Browse Topic: Microscopy

Items (1,026)
This specification covers the requirements for electrodeposited hard chromium plate.
AMS B Finishes Processes and Fluids Committee
Bismaleimide (BMI) resins are commonly used in advanced carbon composites for their high service temperature and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, two different BMI resins were compared: 1) formula RS-8HT, a high-cure temperature resin requiring pressurized consolidation, and 2) formula BMI-2, a lower cure temperature resin compatible with vacuum bag only fabrication. The objective was to identify a suitable high-temperature resin system for hybrid aerospace gear application, however, these materials are applicable to a variety of hot-zone parts. Laminates were fabricated from each resin type and characterized by their fiber volume fraction, compression strength vs. temperature, and glass transition temperature (Tg). Optical microscopy was performed to verify laminate quality. It was found that the carbon/RS-8HT laminates were prone to thermally-induced cracking, especially during post-cure. Carbon/BMI-2 laminates were found to attain a high degree of cure and high Tg from a realtively low temperature cure, without crack development. Additionally, the fiber volume fraction of the carbon/BMI-2 laminates, which were fabricated by a vacuum bag only process, were similar to that of the autoclave-processed carbon/RS-8HT laminates.
Waller, MatthewKoudela, KevinMcIntyre, Sean
Scientists at EPFL have developed robust and easy-to-implement multicolor super-resolution imaging. The approach is based on the simultaneous acquisition of two spectral channels followed by spectral cross-cumulant analysis and unmixing. They exploit fluorophore blinking and spectral crosstalk for the generation of additional color channels with super-resolved images.
Renewable fuels have an important role to create sustainable energy systems. In this paper the focus is on biodiesel, which is produced from vegetable oils or animal fats. Today biodiesel is mostly used as a drop-in fuel, mixed into conventional diesel fuels to reduce their environmental impact. Low quality drop-in fuel can lead to deposits throughout the fuel systems of heavy duty vehicles. In a previous study fuel filters from the field were collected and analyzed with the objective to determine the main components responsible for fuel filter plugging. The identified compounds were constituents of soft particles. In the current study, the focus was on metal carboxylates since these have been found to be one of the components of the soft particles and associated with other engine malfunctions as well. Hence the measurement of metal carboxylates in the fuel is important for future studies regarding the fuel’s effect on engines. The first aim of this study was to create synthetic soft particles from biodiesel. Accelerated aging of fuels with different contaminations such as engine oil and calcium oxide were used to create the synthetic soft particles. The precipitates were collected and analyzed with different techniques such as FTIR and GC-MS, to identify the main components which were then compared with the results of the previous study. Following this, specific attention was given to calcium methyl azelate as it was shown to be found in field fuel filters. A method using GC-MS was developed to be able to estimate the amount of soft particles by measuring calcium methyl azelate. The specified method proved to be adequate for future studies to evaluate the filtration efficiency of different filter materials against soft particles.
Csontos, BotondSwarga, ShriharshaBernemyr, HannaPach, MayteHittig, Henrik
Effects of Helical Carbon Nanotubes on Mechanical Performance of Laminated Composites and Bonded Joints2020-01-00293/10/2020
Most composite assemblies and structures generally fail due to weak interlaminar properties and poor performance of their bonded joints that are assembled together with an adhesive layer. Adhesive failure and cohesive failure are among the most commonly observed failure modes in composite bonded joint assemblies. These failure modes occur due to the lack of reinforcement within the adhesive layer in transverse direction. In addition, the laminated composites fail due to the same reason that is the lack of reinforcement through the thickness direction between the laminae. The overall performance of any composite structures and assemblies largely depends on the interlaminar properties and the performance of its bonded joints. Various techniques and processes were developed in recent years to improve mechanical performance of the composite structures and assemblies, one of which includes the use of nanoscale reinforcements in between the laminae and within the adhesive layer. However, most prior research has been focused on use of straight carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other nanomaterials in particle forms. The goal of this research was to improve the properties of the adhesive film and the interfacial bonding effectiveness between the laminae. Because CNTs are inert in nature, their interaction with the resin and adhesive polymer molecules is very weak. In this research we have used CNTs with various geometrical configuration (straight and helical geometries) and various weight percentages as additional reinforcements. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of helical geometries of the CNTs to form interlocking mechanisms with the resin and the traditional microfiber reinforcements to improve the overall performance of the composite structures and assemblies. Single lap joint test specimens and flexural test specimens were prepared based on the ASTM standard D5868-01 and ASTM standard D790 and then tested and analyzed. The experimental results showed that the samples with CNT reinforcements performed considerably better than neat epoxy samples. Among the two different CNT geometries, helical CNTs performed better than the straight CNTs.
