Search

A Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) broad range associated with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that require slightly less and constant electricity made possible by remote climate monitoring connections. Novelty demonstrates a miniature HFC based on carbon cloth electrodes and sealing elements manufactured via 3D printing. Cobalt (II) Oxide (Co3O4)—reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) and Platinum (Pt) based nanoparticles are coated over carbon cloth to increase the catalytic activity at the anode and cathode. Hydrogen is produced by using an aluminium foil (Al) that is stored in between the filter paper and through capillary action the sodium hydroxide pellets (NaOH) are applied and reacted with Al foil to produce hydrogen. The single HFC device working surface area of 1 × 1 cm2 effectively generates an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.3 V, a current density of 1.602 mA/cm2, and a peak power density of 761 mW/cm2. The fuel cell stability performance is monitored for up to 10 h. The power obtained from the HFC is stored in a supercapacitor and used to supply energy to the IoT component. The module includes a built-in sensor that monitors the temperature, pressure, and humidity. The measured data is then transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser shock forming is an advanced method with characteristics of ultra-high strain rates up to 106–107 s−1 for deformation of micro/nanostructures on foils. However, the former related studies mainly focused on the laser shock forming with large laser spots, short pulse duration, and low repetition rate, which has many limitations in deformation homogeneity and processing efficiency. In this study, a laser shock incremental forming with small laser spot, long pulse duration, and high repetition rate is investigated. To demonstrate the feasibility of this method, a rectangular bulge on an aluminum foil is fabricated. By analyzing the cross-section profiles and average heights at eight different locations in the bulge and comparing them with the reference, the uniformity of the present laser shock incremental forming is investigated. The heat accumulation effect under the action of laser with high repetition rate was analyzed by means of theoretical calculation and analytical comparison. And the deformation behavior of the foil in laser shock incremental forming was simulated by using Abaqus software. Results show that the laser shock incremental forming with small laser spot, long pulse duration, and high repetition rate can be used to deform aluminum foil in thickness of 10 μm. The height of the micro bulge deformed by a laser with a pulse duration of 100 ns and a lower pulse energy can reach a scale similar to that deformed through a larger laser spot with pulse duration of 10 ns. And heat accumulation effect may exist in high repetition rate laser, but it is not the main factor affecting the forming depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studying instabilities in flat aluminum 4-μm-thick foils exploded using the GVP generator with a short circuit current of 10 kA and a current rise time of 350 ns are presented. The dynamics of foil destruction during the explosion was studied using laser probing. During the experiments, it was ascertained that in the presence of the two-dimensional structure of foil, the growth rates of instabilities and their nature depend on the foil orientation relative to the direction of current flow. The conditions are cleared up, under which during the explosion of foils with two-dimensional inherent structures, the development of instabilities is slowed down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the sweat and grease deposits (SGD) from fingerprints on the detection efficiency of trace amounts of explosive substances—triacetone triperoxide (TATP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), and ammonium nitrate (AN) by ion mobility spectrometry in air at atmospheric pressure was investigated. Among the main components of SGD, urea is identified as a positive mode influencer, while lactic acid (LA) affects in a negative mode. The presence of urea or SGD in the sample does not significantly affect the detection of TATP in the positive mode but decreases the efficiency of HMTD ion formation and leads to the appearance of adduct cations of HMTD and urea. The presence of lactic acid or SGD slightly decreases the efficiency of ammonium nitrate ion formation in the negative mode and significantly alters the qualitative composition of HMTD ions, leading to the appearance of HMTD and LA adduct anions. In the absence of any impurities in the sample, the best reduced limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3σ), estimated at 30–50 pg, was observed for HMTD. The lifetime of HMTD, TATP, and AN traces on aluminum foil under laboratory conditions was determined to be 1, 3, and 12 h for samples with masses of mHMTD 1 × 10–9, 2 × 10–9, and 1 × 10–8 g and surface densities ds of 0.008, 0.016, and 0.08 μg/cm2, respectively; 102 and 103 s for mTATP 1 × 10–5 and 1 × 10–4 g and ds of 80 and 800 μg/cm2, respectively; 12 and 25 h for mAN 3 × 10–8 and 5 × 10–8 g and ds of 0.24 and 0.4 μg/cm2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytic copper foils are functional basic raw material in the electronics manufacturing industry. Due to different electrolytic process conditions (such as types of additives, current density, electrodeposition time, etc.), different microstructures will be formed during the raw foil manufacturing process, such as grain size, morphology, twinning, and texture. These microstructures are closely related to the performance of the electrolytic copper foil (ECF). Texture is one key aspect among them, as it affects various properties of ECF to a certain extent, including tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. Therefore, texture is receiving increasing research attention. This article reviews recent studies on the texture of ECF, analyzes the influence of electrolytic process conditions on the formation of texture, and explores the intrinsic relationship between texture and the mechanical properties of ECF. It also provides an outlook on the mechanisms for the study of ECF texture and its future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, graphene powder-reinforced Ti-Al metal-intermetallic laminated composite (GPEP-Ti/Al MIL composite) was designed and fabricated using the hot rolling and the vacuum hot-pressing sintering with the materials of graphene powder, titanium foil (TA1), and aluminum foil (1060 Al). The microstructure characterization of the composite was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that single-phase Al3Ti was formed at the interface between Ti layer and Al layer. And the graphene powder and pure Al can be bonded well during the preparation process. In addition, the mechanical properties of the tensile, compressive, three-point bending, and fracture toughness tests indicated that the GPEP-Ti/Al MIL composite exhibits enhanced strength and superior plasticity. Ductile fracture predominates in Ti layer and Al layer, while the interface between them shows obvious brittle fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic welding, also referred to as magnetic pulse welding, is a solid-state welding method utilized for joining two distinct materials through high velocity impact. The direct fusion of stainless steel with titanium poses various difficulties owing to the absence of metallurgical compatibility and the occurrence of brittle intermetallic compounds such as FeTi and CrTi. To tackle these challenges, a sustainable, low heat input method like impact welding was applied to address the metallurgical compatibility of the two metals. In this study, a new technique involving aluminum foil, silver foil, and nitinol powder as intermediary materials was investigated to establish a fresh bimetallic structure between Ti-SS304L. Thorough analysis of microstructures, interface formations, and reactions was conducted using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The outcomes showcased successful prevention of intermetallic phase formation through the incorporation of these intermediary materials. Microhardness measurements indicated the absence of brittle FeTi and CrTi phases at the welding interface. Additionally, the weld interface was observed to be situated amid two intermetallic layers at the Ti-SS304L interface, ensuring resistance against corrosion. This