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Through a three-factor, two-level orthogonal experiment, the effects of varying electrical parameters (voltage, frequency, and duty cycle) on the thickness, pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, morphology, and phase composition of the micro-arc oxidized film of aluminum foil in constant voltage mode were investigated. The aluminum foil was oxidized by micro-arc oxidation for 50 min. Eddy-current thickness gauges were used to measure the oxide film's thickness, TV characterization testers were used to test the film's resistance to pressure, kinetic potential polarization curves were used to examine the oxide film's resistance to electrochemical corrosion, and SEM and XRD composition were used to examine the microstructures and phase compositions of the oxide films that were produced. The oxide film's thickness was increased from 7 μm to 22 μm and the voltage was increased from 350 V to 450 V. The oxide film's ramp-up time at a frequency and duty cycle of 2000 Hz and 15% could reach 3 s, and the resistance value could reach 98% of the micro-arc oxidation voltage. The oxide film's icorr decreased by an order of magnitude at high voltage compared to low voltage and the Rp value increased by an order of magnitude, which improved the corrosion resistance. The oxide film's thickness increased as the voltage increased. Meanwhile, SEM was used to enhance the corrosion resistance. The oxide film thickens as the voltage increases. At the same voltage, the oxide film with a high frequency and low duty cycle has the best voltage resistance. The oxide film generated under high-voltage conditions has regular and dense surface holes, the oxide film's α-Al2O3 phase increases, and the corrosion resistance in the NaCl medium is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and hardware implementation of an efficient and optimal induction heating circuit for induction sealing. The circuit has a low implementation cost, so the proposed system with a simple and efficient structure can cover the needs of this technology field. Here, the focus is on the implementation process and practical tips in this field. The proposed induction sealing circuit uses zero-voltage switching technology with parallel MOSFETs. In this structure, by using inductors and capacitors with appropriate tolerable current and voltage, it can provide the power and frequency of the output signal applied to the induction coil for various applications. The use of transistors with suitable current capability makes the circuit appropriate for applications that require stronger magnetic fields. In addition, the induction coil has an elliptical structure, which makes it efficient for sealing a wide range of bottles. It is constructed using Litz wire to reduce power loss in the coil. In the presented structure, the frequency of the output signal is equal to 31 kHz, which is suitable for creating an eddy current in the aluminum foil in the bottle caps. The circuit has been tested and investigated and has acceptable sealing for various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation, storing biological material in liquid nitrogen (LN, −196 °C), offers a valuable option for the long-term conservation of non-orthodox seeds and vegetatively propagated species in the sector of agrobiodiversity and wild flora. Although the large-scale cryobanking of germplasm collections has been increasing worldwide, the wide application of cryopreservation protocols in wild flora is hampered by difficulties in vitro propagation and a lack of universal cryopreservation protocols, among others. This study established a systematic approach to developing an in vitro culture and droplet-vitrification cryopreservation procedure for shoot tips of Scrophularia kakudensis. The standard procedure includes a two-step preculture with 10% sucrose for 31 h and with 17.5% sucrose for 16 h, osmoprotection with loading solution C4-35% (17.5% glycerol + 17.5% sucrose, w/v) for 30 min, cryoprotection with A3-80% (33.3% glycerol + 13.3% dimethyl sulfoxide + 13.3% ethylene glycol + 20.1% sucrose, w/v) at 0 °C for 60 min, and cooling and rewarming using aluminum foil strips. After unloading, a three-step regrowth procedure starting with an ammonium-free medium with growth regulators was essential for developing normal plantlets from cryopreserved shoot tips. Liquid overlay on the gelled medium two weeks after inoculation resulted in vigorous growth during subcultures. Moreover, liquid overlay increased LN regeneration by up to 80%, i.e., 23% higher than no liquid overlay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ironing roll is vital equipment in the production of wide aluminum foil, which has a significant impact on the wrinkling defects of aluminum foil during the winding process of the cleaning production line. In this paper, wrinkling defects in 4N6 aluminum foils were improved using the ABAQUS finite element software 2020. A dynamic simulation model of the aluminum foil winding process was established. The ethics model first analyzed the causes of wrinkling during the aluminum foil coiling process. Then the