Materials, Volume 12, Issue 16 (August-2 2019) – 148 articles

The mechanical performance of concrete is strongly influenced by the geometry and properties of its components (namely aggregate, mortar, and Interfacial Transitional Zone (ITZ)) from the mesoscale viewpoint, and analyzing the material at that level should be a powerful tool for understanding macroscopic behavior. In this paper, a simple and highly efficient method is proposed for constructing realistic mesostructures of concrete. A shrinking process based on 3D Voronoi tessellation was employed to generate aggregates with random polyhedron and grading size, and reversely, an extending procedure was applied for ITZ generation. 3D mesoscale numerical simulation was conducted under a quasi-static load using an implicit solver which demonstrated the good robustness and feasibility of the presented model. The simulated results resembled favorably the corresponding experiments both in stress–strain curves and failure modes. Damage evolution analysis showed that the ITZ phase has profound influence on the damage behavior of concrete as damage initially develops from here and propagates to mortar. In addition, it was found that tensile damage is the principal factor of mortar failure while compressive damage is the principal factor of ITZ failure under compression. Full article

High-efficiency thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is leading the third-generation technology of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). TADF emitters are designed and synthesized using inexpensive organic donor and acceptor derivatives. TADF emitters are a potential candidate for next-generation display technology when compared with metal-complex-based phosphorescent dopants. Many studies are being conducted to enhance the external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) and photoluminescent quantum yield of green TADF devices. Blue TADF reached an EQE of over 35% with the support of suitable donor and acceptor moieties based on a suitable molecular design. The efficiencies of green TADF emitters can be improved when an appropriate molecular design is applied with an efficient device structure. The triazine acceptor has been identified as a worthy building block for green TADF emitters. Hence, we present here a review of triazine with various donor molecules and their device performances. This will help to design more suitable and efficient green TADF emitters for OLEDs. Full article

Waste foundry sand (WFS) is the by-product of the foundry industry. Utilizing it in the construction industry will protect the environment and its natural resources, and enable sustainable construction. WFS was employed in this research as a fractional substitution of natural sand by 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% in concrete. Several tests, including workability, compressive strength (CS), splitting tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS), ultrasonic pulse velocity (USPV), Schmidt rebound hammer number (RHN), and residual compressive strengths (RCS) tests were performed to understand the behavior of concrete before and after exposure to elevated temperatures. Test findings showed that the strength characteristics were increased by including WFS at all the phases. For a substitute rate of 30%, the maximum compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength were observed. Replacement with WFS enhanced the 28-day compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength by 7.82%, 9.87%, and 10.35%, respectively at a 30% replacement level, and showed continuous improvement until the age of 91 days. The RCS of foundry sand concrete after one month of air cooling at ambient temperature after exposing to 300 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 °C was found to be in the range of 67.50% to 71.00%, 57.50% to 61.50%, 49.00% to 51.50%, 38% to 41%, 31% to 35% and 26% to 31.5% of unheated compressive strength values for 0% to 40% replacement of WFS, respectively. The RCS decreases with increasing temperature; however, with increasing WFS, the RCS was enhanced in comparison to the control samples. In addition, the replacement of 30% yielded excellent outcomes. Hence, this study provides a sustainable construction material that will preserve the Earth’s natural resources and provide a best use of WFS. Full article

The domain wall (DW) dynamics of amorphous and nanocrystalline Co-based glass-coated microwires are explored under the influence of stress annealing. Different annealing profiles have enabled remarkable changes in coercivity and magnetostriction values of Co-based amorphous microwires with initially negative magnitude, allowing induced magnetic bistability in stress-annealed samples and, consequently, high DW velocity has been observed. Similarly, Co-based nanocrystalline microwires with positive magnetostriction and spontaneous bistability have featured high DW velocity. Different values of tensile stresses applied during annealing have resulted in a redistribution of magnetoelastic anisotropy showing a decreasing trend in both DW velocities and coercivity of nanocrystalline samples. Observed results are discussed in terms of the stress dependence on magnetostriction and microstructural relaxation. Full article

