Formability of high strength aluminium sheet

An initial review of the subject emphasises the need for improved fuel efficiency in vehicles and the possible role of aluminium in reducing weight. The problems of formability generally in manufacture and of aluminium in particular are discussed in the light of published data. A range of thirteen commercially available sheet aluminium alloys have been compared with respect to mechanical properties as these affect forming processes and behaviour in service. Four alloys were selected for detailed comparison. The formability and strength of these were investigated in terms of underlying mechanisms of deformation as well as the microstructural characteristics of the alloys including texture, particle dispersion, grain size and composition. In overall terms, good combinations of strength and ductility are achievable with alloys of the 2xxx and 6xxx series. Some specific alloys are notably better than others. The strength of formed components is affected by paint baking in the final stages of manufacture. Generally, alloys of the 6xxx family are strengthened while 2xxx and 5xxx become weaker. Some anomalous behaviour exists, however. Work hardening of these alloys appears to show rather abrupt decreases over certain strain ranges which is probably responsible for the relatively low strains at which both diffuse and local necking occur. Using data obtained from extended range tensile tests, the strain distribution in more complex shapes can be successfully modelled using finite element methods.Sheet failure during forming occurs by abrupt shear fracture in many instances. This condition is favoured by states of biaxial tension, surface defects in the form of fine scratches and certain types of crystallographic texture. The measured limit strains of the materials can be understood on the basis of attainment of a critical shear stress for fracture.

Celiac disease patient IgA antibodies induce endothelial adhesion and cell polarization defects via extracellular transglutaminase 2

We have recently found that celiac disease patient serum-derived autoantibodies targeted against transglutaminase 2 interfere with several steps of angiogenesis, including endothelial sprouting and migration, though the mechanism involved remained to be fully characterized. This study now investigated the processes underlying the antiangiogenic effects exerted by celiac disease patient antibodies on endothelial cells, with particular regard to the adhesion, migration, and polarization signaling pathway. We observed that celiac IgA reduced endothelial cell numbers by affecting adhesion without increasing apoptosis. Endothelial cells in the presence of celiac IgA showed weak attachment, a high susceptibility to detach from fibronectin, and a disorganized extracellular matrix due to a reduction of protein cross-links. Furthermore, celiac patient IgA led to secretion of active transglutaminase 2 from endothelial cells into the culture supernatants. Additionally, cell surface transglutaminase 2 mediated integrin clustering in the presence of celiac IgA was coupled to augmented expression of ß1-integrin. We also observed that celiac patient IgA-treated endothelial cells had migratory defects and a less polarized phenotype when compared to control groups, and this was associated with the RhoA signaling pathway. These biological effects mediated by celiac IgA on endothelial cells were partially influenced but not completely abolished by R281, an irreversible extracellular transglutaminase 2 enzymatic activity inhibitor. Taken together, our results imply that celiac patient IgA antibodies disturb the extracellular protein cross-linking function of transglutaminase 2, thus altering cell-extracellular matrix interactions and thereby affecting endothelial cell adhesion, polarization, and motility. © 2013 Springer Basel.

The surface chemistry of nanocrystalline MgO catalysts for FAME production:an in situ XPS study of H2O, CH3OH and CH3OAc adsorption

An in situ XPS study of water, methanol and methyl acetate adsorption over as-synthesised and calcined MgO nanocatalysts is reported with a view to gaining insight into the surface adsorption of key components relevant to fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) production during the transesterification of triglycerides with methanol. High temperature calcined NanoMgO-700 adsorbed all three species more readily than the parent material due to the higher density of electron-rich (111) and (110) facets exposed over the larger crystallites. Water and methanol chemisorb over the NanoMgO-700 through the conversion of surface O2 − sites to OH− and coincident creation of Mg-OH or Mg-OCH3 moieties respectively. A model is proposed in which the dissociative chemisorption of methanol occurs preferentially over defect and edge sites of NanoMgO-700, with higher methanol coverages resulting in physisorption over weakly basic (100) facets. Methyl acetate undergoes more complex surface chemistry over NanoMgO-700, with C–H dissociation and ester cleavage forming surface hydroxyl and acetate species even at extremely low coverages, indicative of preferential adsorption at defects. Comparison of C 1s spectra with spent catalysts from tributyrin transesterification suggest that ester hydrolysis plays a key factor in the deactivation of MgO catalysts for biodiesel production.