inventive method not only averted the creation of harmful intermetallic compounds but also bolstered the overall strength and corrosion resilience of the joint between titanium and stainless steel. The micro hardness obtained at Ti-SS304L interface is 305 Hv and also improved 20% at interface of interlayer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takeaway food has become a prominent component of the diet in urban areas of China, especially for young people. Although dietary intake is a major pathway to contaminants for human exposure, studies on emerging organophosphite antioxidants (OPAs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) in food are scarce. Here, we investigated four OPAs and 19 OPEs in takeaway foods (n = 99) and paired takeaway food packaging (n = 50) in China. AO168=O (mean: 14.9 ng/g ww), TPPO (mean: 1.05 ng/g ww), and TCIPP (mean: 0.579 ng/g ww) were dominant in the takeaway food. Some OPEs had significant correlations in takeaway food. Emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food varied significantly depending on the packaging materials and food types. AO168 and AO168=O were widespread in the paired takeaway food packaging. The migration efficiencies of emerging OPAs and OPEs were low in takeaway food packaged in aluminum foil. Although the actual contamination of emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food significantly differed from those of in food simulants migrated from paired takeaway food packaging, the results imply that food itself and takeaway food packaging are potential contamination sources of emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food. The average estimated dietary intakes of emerging OPAs and OPEs were 465 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day and 91.9 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The exposure risk of emerging OPAs and OPEs through takeaway food intake is low in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achievement of lithium (Li) metal anode with thin thickness (e.g., ≤ 30 µm) is highly desirable for rechargeable high energy density batteries. However, the fabrication and application of such thin Li metal foil electrode remain challenging due to the poor mechanical processibility and inferior electrochemical performance of metallic Li. Here, mechanico-chemical synthesis of robust ultrathin Li/Li3P (LLP) composite foils (∼ 15 µm) is demonstrated by employing repeated mechanical rolling/stacking operations using red P and metallic Li as raw materials. The in-situ formed Li+-conductive Li3P nanoparticles in metallic Li matrix and their tight bonding strengthen the mechanical durability and enable the successful fabrication of free-standing ultrathin Li metal composite foil. Besides, it also reduces the electrochemical Li nucleation barrier and homogenizes Li plating/stripping behavior. When matching to high-voltage LiCoO2, the full cell with a low negative/positive (N/P) capacity ratio of ∼ 1.5 offers a high energy density of ∼ 522 W·h·kg−1 at 0.5 C based on the mass of cathode and anode. Taking into account its facile manufacturing, potentially low cost, and good electrochemical performance, we believe that such an ultrathin composite Li metal foil design with nanoparticle-dispersion-strengthened mechanism may boost the development of high energy density Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sintered foils are currently being considered as a promising material for anode foils in capacitors due to their high specific capacitance and anti-buckling performance, which meet the requirements for capacitor winding. In this article, sintered foils with added starch were produced using a protective atmosphere sintering process. The effect of starch addition in the range of 0–50 vol% on the specific capacitance and anti-buckling performance of the sintered foils was evaluated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed the formation of the pores in the sintered foils due to the addition of starch. These pores play a crucial role in improving the specific capacitance and enhancing the anti-buckling performance of the sintered foils. However, excessive amounts of starch can have a negative impact on the specific capacitance of the sintered foils which initially decreased, then increased, and finally decreased with increasing starch content. On the other hand, the anti-buckling performance increased with increasing starch content. At 30 vol% starch addition, a high specific capacitance of 0.886 μF/cm2 and an anti-buckling performance of more than 120 times were obtained, meeting the requirements for anode foils in aluminum electrolytic capacitors. The specific capacitance of the sintered foils was predicted using the close-packed packing model, which can help establish a powder metallurgy method for preparing anode foil materials with high specific capacitance and anti-buckling performance for aluminum electrolytic capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joining of NiTi shape memory alloys with commercially pure titanium (Ti) is of great interest for manifold industrial applications. However, dissimilar fusion welding of these materials is associated with the formation of extremely brittle intermetallic compounds, e.g., Ti2Ni and TiNi3, which drastically limit the mechanical properties of NiTi/Ti joints. The present investigation seeks to improve both chemical compatibility and mechanical performance through intermixing of a niobium foil as filler material into a NiTi/Nb/Ti butt-joint configuration by means of pulsed laser beam welding. Different pulse durations are applied to tailor intermixing and evaluate the deviating chemical compositions of the weld metal. It is demonstrated that intermixing of niobium significantly increases the weldability of the material combination NiTi/Ti compared to autogenous welding. However, the proportion of intermixed filler material exerts a substantial impact on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. Ultimate tensile strengths of up to 679 MPa with fracture occurring in the titanium base metal at an elongation at break of 18.7 pct is obtained by a reduction of the pulse duration, which represents a major improvement over previous studies focusing on fusion welding of NiTi to titanium and its alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytic copper foil stands as a pivotal material in the electronics industry. Anode materials are extensively utilized in the processing of electrolytic copper foils. Given the intricate production conditions of copper foils, there are multifarious factors contributing to the failure of titanium anodes. Presently, there is comprehensive research into the failure mechanisms of titanium anodes under actual complex operational conditions. This paper addresses gaps by juxtaposing failed and new titanium anodes from a copper foil manufacturing facility. It analyzes the macroscopic and microscopic morphological alterations, elemental distribution, and phase composition changes in titanium anodes before and after failure. Additionally, by integrating performance tests such as CV and EIS, the study dissects the failure mechanism of commercially employed titanium anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When stiffened deep mixed (SDM) columns are used to support embankments over soft soil, the embankment stability becomes one of the major concerns for geotechnical engineers. However, limit studies have been focused on failure of SDM columns under embankment load. This paper conducted a series of scale-reduced model tests to investigate stability of embankment over soft soils with SDM columns, including columns installed under the embankment base, and columns installed only under the embankment crest and the embankment side slope, respectively. A load system consisting of six loading plates was designed to create a uniform surcharge on the embankment crest. An aluminum foil tape was implanted into each core pile in a row to detect the model column failure during surcharge loading, as its electric resistance becomes infinity when the tape was broken due to the rupture of column. With the increase in the surcharge, the failure mode and process of SDM column were analyzed based on the peak stress on the top of column and strain difference along column length and the electric resistance change of aluminum foil tape. The test results showed that the SDM columns under the embankment crest also had effects on enhancing the embankment stability, even though the slip plane may not pass through