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In the engine of heavy trucks, the built-in fuel filter assumes the role of "lungs". The core of the filter, namely the fuel filter paper, acts as a filter for small impurities and separates oil and water. In order to be able to separate minute impurities from the fuel, in this study, we prepared a novel fuel oil filter paper with high efficiency and high dust holding capacity based on wet-laid forming by laminating PBT/PP two-component melt-blown nonwoven material and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-doped cellulose wood fiber pulp with the fiber mesh combination forming technology. The effects of the CNC mixing ratio, surface density of melt-blown nonwoven material layer, surface density of cellulose wood pulp paper layer and calendaring pressure on the pore size and filtration performance of the composite samples were investigated, and the filtration efficiency of the composite samples on the tiny impurities in the fuel were also studied. The results showed that the novel composite fuel filter paper material prepared by the combined forming technology of fibrous web had high filtration efficiency and dust holding capacity, and the filtration efficiency of the composite samples could respectively reach 99.90% and 99.52% for particles larger than 14 μm and 4 μm in diameter in the fuel. At the same time, the dust holding capacity of the composite sample can reach up to 27.63 mgcm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work brings in an eco-friendly, smart integrated miniaturized sensor system to determine the temperature of aqueous solution and soil in a more affordable way to yield quality farming, small-scale agricultural farming, greenhouse farming, domestic gardening, and hydroponics. Carbon-Graphite hybrid electrode-based planar disposable sensor strip is used for sensing the temperature over a range of 27 to 50°C. The temperature sensor element is compared to four distinct structures, and the meander geometrical structure is deduced as a result. The temperature sensing element is fabricated utilizing a prudent, efficacious, and inexpensive microfabrication methodology of screen printing. The temperature and resistance characteristics are plotted for the carbon-graphite electrode on PET and paper. The temperature coefficient of resistance is determined to be 1%/°C for PET and 0.8%/°C paper substrate in soil. Test experiment was carried out in water, oven and on field to find out the characteristic equation of study. The temperature sensor strip is integrated with a Wi-Fi SoC-assisted nodeMCU processor that is used in IoT platforms. An app is created using MIT app inventor user interface and is launched on an android smartphone. The app gives the suitable temperature range for sowing seed and germination of the plant growth information. The instantaneous temperature of soil or water is measured, and status information for plant cultivation is also provided by the app. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melamine-impregnated paper is made by impregnating paper with melamine-formaldehyde resin and can be hot-pressed and laminated onto the surface of wood boards. If the paper has antibacterial activity, it can prevent the spread of indoor bacteria, but impregnated paper with a long-term antibacterial effect has not been proposed. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been studied as a reservoir of metal ions. In this study, a silver-metal organic framework (Ag-BTC) was synthesized by a green and scalable method at 60 °C (A-60) and at room temperature (A-25). The structure and thermal stability of the Ag-BTC were characterized. Compared with A-25, the structure and particle size distribution of A-60 were more regular and uniform. The thermal stability and the compatibility of Ag-BTC and MF resin were suitable for hot-pressing process. Ag-BTC in the cured impregnated paper exhibited the sustained-release performance of Ag+. The antibacterial ratio of decorated blockboards with 0.10 wt% A-25 to E. coli and S. aureus exceeded 99.99%, reaching Level I antibacterial grade. Compared with A-60-decorated blockboards, the better antibacterial activity of A-25-decorated blockboards was due to the release of more Ag+. This study provides new ideas for the design of antibacterial melamine-impregnated paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of excellent insulation properties and thermal stability, meta-aramid paper can be commonly applied to a vast number of fields, like power systems. But poriferous and relatively lax structure of meta-aramid paper would limit its applications in high-voltage environment. This paper proposes a sandwich structure design to combine PDA@BNNS/PMIA film and meta-aramid paper with high breakdown strength. After coating with 6 wt% PDA@BNNS/PMIA solution, this kind of paper became more compact, so there were few pores in the paper and it further enhanced the mechanical and dielectric performances of specimens. The tensile strength in the cross direction increased from 31.3 to 40.5 MPa, and the performance in the machine direction was from 75.5 to 78.9 MPa. Furthermore, the breakdown strength of compound-coated paper achieved 55 kV/mm, which is much higher than meta-aramid paper. Additionally, compound-coated paper still remained outstanding thermal stability. Overall, our fabricated PDA@BNNS/PMIA compound-coated paper has excellent comprehensive properties, which provides a broad prospect for the applications in high-temperature and high-voltage transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interface structure greatly affects the material surface wettability. Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fiber paper was modified via regulation of thermally induced phase separation process to obtain interfacial nanofiber network-like morphology, which obeyed nucleate-growth mechanism with the PPS resin on the fiber surface as the core. PPS nanofiber network layer with rough concave surface feature endowed the modified PPS fiber paper with stable superhydrophobic properties, and it showed excellent oil absorption and oil/water separation performance. The separation efficiency of using P-2 paper to separate the five oil/water mixtures listed in this paper were more than 99.99%, and the kerosene flux was more than 7350 L m−2 h−1 driven by gravity. Excellent hydrophobicity and cycling performance made PPS fiber paper with excellent reusability. In addition, the PPS fiber paper had also been proved to be used in strong acid–base and organic solvents for a long time. This work provided a PPS fiber paper for oil/water separation with simple preparation process, which was expected to be produced in large scale and applied in industrial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Materials Science awards the annual Robert W. Cahn Prize to recognize the best paper published in the journal each year. The winner of the 2023 Cahn Prize is a research paper titled "Molecular modelling of graphene nanoribbons on the effect of porosity and oxidation on the mechanical and thermal properties." The paper presents molecular simulation models of graphene nanoribbons and examines the impact of porosity and oxidation on their mechanical and thermal conductivity properties. The paper is well-written and provides valuable insights for researchers in this field. Two other papers were selected as runners-up for the prize. All the monthly finalists for the Cahn Prize can be downloaded for free on the journal's website. [Extracted from the article]

