Lead-bismuth eutectic corrosion behaviors of ferritic/martensitic steels in low oxygen concentration environment

In order to investigate the compatibility of candidate structural materials with liquid metals, two kinds of ferritic/martensitic steels were chosen to contact with lead–bismuth eutectic in sealed quartz–glass tubes. The corrosion exposures were for 500 and 3000 h. Results showed that the oxidation layer and carbide dissolution layer on the two steels grew with contact time under oxygen unsaturated condition. Short-term corrosion behavior of a newly developed steel showed better lead–bismuth eutectic corrosion resistance than T91 at 873 K.

Glycine betaine-mediated protection of peas (Pisum sativum L.) during blanching and frozen storage

We used glycine betaine (5–20% w/v) for blanching green peas (100°C, 60 s), and their subsequent freezing and storage (–20°C, 90 days). Blanching after the addition of glycine betaine at ≥10% (w/v) followed by a 90 day storage period which resulted in the most desirable outcome: higher vitamin C levels, a superior green color, enhanced organoleptic quality and texture, and improved retention of peroxidase and lipoxygenase activity relative to control peas (no glycine betaine added). Microscopic characterizations of control and treated peas revealed that glycine betaine acts as a cryoprotectant which maintains cellular integrity. Glycine betaine (10% w/v) could be used commercially for production of frozen peas with better quality attributes.

Refugees and Human Rights: The Future of International Protection in the UK

The global refugee crisis is raising profound questions for the future of international protection. This article, based on a talk given as part of Refugee Week 2015, offers reflections on the current debate. The need to internationalise the conversation is underlined. Although no one state can resolve the problems of the world, it is precisely in the response to the plight of the forcibly displaced that commitments to human rights and refugee protection are tested in practical terms. This article argues that the UK’s approach remains inadequate and problematic.

Chloride transport and the resulting corrosion of steel bars in alkali activated slag concretes

As the relative performance of alkali activated slag (AAS) concretes in comparison to Portland cement (PC) counterparts for chloride transport and resulting corrosion of steel bars is not clear, an investigation was carried out and the results are reported in this paper. The effect of alkali concentration and modulus of sodium silicate solution used in AAS was studied. Chloride transport and corrosion properties were assessed with the help of electrical resistivity, non-steady state chloride diffusivity, onset of corrosion, rate of corrosion and pore solution chemistry. It was found that: (i) although chloride content at surface was higher for the AAS concretes, they had lower chloride diffusivity than PC concrete; (ii) pore structure, ionic exchange and interaction effect of hydrates strongly influenced the chloride transport in the AAS concretes; (iii) steel corrosion resistance of the AAS concretes was comparable to that of PC concrete under intermittent chloride ponding regime, with the exception of 6% Na2O and Ms of 1.5; (iv) the corrosion behaviour of the AAS concretes was significantly influenced by ionic exchange, carbonation and sulphide concentration; (v) the increase of alkali concentration of the activator generally increased the resistance of AAS concretes to chloride transport and reduced its resulting corrosion, and a value of 1.5 was found to be an optimum modulus for the activator for improving the chloride transport and the corrosion resistance.

Exploring inequities in child welfare and child protection services: Explaining the ‘inverse intervention law’

Attempts to record, understand and respond to variations in child welfare and protection reporting, service patterns and outcomes are international, numerous and longstanding. Reframing such variations as an issue of inequity between children and between families opens the way to a new approach to explaining the profound difference in intervention rates between and within countries and administrative districts. Recent accounts of variation have frequently been based on the idea that there is a binary division between bias and risk (or need). Here we propose seeing supply (bias) and demand (risk) factors as two aspects of a single system, both framed, in part, by social structures. A recent finding from a study of intervention rates in England, the 'inverse intervention law', is used to illustrate the complex ways in which a range of factors interact to produce intervention rates. In turn, this analysis raises profound moral, policy, practice and research questions about current child welfare and child protection services.