Guided bone regeneration is a common dental implant treatment where a barrier membrane (BM) is used between epithelial tissue and bone or bone graft to prevent the invasion of the fast-proliferating epithelial cells into the defect site to be able to preserve a space for infiltration of slower-growing bone cells into the periodontal defect site. In this study, a bilayer polycaprolactone (PCL) BM was developed by combining electrospinning and emulsion templating techniques. First, a 250 µm thick polymerised high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPE) made of photocurable PCL was manufactured and treated with air plasma, which was shown to enhance the cellular infiltration. Then, four solvent compositions were investigated to find the best composition for electrospinning a nanofibrous PCL barrier layer on PCL polyHIPE. The biocompatibility and the barrier properties of the electrospun layer were demonstrated over four weeks in vitro by histological staining. Following in vitro assessment of cell viability and cell migration, cell infiltration and the potential of PCL polyHIPE for supporting blood vessel ingrowth were further investigated using an ex-ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Our results demonstrated that the nanofibrous PCL electrospun layer was capable of limiting cell infiltration for at least four weeks, while PCL polyHIPE supported cell infiltration, calcium and mineral deposition of bone cells, and blood vessel ingrowth through pores. Full article

Developed societies with advanced economic performance are undoubtedly coupled with the availability of electrical energy. Whilst industrialized nations already started to decrease associated carbon emissions in many business sectors, e.g., by substituting combustion engines with battery-powered vehicles, less developed countries still lack broad coverage of reliable electricity supply, particularly in rural regions. Progressive electrification leads to a need for storage capacity and thus to increasing availability of advanced battery systems. To achieve a high degree of sustainability, re-used batteries from the electromobility sector are appropriate, as they do not consume further primary resources and still have sufficient residual capacity for stationary electrical storage applications. In this article, a blueprint for the electrification of a remote region by utilizing second-life lithium ion traction batteries for an integrated energy system in a stand-alone grid is presented and the implementation by the example case of a Tanzanian island in Lake Victoria is demonstrated. First, economic potentials and expected trends in the disposability of second-life lithium ion batteries and their foreseeable costs are outlined. Subsequently, key decision variables are identified to evaluate logistic aspects and the feasibility of the implementation of an off-grid electrical system in remote areas for economically and geographically unfavorable environments. The practical realization is pictured in detail with a focus on technical performance and safety specificities associated with second-life applications. Therefore, a new type of battery management system is introduced, which meets the special requirements of climate compatibility, low maintenance, enhanced cell balancing capability and cell configuration flexibility, and combined with a fiber-optical sensor system, provides reliable status monitoring of the battery. By carrying out on-site measurements, the overall system efficiency is evaluated along with a sustainability analysis. Finally, the socioeconomic and humanitarian impact for the people on the island is debated. Full article

The demand for eco-friendly renewable natural fibers has grown in recent years. In this study, a series of polypropylene-based composites reinforced with single bamboo fibers (SBFs), prepared by non-woven paving and a hot-pressing process, were investigated. The influence of the content of SBF on impact strength, flexural strength, and water resistance was analyzed. The properties of the composites were greatly affected by the SBF content. Impact strength increased as SBF content increased. The modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity show an optimum value, with SBF contents of 40% and 50%, respectively. The surface morphology of the fractured surfaces of the composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The composites showed poor interfacial compatibility. The water resistance indicates that the composites with higher SBF contents have higher values of water absorption and thickness swelling, due to the hydrophilicity of the bamboo fibers. The thermal properties of the composites were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis and by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of the composites was gradually reduced, due to the poor thermal stability of SBFs. In the composites, the maximum decomposition temperature corresponding to SBF shows an increasing trend. However, the maximum decomposition temperature of polypropylene was not influenced by SBF content. The melting point of the polypropylene in the composites was lower relative to pure polypropylene, although it was not affected by increasing SBF content. Full article

Copper substrates were wrought to have micro-grooves for packaging by micro-stamping with use of a AISI316 stainless steel micro-punch array. The micro-texture of this arrayed punch was first tailored and compiled into CAD data. A screen film was prepared to have the tailored micro-pattern in correspondence to the CAD data. A negative pattern to this screen was printed directly onto the AISI316 die substrate. This substrate was plasma nitrided at 673 K for 14.4 ks. The unprinted die surfaces were selectively nitrogen super-saturated to have sufficiently high corrosion toughness and hardness; other surfaces were masked by the prints. The two-dimensional micro-pattern on the screen was transformed into a three-dimensional nitrogen supersaturated micro-texture embedded in the AISI316 die. The printed surfaces were selectively sand-blasted to fabricate the micro-textured punch array for micro-embossing. A uniaxial compression testing machine was utilized to describe the micro-embossing behavior in copper substrates and to investigate how the micro-texture on the die was transcribed to the copper. The micro-punch array in this study consisted of three closed loop heads with a width of 75 µm and a height of 120 µm after plasma nitriding and sand-blasting. Since the nitrogen supersaturated heads had sufficient hardness against the blasting media, the printed parts of AISI316 die were removed. The micro-embossing process was described by comparison of the geometric configurations between the multi-punch array and the embossed copper plate. Full article

