Search

To reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, global emissions should be reduced to net zero by mid-century. The steel sector is an emission-intensive industrial subsector where low-carbon production routes are emerging, and recent studies have shown that rapid decarbonization of the sector is technically possible. However, several barriers block the sector-wide diffusion of low-carbon steelmaking. Inertia and barriers to exit inhibit the closure of emission-intensive plants, thus driving overcapacity and trade conflicts which in turn risk undermining the global steel transition. Drawing on the industrial transitions literature, we find that phase-out policy has a key role to play in overcoming inertia and barriers to exit, increasing the pace of exits in the steel sector, and enabling market space for low-emission steelmaking. Still, reviewing policy mixes in the top four steelmaking jurisdictions, we observe that these are primarily oriented towards phasing-in low-emission capacity rather than phasing-out emission-intensive capacity. In an analysis of low-emission steel projects in the LeadIT Green Steel Tracker, we find that almost half of these projects are financially backed by government, revealing that support for phase-ins is sparking a renaissance for subsidies in the steel sector. At the same time, we find that green steel projects, in aggregate, are increasing total steelmaking capacity. To minimize overcapacity and trade conflicts in the steel transition, policymakers should develop new corresponding phase-out policies that support and increase the pace of closures, to enable a rapid sector-wide diffusion of low-emission steelmaking. Key policy insights: While rapid emission reductions are technically possible in the steel sector, frictions such as overcapacity and trade conflicts risk impeding the transition. The steel sector's inertia and barriers to exit are exacerbating these frictions, and targeted phase-out policies are needed to overcome these blockages. Steel decarbonization policies in top steelmaking jurisdictions are oriented towards phasing-in green steel, not on phasing-out emission-intensive steelmaking. Green steel projects are increasing total steelmaking capacity, and to a high degree are financially supported by governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European automotive industry is transitioning from combustion engines to electric vehicles but lags behind international competitors. This geoeconomic competition has contributed to the revival of industrial policy in the EU. However, EU competition policy restricts more vertical industrial policy approaches. In this context, the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) have emerged as a novel governance tool. This article examines this transformation in EU industrial policy by focusing on the Battery IPCEIs. The article includes an in-depth case study of the Battery IPCEIs, using secondary literature and 11 expert interviews. It concludes that IPCEIs represent a gradual regulatory-developmental turn within EU industrial policy by drawing on developmental state theory in a European context, critical EU integration literature, and global production networks research. In response to geoeconomic competition and the region's lack of productive capacities, the EU is indirectly facilitating the development of European battery innovation and production networks by issuing direct state aid at the national level. However, the EU's participation in the subsidy race and the global green-tech race via "green" industrial policy indicates only a partial shift in the relationship between states and markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the promising and little-studied methods for obtaining an ultrafine-grained structure and enhanced mechanical properties is the so-called cryogenic deformation - deformation at temperatures below 120K. It is assumed that low deformation temperatures suppress recovery processes, thus contributing to the accumulation of an extremely high dislocation density and increase internal stresses, as well as activate deformation twinning, which together will accelerate grain refinement. In this regard, in this work, we studied the drawing of steel wire under cryogenic cooling in liquid nitrogen. The results of the laboratory experiment show that the application of cryogenic deformation treatment after wire drawing improves mechanical properties compared to conventional wire drawing. In this case, after two cycles of deformation, the relative contraction after stretching decreases by 8 %, the ultimate strength increases by 40 %, and the conditional yield strength by 26 %. The results show that the deformation conditions during cryogenic drawing are an additional factor for the realization of structural resources of steel wire physical and mechanical properties optimizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop AR technology of simplified representations based on ISO standards and to quantify the efficiency and contribution of developed AR technology in assisting students in learning mechanical drawing. This research proposed a marker-based AR application development, intended for teaching simplified representations, named Augmented Reality Penyederhanaan Gambar - ARPeGa, and an experimental study to quantify the user experience (UX) using the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). A pilot study involving 38 mechanical engineering students was conducted to evaluate the impact of AR involvement on user experience. In addition, the UEQ data analysis tool version 11 was used. The UEQ results showed attractiveness was excellent (1.87), while efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty were good (1.63, 1.60, 1.63, and 1.22 respectively). And perspicuity was categorized as “above average” (1.51). This study’s outcomes demonstrate that using 3D model visualization in the AR application strengthens user experiences to understand simplified representations. Overall, the application has a ‘good’ level in some categories: efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty.

New technology is presented in the work for copper wire processing. This technology consists of deforming wire in a rotating equal-channel stepped die and subsequent drawing. The die rotates around the axis of the wire and creates stress due to equal-channel angular broaching and twisting within the die. Results of a laboratory experiment show that after deformation an ultrafine grained graded microstructure with a high content of high-angle grain boundaries is obtained. Tensile strength of deformed copper wire in comparison with undeformed wire increases from 302 to 635 MPa, and yield strength increases from 196 to 406 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the correlation between polymer melt viscosity, tensile properties, and injection molding energy consumption for three grades of polypropylene: a virgin grade, a recycled grade, and a modified recycled grade. Cold runner and hot runner molds are considered. The experiments focus on characterizing the thermal and mechanical energy drawn by the injection molding machine during the cycle. The data collected from the experiments are used to calculate the embodied energy as a function of the polymer viscosity and