them. With the increase in surcharge, the SDM columns failed progressively and had possible failure under compression, a combination of compression and bending, and bending depending on locations of the columns under embankment. The progressive failure mechanism was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant advancement in micro-computed tomography (μCT) translational application in endodontics has occurred. The purpose of the study was to assess the applications of a new method to measure dentin mineral density (DMD) and to compare between 2 levels of energy sources. Two sets of standardized porous solid hydroxyapatite (HA) phantoms, with mineral densities of 0.25 g/cm3 and 0.75 g/cm3, respectively were embedded in aluminum foil. The μCT homogeneity and noise in the HA phantoms were analyzed using 50 kV and 100 kV energy sources. DMD of 66 extracted human teeth was measured at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ), mid-root, and apical levels. Assessment included linearity between the energy source and the DMD measurement. The quality of the images obtained from the 2 energy sources was compared and analyzed statistically. HA phantom rods and validation methods showed that 100 kV provided a more accurate measurement of the DMD in all groups tested. The 100 kV 3D reconstructed µCT images displayed a more defined details of the dentin structure. A statistically significant difference was found between 100 and 50 kV (p < 0.05) in all measured areas except for the mid-root. Using micro-computed tomography is a practical and non-destructive method to measure dentin density. 100 kV energy source provides clearer and more consistent images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies on the delamination process of cathode electrodes from spent lithium-ion batteries have been conducted. Unfortunately, the systematic selection of economically viable and environmentally friendly delamination process has hardly been investigated. In this study, most of the hydrometallurgical processes were investigated based on the delamination efficiency and cost of solvent, and four were chosen: solvent dissolution, alkali dissolution, deep eutectic solvent, and ethylene glycol. Chosen processes were performed in the laboratory and compared using four important parameters: delamination efficiency, economic assessment, environmental assessment, and overall process time. This comparison indicates that the alkali dissolution process (ADP) is superior to the other processes. However, it is still unclear how the process variables will affect the delamination efficiency in ADP. To address this issue, we have investigated the impact of the reaction variables using optimization. Furthermore, it was discovered that the delamination can be carried out using alkali waste solution, and it has the same ability to selectively react with aluminum foil, leaving behind the delaminated cathode material for three cycles without changing the metal (Li, Co, Mn, Ni, etc.) content. As a result, an economically viable and environmentally friendly delamination process has been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of effective recycling strategies for cathode materials in spent lithium-ion batteries are highly desirable but remain significant challenges, among which facile separation of Al foil and active material layer of cathode makes up the first important step. Here, we propose a reaction-passivation driven mechanism for facile separation of Al foil and active material layer. Experimentally, >99.9% separation efficiency for Al foil and LiNi0.55Co0.15Mn0.3O2 layer is realized for a 102 Ah spent cell within 5 mins, and ultrathin, dense aluminum-phytic acid complex layer is in-situ formed on Al foil immediately after its contact with phytic acid, which suppresses continuous Al corrosion. Besides, the dissolution of transitional metal from LiNi0.55Co0.15Mn0.3O2 is negligible and good structural integrity of LiNi0.55Co0.15Mn0.3O2 is well-maintained during the processing. This work demonstrates a feasible approach for Al foil-active material layer separation of cathode and can promote the green and energy-saving battery recycling towards practical applications. Separating active cathode materials from current collectors poses a critical challenge in battery recycling. Here, the authors develop a facile strategy that relies on a reaction-passivation mechanism to effectively separate the aluminum foil and cathode active material in spent lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of two ways to reduce the vibration and sound emission of a high-pressure laminate plate has been investigated. It has been found that the inclusion of viscoelastic polymer polyvinyl acetate film in the laminate structure or constrained damping layer treatment based on polyvinyl acetate film and aluminum foil or plastic leads to a significant improvement in its vibroacoustic characteristics. The greatest reduction in vibration and sound emission was achieved by applying a coating with aluminum foil whose thickness was six times less than that of the damped laminate plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride is recognized as a vital ion for human and animal growth because of the critical role it plays in preventing skeletal and dental problems. However, when it is ingested at a higher concentration it can cause demineralization of teeth and bones resulting in fluorosis, therefore, the production of high-adsorptive capacity material which is also cost-effective is necessary for the treatment of fluorides. In this study, aluminium foil is valorised into alumina nanoparticles. The as-prepared alumina was modified with alum in two different ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:1 (alumina to alum w/w%) and later used as adsorbents for the removal of fluoride from groundwater. The adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, point of zero charge and X-ray diffraction. Different factors that influence the removal efficiency of fluorides such as pH, initial concentrations, contact time and adsorbent dosage were studied and optimized using a simulated fluoride solution. The optimum conditions obtained were used to test real groundwater. The static experiment conditions were used to calibrate a PHREEQC geochemical model which was later used to simulate the fluoride sorption onto the modified alumina at different conditions. PHREEQC was also coupled with parameter estimation software to determine equilibrium constants for the surface reactions between the fluoride species and the adsorbent in a way that the simulations accurately reflect the outcomes of laboratory experiments. Isotherm studies were carried out on the adsorbents. Both Langmuir and Freundlich's non-linear models fitted well for the equilibrium data. However, with a higher coefficient of regression and low chi-square test values, the adsorption process was more of chemisorption on a monolayer surface. Kinetic studies were also carried out by using the non-linear equations from the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The pseudo-second-order model fitted well for the equilibrium data. The mechanism for the fluoride ion adsorption was also studied by the intraparticle (IP) diffusion model and was found that IP was not the rate-determining factor, and therefore the most plausible mechanism for the sorption process was ion exchange or attraction of fluoride ions to the sorbent surface. The findings obtained from this research show that readily available aluminium waste could be valorised into a useful product that could be employed in the removal of fluoride from water samples, including groundwater, that may contain too much fluoride and pose a risk to the general public's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal negative electrodes that alloy with lithium have high theoretical charge storage capacity and are ideal candidates for developing high-energy rechargeable batteries. However, such electrode materials show limited reversibility in Li-ion batteries with standard non-aqueous liquid electrolyte solutions. To circumvent this issue, here we report the use of non-pre-lithiated aluminum-foil-based negative electrodes with engineered microstructures in an all-solid-state Li-ion cell configuration. When a 30-μm-thick Al94.5In5.5 negative electrode is combined with a Li6PS5Cl solid-state electrolyte and a LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2-based positive electrode, lab-scale cells deliver hundreds of stable cycles with practically