In advanced fission and fusion reactors, structural materials suffer from high dose irradiation by energetic particles and are subject to severe microstructure damage. He atoms, as a byproduct of the (n, α) transmutation reaction, could accumulate to form deleterious cavities, which accelerate radiation-induced embrittlement, swelling and surface deterioration, ultimately degrade the service lifetime of reactor materials. Extensive studies have been performed to explore the strategies that can mitigate He ion irradiation damage. Recently, nanostructured materials have received broad attention because they contain abundant interfaces that are efficient sinks for radiation-induced defects. In this review, we summarize and analyze the current understandings on interface effects on He ion irradiation in nanostructured materials. Some key challenges and research directions are highlighted for studying the interface effects on radiation damage in nanostructured materials. Full article

Crystalline ceramics are intensively investigated as effective materials in various nuclear energy applications, such as inert matrix and accident tolerant fuels and nuclear waste immobilization. This paper presents an analysis of the current status of work in this field of material sciences. We have considered inorganic materials characterized by different structures, including simple oxides with fluorite structure, complex oxides (pyrochlore, murataite, zirconolite, perovskite, hollandite, garnet, crichtonite, freudenbergite, and P-pollucite), simple silicates (zircon/thorite/coffinite, titanite (sphen), britholite), framework silicates (zeolite, pollucite, nepheline /leucite, sodalite, cancrinite, micas structures), phosphates (monazite, xenotime, apatite, kosnarite (NZP), langbeinite, thorium phosphate diphosphate, struvite, meta-ankoleite), and aluminates with a magnetoplumbite structure. These materials can contain in their composition various cations in different combinations and ratios: Li–Cs, Tl, Ag, Be–Ba, Pb, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, B, Al, Fe, Ga, Sc, Cr, V, Sb, Nb, Ta, La, Ce, rare-earth elements (REEs), Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn, Bi, Nb, Th, U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm. They can be prepared in the form of powders, including nano-powders, as well as in form of monolith (bulk) ceramics. To produce ceramics, cold pressing and sintering (frittage), hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing and spark plasma sintering (SPS) can be used. The SPS method is now considered as one of most promising in applications with actual radioactive substances, enabling a densification of up to 98–99.9% to be achieved in a few minutes. Characteristics of the structures obtained (e.g., syngony, unit cell parameters, drawings) are described based upon an analysis of 462 publications. Full article

The composition distribution can influence the performances of laser cladding layers. Hence, the technology of rthe eal-time monitoring of chemical composition is required to apply on laser cladding process. In this experiment, four kinds of Ni-based alloy powders were used to prepare laser cladding layers on AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 4140 steel. At the same time, emission spectra were collected during real-time laser cladding process. The intensity of spectral lines were revised with a corrected number deduced with evaporation rate of elements. By correlating the weight ratios of elements with the intensity ratios of spectral lines, four calibration curves were established to monitor composition distribution. The main results are shown as following: Weight ratios among elements in the laser cladding layers changed versus input energy density due to different saturated vapor pressures among elements; the dilution amount of substrate showed weak relations under the different manufacturing parameters, and the main reason for this can be attributed to the change of thermo–physical properties among different Ni-based alloy powders; the predicted results showed that when the composition concentration was higher than 3 wt.%, the relative error was lower than 8%, compared with EDS (Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) testing data. Full article