processing conditions. The analysis of the relationship between polymer rheology and processing provided guidelines for the molded parts' embodied energy and mechanical characteristics. These guidelines and estimation techniques will support sustainable design for manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new technology for stainless steel wire processing. This technology consists of using cryogenic cooling immediately after the wire leaves the drawing die. Results of a laboratory experiment show that use of cryogenic processing after wire drawing improves mechanical properties compared with traditional drawing. Metallographic analysis proves that deformation conditions during cryogenic drawing are an additional factor for realization of structural resources to optimize steel wire physical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress in creating micro and nano‐scale thermoset polymer fibers through extensional flow reveals remarkable mechanical properties. For instance, epoxy microfibers display a notable increase in stiffness, strength, and toughness as their diameter decreases. This size‐dependent behavior, well‐explored and explained in thermoplastic polymers, is far from being understood in thermoset polymers, as their densely cross‐linked network structure seems to restrain preferential directionality. Our theoretical analysis proposes that, during the pre‐gel curing phase, when the thermoset polymer begins clustering but remains in a liquid state, substantial cluster elongation is induced by the extensional flow. This elongated formation persists to some extent after curing completion, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties along the fiber's primary axis. Concurrently, the high extension reduces fiber diameter, leading to a power‐law diameter dependence of fiber stiffness. The model agrees well with experimental data from tensile tests on epoxy microfibers, highlighting the potential to fine‐tune mechanical properties by controlling the curing process, and laying the groundwork for future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical engineering drawings (MEDs) accompany a product lifecycle from conceptional design to final production. The digitisation of MEDs has become increasingly important due to demands for data authenticity, intellectual property protection, efficient data storage and communication, and compliance with data integrity and security regulations. Unlike CAD-based engineering design software, legacy MEDs are often manually drawn or contain manually labeled specifications on blueprints. A notable gap exists in the automated process pipeline of modern Computer-Aided Tolerance (CAT) software, particularly in integrating Geometrical Tolerance Specification Callouts (GTSC) on MEDs. This study proposes an integrated model based on digital image processing and deep learning, which combines character (symbol, text and number) localization, segmentation, and recognition to intelligently identify and read GTSCs on MEDs. The focus of this work is on image filtering, GTSC block localization and tilt correction, multiple lines and character segmentation, and semantic recognition. Experiment results demonstrate that this innovative technique effectively automates the labor-intensive process of reading and registering GTSC with a precision performance that meets industry benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) from Cyclocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) can selectively oxidize C–H bonds using hydrogen peroxide as an oxygen donor without cofactors, which has drawn significant industrial attention. Many studies have made efforts to enhance the overall activity of AaeUPO expressed in Komagataella phaffii by employing strategies such as enzyme-directed evolution, utilizing appropriate promoters, and screening secretion peptides. Building upon these previous studies, the objective of this study was to further enhance the expression of a mutant of AaeUPO with improved activity (PaDa-I) by increasing the gene copy number, co-expressing chaperones, and optimizing culture conditions. Our results demonstrated that a strain carrying approximately three copies of expression cassettes and co-expressing the protein disulfide isomerase showed an approximately 10.7-fold increase in volumetric enzyme activity, using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate. After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity of this strain further increased by approximately 48.7%, reaching 117.3 U/mL. Additionally, the purified catalytic domain of PaDa-I displayed regioselective hydroxylation of R-2-phenoxypropionic acid. The results of this study may facilitate the industrial application of UPOs. Key points: • The secretion of the catalytic domain of PaDa-I can be significantly enhanced through increasing gene copy numbers and co-expressing of protein disulfide isomerase. • After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity can reach 117.3 U/mL, using the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate. • The R-2-phenoxypropionic acid can undergo the specific hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by catalytic domain of PaDa-I, resulting in the formation of R-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The global food industry is faced with the dilemma of finding a balance between food wastage and food shortage. Approximately one-third of food produced globally goes to waste, while about 800 million people suffer from undernourishment. Given this context, the purpose of this study is to investigate the unresolved challenges related to enhancing transparency associated with products of high perishability and low shelf life. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted 25 interviews with global agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) experts to ask what impedes the progress of the current technologies, such as blockchain, to enable transparency and traceability (T&T) in AFSCs. Findings: The findings indicate barriers at the individual, firm and supply chain levels. Based on these barriers, the authors propose an interconnected framework to explain technologically-driven T&T and guide on barrier removal from AFSCs. The authors conclude that by applying technology (i.e. blockchain) the authors can resolve the tension of supporting T&T in AFSCs. This can enable the efficient and transparent tracking of goods, reduction of food waste and loss, as well as promotion of the use of recyclable packaging and further sustainable practices and materials, all of which are aligned with a range of UN Sustainable Development Goals (2, 8, 10 and 12). Moreover, the authors see that some factors are interrelated. Based on these factors, the authors build an interconnected framework to guide on barrier removal from AFSCs. Managers in AFSC would find the findings especially relevant. Originality/value: Drawing on industrial network theory and signalling theory, the authors propose an interconnected framework for explaining barriers (challenges) and potential solutions (opportunities) to T&T in AFSCs. This framework is developed by examining the interconnections of barriers at micro, meso and macro levels and applying signalling theory to explain how solutions address these barriers. The specific