| 1. |
- Hosseini, Seyedehsan, 1994
(författare)
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Additive-Driven Improvements in Interfacial Properties and Processing of TMP-Polymer Composites
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Efforts to address environmental concerns have resulted in new regulations designed to plan the reduction of plastic and synthetic polymer usage, necessitating the search for sustainable natural alternatives with comparable cost-effectiveness and mechanical performance. Thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibres are one of the most affordable natural fibres that have no chemical refining in production, production have a high yield of 90-98% and TMP fibres have been demonstrated to improve the mechanical characteristics (strength, stiffness and toughness) of wood-polymer composites (WPCs) compared to the pure polymer. The integration of TMP fibres with non-polar synthetic polymers remains a challenge due to surface polarity differences. This PhD thesis aims to ease the processing of TMP fibre composites through the incorporation of additives. The hypothesis posits that incorporating magnesium stearate (MgSt), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) as additives in TMP composites will enhance interfacial properties, resulting in improved processability and flow behaviour at high temperatures. MoS2 is known for its interaction with lignin, which exists in TMP and MgSt is recognised for its ability to improve flow in pharmaceutical processing when combined with cellulose, also a component of TMP. AKD modifies the hydrophilic properties of lignocellulosic surfaces. The experimental work explores the effect of these additives on the properties of TMP composites of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) and polypropylene (PP) matrices. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and mechanical analysis results reveal that MoS2 exhibits superior interaction with TMP fibres, yielding enhanced interfacial properties compared to MgSt in between EAA and TMP fibres. Rheological studies elucidate the transition from a fluid-like state to a network-like structure upon the incorporation of TMP into the PP matrix. The incorporation of AKD with C18 reduces the viscosity of TMP-PP composites and PP itself, and, as determined through theoretical Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) calculations, increases compatibility between cellulose in TMP fibres and PP. The addition of AKD influences both the colour (lighter) and shape (smoother surface) of the extrudate filaments in the TMP-PP composites, indicative of improved processing. In addition, frictional analysis demonstrates the reduction of the coefficient of friction (COF) between metal and TMP fibre by MgSt and AKD treatments.
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| 2. |
- Chen, Zhe, et al.
(författare)
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Nano-scale characterization of white layer in broached Inconel 718
- 2017
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Ingår i: Materials Science & Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing. - Amsterdam : Elsevier BV. - 0921-5093 .- 1873-4936. ; 684, s. 373-384
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The formation mechanism of white layers during broaching and their mechanical properties are not well investigated and understood to date. In the present study, multiple advanced characterization techniques with nano-scale resolution, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), atom probe tomography (APT) as well as nano-indentation, have been used to systematically examine the microstructural evolution and corresponding mechanical properties of a surface white layer formed when broaching the nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718.TEM observations showed that the broached white layer consists of nano-sized grains, mostly in the range of 20–50 nm. The crystallographic texture detected by TKD further revealed that the refined microstructure is primarily caused by strong shear deformation. Co-located Al-rich and Nb-rich fine clusters have been identified by APT, which are most likely to be γ′ and γ′′ clusters in a form of co-precipitates, where the clusters showed elongated and aligned appearance associated with the severe shearing history. The microstructural characteristics and crystallography of the broached white layer suggest that it was essentially formed by adiabatic shear localization in which the dominant metallurgical process is rotational dynamic recrystallization based on mechanically-driven subgrain rotations. The grain refinement within the white layer led to an increase of the surface nano-hardness by 14% and a reduction in elastic modulus by nearly 10% compared to that of the bulk material. This is primarily due to the greatly increased volume fraction of grain boundaries, when the grain size was reduced down to the nanoscale.
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| 3. |
- Sauer, Christopher, 1993
(författare)
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Green Aromatics: Catalytic Valorisation of bio-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran over Zeolites and Zeotypes
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis discusses the use of biomass as a potentially green feedstock for the chemical industry in the urgent shift away from fossil resources. I elaborate on reasons why we cannot afford to burn virgin biomass for energy production, among them a variety of ecosystem services that forests and other lands provide. In addition, the utilisation of biomass should be focused on products that sequester and lock away carbon for more extended periods, e.g. timber, materials and chemicals. In particular, biomass can be used as an alternative "carbon neutral" feedstock for the chemical industry, where we can preserve the already existing chemical complexity in the bio-based molecules. One example is the upgrading of furans to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) aromatics with the help of zeolite catalysis. These aromatics are important commodity chemicals, where the shift to a bio-based resource could make use of already existing knowledge, catalyst and production infrastructure. However, research is necessary to understand these new feedstock molecules and their interaction with the catalysts and to enable the design of applicable catalysts. In order to study the interaction of the furans, in particular 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-dmf), I describe and discuss the development of an analytical methodology that utilises infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for the on-line identification and quantification of product molecules during catalytic reactions. This on-line analysis method is then applied to the catalytic conversion of 2,5-dmf to aromatics over a range of zeolite and zeotype catalysts. In-depth studies with ammonia as a probe molecule of the catalytic active acid sites, as well as temperature programmed experiments with ammonia and 2,5-dmf give insights into product distribution, selectivity changes and deactivation of the catalyst. For example, olefins and aromatics are initially preferred products, while with increasing time on stream, the isomerisation of 2,5-dmf becomes dominant. The incorporation of Ga into the zeotype framework, resulting in a Ga-Silicate, shows how targeted catalyst design can increase overall aromatics production. This catalyst is also suitable for selective isomerisation of 2,5-dmf to 2,4-dimethylfuran, which has a rare substitution pattern. Finally, itwas found that the most valuable of BTX, p -xylene, can be produced more selectively when 2,5-dmf is pre-adsorbed onto zeolite ZSM-5 and then released during a temperature programmed product desorption.
