Laboratory studies on ball wear in the grinding of a chalcopyrite ore

Wear of high carbon low alloy (HCLA) cast steel balls during the grinding of a chalcopyrite ore was evaluated under different experimental conditions. The role of oxygen in enhancing ball wear during wet finding is brought out. The influence of pH on ball wear was also examined from the view point of acid production during grinding and reactivity of sulphides. Contributions from corrosion and abrasion towards ball wear are quantified in terms of ball wear rates as a function of time, particle size and gaseous atmosphere in the mill.

Plantlet production from shoot tip cultures of red sandalwood ( Pterocarpus santalinus L.)

Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus L.), belonging to the family Fabaceae, is one of the most valuable trees, and has limited distribution in India. In view of its high price, restricted distribution and usefulness as a timber tree, there is urgent need to obtain improved lines, in both quality and quantity. We have established a method for production of complete plantlets by tissue culture. We report here the successful development of red sandalwood plantlets by induction of multiple shoots from shoot tips, and successful transfer of micropropagated plants to soil.

Low cycle fatigue behaviour of a nitrogen modified 316L stainless steel at 823 K

Strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests on solution annealed nitrogen modified 316L stainless steel have been conducted in air at 823 K to ascertain the influence of strain rate and strain amplitude. Effect of strain rate was examined from 3x10(-5) s(-1) to 3 x 10(-2) at a fixed strain amplitude of +/- 0.6%. The influence of strain amplitude was evaluated between +/- 0.25 % and +/- 1.0% at a constant strain rate of 3x10(-3) s(-1). The cyclic stress response at all testing conditions is characterized by an initial hardening followed by saturation. Serrated flow, a characteristic feature of dynamic strain ageing (DSA) was seen at strain rates lower than 3x10(-3) s(-1). Fatigue life was found to decrease with decrease in strain rate. The reduction in fatigue resistance is attributed mainly to the detrimental effects associated with DSA.

Production of Dirac particles due to riccion coupling

It has been noted that at high energy the Ricci scalar is manifested in two different ways, as a matter field as well as a geometrical field (which is its usual nature even at low energy). Here, using the material aspect of the Ricci scalar, its interaction with Dirac spinors is considered in four-dimensional curved spacetime. We find that a large number of fermion-antifermion pairs can be produced by the exponential expansion of the early universe.

Effect of Speed and Pressure on Dry Sliding Interactions of Alumina against Steel

Sliding of alumina (87%) pins against a hardened steel disk over a range of pressures (3.3-30.0 MPa) and speeds (0.1-12.0 ms(-1)) has been studied. Four different regions (R1, R2, R3, and R4) of friction as a function of speed have been identified. R1 and RS exhibit single-valued friction while in R2 and R4 the friction exhibits dual behavior. The speed range over which these regions prevail is sensitive to the pressure. R1 and R2 are low-speed and low-temperature regions, and in both, metal transfer and formation and compaction of gamma-Fe2O3 occur. R3 and R4 are associated with high speeds and high interface temperatures. Formation of FeO, FeAl2O4, and FeAlO3 has been observed. The implications of the tribochemical interactions on friction and wear characteristics are discussed.

Observations on the role of the steel disc counterface during the sliding of various structural ceramics

Sliding wear characteristics and mechanisms of structural ceramics, namely Al2O3, zirconia-toughened alumina, tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP) and Si3N4 against a steel counterface are influenced by mechanical and tribochemical interactions, specific to the combinations studied. The present paper studies the role of the disc in the sliding wear process of the above ceramics. Experiments were conducted at a pressure of 15.5 MPa between 0.1 and 12.0 m s(-1) with ceramic pins sliding against an EN-24 steel disc. Except in the case of TZP, the disc morphology is sensitive to variations in speed rather than to the pin material. The disc track is (i) mildly abraded at low speeds (about 0.1-0.75 m s(-1)), (ii) severely abraded at intermediate speeds (about 1.0-3.0 m s(-1)), (iii) covered with black patches at high speeds (about 4.0-6.0 m s(-1)) and (iv) completely black at very high speeds (about 7.0-12.0 m s(-1)). In the case of TZP, although black patches appear, transfer of TZP onto the disc surface and high wear of TZP occurs at 4.0 m s(-1). The order of the wear of the disc estimated from profilometric measurements is the same for all the ceramics. Except for Si3N4, the onset of wear of the ceramics is associated with the appearance of deep 'V' grooves on either side of the profile of the disc track. This can be explained on the basis of the thermal and hardness variations. Although other interaction products specific to the ceramic pin are present, the formation of iron oxides dominates the wear of the disc.

Sliding wear of YTZP ceramic against steel: observations on ceramic transfer and wear transition

Sliding tests were conducted, in air, of YTZP ceramic pins against steel discs at an applied pressure of 15.5 MPa over a speed range of 0.3 to 4.0 ms(-1). Pin wear was not detectable until 2.0 m s(-1), after which a finite but small wear rate was observed at 3.0 m s(-1), accompanied by a red glow at the contacting surface. A transition in wear behaviour and friction (mu) occurred at 4.0 ms(-1), increasing the former by over two orders of magnitude. Both mu and wear behaviour changed with time at 4.0 m s(-1). During initial periods mu was high and wear rate increased steadily with time accompanied by ceramic transfer onto the disc, which increased with time. When disc coverage exceeds a certain threshold value, mu decreased rapidly and the wear rate stabilized at a very high value. Metal transfer was not observed at any speed. High surface temperatures brought about significant adhesion between TZP and steel and this together with enhanced plastic deformation brought about a transition in wear behaviour.