relevant areal capacities at high current densities (6.5 mA cm−2). We also demonstrate that the multiphase Al-In microstructure enables improved rate behavior and enhanced reversibility due to the distributed LiIn network within the aluminum matrix. These results demonstrate the possibility of improved all-solid-state batteries via metallurgical design of negative electrodes while simplifying manufacturing processes. Aluminum-based negative electrodes could enable high-energy-density batteries, but their charge storage performance is limited. Here, the authors show that dense aluminum electrodes with controlled microstructure exhibit long-term cycling stability in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of cold-rolled Inconel 625 foil with thickness of 50 μm were investigated. After annealing at 650 and 700 °C, the cold-rolled microstructure transformed into smaller recrystallization grain and annealing twins, while the fraction and particle size of MC carbides increased with increasing aging temperature and duration. TEM analysis confirms the precipitation of irregular lens and near spherical-shaped γ ″ phase at 700 °C, which is not observed in the sample annealed at 650 °C. The foil after annealing at 650 °C for 48 h exhibits the best mechanical properties with ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of 1515 and 1077 MPa as well as reasonable elongation of 19.5%. But the much larger and coarser carbides result in obvious reduction in tensile properties for the sample after 48 h-aging at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of aluminum foil treated with titanium ions in the application to the destruction of prometryn are considered. The samples were obtained by ion bombardment (titanium ions in a nitrogen plasma) of aluminum at energies of 20 keV. The composition of samples surface and the effect of calcination temperature and process duration were determined by XRD, SEM and EDXS. The depth distribution of ions was simulated using the RIO software. It is shown that ionic implantation leads to the formation nanoscale layer of the implant on the surface aluminum foil. Increasing the calcination temperature and its duration changes the sample's activity and can be explained by the influence of the ratio between the nitride, oxynitride and oxide phases of titanium. The formation and decomposition of these phases on the surface explains the appearance of the maximum activity in the decomposition of prometryn under ultraviolet irradiation for all samples. Thus, the use of the obtained samples for neutralizing herbicides (for example, prometryn) under ultraviolet irradiation is promising and relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forming limit diagram (FLD), mechanical properties and fracture toughness of aluminum foil composites fabricated via accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process have been investigated as its novelty for the first time. To do this, AA1050/TiC composite foils with thickness of 0.2 mm have been fabricated from one up to twelve ARB passes at 320 °C. Also, optical microscopy (OM) was used to investigate the effect of cumulative forming process on the grain structure. The strength of samples improved to 168. 6 MPa after the 12th cumulative rolling pass, registering 248% improvement in comparison with initial AA1050 sample. Also, by cumulating the plastic strain at higher passes, the bonding quality among composite layers enhanced. SEM fracture surface morphology of samples showed the conversion of fracture mode to shear mode for composites fabricated at high number of passes. So, in comparison with the annealed sample, deep dimples are shrinking slowly and their number and depth were reduced. As the criterion of formability and at higher passes, the area under the FLDs, dropped sharply for one pass processed sample and then improved. Results of fracture test revealed that the value of fracture toughness enhanced continually and got to the 30 MPa.m1/2 at the 12th pass. Grain refinement and ARB process nature are two main mechanisms which are responsible for all ductility changes and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobicity has been a crucial research topic due to its ability to make surfaces stay dry and self-clean. Low-surface-energy organic coatings are widely used to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces by modifying surface groups and minimizing surface energy. Considering defects would seriously undermine these coatings, which would further lead to hydrophobicity dwindling and lifetime decreasing, researchers have begun to investigate the development of superhydrophobic surfaces without organic coatings. However, it is still controversial whether these superhydrophobic surfaces are really free of organic substances with low surface energy. In this work, O3 bombardment was utilized to construct micro–nanostructures on aluminum foil. The aluminum foil surface turns to superhydrophobic after ozone bombardment with the contact angle (CAs) increasing from 20° to 161°. Results showed the presence of silicon contaminations on alumina surfaces despite the fact that no organic coatings are utilized in the fabrication process. The transition of hydrophilic-to-superhydrophobic was attributed to both surface morphology and silicon contamination from pump oil. Our work reveals that trace organic contamination from pump oil is a key factor that cannot be ignored in scenarios with vacuum pump use, which could provide some favorable evidence to figure out the controversial issue mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the phenomenological observation of the corrosion of the positive electrode foil of lithium-ion batteries containing LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NMC) as cathode material. Due to the presence of moisture, localized water accumulation is formed on the NMC surface. The water absorbed by the electrolyte reacts with the NMC under Li+/H+ exchange and the resulting pH increase leads to dissolution of the carrier foil and characteristic salt-like blooms on the NMC surface. With the increase in the relative area occupied by the holes in the aluminum foil per time, a sufficiently suitable parameter was found with which to quantitatively determine the extent of corrosion. The degree of degradation depends on time and ambient humidity. It was shown that functional recycling with the water jet method is no longer applicable for degraded foils, since the mechanical stability of the foils decreases as corrosion progresses. Lithium, aluminum, sulfur and oxygen were detected in the blooms using SEM–EDX and Laser-Induced-Breakdown-Spectroscopy (LIBS). The underlying NMC layer was found to contain mainly aluminum and significantly lower lithium content than the non-degraded material. SEM and Raman microscopy analyses also showed that the active material is also locally degraded and therefore no longer suitable for functional recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni–Fe alloy foils for wireless charging have been prepared by electrodeposition from a sulfate plating solution at different bath temperatures. Systematic investigations have been conducted on the structure and composition of Ni–Fe alloy foils. The dependence of magnetic properties on bath temperatures has also been explored. The results show that with the bath temperature increasing, the (200) texture intensity, Ni mass fraction, and grain size of the Ni–Fe alloy foils gradually increase. In addition, Ni–Fe foils prepared at 70 °C have lowest coercivity, highest real part of the complex permeabilities (μ′) and large μ′Q (Q = μ'/μ"). Meanwhile, the application of Ni–Fe alloy foils for wireless charging has been investigated. It is found that adding a Ni–Fe alloy foils would effectively enhance coupling coefficient (k) for wireless charging, which benefits from the alloy's higher μ′ and smaller coercivity. When the bath temperature is 70 °C, k value can reach 0.64, which is comparable to conventional ferrite products. This work not only reveals the effect of bath temperature on the composition, structure, and magnetic properties of Ni–Fe alloy foils, but also offers novel insights into the application of Ni–Fe alloys foils for wireless charging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial contamination is a significant issue in the food industry, often leading to foodborne illnesses. This study introduces our hot water-treated (HWT) nanostructured aluminum foil, coated with a layer of tea-tree essential oil, which works