Search

Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) is a promising candidate as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIB), with a theoretical capacity of 1 117 mAhg−1. Nevertheless, MoO3 has inherent lower electronic conductivity and suffers from significant volume expansion during the charge–discharge cycle, which hinders its ability to attain a substantial capacity and cyclability for practical applications. In this study, a novel material design strategy is reported for LIB anodes containing MoO3 and hard carbon (HC) architecture fabricated using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique. MoO3/HC as anode materials are evaluated for LIBs, which demonstrate an exceptional performance with a capacity of 953 mAhg−1 at a discharging rate of 0.2 C. Additionally, MoO3/HC anode demonstrated exceptional rate capability during fast charging at 5 C and achieved a capacity of 342 mAhg−1. The MoO3/HC anode demonstrates remarkable cycle life, retaining over > 99% Coulombic efficiency after 3 000 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C. The exceptional performance of MoO3/HC anode can be attributed to the novel material design strategy based on a multi‐layered structure where HC provides a barrier against the possible volumetric expansion of LIB anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen and renewable fuels were generated using cost‐effective and efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting. In this work, a CuO‐based photocathode is used for the water splitting to generate hydrogen energy by PVD technique. The XRD analysis reveals the deposition of CuO thin film on ITO substrates, which is monoclinic. The XRD and LSV analysis of CuO confirmed the type of semiconductor and observed to be P‐type semiconductor. SEM study of CuO confirmed the shape, morphology to be a circular and regular shape. The grain size of deposited CuO thin film was found to be 18 nm. The absorption and transmission of CuO thin film were observed through UV spectroscopy analysis and were found to be better photocatalyst in visible range 415–425 nm. The transmittance of the prepared thin film was noted to be maximum 7.6% in the UV range (280–300 nm). The band gap was also measured employing the Tauc plot and found to be 2.98 eV, which is most favorable for water splitting application. FTIR study showed the stretching, vibration, and the functional group of the deposited CuO thin film; the broad band of stretching of Cu‐O in monoclinic CuO was observed at the range of 500–700 cm−1, and further peaks were also noted at the range of 1500–1600 cm−1. The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) of CuO thin film was calculated in the absence of solar spectra and the presence of solar spectra and observed to be enhanced in current under solar spectra. The solar light to hydrogen emission percentage (STH %) of CuO through LSV was observed to be 2.04% under solar spectra. The low Nyquist curve of blank ITO and CuO‐coated ITO substrate via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was observed, which confirmed the enhancement of EIS of CuO‐coated ITO. The hydrogen generation rate was also calculated by electrochemical cell and observed to be 5325.21 mol g−1 for 6 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the principles of obtaining wear-resistant coatings based on titanium diboride that are deposited on the cutting tool for use in the machining of chromium–nickel alloys. The spark plasma sintering of samples from the TiB2/Ti powder composition was studied, and the influence of sintering modes on the characteristics of the ceramic targets was analyzed. The regularities of the magnetron sputtering of sintered targets were revealed. The dependences of the physical and mechanical properties of coatings formed on hard alloy substrates on deposition conditions were established. The wear resistance of carbide samples with TiB2-based coatings under friction-sliding conditions and coated carbide ball-end mills in milling Inconel 718 chromium–nickel alloy that is widely used in the industry was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN) comes under the metal nitride group which can provide a combined property of titanium carbide (TiC) and titanium nitride (TiN) coating. TiCN Coating possess an excellent mechanical and tribological, properties which leads its application in many industries particularly in the Automotive and aerospace industries. TiCN films can be very hard and strong based on the composition and synthesis process. Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique is widely used for the preparation of thin film coating because of its ability to precisely control the composition and thickness of the coatings. The properties of the developed coating significantly affect by the PVD process parameters and their levels. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods are widely used in many sectors for the selection of process parameters based upon some specific criteria. In the present work TiCN coatings were synthesized by using one of the most widely used PVD method called magnetron sputtering. L16 orthogonal array was used as a design of experiment for the experimental work by varying the sputtering process parameters like bias voltage, N2 flow rate and substrate to target distance. After the synthesis, the developed films were tested using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Nanoindentation. From the characterization three response parameters such as hardness (H), Modulus of elasticity (E) and surface roughness (Ra) of the coating has been considered. A hybrid method based on improved removal effects of criteria- technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (MEREC-TOPSIS) approach has been considered for the for the process parameters selection. The results have also been compared with other weight calculation techniques. In all the cases it is observed that experiment no 16 and 15 have got the 1st and second rank respectively. However, experiment no 1 is the last rank in all the cases. From the correlation analysis it is found a strong positive correlation between MEREC-TOPSIS and other methods. The method provides a significant advancement in the selection of optimal parameters, ensuring enhanced coating properties crucial for industrial applications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel (SS), particularly SS316L, is extensively utilised across industries, from consumer products to biomedical applications, due to its superior mechanical and chemical properties. However, in critical settings such as healthcare, maintaining contamination-free surfaces is essential to reduce microbial and viral transmission. This study introduces a multifunctional approach by leveraging the antimicrobial potential of silver (Ag) nano-islands deposited on SS316L substrates. By varying the Ag coating thickness from 2.7 nm to 45.5 nm, a transition from discrete nano-islands to a continuous layer was achieved, influencing surface morphology and functionality. The formation of Ag nano-islands reduced surface hydrophilicity by 57% and increased surface roughness by 50%, enabling a controlled release of Ag ions and nanoparticles. This controlled release mechanism provides potent antimicrobial and antiviral effects with minimal silver usage, eliminating the need for full surface coverage. Stability tests confirmed that the nano-islands remained intact, retaining antimicrobial efficacy over time, proportional to the amount of Ag deposited. This Safe and Sustainable by design (SSbD) based nano-island approach offers a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient solution for antimicrobial surface modification, achieving significant microbial and viral inhibition while minimising silver use. Additionally, the user-activated release mechanism enhances surface longevity, presenting a sustainable and safe strategy for high-touch antimicrobial surfaces.