influence of each factor on aluminum foil wrinkling was studied for the effect of ironing pressure, ironing roll deviation, the friction coefficient between the ironing roll and the aluminum foil, and the shape of the ironing roll on the wrinkling of the aluminum foil. The friction coefficients between aluminum foil coils and the uneven distribution of coiling tension have different effects on the wrinkling of aluminum foil. By selecting the optimal process parameters, it is possible to improve the forming quality of the aluminum foil sheet and to reduce the wrinkling faults in the winding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrusion-based polymer three-dimensional (3D) printing, specifically fused deposition modeling (FDM), has been garnering increasing interest from industry, as well as from the research and academic communities, due to its low cost, high speed, and process simplicity. However, bed adhesion failure remains an obstacle to diversifying the materials and expanding the industrial applications of the FDM 3D-printing process. Therefore, this study focused on an investigation of the surface treatment methods for aluminum (Al) foil and their applications to 3D printer beds to enhance the bed adhesion of a 3D-printed polymer filament. Two methods of etching with sodium hydroxide and anodization with phosphoric acid were individually used for the surface treatment of the Al foil beds and then compared with an untreated foil. The etching process removed the oxide layer from the Al foil and increased its surface roughness, while the anodizing process enhanced the amount of hydroxide functional groups and contributed to the formation of nano-holes. As a result, the surface-anodized aluminum foil exhibited a higher affinity and bonding strength with the 3D-printed polymers compared with the etched and pristine foils. Through the increase in the success rate in 3D printing with various polymers, it became evident that utilizing surface-treated Al foil as a 3D printer bed presents an economical solution to addressing bed adhesion failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al) and its alloys have been widely used in daily life, but the absence of antibacterial properties makes them potential vectors for bacterial transmission. In this study, an Ag-doped TiO2 coating was successfully prepared on the porous surface of etched Al foil using the sol-gel method. The results indicated that the porous layer allowed the gel to permeate through the holes, thereby forming an interface carrying these antibacterial agents with a thickness of about 10 μm. The Ag dopant promoted the transformation of titania from rutile to anatase during the calcination process, with the rutile being absent when the atomic ratio of Ag to Ti reached 0.10. Meanwhile, the doped Ag+ was thermally decomposed into metallic Ag0. As a result, doping Ag enhanced the photocatalytic efficacy of TiO2 coating. Moreover, the antibacterial rate of this coating against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under dark conditions could reach more than 99%, and the corrosion resistance of the Al foil was also slightly improved by it.

The carbon-coated aluminum foil (CCAF) was employed to tune the interactions of organic molecules and current collectors with outstanding sodium storage in sodium ion battery. As expected, THQAP-CCAF electrodes delivered high specific capacity and superior rate performance. [Display omitted] Organic molecular electrode materials are promising candidates in batteries. However, direct application of small molecule materials usually suffers from drastic capacity decay and inefficient utilization of active materials because of their high solubility in organic electrolytes and low electrical conductivity. Herein, a simple strategy is found to address the above issues through coating the small-molecule organic materials on a commercialized carbon-coated aluminum foil (CCAF) as the enhanced electrode. Both the experimental and calculation results confirm that the relatively rough carbon coating on the aluminum foil not only exhibits superior adsorption capacity of small-molecule organic electrode materials with a tight contact interface but also provides continuous electronic conduction channels for the facilitated charge transfer and accelerated reaction kinetics. In addition, the carbon coating also inhibits Al corrosion in electrochemical process. As a result, by using the tetrahydroxy quinone-fused aza-phenazine (THQAP) molecule as an example, the THQAP-CCAF electrode exhibits an excellent rate performance with a high capacity of 220 and 180 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 2 A/g, respectively, and also a remarkable cyclability with a capacity retention of 77.3% even after 1700 cycles in sodium-ion batteries. These performances are much more superior than that of batteries with the THQAP on bare aluminum foil (THQAP-AF). This work provides a substantial step in the practical application of the small-molecule organic electrode materials for future sustainable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To be CMOS-compatible, a low preparation temperature (<500 °C) for ferroelectric films is required. In this study, BiFeO3 films were successfully fabricated at a low annealing temperature (<450 °C) on aluminum foils by a metal–organic decomposition process. The effect of the annealing atmosphere on the performance of BiFeO3 films was assessed at 440 ± 5 °C. By using a N2-rich atmosphere, a large remnant polarization (Pr~78.1 μC/cm2 @ 1165.2 kV/cm), and a high rectangularity (~91.3% @ 1165.2 kV/cm) of the P-E loop, excellent charge-retaining ability of up to 1.0 × 103 s and outstanding fatigue resistance after 1.0 × 109 switching cycles could be observed. By adopting a N2-rich atmosphere and aluminum foil substrates, acceptable electrical properties (Pr~70 μC/cm2 @ 1118.1 kV/cm) of the BiFeO3 films were achieved at the very low annealing temperature of 365 ± 5 °C. These results offer a new approach for lowering the annealing temperature for integrated ferroelectrics in high-density FeRAM applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights for the first‐time the utilization of nickel foam coated with activated carbon (AC) via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method in the fabrication of A7 sized pouch cell supercapacitors. The scale‐up of electrodes via EPD from coin to pouch cells with mass loadings (10 mg cm−2) and thicknesses (>130 μm) that match industrial standards is also reported. Research investigations include: (a) comparison of a two dimensional (2D) aluminum foil current collector's performance with three dimensional (3D) microporous nickel foam current collectors, (b) impact of EPD of AC onto small (10 cm2) and large areas (50 cm2) of nickel foam, and (c) scaling‐up of coin to pouch cells along with a comparison against electrodes prepared via the standard doctor blade coating (or slurry casting) method. We demonstrate practical cell performance, including specific current loading (40 A g−1), hundred thousand of successive charge and discharge operation (150,000 cycles), power (27 kW kg−1) and energy densities (37.7 W h kg−1), capacitance (174 F g−1), capacitance retention (80 %) and coulombic efficiency (close to 100 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article aims to improve the specific capacitance of DC-etched Al foil for Al electrolytic capacitors by forming an Al2O3-TiO2 composite anodic oxide film. DC-etched Al foils for aluminum electrolytic capacitors were immersed in a TiO2 precursor sol, followed by calcination and anodizing to manufacture a TiO2-Al2O3 composite anodic oxide film. TiO2 precursor sol–gel particles after calcination were analyzed by XRD. During anodization, the anode potential with time was measured by a digital meter. A scanning electron microscope, electrochemical impedance measurements, and a general digital LCR meter were adopted to explore the microstructure and property of the anodic oxide films. The specific capacitance for the TiO2-Al2O3 composite anodic oxide film and a pure Al anodic one is 3.013 μF/cm2 and 2.435 μF/cm2 at C60V, respectively. The thickness is 87.26 nm for the former and 177.65 nm for the latter. The results show that the TiO2-Al2O3 composite anodic oxide film is about 51% thinner than the single Al anodic film, accounting for a large improvement in specific capacitance. The formation efficiency of the pretreated sample is much higher than that of the blank sample, owing to the pre-deposited TiO2 layer and thermal Al oxide layer. However, the composite anodic oxide film's specific resistance was reduced and its dielectric loss was also aggravated, resulting from the doping-introduced structural defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

This study investigates a novel leaf sheet snack from liang, an indigenous vegetable in Southern Thailand. The prepared snack has high protein, fiber, calcium, and vitamins A and B2. Storage conditions and packaging impact its shelf life. Based on the calculation, laminated aluminum foil extended shelf life to 1 year at 30°C and relative humidity (RH) of 60%. Moisture absorption during storage led to physicochemical changes, including reduced vitamin content, while total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity remained stable. Microbiological quality was acceptable over a period of 12 weeks but high RH during storage deteriorated sensory attributes. Liang leaves showed promise of being a functional food ingredient. [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]

While alkaline Zn batteries, like traditional rechargeable aqueous batteries, boast an advantage in terms of energy density, their progress has been hampered by concerns related to the anode. These concerns include issues like Zn dendrites, self‐corrosion, passivation, shape change, and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To tackle these challenges, we have introduced a nanostructuring approach for the anode, employing carbon‐coated ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO@C) as the active material. In this study, we synthesized ZnO@C nanoparticles in an environmentally sustainable and scalable manner to address passivation and dissolution issues jointly. Nanoscale ZnO particles effectively prevent passivation, while carbon shell slows down the dissolution of zincate. The Zn anode exhibits a significant performance boost when compared to Zn foil and bare ZnO nanoparticles, even when subjected to demanding conditions (without the use of ZnO‐saturated electrolyte). This rechargeable Zn anode marks a significant step toward the realization of practical, high‐energy rechargeable aqueous batteries, such as Zn‐air batteries. [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]