synergistically to inactivate bacteria. Our results show that this method inactivated ~ 98% of the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis tested. This approach also offers the benefit of robustly holding oil on the foil surface due to the superoleophilicity of the nanostructured aluminum oxide layer, further increasing its efficacy. In addition, the HWT process can be extended to other forms of aluminum-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have proven to be promising energy harvesters, but they can also play the role of self-powered human motion sensors. Thus, we design a TENG device based on chitosan-cotton-paper (CCP-TENG) to harvest mechanical energy and serve as a self-powered sensor. The chitosan-cotton-paper (CCP) film and PTFE were used as the triboelectric materials, and aluminum foil served as the conductive electrode. According to results, the CCP-TENG can realize an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 162 V and a short-circuit current (Isc) of 7.2 μA. Meanwhile, the maximum output power density of the CCP-TENG can reach 322.56 mW/m2 with a match load of 20 MΩ. In addition, the CCP-TENG can be used as a self-powered grip force sensor, which has important application value in human health monitoring. This study suggests a simple, environmentally friendly way to make TENGs for biomechanical energy generating and tracking human movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral conversion of light introduced as a new technique to manage incoming light photons into the culture medium of photosynthetic microorganisms which can increase biomass production. In this work, a much more accurate value of the effect of spectral conversion on the growth of Chlorella sp. was obtained. For this purpose, the light source and Rhodamine 6G solution, as a spectral converter, was placed in the center of the culture flask, which was covered with aluminum foil. The loss of photons was largely avoided due to the additional homogeneous distribution of light. Modification of white light using the solution has increased biomass productivity up to 300%. Also, for biomass productivity of 1 mg L−1 day−1, the energy consumption of the white light source was reduced up to 75%. Nitrate uptake has also increased up to 28%, and intracellular lipid content has decreased, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental data on the electrical resistance of aluminum under shock compression are analyzed. The electrical resistance of two types of aluminum foil located in dielectric materials with different shock impedances is measured by the electrocontact method. The resultant dependences of the electrical resistance of aluminum on the shock wave pressure are monotonically increasing functions of pressure. However, the dependence of the specific electrical resistance of aluminum on the shock wave pressure can be monotonic (foil in Plexiglas) or nonmonotonic (foil in fluoroplastic). In the latter case, the specific electrical resistance first slightly decreases with an increase in pressure and then increases. This behavior can be explained by the competing effects of compression and temperature heating on the specific electrical resistance. Due to shock compression of metal foil in the dielectric with a smaller shock impedance (Plexiglas), the measured electrical resistance is greater than that in the dielectric with a greater shock impedance (fluoroplastic). This result is caused by the greater temperature heating of metal foil in Plexiglas. The reasons for the qualitative difference in the behavior of the specific electrical resistance of metal under static and dynamic compression are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-electrodeposition technique has been used to elaborate flower-like CuO/ZnO nanocomposites on aluminum (Al) foil and indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates. Different CuO/ZnO composite films with different Cu/Zn ratios were fabricated by modifying the concentration of the copper concentration in the solution. SEM observation of CuO/ZnO nanocomposite surface indicates a flower-like morphology. The results of XRD and FTIR characterization confirmed the elaboration of CuO/ZnO nanocomposites. It was shown that the increase of Cu2+ concentration in the bath causes a decrease in CuO/ZnO band gap (from 3.13 to 2.05 eV). The contact angle measurements indicate that surface of the elaborated nanocomposite is hydrophilic. In addition, a high PL intensity in the visible was obtained, with a Cu/Zn ratio to 0.73, which decreases with the increase of the CuO/ZnO composite thickness. The electrochemical performance of CuO/ZnO nanocomposite studied as working electrode in a three-electrode cell configuration in a stable organic electrolyte (LiPF6/ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) with vinylene carbonate (VC)) exhibited reduction and oxidation peaks corresponding to the formation of LiZn and to the multistep dealloying process of LiZn alloy, respectively. Finally, as-prepared CuO/ZnO electrode exhibited the better electrochemical performance with a higher integrated area than pure ZnO electrode. The obtened results indicat that the nanocomposite electrode can be a good candidate as anode for Li-ions batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an ongoing unmet global need to manufacture novel sustainable liquid packaging materials, that are not based on plastic film or aluminum foil. Superhydrophobic coating technologies have been proposed for developing more sustainable packaging materials. In this study, the underlying engineering principles for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces proposed for liquid packaging are investigated, including but not limited to the substrates used and engineering properties of the surfaces. Specifically, to improve the engineering performance of superhydrophobic paper for use in packaging, the feasibility of combining platy montmorillonite (MMT, for its barrier properties) and nano-rolling-pin-shaped precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC, for its superhydrophobicity) into multifunctional coating layers is investigated. Water droplet evaporation experiments are performed to identify how subtle changes in the morphological structures of as-prepared superhydrophobic paper samples can produce a useful roughness structure for packaging applications. Paperboard, which is widely utilized in packaging, is chosen as a substrate to study the challenges of fabricating superhydrophobic paperboards for use in packaging. The results of this study provide engineering principles for using sustainable paper-based materials with a dual-scale roughness structure and barrier properties in liquid packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AA8021 aluminum foils of 40 μm gauge with different grain sizes were prepared by four final annealing processes. The effect of grain size on the mechanical properties and formability was investigated by tensile and Erichsen cupping test. The microstructure before and after test was characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron backscatter diffraction, and surface profiler. The results showed that, as the grain size increased, both the ultimate strength, the yield strength, the elongation and the Erichsen value of aluminum foil dramatically decreased. With the increase of grain size, the ratio of free surface grain to volume increased and the number of grain boundaries decreased, which resulted in the decrease of strength, according to the surface layer model and grain-boundary strengthening effect. During the deformation process, a bigger grain size led to a higher surface roughness and a more non-uniform strain distribution in the matrix, which promoted the premature occurrence of fracture. As a result, a limited elongation and low formability were obtained. Fracture surfaces analysis found that both tensile and Erichsen cupping specimens showed a typical knife edge rupture with several dimples. The formation of dimples was mainly attributed to the presence of Al-Fe phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors due to its high theoretical specific capacitance. In this study, MnO2 particles were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and subsequently coated onto silver, nickel, and aluminum foils via dip coating. The structural, morphological, and functional properties of the resulting MnO2 nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to investigate the electrochemical performance of the coated metallic