Using nanostructured materials issued from renewable resources could be the key to the development of good-quality low-cost products that help reduce pollution. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were obtained by alkaline and bleaching treatments of Amazonian Paricá hardwood sawdust, a waste material from the Brazilian forestry industry. This study evaluated a process consisting in alternating layers of Paricá CNFs and cassava starch to coat standard writing and printing (W&P) papers with a skim-coating method, in which one face of each paper sample is passed over the surface of a suspension containing either CNFs or cassava starch, alternatively. The coated samples were then compared to the uncoated paper in terms of mechanical and surface properties. The mechanical properties of the papers coated with alkaline CNFs showed a declining trend as the number of coating layers increased (from 47 to 31 MPa). The papers coated with starch layers showed improved mechanical performance compared to the samples only coated with alkaline and alkaline bleached CNFs. All the coated samples showed excellent resistance to water degradation. The worst degradation (4%) was observed for the samples coated with a single layer of alkaline CNFs. A significant improvement in surface wettability was observed when gelatinized cassava starch was applied to the paper samples, irrespective of the type of CNFs eventually present on the surface. All in all, these results suggest that using gelatinized cassava starch as an alternating layer between successive CNFs layers on the surface of W&P paper samples may be promising for improving their overall properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) papers have attracted great interests in recent years because of their attractive performance and the green resource of CNF. However, the thermomechanical properties of CNF papers are insufficient for some sophisticated applications that require higher mechanical properties or smart functionalities. In this paper, a dual bio-inspired strategy is reported to improve the thermal and mechanical properties, as well as the humidity-responsive behavior of CNF papers. CNF is first functionalized by mussel-inspired polydopamine, and then, composite CNF papers with nacre-like layered structure are fabricated by the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO). In addition, Fe3+ is introduced into the composite CNF papers to provide coordination cross-linking for each components. By such compositional and structural design, the composite papers demonstrate significantly enhanced mechanical properties as compared to original CNF paper. Meanwhile, the improved thermal stability and humidity-responsiveness are also demonstrated. This study is expected to provide alternative approach for high-performance and functional CNF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibre-based specialty paper has become a promising candidate for high-performance insulating materials due to the remarkable properties of PBO fibres. However, the porous structure and poor interfacial interaction of PBO paper seriously weaken its mechanical strength and greatly limit its practical application. Herein, proposed for the first time, a homogeneous reinforcement strategy is developed to regulate the microstructure of PBO paper and efficiently enhance its overall properties. For this reason, flexible ortho-hydroxy polyamic acid (HPAA) was first synthesized and used to impregnate PBO paper. Subsequently, HPAA was thermally converted into a benzoxazole-containing resin, manifesting excellent interfacial compatibility with PBO paper. As a result, the compact structure and solid interface endow the composite paper with impressive performance. The tensile strength, modulus, and electrical breakdown strength of the composite paper are 116.86 MPa, 5.47 GPa, and 63.7 kV mm−1, respectively, increasing by 33.1, 8.1, and 1.1 times compared with those parameters of the original paper (3.43 MPa, 0.60 GPa, and 30.5 kV mm−1). Moreover, the composite paper also exhibits an ultra-low dielectric constant and loss tangent (1.6 and 0.004 at 106 Hz, respectively), as well as superhigh thermal stability (maximum decomposition temperature, Tmax ≈ 600 °C) due to the elaborate design of the structure. Thus, the mechanical strength has been successfully integrated with the outstanding insulation and thermal properties, rendering the lightweight PBO composite paper promising in the field of high-temperature and high-voltage electrical insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of the ion irradiation at elevated temperatures on the novel preceramic paper-derived SiCf/SiC laminated composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering was investigated. The composites were subjected to high-dose simultaneous irradiation of silicon (Si) ions at 400 °C. Irradiation induces amorphization of the damaged area up to 30 dpa, and then recrystallization of amorphous regions with increasing dose occur. No evidence of cavities was found in SiCf/SiC composites irradiated by silicon ions up to 100 dpa. The irradiated composites pre-injected with 5000 appm He displays low swelling (~ 0.3%). The irradiation with Si ions may suppress the cavity nucleation and they growth in SiC layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The December 2023 cover paper of the Journal of Materials Science features a study by Xie and Luo from Chongqing Jiaotong University in China. The paper, included in the "Computation & Theory" Topical Collection, focuses on the use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) for construction projects. The authors aim to provide insights into the transport behavior of liquids in epoxy-modified C–S–H pores in cement-based materials, combining MD simulations with experimental measurements. Xie is currently pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering, while Prof. Luo is an associate professor at Chongqing Jiaotong University and a researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, with a focus on reducing the carbon and energy footprint of civil engineering materials and infrastructure. The paper is published open access and can be widely shared with readers using the provided link. [Extracted from the article]

