observed prior to the weight loss of composite samples.

Real-Time Obstacle Detection Method in the Driving Process of Driverless Rail Locomotives Based on DeblurGANv2 and Improved YOLOv4

In order to improve the detection accuracy of an algorithm in the complex environment of a coal mine, including low-illumination, motion-blur, occlusions, small-targets, and background-interference conditions; reduce the number of model parameters; improve the detection speed of the algorithm; and make it meet the real-time detection requirements of edge equipment, a real-time obstacle detection method in the driving of driverless rail locomotives based on DeblurGANv2 and improved YOLOv4 is proposed in this study. A blurred image was deblurred using DeblurGANv2. The improved design was based on YOLOv4, and the lightweight feature extraction network MobileNetv2 was used to replace the original CSPDarknet53 network to improve the detection speed of the algorithm. There was a high amount of background interference in the target detection of the coal mine scene. In order to strengthen the attention paid to the target, the SANet attention module was embedded in the Neck network to improve the detection accuracy of the algorithm under low-illumination, target-occlusion, small-target, and other conditions. To further improve the detection accuracy of the algorithm, the K-means++ algorithm was adopted to cluster prior frames, and the focal loss function was introduced to increase the weight loss of small-target samples. The experimental results show that the deblurring of the motion-blurred image can effectively improve the detection accuracy of obstacles and reduce missed detections. Compared with the original YOLOv4 algorithm, the improved YOLOv4 algorithm increases the detection speed by 65.85% to 68 FPS and the detection accuracy by 0.68% to 98.02%.

Enhancing acid resistance of geopolymer concrete composites by utilising styrene-butadiene latex, nano-silica and micro-silica powder

The acid resistance of geopolymer binder, a promising alternative to ordinary Portland cement with clean technology option, needs detailed investigations for widespread use in different applications and severe acidic conditions. The aim of this work is to enhance acid resistance of geopolymer concretes (GPCs) by employing styrene-butadiene latex (SBL), nano-silica (NS) and micro-silica (MS) powders. The residual compressive strength, weight loss, visual appearance and microstructure properties of GPC samples were evaluated after exposed to hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions with different concentrations (3%, 5% and 7%) for 90 and 180 days. The addivites increase residual compressive strength by preventing acid liquids to ingress the interior areas thanks to additional pozzolanic and filler effect leading to more compact and denser microstructure. Any apparent damage was not observed at the outer surface of GPC specimens.

Chemical aging of sealing gasket of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

AbstractAs the key sealing part of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the gasket is easily damaged in acidic solution and wet air for a long time in PEMFC, resulting in unsafe and unstable operation of PEMFC. In this paper, the regular solution (RS) and accelerated durability test (ADT) solution in PEMFC were prepared to study the aging damage process of silicone rubber gasket, and the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (ATR‐FTIR) was used to analyze the surface changes of gaskets soaked in solutions. The results showed that the weight loss of samples increased with the soaking time in both ADT solution and RS solution, and the damage of samples in ADT solution was faster and more serious than that in RS solution. Meanwhile, the microstructure diagram also indicated that the damage of the samples in ADT solution was more serious than that in the RS solution. The ATR‐FTIR analysis results showed that the intensity of characteristic wave peaks of samples at 706, 787, 867, 1006, 1071, 1260, and 2961cm−1 in ADT solution decreased faster than that in RS solution, which was consistent with the results of weight analysis and microstructure analysis.

Mechanical and Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Natural Fiber-Based Single-Ply and 2-Ply Woven Prepregs.

This paper presents a study conducted on prepregs manufactured by a novel method for the impregnation of a thermoplastic matrix. Different composite prepregs based on polypropylene and reinforced with natural fibers (e.g., basalt and jute fibers) were developed. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. DMA tests were conducted at 1 Hz frequency and properties such as storage modulus and damping (tan δ) were evaluated. The overall mechanical properties of the basalt fiber composites were found to be superior to that of the jute fiber-based samples. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) of the composite samples showed that the thermal degradation temperatures of the basalt-based composites shifted to higher temperature regions compared to the PP or jute fiber composites. The addition of basalt fiber considerably improved the thermal stability of the composite samples. Microscopic images of the tensile fractured composite samples illustrated better fiber-matrix interfacial interaction due to the novel technology of prepregs. Single-ply and 2-ply prepregs showed significantly superior mechanical, thermal, and thermo-dynamical performance compared to the control sample (pure PP). 2-Ply composites demonstrated higher modulus, tensile strength, and storage modulus due to the higher fiber volume fraction. Basalt-based samples showed a minimum weight loss of about 57% up to 700 °C in contrast to 96.05% weight loss in the jute-based samples and 98.4% in the case of pure PP. The heat resistance index (THRI) is more than twice for basalt compared to jute and PP. Furthermore, the superior thermal stability of basalt is reflected in its DSC curves, showing the highest endothermic peak. The technique of using the resin in the form of thermoplastic yarns offers cost effective and efficient alternatives for composite manufacturing.