Monolayer (TiN/Ti) and multilayer films (TiN/Ti; CrN/Ti, TiN/CrN/Ti) with an average thickness of 2300 nm were deposited on SS304 steel using the cathodic arc deposition method. Analysis revealed the presence of numerous macroparticles (peaks) and pinholes (valleys) uniformly distributed across the surface. The monolayer film exhibited superior surface quality compared to the multilayer films but demonstrated poor adhesion to the substrate. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy detected a noticeable shift in the preferred orientation of the deposited film, transitioning from (111) to (200) when employing a multilayer structure. Applying ceramic coatings onto stainless steel induced significant alterations in the potentiodynamic polarization curves of monolayer and multilayer films, resulting in a shift towards more noble potentials and lower corrosion currents than the substrate. Furthermore, the potential passive range expanded when employing multilayer structures based on TiN and CrN.

The hard part turning process used to finish the cylindrical surfaces has some critical machining responses like tool wear with the lower quality of the machined surfaces. Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL)-based machining environment is currently considered an advanced cooling and lubrication technique. Cutting speed, feed rate, and cutting depth are considered input parameters, and the TaguchiL27 orthogonal array (OA) has been adopted as the design of the experiment. In this context, average surface roughness (Ra), tool flank wear (VBc), cutting temperature (T∘C), and chip morphology have been selected as measured outputs. To improve the machining performance of hardened steel, a sustainable MQL (flank+rake directions) cooling system has been employed at the cutting zone. Iron–aluminum LRT 30 was considered as the base fluid for the hard turning of AISI 4340 steel by PVD (AlTiN) and CVD (TiN/TiCN/Al2O3) coating cutting inserts. The primary effects of process parameters and their influences on the measured outputs have been discussed. The dual jet MQL-based hard turning was performed at three levels of cutting speeds (80, 170, and 260m/min), feed rate (0.5, 0.1, and 0.15mm/rev), and cutting depth (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4mm) with an air pressure of 5bar and mist flow rate 50ml/h. The findings showed that PVD-coated carbide tools outperformed CVD-coated tools. The model of the measured outputs of both tools has been developed using second-order regression analysis. Utilizing ANOVA analysis, all the predictive models were observed to be significant and acceptable with larger than 90% of R2 value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study comparatively examines the CrN and CrTiN hard coatings developed on SiAlON ceramic tool inserts via magnetron sputtering PVD process. Different characterization techniques investigated the properties of the deposited coating. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is utilized to validate the elemental composition of the coating present on the substrate. The analysis of phase composition was conducted through the utilization of x-ray diffraction (XRD), while the examination of surface morphology was carried out using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Hardness and adhesion strength between deposited coating and substrate were characterized by micro-indentation test. Comparison of hard turning performance of bare and coated cutting tool was made by performing turning tests. The machining forces, temperature of tool workpiece interface, wear of cutting tool, and surface roughness were all considered when analyzing the turning behavior. The findings showed that SiAlON cutting inserts coated with CrN and CrTiN coating had higher hardness, and adequate adhesion between coating layer and the substrate was achieved. The machining performance of CrTiN-coated SiAlON tool inserts was much better than the CrN-coated tool and uncoated SiAlON cutting insert. Moreover, it can be seen that while turning hardened steel, the coated inserts were worn through a combination of abrasion and adhesion wear mechanisms under certain cutting circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The erosion process of a 4 μm monolayer CrN coating deposited on 316L stainless steel due to cavitation was investigated using finite element analysis (FEA). To estimate load parameters from cavitation pit geometry resulting from high impact velocity and high strain rate, the explicit dynamic solver was employed. Water microjet impacts at velocities of 100, 200 and 500 m/s were simulated to recreate different cavitation erosion intensities observed in the experiment. The resulting damage characteristics were compared to previous studies on uncoated 316L steel. The relationship between impact velocity and postimpact geometry was examined. Simulations revealed that only impact at 500 m/s can exceed the maximum yield stress of the substrate without penetrating the coating. Subsequent impacts on the same zone deepen the impact pit and penetrate the coating, leading to direct substrate degradation. The influence of impact velocity on the coating degradation process is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of the study is to outline the incidence, patterns and causes of lower limb amputations among patients attending KR Hospital in Mysore, India. Methods This is a retrospective study which was done at KR Hospital in Mysore, India., from March 2022 to May 2024. Data was collected from the medical records system of the hospital. The following parameters of all the patients who had lower limb amputation (LLA) during this period were recorded: Age, sex, indication for amputation, level of amputation and complications. Incidence rates were calculated using the number of discharges for diabetes and non-diabetes related lower extremity amputations as the numerator and estimates of the resident population with and without diabetes as the denominator. Results Over a period of 24 months, 218 LLAs were performed. Age of the patients ranged from 20 to 80 years with an average age of 53.5 years. 