A Continuum Model for Slip-Twinning Interactions in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

Due to their high specific strength and low density, magnesium and magnesium-based alloys have gained great technological importance in recent years. However, their underlying hexagonal crystal structure furnishes Mg and its alloys with a complex mechanical behavior because of their comparably smaller number of energetically favorable slip systems. Besides the commonly studied slip mechanism, another way to accomplish general deformation is through the additional mechanism of deformation-induced twinning. The main aim of this thesis research is to develop an efficient continuum model to understand and ultimately predict the material response resulting from the interaction between these two mechanisms.

The constitutive model we present is based on variational constitutive updates of plastic slips and twin volume fractions and accounts for the related lattice reorientation mechanisms. The model is applied to single- and polycrystalline pure magnesium. We outline the finite-deformation plasticity model combining basal, pyramidal, and prismatic dislocation activity as well as a convexification based approach for deformation twinning. A comparison with experimental data from single-crystal tension-compression experiments validates the model and serves for parameter identification. The extension to polycrystals via both Taylor-type modeling and finite element simulations shows a characteristic stress-strain response that agrees well with experimental observations for polycrystalline magnesium. The presented continuum model does not aim to represent the full details of individual twin-dislocation interactions, yet it is sufficiently efficient to allow for finite element simulations while qualitatively capturing the underlying microstructural deformation mechanisms.

Acute toxicity of copper, zinc and mercury on intertidal gastropods of Mumbai coast

The acute toxicity test conducted by static bioassay techniques have revealed that among selected heavy metals, copper is more toxic than zinc and mercury to Planaxis sulcatus and Trochus radiatus. The natural availability of heavy metals in the surrounding environment of these organisms is found to be deciding factor for their toxicity. Natural habitat of the animal also contributes to the sensitivity of a particular animal to the heavy metals tested. In addition the tendency of the animal to overcome the adverse conditions in their surrounding also plays a significant role in toxicity of pollutants.

Effect of zinc and manganese supplementation to tricalcium phosphate rich diet for tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes)

Effects of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) supplementation to a tricalcium phosphate (TCP) rich diet for tiger puffer have been investigated. A TCP supplement to the diet decreased the growth of fish compared to the control diet with a Ca supplementation from Ca-lactate. However, addition of either Zn or Mn to the TCP supplemented diet could not improve the growth of tiger puffer. Addition of both zinc and manganese to the TCP supplemented diet improved the growth of tiger puffer.

Performance of magnesia cements in porous blocks in acid and magnesium environments

The performance of porous blocks containing three different reactive magnesia-based cements - namely magnesia alone, magnesium oxide: Portland cement (PC) in 1:1 ratio, cured in ambient conditions, and magnesia alone, cured at elevated carbon dioxide conditions, in hydrochloric acid and magnesium sulfate solution - was investigated. Different aggressive chemical solution conditions were used, to which the samples were exposed for up to 12 months and then tested for strength and microstructure. The performance was also compared with that of standard PC-based blocks. The results showed the significant resistance to chemical attack offered by magnesia, both alone and with PC blend in the porous blocks when cured under ambient carbon dioxide conditions, and confirmed the much poorer performance of blocks made from PC alone. The blocks of solely magnesia cured in elevated carbon dioxide conditions, at 20% concentration, showed slightly lower resistance to acid attack than PC; however, the resistance to sulfate attack was much higher. © 2012 Thomas Telford Ltd.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the copper/zinc and manganese superoxide dismutase genes from the human parasite Clonorchis sinensis

A copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) gene and a manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene of the human parasite Clonorchis sinensis have been cloned and their gene products functionally characterized. Genes Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD encode proteins of 16 kDa and 25.4 kDa, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two genes contained highly conserved residues required for activity and secondary structure formation of Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD, respectively, and show up to 73.7% and 75.4% identities with their counterparts in other animals. The genomic DNA sequence analysis of Cu/ZnSOD gene revealed this as an intronless gene. Inhibitor studies with purified recombinant Cu/ ZnSOD and MnSOD, both of which were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, confirmed that they are copper/zinc and manganese-containing SOD, respectively. Immunoblots showed that both C. sinensis Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD should be antigenic for humans, and both, especially the C. sinensis MnSOD, exhibit extensive cross-reactions with sera of patients infected by other trematodes or cestodes. RT-PCR and SOD activity staining of parasite lysates indicate that there are no significant differences in mRNA level or SOD activity for both species of SOD, indicating cytosolic Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD might play a comparatively important role in the C. sinensis antioxidant system.