contributions of this study are: the list of barriers that impede the implementation of technological solutions for T&T in AFSCs; and a three-stage framework that explains how to remove the barriers for T&T. The study is limited by the focus on blockchain, which calls for future research once the next decentralised technology becomes available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a numerical investigation of an extra-deep drawing process using industrial parameters. The study focuses on the formability analysis and process optimization of the drawing process. The authors conducted experiments and simulations to understand the factors that contribute to defects such as rupture and wrinkling in the manufacturing process. They used numerical modeling and measurements to analyze the behavior of the materials and optimize the process parameters. The study provides valuable insights for manufacturers in various industries, including household appliances and automobile construction, to improve the quality and competitiveness of their products. Additionally, there is a document that provides a list of references cited in a research paper on the behavior and processes of deep drawing sheet metal. The references cover various aspects of deep drawing, such as material limits, thinning, wrinkling, spring-back, cracking prevention, lubricants, tribological behavior, and optimization of process parameters. This comprehensive list of sources can be explored by library patrons for further information on these topics. [Extracted from the article]

Present work demonstrates the effect of in tandem application of chemo-mechanical methods on physio-chemical and thermo-sensitive properties of HMX. Solvent-antisolvent recrystallization produced γ-polymorph of HMX with mean diameter ~7 μm and ~8 μm when acetone and DMF were used as solvent respectively, whereas with γ-butyrolactone, β-HMX with larger particle size (mean diameter ~24 μm) was produced. Ultrasonication initially (1 h) resulted in increase in particle size but with increase in duration (24 h) particles size decreased to (~4 μm) whereas, ball milling resulted in decrease in average particle size to ~1 μm with β-polymorphic form with reduced impact sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of energetic composite with a double-coating structure was constructed by in-situ polymerization of dopamine and water suspension method. Using CL-20 with a particle size of 200–500 nm as the main explosive, the core–shell structured CL-20-p (CL-20@PDA) was prepared via self-polymerization of dopamine on the surface of the CL-20. After that, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Estane5703) was used as the binder, the CL-20-p was coated by water suspension method, and finally CL-20-p/Estane5703 composite was prepared. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized by SEM, AFM, FTIR, XPS, Raman, XRD, DSC and mechanical sensitivity test. The test results show that the CL-20-p is successfully coated by Estane5703, and the coating degree is high. Compared with the CL-20, the crystal phase transition temperature of CL-20/Estane5703 is significantly increased, and the mechanical sensitivity is greatly reduced. The CL-20-p/Estane5703 is superior to CL-20-p and CL-20/Estane5703 in enhanced thermal stability and reduced mechanical sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrated the reactive flash sintering (RFS) for two powder mixtures: TiN-ZrN (both conducting) and AlN-TiN (TiN conducting but AlN insulating), targeting ternary metal nitrides (TMN) of Ti 0.5 Zr 0.5 N and Ti 0.5 Al 0.5 N, respectively. A constant volage and pressure (e.g., 8 V DC, ∼15 MPa) at room temperature triggered the flash (current density up to 27 A/mm2) without pre-heating, and the entire RFS process finished in a few minutes. For TiZrN, the flash was instantaneous whereas for TiAlN, there was a long incubation before the flash followed by a quick and dramatic flash. Both conventional ex situ XRD and in situ synchrotron study had been carried out. They showed a uniform Ti 0.57 Zr 0.43 N solution formed in RFS and persisted upon cooling, while (Ti, Al) N solid solution formed at high temperature was not stable and likely went through a very quick phase separation in the cooling process. The final products from RFS had been characterized using SEM/EDS for microstructure. Both TiZrN and TiAlN were dense. Distribution of Ti, Zr, and N was uniform for TiZrN; for TiAlN, Ti and N distribution was uniform, while association of Al with oxygen was observed. TGA-DSC revealed the onset oxidation temperature for TiZrN was comparable to TiN and ZrN, while it was higher by ∼200 °C for TiAlN, likely due to the formation of Al 2 O 3. In terms of mechanical properties such as hardness or fracture toughness, forming a single-phase solid solution (like TiZrN) does not offer obvious benefits. while large grain size from RFS seemed to be unfavorable. Future optimization of RFS condition and in-depth study by both experiments and simulation are needed to fully understand the composition-processing-structure-property relationships for such TMN from the reactive flash sintering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the damage progression and fracture behavior in notched cross-ply SiC/SiC composites were investigated using the in situ digital image correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques. Under tensile loading, the mechanical properties of composite's elastic modulus, proportional limit stress (PLS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and fracture strain were obtained for non-notched, single-hole, double-holes, and four-holes samples. Based on the analysis of composite's tangent modulus, the nonlinear tensile stress-strain curves were divided into three main domains, relating with internal multiple damage mechanisms observed using the in situ DIC and AE. Effects of the number and location of the circular holes on the full-filed composite's damage and strain evolution, AE energy and ring-down count were investigated. After tensile fracture, the composite's macro fracture morphology and micro damage mechanisms were observed under the scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Numerical modeling of tensile damage and fracture process of different notched samples were conducted using the extend finite element method (XFEM). Relationships between the notch types, tensile mechanical properties, macro strain evolution, and micro damage mechanisms were established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal-mechanical response of the anode-supported planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) during sintering is important for its manufacturing and in-service operation. The integrated micro/nano-indentation and finite element (FE) modeling method was used to characterize the Young's modulus, yield stress and creeping for the NiO-3YSZ anode and 8YSZ electrolyte at room temperature. Based on the real-time full-field deformation of the half-cell SOFC which was measured using the 3D digital image correlation (DIC), the FE simulation was used to estimate the stress response in a manner of sensitivity study. It shows that the half-cell SOFC warps towards the anode substrate during heating and points in the opposite direction during cooling. The