foils. The results demonstrated that MnO2/Ag foils exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 198 F g–1 at a scan rate of 0.25 A g−1, accompanied by excellent cycle stability (89% capacitance retention). This performance surpassed that of MnO2/Ni and MnO2/Al foils, which exhibited maximum specific capacitances of 150 and 101 F g−1, respectively. Additionally, MnO2/Ag foils displayed the highest charge storage capacity, as evidenced by EIS analysis, reaching 4000 Ω, nearly double that of MnO2/Ni and MnO2/Al foils. These findings highlight the potential of cost-effective and high-performance MnO2/Ag foils for widespread applications in energy storage devices such as electrochemical capacitors.Graphical Abstract: Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors due to its high theoretical specific capacitance. In this study, MnO2 particles were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and subsequently coated onto silver, nickel, and aluminum foils via dip coating. The structural, morphological, and functional properties of the resulting MnO2 nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to investigate the electrochemical performance of the coated metallic foils. The results demonstrated that MnO2/Ag foils exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 198 F g–1 at a scan rate of 0.25 A g−1, accompanied by excellent cycle stability (89% capacitance retention). This performance surpassed that of MnO2/Ni and MnO2/Al foils, which exhibited maximum specific capacitances of 150 and 101 F g−1, respectively. Additionally, MnO2/Ag foils displayed the highest charge storage capacity, as evidenced by EIS analysis, reaching 4000 Ω, nearly double that of MnO2/Ni and MnO2/Al foils. These findings highlight the potential of cost-effective and high-performance MnO2/Ag foils for widespread applications in energy storage devices such as electrochemical capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of semi-spherical cavities of different sizes was investigated for the enhancement of propulsion parameters in conjunction with pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm. The 10 mm, 11.5 mm, 15 mm, 18.5 mm and 20 mm cavities of iron were used to confine the laser-induced plasma. Aluminum (Al), Silver (Ag), and Gold (Au) samples in form of foils were used as propellants. A significant enhancement in momentum coupling coefficient (Cm) and specific impulse (Isp) was observed when cavities were used to confine the laser-induced plasma. From the measurements obtained for various sizes of cavities, it was observed that Cm and Isp recorded the highest values for the 10 mm cavity. Therefore, the confinement effect was most significant for the smallest cavity. In confinement geometry the value of Cm increased from 16.9 to 39.6 (dyne/W) for Al, from 13.1 to 30.6 (dyne/W) for Ag and from 12.9 to 34.5 (dyne/W) for Au target respectively, while the value of Isp increased to nearly 40,000 s with the confined geometry, as compared with 3000 s for direct propulsion. Results demonstrated that due to uniform and balanced compression of shockwaves in all directions, semi-spherical cavities played a significant role in the enhancement of laser ablation propulsion parameters. This may introduce new avenues to tune the specific impulse and thrust in micropropulsion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first results of studying the electric explosion of thin aluminum foils of different thickness with an artificial relief created by laser engraving are described. The experiments were conducted on a BIN high-current pulsed generator (270 kA, 300 kV, 100 ns). Images of exploded foils placed in a returned current circuit (amplitude 80 kA) were obtained by X-ray projection radiography in the radiation of a hybrid X-pinch which was the main load of the generator. The influence of artificial relief on the resulting picture of the explosion is studied in foils both with a pronounced own structure and without it. It is shown that an artificial structure in the form of grooves perpendicular to the foil's own structure and parallel to the current can substantially slow down the development of instabilities in the exploded foil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu foil with low surface roughness and high tensile properties is a challenge in the field of electronic materials. In this research, the graphene/copper foils (GrCFs) have been fabricated by direct current electrodeposition. The changes in the structure and properties of GrCFs caused by mechanical agitating rate were investigated. XRD, SEM, laser scanning confocal microscopy and tensile equipment were employed to examine surface quality, surface roughness, microstructure and tensile property of GrCFs. The results indicated that the electrodeposition particles became denser and larger, and the deposition rate increased with increasing the mechanical agitating rate. However, the surface roughness (Ra) of the GrCFs decreased from 3.49 ± 0.06 to 0.90 ± 0.06 μm and then increased to 1.59 ± 0.05 μm. When the CuSO4·5H2O concentration was 70 g/L and the mechanical agitating rate was 200 rpm, the minimum surface roughness of 0.90 ± 0.06 μm and the maximum tensile strength of 558 ± 29 MPa were simultaneously obtained. The enhancement of tensile strength of GrCFs was primarily ascribed to the refinement of the crystalline size and the Gr reinforcement. The surface roughness of GrCFs was dominated by an appropriate agitating rate and Cu2+ concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laser shock adhesive-clinching (LSAC) is an original material joining technique that combines the advantages of clinch-bonded hybrid joining and laser shock clinching, in which two metal foils are bonded by adhesive and clinched by laser shock simultaneously. In this paper, the LSAC joints are manufactured by 1060 Al foils, Henkel EP 5055 adhesive, and perforated 304 stainless steel sheets. Through experiments and FEM simulations, the LSAC process and the deformation of LSAC joints under shear loads are analyzed, and the effect of adhesive on LSAC joint manufacturing is investigated. The results show that bulging is the dominant deformation behavior during LASC, and the cured adhesive with thin thickness is beneficial to the subsequent clinching process. The shear strength of the LSAC joint is greatly enhanced compared to the pure clinched and pure bonded joints. The shear failure process of the LSAC joint is adhesive degumming first, then the interlock separating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible human–machine interfaces show broad prospects for next-generation flexible or wearable electronics compared with their currently available bulky and rigid counterparts. However, compared to their rigid counterparts, most reported flexible devices (e.g., flexible loudspeakers and microphones) show inferior performance, mainly due to the nature of their flexibility. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve their performance by developing and optimizing new materials, structures and design methodologies. In this paper, a flexible acoustic platform based on a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film on an aluminum foil substrate is developed and optimized; this platform can be applied as a loudspeaker, a microphone, or an ambient sensor depending on the selection of its excitation frequencies. When used as a speaker, the proposed structure shows a high sound pressure level (SPL) of ~90 dB (with a standard deviation of ~3.6 dB), a low total harmonic distortion of ~1.41%, and a uniform directivity (with a standard deviation of ~4 dB). Its normalized SPL is higher than those of similar devices reported in the recent literature. When used as a microphone, the proposed device shows a precision of 98% for speech recognition, and the measured audio signals show a strong similarity to the original audio signals, demonstrating its equivalent performance compared to a rigid commercial microphone. As a flexible sensor, this device shows a high temperature coefficient of frequency of −289 ppm/K and good performance for respiratory monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass fraction of inorganic impurities of a pure organic substance can be determined by the residue on ignition method and then used to calculate the purity according to mass balance theory. The conventional residue on ignition method is insensitive. In this study, a novel crucible made of annealed aluminum foil was used instead of the conventional crucible. The mass