Sritharan, RamananAskari, Davood
Research on the Renovation of Old Industrial Buildings Based on Nano-Modified Cement Materials05-13-02-00112/27/2020
The restoration and renovation of old industrial buildings has become a key issue in the field of engineering. In this article, the application of nano-materials in concrete was analyzed, nano-modified cement materials with different nano-silica (NS) content were designed, which were divided into group N, group NS1, group NS2, and group NS3, and the compression and fracture resistance, frost resistance, and bond performance of each group were analyzed. The results showed that the addition of NS could improve the compression and fracture resistance of the material. When the age was 28 days and the content of NS was 2%, the compression and fracture resistance of the material were better, 65.48 MPa and 8.34 MPa, respectively; when the freeze-thaw cycle reached 50 times, the mass loss rate and strength loss rate of different NS groups were lower than those of group N. When the content of NS was 2%, the frost-resisting performance was the best; the bond strength of different NS groups was also higher than that of group N, and the higher the content of NS, the higher the bond strength. The experimental results prove the effectiveness of NS in improving the properties of materials and in the restoration and renovation of old industrial buildings, providing some theoretical support for its application and promotion in practice.
Zhan, Zhengguang
Comparative Study on the Effect of Different Lubricating Oil Additives on the Tribological Properties of Bearing Steel05-13-01-00021/23/2020
The purpose of this article is to study the antifriction and anti-wear effect of GCr15 bearing steel under paraffin base oil and the base oil with two additives of T405 sulfurized olefin and nano-MoS2 and compare the synergistic lubrication effect of two different additives (MoS2 and T405) in paraffin base oil. The tribological properties of GCr15 bearing steel under different lubrication conditions were tested on a ball-on-disk tribometer. The three-dimensional profile of disk’s worn surfaces and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of corresponding steel balls were analyzed at the same time. The wettability of lubricating oils on the surface of friction pairs and the dispersibility of MoS2 in base oil were characterized. Furthermore, the Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) of the disk’s worn surfaces under the nano-MoS2 base oil were measured by the Field Emission Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope to observe the variation of chemical elements on the worn surface of the disk after tests. The results show that these additives have a good synergistic lubrication effect with the base oil in terms of friction coefficient, wear volume, and surface wettability, and nano-MoS2 is better than T405 as the additive in the base oil. Moreover, active elements such as Mo and S were observed on the worn surface of the friction pair, indicating that the MoS2 additive can form a deposited film on the contact region to achieve antifriction and wear resistance effect.
Xia, ZhaocaiTang, WenchengLi, KaiyuanWang, Hao
Suppression of Soot Formation in Quasi-steady Diesel Spray Flame Produced by High-pressure Fuel Injection with Multi-orifice Nozzle2019-01-227012/19/2019
The set-off length (also referred to as the “lift-off length”) is reduced by the re-entrainment of the burned gas by the backward flow surrounding a diesel spray jet produced by a multi-hole nozzle. In the present study, to estimate the equivalence ratio at the set-off length, a means of estimating the amount of burned gas that is re-entrained into the near-nozzle region of the diesel spray jet was established. The results revealed that the suppression of soot formation in quasi-steady diesel spray flames produced by a multi-hole nozzle and a high injection pressure is not attained by reducing the equivalence ratio at the set-off length. Analysis of the amount of soot along the spray axis using a two-color method revealed that the maximum soot amount position appears in a quasi-steady spray flame, after the collapse of the head vortex in which a dense soot cloud is formed. The maximum soot amount position does not change even if the injection pressure varies. The suppression of soot formation by the application of a high injection pressure in an actual diesel engine was found to be caused by the shortening of the residence time in the soot formation region between the set-off length and the maximum soot amount position.