Common kitchen wraps like plastic and aluminum foil create significant environmental burdens. Plastic wrap, typically made from non-renewable fossil fuels, often ends up in landfills for centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics. Aluminum foil, while effective, requires a large amount of energy to produce, and recycling it at home can be impractical due to food residue. A promising new alternative, low-nitrosamine rubber wrap film, aims to reduce waste by offering a reusable option compared to traditional single-use plastic wrap. The film is environmentally friendly, durable, and effective in sealing containers and keeping food fresh or crispy. The raw materials used to make the product were studied, namely fresh and concentrated natural rubber latex. No nitrosamines were found in either the fresh or concentrated latex, which is important as nitrosamines are known to be carcinogenic. The absence of nitrosamines in the raw materials suggests that the universal rubber wrap film is safe for use. In this study, the rubber formulation and properties of rubber used to make rubber wrap film were studied. The content of additives affecting the rubber properties was varied to find the optimum rubber formulation for making rubber wrap films. The rubber formulation with the least amount of chemicals that met the following criteria was selected: tensile strength of at least 15 MPa, elongation at break of at least 600%, and nitrosamine content below 6 ppm. It was found experimentally that the optimum rubber formulation for making a translucent rubber film had 0.7 phr zinc oxide and 1.0 phr sulfur. Performance tests revealed the rubber wrap film's superior sealing capabilities. Its elasticity allows for a tighter fit on containers, effectively conforming to various shapes and creating an optimal seal compared to plastic wrap and aluminum foil. The results of this study provide valuable information for developing a universal rubber wrap film that is safe with low nitrosamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] This study presents a novel Aluminium foil-based electrode characterized by its affordability, flexibility, and ease of modification with carboxylic moiety-containing organic molecules. Upon foil modification with Aluminium nanoparticles and EDTA (AlNP-EDTA/AlE), the modified electrode exhibits remarkable activity in the oxidation of lead at potentials around −0.4 V. The lead signal is derived from the oxidation of lead deposited on the electrode surface using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The addition of EDTA to AlNP/AlE increased the anodic peak current of lead by more than 500 %. The surface characterization of the electrode was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR), while its electroactive properties were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Optimal operating parameters include pH 2.1, square-wave voltammetry (SWV) with an accumulation time of 60 s and an accumulation potential of −0.8 V. A low detection limit of 0.20 µmol/L and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.0 % were achieved using five different electrodes. The effectiveness of AlNP-EDTA/AlE was further demonstrated with consistent results in biological samples spiked with Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with technology of manufacturing of microwave absorbers with ordered and structured surface layer. This layer contains Möbius strip resonators, located on the fixed distance from each other. The technology was developed by the authors on the base of the following data: 1) results of theoretical study of microwaves interaction with Möbius strip resonator; 2) results of experimental study of electromagnetic radiation reflection, transmission and absorption coefficients in the microwave frequency range of the experimental samples of microwave absorbers based on Möbius strip resonators, which differ by the distance between these resonators. It was established on the base to the listed results that the microwave absorbers manufactured in accordance to the technology proposed by the authors are wideband ones. Electromagnetic radiation absorption coefficient values of these absorbers changes from 0.5 to 0.97 in frequency range 2.0–17.0 GHz if the distance between the Möbius strip resonators containing in their surface layer, is 15.0 mm. If the distance between the Möbius strip resonators containing in the surface layer of the considered absorbers is less than 15.0 mm their electromagnetic radiation absorption coefficient in the indicated frequency bands is lower than presented values. The considered absorbers are promising for use in shielded rooms and anechoic chambers.