85.32% of the amputees were males. Diabetic foot complications and peripheral vascular disease were the most common indication for LLA in our series and followed by few cases of acute limb ischemia, necrotizing fascitis non healing ulcers, trauma and rarely tumors. Infection was the most common complication that involved amputation stumps, followed by wound dehiscence. Conclusions Complications of diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease were the most common indications for limb amputations in our region. Patient education regarding lifestyle modification, proper control of diabetes, and foot care will play a pivotal role in prevention of such morbidity in diabetic patients. No matter how good the prosthesis and replacement services available are, it will never be good enough to replace an anatomically normal and functional limb. So it cannot be stressed enough that prevention is better than cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of cristobalite thermally grown oxides (TGO) is a major life limiting factor for environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) with Si bond coat exposed to high temperature steam environments due to its reversible phase transformation and the resultant cracking behaviour during thermal cycling. Therefore, controlling or avoiding cristobalite TGO formation by engineering coating chemistry and architecture will be desirable for a highly durable EBC system. In this work, a multilayer Si/Al-Si-N/Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 EBC was produced using a hybrid vapor deposition process. The oxidation behavior of the EBC was evaluated in flowing 90% H 2 O (g) + 10% air at 1316 °C. After 100 h and 510 h steam test, crack-free mullite and Al-Si-O-N layers formed above Al-Si-N layer and no SiO 2 scale formation of Si bond coat was observed. Detailed TEM analyses show that the Al-Si-N layer successfully prevented the oxidation of underlying Si bond coat and avoided the formation of detrimental cristobalite phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) coexist and therefore, patients diagnosed with PAD have an increased chance of developing concomitant CAD. CAD-related complications could be a leading cause of postoperative mortality in individuals with PAD undergoing vascular surgery. We present a case series of 48 patients who underwent coronary angiography before vascular surgery and an updated review of previous reports to determine the prevalence of concomitant CAD in a convenience sample of Iranian patients. This cross-sectional study was performed on 48 patients with confirmed PAD admitted to Imam Ali Hospital, affiliated with the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah Province, Iran. A vascular surgeon diagnosed PAD based on the patient's symptoms, Doppler ultrasound, and CT angiography (CTA). All patients underwent coronary angiography to determine if they also had CAD. We defined significant CAD as a ≥70% luminal diameter narrowing of a major epicardial artery or a ≥50% narrowing of the left main coronary artery. Of 48 patients, 35 (72.9%) were male, 13 (27.1%) were female, and the mean age was 64.18±12.11 years (range, 30 to 100 years). The incidence of CAD in patients with PVD was 85.42% (41/48). The patients with CAD were more likely to be hypertensive than those without CAD (80.5 vs. 14.3, p-value<0.001). Of 41 patients with CAD, 9 (22.0%) had one-vessel disease, 10 (24.3%) had two-vessel disease, and 22 (53.7%) had three-vessel disease. Hypertension was a significant risk factor for CAD. Patients with hypertension and multiple major coronary risk factors scheduled for PVD surgery should be carefully evaluated for concomitant CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin film solar cells are gaining popularity as an affordable, efficient, and flexible substitute for traditional silicon solar cells . This success is closely tied to the deposition techniques used to fabricate their layers. This review explores and analyzes the advances in the major deposition techniques for solar cell applications, offering insights into their underlying principles, associated advantages, drawbacks, and suitability for diverse materials and device architectures. The two primary deposition for thin film solar cells are PVD and CVD. In PVC materials are physically ejecting from a target, and depositing it onto a substrate. While, CVD entails the reaction of gases or vapour precursors to creating film on a substrate. The ability to achieve high purity, control over film properties, scalability, and compatibility with flexible substrates are notable advantages. However, challenges such as high costs and complexity can impact the commercial viability of certain techniques. Recent advancements in the technology of thin film deposition for solar cells include the discovery of novel materials with enhanced light absorption and electronic charge transport capabilities, emerging deposition processes such as pulsed laser deposition, and atomic layer deposition scalable and low-cost processes like roll-to-roll processing, and integration with other technologies like perovskite solar cells and tandem devices. Understanding these techniques and staying informed about recent advancements and future directions empowers researchers and engineers to innovate and create improved thin film solar cells, contributing significantly to a more sustainable future through enhanced solar energy harvesting technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe the mechanical characteristics of Al2O3 and TiCN thin films formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and a TiAlN thin film formed by physical vapor deposition (PVD), which are used as hard coating films. A focused ion beam (FIB) was used to fabricate a microcantilever beam for strength tests and fracture toughness tests under bending. A nanoindentation system was used to apply normal force to cantilever beams. All the films showed a linear force–deflection relationship, indicating brittle fracture during elastic deformation. The Young’s