Pyrolysis of the polypropylene/montmorillonite (PP/OMMT) nanocomposites allows for recovery of the filler that can be then re–used to produce PP/pyrolyzed MMT (PMMT) nanostructured composites. In this work, we discuss the thermal properties of PP/PMMT composites investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It has been found that effect of PMMT (5 wt. % and 10 wt. %) on matrix thermal stability occurs at temperatures above 300 °C. Addition of 5 wt. % and 10 wt. % of PMMT into polypropylene system gave good stabilization effect, as confirmed by the overall stabilization effect (OSE) values, which increased by 4% and 7%, respectively, compared to the control sample (PP). Interestingly, the presence of 1 wt. % and 3 wt. % of pyrolyzed clay stabilizes the system better than the same concentrations of organoclay added into polypropylene melt. DSC data revealed that pyrolyzed clay has still the same tendency as organoclay to enhance formation of the α and β crystalline PP phases only. The pyrolyzed MMT causes an improvement of the modulus in the glassy as well as rubbery regions, as confirmed by DMA results. Full article

In view of the existing problems of stope roadways, which are difficult to maintain under the influence of high ground and mining-induced stresses, the structural characteristics and movement regularities of stopes surrounding rocks were analysed. Through the construction of a three-dimensional mechanical model of the coordination support of a stope, the adaptability index of the support in stope is presented, and its mechanism of operation is expounded. Yielding–resisting sand column (YRSC) sidewall-support technology with satisfactory compressibility and supporting strength was developed. The structure and actual mechanical properties of the YRSC were investigated through laboratory experiments, and the optimum ratio of filling materials was obtained. The good applicability of the load and deformation adaptability index of the three-dimensional coordination support in the stope and YRSC sidewall-support technology were demonstrated in practice at the No. 12306 working face of the Dongda coal mine. It was shown that the designed carrying capacity and compression of the sand columns satisfied the site requirements. The actual stress and deformation of the YRSC exhibited three stages: Slow growth at the initial stage, a large increase in the medium term, and a stable trend at the end. The adaptability index of the three-dimensional coordination support in the stope considers all bearing structure units of the stope as an interconnected whole, and the stability conditions of the stope roadway can be quantitatively described. The supporting effect of the YRSC is remarkable and can be applied to the construction of tunnels, bridge systems and other engineering fields. Full article

The combination of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) with an autogenous bone graft in periodontal regeneration has been proposed to improve clinical outcomes, especially in case of deep non-contained periodontal defects, with variable results. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of EMD in combination with autogenous bone graft compared with the use of EMD alone for the regeneration of periodontal intrabony defects. A literature search in PubMed and in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was carried out on February 2019 using an ad-hoc search string created by two independent and calibrated reviewers. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a combination of EMD and autogenous bone graft with EMD alone for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects were included. Studies involving other graft materials were excluded. The requested follow-up was at least 6 months. There was no restriction on age or number of patients. Standard difference in means between test and control groups as well as relative forest plots were calculated for clinical attachment level gain (CALgain), probing depth reduction (PDred), and gingival recession increase (RECinc). Three RCTs reporting on 79 patients and 98 intrabony defects were selected for the analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was detected as significantly high in the analysis of PDred and RECinc (I² = 85.28%, p = 0.001; I² = 73.95%, p = 0.022, respectively), but not in the analysis of CALgain (I² = 59.30%, p = 0.086). Standard difference in means (SDM) for CALgain between test and control groups amounted to −0.34 mm (95% CI −0.77 to 0.09; p = 0.12). SDM for PDred amounted to −0.43 mm (95% CI −0.86 to 0.01; p = 0.06). SDM for RECinc amounted to 0.12 mm (95% CI −0.30 to 0.55. p = 0.57). Within their limits, the obtained results indicate that the combination of enamel matrix derivative and autogenous bone graft may result in non-significant additional clinical improvements in terms of CALgain, PDred, and RECinc compared with those obtained with EMD alone. Several factors, including the surgical protocol used (e.g. supracrestal soft tissue preservation techniques) could have masked the potential additional benefit of the combined approach. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials, with well-defined selection criteria and operative protocols, are needed to draw more definite conclusions. Full article