warping deformation of FE simulation matches well with the DIC measurement. In addition, the maximum tensile stress in the electrolyte coat of the half-cell SOFC plate is about 207 MPa if assuming temperature-independence of creeping for the SOFC materials. • Real-time full-field displacement of the half-cell SOFC during sintering is measured. • The mechanical properties of the NiO-YSZ and 8YSZ materials are characterized. • The relation of creeping with the stress state of the FE analysis is validated experimentally. • The difference of creeping at 1200 °C for NiO-YSZ and 8YSZ is characterized. • The stress response during sintering and cooling is estimated, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research paper presents the synthesis of Glass-Fiber Reinforced Plastic (Glass-FRP) and Natural Fiber-Hybrid Composites (NFHC) using Hand Lay-up techniques. The aim of the this research is on assessing mechanical characteristics of composites made from different natural fibers, including jute, flax, coir, and hair fibers. The study sought to evaluate the influence of natural fiber addition on mechanical characteristics of the composite material and to emphasize the significance of altering fiber type, orientation, resin type, and curing conditions to optimize composite characteristics for particular applications. The mechanical characteristics of these composites were evaluated using tensile and flexural testing. This study significantly enhances the mechanical properties of Glass-FRP composites by incorporating Jute fibers, showcasing a superior tensile strength of 71.29 MPa and the highest flexural strength of 67.73 MPa. The investigation showed that the combination of natural and glass fibers may produce a lightweight, highly-strengthen composite material with enhanced mechanical characteristics that can be employed in a wide range of technical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, the continuous advancement of off-grid solar photovoltaic irrigation seeks to improve water access, increase food production, and reduce carbon emissions and energy costs associated with fuel usage. Consequently, this enhances human resilience to climate change and contributes to the improvement of farmers' income. This study investigates the influence of solar energy adoption on farmers' income, drawing insights from 1,080 growers in Pakistan. It uses the logit model and propensity score matching (PSM) to address bias. Factors influencing income, including gender, education, decision-making autonomy, farm size, extension services, cooperative associations, access to credit, risk perception, market distance, and tube well availability, are identified. Findings reveal a positive correlation between solar energy adoption and increased crop farmer income. PSM analysis validates this, emphasizing the need for government and agricultural extension interventions to enhance financial accessibility for farmers facing mobility challenges. This includes subsidies for technology adoption and knowledge dissemination about digital technology. The study advocates for an accelerated adoption of solar energy to foster agricultural development in Pakistan. In resource-poor nations like Pakistan, government subsidies are crucial to offset technology costs for citizens facing challenges in affording green energy. Addressing Pakistan's energy crisis through promoting solar energy for irrigation can amplify farmers' income. It is imperative to promote access to this technology, particularly for water pumping, through subsidies and readily available credit facilities, given the resource limitations and small landholdings of many farmers in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definition: Graphene and related materials (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide) as a subclass of carbon materials and their composites have been examined in various functions as materials in supercapacitor electrodes. They have been suggested as active masses for electrodes in electrochemical double-layer capacitors, tested as conducting additives for redox-active materials showing only poor electronic conductivity, and their use as a coating of active materials for corrosion and dissolution protection has been suggested. They have also been examined as a corrosion-protection coating of metallic current collectors; paper-like materials prepared from them have been proposed as mechanical support and as a current collector of supercapacitor electrodes. This entry provides an overview with representative examples. It outlines advantages, challenges, and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focus groups on nanoscience, walking tours and a Citizen Summit demonstrate the Edmonton Canada community acting as both a sounding board and also as a collective think tank that mediates across networks in a city-region where strong local elites that draw on mechanical solidarity. This demonstrates the collective learning potential of social networks to be effective mediators in the process of recognizing opportunities. Our participatory research did not pose a regulatory or ethical question for public deliberation. Instead, the public exchanges emerged as diagnostic fora where deliberation lead to a collective evaluation of a proposed nanotechnology cluster. Confronted with an unprecedented area, we trace the attempt of this polity to adapt to the demands of innovation and a knowledge-intensive sector. We found a place-based re-articulation of mechanical and organic forms of solidarity characterized by interdependent specialized sectors across difference. Place plays an important mediating role as a commons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the suitability of the quarter mouthpiece chamber vacuum (MPCV) as an indicator for cessation of quarter milk flow to potentially adjust the teat end vacuum at a quarter level. We tested the hypothesis that a MPCV increase is a clear indicator of quarter milk flow cessation. In addition, we tested if a quarter-individual vacuum reduction at MPCV increase reduces the mechanical effect on the teat. Ten dairy cows were milked twice daily with a quarter-specific vacuum supply with continuously high (51 kPa; TRT51) or low vacuum setting (41 kPa; TRT41), or high vacuum setting combined with a quarter-specific vacuum reduction by 10 kPa immediately after the quarter-specific MPCV increase (TRT51/41). Whole udder milk flow was continuously recorded. Each treatment was repeated at 4 subsequent milkings. The high vacuum settings (TRT51; TRT51/41) reached higher values in peak flow rate and average milk flow and consequently shorter machine-on time. The time from start of milking until the steep increase of the MPCV was shorter in front than rear quarters, and hence the time from start of MPCV increase until end of milking was longer in front than rear teats. Teat condition of the right front teats was measured for teat wall diameter by ultrasound and teat tissue thickness by cutimeter at 5 and 20 min after each experimental milking. The teat measurements were taken at the teat tip (distal barrel) and 2 cm above the teat tip (proximal barrel). The proximal teat wall diameter tended to be higher in TRT51 than in TRT41, both 5 and 20 min after milking. The distal teat wall diameter at 5 min was greater in TRT51 