modulus ranged from 340 to 379 GPa, with no significant difference among the films, whereas the fracture strength of the Al2O3 films was 5.5 GPa, which was almost twice those of the other two films. For the fracture toughness test, a precrack with various depths was made using FIB at 2 μm from the fixed end of the cantilever beam. The Al2O3 film toughness values ranged from 4.1 to 5.5 MPa√m, which were almost twice that of the TiCN film at each precrack depth. Both CVD films showed a similar trend, i.e., an increase in fracture toughness with decreasing precrack depth, However, the fracture toughness of the TiAlN film showed no precrack depth dependence. The difference in fracture toughness between the CVD and PVD films is discussed on the basis of fracture surface observation results and information on the crystal grain size and orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptography and steganography are employed to secure digital data transfers. We introduced an efficient region-based steganography pipeline to enhance security by concealing confidential information within an image. Our approach involves isolating the blue channel from the cover image, partitioning it into blocks, identifying smooth blocks, and embedding the message in the Least Significant Bit (LSB). Smooth blocks were determined using the Pixel Value Differencing (PVD) method, which compares a specific pixel value to the block's average pixel value (M) of the particular block. Concealed areas exhibit greater imperceptibility in smooth regions than in rough ones. We performed experiments on a carefully chosen image set and assessed the performance of the region-based steganography method using widely recognized metrics such as PSNR, MSE, and SSIM. These metrics were applied to a widely recognized benchmark dataset for comparison. Results indicate significantly improved PSNR and SSIM levels for selected images, confirming the suitability of smooth, edge-free regions for concealing hidden messages with greater imperceptibility. We compared our method with recently published steganography methods and observed a significant enhancement in its ability to conceal information effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we changed the methodology for pixel value differencing. The proposed method work on RGB color images improves the existing PVD technique in terms of embedding capacity and overcomes the issue of falling off boundaries in the traditional PVD technique, and provides security to the secret message from histogram quantization attack. Color images are composed of three different color channels (red, green, and blue), so we cannot apply the traditional pixel value differencing algorithm to them. Due to that, the proposed technique divides the RGB photograph in red, blue, and green channels. Following that the modified pixel value differencing algorithm is employed to all successive pixels of color channels. We get the total embedding capacity by adding the embedding capacities of each color component. After embedding the data, we concatenate the color channels to get the stegoimage. On a series of color images, we tested our pixel value differencing approach and found that the stego-picture's visual excellence and payload capacity were reasonable. The variation in histogram between the stego and cover photographs was minor, making it resistant to histogram quantization attacks, and the suggested approach also solves the issue of falling off the boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium‐based coatings have been of interest to researchers for the last two decades because of their extraordinary properties like high hardness, high wear, and corrosion resistance properties. However, it is in practice and research to increase the properties of Cr‐based coatings for high‐temperature applications. Numerous dopants like silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), aluminum (Al), and zirconium (Zr) have been used together with Cr to achieve enhanced properties. The plasma‐based sputtering process is one of the popular and reliable techniques to deposit thin film coatings. The substrate material, processed gas and pressure, substrate temperature, film thickness, and so on also play a significant role in varying the properties and microstructure of the deposited film. Several researchers have deposited Cr/CrN‐based thin films via the chemical vapor deposition technique (CVD) and physical vapor deposition technique (PVD) to study their properties and behavior at room temperature as well as for high‐temperature applications. This work reflects the review of work done to deposit Cr/CrN‐based coatings deposited via PVD: more specifically sputtering technique. The effect of doping in the CrN matrix and variation in sputtering parameters on the properties of CrN‐based coatings have also been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The emergence of nanotechnology and surface engineering techniques provides new opportunities for designing self-lubricant coatings with enhanced properties. In recent years, green coating technologies have played a vital role in environmental preservation. This article mainly reviews five typical types of self-lubricant coatings including MoN coatings, VN coatings, WN coatings and TMN (Transition Metal Nitride) soft-metal coatings, and DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) with lubricant agents deposited by PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) for the demanding tribological applications, which is the latest research into the green lubricant coatings. Furthermore, it is of great significance for designing the green self-lubricant coatings to adapt the demanding tribological applications to meet the industrial requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experimental investigation, a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process was employed to deposit TiAlN coating onto a Si substrate. The nitrogen flow rate, bias voltage, and substrate-to-target distance were selected as input parameters, each with three different levels. The design of these input parameters was structured according to Taguchi's L9 Orthogonal Array (OA). Following deposition, the mechanical, microstructural, structural, and electrochemical properties of the TiAlN coating were meticulously characterized and analyzed to discern the influence of the selected parameters on its various properties. Microstructural analysis revealed a homogeneous structure throughout the film. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the film exhibited notable performance under the specified parameters. However, it was observed that no consistent trend could be identified across different properties concerning the applied parameters. To elucidate the complex relationships among these variables, the Least Squares Method (LSM) regression analysis technique was employed. This analytical approach facilitated the establishment of correlations among the diverse parameters, enhancing the understanding of their collective impact on the TiAlN coating properties. The understanding of analytical results will be useful for predicting the values between the two extremities to measure the performance parameters where the experimental results are not available.

Abstract Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) is a promising candidate as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIB), with a theoretical capacity of 1 117 mAhg−1. Nevertheless, MoO3 has inherent lower electronic conductivity and suffers from significant volume expansion during the charge–discharge cycle, which hinders its ability to attain a substantial capacity and cyclability for practical applications. In this study, a novel material design strategy is reported for LIB anodes containing MoO3 and hard carbon (HC) architecture fabricated using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique. MoO3/HC as anode materials are evaluated for LIBs, which demonstrate an exceptional performance with a capacity of 953 mAhg−1 at a discharging rate of 0.2 C. Additionally, MoO3/HC anode demonstrated exceptional rate capability during fast charging at 5 C and achieved a capacity of 342 mAhg−1. The MoO3/HC anode demonstrates remarkable cycle life, retaining over > 99% Coulombic efficiency after 3 000 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C. The exceptional performance of MoO3/HC anode can be attributed to the novel material design strategy based on a multi‐layered structure where HC provides a barrier against the possible volumetric expansion of LIB anode.

ObjectiveTo develop automated algorithms for the detection of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) using OCT imaging.DesignEvaluation of a diagnostic test or technology.SubjectsOverall, 42 385 consecutive OCT images (865 volumetric OCT scans) obtained with Heidelberg Spectralis from 865 eyes from 464 patients at an academic retina clinic between October 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.MethodsWe developed a customized computer vision algorithm based on image filtering and edge detection to detect the posterior vitreous cortex for the determination of PVD status. A second deep learning (DL) image classification model based on convolutional neural networks and ResNet-50 architecture was also trained to identify PVD status from OCT images. The training dataset consisted of 674 OCT volume scans (33 026 OCT images), while the validation testing set consisted of 73 OCT volume scans (3577 OCT images). Overall, 118 OCT volume scans (5782 OCT images) were used as a separate external testing dataset.Main outcome measuresAccuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-scores, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUROCs) were measured to assess the performance of the automated algorithms.ResultsBoth the customized computer vision algorithm and DL model results were largely in agreement with the PVD status labeled by trained graders. The DL approach achieved an accuracy of 90.7% and an F1-score of 0.932 with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 74.5% for PVD detection from an OCT volume scan. The AUROC was 89% at the image level and 96% at the volume level for the DL model. The customized computer vision algorithm attained an accuracy of 89.5% and an F1-score of 0.912 with a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 86.1% on the same task.ConclusionsBoth the computer vision algorithm and the DL model applied on OCT imaging enabled reliable detection of PVD status, demonstrating the potential for OCT-based automated PVD status classification to assist with vitreoretinal surgical planning.Financial disclosuresProprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Anti-wear coatings obtained through PVD methods may significantly increase the durability of cutting tools by impacting their wear mechanisms. This study presents and discusses the results of studies on the impact of the thermal conductivity of PVD coatings on the intensity of the built-up edge (BUE) and built-up layer (BUL) formation in Inconel 600 alloy machining processes. The authors determine the microstructure, phase structure, mechanical properties (hardness, Young's modulus, and adhesion), and thermal conductivity of different PVD coatings selected for the purpose of the study and varying in terms of conductivity—i.e., AlCrTiN and AlCrTiN/BN. Machining processes were carried out under controlled conditions using VBGT160404-M3 cutting inserts with AlCrTiN and AlCrTiN/BN coatings deposited on their surface. The authors prove that the adjustment of the thermal conductivity of PVD coatings to the thermal conductivity of the tool and machined materials can help change the direction of heat flow to cool the cutting zone more effectively. The study results presented in this article show that the deposition of the AlCrTiN/BN coating reduces the friction wear on the tool flank by over 70% and lowers the intensity of BUE and BUL formation processes on the face by 10%, compared to the AlCrTiN coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical Vapor Deposited (PVD) TiAlN coatings are extensively utilized as protective layers for cutting