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Introduction With similar prevalence to injuries from fires, stings, and natural disasters, soft tissue injuries may occur from fireworks, industrial accidents, or other explosives. Surgeons are less familiar with treating high-velocity penetration from small debris, which may increase the chance of infection and subsequent fatality. Penetration risk curves have been developed to predict V50, the velocity with 50% probability of penetration, for various sized projectiles. However, there has been limited research using nonmetallic materials to achieve lower density projectiles less than 1 g cm−2, such as sand or rocks. Material and Methods To emulate the size and density of these energized particles, 14 ball bearings of stainless steel, silicon nitride, or Delrin acetal plastic ranging from 1.59 mm (1/16") to 9.53 mm (3/8") with sectional densities between 0.3 g cm−2 and 5  g cm−2 were launched toward porcine legs at a range of velocities to determine the penetration thresholds. High-speed videography was captured laterally at 40 kHz and impact velocity was captured using a physics-based tracking software. A generalized linear model with repeated measures and a logit link function was used to predict probability of penetration for each projectile. A total of 600 impacts were conducted to achieve at least 15 penetrating impacts for each projectile over a range of velocities. Results Higher impact velocities were required to penetrate the skin as sectional density of the projectile decreased, and the relationship between velocity and sectional density exhibited an exponential relationship (V 50, |$ = 184.6*S{D^{ - 0.385}}$|⁠ , R 2 = 0.95) with substantial change for nonlinearity in sectional densities ranging from 0.3 g cm−2 to 1  g cm−2. Compared to previous studies, the empirical relationship was consistent in the linear region (2-5  g cm−2), and novel experimentation filled in the gaps for sectional densities less than 1  g cm−2, which expressed more nonlinearity than previously estimated. For low-density projectiles with diameters of 1.59 (1/16") or 3.18 (1/8"), 32 impacts were lodged into the epidermis but did not penetrate through the dermis; however, penetration was defined as displacement into or through the dermis. Conclusions These experimental results may be used to develop and validate finite element simulations of low-density projectile impacts to address complex, multivariate loading conditions for the development of protective clothing to reduce wounding and subsequent infection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of ab initio descriptors derived from density functional theory simulations is systematically investigated in comparison to traditional compositional descriptors for the ability to predict glass properties utilizing machine learning algorithms. Two datasets are used for this purpose: an extensive, publicly available database involving a wide range of oxide glasses, and a small in‐house dataset covering a broader collection of inorganic glasses from metallic to non‐metallic materials. For the larger dataset, it was demonstrated that ab initio descriptors offer a substantial reduction in input dimensionality while retaining nearly equivalent predictive performance when compared to the compositional descriptors. The combination of ab initio and compositional descriptors showed an improvement in prediction accuracy. For the smaller dataset, the ab initio‐derived descriptors performed significantly better than the compositional descriptors, providing a valuable tool to improve glass property prediction in settings where the availability of data is limited. Furthermore, ab initio‐derived descriptors are not only computationally inexpensive and allow extrapolation beyond the training composition space but also facilitate model interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research collaboration between PCI and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on next-generation materials for architectural precast insulated wall panels. The project aimed to develop lighter panels with higher thermal performance and a shorter production time. The research focused on developing a concrete mixture with reduced density and early tensile strength, as well as noncorroding inserts for the panels. The collaboration has led to further research opportunities in the precast concrete industry. [Extracted from the article]

The advancement of economical and readily available electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) holds paramount importance in the advancement of fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. Recently, 2D non‐metallic materials have obtained substantial attention as viable alternatives for ORR catalysts due to their manifold advantages, encompassing low cost, ample availability, substantial surface‐to‐volume ratio, high conductivity, exceptional durability, and competitive activity. The augmented ORR performances observed in metal‐free 2D materials typically arise from heteroatom doping, defects, or the formation of heterostructures. Here, the authors delve into the realm of electrocatalysts for the ORR, pivoting around metal‐free 2D materials. Initially, the merits of metal‐free 2D materials are explored and the reaction mechanism of the ORR is dissected. Subsequently, a comprehensive survey of diverse metal‐free 2D materials is presented, tracing their evolutionary journey from fundamental concepts to pragmatic applications in the context of ORR. Substantial importance is given on the exploration of various strategies for enhancing metal‐free 2D materials and assessing their impact on inherent material performance, including electronic properties. Finally, the challenges and future prospects that lie ahead for metal‐free 2D materials are underscored, as they aspire to serve as efficient ORR electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (CN), as a nonmetallic photocatalyst, has gained considerable attention for its cost‐effectiveness and environmentally friendly nature in catalyzing solar‐driven CO2 conversion into valuable products. However, the photocatalytic efficiency of CO2 reduction with CN remains low, accompanied by challenges in achieving desirable product selectivity. To address these limitations, a two‐step hydrothermal‐calcination tandem synthesis strategy is presented, introducing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into CN and forming ultra‐thin CQD/CN nanosheets. The integration of CQDs