Mechanical properties of fiber-based materials, such as paper, are governed by the heterogeneous microstructure induced by the formation process. For example, in paper materials during tensile tests, lower strains are observed in the flocs (fiber aggregates where the basis weight is larger than the average one) than in the antiflocs (complement of flocs). To explain such behavior, we investigated the mechanical and structural properties of both flocs and antiflocs. Using tensile tests on flocs and antiflocs, we measured their elastic modulus and found that the elastic modulus of flocs was larger than the antiflocs' one. To understand these differences, a multiscale structural analysis was conducted on 3D X-ray images of flocs and antiflocs at two different spatial resolutions. We found that the floc was thicker than the antifloc, whereas the microscale analysis showed the studied floc and antifloc exhibited the same bulk porosity. Then, it was concluded that the difference in elastic modulus between flocs and antiflocs is mainly due to their thickness difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a corroborative study of the structural, morphological and electrical property alterations of free-standing graphene oxide (GO) papers subject to thermal reduction. Structural analysis performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman techniques prove that the onset of major structural changes, characterized by removal of oxygen functionalities, occur in the 200–300 °C temperature range. The results are corroborated with related morphological changes observed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Elemental analysis shows the GO paper reduced at 600 °C to contain an 85 wt. % carbon content and a remnant oxygen level of 13.31 wt. %. At the highest reduction temperatures, we see evidence of vacancy-type defects impeding the overall effectiveness of the reduction process. Detailed electrical resistance measurements and current–voltage (I-V) profiling conducted using four-point probe method reveals a several orders of magnitude drop in the sample resistance once the reduction temperature exceeds 200 °C, in good agreement with the structural and morphological changes. The fundamental insights revealed through these studies will be important for future applications where the electrical and mechanical properties of free-standing GO and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are exploited in practical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent mechanical and electrical properties of graphene-based paper-like materials are essential for applications in flexible conductors, energy-storage devices, etc. The graphene oxide (GO) supernatant separated by centrifugation and ultrasonication has been used to prepare graphene oxide paper and reduced graphene oxide paper (rGOP) with high strength and conductivity. However, this method has cumbersome steps and low supernatant concentration, which greatly increases time and energy consumption, and is not suitable for rapid batch preparation of high-strength and high-thickness rGOP. Herein, a high-speed mechanical shearing method has been used to efficiently exfoliate graphite oxide suspension into high-concentration GO slurry with large lateral size, and rGOP has been further prepared by blade coating and HI acid chemical reduction. Compared with the product prepared by ultrasonic exfoliation method, the average area of GO sheets obtained via the mechanical shear exfoliation method can reach around 16.31 μm2. As a result, the mechanical properties and conductivity of the prepared rGOP have been increased by 30% and 23.5%, respectively, with the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of 478.2 MPa and 208.4 S/cm being obtained. The developed method is of great significance for the large-scale production and emerging applications of lightweight and high-performance rGOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains a challenge to prepare special engineering paper with excellent mechanical properties, high temperature resistance and chemical resistance. The emergence of high-performance fiber provides support for the technical progress of special engineering paper. Herein, a novel method to obtain a novel self-reinforced poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) composite paper (SR-DI-PEEK/paper) by vacuum filtration, impregnation and hot pressing. Specially, PEEK fibers were used as the skeleton fiber and a small amount of aramid pulp was added as the decanted fiber. By optimizing the process of SR-DI-PEEK/paper preparation, the best mechanical properties of SR-DI-PEEK/paper was presented. Compared with the composite paper prepared with Phenolic solution (PF-PEEK/paper) and Polyimide solution (PI-PEEK/paper), the mechanical properties of SR-DI-PEEK/paper was significantly improved. In particular, when the concentration of impregnation was 3 wt%, the tensile index of SR-DI-PEEK/paper reached 51.10 N m g−1 (tensile strength 47.16 kN m−1), which is 16.48 times than that of the un-impregnated PEEK/paper (2.86 kN m−1). SR-DI-PEEK/paper also exhibited excellent chemical resistance among acid, alkali, and polar solvents, while the tensile index maintained 96.3% after 40 wt% H2SO4 treatment. Besides, SR-DI-PEEK/paper showed superior thermal performance, while the temperatures corresponding to the weight loss of 5% were 574 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogel in this paper is designed to do just that, by using controlled release from a hydrogel to deliver the drug quickly and at a relatively high concentration to the interior of cancer cells. The paper describes the synthesis and in-vitro testing of a hydrogel composite that is designed to maximize toxicity to cancer cells by both efficiently delivering the cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and overheating the cells with magnetically induced hyperthermia. This makes it highly desirable to develop a delivery system that can encapsulate the drug, bring the drug directly to the cancer cells then release the drug into the cancer tumor or cells. [Extracted from the article]