of the annealed aluminum crucible on ignition was repeatable (standard deviation of 1.4 µg). The mass of the annealed aluminum crucible remained stable in the ambient atmosphere because no water adsorbed to the surface of annealed aluminum. When annealed at high temperature, the mass of the aluminum crucible increased owing to the oxidation of aluminum. On subsequent annealing, the amorphous aluminum oxide (Al2O3) film transformed into a γ-Al2O3 film which prevented the inner aluminum from oxidation and adsorption of water. The limit of quantification of the mass of inorganic impurities determined by the residue on ignition method using the annealed aluminum crucible (30 µg) was much lower than that using a platinum crucible (500 µg). When the mass of solute of sodium chloride (NaCl) aqueous solution was in the range 20 µg–200 µg, the recovery of the NaCl mass fraction was in the range 96 %–104 %. The residue on ignition method was applied to eight pure organic substances. The improved residue on ignition method using the annealed aluminum crucible determined the mass fractions of inorganic impurities of the pure organic substances with high sensitivity and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the optimal preparative conditions (current density, deposition temperature, calcination temperature) for the original electrochemical synthesis of ZnO-Zn coating on aluminum foil support (ZnAF) were examined and determined the application for the removal of methyl orange (MO). Optimal application conditions for removing MO (volume and concentration of a treated solution) were also determined. In the following, four immobilized ZnO/Fe2O3 photocatalysts with different molar ratios of Zn to Fe (0.42, 0.84, 1.68, and 3.36) were synthesized via the chemical precipitation method on optimized electrochemically synthesized ZnAF support. Characterization studies of synthesized materials included SEM–EDS and Raman scattering analyses. The efficiency of these catalysts for MO removal in the presence/absence of simulated solar radiation (SSR) was investigated. The adsorption isotherms were investigated, and the results show that the adsorption data were best fitted with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. Assessment of the thermodynamic parameters showed that although the adsorption process was weakly endothermic over the range of temperatures studied, the relatively high entropy change gave an overall negative change in Gibbs free energy making the processes spontaneous. In the presence of SSR, the optimal molar ratio of Zn to Fe was determined to be 1.68. The possibility of potential reusing the catalyst was examined six times in a row. The possibility for multiple uses of suspension, which is used for immobilization, was also examined. It was also determined that the application of the 1.68Zn/Fe/ZnAF/H2O2/SSR system after the dye removal generates hydrogen at a rate of 186.5 μmol g−1 after 6 h. Furthermore, in the presence of SSR and using a suspended form of catalyst, the removal efficiency was 1.6 times higher than the efficiency achieved with immobilized ZnO/Fe2O3 catalyst. Using the HPLC method for 1.68Zn/Fe/ZnAF/SSR system, five primary intermediates were found to be formed. The applicability of ZnO/Fe2O3/ZnAF for removal of other dyes was also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various scientists are looking for effective and easy solutions for the augmentation of yield from the hemispherical solar still (HSS). In this study, aluminum foil sheet was used to reflect the intensity, hence augmenting the evaporation rate and daily yield. Experimentations were conducted on two SS: the first SS is HSS; the second SS is HSS with reflective aluminum foil sheet walls (HSS-RAFW). The highest distilled water production from the HSS and HSS-RAFW is 3.36 and 4.1 kg/m2, respectively. Compared to the HSS, the yield of distilled water was augmented by 22.21% when using the HSS-RAFW. The daily energy and exergy efficiencies (EnE and ExE) of the HSS are 26.27 and 1.04%, respectively, and the daily EnE and ExE of the HSS-RAFW are 32.75 and 1.71%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to estimate the resuspension of the particles empirically, it is necessary to carry out a homogeneous distribution of the particles on the tested surfaces. Thus, in many studies, seeding or deposition in experimental chambers is performed to quantify initial concentrations for subsequent resuspension experiments. The current study was carried out to assess metal particle seeding efficiency on four types of urban surfaces (slate, facade coating, tile, and glass) in a test chamber. To achieve this objective, we compared firstly different solubilization techniques of silver polydisperse particles (1.3–3.2 μm and 0.5–1.0 μm) and gold polydisperse particles (Ø˂5 μm) for chemical quantification by ICP-MS. The result showed better yields in the case of gold for all solubilization techniques studied (82% ± 5% to 98% ± 2% for gold versus 23% ± 18% to 84% ± 12% for silver). Based on this result, four seeding tests were carried out with the gold particles (distribution in chamber centered on 1μm). The concentrations seeded on urban surfaces (mean ± SD) varied from 10,900 ± 1,900 μg.m−2 (facade coating sample) to 1900 ± 390 μg.m−2 (glass sample). The relative standard deviation of the measured concentrations equaled 9.5% (tested for aluminum foils), which was less than the measurement uncertainty of the recording equipment (≈14%) and reflected good seeding homogeneity. Observations by scanning electron microscopy coupled to microanalysis (SEM-EDX) were in agreement with these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study of the some effective modifications which aim to improve the cumulative productivity of solar distillers, in order to reach the best modification that achieves the highest cumulative productivity of hemispherical distillates. The experimentations were carried on the hemispherical distillers which are characterized by a large area of receiving and condensation. To obtain the best modification that achieves the highest cumulative productivity, the present comprehensive studies were conducted on two experimental scenarios. In the first scenario, the influences of internal reflective (Reflective Mirrors and Reflective Aluminum Foil) on hemispherical distillers performance was studied. In the second scenario, the influences of internal reflective with El-Oued sand grains as the energy store mediums on hemispherical distiller performances was studied. To achieve this goal, we designed and fabricated three hemispherical distillers, the first distiller represents the reference case (Conventional Hemispherical Solar Still—CHSS), the second is the Hemispherical Solar Still with Internal Reflective Mirrors (HSS-IRM), and a third is the Hemispherical Solar Still with Internal Reflective Aluminum Foil (HSS-IRAF). In the second experimental scenario, the El-Oued sand grains were added to the basin of the second and third distillers as follows; where the second distiller became a Hemispherical Solar Still with Internal Reflective Mirrors and El-Oued sand grains (HSS-IRM & SG), and a third distiller became a Hemispherical Solar Still with Internal Reflective Aluminum Foil and El-Oued sand grains (HSS-IRAF & SG). The results presented that the cumulative production of reference distiller (CHSS) up to 4750 mL/m2, while use of internal reflective mirrors and El-Oued sand grains (HSS-IRM & SG) increases the production to 9400 mL/m2 day. The maximum improvement in cumulative distillate production, exergy efficiency, and thermal efficiency was recorded for utilization of internal reflective mirrors and El-Oued sand grains (HSS-IRM & SG) which reached 98, 200.9, and 96%, respectively, compared to reference case (CHSS). The economic feasibility indicated that the utilization of HSS-IRM & SG represent the good modification which reduced the cost of freshwater productivity by 49.1% compared to CHSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mechanical milling, stearic acid can be used as a process control agent to reduce the interface energy between powders and contribute to the crushing of powder particulates. In this study, a super-hydrophobic coating with a contact angle of 153° ± 2° was fabricated by ball milling a copper powder and stearic acid mixture onto an aluminum foil. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that stearic acid was successfully transferred to the surface of the copper powder, and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the structure of the super-hydrophobic coating consisted of irregular particles and sheets. The combined effect of low surface free energy and rough structure of the copper-based coating contributed to the super-hydrophobicity. The reported method is beneficial to preparing super-hydrophobic materials by the solid-state synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-layer ZnO containing nanoflakes and nanorods was prepared on aluminum foil by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The aluminum foil coated with double-layer ZnO could form a slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) by immersing the sample in an ethanol solution containing stearic acid and then in Dupont Krytox 104. The as-prepared SLIPS had a larger contact angle and a smaller sliding angle. The electrochemical measurements showed that SLIPS presented higher and more durable corrosion resistance in comparison with the bare aluminum sample (BS) and the superhydrophobic surface (SHS). These results may enhance an alternative to design SLIPS for corrosion protection of metallic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panicle blast is the most severe type of rice blast disease. Screening of rice genotypes for panicle blast resistance at the field level requires an efficient and robust method of inoculation. Here, we standardized a method that can be utilized for both small- and large-scale screening and assessment of panicle blast infection and disease reaction. The method involves inoculation of Magnaporthe oryzae spore culture in the neck of the rice panicle using a syringe and covering the inoculation site with wet cotton wrapped with aluminum foil to provide the required humidity for spore germination. The method was standardized using panicle blast-resistant cv. Tetep and susceptible cv. HP2216 inoculated with Mo-ni-025 isolate of M. oryzae. The method was evaluated at phenotypic as well as molecular level by expression analysis of disease responsive pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. We found this method simple, robust, reliable, and highly efficient for screening of large germplasm sets of rice for panicle blast. This was validated by screening the wild rice germplasm for panicle blast response in the field using three M. oryzae strains and subsequently with the most virulent strain in 45 EMS-induced mutants of Nagina 22 shortlisted based on field screening in a blast hotspot region. We identified five novel blast disease-resistant wild rice genotypes and 15 Nagina 22 mutants that can be used in breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum foil undergoes severe plastic deformation and multiple heat treatments during processing, and the texture characteristics become very identifiable. In this research, textured AA8021 aluminum foil was obtained by adjusting the fabrication process. The anisotropic behavior of aluminum foil was studied by tensile testing. The surface morphology and texture evolution of the aluminum foil were studied before and after tensile testing by means of digital microscopy, optical profilometry and electron backscattered diffraction. The experimental results showed that compared with the samples tested at 0° and 90° to the rolling direction, the samples tested at 45° to the rolling direction exhibited lower yield strengths and flow stresses due to the "soft orientation" of most grains. Additionally, when the aluminum foil was tensile tested at 45° to the rolling direction, the shear bands on the surface of the aluminum foil were long, dense, bent and crossed. The rotation of cube grains caused the aluminum foil matrix to undergo significant geometric hardening, increasing the strain hardening index n. Additionally, the rolling texture improved the anti-thinning ability of the aluminum foil at 45° to the rolling direction, significantly increasing the ultimate strain reached in the 45° direction. These research results provide important theoretical guidance for improving the drawability of aluminum foil box-shaped parts by adjusting the microtexture under industrial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the development and optimization of a cost-effective, biodegradable, disposable, and lightweight conductive polymer deposited on exfoliated graphite paper battery. The anode is made of aluminum foil and the cathode using electrochemically deposited anthraquinone conductive polymers on exfoliated graphite paper. Concentrated sodium chloride salt is used as the electrolyte. The battery shows a maximum capacity of 235 mA h g−1 and a superior cyclability of up to 500 cycles at 50.0 mA cm−2 current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether pain and strain of the periodontal ligament (PDL), induced by orthodontic separation, alter the somatosensory ability to perceive small thicknesses between occluding teeth (occlusal tactile acuity, OTA). Methods: The OTA was tested at baseline (T0), using 9 aluminum foils (range 8–72 μm), randomly placed between the molar teeth, and 1 sham test (without foil), asking the participants whether they felt the foil between their teeth. Afterwards, orthodontic separators were placed, and subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups: Group Pain (GP: 18 males; 14 females mean age 25.22 ± 2.28 years) had separators removed after 24 h; Group Strain (GS: 14 males; 17 females, mean age 24.03 ± 3.06 years) had separators removed after 7 days. The OTA measurement was repeated in both groups immediately after orthodontic separators removal (T1). A within-group comparison (T1 vs T0) was performed for each testing thickness (ANOVA for repeated measurements, with Bonferroni correction for multiple testing) (p < 0.005). Results: GP showed statistically significant reduction of the OTA at T1, as compared to T0, for the thicknesses 24 μm (p = 0.004) and 32 μm (p = 0.001). No significant reduction was observed in GS (all p > 0.005). Conclusions: Acute periodontal pain tends to disturb the tactile ability of the teeth, while strain of the PDL in absence of painful sensation determines a return to OTA baseline values. Clinical relevance: The reduction of OTA might explain the uncomfortable occlusal sensation referred by patients during acute periodontal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the effect of confinement media and ablative coating, laser shock processing (LSP) is a surface modification processing with properties of high efficiency, cleaning, and non-pollution. At room temperature, water is used as the common confinement media and black tape is used as ablative coating in LSP. However, due to the instability of water and black tape at high temperature, warm laser shock processing (WLSP) favors silicone oil as confinement media and aluminum foil as ablative coating, where aluminum foil is pasted on specimen surface by thin vacuum grease. Due to the differences in confinement media and ablative coating, this work focuses on the effect of confinement media and ablative coating on surface quality and mechanical property of FGH98 powder material treated by LSP. FGH98 specimens were strengthened by LSP at room temperature with different confinement medias and ablative coatings. Three groups were divided based on confinement media and ablative coating: water+black tape, water+aluminum foil, and silicone oil+aluminum foil. The group of black tape and silicone oil was removed for the absence of practical significance in engineering. 2D and 3D surface topography was observed by white-light interference surface profilometer (WLI). In addition, surface microhardness and compressive residual stress were determined. The results show that a circular pit is induced by LSP, and its shape is similar to the shape of the Gaussian curve. Compared with the other groups, the 2D surface topography of the circular pit section in the silicone oil+aluminum foil group is smoother, which would delay crack initiation. After LSP treatment, surface microhardness is improved by 7.8-10.6%, and compressive residual stress raises from 355MPa to 896MPa in the first group. According to the comparison of residual stress and surface quality, the effect of confinement media and ablative coating groups on laser shock pressure is ranked in order: water+black tape > water+aluminum foil > silicone oil+aluminum foil. The main reasons for that group order are that shock pressure may be consumed by grease cream and the reduced acoustic impedance of silicone oil is lower than that of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]