Mass-transport processes at the steel-enamel interface

Mass-transport processes at the enamel-steel interface were investigated by studying the rheological properties of the enamel and the microstructure of the enamel-steel interface. The thermophysical properties, e.g., the viscosity and spreading behavior of enamel were measured using the rotating bob and the sessile drop techniques, respectively. The results show that the viscosity of the enamel decreases sharply as the FeO concentration increases from 0 to 25 wt pct, while the contact angle changes with the increasing thickness of the NiO precoat. Microstructural characterization also revealed evidence for the presence of an interfacial gradient force (more specifically referred to as the Marangoni convection) confined within the 0- to 80-μm thickness at the enamel-steel interface. This force is responsible for a convective flow, which determines the formation of flow striae at the interface. The striae act as a sink for evolved gases and provide transport away from the enamel-steel interface. In addition, experimental simulation of Marangoni convection (interfacial-gradient force) was carried out by selectively doping the steel surface with excess Fe₂O₃ powder. The presence of convection flow was confirmed by analyzing the pattern of iron oxide particles dispersed across the surrounding enamel layers. Based on the microstructural characterization and the thermophysical data, we propose a mechanism for mass transport at the glass-steel interface.     

Tm(3+)-Doped Tellurite Glass for a Broadband Amplifier at 1.47 num

Tm(3+)-doped tellurite glass is investigated as a host for a broadband amplifier at 1.47 mum. The Tm(3+) fluorescence spectrum, lifetime, and cross section in tellurite glass are compared with those in fluorozirconate glasses. The advantages of a Tm(3+)-tellurite amplifier, especially when it is employed in combination with an Er(3+)-tellurite 1.55-mum amplifier, are discussed.     

Secondary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis due to hemolytic uremic syndrome: an unusual presentation

In vitro selection can be used to generate nucleic acid ligands (aptamers) to target molecules ranging in size and structure from cations to cells. However, the selection process is repetitive and time-consuming. We have automated a protocol for in vitro selection using an augmented Beckman Biomek 2000 pipetting robot. The automated selection procedure requires the integration of four devices and the optimization of four molecular biology methods, and is one of the most complex automated protocols attempted to date. Initial attempts at selection yielded robust replication parasites, but optimization of the automated selection procedure suppressed the emergence of these parasites and led to the selection of true nucleic acid ligands. Automated selection can now be used to generate nucleic acid aptamers in days rather than weeks or months.     

Determining Hydraulic Characteristics of Production Wells using Genetic Algorithm

Proper well management requires the determination of characteristic hydraulic parameters of production wells such as well loss coefficient (C) and aquifer loss coefficient (B), which are conventionally determined by the graphical analysis ofstep-drawdowntest data. However, in the present study, the efficacy of a non-conventional optimization technique called Genetic Algorithm (GA), which ensures near-optimal or optimal solutions, is assessedin determining well parameters from step-drawdown test data. Computer programs were developed to optimize the well parametersby GA technique for two cases: (i) optimization of B and C only, and (ii) optimization of B, C and p (exponent) as well as to evaluate the well condition. The reliability and robustness of the developed computer programs were tested usingnine sets of published and unpublished step-drawdown data from varying hydrogeologic conditions. The well parameters obtained by the GA technique were compared with those obtained by the conventional graphical method in terms of root mean square error(RMSE) and visual inspection. It was revealed that the GA technique yielded more reliable well parameters with significantlylow values of RMSE for almost all the datasets, especially in caseof three-variable optimization. The optimal values of the parametersB, C and p for the nine datasets were found to range from 0.382 to 2.292 min m^-2, 0.091 to 3.262, and 1.8 to 3.6, respectively. Because of a wide variation of p, the GA techniqueresulted in considerably different but dependable and robust well parameters as well as well specific capacity and well efficiency compared to the graphical method. The condition of three wells was found to be good, one well bad and that of the remaining five wells satisfactory. The performance evaluation of the developed GA code indicated that a proper selection of generation number and population size is essential to ensure efficient optimization. Furthermore,a sensitivity analysis of the obtained optimal parameters demonstrated that the GA technique resulted in a unique set ofthe parameters for all the nine datasets. It is concluded thatthe GA technique is an effective and reliable numerical tool for determining the characteristic hydraulic parameters of production wells.     

Hydrochloric acid leaching of nickel sulfide precipitates

Nickel sulfide precipitates produced by the AMAX Acid Leach Process for oxide nickel ores were leached in hydrochloric acid. The effects of process variables such as temperature, acid concentration, stoichiometric excess of HCl, gas sparging and heat treatment of feed were investigated. The nickel leachability was found to be in the 60–80% range. Chemical and mineralogical examination of the leach residues indicated the presence of NiS₂. This higher nickel sulfide is insoluble in hydrochloric acid, and its presence hinders the leaching of NiS. Several methods are suggested to reduce the sulfur content in order to attain complete dissolution. The thermodynamics and kinetics of nickel sulfide leaching are briefly discussed.     

