Thermal, Microstructural, and Mechanical Analysis of Complex Lattice Structures Produced by Direct Energy Deposition.

Lattice structures have gained attention in engineering due to their lightweight properties. However, the complex geometry of lattice structures and the high melting temperature of metals present significant manufacturing challenges for the large-scale fabrication of these structures. Direct Energy Deposition (DED) methods, such as the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technique, appear to be an interesting solution for overcoming these limitations. This study provides a detailed analysis of the manufacturing process of carbon steel lattice structures with auxetic geometry. The study includes thermal analysis using infrared thermography, microstructural characterization through metallography, and mechanical evaluation via hardness and mechanical testing. The findings reveal the significant impact of heat input, thermal cycles, and deposition sequence on the morphology and mechanical properties of the lattice structures. Fast thermal cycles are related to areas with higher hardness values, smaller strut diameters, and porous formations, which shows that controlling heat input and heat dissipation is crucial for optimizing the properties of lattice structures produced using WAAM.

A Numerical Study on the Effect of Tool Speeds on Temperatures and Material Flow Behaviour in Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding of Thin AA7075-T6 Sheets.

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model was created to simulate and analyze the effect of tool rotational speeds (RS) and plunge rate (PR) on refill friction stir spot welding (refill FSSW) of AA7075-T6 sheets. The numerical model was validated by comparing the temperatures recorded at a subset of locations with those recorded at the exact locations in prior experimental studies from the literature. The peak temperature at the weld center obtained from the numerical model differed by an error of 2.2%. The results showed that with the rise in RS, there was an increase in weld temperatures, effective strains, and time-averaged material flow velocities. With the rise in PR, the temperatures and effective strains were reduced. Material movement in the stir zone (SZ) was improved with the increment of RS. With the rise in PR, the top sheet's material flow was improved, and the bottom sheet's material flow was reduced. A deep understanding of the effect of tool RS and PR on refill FSSW joint strength were achieved by correlating the thermal cycles and material flow velocity results obtained from the numerical models to the lap shear strength (LSS) from the literature.

Investigation on Long-Term Stability of Vermiculite Seals for Reversible Solid Oxide Cell.

A reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) integrating solid oxide fuel (SOFC) and a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) usually utilizes compressive seals. In this work, the vermiculite seals of various thickness and compressive load during thermal cycles and long-term operation were investigated. The leakage rates of seals were gradually increased with increasing thickness and input gas pressure. The thinner seals had good sealing performance. The compressive load was carried out at thinner seals, the possible holes were squeezed, and finally the leakage rates were lower. With a fixed input gas pressure of 1 psi, 2 psi, and 3 psi, the leakage rates of 0.50 mm vermiculite remained at around 0.009 sccm/cm, 0.017 sccm/cm and 0.028 sccm/cm during twenty thermal cycles, while the leakage rates remained at around 0.011 sccm/cm for about 240 h. Simultaneously, elemental diffusions between seals and components were limited, implying good compatibility. Furthermore, the open circuit voltage (OCV) remained at around 1.04 V during 17 thermal cycles, which is close to Nernst potentials. The stack performance confirmed that the vermiculite seals can meet the structural support and sealing requirements. Therefore, the vermiculite shows good promise for application in stacks during thermal cycles and long-term operation.

Shape Memory Behaviour of PMMA-Coated NiTi Alloy under Thermal Cycle.

Both poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and NiTi possess shape memory and biocompatibility behavior. The macroscale properties of PMMA-NiTi composites depend immensely on the quality of the interaction between two components. NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) and superelastic (SE) sheets were spin coated on one side with PMMA. The composite was prepared by the spin coating method with an alloy-to-polymer-thickness ratio of 1:3. The bending stiffness and radius of curvature were calculated by using numerical and experimental methods during thermal cycles. The experimental radius curvatures in actuation have good agreement with the model. The change in shape results from the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between PMMA and NiTi. Actuation temperatures were between 0 and 100 °C for the SMA-PMMA composite with a change in curvature from 10 to 120 mm with fixed Young's modulus of PMMA at 3 GPa, and a change in Young's modulus of NiTi from 30 to 70 GPa. PMMA-NiTi composites are useful as actuators and sensor elements.

Identification of the Temperature Dependence of the Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Polymers.

