合金元素对铝合金在泰国曼谷地区初期腐蚀行为的影响

在泰国曼谷地区对5083、6063和7020 3种铝合金进行为期1 a的暴晒实验,采用SEM、电化学实验、XPS和扫描Kelvin探针显微镜(SKPFM)对3种铝合金初期腐蚀形貌及腐蚀机理进行研究。结果表明:6063铝合金中Mg、Si、Fe等合金元素含量较少,腐蚀电位相对较高,约为-0.66 V (vs SCE),腐蚀产物膜较为致密,耐蚀性较好,在泰国曼谷地区的腐蚀速率约为0.7 g/(m^2·a)。7020铝合金含有较多Mg、Zn等合金元素,腐蚀电位约为-0.78 V (vs SCE),腐蚀最为严重,腐蚀速率约为3.26 g/(m^2·a)。3种铝合金均含有Mn、Si、Fe等合金元素,从而形成Fe-Si-Al或Fe-Si(Mn)-Al第二相,第二相表面电位高于基体225~280 mV,在大气环境中第二相作为阴极相,周围的基体Al优先溶解脱落,成为点蚀坑。     

Investigations of lattice location and mobility of carbon in GaAs using the channeling technique

In order to get information about the lattice location and the mobility of ¹²C in GaAs wafers, the channeling technique in combination with nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) is a powerful method. The targets were implanted with ¹²C ions (2.6 × 10¹³−2.6 × 10¹⁵cm⁻²) at energies between 60 and 3000 keV. This corresponds to implantation depths of about 0.1 to 3 μm. Using the nuclear reaction ¹²C(d, p)¹³C a depth distribution of the implanted carbon is obtained. The relationship between the concentration of ¹⁴C in random and along the 100 and 110 axial directions gives information about the substitutional lattice location of carbon within the GaAs crystal. In addition, we measured lattice defect depth distributions with a 1.5 MeV ⁴He⁺ beam before and after thermal annealing at temperatures up to 600°C.     

Hepatitis C serotypes in nonalcoholic and alcoholic patients

Genotyping of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA can be performed by a variety of methods following polymerase chain reaction amplification of a stable RNA portion of the genome. The gold standard is amplification of the RNA from the NS5 region, followed by direct sequencing and homology comparison. This method is extremely labor intensive. In this study, we compared an immunoblot serotyping technique (HCV SIA) to a reverse-hybridization line-probe assay (LiPA) for genotype classification among non-alcoholic HCV infected patients. We then compared and contrasted the response in this cohort to a population of alcoholic patients with HCV infection. To validate the serotype assay, sera from 110 patients with chronic HCV infection was utilized. Serotyping (Chiron SIA) and genotyping by the LiPA (Line Probe Assay, Innogenetics) reverse-hybridization technique was performed. Additionally, both methods were compared to sequence-derived genotyping in 26 patients based on PCR amplification of the NS5 region. After the validation phase, sera from 105 alcoholic patients was genotypically classified by the serologic method. The nonalcoholic and alcoholic groups were then compared with regard to serotype, demographics, and frequency of untypable test results. Among typable pairs, the overall concordance rate between serotyping and LiPA-based genotyping was 93.75%. Patients with genotype 1 by reverse hybridization demonstrated a 95.8% concordance with serotype. Untypable samples were present for both techniques, but since they occurred in different patients, the techniques were complementary. Alcoholic patients were significantly more likely to be infected with untypable serotypes than those without a pattern of alcohol abuse. These patients were also more likely to be HCV RNA negative than sera from typable patients. Serotype 1 was associated with high HCV RNA titer and poor interferon treatment response among both nonalcoholic and alcoholic patients. An immunoblot method for the evaluation of genotype classification was rapid and easily performed compared to sequence-based genotyping. There was a high degree of concordance compared to reverse-hybridization and sequence-based genotype characterization methods. Failure to detect HCV RNA in the serum is associated with a higher likelihood of classification failure. This problem was particularly prevalent in the alcoholic population. HCV RNA titers and treatment outcomes were strongly associated with serotype classification results, demonstrating clinical utility of this assay technique.     

Borate-catalyzed carbon dioxide hydration via the carbonic anhydrase mechanism

The hydration of CO(2) plays a critical role in carbon capture and geoengineering technologies currently under development to mitigate anthropogenic global warming and in environmental processes such as ocean acidification. Here we reveal that borate catalyzes the conversion of CO(2) to HCO(3)(-) via the same fundamental mechanism as the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which is responsible for CO(2) hydration in the human body. In this mechanism the tetrahydroxyborate ion, B(OH)(4)(-), is the active form of boron that undergoes direct reaction with CO(2). In addition to being able to accelerate CO(2) hydration in alkaline solvents used for carbon capture, we hypothesize that this mechanism controls CO(2) uptake by certain saline bodies of water, such as Mono Lake (California), where previously inexplicable influx rates of inorganic carbon have created unique chemistry. The new understanding of CO(2) hydration provided here should lead to improved models for the carbon cycle in highly saline bodies of water and to advances in carbon capture and geoengineering technology.     

Investigation of the grain refining performance of Al-5Ti-1B master alloy on the recycling process of A356 alloy

In this paper, the grain refining performance of Al-5Ti-1B master alloy on the recycled A356 alloy is investigated using the macrostructure examination and chemical analysis. Results show that Al-5Ti-1B is composed of the dispersion of blocky TiAl₃ particles and mixtures of small TiAl₃ and TiB₂ particles. Both particles refine grain structures of A356 alloy. As the initial recycling process proceeds, A356 alloy still exhibits fine structures. However, during the subsequent recycling process, the grain size of A356 alloy become larger. The concentration of titanium and boron decreases with increasing the number of recycling, especially in the subsequent recycling process. It is proposed that recycling of refined A356 can best be conducted in the initial recycling process and then additional grain refiner needs to be added to maintain the grain refining performance for the continuous recycling process of A356 alloy.     

Numerical Approach for Atmospheric Corrosion Monitoring Based on EIS of a Weathering Steel

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and film thickness measurement have been employed to study the atmospheric corrosion of a weathering steel covered with a thin electrolyte layer in a simulated coastal–industrial atmosphere. The results indicate that the corrosion rate is a function of the covered electrolyte thickness and the wet/dry cycle. Within each wet/dry cycle, the increased corrosion rate is related to the increased Cl-and SO2-4concentration and an enhancement of oxygen diffusion rate with the evaporation of the electrolyte. In addition, the corrosion rate increases during the initial corrosion stage and then decreases as the wet/dry cycle proceeds. Moreover, one mathematical approach based on the numerical integration method to obtain corrosion mass loss of steel from the measurements of EIS has been developed, and this would be useful for the development of indoor simulated atmospheric corrosion tests.