As the development of dual-ion batteries (DIBs) is limited by the capacity of anions intercalation, we put forward an innovative design idea of DIB. Compared with the traditional graphite cathodes, few-layered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has a large specific surface area and can greatly improve the utilization ratio of carbon layers for fast redox reaction process. In addition, the carbon paper current collector with porous network structure facilitates the uniform distribution of active materials, rapid penetration of electrolyte and fast migration of ions, and also relieves the volume strain caused by PF6− intercalation/de-intercalation. Under the effects of the above two aspects, the lithium-rGO DIB demonstrates significantly enhanced electrochemical performance compared with conventional DIBs. It possesses an ultra-high discharge capacity of 405 mA h g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of > 98% after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1 in the voltage range of 3.0–5.0 V. The detailed mechanism of electrochemical performance enhancement is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professor Grimes summarizes the winning paper and the two runners-up:"Machine learning is certainly of great current interest to address the multivariable materials design challenge. 10.1007/s10853-022-07499-9 5 Wang Z, Lai A, Schuh CA, Radovitzky R. Phase transformation and incompatibility at grain boundaries in zirconia-based shape memory ceramics: a micromechanics-based simulation study. The winner of the 2022 Robert W. Cahn Best Paper award is "Machine learning guided alloy design of high-temperature NiTiHf shape memory alloys" by Udesh M.H.U. Kankanamge, Johannes Reiner, Xingjun Ma, Santiago Corujeira Gallo, and Wei Xu. [Extracted from the article]

Of course, the paper complements the SEM imaging, which is intrinsic to the FIB, with imaging and diffraction in the TEM. The paper does also have a SharedIt link like all articles in JMS (https://rdcu.be/cWW0L) so it can be widely and immediately shared with readers; all papers published in JMS are free-to-read using the SharedIt link from the moment they appear online with their permanent DOI. The cover for the November 2022 issues of the Journal of Materials Science comes from the paper by Tunes et al. which appeared in issue #35 from September 2022 [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the importance and limitations of peer-reviewed journal articles in the scientific community. The author emphasizes that a single paper should not be seen as an indisputable scientific fact, but rather as part of an ongoing process of scientific discovery and refinement. The author suggests several ways to assess the trustworthiness of a paper, including evaluating the authors' track record, the number of citations the paper has received, and the reputation of the journal in which it is published. However, the author also highlights the importance of personal relationships and trust in assessing the quality of a paper. Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the peer-review system and the challenges it faces in the modern scientific landscape. [Extracted from the article]

Twinning is an important deformation mechanism for magnesium alloys, which has a significant impact on the texture evolution and mechanical properties. Pre-twinning deformation has been considered as an effective method for texture regulation. For each twinning mode, there are six crystallographically equivalent variants. Properly identifying the activated twin and understanding its variant selection criteria are essential for the development of high-performance magnesium alloys. As summarized in this paper, the observed twin variant by the commonly employed electron backscatter diffraction technique can be identified by several approaches, including misorientation analysis, trace analysis and matrix method. Schmid factor analysis was commonly performed to explain the selection of twin variants. To broaden the application scope under complex stress state, a generalized Schmid factor was derived by introducing a stress tensor. The efficiency of Schmid criteria to assess twin variant selection was confirmed to be influenced by the type of the applied stress. To consider the local effect on twin activation, in particular twin-twin transfer and slip-induced twinning, displacement gradient tensor calculation and geometrical compatibility factor analysis have been employed. It was demonstrated that local strain accommodation played a critical role in selecting the variants of cross-boundary twins in magnesium alloys. Assisted with crystal plasticity finite element modeling, the resolved shear stress on twinning and a composite Schmid factor combining the global Schmid factor and geometrical compatibility factor were obtained to better explain the activated twin variants in magnesium alloys. All the above-mentioned Schmid law based criteria and some energy based criteria as well are summarized in this paper. Their applications in evaluating twin variant selection in magnesium alloys are critically reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalloying has been an important method in aluminum alloy development for decades. Large number of papers have shown that the addition of trace element Erbium (Er) can effectively improve the comprehensive properties of aluminum alloys. Similar with the trace element Scandium (Sc), addition of trace element Er in aluminum alloys could form nano-sized L12-ordered Al3Er precipitates, which was coherent with the Al matrix. However, the dispersion precipitation strengthening effect of Al3Er was more significant than that of Al3Sc, at the same atomic content. In the case of the addition of both Er and Zr, core–shell-structured Al3(Er, Zr) precipitates formed instead of Al3Er precipitates. Those thermally-stable nanosized precipitates could significantly refine the grain size, retard the recrystallization, improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. This paper reviewed several typical Er-containing microalloyed commercial aluminum alloys, like 2xxx (Al–Cu) alloys, 4xxx (Al–Si) alloys, 5xxx (Al–Mg) alloys, 7xxx (Al–Zn–Mg–Cu) alloys, as well as selective laser melting aluminum alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional materials with unique properties have received much attention in recent years. Current research is exploring their potential applications in various fields. Acoustic topological insulators have been an emerging branch