than in TRT41. In TRT51/41 the teat wall diameter at both locations was intermediate, not significantly different from either TRT51 or TRT41. The distal teat tissue thickness was greater in TRT51 than in TRT41, and tended to be greater in TRT51/41 than in TRT41 at 5 min. The proximal teat tissue thickness at 5 min was higher in TRT51 and TRT51/41 than in TRT41. The teat tissue thickness decreased from 5 to 20 min only in the proximal barrel. The quarter-individual MPCV increase appears to be a suitable indicator of the cessation of milk flow. The lack of a significant reduction of mechanical effect on the teat by a reduced vacuum of 41 kPa indicates that the vacuum level chosen may be still too high under conditions of a separate vacuum supply for each quarter, which prevents a vacuum drop caused by the whole udder milk flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the manuscript of Codex Madrid I, Leonardo da Vinci's workshop drawings collection, is reviewed and the main mechanisms that appear in the aforesaid codex are analysed. It begins with a short reference to Leonardo da Vinci works and, subsequently, Leonardo's manuscripts and Codex Madrid I, in particular, are placed in their historical context. After analysing the historical scope of Codex Madrid I, a compilation of the 100 main drawings of the manuscript is made, composing nine Mechanisms Drawings Boxes. Each Mechanisms Drawings Box is a collage made up of 10 to 14 drawings of mechanical elements that appear in Codex Madrid I, with a brief description of each drawing. This compilation illustrates the wide range of mechanical elements and simple mechanisms of Codex Madrid I, forming, as a whole, a complete treatise on mechanisms, understanding mechanisms as basic elements of machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive Manufacturing (AM), as an adjunct and extension of conventional equivalent and subtractive manufacturing technologies, aims to fabricate complex shapes and hollow structures. Among the various techniques of AM, vat photopolymerization (VP) has wide application due to high precision (∼μm), high surface quality, and high density. However, the density and mechanical properties of VP additive-manufactured ceramics are comparatively lower than that of conventional manufacturing techniques. This discrepancy mainly arises from the presence of more manufactured defects in VP additive-manufactured ceramics. In this paper, a comprehensive review of recent advances in defects specific to VP additive-manufactured ceramic is presented. Characterization and quantitative analysis of defects by X-CT are highlighted. Furthermore, control methods for managing these defects are summarized. Finally, current challenges and perspectives on the future research direction are discussed and provided. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the defects in additive-manufactured ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, oxide-free AlN coating was fabricated using single-step, large throughput nitrogen-shrouded plasma spraying. Initially, Al/AlN composite feedstock powder was prepared by a ball-milling at a 70:30 wt% ratio to deposit the AlN coating. Microstructural evaluation revealed the formation of dominant c -AlN phase along with minor h -AlN without presence of any oxides or impurities in the coating. Hardness and elastic modulus (E) were observed to be ∼7.2 GPa and ∼280 GPa respectively. Furthermore, an investigation of tribological performance showed the wear rate ∼0.18 × 10−3 mm3/Nm and coefficient of friction (COF) 0.45 ± 0.02. In addition, the corrosion resistance behaviour of AlN coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl shows as low as 2.95 × 10−9 mm/s indicates the extended life of the coated components. Therefore, the fabricated plasma-sprayed AlN coating can be recommended for high-performing wear and anti-corrosive competitor for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasping the interrelationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and spatial scale characteristics is the foundation for effective ecological zoning management, which helps to realize a win–win situation for both ecological protection and economic development. This paper focuses on the following three real problems: mismatch in ES supply and demand evaluation, mechanical and subjective delineation of ecological zoning, and rough management strategies, and constructs a multi-scale ecological zoning management framework for the "comprehensive evaluation of supply and demand, ecological zoning, and enhancement of human well-being". This study integrates the InVEST model, SOM, Z-score quadrant matching, and coordination degree method, and applies them to the ecological management zoning of Hangzhou. The results show that (1) the spatial differentiation of ESs in Hangzhou is significant. The spatial pattern of the five types of ES supply varies at the county scale and the grid scale on which ES demand is concentrated and is consistent at different scales. (2) ES supply–demand matching in Hangzhou is at the basic coordination and can be divided into four modes including HH, LH, LL, and HL at both the county and grid scales. On the small scale, the proportion of mismatches declines slightly, but the severity rises. (3) ES supply is divided into four categories as follows: the food production bundle, the carbon storage bundle, the ESs balancing bundle, and the ESs depleting bundle, and clarifies the priority of ES management. (4) Construct an ecological management practice path, delineates 6 ecological management zones at the county scale and 19 secondary management zones at the grid scale. Targeted measures are proposed in terms of supply–demand adjustment strategies, ecological management strategies, and key implementation areas. This study helps to incorporate the interaction between the supply and demand of ESs into the planning framework and provides decision-making support for refined ecological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a critical role in battery systems, polymer binders have been shown to efficiently suppress the lithium polysulfide shuttling and accommodate volume changes in recent years. However, preparation processes and safety, as the key criterions for Li‐S batteries' practical applications, still attract less attention. Herein, an aqueous multifunction binder (named PEI‐TIC) is prepared via an easy and fast epoxy‐amine ring‐opening reaction (10 min), which can not only give the sulfur cathode a stable mechanical property, a strong chemical adsorption and catalytic conversion ability, but also a fire safety improvement. The Li‐S batteries based on the PEI‐TIC binder display a high discharge capacity (1297.8 mAh g−1), superior rate performance (823.0 mAh g−1 at 2 C), and an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.035% over more than 800 cycles. Even under 7.1 mg cm−2 S‐loaded, the PEI‐TIC electrode can also achieve a high areal capacity of 7.2 mA h g−1 and excellent cycling stability, confirming its application potential. Moreover, it is also noted that TG‐FTIR test is performed for the first time to explore the flame‐retardant mechanism of polymer binders. This work provides an economically and environmentally friendly binder for the practical application and inspires the exploration