Cleaning of Thar coal by froth flotation and water washing

The demand for a constant supply of energy is increasing day by day. To meet these increasing demands the natural resources must be utilized smartly. Coal can be a promising fuel due to its large reserves available in Pakistan. About 175 billion tons of coal reserves are found in Thar region of Sindh province. The major issue is the pre-processing cleaning of coal after it is mined out. A number of methods have been adopted to clean coal.&#x0D; Presently, cleaning of Thar coal was carried out using froth flotation and water washing techniques. Three different particle sizes (-60#, -100# and -150#) were employed to study the effect of froth flotation on ash and sulfur reduction. Experiments were carried out in laboratory flotation cell and beakers under different set of conditions (i.e., flotation with and without collector and frother and by simple water washing). Kerosene oil was used as a collector and pine oil as a frother. Characterization of raw and treated Thar coal samples was carried out by ASTM standards. The results exhibited an inverse relationship of particle size towards efficiency of the cleaning process; thus, the optimal combustible recovery was attained at -150# particle size. Furthermore, FTIR results disclosed the presence of aromatic and aliphatic structure in treated coal samples. Thermo-gravimetric analysis was also made to determine the weight loss in raw and treated samples and observed increased combustion efficiency and reactivity of Coal.

Assessment of the Effect of Various Catalysts on the Destruction of Food Waste during Their Processing

The process of destruction of solid household waste occurs mainly under the action of microflora and leads to mass loss due to mineralization of organic matter, with separation of filtrate and gases. Considering the basic principles of the action of enzyme preparations, it is promising to create conditions for fermentation of the nutrient solution by a consortium of microorganisms, for example, existing in the soil. Another promising direction may be to stimulate the growth and development of native microflora (microorganisms and fungi) due to the effects of surfactants and/or providing preliminary hydrolysis of the substrate. The effect of stimulating catalyst additives on the weight loss of food waste samples was evaluated and compared. The effect was recorded in the form of a loss of substrate mass and a decrease in its volume. Variants of catalysts (honey syrup, protein hydrolysate, potassium hydrophosphate), their combinations, as well as a commercial drug and water as a comparison were investigated. Under anaerobic conditions, it was shown that the losses due to the release of gases were small, while the option with a commercial catalyst showed the greatest efficiency. Under aerobic conditions, when using a combination of molasses and an alkaline medium as a catalyst, a faster mass loss was shown, which slowed down by the end of the experiment. At the same time, an additional amount of alkali (2.8% of the substrate weight) had a significant effect on the substrate due to the alkaline hydrolysis of the components, which made them more accessible for further microbiological destruction.

Suitability of gravel deposits in Kirkuk city for concrete &amp; roads works

The aim of research to a study some Engineering properties, Mechanical abrasion (Loss Anglos) test and Californian bearing ratio (CBR), with some physical properties such as optimum water content and specific gravity tests for aggregate deposits in Kirkuk / Iraq . Six samples taken from (Chiman) and (Shurau) sits , three samples from each sit which represented (Bai Hassan Formation) from (Shurau) sit , and Quaternary deposits from (Chiman) sit to estimate its resistance to abrasion and friction of the outer surface for course aggregate to show the suitability of geotechnical qualification of road layers and concrete works. The physical geotechnical evaluation results grain size distribution for samples (1, 2, 3) are matching for class (A) with simple shift in fine sizes according designation[1], while the samples (4, 6) are matching with class (B), while sample (5) matching exactly class (A), through represented the result as a curves and matching with standard curves all samples gave well graded curves. A results of specific gravity (dry, wet) of coarse aggregate (gravel) for samples (1, 2, 3) reached at average (2.583, 2.6) respectively, while a results of samples (4, 5, 6) reached at average (2.607, 2.624), and results of specific gravity (dry, wet) of fine aggregate (sand) for samples (1, 2, 3) reached at average (2.56, 2.542) respectively, while a results of samples (4, 5, 6) reached at average (2.491, 2.511), all the results within of limits that allowable according on American designation[2] between (2.3 – 3.2) . The strength tests (California bearing ratio) shows suitability to qualification needs to road works for sub base layer , where the values are (36%), (35%) respectively. Durability geotechnical tests (loss Angeles) results shows the weight loss for samples (1,2,3) are (% 20.4 ,% 25 , % 22.7) respectively, while for samples (4, 5, 6) the result are (19.80%, 22.3%, 20.06%) respectively. The Soundness test results for coarse aggregate (gravel) are (1.236%) for sample (1) and (1.062%) for sample (4) ,while the Soundness test results for fine aggregate (sand) are (2.897%) for sample (1) and (2.717%) for sample (4), so all samples are suitable to use in roads &amp; concrete works .