in the field of acoustic metamaterials in recent years. Its strong unidirectional transmission capability has potential applications in acoustic sensors, filters, and beamwaves. However, to realize a wide range of applications of acoustic topological materials, it is necessary to solve the problems of multi-band and wide bandgap. To this end, this paper proposes a jointly resonant acoustic topological insulator structure. The structure achieves multi-band filtering, and three filterable bandgaps can be obtained below 6200 Hz. Meanwhile, the total width of the three filterable bandgaps accounts for 65.5% at 6200 Hz and below. In this paper, the band structure is obtained by using the method of finite element simulation. The generation of topological phase transition induced by the rotation angle of the scatterer is analyzed. The pseudo-spin case of the valley hall effect is also analyzed from the point of view of acoustic energy flow, and the existence of edge states is verified. Finally, the unidirectional transport properties possessing backward scattering immunity are verified. The multi-band structure with a great bandwidth means that this work will have great potential for applications in filters. Also, since acoustic topologies based on the Valley hall effect do not possess strong defect immunity, this work proposes to utilize defect states as acoustic switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of society and technology, machinery and equipment have enhanced our work efficiency but have also introduced various hazards, such as electromagnetic radiation, medical, industrial, and agricultural rays. The harms these radiations inflict on human health are significant, with severe cases leading to cancer, disability, or even life-threatening situations. Therefore, effective protective measures in some fields are crucial. This paper firstly summarized the basic principles of radiation protection for different rays, then systematically introduced the widely used manufacturing methods for flexible radiation shielding materials, including weaving with metal fibers, fiber blending, silver-plated fibers, and so on. Subsequently, the paper reviewed the testing methods of radiation-protective clothing materials. Finally, it comprehensively concluded the discussions on flexible radiation shielding materials and offered a perspective on their future development trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increased environmental awareness, the depletion of fossil fuels, and expanding ecological concerns, today's society has a larger need for environmentally friendly materials. The idea of sustainable development of environmental material resources with enhanced economic activities was born from the rise in ecological consciousness. The textile industry generates enormous amounts of cotton waste. The environmental impact of disposing of this cotton waste makes it difficult for the textile sector to dispose of the vast amounts of produced cotton waste. As a result, all-cellulose composites (ACCs) have piqued the interest of researchers in recent years. All-cellulose composites are cellulose-based mono-component cellulose composites in which the reinforcing phase is typically composed of high-strength cellulose fibres, and the matrix is composed of regenerated cellulose. This composite type is distinguished by its exceptional interfacial compatibility and biodegradability due to the matrix and reinforcing phase having common cellulosic compositions. ACCs will become a more alluring option as enterprises prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility because they can be recycled and reused rapidly and simply. This will contribute to less waste and enhance the overall sustainability of our society. This review paper discusses various methods to develop ACCs, textile waste-based thermoset and thermoplastic composites and textile waste-based cellulose composites (TWCCs). This review paper emphasizes approaches to develop TWCCs and the challenges and opportunities in TWCCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used to reinforce and repair buildings due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, lightweight, and convenient of construction. The interfacial properties between FRP and the reinforced buildings play a very important role in the effective transfer of stress and largely determine the service hours of the reinforced structures. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress on the interfacial properties of FRP reinforced concrete. First, the composition of FRP reinforcement system is introduced. EB-FRP and NSM-FRP reinforcement methods are suitable for reinforcing different buildings. Then, the influence factors of the interfacial properties are highlighted. The choice of interfacial agent, roughness of the reinforced concrete surface, temperature and environment have very important impact on the reinforcement effect. Finally, the main damage modes and failure mechanisms of the interface between FRP and the reinforced concrete are summarized. The choice of the interfacial agent determines the main failure mode. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the further research on the interface damage mechanism of FRP reinforced concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. High-fidelity mannequins are increasingly used to train the medical staff on many medical procedures. Lately, a new challenge regarding echogenic materials to build ultrasound-responding phantoms has emerged. The challenge is to find materials with a suitable combination of ultrasound velocity and consistency to the touch. Methods. Bibliographic research was performed to identify materials with promising stiffness, shape retention, and ultrasound velocity combinations. As-standardized-as-possible specimens were realized and tested using an A-mode ultrasound machine to evaluate the US velocity through them. Four differently doped silicones, five gelatin-based materials, five synthetic gelatins, and a 3D printable resin were included in the study. After being tested, the materials were monitored for 12 days to assess their durability and shape retention and tested again to evaluate the ultrasound velocity's stability. In the paper, the results of the characterization and follow-up of the materials are presented. Results. Outcomes show that gelatins are exceptional soft tissue-mimicking materials in terms of ultrasound velocity and consistency to the touch, but are poor in terms of overtime stability and therefore suitable for disposable short-term phantoms only. Doped silicones present lower ultrasound velocity compared