In this paper, we proposed an approach to study the strain response of polymer film samples under various temperature effects and note their corresponding effects. The advantages of the developed approach are determined by the fact that thin films of material are used as samples where it is possible to generate a sufficiently uniform temperature field in a wide range of temperature change rates. A dynamic mechanical analyzer was used for the experimental implementation of the above approach for two UV-curable polymers and one type of epoxy resin. Experimental results have shown that the thermal expansion coefficients for these polymers depend significantly not only on the temperature but also on its change rate. The strain response of the polymer to heating and cooling, with the same absolute values of the rate of temperature change, differs significantly, and this dissimilarity becomes stronger with its increasing. The results of thermomechanical experiments for massive samples on traditional dilatometer are shown to compare with the results for film samples. The discovered dependences of the temperature expansion coefficient on the temperature and its change rate can be used for mathematical modeling of thermomechanical processes arising during the operation of products made of polymers.

Effects of Freeze⁻Thaw Thermal Cycles on the Mechanical Degradation of the Gas Diffusion Layer in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells.

In this paper, the mechanical degradation of a commercial gas diffusion layer subjected to repeated freeze⁻thaw thermal cycles is studied. In a fuel cell, the mechanical assembly state directly affects the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Particularly, the gas diffusion layer repeatedly withstands the complex heat and humidity environmental conditions in which the temperature and humidity are always greatly changed. Studying the three-dimensional mechanical degradation of gas diffusion layers due to orthotropic properties is very useful in extending the lifetime and durability of fuel cells. To investigate this, we first established the standard freeze⁻thaw thermal cycle and studied the gas diffusion layer's mechanical degradation performance with up to 400 repeated freeze⁻thaw thermal cycles. Furthermore, different types of failure in the gas diffusion layer caused by the repeated thermal aging treatment were observed using a scanning electron microscope, to explain the change in the mechanical deterioration. As a result, the different thermal failure plays different roles in the explanation of the gas diffusion layer's mechanical degradation under different thermal cycles. In particular, the thermal failure that resulted from the first 100 thermal cycles has the greatest effect on the compressive and tensile performance, compared to the shear behavior.

Durability of the Bond between CFRP and Concrete Exposed to Thermal Cycles.

The bond between carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and concrete is significantly and adversely affected by thermal cycles in air and water. In the present study, the effects of thermal cycles in air or water on the bond performance between CFRP and concrete were examined. A single-lap shear test was adopted to evaluate the performance of the CFRP-concrete bond. A number of 270 thermal cycles in air increased the interfacial fracture energy of the CFRP plate- and CFRP sheet-concrete by 35% and 20%, respectively while 270 thermal cycles in water reduced the interfacial fracture energy of the CFRP plate⁻ and CFRP sheet-concrete by 9% and 46%, respectively. Thermal cycles in water caused the failure mode to change from concrete cohesive failure to primer-concrete interfacial debonding. The failure modes of CFRP-concrete exposed to thermal cycles in air still occurred in concrete. A reduction factor for the CFRP-concrete structure for thermal cycles in water was proposed.

Effects of Thermal Cycles on Interfacial Pressure in MV Cable Joints.

The use of medium voltage cable joints is mandatory when dealing with power cable faults and the installation of new lines. However, such an accessory is among the top causes of faults among the grid. To this purpose, one of the quantities monitored to understand the causes of such faults is the interfacial pressure between the insulating layers of the cable joint. In this work, the interfacial pressure between Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and silicon rubber has been evaluated when the cable joint experiences thermal cycles. From the results, the pressure variation caused by the thermal cycles is demonstrated. Such a phenomenon may be connected to the generation of voids and weak spots that accelerate cable joint ageing. Therefore, proper comments and conclusions are drawn.

Effect of Load on the Thermal Expansion Behavior of T700 Carbon Fiber Bundles.

T700 carbon fiber bundles (CFBs) are the primary material used for manufacturing cable-net in a deployable antenna. In this paper, the relationships between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of T700 CFBs and the experimental load were investigated. The microstructure of T700 CFBs was analyzed with Raman spectra and XRD before and after the thermomechanical test. The measured results indicated that the T700 CFBs that were parallel to the axis had negative expansion characteristics when in a temperature range of -150⁻+150 °C. The thermal strain that occurred during the heating and the cooling thermal cycles had an unclosed curve that served as the loop. When the thermal cycles were the same, the position of the strain loop and the length of the sample exhibited regular change. The average of the CTEs decreased as the experimental load increased. The microstructural analysis suggested that the degree of structural order and the degree of orientation along the fiber axis improved with the experimental load increase. The change of microstructure parameters could be the primary cause of the negative CTE's variation within the T700 CFBs. The experimental results provide some guidelines for improving the cable-net material selection.

