Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3/ZrO2 composites by two-step sintering

Composites of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ (containing 25, 50, and 75 vol% ZrO₂) were prepared by mixing Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ suspensions. The microstructural control via two-step sintering (TSS) was the main objective of this work. For this purpose, different sintering curves were constructed, aiming to achieve the best temperature combination for the sintering steps that provides higher density and finer microstructure. The results were compared with single-step sintering (SSS). Furthermore, microhardness and fracture toughness were measured for the best TSS specimens under each composition. The results showed that the high densities were obtained, and the reduction of grain size was greater than 40% for two-step sintered specimens, compared to SSS ones. Consequently, microhardness values increased. However, fracture toughness values remained unchanged.     

Some concerns regarding the CAT16 chromatic adaptation transform

In recent literature, a new chromatic adaptation transform, CAT16, has been published to improve upon the widely used CAT02 model. The CAT16 model is based on the form of the CAT02 transform adopted in CIECAM02, but uses a slightly different sensor space to fix some gamut problems plaguing CIECAM02 and adopts a two-step CAT to ensure symmetry and transitivity. CAT16 is included in CAM16 but is also being promoted as a stand-alone CAT, one that can be used outside of the CAM16 model. However, the use of CAT16 as a stand-alone model can cause inconsistencies in the calculated corresponding colors due to the presence of the relative luminance of the adapting white (Y_w) in the von Kries-Ives gain control factors. Such inconsistencies are not present for the stand-alone version of the CAT02 model, which, unlike the version adopted in CIECAM02, does not include the Y_w factors. CAT16 should therefore be modified by omitting the Y_w factors. In this article, we will briefly discuss these issues in more detail and provide a consistent two-step CAT adopting the CAT16 sensor space.     

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge: Analysis of Process Severity and Solid Content

Hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge was carried out with the aim to evaluate the influence of process severity and initial solid content. Response surface methodology was applied to model yield and C yield responses. Enhanced dewaterability performance was recorded under mild processing conditions. The treatment promoted concentration and immobilization of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, and Cu. Variation of the solid content showed a stronger influence than severity on average yield and C yield. Higher heating values (HHVs) and energy retention efficiencies (EREs) of hydrochars obtained at the lowest solid content displayed the lowest values. Hence, the energy requirements of a first dewatering step should be compared with the related improvement in terms of HHV and ERE when sludge is used as feedstock.     

Synthesis and two-step sintering behavior of solution derived corundum abrasives with plate-like grains

Corundum abrasives with plate-like grains were fabricated by a two-step sintering technique using the solution-based process with the addition of the ternary compound additive Na₃AlF₆-CaO-SiO₂. The two-step sintering method showed obvious advantages over conventional sintering methods in promoting sample densification, suppressing grain growth, and homogenizing the microstructure of the corundum abrasives. The sample doped with 2.5?wt% Na₃AlF₆ and 4?wt% CaO + SiO₂ in the molar ratio of 1:1 possessed a relative density of 99.3%, average grain size of 0.54?µm, and single-particle compressive strength of 49?N. The introduction of seeds reduced the temperature of θ- to α-Al₂O₃ phase transformation. The relationship between the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the abrasives was also discussed.     

PREPARATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NANOSCALE POROUS CARBON ELECTRODE MATERIALS BASED ON RICE PLANT SOOT

Supercapacitors are a kind of novel energy storage devices with long cycle stability and high power density. Electrode materials selection is one of the key factors that affect the properties of supercapacitors. Biomass-derived electrode materials – being low cost, renewable and environmentally friendly – are therefore attracting researchers’ attention. In this work, we adopted a simple process of carbonization and activation with rice plant soot, a common biomass material, as carbon source, and finally obtained the nanoscale porous carbon electrode (NPCE) materials. Then, the electrochemical properties of the as-prepared NPCE materials were tested in 6 M KOH, and the results indicated that the specific capacitance could reach 216?Fg^?1. Therefore, this low-cost, highly efficient technique is a significant milepost towards environmentally sustainable and commercially feasible fabrication of carbon electrode materials from biomass sources.     