Electrical stimulation is an attractive approach to tune on-demand drug release in the body as it relies on simple setups and requires typically 1 V or less. Although many studies have been focused on the development of potential smart materials for electrically controlled drug release, as well as on the exploration of different delivery mechanisms, progress in the field is slow because the response of cells exposed to external electrical stimulus is frequently omitted from such investigations. In this work, we monitor the behavior of prostate and breast cancer cells (PC-3 and MCF7, respectively) exposed to electroactive platforms loaded with curcumin, a hydrophobic anticancer drug. These consist in conducting polymer nanoparticles, which release drug molecules by altering their interactions with polymer, and electrospun polyester microfibres that contain electroactive nanoparticles able to alter the porosity of the matrix through an electro-mechanical actuation mechanism. The response of the cells against different operating conditions has been examined considering their viability, metabolism, spreading and shape. Results have allowed us to differentiate the damage induced in the cell by the electrical stimulation from other effects, as for example, the anticancer activity of curcumin and/or the presence of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles or fibres, demonstrating that these kinds of platforms can be effective when the dosage of the drug occurs under restricted conditions. Full article

The effect of laser irradiation with different numbers of laser shots on the microstructure, the surface, and the hardness of gun metal alloy was studied by a KrF pulsed excimer laser system, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Vickers hardness test. The influence of 100–500 laser shots was irradiated on the surface hardness profile and on the microstructure of gunmetal alloy. XRD results showed the maximum 2θ shift, the maximum full width of half maximum FWHM, the maximum dislocation density, and the minimum crystallite size for the sample irradiated with 300 laser shots. The hardness was measured in three different regions at the laser irradiated spot, and it was found that maximum hardness was present at the heat affected zone for all samples. The hardness value of the un-irradiated sample of gun metal was 180, and the value increased up to 237 by raising the number of laser shots up to 300. The peak value of surface hardness of the laser treated sample was 32% higher than the un-irradiated sample. The Raman shift of the un-exposed sample was 605 cm⁻¹ and shifted to a higher value of wave number at 635 cm⁻¹ at 300 laser shots. The hardness value was decreased by further increasing the number of laser shots up to 500. The samples irradiated with 400 and 500 laser shots exhibited smaller hardness and dislocation defect density, which was assigned to possible annealing caused by irradiation. Full article

For special instruments or equipments including particle accelerators, space microwave devices and spacecrafts, the suppression for electron-induced secondary electron emission (SEE) occurring on the component surfaces is of great significance due to a negative influence caused by SEE on their normal operations. In this paper, amorphous carbon (a-C) films were prepared on stainless-steel substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, and the effects of substrate temperature (T_s) and continuous electron bombardment on the microstructure and secondary electron emission yield (SEY) of a-C film were investigated in order to achieve a better inhibition for SEE. The experimental results show that a rise of T_s during the a-C film preparation is conducive to a SEY reduction and an increase of multipactor threshold due to the increases of surface roughness and sp² bond content. In addition, although the SEY of a-C film has a slight increase with the rise of electron bombardment time, the a-C film sample with a lower SEY keeps its lower SEY all the time during continuous electron bombardment. The a-C film prepared at T_s of 500 °C has the lowest SEY peak value of 1.09 with a reduction of 30.6% in comparison with the stainless-steel substrate. Full article

TiO₂ is regarded as a prospective electrode material owing to its excellent electrochemical properties such as the excellent cycling stability and the high safety. However, its low capacity and low electronic conductivity greatly restrict the further improvement in electrochemical performance. A new strategy was put forward to solve the above defects involved in TiO₂ in which the low capacity was enhanced by nanomerization and porosity of TiO₂, and the low electronic conductivity was improved by introducing Ag with a high conductivity. One-dimensional mesoporous Ag nanoparticles-embedded TiO₂ nanofibers (Ag@TiO₂ nanofibers) were successfully synthesized via a one-step electrospinning process combined with subsequent annealing treatment in this study. The microstructure and morphology of mesoporous TiO₂@Ag nanofibers were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. TiO₂ nanofibers mainly consisted of a large amount of anatase TiO₂, accompanied with traces of rutile TiO₂. Ag nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout TiO₂ nanofibers and promoted the transformation of TiO₂ from the anatase to the rutile. The corresponding electrochemical performances are measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge, cycle stability, rate performance, cycle voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in this research, with pristine TiO₂ nanofibers as the reference. The results indicated that the introduction of Ag nanoparticles into TiO₂ nanofibers significantly improved the diffusion coefficient of Li ions (5.42 × 10⁻⁹ cm²⋅s⁻¹ for pristine TiO₂, 1.96 × 10⁻⁸ cm²⋅s⁻¹ for Ag@TiO₂), and the electronic conductivity of TiO₂ (1.69 × 10⁻⁵ S⋅cm⁻¹ for pristine TiO₂, and 1.99 × 10⁻⁵ S⋅cm⁻¹ for Ag@TiO₂), based on which the comprehensive electrochemical performance were greatly enhanced. The coulombic efficiency of the Ag@TiO₂ nanofibers electrode at the first three cycles was about 56%, 93%, and 96%, which was higher than that without Ag (48%, 66%, and 79%). The Ag@TiO₂ nanofibers electrode exhibited a higher specific discharge capacity of about 128.23 mAh⋅g⁻¹ when compared with that without Ag (72.76 mAh·g⁻¹) after 100 cycles at 100 mA·g⁻¹. With the current density sharply increased from 40 mA·g⁻¹ to 1000 mA·g⁻¹, the higher average discharge capacity of 56.35 mAh·g⁻¹ was remained in the electrode with Ag, when compared with the electrode without Ag (average discharge capacity of about 12.14 mAh·g⁻¹). When the current density was returned to 40 mA·g⁻¹, 80.36% of the initial value was returned (about 162.25 mAh·g⁻¹) in the electrode with Ag, which was evidently superior to that without Ag (about 86.50 mAh·g⁻¹, only 55.42% of the initial value). One-dimensional mesoporous Ag@TiO₂ nanofibers can be regarded as a potential and promising candidate as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Full article

