Pulsed laser surface treatment of magnesium alloy: Correlation between thermal model and experimental observations

The effect of deposition of Al +Al2O3 on MRI 153 M Mg alloy processed using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser is presented in this study. A composite coating with metallurgical joint to the substrate was formed. The microstructure and phase constituents were characterized and correlated with the thermal predictions. The laser scan speed had an effect on the average melt depth and the amount of retained and/or reconstituted alumina in the final coating. The coating consisted of alumina particles and highly refined dendrites formed due to the extremely high cooling rates (of the order of 10(8) K/s). The microhardness of the coating was higher and several fold improvement of wear resistance compared to the substrate was observed for the coatings. These microstructural features and physical properties were correlated with the effects predicted by a thermal model.

Mass transfer effects on the generalised vortex flow over a stationary surface with or without magnetic field

The effect of injection and suction on the generalised vortex flow of a steady laminar incompressible fluid over a stationary infinite disc with or without magnetic field under boundary-layer approximations has been studied. The coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations governing the self-similar flow have been numerically solved using the finite-difference scheme. The results indicate that the injection produces a deeper inflow layer and de-stabilises the motion while suction or magnetic field suppresses the inflow layer and produces stability. The effect of decreasingn, the parameter characterising the nature of vortex flow, is similar to that of increasing the injection rate.

Size effect on the lattice parameter of KCl during mechanical milling

The size effect on the lattice parameter of ionic KCl nanocrystals was studied systematically during mechanical milling of Pure KCl powder under vacuum. The results suggest anomalous lattice expansion, with the lattice parameter increasing from 6.278 angstrom at d = 6 mu m to 6.30307 angstrom at d = 85 mn. The defects generated during ball milling of KCl and surface stress are deemed to be responsible for this lattice parameter expansion. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Load on Dry Sliding Wear of Aluminum-Silicon Alloys

Aluminum-silicon alloy pins were slid against steel disks under nominally dry condition at a speed of 0.6 m s-1. Each pin was slid at a constant load for 5 min, the load being increased in suitable steps from 2 to 65 N. The results show the wear to increase almost monotonically with load, to be sensitive to the presence of silicon in the alloy, and to be insensitive to actual silicon content. The monotonic nature of wear rate-load characteristic suggests that one dominant wear mechanism prevails over the load range studied. Morphological studies of the pin surface and the debris support this contention and point to delamination as being the dominant mode of wear.

Surface Discharge Studies with Uniform Field Electrodes at Low Pressures

An investigation of power frequency (50 Hz) surface partial discharges in dry air, using 21r/3 Rogowski profile electrodes in the low pressure range of 0.067 to 91.333 kPa, shows that for the discharges occurring symmetrically around the electrodes and just outside the uniform field region, the breakdown voltages are 20 to 30% lower than those accounted for by the usual Paschen values. Emphasis, therefore, has been given to modified values of breakdown voltages for any useful calculations. The effect of reduced pressure on inception voltage has been discussed and an attempt has been made to explain the difference between the observed and calculated values on the basis of a pressure-dependent secondary ionization coefficient. It is shown that increasing the insulation thickness in a critical pressure range (0.067 to 0.400 kPa) does not allow any significant increase in the discharge free working stress of the insulation system. At higher pressures (>0.400 kPa) the increase in inception voltage with thickness and pressure follows an equation which is expected to hold for other insulating materials as well.

Surface waves on the boundary of a magnetized plasma

Full dispersion curves including the effect of ions are presented for the electromagnetic surface waves propagating over a plasma-plasma interface in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field which is parallel to the interface. The effect of ions and finite density ratio of the two media at the boundary give rise to various new features in the dispersion characteristics of these surface waves.

The effect of suction on boundary layer for rotating flows with or without magnetic field

The effect of suction on the steady laminar incompressible boundarylayer flow for a stationary infinite disc with or without magnetic field, when the fluid at a large distance from the surface of the disc undergoes a solid body rotation, has been studied. The governing coupled nonlinear equations have been solved numerically using the shooting method with least square convergence criterion. It has been found that suction tends to reduce the velocity overshoot and damp the oscillation.

Effect of concentrated force on a Crack in dissimilar media

Efect of concentrated force or edge dislocation with Burger's vector on a line crack in di,aimilar media has been studied in this paper. Crack surfaces may be subjected to surface loads or opuwd by rigid inclusions. Complex variable methods have been employed to study the distribution of stresses and displacements every where and in particnlar at the tips of the crack.

Effect of the method of preparation and pretreatment on the texture of alumina and related catalysts

The effect of the method of preparation and pretreatment on catalyst texture was investigated in the case of alumina, silica-alumina, 10 × molecular sieve and thoria catalysts. All the catalysts were characterised with respect to their specific surface area, surface acidity, pore size distribution and pore volume. The above properties were found to reflect the textural changes that might have been undergone by the catalyst surface as a result of the method of preparation and pretreatment. The method of preparation was found to influence markedly the acidity of the surface and to a lesser extent the surface area and pore size distribution. Acid-treatment was found to increase selectively the acidity of the catalyst while heat-treatment was found to decrease proportionally the acidity as well as surface area of the catalyst.

On Multi-Dimensional Packets of Surface Waves

By using the method of operators of multiple scales, two coupled nonlinear equations are derived, which govern the slow amplitude modulation of surface gravity waves in two space dimensions. The equations of Davey and Stewartson, which also govern the two-dimensional modulation of the amplitude of gravity waves, are derived as a special case of our equations. For a fully dispersed wave, symmetric about a point which moves with the group velocity, the coupled equations reduce to a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with extra terms representing the effect of the curvature of the wavefront.