Influence of carbide particles on the dynamic recrystallization of as-cast 304 stainless steel: a study using secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis

The domain of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in as-cast 304 stainless steel material occurs at higher temperatures (1250 degrees C) and lower strain rates (0.001 s(-1)) than in wrought 304 stainless steel (1100 degrees C and 0.01 s(-1)). The above result has been explained earlier on the basis of a simple theoretical DRX model involving the rate of nucleation versus rate of grain boundary migration. The present investigation is aimed at examining experimentally the influence of carbide particles on the DRX of ascast 304 using secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis. Isothermal compression tests at a constant true strain rate have been performed on wrought 304 and as-cast 304 materials in the temperature and strain rate ranges of 1000 to 1250 degrees C and 0.001 to 1 s(-1) respectively. The SIMS analysis carried out on the deformed samples revealed that the large carbides present in the as-cast 304 material strongly influence the DRX process. In as-cast 304 material, the presence of large carbide particles in the microstructure shifts the DRX domain to higher temperature and lower strain rate in comparison with wrought 304 material.

Mechanism of seizure of aluminium-silicon alloys dry sliding against steel

A steel ball was slid on aluminium-silicon alloys at different temperatures. After the coefficient of friction had been measured, the surface shear stress was deconvoluted using a two-term model of friction. The ratio of surface shear stress to bulk hardness was calculated as a function of temperature, silicon content and alloying additions. These results are qualitatively similar to those recorded for pre-seizure specimens slid against an En24 disc in a pin-on-disc machine. This similarity, when viewed in the context of the phenomenon of bulk shear, provides a model for seizure of these alloys.

Production and properties of carbon fibre/particle reinforced cast metal matrix composites

Carbon fibres/particles can be satisfactory reinforcing material in polymer, ceramic and metal matrices. Carbon fibres/particles reinforced polymer matrix composites and ceramic matrix composites are being used extensively in critical areas of application, but carbon fibre - metal matrix composites have not reached that stage yet. This paper discusses the salient aspects of production and specific properties of carbon fibre/particle reinforced cast metal matrix composites. It is envisaged that these materials will find extensive applications where cost, weight and thermal expansion are the key factors.

Production of biosurfactant “Biosur-Pm” by Pseudomonas maltophila CSV89: characterization and role in hydrocarbon uptake

Pseudomonas maltophilia CSV89, a soil bacterium, produces an extracellular biosurfactant, ''Biosur-Pm''. The partially purified product is nondialyzable and chemically composed of 50% protein and 12-15% sugar, which indicates the complex nature of Biosur-Pm. It reduces the surface tension of water from 73 to 53 x 10(-3) N m(-1) and has a critical micellar concentration of 80 mg/l. Compared to aliphatic hydrocarbons, Biosur-Pm shows good activity against aromatic hydrocarbons. The emulsion formed is stable and does not require any metal ions for emulsification. The kinetics of Biosur-Pm production suggest that its synthesis isa growth-associated and pH-dependent process. At pH 7.0, cells produced more Biosur-Pm with less cell surface hydrophobicity. At pH 8.0, however, the cells produced less Biosur-Pm with more cell surface hydrophobicity and showed a twofold higher affinity for aromatic hydrocarbons compared to the cells grown at pH 7.0. The Biosur-Pm showed a pH-dependent release, stimulated growth of the producer strain on mineral salts medium with 1-naphthoic acid when added externally, and facilitated the conversion of salicylate to catechol. All these results suggest that Biosur-Pm is probably a cell-wall component and helps in hydrocarbon assimilation/uptake.

Potential herblayer production and grazing effects in anthropogenic savanna-grasslands in the moist tropical forests of the Western Ghats of India

The moist tropical forests of the Western Ghats of India are pockmarked with savanna-grasslands created and managed by local agricultural communities. A sample of such savanna-grasslands with differing growing conditions was studied in terms of peak above-ground biomass, monthly growth, and cumulative production under different clipping treatments. The herblayer was found to be dominated by perennial C4 grasses, with Eulalia trispicata, Arundinella metzii and Themeda triandra being common to all sites. Peak biomass ranged between 3.3-5.9 t/ha at sites most favourable for grass production. Across these sites, peak biomass was found to be inversely related to the number of rainy days during the growing season, suggesting that growth may be light-limited. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that growth is most rapid immediately after the easing of the monsoon. Single clips early in the growing season had no negative or a slightly positive effect on production, but mid-season single clips or continuous frequent clipping reduced production by as much as 40%. The results suggest that, while indiscriminate grazing may certainly be deleterious, it is possible to obtain sustained high yields from forest lands managed for grass production without totally excluding grazing.

Sliding wear of Al2O3-SiC-(Al,Si) composites against a steel counterface

The sliding-wear behavior of Al2O3-SiC-Al composites prepared by melt oxidation against a steel counterface has been recorded in a pin-on-disk machine. At high speeds and pressures (10 m/s, 20 MPa), friction and wear appear to be principally controlled by the in-situ formation of an interfacial film that consists of a layer of Fe3O4. The formation of this him is examined as a function of sliding speed, lubrication, and composite microstructure. A model is proposed in which high surface temperatures cause the preferential extrusion of aluminum from the composite onto the pin/disk interface. This promotes the adhesive pickup of iron and its oxidation to form a stable tribologically beneficial layer of Fe3O4.