This research was conducted to study upgrading bio-crude oil (BCO) produced by pyrolysis of palm oil without the use of a catalyst, using protonated zeolite-Y designated as H-Y. Preparation of H-Y was carried out by subjecting zeolite-Y synthesized from rice husk silica (RHS) and food grade aluminium foil (FGAF) to a cation exchange process using ammonium nitrate solution with different concentrations of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 M to obtain (H-Y) samples with different protonation extents. To confirm the formation of Na-Y, the sample was characterized using XRD and SEM, and to evaluate the protonation, the Na-Y and H-Y samples were analyzed using XRF. Characterization using XRD showed that the Na-Y sample is faujasite, which is the characteristic phase of zeolite-Y, and supported by the existence of particles with octahedral structure as seen by SEM. Successful protonation resulted in a reduction of Na content up to 89.948% from that of the Na-Y, which was demonstrated by the XRF results. Catalytic upgrading experiments demonstrated that H-Y zeolites functioned to increase the bio-hydrocarbon content from 80.23% in the BCO to practically 100% in the upgraded oil. In addition, no acids were identified in the upgraded fuels, implying that H-Y zeolite is a promising catalyst for BCO upgrading for bio-hydrocarbon enrichment of the oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize an electron beam, visible synchrotron light is often used and dedicated beamlines at synchrotron sources are becoming a more common feature as instruments and methods for the diagnostics are, along with the accelerators, further developed. At KARA (Karlsruhe Research Accelerator), such a beamline exists and is based on a typical infrared/visible-light configuration. From experience at such beamlines no significant radiation was expected (dose rates larger than 0.5 µSv h-1). This was found not to be the case and a higher dose was measured which fortunately could be shielded to an acceptable level with 0.3 mm of aluminium foil or 2.0 mm of Pyrex glass. The presence of this radiation led to further investigation by both experiment and calculation. A custom setup using a silicon drift detector for energy-dispersive spectroscopy (Ketek GmbH) and attenuation experiments showed the radiation to be predominantly copper K-shell fluorescence and is confirmed by calculation. The measurement of secondary radiation from scattering of synchrotron and other radiation, and its calculation, is important for radiation protection, and, although a lot of experience exists and methods for radiation protection are well established, changes in machine, beamlines and experiments mean a constant appraisal is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the amount and type of microplastics in different milk samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sample collection was done from branded, dairy, and directly from the cow shed and was then transferred to a conical flask. Containers were wrapped with aluminum foil to avoid contamination of the samples. A total of 100 mL of 5% sodium chloride solution was added to 200 mL of milk sample, rotated for 2 min, and was kept to undergo density separation for 15 min in a water bath. Whatman filter paper Grade I of pore size 11 µm is used for filtration. The samples were filtered using a vacuum filtration setup with a vacuum pressure of 0.5 bar pressure and stored in clean Petri dishes. These were kept in a hot air oven for drying at 60°C for 3 h and at room temperature for 24 h for complete drying of the filter paper. RESULTS: Fourier transform infrared analyses determined that the polystyrene type of microplastics was higher, showing red, blue, violet, and green colors by microscopic analysis. CONCLUSION: Three categories of milk samples (branded, dairy, and cowshed) were taken and analyzed, the results showed more microplastics in branded milk packets than in dairy and fresh cowshed milk samples which are lower than other food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite material composed of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO), carbon (C), and magnesium oxide (MgO) was developed for CO2 capture applications. Inspired by the bryophyte organism, the AAO/C/MgO composite mirrors two primary features of these species—(1) morphological characteristics and (2) elemental composition—specifically carbon, oxygen, and magnesium. The synthesis process involved two sequential steps: electroanodization of aluminum foil followed by a hydrothermal method using a mixture of glucose and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). The concentration of MgCl2 was systematically varied as the sole experimental variable across five levels—1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, 4 mM, and 5 mM—to investigate the impact of MgO formation on the samples' chemical and physical properties, and consequently, their CO2 capture efficiency. Thus, scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the AAO substrate's porous structure, with pore diameters measuring 250 ± 30 nm. The growth of MgO on the AAO substrate resulted in spherical structures, whose diameter expanded from 15 nm ± 3 nm to 1000 nm ± 250 nm with increasing MgCl2 concentration from the minor to major concentrations explored, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that carbon serves as a linking agent between AAO and MgO within the composite. Notably, the composite synthesized with a 4 mM MgCl2 concentration exhibited the highest CO2 capture efficiency, as determined by UV-Vis absorbance studies using a sodium carbonate solution as the CO2 source. This efficiency was quantified with a 'k' constant of 0.10531, significantly higher than those of other studied samples. The superior performance of the 4 mM MgCl2 sample in CO2 capture