Conducting polymers are of interest due to their unique behavior on exposure to electric fields, which has led to their use in flexible electronics, sensors, and biomaterials. The unique electroactive properties of conducting polymers allow them to be used to prepare biosensors that enable real time, point of care (POC) testing. Potential advantages of these devices include their low cost and low detection limit, ultimately resulting in increased access to treatment. This article presents a review of the characteristics of conducting polymer-based biosensors and the recent advances in their application in the recognition of disease biomarkers. Full article

This paper provides a new method to compare and then reveal the vacancy sink efficiencies quantitively between different hetero-interfaces with a shared Cu layer in one sample, in contrast to previous studies, which have compared the vacancy sink efficiencies of interfaces in different samples. Cu-Nb-Cu-V nanoscale metallic multilayer composites (NMMCs) containing Cu/V and Cu/Nb interfaces periodically were prepared as research samples and bombarded with helium ions to create vacancies which were filled by helium bubbles. A special Cu layer shared by adjoining Cu/V and Cu/Nb interfaces exists, in which the implanted helium concentration reaches its maximum and remains nearly constant with a well-designed incident energy. The results show that bubble-denuded zones (BDZ) close to interfaces exist, and that the width of the BDZ close to the Cu/V interface is less than that of Cu/Nb interface. This result is explained by one-dimensional diffusion theory, and the ratio of vacancy sink efficiency between Cu/V and Cu/Nb interfaces is calculated. Conclusively, Cu/Nb interfaces are more efficient than Cu/V interfaces in eliminating vacancies induced by radiation. Full article

In the coastal areas of southeastern China, high temperatures and humidity in the summer and microfreezing in the winter, as well as a high concentration of salt spray in the environment, seriously deteriorate the durability of asphalt mixtures. Therefore, the microcharacteristics of asphalt mastics (asphalt mixed with mineral filler) under the effect of chlorine salt and “dry–wet and freeze–thaw” (DW-FT) cycles were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Two factors, including asphalt mastic types (base and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified mastics) and numbers of DW-FT cycles, were considered based on the natural environment. Regression functions were established to explore the relationship between the FTIR, GPC, and AFM indexes. The results indicate that there were no chemical reactions between the asphalt and filler because the infrared spectrum of the base and SBS-modified mastics were similar. With the increase of the salt “DW-FT” cycle numbers, the sulfoxide index and large molecular size ratios ( $LMS\%$ ) increased, and the surface roughness ( $R_q$ and $R_a$ ) of the morphology decreased, as illustrated by a flatting mastics surface phenomenon in the AFM test. Regression analysis confirmed that there was a high correlation between the FTIR, GPC, and AFM indexes, and formation of the bee structures was closely related to the long chain index. The SBS-modified mastics had a better antiaging performance with a lower increase in the sulfoxide index after the salt “DW-FT” cycles in the coastal environment. Full article