tools, renowned for their excellent comprehensive performance. To optimize quality control of TiAlN coatings for cutting tools, a multi-scale simulation approach is proposed that encompasses the microstructure evolution of coatings considering the entire preparation and service lifecycle of PVD TiAlN coatings. This scheme employs phase-field simulation to capture the essential microstructure of the PVD-prepared TiAlN coatings. Moreover, cutting simulation is used to determine the service temperature experienced during cutting processes at varying rates. Cahn-Hilliard modeling is finally utilized to consume the microstructure and service condition data to acquaint the microstructure evolution of TiAlN coatings throughout the cutting processes. This methodology effectively establishes a correlation between service temperature and its impact on the microstructure evolution of TiAlN coatings. It is expected that the present multi-scale numerical simulation approach will provide innovative strategies for assisting property design and lifespan prediction of TiAlN coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a novel additive manufacturing technique for MEMS devices using newly developed APSLD (atmospheric pressure sputtering layer deposition) technology. It uses a microplasma at atmospheric pressure to deposit microstructures with defined properties, such as conducting or isolating directly at different surfaces additively without complex and time‐consuming manufacturing routes like planar technology. Feasibility tests have been successfully done to deposit metal lines, isolating and metal oxide layers on 3D surfaces to manufacture high stable MEMS sensor system for harsh environments. This is a promising technology in the field of MEMS manufacturing, as it can simplify the manufacturing process and reduce the cost. The ability to deposit different materials can expand the design possibilities for MEMS devices. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a semi‐analytical solution for a double‐layered elliptical cylindrical soft foundation improved by prefabricated vertical drains. The governing equations, continuity conditions are boundary conditions in the elliptical cylindrical system are introduced first. The Laplace transform is employed to convert the time variable t in partial differential equations into the Laplace complex argument s. Based on the boundary condition and continuity condition, the solution in the frequency domain is derived. By using Abate's fixed Euler Algorithm, the solutions in the time domain are obtained. A finite element analysis is performed to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed solution. Then, parametric studies reveal that soil permeability and soil compressibility have great influences on the second layer of soil in the elliptical cylindrical system, but relatively small effects on the first layer. Neglecting differences in the hydraulic conductivity and the coefficient of volume compressibility of multi‐layered soil in the elliptical cylindrical system could not predict the excess pore pressure in the second layer correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hard coating materials, Titanium Nitride (TiN) is widely used as a surface coating material due to its excellent properties. In machining processes, it is crucial to optimize the coating process for better parameter selection. This optimization could enhance the performance of cutting tools. In this paper, TiN is coated on tungsten carbide tools using the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) method. Coating surface thickness is investigated as an output function that primarily depends on the Nitrogen gas pressure, Argon gas pressure, and turntable speed. The Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) is utilized as an efficient metaheuristic technique for optimization purposes. PSO is integrated with Response Surface Methodology (RSM), which functions as a modeling method to generate the objective function for coating thickness. RSM also analyzes the effect of input parameters on the produced film thickness. Finally, Prediction Interval (PI) and Residual Error (e) are used to validate the RSM model. The results show that the actual value of film thickness falls within 95% accuracy and exhibits very low error. While PSO is found to be a powerful technique for optimizing coating thickness, it has reduced the ratio of the average experimental value by 75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties, surface integrity, and chemical configuration of PVD-coated high-speed steel (HSS) cutting tools, with a particular focus on titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN) coatings. A range of characterisation methodologies were employed to examine the impact of pre-coating surface conditions on the resulting coatings. This impact includes the effects of gas bubble production and unequal distribution of elements, which are two unwanted occurrences. Notwithstanding these difficulties, coatings applied on surfaces that were highly polished exhibited more consistency in their mechanical and elemental characteristics, with a thickness ranging from 2 to 4 µm. The study of mechanical characteristics confirms a significant increase in hardness, from an initial value of roughly 1000 HV0.5 for untreated tools to 1300 HV0.5 for tools with physical vapour deposition (PVD) coatings. Although PVD coatings produced on an industrial scale might not exceed the quality of coatings manufactured in a laboratory, they do offer substantial enhancements in terms of hardness. This study highlights the significant importance of thorough surface preparation in achieving enhanced coating performance, hence contributing to the efforts to prolong the lifespan of tools and enhance their performance even under demanding operational circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Japan Society for Abrasive Technology is the property of Japan Society for Abrasive Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We presented the algorithm for ARC-PVD coating thickness calculation and rotation speed