is likely due to the optimal density of MgO structures formed on the sample's surface, enhancing its adsorptive capabilities as suggested by the XPS results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the potential application of hollow glass beads (HGB) compounded with graphene oxide (GO, HGB@GO) to improve the mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). This HGB@GO/RPUF composite is considered a potential filler for reinforcing aluminum honeycomb (AH). A characterization of the chemical structure and surface morphology of HGB@GO was conducted, as well as the analysis of its effect on the compression properties of the foam. The compressive strength of HGB@GO/RPUF (4 wt. %) is 146.17% higher than that of pure RPUF. This study also compared the deformation modes of AH and foam-filled honeycomb (F-AH) structure under axial crushing. The interaction effects between the foam and AH were also analyzed. The results indicated that the RPUF improves the compressive capacity and deformation stability of the AH through its good compression properties and interaction with the aluminum foil. The use of HGB@GO/RPUF further enhances the energy absorption characteristics of the F-AH. In comparison with the pure RPUF-AH, the total and specific energy absorption of the HGB@GO/RPUF (4 wt. %)-AH increase by 74.65% and 44.98%, respectively. This work demonstrates that the prepared HGB@GO can enhance the mechanical properties of RPUF, and HGB@GO/RPUF-AH is expected to be a desirable energy-absorbing device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic Foil Friction Stir Welding (MFFSW) was newly developed from the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) technique. Magnesium (Mg) alloys were the most trending alloys in the aerospace, automobile, and biomedical industries. This study aims to investigate the variation in mechanical, corrosive, microstructural, and fractographic properties of MFFSW as a process innovation when compared with FSW. The metallic foil of pure manganese (Mn) with a thickness of 500 μm was inserted between two AZ61 Mg alloys. The tensile strength, impact strength, and hardness were noted as mechanical properties of the output. Potentiodynamic corrosion tests were performed to reveal the corrosion properties. An optical microscope was used to examine a distinct transverse section of the weld. Fractography tests with scanning electron microscopic analysis were conducted on destructive tensile specimens. The ultimate tensile strength, impact energy, yield strength, and microhardness increased to 16%, 32%, 12%, and 19.17%, respectively, compared to FSW. MMFSW shows a lower elongation of up to 33% than FSW. MMFSW (9.61 mm/A) shows a lower corrosion rate than FSW (11.02 mm/A), which employs improved corrosion properties. Optical microscopy images of the stir zone in both MFFSW and FSW revealed that adding a Mn alloying element improved grain growth uniformity and eliminated unexpected grain growth patterns. Hence, the experiment's conclusion shows that MFFSW has the edge over FSW for mechanical and corrosion properties. Thus, the Mn strip improves the properties of MFFSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulation status of oil-impregnated paper (OIP) bushings directly indicates their operational condition. Damp defects constitute the primary factor contributing to the deterioration of oil-paper insulation. In this paper, the overall moisture distribution of capacitor cores with three damp defects (steady-state, transient, anzd tail moisture damp defect) and its effect on the electric field were studied. A moisture diffusion model for OIP bushing was established based on Finite Element Method (FEM) software, and it was also verified by moisture diffusion experiments. Then, the overall moisture distribution of the capacitor core under three damp defects was investigated. The findings indicate significant variation in the overall moisture distribution of the capacitor core influenced by factors such as aluminum foil and temperature. Furthermore, the relative permittivity of the oilimpregnated paper was computed. Subsequently, the impact of various moisture-induced defects on the electric field was determined. Simulation results unveiled distortion in the electric field of each electrode within the capacitor core. Specifically, the electric field of the zero electrode increased, while that of the outermost electrode decreased in all three damp defect scenarios. The conclusions drawn can thus be used for intelligent operation and condition assessment of OIP bushings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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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]

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has attracted great attention in the field of disease diagnostics for many years. Yet, the clinical translation of FT-IR spectroscopy has been rather slow because of several bottlenecks. This work explores the potential of aluminum foil-assisted attenuated total reflectance-FT-IR (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, which is a simple and economical FT-IR sampling technique, to detect acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by gentamicin in a rat model. It was found that partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) could successfully discriminate between the AKI status and the healthy status with the plasma samples of the rats. An in-depth discussion on the advantages of aluminum-foil-assisted ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy in FT-IR-based disease diagnostics is also provided., Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a rapid, non-invasive, and label-free analytical technology and has attracted great attention in the field of disease diagnostics for many years (1-6). As a [...]