Polyethylene glycol-stabilized platinum nanoparticles: The efficient and recyclable catalysts for selective hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene to o-chloroaniline

In the present work, platinum nanoparticles were prepared by in situ reduction with polyethylene glycols (PEGs). The catalytic performance of Pt nanoparticles immobilized in PEGs (Pt-PEGs) is discussed for the hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB). A high selectivity to o-chloroaniline (o-CAN) of about 99.7% was obtained with the Pt-PEGs catalysts at the complete conversion of o-CNB, which is much higher than that (83.4%) obtained over the conventional catalyst of Pt/C. The Pt nanoparticies could be immobilized in PEGs stably and recycled for four times with the same activity and selectivity. It presents a promising performance in the hydrogenation and its wide application in catalytic reactions is expected.

Self-immobilized titanium and zirconium catalysts with phenoxy-imine ligands for ethylene polymerization. X-ray crystal structure of bis(N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)-4 '-allyloxyanilinato) zirconium(IV) dichloride

Four self-immobilized FI catalysts with allyl substituted phenoxy-imine ligands [{4-(CH2=CHCH2O)C6H5N=CH-C6H3(3-tert-C4H9)O}(2) MCl2] (1: M = Ti: 2: M = Zr), [{3-(CH2=CHCH2O)C6H5N=CH-C6H3(3-tert-C4H9)O}(2)MCl2] (3: M = Zr), [{4-(CH2=CHCH2-2,6-(iso-C3H7)(2))C6H5N=CH-C6H3(3,5-(NO2)(2))O}(2)MCl2] (4: M = Zr) have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structure of 2 has been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The results of ethylene polymerization showed that the self-immobilized titanium (IV) and zirconium (IV) catalysts 1-3 kept high activity for ethylene polymerization and 4 showed no activity. SEM showed the immobilization effect could greatly improve the morphology of polymer particles to afford micron-granula polyolefin as supported catalysts.

Corrosion behaviour of hot dip zinc and zinc-aluminium coatings on steel in seawater

A comparative investigation of hot dip Zn-25Al alloy, Zn-55Al-Si and Zn coatings on steel was performed with attention to their corrosion performance in seawater. The results of 2-year exposure testing of these at Zhoushan test site are reported here. In tidal and immersion environments, Zn-25Al alloy coating is several times more durable than zinc coating of double thickness. At long exposure times, corrosion rate for the Zn-25Al alloy coating remains indistinguishable from that for the Zn-55Al-Si coating of similar thickness in tidal zone, and is two to three times lower than the latter in immersion zone. The decrease in tensile strength suggested that galvanized and Zn-55Al-Si coated steel suffer intense pitting corrosion in immersion zone. The electrochemical tests showed that all these coatings provide cathodic protection to the substrate metal; the galvanic potentials are equal to - 1,050, - 1,025 and - 880 mV (SCE) for zinc, Zn-25Al alloy and Zn-55Al-Si coating, respectively, which are adequate to keep the steel inside the immunity region. It is believed that the superior performance of the Zn-25Al alloy coating is due to its optimal combination of the uniform corrosion resistance and pitting corrosion resistance. The inferior corrosion performance by comparison of the Zn coating mainly results from its larger dissolution rate, while the failure of the Zn-55Al-Si coating is probably related to its higher susceptibility to pitting corrosion in seawater.

Corrosion resistance of hot-dipped zinc and zinc alloy coated sheet steels under offshore atmospheric environment

The application of hot-dipped zinc and zinc-aluminum alloy coatings were introduced. Exposure tests of the steels with these coatings were conducted in the offshore atmosphere in Qingdao and Xiamen for 12 years separately. Effects of the coating thickness, alloy composition and atmospheric environment on the corrosion performance were studied. Results of the onsite exposure tests were compared with the results of a previous indoor salt spray accelerated corrosion tests. The study supports that zinc-aluminum alloy coatings are useful in providing better corrosion resistance and can be further developed for future applications.