of the flame‐retardant mechanism of all electrode components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of JDM: Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen is the property of Universitas Negeri Semarang, Fakultas Ekonomi, Jurusan Manajemen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Traditional fabrication methods of aerogels are time consuming, toxic, and difficult to implement, making the production of aerogels expensive and severely limits widespread adoption. Nonwoven technology is introduced to prepare fibers that can be used to create polymer‐based aerogel. With its introduction, it allows the continuous flow of fine fibers and eliminates the bottlenecking fiber preparation phase of the fabrication process. Using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) fibers and polyvinyl alcohol, two types of rPET aerogels are successfully fabricated, namely the lab‐scale and the large‐scale aerogels, to investigate the effectiveness of the nonwoven process line for the fiber preparation processing step. Fibers prepared manually (lab‐scale aerogels) and with the aid of a fiber preparation production line (large‐scale aerogels) are characterized and compared. Both lab‐scale and large‐scale aerogels exhibited the required specifications of low densities (12.6–45.9 and 13.2–43.7 mg/cm3, respectively) and high porosity (99.1%–96.7% and 99.0%–96.8%, respectively). Their thermal conductivity (23.4–34.0 and 23.2–31.9 mW/m⋅K, respectively) and compressive modulus (4.74–21.91 and 4.53–22.29 kPa, respectively) were also relatively similar. The advantage of scaled preparation of fibers for aerogel manufacturing includes higher throughputs (the line can produce up to 60 kg/h), improved consistency for defibrillation, homogenous fiber blending, and accurate replication of laboratory‐made aerogel properties. This demonstrates the viability of using nonwoven technology to scale for continuous production to bring down the production cost. Highlights: Scale up production of aerogels using nonwoven technologyImproving preparation process of aerogels through homogenous fiber blendingPreparation rate of up to 60 kg/hDeveloped high porosity aerogels up to 99%Good thermal insulation of 23.2–31.9 mW/m⋅K [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber has widespread uses in various applications due to its ozone and oxidation stability, weatherability, electrical insulation, and elasticity. However, its further use is limited by low flame retardancy and low thermal stability. This study incorporated metal hydroxide flame retardant to enhance flame retardancy and electron beam cross‐linking to simultaneously enhance mechanical properties, thermal stability, and flame retardancy. The utilization of electron beam irradiation resulted in an increase in gel content and a decrease in swelling ratio with increasing absorbed doses, indicating the successful formation of cross‐linked network structures. The hot‐set elongation was significantly reduced to 0.6%–0.8%, while the decomposition temperature increased with increasing absorbed doses, indicating improved thermal stability. The results from limiting oxygen index measurements and burning tests demonstrate that the flame retardancy of EPDM was improved by the combined effect of metal hydroxide flame retardant and electron beam cross‐linking. Highlights: EPDM/metal hydroxide composites were prepared via electron beam irradiation.Metal hydroxide flame retardants were incorporated to enhance flame retardancy.EBI simultaneously enhanced mechanical property and thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin‐walled polystyrene (PS) spheres are needed for preparing the targets in the inertial confined fusion (ICF). To prevent the occurrence of craze and crack in the fabrication of the spheres, a noncovalent interaction route is developed to improve the mechanical properties of thin‐walled polystyrene spheres based on a fullerene derivative, reducing the craze and crack yield. The introduction of phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) into PS spheres not only improves the thermal stability, but also reduces the craze and crack yield, probably to the π–π interaction between PCBM and PS and the hydrophobicity of PCBM. The sphericity and surface finishing of the spheres also increase at the same time. Mechanism of how the PCBM improve the quality of the spheres is also discussed. Highlights: A noncovalent interaction route to improve properties of PS spheres is proposed.PS/PCBM spheres with good quality are successfully designed and fabricated.Mechanisms of how the PCBM improve properties of PS spheres are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbonate (PC) composites are often used in the production of high value‐added products, but it is necessary to improve its environment stress cracking condition in the presence of pre‐strain and soluble solvents. In this work, the effect of weight reduction and strengthening is realized by introducing microstructures and hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) into the PC composites. It is found that the addition of HGMs can reduce the melt viscosity and Tg value of the composite materials, which will change the foaming behavior of PC/HGMs composites. Besides, the effect of different content of HGMS and foaming temperature on the foaming behavior of PC/HGMs composite foams are studied. The PC/HGMs composite foams exhibit a typical structure of both large and small cellular pores, because of the existence of hollow beads and cellular structures. Moreover, compared to the neat PC foam, the tensile strength as well as the flexural strength of the composite foams are significantly increased by 110.9% and 364.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the as‐prepared PC/HGMs composite foams have low thermal conductivity (lower than 0.07 W/mK), which can effectively insulate heat propagation. Highlights: Hollow glass microsphere can reduce melt viscosity and Tg of composites.The mechanical properties of composite foams have been greatly improved.Composite foams exhibit excellent thermal stability due to their microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layer multiplication co‐extrusion allows for creation of advance structures with highly tunable properties, with relative ease. Multi‐layer co‐extrusion using the layer multiplication technique was used to create 33‐layered structures of polymer microsphere‐filled layers alternating with unfilled layers. Cross‐linked polyurethane (PU) microspheres (of two different rigidities) and ultra‐highly cross‐linked polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres were used to examine the effect of particle rigidity in confinement on overall mechanical properties. Layer structures were successfully created with particle‐filled layers; once layer size approaches the particle size, the particles deform the unfilled counter‐layer. In certain conditions, impingement of the counter‐layer occurs, decreasing the mechanical properties. High‐density polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (HDPE‐g‐MA) was subsequently utilized as a compatibilizer to improve the interface between the particles and the matrix. The HDPE‐g‐MA was effective in increasing the mechanical performance of the co‐extruded product made with the PU microspheres but inefficient in improving the product made with the PMMA microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on an immiscible blend of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyamide 12 (PA12) 50/50 wt.