to the reference value of 1540 m/s found in the literature, but excellent overtime stability, and shape retention properties. Values close to biological ones were also given by the Elastic 50A and by polyvinyl chloride plastisol. Conclusion. The paper gives a quantitative overview of the fidelity of both already-in-use and non-conventional materials, focusing on the ultrasound velocity value through them and their longevity in terms of macroscopically observed dehydration, shape retention, and bacterial onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural waste is an economically and environmentally beneficial precursor material for the development of activated carbon (AC) due to its low price, wide sources, and large production scale. This makes it a crucial field for agricultural waste treatment and AC development. This paper reviews the research progress of agricultural waste-based activated carbon (AWAC), including the sources and characteristics of agricultural waste, and the effects of raw material characteristics and activation conditions on the performance of AWAC. It analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of various preparation methods of AWAC. Additionally, it explains the research status of AWAC in wastewater treatment, gas adsorption, catalyst carrier, and energy carrier. Finally, this paper summarizes the advantages and limitations of using agricultural wastes as raw materials for AC, and provides a prospect for raw material development, process optimization, and application expansion, taking into account the shortcomings of current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnZrOx has been used in large quantities for the preparation of light olefins from CO2, but the relationship between structure and performance remains unclear at present. In this paper, ZnZrOx were prepared by co-precipitation method, and a series of oxides with different sizes were prepared by varying the calcination temperatures. Subsequently, these oxides were combined with SAPO-34 to create a composite bifunctional catalyst for the synthesis of light olefins by CO2 hydrogenation, in which the impact of nanocrystal size effect was examined. The catalytic performance significantly increased as the nanocrystal size reduced from 18 to 12 nm. However, when the nanocrystal size was further decreased to 8 nm, the catalytic performance decline. Characterizations revealed a gradual increase in the number of oxygen vacancies with decreasing nanocrystal size. However, the oxide with the smallest nanocrystal size, prepared by varied calcination temperatures, did not yield the optimal catalytic performance due to sintering occurring during the reaction process. The results show that the assumption that smaller nanocrystal sizes inherently equate to improved catalytic performance is not universally valid, and stability must be considered when the nanocrystal size is decreased. The bifunctional catalysts used in this paper for the prepared light olefins from CO2 in yield as high as 13.8%, which is higher than most previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ formation and integration of graphene into MoS2 interlayer spacing: expansion of interlayer spacing for superior hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic and alkaline electrolyte. The paper was handled by our Editor Mark Bissett and is entitled "In-situ formation and integration of graphene into MoS SB 2 sb interlayer spacing: expansion of interlayer spacing for superior hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic and alkaline electrolyte"; it is part of our "Energy materials" Topical Collection. The cover for the December 2022 issues of the Journal of Materials Science comes from the paper by Bui et al., which appeared in issue #40 from October 2022 [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, B2-FeAl based metal-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites with and without NiTi shape memory alloy fibers were fabricated by two-step vacuum hot pressing combined with "multi-thin foils" stacking configuration. The microstructure of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction. Compressive mechanical properties of the composites under quasi-static conditions and high strain rates are investigated via an Instron 5500R load frame and a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, respectively. Quasi-static compression stress–strain curves under the strain rate of 10–3/s at 20 °C and dynamic stress–strain curves under the strain rates of 1500/s and 2500/s at 0 °C, 20 °C and 80 °C were obtained, and fracture behavior of the composites were analyzed. The experimental results indicated that the strengths of the composites decreased unexpectedly under high strain rates compared to that under quasi-static condition whether or not NiTi fibers were introduced. Partial phase transition from austenite to ferrite occurred in metal layer during either quasi-static or dynamic compression process. During quasi-static compression, deformation was mainly concentrated in the metal layer. By contrast, metal layers and intermetallic layers exhibit similar deformation capacity during the dynamic loading process, thus, cracks easily appeared in intermetallic layers, causing the premature failure of the composites. Even so, B2-FeAl based MIL composites still possess the best dynamic mechanical properties in the MIL composites family to date. The strength of NiTi fiber reinforced composite is basically higher than that of the counterpart without NiTi fibers at each testing temperature, and fewer microcracks appeared in the intermetallic layer of the former. The reinforcing mechanism was discussed in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With development of present energy-saving society, lightweight and green development in the automotive and aerospace industries have put forward urgent demands for heat-resistant cast aluminum alloys. Present cast aluminum alloys are of lightweight and have excellent mechanical properties when serving in ambient environment. However, when serving at temperatures of 200–300 ℃ or even higher, the alloys inevitably soften and the high-temperature mechanical properties decline rapidly, hardly meeting the requirements for high-performance equipments. This paper summarizes the development process of classic heat-resistant aluminum alloys, especially the microstructural characteristics of heat-resistant cast aluminum alloys in the past decade, and reviews the current microstructure tuning strategies of heat-resistant aluminum alloys from the aspects of intrinsic heat resistance of the second phases, phase