Insight into Structural Changes and Electrochemical Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered Nanostructured Ferritic and Austenitic Stainless Steels.

Nanostructured ferritic (Fe-Cr-Si, x = 0-3 wt %) and austenitic (Fe-Cr-Ni-Six, x = 0-3 wt %) stainless steel (SS) alloys were developed by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The unit cell parameter estimated from X-ray diffraction spectra exhibited a decreasing trend with an increase in wt % of Si content in both alloy systems. The particle size of powders estimated using bright field transmission electron microscopy images for ferritic (3 wt % Si) and austenitic (3 wt % Si) SS powders was found to be 65 ± 5 nm and 18 ± 3 nm, respectively.

Porous AlO-CNT Nanocomposite Membrane Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering with Tailored Microstructure and Properties for Water Treatment.

Ceramic-based nanocomposite membranes are gaining great attention in various applications, such as water treatment; gas separation; oil and gas, amid their superior fouling resistance and remarkable chemical/thermal stability. Here, we report for the first time the use of spark plasma sintering (SPS) process to fabricate a porous alumina-carbon nanotubes (AlO-CNT) nanocomposite membrane for water treatment. The challenge is this work is to achieve a balance between the amount of porosity, desired for a high water flux, and the membrane strength level, required to resist the applied pressure during a water flow experiment.

Tribological and Electrochemical Characterization of UHMWPE Hybrid Nanocomposite Coating for Biomedical Applications.

A new approach of using a polymer hybrid nanocomposite coating to modify the surface of titanium and its alloys is explored in this study. Electrostatic spray coating process is used to deposit the coating on the plasma-treated substrates for better adhesion. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been selected as the parent matrix for the coating due to its biocompatibility and excellent tribological properties.

Stretchable Hydrophobic Surfaces and Self-Cleaning Applications.

Hydrophobizing of stretchable elastomer surfaces is considered and the reversible behavior of the resulting surface wetting state is examined after stretching and relaxing the hydrophobized samples. The environmental dust are analyzed in terms of elemental constitutes and size, and the dust pinning on the hydrophobized surface is measured. The dust removal mechanisms, by the water droplets on the hydrophobized surface, are investigated.

Environmental Dust Particles Repelling from A Hydrophobic Surface under Electrostatic Influence.

Environmental dust particles repelling from a hydrophobic surface under the electrostatic influence are considered and the dynamics of the dust particles are analyzed incorporating the high speed camera. The velocity of the repelled dust particles are formulated using the force balance incorporating the forces associated with the electrostatic repulsion, particle adhesion, particle drag, and the inflight particles interaction under the charge influence. The functionalized silica particles are deposited on the glass surface towards achieving a hydrophobic wetting state on the surface.