% with different contents of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by extrusion followed by compression molding. These materials have been proved to be electrically conductive in previous investigations for the range of filler content assayed. The morphology of the nanocomposites was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, both on cryo‐fractured and postmortem uniaxial tensile samples. Rheological measurements were performed along with differential scanning calorimetry, to assess the materials microstructure and thermal transitions. Furthermore, uniaxial tensile tests were carried out to determine mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and strain at break and to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on these properties. Finally, fracture tests were also conducted to evaluate how incorporating MWCNTs affected nanocomposites toughening capabilities. The obtained results suggest a notable improvement in the mechanical properties in the nanocomposites with low amounts of nanofiller. This expands their potential applications as conductive polymer composites (CPCs) and positions them as promising multifunctional materials. Highlights: CPCs based on a PA blend and MWCNTs were successfully obtained.CNTs strongly affected the blend morphology and rheological properties.CNTs significantly modified the crystallization behavior of PA6.Ductility greatly improved at low CNT contents but decreased at high loadings.Stiffness increased steadily with increasing CNT content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of additive manufacturing also referred to as 3D printing, has brought about substantial changes in the industrial domain, as it possesses the capability to fabricate intricate items with enhanced cost‐efficiency and productivity. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a 3D printing process that has gained significant popularity due to its versatile capabilities and cost‐effectiveness. This paper investigates the impact of the printing parameters on the tensile characteristics of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) manufactured using FFF 3D printing. TPMS patterns have unique geometric properties and potential applications, making them an intriguing subject of study. The behavior of three different TPMS lattices with three printing parameters is investigated. Finding the best testing settings is done with the Taguchi method, and the data is analyzed with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. TPMS pattern was found to be the most effective parameter with 83.78%. While the highest strength was obtained in Schwarz diamond, the highest energy absorption was observed in the Gyroid structure. The contributions of printing parameters to tensile strength are line thickness, printing speed, and layer height, respectively. As line width and printing speed increase, both energy absorption and strength increase. Therefore, 0.40 mm line width and 60 mm/s printing speed give optimum values. When considered for energy absorption, the optimum value is 0.20 mm layer height, while when considered for strength, 0.10 mm layer height is the optimum value. The findings emphasize the importance of optimizing printing parameters for desired mechanical characteristics in 3D printed components and highlight the potential of TPMS structures in various applications. This research contributes to the growing knowledge in additive manufacturing and provides insights into optimizing FFF 3D printing for improved mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are multiple factors that contribute to the warpage problems where molten part is distorted during solidification in rotational molding. A novel warpage simulation model is developed accounting for the effect of various process parameters like crystallinity change, temperature‐dependent polymer properties, and cooling rate. The polymer material properties were readily not available; they were constructed from literature data with adaptation to the process condition and their significance on simulation results is discussed in detail. A systematic detailed simulation analysis of warpage in box part was done and results were compared with experimental values published in literature. The warpage magnitude under seven different cooling methods are presented. It was found that externally water cooled parts exhibited maximum warpage which is also corroborated by literature data while the parts cooled by water on either sides of the part show reduction in warpage. The warpage simulation results show an agreement with deviation ranging from 1.2% to 69% with experimental values. Highlights: A novel thermal expansion coefficient approach was adopted for the first time to develop warpage simulation of rotationally moulded parts.Inclusion of temperature‐dependent thermo‐mechanical properties of polymer in the simulation model.The cooling rate is directly proportional to the warpage in the parts.Validating warpage simulation results for seven different cooling methods with experimental measurements.Maximum warpage is seen where the highest temperature difference exists between part and mould. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a method to produce conductive and auxetic composite membranes from a biobased and biodegradable matrix: polybutylene succinate (PBS). The conductivity was improved by the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and the samples were produced via solution electrospinning. The membrane properties were shown to increase with increasing GNP concentration and the rotational speed of the collector. In particular, a membrane having 0.2% w/v GNP and fabricated at the highest collector speed (9.96 m/s) showed the highest electrical conductivity (1.56 × 10−4 S/m) while having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) of −1.5 in tension. To complete the analysis, mechanical characterizations showed that the presence of GNP led to a substantial increase in Young's modulus (234%) and tensile strength (190%) compared to the neat PBS membrane produced under the same conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a slight crystallinity increase since GNP are acting as heterogeneous nucleating agents, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an improved thermal stability for the GNP/PBS membranes. This unique combination of auxetic and conductive properties can be useful for a wide range of innovative applications such as electronic devices, smart textiles, biomaterials, and biomedical devices. Highlights: Electrospinning was successful to produce polybutylene succinate (PBS) nanofibers.A careful control of the processing conditions led to auxetic fiber mats.Electrically conductive mats were produced by adding graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) to PBS.The PBS mechanical properties were highly improved (200%) with low GNP content (0.