Tailoring thermal treatment to form liprotide complexes between oleic acid and different proteins.

Liprotides are protein-lipid complexes in which the fatty acids form a micelle-like core surrounded by a shell of partially unfolded protein molecules. These complexes can be formed in different ways. The simplest approach is a thermal treatment where protein and fatty acid are mixed and then incubated at elevated temperatures. Using this approach we here demonstrate that we can monitor liprotide formation in real time using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). Optimal conditions for liprotide formation, i.e. temperature and incubation times, as well as liprotide stability and structure, vary for different proteins. The apo form of α-lactalbumin (aLA) forms liprotides at room temperature, however, Ovalbumin (Ova) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) require elevated temperatures (≥60°C) to form liprotides, and in addition, they need to be returned to lower temperatures to remain stable; repeated cycles of heating and cooling gradually dissociate the liprotides in parallel with the formation of disulfide-bonded aggregates. Real-time tracking of the formation of liprotides of BSA or Ova with OA at 60-65°C showed that liprotide formation takes place within a period of 12-18min and is preceded by a loss of secondary structure of the protein and binding of OA to the protein. Our SAXS-based approach provides a straightforward strategy to optimize liprotide formation for a wide range of different proteins.

[Effect of hydrofluoric acid concentration on the surface morphology and bonding effectiveness of lithium disilicate glass ceramics to resin composites].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at determining the influence of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in varied concentrations on the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics. METHODS: After being sintered, ground, and washed, 72 as-prepared specimens of lithium disilicate glass ceramics with dimensions of 11 mm×13 mm×2 mm were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was treated with acid solution [32% phosphoric acid (PA) or 4% or 9.5% HF] for 20 s. Then, four acidified specimens from each group were randomly selected. One of the specimens was used to observe the surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy, and the others were used to observe the surface roughness using a surface roughness meter (including Ra, Rz, and Rmax). After treatment with different acid solutions in each group, 20 samples were further treated with silane coupling agent/resin adhesive/resin cement (Monobond S/Multilink Primer A&B/Multilink N), followed by bonding to a composite resin column (Filtek™ Z350) with a diameter of 3 mm. A total of 20 specimens in each group were randomly divided into two subgroups, which were used for measuring the microshear bond strength, with one of them subjected to cool-thermal cycle for 20 000 times. RESULTS: The surface roughness (Ra, Rz, and Rmax) of lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% or 9.5% HF was significantly higher than that of the ceramic treated with PA (P<0.05). The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 9.5% HF also demonstrated better surface roughness (Rz and Rmax) than that of the ceramics treated with 4% HF. Cool-thermal cycle treatment reduced the bond strength of lithium disilicate glass ceramics in all groups (P<0.05). After cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with PA. The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05). During cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF demonstrated higher reduction in bond strength than that of the samples treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of HF significantly affected the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and the bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics. The bond strength between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramic was more efficiently maintained by treatment with 9.5% HF.

Effect of hydrofluoric acid concentration on the surface morphology and bonding effectiveness of lithium disilicate glass ceramics to resin composites / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed at determining the influence of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in varied concentrations on the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After being sintered, ground, and washed, 72 as-prepared specimens of lithium disilicate glass ceramics with dimensions of 11 mm×13 mm×2 mm were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was treated with acid solution [32% phosphoric acid (PA) or 4% or 9.5% HF] for 20 s. Then, four acidified specimens from each group were randomly selected. One of the specimens was used to observe the surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy, and the others were used to observe the surface roughness using a surface roughness meter (including Ra, Rz, and Rmax). After treatment with different acid solutions in each group, 20 samples were further treated with silane coupling agent/resin adhesive/resin cement (Monobond S/Multilink Primer A&B/Multilink N), followed by bonding to a composite resin column (Filtek™ Z350) with a diameter of 3 mm. A total of 20 specimens in each group were randomly divided into two subgroups, which were used for measuring the microshear bond strength, with one of them subjected to cool-thermal cycle for 20 000 times.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The surface roughness (Ra, Rz, and Rmax) of lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% or 9.5% HF was significantly higher than that of the ceramic treated with PA (P<0.05). The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 9.5% HF also demonstrated better surface roughness (Rz and Rmax) than that of the ceramics treated with 4% HF. Cool-thermal cycle treatment reduced the bond strength of lithium disilicate glass ceramics in all groups (P<0.05). After cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with PA. The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05). During cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF demonstrated higher reduction in bond strength than that of the samples treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The concentration of HF significantly affected the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and the bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics. The bond strength between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramic was more efficiently maintained by treatment with 9.5% HF.</p>

Hydraulic performance of compacted clay liners under simulated daily thermal cycles.