induces a distinct work function with CN, creating a robust interface electric field after the combination. This electric field facilitates the accumulation of photoelectrons in the CQDs region, providing an abundant source of reduced electrons for the photocatalytic process. Remarkably, the CQD/CN nanosheets exhibit an average CO yield of 120 µmol g−1, showcasing an outstanding CO selectivity of 92.8%. The discovery in the work not only presents an innovative pathway for the development of high‐performance photocatalysts grounded in non‐metallic CN materials employing CQDs but also opens new avenues for versatile application prospects in environmental protection and sustainable cleaning energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of slag inclusion defects in welds is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing the integrity, safety, and prolonged service life of welded structures. Most research focuses on different kinds of weld defects, but branch research on categories of slag inclusion material is limited and critical for safeguarding the quality of engineering and the well-being of personnel. To address this issue, we design a simulated method using ultrasonic testing to identify the inclusion of material categories in austenitic stainless steel. It is based on a simulated experiment in a water environment, and six categories of cubic specimens, including four metallic and two non-metallic materials, are selected to simulate the slag materials of the inclusion defects. Variational mode decomposition optimized by particle swarm optimization is employed for ultrasonic signals denoising. Moreover, the phase spectrum of the denoised signal is utilized to extract the phase characteristic of the echo signal from the water–slag specimen interface. The experimental results show that our method has the characteristics of appropriate decomposition and good denoising performance. Compared with famous signal denoising algorithms, the proposed method extracted the lowest number of intrinsic mode functions from the echo signal with the highest signal-to-noise ratio and lowest normalized cross-correlation among all of the comparative algorithms in signal denoising of weld slag inclusion defects. Finally, the phase spectrum can ascertain whether the slag inclusion is a thicker or thinner medium compared with the weld base material based on the half-wave loss existing or not in the echo signal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has exceeded 400 ppm in the atmosphere. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore CO2 reduction and utilization technologies. Photocatalytic technology can convert CO2 to valuable hydrocarbons (CH4, CH3OH, and C2H5OH, etc.), realizing the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy as well as solving the problems of fossil fuel shortage and global warming. Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4), as a two‐dimensional nonmetallic semiconductor material, shows great potential in the field of CO2 photoreduction due to its moderate bandgap, easy synthesis method, low cost, and visible light response properties. This review elaborates the research progress of g‐C3N4‐based photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The modification strategies (e.g., morphology engineering, elemental doping, crystallinity modulation, cocatalyst modification, and constructing heterojunction) of g‐C3N4‐based photocatalysts for CO2 reduction application have been discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and development prospects of g‐C3N4‐based photocatalytic materials for CO2 reduction are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen elements in inorganic materials have attracted considerable attention. Based on more than 70 current Chinese standards and more than 40 journal papers in the past decade, the current status and development of inert gas fusion infrared absorption or thermal conductivity methods and standards for the determination of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen in inorganic material were reviewed, including steel and alloys, rare refractory metal alloys, light or heavy and precious non-ferrous metals, rare earth alloys, ferroalloys, non-ferrous intermediate alloys and inorganic non-metallic functional materials. The parameters in current standards were listed, including applicable objects, quantitative scope, sample mass, reference material and fluxes, as well as the main working conditions m methods from journals, such as analyte, element, instrument, crude, sample mass, fluxes, analytics power and reference material. Finally, the application prospects and development directions of gas analytics in inorganic materials were prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries have attracted much attention in recent years owing to their fast kinetics, long cycle life, and low manufacture cost. Organic compounds with flexible structural designability are promising electrode materials for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries. In this review, the recent progress of organic electrode materials is systematically summarized for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries with the focus on the interaction between non‐metallic ion charge carriers and organic electrode host materials. Both the cations (proton, ammonium ion, and methyl viologen ions) and anions (chloridion, sulfate ion, perchlorate ion, trifluoromethanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonimide ion) storage are discussed. Moreover, the design strategies toward improving the comprehensive performance of organic electrode materials in aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries will be summarized. More organic electrode materials with new reaction mechanisms need to be explored to meet the diverse demands of aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries with different charge carriers in the future. This review provides insights into developing high‐performance organic electrodes for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the excellent chemical inertness characteristics of nonmetallic materials and evaluates the performance of three types of new carbon fiber‐reinforced resin‐based composites under various simulated corrosion conditions in wellbores. Through comprehensive analysis of macro and micromorphology, moisture absorption performance, strength performance, and molecular structure, the damage characteristics and applicability of carbon fiber composites in oil and