Fuyuto, TakayukiMandokoro, YoshiyukiHattori, YoshiakiMashida, Makoto
Studies on Characteristics of Nanoparticles Generated in a Gasoline Direct-Injection Engine2019-01-232812/19/2019
Particles generated from lubricant in a gasoline direct injection (*GDI) engine were investigated in detail with the aim to understand the influence of components in lubricant on the amount of particles generated as well as their size. Analytical approach employed in this study was real-time engine tests combined with X-ray spectroscopic and electron-microscopic analyses. Real-time engine tests where particle number (PN) and particle size distribution were consecutively measured with oil consumption for lubricants with different formulas enabled us to extract information regarding lubricant-derived particles. This can be achieved only when sulfur species in lubricant are used as a “tracer” and thus, sulfur-free fuel possessing low PM Index (i.e., isooctane) needs to be used for the measurements. It was revealed that the size of particles increased with an increase in oil consumption in the vicinity of 10 nm, and such particles were assumed to be mainly generated as a result of combustion of metal-based additives used in lubricant. Moreover, STEM-EDX images strongly indicated that the particles with a ~10 nm diameter are composed of metal oxides, sulfates and/or phosphates with Ca, Mo and/or Zn as a cation. This study clearly suggested that novel molecular design of metal-free lubricant additives for wear-protection, detergent, and dispersant will be a key area to dramatically decrease nanoparticles smaller than ~50 nm which particularly threaten human health.
Tabata, KunioTakahashi, MotonobuTakeda, KenjiTsurumi, KazuyaKiya, YasuyukiTobe, ShotaOgura, Akira
Advanced analytical methods for the study of lubricant-derived ash and associated impacts on engine aftertreatment components2019-01-229312/19/2019
Catalytic and non-catalytic engine aftertreatment components, such as the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), selective catalytic reduction on filter (SCRF), the gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and the diesel particulate filter (DPF) are complex, multifunctional emissions control technologies that are robustly designed for extended use in harsh automotive exhaust environments. Over the useful component lifetime, lubricant-derived inorganic and incombustible ash accumulates in and/or on the surface of the aforementioned aftertreatment components, resulting in degraded performance and other potential problems. In order to better understand effects of ash in such components, a multiscale analytical approach is necessary, requiring a variety of experimental tools. This paper will briefly present a decade of analytical experience at the Sloan Automotive Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at Kymanetics, Inc., specific to the fundamental understanding of the accumulation of lubricant-derived ash in engine aftertreatment components. Several key experimental tools and techniques will be reviewed including focused ion beam milling (SEM), in-situ X- ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultra-high resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), environmental scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electrons (ESEM-BSE), and ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS), among others.
Kamp, Carl JustinBagi, Sujay Dilip
Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties and Vibration Damping Frequency Factor of Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite2019-28-016710/11/2019
Kenaf Fiber regarded as industrial crop for different applications. It is one of the most important plants cultivated for natural fibers globally. Natural fibers such as kenaf fibers are getting attention of researchers and industries to utilize it in different composites due to its biodegradable nature. In this present investigation mechanical properties, vibration damping frequency factor and thermogravimetric analysis of kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy composite (KFREC) have been evaluated and reported. The tests were conducted with different weight categories of kenaf fiber such as 20%, 25%, 30% and 35%. The effects of fiber content on tensile, flexural, impact strengths, hardness and thermal decomposition properties of the composite were determined. The failure mechanism and damage features of the KFREC were categorized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the increase in the fiber content decreases the damping vibration factor (ζ) correspondingly. The lowest value of the damping vibration factor was recorded as 0.033 for 35% weight content of Kenaf fiber in the composite. The maximum value of hardness, tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were noted as 447 BHN, 45.62 MPa, 124 kN and 13.2 J respectively and the effective thermal decomposition range was 378.64 - 442.18 °C for 35% of kenaf weight content KFREC. From the results it is identified that the kenaf fiber at 35% weight content reinforced with epoxy resin will be suitable for structural application in automobiles such as bumper beams, door panels and front modules. In addition to that the light weight nature of the kenaf fiber will help in achieving fuel economy in automobiles.