optimization. This approach was used to improve the coating thickness uniformity of complex surface samples. Established that the selected rotation speed increased the thickness uniformity from 0.5–9 µm range to 2–8.5 µm. Microhardness increased by an average of 30% compared with basic rotation speed. Scratch tests and roughness measurement did not have any significant changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CrAlN and CrAlBN coatings were prepared on the surface of high-speed steel and shaper cutter by physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique using arc ion source. In the process of coating preparation, the adhesive layers were deposited by low bias voltage (−40 V) and the working layers are deposited by high bias voltage (−130 V). The effects of the addition of B element on the microstructure, hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of CrAlBN coating were studied. The results show that B element and its compounds exist in amorphous form in the coating, resulting in lattice distortion of the coating, increase of coating hardness to 37.1 GPa, and decrease of elastic modulus to 406.2 GPa. The addition of B element increases the uniformity of the columnar structure distribution and decreases the width of the columnar structure and grain size. The resistance to elastic deformation and plastic deformation of CrAlBN coating is improved, the wear resistance is improved. The performance of CrAlN and CrAlBN coatings on shaper cutter was studied. It was found that the main failure mode of shaper cutters is boundary wear and the wear mechanism of coatings had changed obviously. CrAlBN coating is mainly due to fatigue induced failure, accompanied by some diffusion wear. The addition of B element makes the CrAlBN coating have excellent resistance to oxidative wear, abrasive wear and diffusion wear during cutting. The results show that the addition of B element can improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of CrAlN coating, and the preparation of CrAlBN coating on the surface of the shaper cutter can significantly improve the service life of the coated shaper cutter, which has significance for the development of the shaper cutter industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the results of an experimental study on the fabrication of a multilayer variable reflectivity laser mirror and the morphological analysis of optical thin film layers. In a design procedure, a series of variable reflectivity laser mirrors are fabricated and characterized with different methods. In this research, based on pulsed solid-state Nd:YAG lasers at 1064 nm, two types of variable reflectivity laser mirrors with (HfO2/SiO2) and (ZrO2/SiO2) materials are fabricated by electron beam evaporation method. The central reflectivity of R0 =30 and 35 % for two super Gaussian orders of n=3 and 4 is manufactured and qualified by ellipsometry and laser beam scan methods. The Laser-induced damage threshold experiments demonstrated that, the VRMs with multilayers of HfO2/SiO2, have a higher Laser-induced damage threshold than ZrO2/SiO2, which was 10 J/cm2 and 7 J/cm2, correspondingly. Also, in a novel and exact FESEM approach, the morphological structure of the VRM thin layers was monitored which gives a deeper insight into the layer structure and helped us to calibrate the PVD device for shaped VRM.

A connected vehicle (CV) enables vehicles to communicate not only with other vehicles but also the road infrastructure based on wireless communication technologies. A road system with CVs, which is often referred to as a cooperative intelligent transportation system (C-ITS), provides drivers with road and traffic condition information using an in-vehicle warning system. Road environments with CVs induce drivers to reduce their speed while increasing the spacing or changing lanes to avoid potential risks downstream. Such avoidance maneuvers can be considered to improve driving behavior from a traffic safety point of view. This study seeks to quantitatively evaluate the effect of in-vehicle warning information using per-vehicle data (PVD) collected from freeway C-ITSs. The PVD are reproduced to extract the speed–spacing relationship and are evaluated to determine whether the warning information induces drivers to drive in a conservative way. This study reveals that the in-vehicle warning prompts drivers to increase the spacing while decreasing their speed in the majority of samples. The rate of conservative driving behavior tends to increase during the initial operation period, but no significant changes were observed after this period; that is, the reliability of in-vehicle warning information is not constant in the CV environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several contents of silicon in AlSi coatings, and substrate nature, were investigated in this present research. For this purpose, thin films were deposited by Physical Vapour Deposition onto three substrates: The effect of silicon content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the coatings was studied. The microstructural observations showed that the coating carried out with 7 wt-%. silicon reduced the porosities by making the microstructures more homogeneous and denser. Also, the influence of substrate characteristics on the evolution and distribution of the microstructure formed during coating is important. Content of 13 wt-% eutectic enhanced the mechanical properties. The crystallite size evolves in a completely opposite way to that of the dislocation density and micro-deformation, with a minimum for the same values of silicon content (10–12 wt-%). The microstructural analysis allowed us to highlight the importance of silicon in the formation of intermetallic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron oxide nanomaterials are promising candidates for various electrochemical applications. However, under operating conditions high electric resistance is still limiting performance and lifetime. By incorporating the electronically conductive carbon into a nanohybrid, performance may be increased and degeneration due to