gas wellbore conditions were clarified. T700/epoxy and T300/epoxy composites experienced damage dominated by physical effects such as moisture absorption and wet thermal stress, manifested as swelling, deformation, and cracking at the macro level, and pore formation and delamination cracking at the micro level. After continuous corrosion tests, the tensile strength of T700/bismaleimide composite (913 MPa) was higher than that of T700/epoxy composite (814 MPa) and T300/epoxy composite (636 MPa), with reductions of 12.4%, 14.3%, and 19.5% respectively. The research results showed T700 carbon fiber/bismaleimide resin composites had the best mechanical and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiscale nano/micro-structured surfaces with superhydrophobicity are abundantly observed in nature such as lotus leaves, rose petals and butterfly wings, where microstructures typically reinforce mechanical stability, while nanostructures predominantly govern wettability. To emulate such hierarchical structures in nature, various methods have been widely applied in the past few decades to the manufacture of multiscale structures which can be applied to functionalities ranging from anti-icing and water–oil separation to self-cleaning. In this review, we highlight recent advances in nano/micro-structured superhydrophobic surfaces, with particular focus on non-metallic materials as they are widely used in daily life due to their lightweight, abrasion resistance and ease of processing properties. This review is organized into three sections. First, fabrication methods of multiscale hierarchical structures are introduced with their strengths and weaknesses. Second, four main application areas of anti-icing, water–oil separation, anti-fog and self-cleaning are overviewed by assessing how and why multiscale structures need to be incorporated to carry out their performances. Finally, future directions and challenges for nano/micro-structured surfaces are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a non-metallic material, high-purity graphite has been widely used in many high-tech fields and has become an important raw material for its production and processing. As the purity of graphite increases, its application value will also increase. Therefore, it is necessary to purify graphite. In this study, the natural flake graphite is purified by the additive-assisted alkali melting-acid leaching process to produce high-purity graphite. Alkali melting is the main process in the alkali-acid process. Therefore, this paper is mainly to explore the removal mechanism of impurities in the alkali melting process. First, the influence of various factors on the purification efficiency in the process of alkali melting is investigated. The fixed carbon content of graphite can reach 99.9815% and 99.9569%, respectively, when 4% (accounting for graphite mass) of sodium metaborate and potassium pyrosulfate is added as additives under the best process conditions. The results show that the crystal structure and morphology of graphite have no obvious changes. Compared with the traditional alkaline melting-acid leaching process, the carbon content of natural flake graphite can be increased to a higher level by an auxiliary alkaline melting-acid leaching process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positronium (Ps) is a valuable probe to investigate nanometric or sub-nanometric cavities in non-metallic materials, where Ps can be confined. Accessible experimental measurements concern the lifetime of trapped Ps, which is largely influenced by pick-off processes, depending on the size of the cavity as well as on the density of the electrons belonging to the surface of the host trap. Another relevant physical quantity is the contact density, that is the electron density at the positron position, which is usually found to be well below the vacuum value. Here, we review the principal models that have been formulated to account and explain for these physical properties of confined Ps. Starting with models, treating Ps as a single particle formulated essentially to study pick-off, we go on to describe more refined two-particle models because a two-body model is the simplest approach able to describe any change in the contact density, observed in many materials. Finally, we consider a theory of Ps annihilation in nanometric voids in which the exchange correlations between the electron of Ps and the outer electrons play a fundamental role. This theory is not usually taken into account in the literature, but it has to be considered for a correct theory of pick-off annihilation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given document provides information about various events and conferences taking place in different locations around the world. These events cover a wide range of topics, including forensic engineering, steel industry, ceramic and glass technology, digital transformation in the oil and gas industry, thermal spray and PVD coatings for aerospace, materials protection and performance, geotechnical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials research, polymer engineering for energy, and more. The document includes details about the themes, program tracks, and contact information for each event. [Extracted from the article]

With the increasing demand for lightweight construction machinery, it is of great significance to study non-metallic materials that can replace steel plates to make hydraulic oil tanks (HOTs). To explore the feasibility of making HOTs with three materials—cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polypropylene (PP), and nylon (PA)—this paper takes 28 L and 115 L volumes commonly used in construction machinery, such as forklifts and loaders, as the design volume and obtains non-metal HOT products of good forming quality by regulating the process parameters. Based on the test methods and evaluation bases of the fuel tank in the national standard, the normal-temperature pressure test, high-temperature pressure test, and low-temperature impact test are designed according to the working conditions of the HOTs. Finally, the non-metallic HOT products are tested. The results show that the rotational molding of XLPE material is the easiest, and products of all sizes can be molded, but the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the products are poor. The low-temperature impact resistance of PP products is poor. PA material can be used to create small HOTs, and the product performance is excellent. This research serves