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Pulsed Nd:YAG laser beam welding was performed at five different power levels (360 W, 380 W, 400 W, 420 W and 440 W), and the relationship between microstructure and nano creep behaviour was investigated for Ti5Al2.5Sn alloy. Microstructural analysis indicated a reduction in grain size in fusion zone, with an increase in the average laser power. In the fusion zone (FZ) of all the beads, acicular α and ά martensite were observed and confirmed by SEM analysis. Due to the formation of the α and ά phases during welding, the microhardness and nanohardness in the FZ increased by ∼71% and ∼58%, respectively, above that of the base alloy. Nano creep analysis suggested diffusional creep as the deformation mechanism in all the beads, except the one performed at an average power of 440 W since its stress exponent was less than 2.

In the present work, an autogenous TIG welding technique was used to join 2 mm thick sheets of a TiNi binary shape-memory alloy at three different values of current (80 A, 90 A and 100 A). The effects of the welding current on microstructures, residual stresses, mechanical properties and nano-mechanical behaviour were investigated. Microstructure analysis revealed that with an increase in current, the columnar grain size decreased, which had a significant effect on mechanical properties. The tensile strength of the weldment at 100 A was ∼92% of that base alloy’s (BA) and elongation of approx. 14%. The reduction in elongation was due to the formation of Ti2Ni and Ti3Ni4 type precipitates. The microhardness profile in all the weldments showed an increase of approx. 30% between the base alloy and the fusion zone due to the formation of Ti2Ni and Ti3Ni4 type precipitates during welding. Residual stress analysis suggested the tensile residual stresses in the longitudinal direction are minimum in the weldment performed at 100 A. The nanoindentation results revealed that the weldment obtained at 100 A had the least plastic deformation (∼45.5% less than the 80 A weldment) owing to a decrease in inter-dendritic spacing and high proportion of IMCs: Ti2Ni and metastable Ni4Ti3.

A study has been conducted to evaluate the mechanical and fatigue crack propagation properties of wire + arc additively manufactured ER70S-6 components. A parallel-built deposition strategy was employed to fabricate the additively manufactured wall. The hardness values were slightly higher at the bottom and top of the wall due to the presence of Widmanstätten ferrite and carbides. The characterization of mechanical properties in both orientations; parallel and perpendicular to the deposition direction showed a marginal difference in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. The crack growth rates were correlated with linear elastic fracture mechanics parameter ΔK and compared with an oscillation-built deposition strategy from the literature. The crack growth rates of both deposition strategies were found to be very similar to each other. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the variability in the crack growth histories can be reasonably well captured by using the NASGRO crack growth equation.

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of sales managers’ aggressiveness on ethical sales leadership and salesperson performance in B2B context, taking into consideration the sequential mediation of emotional labor and adaptive selling behavior. Sales managers spend most of their time in solving salesforce-related issues, while empirical studies have largely neglected such factors that can have negative consequences on salesforce-related tasks. In order to overcome this gap in the literature, we draw from conservation of resources (COR) theory to introduce and establish an advanced theoretical paradigm. The authors tested the model through 336 responses from B2B salesperson-manager dyads. The findings of the study reveal that sales managers’ aggressiveness has a negative association with ethical sales leadership. Also, sales managers’ aggressiveness is positively related to emotional exhaustion and negatively related to salesperson performance. Consequently, we found significant serial mediation of ethical sales leadership and adaptive selling behavior between the relationship of sales managers’ aggressiveness and salesperson performance. In last, manager decisiveness is playing as a significant moderator in the study. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are also discussed.

Due to China's massive usage of fossil fuels, climate change concerns have become serious challenges to the country's sustainable development. Despite the fact that China has effectively employed solar technology to address these problems, there is a paucity of research examining consumers' intention to adopt solar energy in the rural region of China. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature by studying consumers' buying intentions for solar energy in rural China for household purposes. Additionally, the study added to the theory of planned behavior by adding three new variables, namely, environmental knowledge, environmental concern, and beliefs about the benefits of solar energy. Primary data were collected from 847 respondents in Hebei Province using a comprehensive questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the data. Empirical results revealed that attitude, environmental knowledge, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and beliefs about the benefits of solar energy positively influence buying intention of solar energy. On the contrary, environmental concern had no significant effect on buying intention for solar energy. Study outcomes emphasize the critical significance of changing societal norms, boosting consumer awareness, redesigning regulatory mechanisms, and stressing the benefits provided by solar power through coherent and persistent efforts while simultaneously enhancing environmental sustainability practices.

The main purpose of this research work is to synthesize polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole (PPy)-cadmium oxide (CdO) nanocomposites with different concentrations by using in-situ chemical polymerization method. Thin films of the synthesized composites were prepared by doctor blade method. The samples were characterized by XRD technique and four probe method to find the structure and electrical conductivity of the prepared (PPy-CdO) nanocomposites. The XRD of PPy shows amorphous nature due to single broad peak. XRD of pure CdO shows crystalline nature due to sharp peaks. In the XRD of (PPy-CdO) nanocomposites, sharp peaks are obtained which shows the crystalline nature of composites. As the concentration of CdO is increasing, the sharp peaks shift towards lower angles and d-spacing is increasing that may attribute to increase in crystallite size of nanocomposites. The DC electrical conductivity of nanocomposites was calculated by four- probe method at room temperature. Results reveal that by increasing the concentration of CdO in PPy, the conductivity of the nanocomposite is also increasing. Schottky diode characteristics were taken by two probe method. From the obtained I–V curves, it was concluded that only space charge limited current (SCLC) holds in our case at higher voltages which is suitable for Schottky diode applications.

Drawing on the motivation, opportunity and ability (MOA) framework, we investigate the influence of charismatic leadership on salespeople’s service and sales activities—termed service-sales ambidextrous (SSA) behavior, which subsequently turn into service recovery performance outcomes. The primary aim of this research is to strengthen salespeople’s service quality in parallel to their selling activities while recovering a service failure. We validate the model using a sample of 344 business-to-business salespeople using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. Study results show that charismatic leadership is positively and significantly related to service-sales ambidexterity. Likewise, service-sales ambidexterity has a positive and significant relationship with service recovery performance and adaptive selling behavior. Moreover, we found a significant relationship between adaptive selling behavior and service recovery performance. The results further specify that salesperson motivation, opportunity and ability to engage in SSA significantly moderate the relationship between charismatic leadership and service-sales ambidexterity. The results suggest the need for training programs that provide the salesperson with opportunities to understand the simultaneous implementation of selling strategies while also providing customer services.