interface modification, diffusion-controlled phase transition, grain boundary stabilization and composite material design. Finally, we propose the prospects for the future development of heat-resistant aluminum alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufactured (AM) technology as a novel fabrication method provides an unprecedented ability to completely design parts freely and breaks through the limitations of traditional approaches to manufacture complex structural parts. Meanwhile, magnesium (Mg) and its alloys as the lightest structural metal materials are among the most promising materials and always catch research attention. The combination of AM and Mg alloys would certainly provide new impetus for the practical application of Mg alloys. Although the research of AM-Mg alloys has made some progress and some AM-Mg alloys with impressive properties have been developed, there are still some intractable issues that hinder the further development and application of AM-Mg alloys. This paper provides a short review of the recent progress achieved in AM-Mg alloys, with a specific focus on selective laser melting (SLM), wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), and solid-state AM technologies including additive friction stir (AFS) and friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM). The defects, microstructure, and mechanical properties of AM-Mg products are summarized based on the type of AM technique. Besides, the effect of post-treatment on macro- and microstructures of SLM-Mg and WAAM-Mg alloys is also summarized. In addition, further perspectives and potential research directions are proposed for the development of AM-Mg alloys. This review could provide insights into the development of AM-Mg alloys with enhanced mechanical properties and promote the application of AM-Mg alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of cast magnesium alloy components is increasing in recent years, especially in the new energy automotive and transportation industries. As component application scenarios become increasingly complex, the performance of cast magnesium alloys needs to be further enhanced. Significant progress has been made in casting technology and the design of cast magnesium alloys. In addition, some new application of cast magnesium alloy components is also developed recently. This paper provides an overview of the current status of high-performance cast magnesium alloys, including the alloy design, casting techniques, control of casting defects, and applications of cast magnesium alloys. Based on the issues and challenges identified here, some future research directions on cast magnesium alloys are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon materials have excellent thermophysical properties, and different dimensions of carbon materials are attractive candidates for enhancing high-performance aluminum matrix composites for thermal management. This paper reviews the preparation processes of carbon/aluminum composite materials in various dimensions and summarizes the main factors affecting the thermal conductivity of carbon/aluminum composites from the perspectives of metal matrix, reinforcement, and interface. Finally, we summarize the experimental progress of interfacial modification of different carbon/aluminum composites and put forward the future research direction in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight strategy is essential for the development of transportation vehicles and aerospace industries. As a type of lightweight material, high-strength aluminum alloys are limited to service temperatures below 200 °C due to the rapid coarsening of strengthening nano-precipitates, which cannot satisfy the increasing demands of practical applications. High-temperature applications beyond 250 °C become the bottle-neck problem of Al alloys. In this paper, we review existing literature on the improvement of high-temperature performance of aluminum alloys by stabilizing nano-precipitates. On the basis of atomic-scale microstructure regulation, several design strategies, such as interface segregation, co-precipitation, core/shell structure, and interstitial ordering, have been proposed, resulting in the development of a number of heat-resistant Al alloys for use at 300–400 °C. Moreover, the fundamental theories of solid-state phase transformation, especially precipitation aging and coarsening, are correspondingly advanced on the frontiers of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of microstructure transformation and mechanical anisotropy of laser-MIG hybrid additive manufacturing TC11 titanium alloy after solution aging treatment are investigated. In this paper, different solution temperatures and cooling modes are applied to tailor the microstructure and improve high-temperature properties and anisotropy. The result shows the microstructure of the samples in the as-deposited state is dominated by a widmanstatten structure composed of lamellar α clusters. Following solution aging treatment, a large area of basket-weave structure is obtained in the samples. A major influence of spheroidization of lamellar α clusters and dynamic recrystallization on mechanical anisotropy is revealed. The heat-treated samples exhibit more superior combined strength, elongation, impact toughness. The hardness difference between the layers and mechanical anisotropy decreases. During high-temperature tensile tests, the tensile strength increases with rising solution temperature; while, the elongation shows the opposite trend. The tensile fracture exhibits abundant uniform equiaxed dimples, and the fracture mode changes from intergranular fracture to transgranular fracture. Solution treatment at 990 °C for 2 h followed by air cooling is considered to be the optimal heat treatment process. Consequently, it results in a high tensile strength of 811 MPa and an excellent impact toughness of 50 J, representing improvements of 16.08% and 71.08%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a class of thermosetting resins with exceptional overall performance, cyanate esters have not received sufficient attention for their potential applications in 3D printing. In this paper, polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder is used for the first time as a thixotropic agent to regulate the rheological properties of liquid bisphenol E cyanate monomer for direct ink writing of cyanate ester resins in 3D printing. Due to their appropriate compatibility, the mixed inks exhibit high storage modulus and shear-thinning behavior, enabling the printed structures to maintain their shape well during printing