as a valuable reference for the non-metallic and lightweight design of HOTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen storage cylinder is an important component in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen (HPGH 2) storage system, and plays a key role in hydrogen-powered transportation including land vehicles, ships and aircrafts. Over the past decade, the number of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) has rapidly increased worldwide. In order to promote the application of hydrogen storage cylinder, guide its design, manufacture, inspection and testing, a series of regulations, codes and standards have been issued. The Chinese national standard, GB/T 42612, for type IV hydrogen storage cylinders has also been issued. This paper first gives a brief overview to these regulations, codes and standards. Furthermore, the specifications including scope, category, filling cycles, service life, materials, design, manufacture, qualification tests and periodic inspections are analyzed and compared. Issues about evaluation method for hydrogen compatibility of non-metallic materials, welded joints of plastic liner, joint between boss and liner are also discussed. Notably, the performance requirements in GB/T 42612 are generally in accordance with the international ones, but the requirements of materials, design and manufacture are more detailed. • The regulations, codes and standards for on-board high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders are compared. • An in-depth analysis of scope, category, filling cycles, service life, materials, design, manufacture, etc. is provided. • The requirements for materials, design and manufacture in GB/T 42612 are more detailed than the others. • NDT methods for welded joints of plastic liner and joints between plastic liner and metal boss need to be developed. • Effective periodic inspection methods other than visual inspection need to be further researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to global health. Although immunizations can control most viral infections, bacterial infections, particularly those caused by drug-resistant strains, continue to cause high rates of illness and death. Unfortunately, the creation of new antibiotics has come to a grinding halt in the last ten years. In response to this crisis, nanotechnology has emerged as a hopeful solution to tackle drug resistance and enhance treatment results. A large variety of biomimetic nanomaterials, termed nanozymes, have demonstrated strong antimicrobial efficacy. While the inherent toxicity of nanomaterials is a concern, recent studies have harnessed the stimuli-responsiveness of nanomaterials to enable local and/or targeted delivery to reduce the treatment side effects. Indeed, the physicochemical versatility of nanomaterials affords many degrees of freedom that enable rational design of smart or autonomous therapeutics, which cannot be achieved using conventional antibiotics. The design straddles the fields of catalysis, nanoscience, microbiology, and translational medicine. To provide an overview of this interdisciplinary landscape, this review is organized based on composition into lipid, metal, metal oxide, and non-metallic nanomaterials. Liposomes as a delivery vehicle enhance bioavailability and reduce toxicity. Metal- and metal oxide-based nanomaterials inhibit bacterial growth by mimicking natural enzymatic activities such as peroxidase (POD) and oxidase. Furthermore, carbon-, polymer-, and cell membrane-based nanomaterials are combined into a discussion on non-metallic materials. At the end of this review, potentially fruitful directions for future bioinspired nanomaterials in infectious disease treatment are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a comprehensive list of upcoming conferences and events focused on glass and glass science. These conferences are being held in various countries such as the UK, Portugal, France, USA, Germany, and South Korea. The topics covered in these conferences range from industrial furnaces and boilers to glass craft and bead expo, photonics, sustainable materials, and glass processing automation. The document also includes contact information for each event, making it a valuable resource for individuals interested in these topics. [Extracted from the article]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions are a factor in a number of environmental issues. To reduce the associated negative consequences, it is crucial to develop efficient VOCs removal systems. Non‐thermal plasma (NTP) co‐catalytic technology has become a popular research topic in this field as a result of its ability to reduce the activation energy of the reaction while simultaneously improving product selectivity. Despite the huge number of studies synthesising the use of metals and their oxide catalysts in the degradation of VOCs, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF derivatives are the subject of comparatively few studies in this area. This paper reviews the basic principles and technological progress of NTP co‐catalytic VOCs degradation, with a focus on the use of MOFs and their derivatives in plasma VOCs degradation, as well as the use of other non‐metallic carbon materials in plasma VOCs degradation. It highlights the potential future development direction of NTP catalytic synergistic treatment of VOCs by focusing on the optimization of catalytic synergism on the treatment impact. In the end, the challenges faced, the prospects, and our personal perspective on future research directions are also estimated and elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increasingly burden health systems and patients worldwide, necessitating the improved awareness of current treatment possibilities and the development of more efficient therapeutic strategies. When plaque deposits narrow the arteries, the standard of care implies the insertion of a stent at the lesion site. The most promising development in cardiovascular stents has been the release of medications from these stents. However, the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) is still challenged by in-stent restenosis occurrence. DESs' long-term clinical success depends on several parameters, including the degradability of the polymers, drug release profiles, stent platforms, coating polymers, and the metals and their alloys that are employed as metal frames in the stents. Thus, it is critical to investigate new approaches to optimize the most suitable DESs to solve problems with the