High stress abrasive wear behavior of sillimanite-reinforced Al-alloy matrix composite: A factorial design approach

An attempt has been made to explore the possibility of using a natural mineral, namely sillimanite, as dispersoid for synthesizing aluminum alloy composite by solidification technique. The abrasive wear behavior of this composite has been studied through factorial design of experiments. The wear behavior of the composite (Y _composite) and the alloy (Y _alloy) is expressed in terms of the coded values of different experimental parameters like applied load (x ₁), abrasive size (x ₂), and sliding distance (x ₃) by the following linear regression equations:

Low-Stress Abrasive Wear Behaviour of a 0.2% C Steel: Influence of Microstructure and Test Parameters

A low (0.2%) carbon steel has been subjected to heat treatment to form varying quantities of ferrite plus martensite in its microstructure. This was achieved by holding the samples in the two-phase (ferrite plus austenite) region at three different temperatures (750, 780, and 810°C) for a specific duration followed by quenching in ice water. In another exercise, the steel was also subjected to annealing treatment by austenitizing at 890°C followed by furnace cooling for comparison purposes. The samples were subjected to low-stress (three-body) abrasion tests using an ASTM rubber wheel abrasion test apparatus at different wheel speeds (150, 273 and 400rpm corresponding to linear speeds of 1.79, 3.26 and 4.78m/s respectively) for different sliding distances at a fixed load of 49N. Crushed silica sand particles of size ranging from 212 to 300 m were used as the abrasive medium. The wear rate of samples decreased progressively with sliding distance until a (nearly) steady-state condition was attained. This was considered to be due to abrasion-induced work hardening of subsurface regions as well as the greater tendency of protrusion of the harder martensite/pearlite phase at longer sliding distances, thereby providing greater resistance to wear. Decreasing wear rate with increasing treatment temperature 750–810°C could be attributed to the greater volume fraction of the hard martensite phase in the samples containing ferrite plus martensite. The lower wear rate observed in the case of the samples containing ferrite plus martensite over the annealed ones comprising ferrite and pearlite was attributed to the higher bulk hardness of the former. Increasing linear speed from 1.79 to 3.26m/s led to an increase in wear rate. This could be attributed to greater tendency of the abrasive particles to create deeper scratches and scouping (digging). A reduction in wear rate with a further increase in the linear speed from 3.26 to 4.78m/s could be due to a change in the mechanism of wear from predominantly sliding to rolling of the abrasive particles in view of the increased plastic deformability characteristics of the specimens due to higher frictional heating. The present investigation clearly suggests that it is possible to attain a desired combination of bulk hardness and microstructure (consisting of ferrite plus martensite) leading to optimum abrasion resistance in low-carbon steels. The quantity of the two phases in turn could be varied by suitably controlling the heat-treatment temperature.     

Development of Refined BOD and DO Models for Highly Polluted Kali River in India

Most commonly used river water quality models for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) simulations are mainly based on advection, decay, settling, and loading functions. Using these concepts, refined river water quality models for BOD and DO simulations are developed in the present work considering a large number of physically based parameters and input variables. The refined models developed can be transformed to some of the commonly used river water quality models, if physically based parameters and input variables are omitted or removed. To test the applicability of the refined models developed and commonly used models, a total of 732 water quality and flow data sets are collected during March 1999–February 2000 from 22 sampling stations of the River Kali in India. River Kali is a highly polluted river in India and receives continuous inflow of untreated point source pollution from municipal and industrial wastes and nonpoint source pollution from agricultural areas. Newton–Raphson technique is used to optimize the model parameters during calibration and the performance of different models are evaluated using error estimation, viz. standard error and mean multiplicative error, and correlation statistics (r2). The results indicate that the BOD–DO models proposed by Camp in 1963 provide better results in comparison to other commonly used models. Moreover, the refined models developed for BOD and DO simulations minimize error estimates and improve correlation between observed and computed BOD and DO values of River Kali.     

A Novel Electroless Process for Embedding a Thin Film Resistor on the Benzocyclobutene Dielectric

To realize embedded resistors on multilayer benzocyclobutene (BCB) either on-chip or on-board, a low-cost large format electroless process for deposition of NiP and NiWP thin-film resistors using both low-temperature (25°C) and high-temperature (90°C) baths has been developed. The electroless process exhibits uniform resistor thickness in the submicron range and offers low profile and excellent adhesion to the BCB dielectric layer. The resistor films also act as a seed layer for direct electroplating of copper traces. The NiP alloys can also be tailored to a variable temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) with different alloy compositions. The electroless process can be adopted in the PCB manufacturing industries with no additional investment. This article is the first report on electroless plated thin film resistors on low loss BCB dielectric.