delamination may be prevented, eliminating major drawbacks. For future applications, performance is an important key, but also cost-effective manufacturing suitable for scale-up must be developed. A possible approach that shows good potential for up-scale is magnetron sputtering. In this study, a systematic investigation of iron oxides produced by RF magnetron sputtering was carried out, with a focus on establishing correlations between process parameters and resulting structural properties. It was observed that increasing the process pressure was favourable with regard to porosity. Over the entire pressure range investigated, the product consisted of low-crystalline Fe3O4, as well as Fe2O3 as a minor phase. During sputtering, a high degree of graphitisation of carbon was achieved, allowing for sufficient electronic conductivity. By means of a new alternating magnetron sputtering process, highly homogeneous salt-and-pepper-type arrangements of both nanodomains, iron oxide and carbon were achieved. This nano-containment of the redox-active species in a highly conductive carbon domain improves the material's overall conductivity, while simultaneously increasing the electrochemical stability by 44%, as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global widespread adoption of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD) in conjunction with vacuum consolidation is driven by its robust and cost-efficient attributes. However, this construction method is not without challenges, as it has been linked to substantial displacements, posing risks to adjacent structures. Addressing such concerns in a Vietnamese road construction project, this study focuses on the innovative contribution of sheet pile protection as a highly effective solution. Utilizing numerical analysis with an anisotropic model, we examine the impact of sheet pile protection on embankment displacement. Through comparative analysis with field data, our study demonstrates the remarkable efficacy of the sheet pile method in significantly reducing both vertical and lateral settlements. Acting as a protective membrane, it effectively counters suction from the PVD vacuum zone. These findings make a substantial contribution to the field, providing engineers handling similar structural protection scenarios with invaluable insights and a novel approach to mitigating displacements associated with PVD and vacuum consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The V-O-N coating set was produced at different relative oxygen concentrations of O2(x) = O2/(N2 +O2) using cathodic arc evaporation. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of oxygen on coating properties. The coatings' composition and structural properties (X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)) and mechanical properties—hardness, adhesion, and wear resistance (nano-indenter, scratch tester, ball-on-disc tester)—were extensively investigated. EDX and XRD analyses indicate that in coatings formed with a relative oxygen concentration in the range of 20–30%, the oxygen concentration in the coating increases dramatically from approximately 16 at.%. to 63 at.%, and the nitrogen concentration drops from about 34 at.% up to 3 at.%. This may indicate greater activity of oxygen compared to nitrogen in forming compounds with vanadium. The occurrence of the V5O9 phase belonging to the Magnéli phases was observed. Microscopic observations indicate that the number of surface defects increases with the oxygen concentration in the coating. The opposite effect is characterized by mechanical properties—hardness, adhesion, and wear resistance decrease with increasing oxygen concentration in the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, implants are used as prostheses to replace and protect bone. Titanium, as an implantable material, needs to improve corrosion and wear properties for better performance. Therefore, in the current study nitride coatings were applied with the aim of improving corrosion and wear properties. Cathodic arc evaporation physical vapor deposition (CAE-PVD) technique was used to deposit nanolayered CrN/CrAlN coatings on commercially pure titanium and Ti6Al4V substrates for biomaterial applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the crystal structure of the coating, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were utilized to observe the surface morphology and cross-section of the coating. The coating adhesion was measured according to VDI 3198 standard using a Rockwell-C indenter. The corrosion behavior was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization and spectroscope electrochemical impedance in Ringer's solution. The results showed that the nanolayered coating changed the corrosion potential from -0.368 V to -0.054 V for the titanium sample and from -0.405 V to -0.028 V for the Ti6Al4V specimen. Additionally, the corrosion current density was reduced to about one-eighth and a third for the titanium and Ti6Al4V coated samples, respectively. The capacitator circle diameters increased due to the deposition of CrN/CrAlN coating, demonstrating enhanced corrosion behavior of the coated samples compared to uncoated specimens, as the coating acted as a barrier against corrosive liquids accessing the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the principles of obtaining wear-resistant coatings based on titanium diboride that are deposited on the cutting tool for use in the machining of chromium–nickel alloys. The spark plasma sintering of samples from the TiB2/Ti powder composition was studied, and the influence of sintering modes on the characteristics of the ceramic targets was analyzed. The regularities of the magnetron sputtering of sintered targets were revealed. The dependences of the physical and mechanical properties of coatings formed on hard alloy substrates on deposition conditions were established. The wear resistance of carbide samples with TiB2-based coatings under friction-sliding conditions and coated carbide ball-end mills in milling Inconel 718 chromium–nickel alloy that is widely used in the industry was assessed.