The cement sheath is the key for providing the zonal isolation and integrity of the wellbore. Oil well cement works under confining pressure, so it exhibits strong nonlinear and ductile behavior which is very different from that without confining pressure. Therefore, for the accuracy of the simulation and the reliability of well construction design, a reliable compression stress–strain model is essential for confined well cement. In this paper, a new axial stress–strain model for confined well cement is developed based on uniaxial and triaxial test data, examinations of failure mechanisms, and the results of numerical analysis. A parametric study was conducted to evaluate and calibrate the model. The model is simple and suitable for direct use in simulation studies and well design. Results from this study show the nonlinear compressive behavior of confined well cement can be predicted using the traditional uniaxial compressive strength test measurements. Full article

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have great potential to improve the strength and microstructure of traditional cement-based materials. In this research, different aspect ratios of MWCNTs (F-type and L-type) were dispersed into water using surfactants, and then incorporated into reactive powder concrete (RPC) for improving mechanical and microstructure properties. With the addition of 0.025 wt.% F-MWCNTs, the 28 days compressive strength and initial-cracking flexural strength increased by 7.2% and 36%, respectively. Moreover, the first-cracking tensile strengths of the composites containing L-MWCNTs were improved by 16%. Energy absorption capability indices were formulated based on tensile load–displacement curves, and results showed that the energy absorption capabilities of RPC at initial cracking improved as a result of the incorporation of MWCNTs. Furthermore, microscopic analysis indicated that MWCNTs decelerate crack development at the nanoscale and improve the initial-cracking tensile strength of RPC. Full article

Higher pressure die casting (HPDC) AM series (Mg-Al-Mn) Mg alloys have wide application potential in the automobile industry. To promote its application, systematic investigation on the corrosion performance and corrosion residual strength of HPDC AM50+1Ce and AM60 was carried out. The corrosion of HPDC AM50+1Ce was more uniform, while the pitting corrosion of AM60 was more severe, and the mechanical properties of HPDC AM60 was more sensitive to corrosion. The residual strength of AM50+1Ce and AM60 after corrosion of 648 h was 199 MPa and 183 MPa, respectively. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the corrosion and residual strength of HPDC AM series Mg alloys. Full article

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminated structures have been widely used in modern engineering due to their excellent material properties, especially in the aerospace and shipping industries. This requires a high-accuracy finite element model of CFRP laminated structures. However, it is difficult to master the mechanical properties of CFRP structures comprehensively and accurately due to influences from multiple aspects, such as dispersion of material properties, uncertainty of manufacturing technologies, etc. Therefore, a finite element model modification method of CFRP laminated structures based on correlation analysis and an approximate model was proposed. Aiming at minimizing the difference between the analysis model and the measured inherent frequency, the proposed method improves the finite element modeling accuracy of CFRP laminated structures, by iterative optimization based on a global optimization algorithm. In order to solve the problem of high spatial dimension and slow searching in modification of CFRP laminated structure models, the Pearson correlation analysis method was used to screen the material parameters which exert significant impacts on frequency characteristics to reconstruct the searching space. Based on significance parameters, an approximate response model of the CFRP laminated structural system was established. Meanwhile, the modeling accuracy of different orders of response surface models (RSM) and a radial basis function (RBF) neural network model was analyzed, and the best approximate modeling scheme was obtained. The approximate model was updated based on the multi-island genetic algorithm (MIGA) to modify the finite element model of the CFRP laminated structure model. The maximum error and mean error of the updated model are 1.47% and 0.45%. It was proved that the material parameters modified by the proposed method are applicable to simulation analysis of the CFRP laminated structure. Full article

In this study, the use of nano-silica (nano-SiO₂) and bentonite as mortar additives for combating reinforcement corrosion is reported. More specifically, these materials were used as additives in ordinary Portland cement (OPC)/fly ash blended mortars in different amounts. The effects of nano-silica and bentonite addition on compressive strength of mortars at different ages was tested. Accelerated corrosion testing was used to assess the corrosion resistance of reinforced mortar specimens containing different amounts of nano-silica and bentonite. It was found that the specimens containing nano-SiO₂ not only had higher compressive strength, but also showed lower steel mass loss due to corrosion compared to reference specimens. However, this was accompanied by a small reduction in workability (for a constant water to binder ratio). Mortar mixtures with 4% of nano-silica were found to have optimal performance in terms of compressive strength and corrosion resistance. Control specimens (OPC/fly ash mortars without any additives) showed low early age strength and low corrosion resistance compared to specimens containing nano-SiO₂ and bentonite. In addition, samples from selected mixtures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Finally, the influence of Ca/Si ratio of the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) in different specimens on the compressive strength is discussed. In general, the study showed that the addition of nano-silica (and to a lesser extent bentonite) can result in higher strength and corrosion resistance compared to control specimens. Furthermore, the addition of nano-SiO₂ can be used to offset the negative effect of fly ash on early age strength development. Full article