inflammatory response, delayed endothelialization, and sub-acute stent thrombosis. As certain advancements have been reported in the literature, this review aims to present the latest updates in the coatings field for cardiovascular stents. Specifically, there are described various organic (e.g., synthetic and natural polymer-based coatings, stents coated directly with drugs, and coatings containing endothelial cells) and inorganic (e.g., metallic and nonmetallic materials) stent coating options, aiming to create an updated framework that would serve as an inception point for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries consist of various of metallic and nonmetallic materials, with lithium being a critical strategic resource in the new energy era. Therefore, recycling LFP batteries has become a primary means of secondary lithium resource recovery. However, the presence of the strong binder polyvnylidene fluoride during the recycling process hinders the efficient recovery and separation of cell materials. This study proposes an innovative approach for recovery, involving ultralow temperature treatment and mechanical separation. In the experimental setup, the ultralow temperature treatment temperature at-140°C for 120 min, followed by 20 s of crushing, resulted in an impressive 96.5% dissociation rate of the cathode material and a purity of 94.2% for lithium iron phosphate. The physical and chemical changes in the cathode materials before and after ultralow temperature treatment were examined using differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This method has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency, high environmental affinity and no additional products [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry is not only one of Australia's main economic sectors but also one that the country is considered to have managed well. However, little is known about the industry's potential to contribute to the structural change of Australia's economy. We use the national input–output (IO) tables and apply the partial hypothetical extraction method (P‐HEM) within both the Leontief and Gosh IO frameworks to examine the inter‐sectoral linkages of the Australian mining and quarrying sector. Ee find that this sector demonstrates strong backward linkages (BL), but forward linkages (FL) appear to be weak, and they mainly involve non‐metallic materials. The mining and quarrying sector appears to generate linkages with the business services sector and the construction sector, which can potentially contribute to diversifying the economy. Such linkages may be realised via skilling and reallocating skilled labour and technical supplier capacity as well as via developing physical infrastructure that supports existing and new economic sectors. We find that the identified linkage pathways via the construction sector are tied to energy‐intensive but coal‐dependent sectors. Thus, these pathways are vulnerable because of the climate‐related need to move away from combusting coal and invest in cleaner sources of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disordered rock‐salt (DRS) type active materials are highly significant because of their large reversible capacities, which are due to their unique Li+ diffusion pathway and the redox capabilities of cationic transition metals (TMs) and anionic O ions. Loosely crystalline DRS materials have weak covalent bonds between TMs and O, increasing the O redox contribution and thereby enhancing their capacities. In this study, Mn‐based positive electrode materials with DRS structures are activated and stabilized by mechanochemical doping of nonmetallic elements P and B into interstitial sites. Synthesized Li0.90Mn0.84P0.04O2 (LMPO5) exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 346 mAh g−1 (1050 Wh kg−1) during charging/discharging. Li0.91Mn0.83B0.10O2 (LMBO5) has a moderately expanded lattice size, which facilitates high‐capacity retention during cycling (≈284 mAh g−1 at the 30th cycle). The structural properties of the synthesized active materials are extensively characterized. By introducing nonmetallic elements into the interstitial sites of Mn‐based materials, inexpensive, high‐capacity, and long‐cycling/calendar‐life Co/Ni‐free monometallic positive electrode materials may be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the tribological behavior of the braking system in auto vehicles requires knowing the characteristics of the materials in contact with the friction pair, brake disc–pads, in the work process. Analysis of the materials is necessary because the wear process depends on the friction pair, and brake disk–pads, respectively on the parameters of the work process (rotational speed, pressing force, traffic conditions, etc.). The material of the brake discs is generally the same gray cast iron, but the brake pads can be semi–metallic (combination of metallic and non–metallic materials, all bonded with a special resin), organic materials (non–metallic components such as glass, rubber, and kevlar all joined with the help of a resin) and ceramic (they have only ceramic material as a composition, rarely have small copper particles). The purpose of the work is to know the crystalline structure and the mechanical properties of the brake pad materials, through specific analyses, with important implications on the friction and wear behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐entropy strategy is a design that uses multiple elements to increase configurational entropy. As an emerging research field, high‐entropy was originally applied to metals, but it has shown great potential in inorganic nonmetallic materials. Since the first discovery of colossal dielectric permittivity in high‐entropy ceramics, it indicates that the high‐entropy strategy is feasible in dielectric ceramics. The multi‐ion solid solution will bring a broader space for the material structure and property tailoring. With the research of domestic and foreign scholars in high‐entropy dielectrics, we believe that entropic engineering can effectively regulate dielectric properties. The review paper explores the potential of the high‐entropy strategy in dielectric ceramics. It provides a detailed overview of the structural properties and the potential benefits of utilizing high‐entropy materials in dielectric ceramics. The review also covers the current research advancements in the field and provides insights into future directions for further development of high‐performance dielectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic sanitaryware products are produced using inorganic and non-metallic raw materials such as clay, kaolin, quartz and feldspar at certain rates. After mixing and grounding process, the slip is obtained. The products are shaped in gypsum or synthetic resin moulds. Green bodies are fired at 1250 °C for 16–18 h, and their water absorption values are less than 0.5%. Nowadays the most important issues are raw materials and energy costs. In this study, the sintering behaviour of Na-feldspar and K-feldspar, which are widely used in ceramic sanitaryware, is analysed by reducing to different grain sizes. The grain sizes of the samples containing Na-feldspar were reduced under 63 µm. It was found that the decrease in grain size of Na-feldspar contributed to the decrease in sintering temperature. Potassium feldspar was also added instead of Na-feldspar in order to develop deformation behaviour at higher temperature. The increase in the amount of K-feldspar contributed to the decrease in deformation values. However, the flexural strength of the bodies decreased. A decrease in grain size of Na-feldspar resulted in a reduction of 10 °C at the sintering temperature. The decrease in sintering temperature will provide a cost advantage of around 3%. It was also found that technical properties such as firing shrinkage, bulk density, and flexure strength increased as the grain size of Na-feldspar decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a pump–probe technique, the reflectivity of a silicon grating surface irradiated with intense femtosecond (fs) laser pulses was measured as a function of the incidence angle and the delay time between pulses. After irradiating the surface with an intense s-polarized, 400 nm, 300 fs laser pulse, the reflectivity measured with a weak p-polarized, 800 nm, 100 fs laser pulse exhibited an abrupt decrease for an incidence angle of ~ 24°. The depth of the dip was greatest for a delay time of 0.6–10 ps, for which the reflectivity around the dip was highest. The surface was also found to be ablated most strongly for the conditions causing the deepest dip for a delay time of 5–10 ps. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on silicon metallized by the intense pulse are resonantly excited by the subsequent pulse, and the strong coherent coupling between the subsequent pulse and SPPs excited on the molten Si surface produced by high-density free electrons induces strong surface ablation due to the intense plasmonic near-field. The results clearly show that fs pulses can be used to significantly modulate the nature of nonmetallic materials and could possibly serve as a basic tool for the excitation of SPPs on nonmetallic materials using ultrafast laser–matter interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, inorganic non‐metallic materials exhibit brittleness, and achieving plasticity in wide‐gap semiconductors or dielectrics poses an even greater challenge. Historically, silver halides have been suggested to be ductile; however, their deformability under different load modes has not been well demonstrated, and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, the authors demonstrate the excellent plasticity of AgCl and AgBr polycrystals at room temperature under tension, bending, compression, and roller pressing. In particular, the rolling reduction rate of AgCl/AgBr exceeds 97%, corresponding to the plastic extensibility from 3600% to 4200%. The metal‐like plasticity and multiple slip systems are attributed to the ionic features, specifically the Coulombic nature of the Ag‐Cl/Br interactions, and the appreciable polarization of the anions. Such less localized diffuse bonding can be readily switched upon atomic gliding, thus ensuring slip without cleavage. This study contributes to the advancement of the understanding and development of wide‐gap plastically deformable inorganic materials for applications in flexible, shape‐conformable high‐power electronics and dielectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the energy efficiency of production processes is closely related to minimizing the impact on the environment and is one of the priorities of the concept of sustainable development. Electric discharge is an effective tool for multilevel grinding of non-metallic materials in various working fluids and obtaining coarse and fine suspensions. We introduce the technique for calculating the electrotechnological parameters necessary for energy-efficient electric discharge dispersion. This technique considers the strength characteristics of the crushed material (dispersed phase) and the electrical conductivity of the working fluid (dispersed medium). It is also essential to consider the energy stored in the capacitor bank, the energy criterion, the critical value of the working fluid's electrical strength, the radius of the high-voltage electrode point, and the distance from the discharge channel axis to the disintegration object. All this allows obtaining a given granulometric composition of the dispersed phase with minimal energy consumption. Experiments confirmed the validity of the proposed calculation technique. We obtained the water-brown coal suspension with a given dispersion two times faster and consumed four times less energy in comparison with the known methods that did not take into account the electrical conductivity of the working liquid and the mechanical strength of the crushed material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are a class of advanced non-metallic materials featuring advantages of high strength, light weight and excellent corrosion resistance. These advantages, in conjunction with the various methods available for making curved FRP members, create a wide range of possibilities for innovating arch structures with FRP composites. However, this subject has received inadequate research attention despite the exciting prospects demonstrated by pioneer studies. This paper provides a review on this subject with the aim to build a holistic picture and engage wider research participation. The paper begins with an overview of four feasible manufacturing/forming methods (vacuum infusion, filament winding, pultrusion and active bending), with an emphasis on their capability of creating curved FRP members and potential applications in arch structures. A review is next made on previous arch projects and relevant novel concepts, which are classified into two categories (all-FRP arches and FRP-incorporating hybrid arches) with distinct functionality and