Application of electromagnetic processing for development of high-performance sintered powder metal parts

Electromagnetic processing was used to study the effects of electro-magneto forming on the dimensional control and thermal stability of sintered powder metal (PM) parts. The investigation was carried out on sinter-hardened, low chromium-molybdenum bainitic steel. The results show an increase in the microhardness of about 14% for the electromagnetic processed parts compared to the as-sintered parts. This was attributed to the 2% increase in the density, 17% and 29% reduction in the volume fraction of porosity and width of the bainitic lath, respectively, due to the electromagnetic processing. Dimensional characterization was carried out using a vertically aligned push-rod dilatometer. After four thermal cycles of heating and cooling, at a controlled rate of 5 °C/min to 1000 °C, the electromagnetic processed parts exhibited reduced dimensional change of about 44% lower than for the as-sintered parts. This is significantly important for applications that demand high dimensional tolerance and performance, especially at elevated temperatures.     

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of Ce doped cubic–hexagonal ZnTiO3 with highly efficient sonocatalytic activity

Ce doped ZnTiO₃ as a novel catalyst with highly efficient and stable sonocatalytic activity was synthesized via an ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method using non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F127 as structure directing agent. Synthesized samples were characterized by using various techniques, such as XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, ​XRF, BET, DRS, and PL, and their sonocatalytic activity studied toward degradation of p-Nitrophenol as a model organic compound. The synthesized mesoporous Ce/ZnTiO₃ had mixed cubic–hexagonal phase with large surface area (118.2 m² g^–1) and narrow pore size distribution (4.9 nm). The effects of cerium concentration, calcination temperature, and calcination time on the structure and the sonocatalytic activity of Ce/ZnTiO₃ were studied in detail. XRD results were suggested that the relation between the phase structure and the catalytic activity is considerable. Significant decrease in band-gap and PL intensity was observed with increasing the cerium concentration in the ZnTiO₃. It became clear that the Ce/ZnTiO₃ (0.81 mol%) shows high sonocatalytic activity compared with pure ZnTiO₃ and other Ce/ZnTiO₃ samples as well as commercial TiO₂-P25. The possible mechanism for the enhanced sonocatalytic activity of Ce/ZnTiO₃ was discussed in details. The electrical energy consumption was also considered during sonocatalytic experiments.     

The Acceleration Severity Index in the impact of a vehicle against permanent road equipment support structures

The acceleration Severity Index (ASI), described in European Standard EN12767 (The passive safety of support structures for road equipment. Requirements, classification and the test method) is regarded as the most important indicator of impact on the occupants. The requirements for experiments are described, having in mind that the results depend on many factors. One of them is the selection of a vehicle to be used in the crash test. To perform numerical vehicle crash simulation, the finite-element models of permanent road equipment support structures were developed using the LS Dyna software available. To examine the response of the vehicle upon the impact, the acceleration severity index curves were calculated and visualised in Matlab.     

Syntheses and molecular structures of four inorganic–organic hybrid compounds from N-containing aromatic bases and perchlorometallates of Zn,Cu, Sn,and Fe

Four organic–inorganic crystals, [(HL1)₂(ZnCl₄)]·H₂O (1) (L1?=?2-methylquinoline), [(HL1)₂(CuCl₄)] (2), [(HL2)₂SnCl₆] (3) (L2?=?6-bromobenzo[d]thiazol-2-amine), and [(HL3)FeCl₄] (4) (L3?=?5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine-2-amine), derived from N-containing aromatic Brønsted bases and metal(II) chlorides (zinc(II) chloride, copper(II) chloride dihydrate, tin(II) chloride dihydrate, and iron(III) chloride hexahydrate) were prepared at room temperature and characterized by IR, X-ray structure analysis, elemental analysis, and TG analysis. The crystals are built up by perchlorometallates (Zn, Cu, Sn, and Fe) associated with organic cations through multiple non-covalent associations. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 and 2 have 3-D network structures built from hydrogen bonds between the cations and chlorometallates. Water molecules play an important role in structure extension in 1. Anhydrous 3 and 4 produced from 2-aminoheterocyclic derivatives display 2-D sheet structures. Arrangements of anions and cations are dominated by shape and size of cations, and also by the different structures of the chlorometallates as well as non-bonding interactions in the crystal structures. Except for 1, the other compounds are thermally stable below 240°C.     

Influence of relative humidity on the electrostatic charging of lactose powder mixed with salbutamol sulphate

In this study, electrostatic charging of lactose and its mixtures with salbutamol sulphate (SS) were studied as a function of relative humidity (RH). Powder adhesion onto a steel pipe surface was also investigated. The powders were charged by sliding in a steel pipe. Increase in RH decreased the charging of lactose and mixtures, but the effect on SS was not evident. Furthermore, the charge of the mixtures reversed from negative to positive as RH was increased and remained positive as the samples were again dried. Humidification also changed the adhesion behavior of the mixtures onto the pipe surface.     