Effect of metal coating and residual stress on the resonant frequency of MEMS resonators

MEMS resonators are designed for a fixed resonant frequency. Therefore, any shift in the resonant frequency of the final fabricated structure can be a denting factor for its suitability towards a desired application. There are numerous factors which alter the designed resonant frequency of the fabricated resonator such as the metal layer deposited on top of the beam and the residual stresses present in the fabricated structure. While the metal coating, which acts as electrode, increases the stiffness and the effective mass of the composite structure, the residual stress increases or decreases the net stiffness if it is a tensile or compressive type respectively. In this paper, we investigate both these cases by taking two different structures, namely, the micro cantilever beam with gold layer deposited on its top surface and the MEMS gyroscope with residual stresses. First, we carry out experiments to characterize both these structures to find their resonant frequencies. Later, we analytically model those effects and compare them with the experimentally obtained values. Finally, it is found that the analytical models give an error of less than 10% with respect to the experimental results in both the cases.

The effect of closed boundary conditions on a stationary dynamo

One of two boundary conditions generally assumed in solutions of the dynamo equation is related to the disappearance of the azimuthal field at the boundary. Parker (1984) points out that for the realization of this condition the field must escape freely through the surface. Escape requires that the field be detached from the gas in which it is embedded. In the case of the sun, this can be accomplished only through reconnection in the tenuous gas above the visible surface. Parker concludes that the observed magnetic activity on the solar surface permits at most three percent of the emerging flux to escape. He arrives at the conclusion that, instead of B(phi) = 0, the partial derivative of B(phi) to r is equal to zero. The present investigation is concerned with the effect of changing the boundary condition according to Parker's conclusion. Implications for the solar convection zone are discussed.

Influence of roughness parameters and surface texture on friction during sliding of pure lead over 080 M40 steel

In the present investigation, tests were conducted on a tribological couple made of cylindrical lead pin with spherical tip against 080 M40 steel plates of different textures with varying roughness under both dry and lubricated conditions using an inclined pin-on-plate sliding tester. Surface roughness parameters of the steel plates were measured using optical profilometer. The morphologies of the worn surfaces of the pins and the formation of transfer layer on the counter surfaces were observed using a scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the coefficient of friction and the formation of transfer layer depend primarily on the surface texture of hard surfaces. A newly formulated non-dimensional hybrid roughness parameter called 'xi' (a product of number of peaks and maximum profile peak height) of the tool surface plays an important role in determining the frictional behaviour of the surfaces studied. The effect of surfaces texture on coefficient of friction was attributed to the variation of plowing component of friction, which in turn depends on the roughness parameter 'xi'.

Effect of Crystallographic Structure of MnO2 on Its Electrochemical Capacitance Properties

MnO2 is currently under extensive investigations for its capacitance properties. MnO2 crystallizes into several crystallographic structures, namely, α, β, γ, δ, and λ structures. Because these structures differ in the way MnO6 octahedra are interlinked, they possess tunnels or interlayers with gaps of different magnitudes. Because capacitance properties are due to tercalation/deintercalation of protons or cations in MnO2, only some crystallographic structures, which possess sufficient gaps to accommodate these ions, are expected to be useful for capacitance studies. In order to examine the dependence of capacitance on crystal structure, the present study involves preparation of these various crystal phases of MnO2 in nanodimensions and to evaluate their capacitance properties. Results of α-MnO2 prepared by a microemulsion route (α-MnO2(m)) are also used for comparison. Spherical particles of about 50 nm, nanorods of 30−50 nm in diameter, or interlocked fibers of 10−20 nm in diameters are formed, which depend on the crystal structure and the method of preparation. The specific capacitance (SC) measured for MnO2 is found to depend strongly on the crystallographic structure, and it decreases in the following order: α(m) > α δ > γ > λ > β. A SC value of 297 F g-1 is obtained for α-MnO2(m), whereas it is 9 F g-1 for β-MnO2. A wide (4.6 Å) tunnel size and large surface area of α-MnO2(m) are ascribed as favorable factors for its high SC. A large interlayer separation (7 Å) also facilitates insertion of cations in δ-MnO2 resulting in a SC close to 236 F g-1. A narrow tunnel size (1.89 Å) does not allow intercalation of cations into β-MnO2. As a result, it provides a very small SC.

Virus-Specific Cytolytic Antibodies to Nonstructural Protein 1 of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Effect Reduction of Virus Output from Infected Cells

We demonstrate the presence of nonstructural protein 1 (NS1)-specific antibodies in a significant proportion of convalescent-phase human serum samples obtained from a cohort in an area where Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic. Sera containing antibodies to NS1 but not those with antibodies to other JEV proteins, such as envelope, brought about complement-mediated lysis of JEV-infected BHK-21 cells. Target cells infected with a recombinant poxvirus expressing JEV NS1 on the cell surface confirmed the NS1 specificity of cytolytic antibodies. Mouse anti-NS1 cytolytic sera caused a complement-dependent reduction in virus output from infected human cells, demonstrating their important role in viral control. Antibodies elicited by JEV NS1 did not cross lyse West Nile virus- or dengue virus-infected cells despite immunoprecipitating the NS1 proteins of these related flaviviruses. Additionally, JEV NS1 failed to bind complement factor H, in contrast to NS1 of West Nile virus, suggesting that the NS1 proteins of different flaviviruses have distinctly different mechanisms for interacting with the host. Our results also point to an important role for JEV NS1-specific human immune responses in protection against JE and provide a strong case for inclusion of the NS1 protein in next generation of JEV vaccines.