Rajamanickam, Sathish KumarRavichandran, VishnuvardhanSattanathan, SivakumarGanapathy, DeenadayalanArockia Dhanraj, Joshuva
Banana Stem Based Activated Carbon as Filler in Polymer Composites for Automobile Applications2019-28-009310/11/2019
Activated carbon was produced from a new part of banana plant namely true stem in this current research and used as fillers in polymer composites for automobile application. True stems of banana plants are the main wastes in banana or fruit markets which refer to the remains after banana fruits are removed from the supporting stems. Conversion of raw material into activated carbon particles is done by chemical and heat activation. The raw material used here were dried samples of banana plant’s true stem. This material was heated in a crucible at 400°C and then powdered. These crushed samples were activated using hydrochloric acid at 120°C for 5 hours and finally in a furnace for thermal activation at 700oC for 1 hour. These particles were incorporated as fillers in composites at Proportions of 15%, 25%, 35% and 45%. The activated carbon samples have been characterized by determining its fixed carbon content and bulk density. Scanning electron microscopy was done to analyze the morphology of particles. Mechanical tests were conducted for tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength. It was observed that there was a decrease in tensile strength, toughness and impact properties as filler proportional percentage increased. The important novelty incorporated in this work is in the conversion of waste banana plant material into a valuable composite filler material for application in automobiles, which otherwise will go simply as scraps.
Ayyaswamy, John Presin KumarSattanathan, SivakumarRamachandran, BalajiNadarajan, Mukesh
Ceramic Bound Materials: A Suitable Solution for Light Brakes2019-01-21099/15/2019
A ceramic bound matrix has been investigated to be used as a friction material. The materials were produced by means of ceramic technology using frits containing silicates, and ceramic friction modifiers such as tin oxide, zircon, iron oxide, magnesium oxide. Four formulations were tested by means of a tribometer (pin-on-disc tester) using a gray cast iron counterpart. Test section included speeds between 1 and 12 ms-1, and loads between 25 and 400 N. The coefficient of friction of the tested specimens were between 0.7 and 0.4, and exhibited sensitivity to speed at low loads (25 N), while they are quite stables at high loads (400N). The characterization of the tribolayers was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy. The four developed materials were named A, B, C, and D. They exhibited different wear rates and coefficients of friction. All the materials exhibited sensitivity to speed, while showed a lower sensitivity to load. The coefficient of friction level seems to be suitable for brake applications, oscillating between 0.6 and 0.4, depending on the test section. This kind of materials with further efforts can be possibly useful in future electric vehicles that will not demand large and expensive brakes.
Dante, Roberto C.Cotilli, EdoardoConforti, MichaelCotilli, MarioSerrano-Posada, José CarlosSchramm, TobiasOstermeyer, Georg-PeterDastrù, Marco
Influence of Amount of Phenolic Resin on the Tribological Performance of Environment-Friendly Friction Materials2019-01-21059/15/2019
The binder in friction materials (FMs) plays a very crucial role which binds all the ingredients firmly so that they can function the way they were supposed to do. The type and amount of binder, both are very critical for manipulating the desired performance properties, which mainly include friction and its sensitivity towards operating parameters, wear resistance, counter-face friendliness, noise, vibration etc. Although a lot is reported on the influence of types of resins on tribo-performance of FMs, hardly any paper pertains to paint this on a bigger canvas with more detailed understanding of the amount of resin in FMs on the performance properties. The present study addresses these aspects by developing brake-pads with identical composition but varying in amount (wt. %) of straight phenolic resins (6, 8, 10 and 12) by compensating the difference with barite, a space filler. The ingredients did not contain asbestos, Copper, Zinc, etc. and hence were environment friendly. Tribological performance of the composites was evaluated on a full-scale inertia brake dynamometer following JASO C406 test schedule. With increase in the resin contents, most of the performance properties showed improvement. The performance ranking of pads was done using ‘Multiple Objective Optimizations based on Ratio Analysis (MOORA)’ method based on several conflicting criterions. Worn surface topography of pads was investigated using SEM technique to understand the underlying wear mechanisms.
Kalel, NavnathBijwe, JayashreeDarpe, Ashish
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