Assessing Mechanical Properties of Jute, Kenaf, and Pineapple Leaf Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Experiment and Modelling.

The application of natural fibers is increasing rapidly in the polymer-based composites. This study investigates manufacturing and characterization of polypropylene (PP) based composites reinforced with three different natural fibers: jute, kenaf, and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). In each case, the fiber weight percentages were varied by 30 wt.%, 35 wt.%, and 40 wt.%. Mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were determined by following the relevant standards. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to identify the chemical interactions between the fiber and the PP matrix material. Tensile strength and Izod impact strength of the composites significantly increased for all the composites with different fiber contents when compared to the pure PP matrix. The tensile moduli of the composites were compared to the values obtained from two theoretical models based on the modified "rule of mixtures" method. Results from the modelling agreed well with the experimental results. Tensile strength (ranging from 43 to 58 MPa), flexural strength (ranging from 53 to 67 MPa), and impact strength (ranging from 25 to 46 kJ/m2) of the composites significantly increased for all the composites with different fiber contents when compared to the pure PP matrix having tensile strength of 36 MPa, flexural strength of 53 Mpa, and impact strength of 22 kJ/m2. Furthermore, an improvement in flexural strength but not highly significant was found for majority of the composites. Overall, PALF-PP displayed better mechanical properties among the composites due to the high tensile strength of PALF. In most of the cases, T98 (degradation temperature at 98% weight loss) of the composite samples was higher (532-544 °C) than that of 100% PP (500 °C) matrix. Fractured surfaces of the composites were observed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analyses were made in terms of fiber matrix interaction. This comparison will help the researcher to select any of the natural fiber for fiber-based reinforced composites according to the requirement of the final product.

A Novel Antimicrobial Hydrogel for the Management of Periodontal Diseases

ObjectivesThis study aimed to synthesise a drug-delivery system based on a porous polymer hydrogel, with antimicrobial properties against Porphyromonas gingivalis and potential to be used in tissue regeneration. Material and methods2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomers were polymerised using thermal and photoactivation in the presence of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and/or chlorhexidine digluconate. Poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and/or 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) were produced and characterised using cryo-SEM and confocal microscopy. Hydrogel degradation and leaching of AgNP were tested for 1.5 months. The antimicrobial properties were tested against P. gingivalis using broth culture system and disk diffusion tests. ResultsOur methodology manufactured porous polymeric hydrogels doped with AgNPs and CHX. Hydrogels showed a successful delivery of CHX and sustainable release of AgNPs in a steady hydrogel degradation rate determined based on the weight loss of samples. Hydrogels with AgNPs or CHX had a significant antimicrobial effect against P. gingivalis, with CHX-hydrogels exhibiting a stronger effect than AgNP-hydrogels in the short-term assessment. AgNP-CHX hydrogels showed a compounded antimicrobial effect, whereas control hydrogels containing neither AgNPs nor CHX had no influence on bacterial growth (P < .05). ConclusionsThe dual-cured pHEMA hydrogel loaded with antimicrobial agents proved to be an efficient drug-delivery system against periodontopathogens, with the potential to be used as a scaffold for tissue regeneration.

Exploring predictors and moderators of response to multimodal obesity treatment in children

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether specific psychological factors influence intervention effects for children with severe obesity in a clinical setting.DesignSecondary analyses of data about attention deficit/hyperactivity...

High‐intensity ultrasound treatment: An effective way of modifying thermal and rheological properties of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) protein isolate (SHPI) by varying ultrasound amplitude and time

AbstractIn this study, sunnhemp protein isolate was prepared to investigate the effect of ultrasound amplitude (40% and 50%) and time (10, 20, and 30 min) on the physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of sunnhemp protein isolates (SHPIs) at fixed power and frequency. Ultrasound treatment decreased the water activity of SHPIs. Improvement in the in vitro protein‐digestibility was observed during ultrasound treatment. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated changes in the denaturation temperature and weight loss in all ultrasonicated sunnhemp protein samples. Thermal stability of ultrasound‐treated SHPIs was improved indicating modification in the secondary structures of SHPI caused by ultrasound treatment. From the rheology results, dramatically higher storage and loss modulus values as a function of frequency and temperature were observed in modified SHPIs samples over native sample. Ultrasonication is an efficient approach for modifying the physico‐chemical, thermal and rheological characteristics of sunnhemp proteins for food applications where thermal stability is required.Practical ApplicationsToday's consumer is not only concerned with the relationship between food intake and wellness, but also with the sustainability of the environment as well. So, the consumption of plant‐based proteins over animal‐based proteins is on the rise. There is a need to explore underutilized plant‐based protein sources, which should be incorporated in our nutritional diet. Sunnhemp seeds are loaded with high protein content and are therefore, a novel and sustainable plant‐based protein source. Sunnhemp seeds also have well balanced amino acid composition and have other medicinal properties. However, plant‐based protein shows poor functionalities when compared to animal‐based protein. Therefore, there is a need to modify plant‐based proteins before incorporating into the final food products. In the present research, sunnhemp protein isolate has been modified to increase its functionality, which could be taken by food processing industries.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THERMAL PROPERTIES OF BLACK CURRANT AND RED CURRANT SEEDS