and subsequent curing processes. The printed samples have good mechanical strength and excellent thermal stability. At the same time, the presence of polytetrafluoroethylene endows the composite materials with low dielectric constant and hydrophobicity. The latter property leads to high hygrothermal stability of the composites. The cyanate ester-polytetrafluoroethylene composite developed here offers a reliable method for 3D printing high performance cyanate ester, efficiently enhances the processibility of the cyanate ester based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of hydrogen content in the continuous casting process is conducive to the reduction of pore defects in the casting billet. In this paper, the influence of negative pressure (NP) and continuous casting speed (CCS) on hydrogen content in copper rod billet prepared by negative pressure continuous casting (NPCC) technique was analyzed, and the mechanism of the coordinated coupling of NP and melt flow on hydrogen removal was revealed. It is clarified that with the CCS of 20 mm min−1 and an increase in the NP value from − 20 to − 80 kPa, the hydrogen content is reduced from 1.0 to 0.3 ppm. The coordinated action of NP and melt flow induced by CCS can minimize the hydrogen content. When the NP value is − 80 kPa and the CCS is 10 mm min−1, the hydrogen content is as low as 0.2 ppm, and the hydrogen removal rate is 85.7%. The larger the NP, the smaller the critical nucleation radius of the hydrogen bubble, and the larger the growth rate of the hydrogen bubble. The coupling of the NP field and flow field can make the melt which is difficult to nucleate and grow of the hydrogen bubble flow to the position which is easy to nucleate and grow. The effect of the vortex fields in the purification chamber on the removal of hydrogen is not affected by the CCS, but the CCS affects the floating of hydrogen at the solidification front, which leads to a small increase in the hydrogen content with the increase of the CCS. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-quality metal billets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a simultaneous thermal analyzer carried out isothermal eutectoid transformation experiments of Fe–0.4Mn, Fe–1.2Mn, and Fe–1.2Mn–0.2Si alloys. The kinetic model of the isothermal phase transformation of FeO was established using the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation combined with the experimental data. The kinetic model of the eutectoid transformation of FeO in a non-isothermal process was also established based on Scheil's additivity rule and the mapped-out FeO. The CCT diagram shows that increasing the Mn content and adding Si elements during the continuous cooling process cause the phase zone where the FeO layer undergoes eutectoid transformation to shift to the right. Due to the similarity of crystal structures, the (Fe, Mn)O solid solution formed by FeO and MnO improves the stability of FeO. Mn2+ widens the spacing between oxide ions, and with the increase in Mn content, the Gibbs energy of the formation of (Fe, Mn)O becomes too small to compensate for that of the formation of α-Fe from (Fe, Mn)O. In addition, the temperature point at which the phase transformation of FeO occurs decreases with the increase in Mn content, resulting in the decrease in phase transformation supercooling, so the increase in Mn content will inhibit the eutectoid transformation. The addition of elemental Si resulted in the formation of a cation-deficient FeO with higher O content and lower Fe content, and the time for the Fe2+ concentration to reach supersaturation was prolonged, thus further inhibiting the onset of the eutectoid transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, SiC single crystal growth technology has been developed toward larger size and thickness to reduce the cost of SiC-based power devices. Resistance heating has gradually become a hot spot for research because the crystals grown by the induction heating display the disadvantages of high stress and defect density. In this paper, the design of resistance heaters for SiC crystal growth was thoroughly investigated via numerical simulation. A simulation of the thermal field generated by different resistive heater arrangements was performed. The stress and dislocation distribution in crystals under different growth conditions were studied. Based on the comprehensive requirements of a small radial temperature gradient and a large growth rate, the arrangement and length of the resistance heater were proposed. This study would serve as a useful guidance for the study of SiC growth by resistive heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribaloy™ T800, a Co-based alloy, exhibits remarkable tribological properties by virtue of its high-volume fraction of intermetallic Laves phase making it an attractive hard-facing material. Hard-facing by laser deposition results in dilution from the substrate, and thereby, the properties of the clad are altered. This paper reports the influence of processing parameters on the dilution, microstructure, and wear behaviour of Tribaloy™ T800 on AISI 316 stainless steel. A systematic set of 20 clads was deposited by varying laser power and cladding speed, keeping powder flow and spot diameter constant. While dilution decreased at lower laser powers (800 and 1000 W) with increasing cladding speed (5–20 mm s−1), at higher laser powers (1200 and 1400 W), the opposite trend was observed. The Fe intermixing from the substrate along with the cooling rate governs the volume fraction and size of the Laves phases which controls the properties of T800 clads. The clad with the least geometric dilution (5.7%) exhibits the lowest wear rate of 0.54 × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1, increasing to 2.88 × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1 as the dilution increased to 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the compensation characteristics and hysteresis loops of a ferrimagnetic mixed-spin diluted fullerene-like (XY)540 are studied based on Monte Carlo method. We show the ground-state phase diagrams in order to explore the stable configuration states. The temperature dependence of magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, internal energy, specific heat, and entropy are presented. The phase diagram including compensation temperature Tcomp and phase change temperature Tc is obtained. The multi-loop hysteresis phenomena under the influence of diverse physical parameters are observed. Finally, the critical exponents of the fullerene-like (XY)540 are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]