Modelling and simulation of effect of ultrasonic vibrations on machining of Ti6Al4V

The titanium alloys cause high machining heat generation and consequent rapid wear of cutting tool edges during machining. The ultrasonic assisted turning (UAT) has been found to be very effective in machining of various materials; especially in the machining of “difficult-to-cut” material like Ti6Al4V. The present work is a comprehensive study involving 2D FE transient simulation of UAT in DEFORM framework and their experimental characterization. The simulation shows that UAT reduces the stress level on cutting tool during machining as compared to that of in continuous turning (CT) barring the penetration stage, wherein both tools are subjected to identical stress levels. There is a 40–45% reduction in cutting forces and about 48% reduction in cutting temperature in UAT over that of in CT. However, the reduction magnitude reduces with an increase in the cutting speed. The experimental analysis of UAT process shows that the surface roughness in UAT is lower than in CT, and the UATed surfaces have matte finish as against the glossy finish on the CTed surfaces. Microstructural observations of the chips and machined surfaces in both processes reveal that the intensity of thermal softening and shear band formation is reduced in UAT over that of in CT.     

Preparation,Characterization and In Vitro Biological Activities of New Diphenylsulphone Derived Schiff Base Ligands and Their Co(II) Complexes

The present work describes the chemical preparation of Schiff bases derived from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (L₁–L₅) and their Co(II) metal complexes. The evaluation of antimicrobial and anticancer activities against MCF-7 cell line and human lung cancer cell line A-549 was performed. The aforementioned synthesized compounds are characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis confirms successful synthesis. The results from the above analytical techniques revealed that the complexes are in an octahedral geometry. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes under study was carried out by using the agar well diffusion method. The ligand and complex interactions for biological targets were predicted using molecular docking and high binding affinities. Further, the anticancer properties of the synthesized compounds are performed against the MCF-7 cell line and human lung cancer cell line A-549 using adriamycin as the standard drug.     

Discussion on a possible neutrino detector located in India

We have identified some important and worthwhile physics opportunities with a possible neutrino detector located in India. Particular emphasis is placed on the geographical advantage with a stress on the complimentary aspects with respect to other neutrino detectors already in operation.     

Conducting polyaniline/multi-wall carbon nanotubes composite paints on low carbon steel for corrosion protection: electrochemical investigations

The coaxial coating of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with poly(aniline) (PANI) was synthesised and a paint was prepared containing conducting PANI-MWCNT composite. The corrosion protection performance was assessed by open circuit potential measurements, potentiodynamic polarisation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The corrosion rate of low-carbon steel coated with 1.5 mass % of PANI-MWCNT-based paint in 3.5 mass % sodium chloride solution was found to be 0.037 mm y^?1, about 5.2 times lower than that of unpainted low-carbon steel and 3.6 times lower than that of epoxy painted steel.     

Physicochemical characterization of spray dried ternary micro-complexes of cefuroxime axetil with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

The physicochemical properties of spray dried micro-complexes of cefuroxime axetil (CFA) with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) in presence and/or absence of ternary components polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), poloxamer 188 and/or polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) along with Aerosil^®200 as an adsorbent were investigated. The phase solubility studies revealed A_L type of solubility curve in binary as well as ternary systems. The stability constant 382.70 ± 2.4 M^?1 of binary system i.e. CFA with HPβCD was significantly improved to 427.84 ± 3.8, 447.09 ± 4.3, 488.28 ± 4.6 and 502.21 ± 5.1 M^?1 in presence of PVP K30, HPMC, poloxamer 188 and PEG 4000 respectively indicating positive effect of their addition. The micro-complexes of CFA were characterized by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, and dissolution. In all characterization studies, ternary systems performed better in comparison to binary systems as a result of synergistic effect of ternary complexation as well as particle size reduction achieved by a spray drying technology.     

Thermal instability induced by buoyancy and surface tension with radiative transfer

The onset of steady, cellular convection in a horizontal fluid layer heated from below is considered taking into account the possibility of radiative heat transfer in addition to conduction and convection. The radiation is found to have a stabilizing effect even in the presence of surface tension. The effect of surface viscosity and surface deflexion are also discussed. The coupling between the surface tension and buoyancy becomes weaker as the radiative heat transfer rate is increased.     

On estimating the distribution of optimal traveling salesman tour lengths using heuristics

The traveling salesman problem is an important combinatorial optimization problem due to its significance in academic research and its real world applications. The problem has been extensively studied and much is known about its polyhedral structure and algorithms for exact and heuristic solutions. While most work is concentrated on solving the deterministic version of the problem, there also has been some research on the stochastic TSP. Research on the stochastic TSP has concentrated on asymptotic properties and estimation of the TSP-constant. Not much is, however, known about the probability distribution of the optimal tour length. In this paper, we present some empirical results based on Monte Carlo simulations for the symmetric Euclidean and Rectilinear TSPs. We derive regression equations for predicting the first four moments of the distribution of estimated TSP tour lengths using heuristics. We then show that a Beta distribution gives excellent fits for small to moderate sized TSP problems. We derive regression equations for predicting the parameters of the Beta distribution. Finally we predict the TSP constant using two alternative approaches.     

Thionyl chloride-mediated synthesis of 2-azaindolizine sulfur-bridged dimers by C?H bond direct chalcogenation of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines

Thionyl chloride-mediated chalcogenation of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine serves as a new protocol for the synthesis of rare bisimidazopyridyl sulfides. This method provides the new route to synthesis of 2-azaindolizine sulfur-bridged dimers called chalcogenide under metal-free, elemental sulfur-free conditions without the use of polar solvents in regio-selective manner, at room temperature with the simple operational procedure.     

Iodine-mediated oxidative Pictet-Spengler reaction using terminal alkyne as the 2-oxoaldehyde surrogate for the synthesis of 1-aroyl-β-carbolines and fused-nitrogen heterocycles

An efficient iodine-mediated oxidative Pictet-Spengler reaction in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) using terminal alkynes as the 2-oxoaldehyde surrogate for the synthesis of aryl (9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methanones is described. The scope of the protocol includes the total synthesis of Fascaplysin, Eudistomins Y₁ and Y₂. The methodology is extended for preparing pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxaline and indolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline derivatives. The utility of 1-aroyl-β-carbolines was demonstrated by performing palladium-catalyzed β-carboline directed ortho-C(sp2)-H functionalization of the phenyl ring with thiomethyl (SMe) group using DMSO as source and for accessing 4-aryl-canthin-6-ones.     

Self assembled graphene/carbon nanotube/polystyrene hybrid nanocomposite by in situ microemulsion polymerization

Self-assembled graphene/carbon nanotube (CNT)/polystyrene hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by water-based in situ microemulsion polymerization. The resulting nanocomposites were used as filler in a host polystyrene matrix to form composite films. An admixture of the two types of carbon fillers provided better improvement in the thermal and mechanical properties compared to the neat polymer. The sheet resistance decreased progressively due to the formation of an extended conjugation network with the CNT bridging the gap between the graphene sheets coated with polymer nanoparticles. The details of the analysis are presented.