Background. Currants are one of the most widely cultivated fruits in Poland and are used mainly for the production of fruit juices and concentrates. Fruit pomace, which is a by-product of the fruit industry, is rich in seeds which can be a valuable material in the food industry, as they contain polysaccharides and fat with a unique profile of fatty acids. The aim of the work was to assess the thermal properties of black and red currant seeds and assess the possible direction of their application in the food industry, so that fruit production would be consistent with the circular economy principles and in order to obtain new sources of nutrients. Black and red currant seeds were examined. The following methods were employed: differential scanning calorimetry, modulated differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results and conclusions. The methods selected proved to be a useful tool for assessing the thermal properties of currant seeds. Results obtained using differential scanning calorimetry provided information that the material contains polysaccharide compounds and fat. Glass transition temperatures determined in the modulated differential scanning calorimetry study may indicate reduced stability of the material during storage. The thermogravimetric analysis allowed to determine the scope related to weight loss in samples heated up to 700 °C. The test results obtained allow to conclude that black and red currant seeds obtained from fruit pomace can have a potential application in the food industry.

Evaluation of in-situ synthesised titania-zirconia-boron carbide composite cladding on Ti6Al4V substrate using continuous wave fibre laser

In this work, titanium metal matrix composite (TiC, TiB2, TiO2, ZrB2) cladding was synthesised by irradiating a fibre laser beam on a mixture of Ti6Al4V alloy, ZrO2, B4C powders pre-placed on Ti6Al4V alloy plate. The effect of varying wt.% of B4C on the microstructure, hardness, erosion, and wear properties of the composite cladding were investigated using XRD, XPS, EBSD, FESEM with EDAX, nano-indentation, and wear tests. Under the exposure of fibre laser on a mixture of preplaced powders, the in-situ formation of TiC, TiB2, TiO2, and ZrB2 ceramic particles have taken place and get uniformly dispersed in the molten titanium alloy matrix. The volume fraction of these phases increases with the increasing percentage of B4C. A black willow-shaped structure (TiB2) is observed in sample BM3 (30 wt% of B4C), along with grey cellular dendrites (TiC) dispersed uniformly in the matrix. The average microhardness of the claddings increases with the increase of B4C contents. The average weight loss of the cladding samples in dry sliding wear tests decreases with increasing the B4C content. The maximum microhardness of 1582.4HV300 is recorded in BM3 cladding, which is almost four times higher than the substrate material. The decrease in the average value of maximum nano-indentation depth with an increase in the content of B4C is in good agreement with the results of microhardness tests. The hardening of the cladding is also accompanied by increased values of parameters H/E (hardness(H)/Young's modulus (E)) and H3/E2(0.133), indicating better resistance to crack formation during indentation even at higher loads showing the cladding is hard as well as tough. The grain size variation and volume fraction of TiC–TiB2 obtained from electron backscatter diffraction test results agrees with cladding having these properties. The coefficient of friction (0.15–0.25) is found to be lower than the substrate material (∼0.3). The claddings also show good erosion resistance at ambient, 250 °C, 350 °C and 750 °C.

Cavitation erosion resistance enhancement of the surface modified 2024T351 Al alloy by ultrasonic shot peening

In this study, a novel surface strengthening method for improving cavitation erosion resistance by ultrasonic shot peening (USP) was proposed. Modified 2024T351 aluminium alloy surface layer with the characteristics of refined grains size, increased microhardness and residual compressive stress was prepared by USP treatment. Then the ultrasonic cavitation erosion (UCE) behaviour of the processed 2024T351 Al alloy was investigated. Results indicated that under the combined action of surface hardening and residual compressive stress, the cavitation weight loss of the USP-ed sample was significantly reduced. For the USP-ed 2024T351 Al alloy with an intensity of 0.101mmA, the weight loss after 3 hours' UCE treatment was reduced by 54.2 % compared to the untreated sample. This study also found that the increased surface roughness during shot peening could reduce the cavitation resistance properties. However, the weakening can be avoided by surface finishing. Results indicate that USP is a potential physical strengthening method that can significantly improve the cavitation erosion resistance of metals.