The ankle is one of the most complicated joints in the human body. Its features a plethora of elements with complex behavior. Their functions could be better understood using a planar model of the joint with low parameter count and low numerical complexity. In this study, an accurate planar model of the ankle with optimized material parameters was presented. In order to obtain the model, we proposed an optimizational approach, which fine-tuned the material parameters of two-dimensional links substituting three-dimensional ligaments of the ankle. Furthermore, the cartilage in the model was replaced with Hertzian contact pairs. The model was solved in statics under moment loads up to 5 Nm. The obtained results showed that the structure exhibited angular displacements in the range of the ankle joint and that their range was higher in dorsiflexion than plantarflexion. The structure also displayed a characteristic ramp up of the angular stiffness. The results obtained from the optimized model were in accordance with the experimental results for the ankle. Therefore, the proposed method for fine-tuning the material parameters of its links could be considered viable. Full article

Guar gum (GG) was investigated as a possible eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for pure aluminium in a 1-M HCl solution at different temperatures and immersion times using gravimetric and electrochemical techniques. The results showed that GG was a good corrosion inhibitor for pure aluminium in the studied environment. The inhibition efficiency of GG increased with increasing inhibitor concentration and immersion time but decreased with increasing temperature. Polarisation measurements revealed that GG was a mixed type inhibitor with a higher influence on the cathodic reaction. The adsorption behaviour of the investigated inhibitor was found to obey the Temkin adsorption isotherm and the calculated values of the standard free adsorption energy indicate mixed-type adsorption, with the physical adsorption being more dominant. The associated activation energy (E_a) and the heat of adsorption (Q_a) supported the physical adsorption nature of the inhibitor. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman/SERS were used to explain the adsorption interaction between the inhibitor with the surface of the metal. The results suggested that most inhibition action of GG is due to its adsorption of the metal surface via H-bond formation. Full article

The high surface accuracy design of a cable-net antenna structure under the disturbance of the extremely harsh space environment requires the antenna to have good in-orbit adjustment ability for surface accuracy. A shape memory cable-net (SMC) structure is proposed in this paper and believed to be able to improve the in-orbit surface accuracy of the cable-net antenna. Firstly, the incremental stiffness equation of a one-dimensional bar element of the shape memory alloy (SMA) to express the relationship between the force, temperature and deformation was effectively constructed. Secondly, the finite element model of the SMC antenna structure incorporated the incremental stiffness equation of a SMA was established. Thirdly, a shape active adjustment procedure of surface accuracy based on the optimization method was presented. Finally, a numerical example of the shape memory cable net structure applied to the parabolic reflectors of space antennas was analyzed. Full article

Palladium can readily dissociate molecular hydrogen at its surface, and rapidly accept it onto the octahedral sites of its face-centered cubic crystal structure. This can include radioactive tritium. As tritium β-decays with a half-life of 12.3 years, He-3 is generated in the metal lattice, causing significant degradation of the material. Helium bubble evolution at high concentrations can result in blister formation or exfoliation and must therefore be well understood to predict the longevity of materials that absorb tritium. A hydrogen over-pressure must be applied to palladium hydride to prevent hydrogen from desorbing from the metal, making it difficult to study tritium in palladium by methods that involve vacuum, such as electron microscopy. Recent improvements in in-situ ion implantation Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) allow for the direct observation of He bubble nucleation and growth in materials. In this work, we present results from preliminary experiments using the new ion implantation Environmental TEM (ETEM) at the University of Huddersfield to observe He bubble nucleation and growth, in-situ, in palladium at cryogenic temperatures in a hydrogen environment. After the initial nucleation phase, bubble diameter remained constant throughout the implantation, but bubble density increased with implantation time. β-phase palladium hydride was not observed to form during the experiments, likely indicating that the cryogenic implantation temperature played a dominating role in the bubble nucleation and growth behavior. Full article