The introduction of antibacterial drug pipemidic acid into the POM field: Syntheses, characterization and antitumor activity

Two new compounds based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and the quinolone antibacterial drug pipemidic acid (HPPA), {[Ni(PPA)₂]H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·HPPA·3H₂O (1), and {[Zn(PPA)₂]₂H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·3H₂O (2), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by routine technique. Single-crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis shows that compound 1 is constructed by Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear nickel clusters, isolated HPPA and water molecules, while compound 2 consists of Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear zinc clusters and water molecules. Due to the selection of different transition metal (TM) ions, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit different structures and antitumor activities. Compound 1 possesses 0D structure and shows no antitumor activities. However, compound 2 possesses 1D structure and exhibits higher antitumor activities than its parent compound. The results show that introduction of different TM-PPA moieties onto the polyoxoanion surface can affect not only the final structures but also their antitumor activities.     

Early/Late Heteronuclear Complexes Bridged by Bifunctional Phosphorus-Based Ligands

Substituted bifunctional phosphorus-based ligands HX(CRR') n PR"H (or -PR" 2 ) [where X = O, S, NR', (substituted) cyclopentadienyl; n = 1, 2, 3; R, R', R" = alkyl, aryl, H] were employed as bridging ligands in the synthesis of early/late bridged transition metal complexes. Synthetic routes to the bifunctional ligands were also developed. First, mononuclear complexes, such as [TpZr(OCH 2 PPh 2 ) 3 ] (Tp = trispyrazolylborato), [Cp 2 Zr(1-O-2-PHR-C 6 H 10 )(Me)] (R = 2,4,6-Pr i 3 C 6 H 2 (Tipp)), [Cp 2 Zr(SCH 2 CH 2 PHR) 2 ] (R = Ph, Mes, Tipp), and phosphinoferrocene derivatives, were prepared. These complexes are suitable precursors for the introduction of a second metal (as in, for example, [TpZr( w -OCH 2 PPh 2 ) 3 Mo(CO) 3 ]).     

Effects of Bis(aromatic) Pendants on Recognition of Nucleobase Thymine by Zn2+ -1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (Zn2+ -cyclen)

We have previously shown that the nucleobase thymine binding to Zn²⁺ -cyclen (cyclen=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) complex became stronger by appending acridine, naphthalene, or quinoline rings to the cyclen. Amongst these, the pendant bis((1-naphthyl)methyl) or bis((4-quinolyl)methyl) groups yielded the most effective thymine-recognizing Zn²⁺ -cyclen complexes [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 121 (1999) 5426]. The present study was undertaken to find causes of the bis(aromatic) ring effect by X-ray crystal structure analysis and NMR studies. The crystal structure of the Zn²⁺ -bis((1-naphthyl)methyl)-cyclen complex with a deprotonated 1-methylthymine (1-MeT) failed to show the anticipated evidence for the double ~ - ~ stacking interactions between the two naphthalenes and the Zn 2+ -bound 1-MeT m (1-MeT m =N(3')-deprotonated 1-MeT). Crystal data: formula C₃₆ H₄₇ N₇ O₇ Zn, M r =755.19, monoclinic, space group P2₁/ c (No. 14), a =15.438(2) Å, b =14.093(3) Å, c =16.726(2) Å, g =90.53(1) V =3638.7(8) Å 3 Z =4, R =0.035, R _w =0.049. However, the ¹H NMR studies of Zn²⁼ -bis((4-quinolyl)methyl)-cyclen with 1-MeT in varying H₂O/CH₃ CN solution showed increasing upfield shifts of Me(5') and H(6') of the Zn²⁺ -bound 1-MeT in more aqueous media, indicating that the double intercalation with the two quinolines became more significant in more protic environments. We conclude that the double ~ - ~ stacking effect accounts for the enhanced recognition of thymine base by the appended bis((1-naphthyl)methyl) or bis((4-quinolinyl)methyl) groups.     

Thermal stability,morphology and electronic band gap of Zn(NCN)

The thermal behavior of zinc carbodiimide Zn(NCN) was examined in the temperature range between 200 and 1100 °C in Ar atmosphere. The material starts to partially decompose at about 800 °C. Heat treatment at temperatures beyond 800 °C results in the formation of the byproducts nitrogen-containing bamboo-like multiwall carbon-nanotubes of 20–50 nm in diameter due to a partial decomposition of Zn(NCN) into dicyan (CN)₂, zinc and nitrogen gas followed by the polymerization of the former product to paracyanogen (CN)_n. At 1100 °C, the yield of the residual carbodiimide depends on the dwelling time and the initial amount of powder used for pyrolysis. One hour dwelling at 1100 °C yields ∼50% of the Zn(NCN) separated as pure material. Temperature-induced change in the band structure, namely indirect-to-direct band gap transition, is registered when compared the Zn(NCN) at room temperature with the residual material annealed at 1100 °C. The transition from indirect (E_g = 4.32 eV) to direct band gap (E_g = 4.93 eV) is due to the thermal annealing process which results in healing of crystal defects.     

One-pot synthesis of selenocarbamates from isocyanates and diselenides using the Zn/AlCl3 system

Several N-alkyl/aryl-Se-alkyl/(aryl)selenocarbamates were prepared from various isocyanates and diselenides by reductive cleavage of Se-Se bond with the Zn/AlCl3 system in dry acetonitrile at 80℃.