Chloride induced corrosion of steel bars in alkali activated slag concretes

The studies on chloride induced corrosion of steel bars in alkali activated slag (AAS) concretes are scarcely reported in the past. In order to make this issue clearer and compare the corrosion performance of AAS with Portland cement (PC) counterpart, an investigation was carried out and the results are reported in this paper. Corrosion properties were assessed with the help of rate of corrosion, electrical resistivity and pore solution chemistry. It was found that: (i) steel corrosion resistance of the AAS concretes was comparable or in some cases even worse than that of Portland cement (PC) concrete under intermittent chloride ponding regime; (ii) the corrosion behaviour of the AAS concretes was significantly influenced by ionic exchange, carbonation and sulphide concentration; (iii) the increase of alkali concentration of the activator generally reduced chloride resulting corrosion, and a value of 1.5 was found to be an optimum modulus for the activator for improving the corrosion resistance.

Enhancement of Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Beta Titanium Alloy by Laser Gas Alloying with Nitrogen

The relatively high elastic modulus coupled with the presence of toxic vanadium (V) in Ti6Al4 V alloy has long been a concern in orthopaedic applications. To solve the problem, a variety of non-toxic and low modulus beta-titanium (beta-Ti) alloys have been developed. Among the beta-Ti alloy family, the quaternary Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta (TNZT) alloys have received the highest attention as a promising replacement for Ti6Al4 V due to their lower elastic modulus and outstanding long term stability against corrosion in biological environments. However, the inferior wear resistance of TNZT is still a problem that must be resolved before commercialising in the orthopaedic market. In this work, a newly-developed laser surface treatment technique was employed to improve the surface properties of Ti-35.3Nb-7.3Zr-5.7Ta alloy. The surface structure and composition of the laser-treated TNZT surface were examined by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The wear and corrosion resistance were evaluated by pin-on-plate sliding test and anodic polarisation test in Hanks’ solution. The experimental results were compared with the untreated (or base) TNZT material. The research findings showed that the laser surface treatment technique reported in this work can effectively improve the wear and corrosion resistance of TNZT.

Corrosion Fatigue Behaviour of Laser-welded Shape Memory NiTi Wires in a Simulated Body Fluid

Corrosion fatigue is a fracture process as a consequence of synergistic interactions between the material structure, corrosive environment and cyclic loads/strains. It is difficult to be detected and can cause unexpected failure of engineering components in use. This study reveals a comparison of corrosion fatigue behaviour of laser-welded and bare NiTi wires using bending rotation fatigue (BRF) test coupled with a specifically-designed corrosion cell. The testing medium was Hanks’ solution (simulated body fluid) at 37.5 oC. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) measurement was carried out to monitor the change of corrosion resistance of sample during the BRF test at different periods of time. Experiments indicate that the laser-welded NiTi wire would be more susceptible to the corrosion fatigue attack than the bare NiTi wire. This study can serve as a benchmark for the product designers and engineers to understand the corrosion fatigue behaviour of the NiTi laser weld joint and determine the fatigue life safety factor for NiTi medical devices/implants involving laser welding in the fabrication process.

Implications of divergences in Adult Protection legislation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the similarities and differences of legal responses to older adults who may be at risk of harm or abuse in the UK, Ireland, Australia and the USA.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw upon a review of elder abuse and adult protection undertaken on behalf of the commissioner for older people in Northern Ireland. This paper focusses on the desk top mapping of the different legal approaches and draws upon wider literature to frame the discussion of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different legal responses.
Findings – Arguments exist both for and against each legal approach. Differences in defining the scope and powers of adult protection legislation in the UK and internationally are highlighted.
Research limitations/implications – This review was undertaken in late 2013; while the authors have updated the mapping to take account of subsequent changes, some statutory guidance is not yet available. While the expertise of a group of experienced professionals in the field of adult safeguarding was utilized,
it was not feasible to employ a formal survey or consensus model.
Practical implications – Some countries have already introduced APL and others are considering doing so. The potential advantages and challenges of introducing APL are highlighted.
Social implications – The introduction of legislation may give professionals increased powers to prevent and reduce abuse of adults, but this would also change the dynamic of relationships within families and between families and professionals.
Originality/value – This paper provides an accessible discussion of APL across the UK and internationally
which to date has been lacking from the literature.