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several calcium-based compounds are used to reinforce NiTi composite, but their porous structure and high ceramic content degrade its mechanical characteristics. Therefore, the work aimed to combine reinforcement of NiTi composite using marble dust and nano-silver. The NiTiMDAg nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by the powder metallurgy process. A dense and smooth surface with a relative density of 94.93% was achieved for NiTiMD6Ag6 nanocomposite due to the effective interlocking and bonding provided by nano-silver. The XRD shows the formation of NiTi phase (B19′ and B2) and many other phases (i.e., Ni2Ti, Ni3Ti, Ni4Ti3, NiTi2 and NiTiO3). The combined reinforcement (i.e., marble dust and silver) enhances elastic modulus and strength of NiTiMDAg nanocomposite up to 5.63 GPa and 112.48 MPa, respectively. The results show that the Ni release reduced to 4.00 mg.l−1.cm2 and a uniform apatite formed on the NiTiMDAg nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the medium entropy alloy (MEA) was proposed, it has become one of the key areas of material research. Due to the multiple components in the MEA, it has a variety of combinations, and it usually shows high strength, high plasticity and excellent fracture toughness at low temperature. However, at high temperature, its comprehensive mechanical properties and toughness are significantly reduced, which greatly limits its application in engineering. This paper reviews the mechanical properties of MEAs, and discusses the effects of transformation strengthening, solution strengthening and plastic deformation on the fracture toughness of MEAs at high temperatures. It is found that the MEA has competitive impact fracture toughness at low temperature, but with the increase in temperature, the comprehensive mechanical properties of MEA materials will continue to decline, and the impact fracture toughness value will also reduce. The mechanical properties of high/medium entropy alloy can be improved obviously by introducing carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, boron and other interstitial elements. By introducing alloying elements into MEA systems, additional strengthening effects such as solution strengthening, grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening can be achieved, thus improving the fracture toughness of materials at high temperatures. The gradient twin structure constructed by plastic deformation will not change the stacking fault energy (SFE) of MEAs, which is an effective method to improve the quasi-static and impact toughness of MEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass customization is designing and manufacturing customized products with mass production efficiency and speed. Additive manufacturing (AM), one of the mass customization methods, is still expensive compared to mass production but continues to develop and become widespread daily. In addition, additive manufacturing has numerous limitations, such as slow print speed, less accuracy and repeatability, and limited material selection for a particular application. Therefore, this article determined the optimum parameters to improve dimensional accuracy in the AM method. The most common materials used in the additive manufacturing method are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid. Dimensional accuracy is one of the most critical parameters to meet quality standards in additive manufacturing, as in all production methods. Dimensional accuracy is the most critical parameter for smooth joining, especially for interlocking parts. The production parameters of an AM affect dimensional accuracy and the product's mechanical properties and surface quality. Optimal parameters vary to ensure dimensional accuracy in different ways. This study determined optimum parameters for dimensional accuracy, minimum filament consumption, and the production time of some basic shapes produced using ABS material by the FDM method. Cubic infill pattern, two shells, 50% infill pattern, and 0.2 mm wall thickness can be considered optimal for all shapes, although the optimal parameters for different shapes are different. Artificial neural networks (ANN) were used for the estimation of the experimental results. The estimations (R2) made by ANN in this study are over 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-high strength low alloy (UHSLA) steels are one of pivotal materials used in industrial sector. Its diversified compositions and characteristic mechanical properties as per service requirement have created an inevitable place for this steel class. The current study has been carried out on the deformation behavior and plastic instability of newly developed (UHSLA steel) XF1700 over a wide temperature range T r to near T m (298-1673 K) and at quasi-static (0.01-1/s) as well as dynamic (10-104/s) conditions. Such a wide range of data were obtained by utilizing chemical composition of this alloy system in JMatPro (an efficient software based on CALPHAD module). The effect of temperature with increasing strain and strain rate has been quantified in terms of a four-parameter exponential model based on two Z (Zener–Hollomon) parameters Z m and Z n , as such to predict cold, warm and hot deformation mechanism by a subsection method. The novelty of this work lies in its simple mathematical model that can describe the deformation behavior of a material for temperature range T r to near T m , considering the temperature compensated strain and strain rate factors. EBSD analysis was carried out for microstructural analysis to support the deformation behavior and plastic instability mechanism. Based on four-parameter exponential model, the deformation stability criteria have also been elucidated for all the three zones: Zone I, cold forming zone (298-673 K); Zone II, warm forming zone (673 < T ≤ 973 K) and Zone III, hot forming zone (973 < T ≤ 1673 K). Through non-linear regression model in SPSS software, material parameters describing deformation behavior and plastic instability were segregated in parts and the four-parameter exponential model has been verified which is found to be in excellent agreement with available data. The AARE obtained was 2.03% (zone I), 7.17% (zone II) and 4.07% (zone III), respectively, while the overall AARE was 4.42%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the thermal compression stress–strain curves and the three-dimensional processing maps of the Mg-8Gd-3Y alloy in our previous published work, the simulations of the backward extrusion of seamless tube were conducted under different formable parameters. The effective strain deviation and power dissipation efficiency were used to measure the strain uniformity and formability of the material, respectively. The results show that the largest and most uniform strain, and the best formability can be achieved under the process parameters of 430 °C and 1 mm/s. Finally, the backward extrusion experiments of seamless tube were carried out under the optimal process parameters. The seamless tubes with an outer diameter of 106 mm, an inner diameter of 76 mm and a height of 3700 mm were made by backward extrusion. The tubes have relatively uniform microstructures and mechanical properties, and the difference of tensile strength of each position is less than 10 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Low-Carbon Materials & Green Construction is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)