targeted areas of application. On the basis of this review, directions for future development of each of the two categories are highlighted, with a number of challenges and potential solutions discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casting Alloy Data Search (CADS) AFS through AMC/DLA developed a very effective web-based tool called Casting Alloy Data Search (CADS) for design engineers and ICME professionals which has been used for over five years by foundry professionals and which is accessible through the AFS website. Web-Based Events AFS also offers a series of technical webinars open to all industry personnel (offered at no cost to AFS members) that provide relevant information presented by industry experts on a wide variety of metalcasting subjects. AFS directly funds research projects from the allocation of a portion of annual dues paid by AFS Corporate Membership. LFC Molds Produced Using Polymer FDM & SLA Additive Manufacturing B Principal Investigator: b Marshall Miller, Tesseract4D B Steering Committee Chair: b Jeff Prickett, Metals Alloys & Refractories Tooling constructed of T6061-T6 is considered expensive and requires special programing software and skilled programmers. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides a comprehensive list of upcoming conferences and events related to glass technology and materials science. These conferences are being held in various locations worldwide, including the UK, Portugal, France, USA, Germany, China, Spain, Australia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Canada, and Hungary. The topics covered in these conferences range from industrial furnaces and boilers to glass craft and bead expo, telecommunications optics and photonics, renewable materials, architectural and structural applications of glass, materials in an informatics world, optical and optoelectronic materials, ceramics, non-crystalline materials, and glass manufacturing. Each event listed includes contact information for further inquiries. [Extracted from the article]

Lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of photocatalysts for hydrogen (H 2) evolution remain challenging, especially with eco-friendly materials. With these goals in mind, in this study we adopted tungsten disulfide (WS 2) nanosheets, a nonmetallic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) material covering P25 TiO 2 , for plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PIRET) to improve the photocarrier response of H 2 evolution. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the optimized 2.4W heterostructure provided a durable and outstanding H 2 evolution rate (321 μmol g−1 h−1) that was approximately 55.3 times higher than that of TiO 2. Raman spectra revealed the presence of dipole–dipole interactions within the WS 2 –TiO 2 heterostructure, while UV–Vis optical absorption spectra indicated that the WS 2 absorption range overlaid the band gap of TiO 2. Under irradiation with light, the SPR of the WS 2 nanosheets underwent near-field dipole-dipole coupling with the excitons of TiO 2 to increase the number of excitons and inhibit charge recombination. This study suggests the possibility of using nonmetallic SPR materials for efficient solar energy conversion. • Hybrid photocatalysts of WS 2 –TiO 2 were prepared through a facile process. • Plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer of WS 2 –TiO 2 catalysts improves efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. • The 2.4 wt% WS 2 –TiO 2 (2.4W) exhibited a photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate 55.3 times higher than that of pristine TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under low temperature (LT) conditions (−80 °C∼0 °C), lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) may experience the formation of an extensive solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which can cause a series of detrimental effects such as Li+ deposition and irregular dendritic filament growth on the electrolyte surface. These issues ultimately lead to the degradation of the LT performance of LIBs. As a result, new electrode/electrolyte materials are necessary to address these challenges and enable the proper functioning of LIBs at LT. Given that most electrochemical reactions in lithium‐ion batteries occur at the electrode/electrolyte interface, finding solutions to mitigate the negative impact caused by SEI is crucial to improve the LT performance of LIBs. In this article, we analyze and summarize the recent studies on electrode and electrolyte materials for low temperature lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). These materials include both metallic materials like tin, manganese, and cobalt, as well as non‐metallic materials such as graphite and graphene. Modified materials, such as those with nano or alloying characteristics, generally exhibit better properties than raw materials. For instance, Sn nanowire‐Si nanoparticles (SiNPs−In‐SnNWs) and tin dioxide carbon nanotubes (SnO2@CNT) have faster Li+ transport rates and higher reversible capacity at LT. However, it′s important to note that when operating under LT, the electrolyte may solidify, leading to difficulty in Li+ transmission. The compatibility between the electrolyte and electrode can affect the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the stability of the electrode/electrolyte system. Therefore, a good electrode/electrolyte system is crucial for successful operation of LIBs at LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrared thermography technique is applied in the detection of damage in metallic and non-metallic materials, and its use allows one to determine if components or elements of mechanical structures are able to work safely. Among the different techniques used to detect damage, vibrothermography uses vibration to excite the material and infrared thermography to map the material's surface in search of profiles of temperature that can indicate the presence of internal damages. Thus, for composite materials, the current study makes it possible to identify which directions are being taken by different groups of researchers in the last ten years for identification and characterization of the damage, evaluation of the heat generation mechanisms responsible for temperature variations in the regions where the damage is localized, and in addition, use of mathematical methods in the post-processing of the data obtained from the tests, looking to increase the efficiency of detection and characterization of damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wells with high-viscosity crude oil, steam injection is used to improve the fluidity of the heavy oil. Screens made of steel are employed for sand control, with corrosion being a serious problem. Non-metallic pipe materials, such as novel high-strength PVC, are therefore being tried out. This paper presents the results of an integrity assessment of large-diameter hard PVC pipes under compressive loading. Plain, built-up, and slotted pipes were subjected to a 3-month aging process in saline water. Strain gauge sets were used for dynamic testing of longitudinal and transverse deformations. Values of fracture strength, total deformation, and anisotropy (Poisson's ratio) were extracted from the stress–strain graphs and analyzed. Upon aging in saline water, the stiffness of all pipes increased and was the highest for slotted pipes. Maximum stress after soaking was reduced by 11–12%. The ductility was the highest for plain pipes and the lowest for built-up pipes. Poisson's ratio remained almost constant for all pipes and aging conditions. The good news for field applications is that overall, aging had only a minor impact on the major compressive properties. The main conclusion was that corrosion-prone steel pipes and sand screens can be successfully replaced by corrosion-free high-strength PVC pipes and screens for water transport applications in thermal wells. This work provides a scientific basis for the structural integrity assessment of this new PVC and helps field engineers in the proper pre-deployment selection of pipes for target oilfields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organelles play core roles in living beings, especially in internal cellular actions, but the hidden information inside the cell is difficult to extract in a label-free manner. In recent years, terahertz (THz) imaging has attracted much attention because of its penetration depth in nonpolar and non-metallic materials and label-free, non-invasive and non-ionizing ability to obtain the interior information of bio-samples. However, the low spatial resolution of traditional far-field THz imaging systems and the weak dielectric contrast of biological samples hinder the application of this technology in the biological field. In this paper, we used an advanced THz scattering near-field imaging method for detecting chloroplasts on gold substrate with nano-flatness combined with an image processing method to remove the background noise and successfully obtained the subcellular-grade internal reticular structure from an Arabidopsis chloroplast THz image. In contrast, little inner information could be observed in the tea chloroplast in similar THz images. Further, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mass spectroscopy (MS) were also used to detect structural and chemical differences inside the chloroplasts of Arabidopsis and tea plants. The preliminary results suggested that the interspecific different THz information is related to the internal spatial structures of chloroplasts and metabolite differences among species. Therefore, this method could open a new way to study the structure of individual organelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardness is a powerful property to evaluate the deformation behavior of materials. It serves as confident quality control for several processes, especially in the heat treatment of metals. With the advent of depth-sensing indentation, this technique embraces the determination of other mechanical properties. As proof, recognized standards are available to guide the evaluation of Young's modulus using instrumented indentation. However, there are continuous efforts to describe the strength using hardness apparatus. This critical review aims to compile all ways of correlation between hardness and uniaxial strength. This relationship is usually addressed by a single value, called constraint factor, vastly recognized in metals as approximately 3. From a theoretical point of view, this value works well for materials with rigid-plastic behavior, where hardening effects can be discharged. Divergent variations presented herein show difficulties in incorporating the effect of plastic properties on the constraint factor determination. In the same way, the empirical determinations did not consider the differences in hardening exponents, putting in the same statistical analysis diverse microstructures. A specific section discusses the constraint factor for nonmetallic materials. There are critical doubts for determining strength from hardness values in this case. The existence of several approaches to estimate the constraint factor in brittle materials did not assure yet a unique value for the same material, which put in evidence the lack of a robust physical basis to understand the plastic deformation under indentation. Future trends are indicated along with these observations to become practical the recent developments that have allied hardness and strength. The most important aspect is to combine adequately the experimental and simulation approaches, which can be supported by an analysis of residual imprints of hardness and finite element model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent ceramic is a kind of inorganic nonmetallic material with broad application prospects. However, the traditional preparation strategy based on powder sintering has technical limitations of relying on high-quality raw material powder, requiring long time high temperature treatment, complex equipment and process, and high production cost. Glass crystallization is a new method to achieve full crystallization of glass and obtain transparent ceramics by controlling the crystallization process. This method can overcome the technical difficulties associated with the traditional transparent ceramic processing. Meanwhile, it also shows unique advantages in preparing high density, pore-free, non-cubic phase, nanostructured transparent ceramics and has attracted significant attention. In this paper, the development and research status of glass crystallization method were reviewed in detail from two aspects: fully glass-crystallization of oxide transparent ceramics and related component systems. Then, the problems existing in the current research were pointed out, and the future development prospects were prospected. It is expected that this method can be widely used to prepare the next generation of high performance transparent ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]