Compacted clay liners (CCLs) are commonly used as hydraulic barriers in several landfill applications to isolate contaminants from the surrounding environment and minimize the escape of leachate from the landfill. Prior to waste placement in landfills, CCLs are often exposed to temperature fluctuations which can affect the hydraulic performance of the liner. Experimental research was carried out to evaluate the effects of daily thermal cycles on the hydraulic performance of CCLs under simulated landfill conditions. Hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted on different soil specimens after being exposed to various thermal and dehydration cycles. An increase in the CCL hydraulic conductivity of up to one order of magnitude was recorded after 30 thermal cycles for soils with low plasticity index (PI = 9.5%). However, medium (PI = 25%) and high (PI = 37.2%) plasticity soils did not show significant hydraulic deviation due to their self-healing potential. Overlaying the CCL with a cover layer minimized the effects of daily thermal cycles, and maintained stable hydraulic performance in the CCLs even after exposure to 60 thermal cycles. Wet-dry cycles had a significant impact on the hydraulic aspect of low plasticity CCLs. However, medium and high plasticity CCLs maintained constant hydraulic performance throughout the test intervals. The study underscores the importance of protecting the CCL from exposure to atmosphere through covering it by a layer of geomembrane or an interim soil layer.

Preparation technology of supersaturatable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system of etoposide and quality evaluation / 中草药

To prepare supersaturatable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SMEDDS) of etoposide (VP-16) for increasing the solubility of difficult soluble drug of etoposide, which will provide a scientific basis for improving its bioavailability. To study the prescription and preparation technology of S-SMEDDS of VP-16, according to different oil phases, compatibility of surfactants, and the microemulsion area size in the pseudo ternary phase diagram of different cosurfactants, to determine the basic prescription of self-microemulsifying concentrate, optimize the prescription of VP-16 based on its solubility and crystallization conditions, with filtrating appropriate precipitation inhibitor and the best prescription drug loading. The rate of self-microemulsifying was taken as index to study the preparation technology of VP-16 S-SMEDDS for investigating the influence on the ability of self-microemulsifying. The optimal prescription is: RH40-PEG 400-GTCC-PVP K30 (20∶ 20∶ 10∶ 1), 2% drug content of the mass fraction. The optimum technological conditions are 37 ℃, 20 r/min, and 20 min by magnetic stirring. The average particle size of VP-16 S-SMEDDS is (82.7 ± 3.3) nm and the size distribution of VP-16 S-SMEDDS is relatively concentrated. The average content of VP-16 in three batches of S-SMEDDS is 19.98 mg/g. Results of dissolution test showed that at 60 min the cumulative dissolution is close to 100%. Stability study results show that the high temperature and light could influence the drug stability and micro emulsification ability of VP-16 S-SMEDDS, while the psychro-thermal cycles test has no influence to it. After the preliminary stability test, the results show that the stability of VP-16 S-SMEDDS is good. The optimized prescription of VP-16 S-SMEDDS can significantly increase the solubility of VP-16, and it's quality is stable, which could improve its bioavailability further. The research method is scientific, reliable, and feasible.

Geosynthetic clay liners shrinkage under simulated daily thermal cycles.

Geosynthetic clay liners are used as part of composite liner systems in municipal solid waste landfills and other applications to restrict the escape of contaminants into the surrounding environment. This is attainable provided that the geosynthetic clay liner panels continuously cover the subsoil. Previous case histories, however, have shown that some geosynthetic clay liner panels are prone to significant shrinkage and separation when an overlying geomembrane is exposed to solar radiation. Experimental models were initiated to evaluate the potential shrinkage of different geosynthetic clay liner products placed over sand and clay subsoils, subjected to simulated daily thermal cycles (60°C for 8 hours and 22°C for 16 hours) modelling field conditions in which the liner is exposed to solar radiation. The variation of geosynthetic clay liner shrinkage was evaluated at specified times by a photogrammetry technique. The manufacturing techniques, the initial moisture content, and the aspect ratio (ratio of length to width) of the geosynthetic clay liner were found to considerably affect the shrinkage of geosynthetic clay liners. The particle size distribution of the subsoil and the associated suction at the geosynthetic clay liner-subsoil interface was also found to have significant effects on the shrinkage of the geosynthetic clay liner.