Unusual Two-Step Assembly of a Minimalistic Dipeptide-Based Functional Hypergelator

Self-assembled peptide hydrogels represent the realization of peptide nanotechnology into biomedical products. There is a continuous quest to identify the simplest building blocks and optimize their critical gelation concentration (CGC). Herein, a minimalistic, de novo dipeptide, Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp, as an hydrogelator with the lowest CGC ever reported, almost fourfold lower as compared to that of a large hexadecapeptide previously described, is reported. The dipeptide self-assembles through an unusual and unprecedented two-step process as elucidated by solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics simulation. The hydrogel is cytocompatible and supports 2D/3D cell growth. Conductive composite gels composed of Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp and a conductive polymer exhibit excellent DNA binding. Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-Asp exhibits the lowest CGC and highest mechanical properties when compared to a library of dipeptide analogues, thus validating the uniqueness of the molecular design which confers useful properties for various potential applications.     

Carbonaceous microsphere-based superabsorbent polymer as filler for coating of NPK fertilizer: Fabrication,properties, swelling,and nitrogen release characteristics

Recently, the use of controlled release fertilizers in agriculture has resulted in huge benefits in plant growth and cultivation. Superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-coated fertilizers have the added advantage in retaining water in soil after irrigation and also reduce the nutrient release rate from soil in a controlled manner. This study aimed to produce a nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilizer coated with superabsorbent carbonaceous microspheres polymer (SPC) by inverse suspension polymerization method with water-retention and controlled release properties. Two sets of experiments were conducted: (1) three different weight percentages and (2) different materials. NPK coated with SPC showed increasing water-retention ability with respect to carbon microsphere percentages and retains >80% water at the 30th day of experiment compared with pure NPK and NPK coated with SAP. The slow release behavior of all samples was investigated by induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry spectrometry and results showed that NPK coated with SAP and SPC has a low release rate with <50% nutrient release compared with uncoated NPK at the 30th day. The release mechanism kinetics of NPK coated with SAP and SPC were studied based on the Kosmeyer–Peppas model. The mechanisms approached Fickian diffusion-controlled release as the n value for both samples was less than 0.5. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48396.     

基于区域特征和质心关系的两步法阀板检测

针对冲压阀板中毛刺、冲压孔堵塞等缺陷的检测问题,提出了一种基于面积特征的通孔数目检测和基于质心关系的快速模板匹配检测的两步视觉检测方案。首先采用通孔数检测初步判定零件是否存在冲压孔堵塞缺陷,之后采用模板匹配精确检测边缘毛刺缺陷。利用区域面积特征实现通孔数检测;提出了一种限定条件的最小二乘法圆拟合方法和一种基于圆心特征的快速模板匹配方法,实现边缘毛刺等缺陷的精确检测。实验结果表明,这种两步检测方案检测速度快精准度高,能够满足阀板生产线的检测要求。     

Tunable Ni/Fe-Mo carbide catalyst with high activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction

Cost-effective catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are attractive for sustainable production of H₂ fuel. Herein, a series of tunable Ni/Fe-Mo carbide catalysts have been synthesized via a sol-gel method coupling with a subsequent high temperature carbonization process. The amount of nickel and iron was tuned in the Mo₇/C precursors, accomplishing a favourable performance of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for HER. As expected, the designed Ni₁₀Fe₄Mo₇/C catalyst displays an enhanced catalytic activity toward hydrogen production with an ultralow overpotential (η₁₀ = 110 mV) and striking kinetics (η_onset = 58 mV, k = 54 mV · dec⁻¹) in the alkaline electrolyte (1 M KOH), which are comparable to those of the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. Such excellent performance of Ni₁₀Fe₄Mo₇/C could be attributed to the high intrinsic activities of Ni-based alloys (NiMo₄) and Mo₂C, as well as to the lattice contraction in the Mo₂C unit cell, in accordance with its high electrochemical surface area (~133 m² · g⁻¹) and low charge-transfer resistance (~31.5 Ω) for the associated electrode.