Efeito de um agente primer e de ciclos térmicos para cocção de porcelana na resistência de união adesiva entre alumina e cimento resinoso / Effect of a primer agent and thermal cycles for porcelain firing on the bond strength of resin cement to alumina

Coroas cerâmicas apoiadas sobre infra-estruturas de alumina densamente sinterizada configuram-se como excelentes opções para a reabilitação protética em casos de exigência estética, contudo, o aumento do conteúdo cristalino inviabiliza seu condicionamento por ácidos deixando a maneira ideal de cimentá-las ainda desconhecida. Coroas Procera AllCeram apresentam, em sua face interna, micro irregularidades interessantes ao embricamento e adesão resinosa, dispensando manobras de condicionamento. Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de elevadas temperaturas (500ºC à 950ºC) necessárias à cocção da porcelana de revestimento, na textura superficial da alumina, bem como o papel de um agente primer (Ivoclar Vivadent) na força de adesão entre alumina e cimento resinoso. Material e métodos: Sessenta (60) cilindros de alumina (3,5mm X 16mm) com rugosidade superficial idêntica à dos copings Procera foram divididos em quatro grupos (n=15). Grupo 1): Espécimes não submetidos a variação térmica, sendo G1a Sem aplicação do primer e G1b Com aplicação do primer e Grupo 2): Espécimes submetidos aos ciclos térmicos para cocção da porcelana feldspática, sendo G2a Sem aplicação do primer e G2b Com aplicação do primer. Sobre os cilindros aplicou-se porção do cimento resinoso químico MultiLink Ivoclar. Os espécimes foram levados a uma máquina de ensaios Universal para teste de cisalhamento a uma velocidade de 0.5mm/min e os dados submetidos à análise de variância a um critério e teste de comparações múltiplas de Tukey. Resultados: A força de adesão para cada um dos grupos foi: G1a = 2.468 MPa; G1b = 4.265 MPa; G2a = 2.339MPa e G2b = 4.185 MPa. Diferenças significantes foram observadas entre os grupos: G1a X G1b; G1a X G2b; G1b X G2a e G2a X G2b. Conclusões: Ciclos térmicos não produziram alterações na micro-estrutura superficial da alumina, tampouco comprometeram sua adesão ao cimento. O agente primer aumentou a força de união entre alumina e cimento resinoso...

High-strength alumina based ceramic crowns are widely used in dentistry due to their favorable esthetic, however, the large amount of crystalline contents jeopardizes their acid etching property and the ideal luting remains unclear. Procera AllCeram restorations exhibits on their intaglio surface micro irregularities optimizing the bonding to resin, with no need for additional conditioning procedures. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of high thermal cycles (500ºC to 950ºC) needed to porcelain firing on alumina's intaglio surface, as well as, the role of a primer agent (Ivoclar Vivadent) on shear bond strength between alumina and resin cement. Material and Methods: Sixty alumina cylinders (3,5mm X 16mm) with intaglio roughness of the Procera AllCeram copings were randomly divided into four groups (n=15). Group 1) Samples no submitted to thermal cycles variation, were G1a - no primer application and G1b - primer treated and Group 2: Samples submitted to thermal feldspathic porcelain firing cycles, were G2a - specimens no primer treated and G2b - primer treated specimens. Over the cylinders top a self-cure resin cement (Multilink Ivoclar) portion was applied. The specimens were loaded to failure in shear mode using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0,5mm/min. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results: The shear bond strength for each group was: G1a = 2.468 MPa; G1b = 4.265 MPa; G2a = 2.339 MPa e G2b = 4.185 MPa. Significant difference was found between the groups G1a X G1b; G1a X G2b; G1b X G2a e G2a X G2b. Conclusions: Thermal cycles did not change alumina's surface micro structure, besides did not compromised it's bonding strength to resin cement. Primer agent enhanced shear bond strength between alumina and resin cement. Luting agent's cohesive fractures were observed only in some primer treated specimens.