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| 4. |
- He, Wenxiao, 1985
(författare)
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Biomimetic Formation of Calcium Phosphate Based Nanomaterials
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The intercellular material in bone is a nanocomposite of aligned “hard” inorganics—calcium phosphate (CaP) platelets embedded in the long-range ordered “soft” organic collagen matrix. This elaborate structural arrangement redeems the weaknesses of the individual components (being soft protein or brittle mineral) and gives bone its excellent mechanical properties for the protection and support of our bodies. The structural order and hierarchy in the soft matrix is organized via self-assembly of collagen molecules and is reinforced by intermolecular crosslinking. The subsequent growth of “hard” crystallites inside the “soft” matrix compartments, likely through the deposition of a transient amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) phase, results in the interpenetrated composite structure.The aim of this thesis was to prepare synthetic mimetics of “hard” material (CaP) with well-defined nanostructures, soft organic matrices with long-range order and interpenetrated composites composing of the two. The work was inspired by the material deposition process in natural bone. Lyotropic liquid crystal (LC) phases self-assembled by block copolymers were used to mimic the structural order of the collagen matrix. Both the inorganic morphogenesis of CaP in LCs and the controlled crystallization of ACP were investigated. To explore ordered organic matrices, crosslinking of the LCs and the self-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide with designed sequence were performed. In addition, controlled mineralization within crosslinked LCs was examined for the formation of nanocomposites.ACP nanospheres, CaP nanowires and nanosheets were prepared from LCs via templated growth. The ACP nanospheres were capable of transforming into bone-like apatite by controlled aging in water and the prepared nanoparticles were shown to affect osteoblast gene expression. Dicalcium phosphate crystals (brushite and monetite) with structural hierarchy and distinct features were also grown in LCs through epitaxial overgrowth or a self-organization regime. Polymerized LCs were successfully prepared from a modified block copolymer (diacrylate derivative of Pluronic® F127), which served as a resilient matrix for the deposition of ACP nanospheres. A subsequent in situ crystallization of ACP into bone-like apatite resulted in mechanically stable composites retaining nanostructures that resembled that of natural bone. An amphiphilic peptide was designed using mainly natural amino acids and it was shown to self-assemble into distinct structures at different concentrations. Based upon the results presented in this thesis, nanomaterials with assorted structures can be further designed for bio-related applications.
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| 5. |
- Hosseini, Seyedehsan, 1994, et al.
(författare)
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Alkyl ketene dimer modification of thermomechanical pulp promotes processability with polypropylene
- 2024
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Ingår i: Polymer Composites. - 1548-0569 .- 0272-8397. ; 45:1, s. 825-835
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alkyl ketene dimers (AKDs) are known to efficiently react with cellulose with a dual polarity in their structure: a polar component and a nonpolar component. AKD of three different carbon chain lengths, 4, 10, and 16 carbons have been synthesized, and thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibers were modified by them. The modification of TMP fibers with AKD resulted in an increased water contact angle, showing the presence of the AKDs on the TMP fibers and a new carbonyl peak in the IR spectra, suggesting modification of the TMP fibers with AKD groups. Calculating the Hansen solubility parameters of AKD and AKD conjugated to TMP in polypropylene (PP) indicates improved compatibility, especially of longer chain AKD and TMP AKD. The rheological studies of the composites showed that the AKD with the longest carbon chain decreases the melt viscosity of the PP-TMP-AKD composite, which combined with the shape and the color of the extruded composite filaments indicates improved flow properties and reduced stress build up during processing. The research findings demonstrate the ability of AKD to enhance the dispersibility and compatibility of natural fibers with PP.
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| 6. |
- Tam, Eric, 1980
(författare)
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Tailoring of Transition Metal Silicides as Protective Thin Films on Austenitic Stainless Steel
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The objective of this study is to make use of transition metal silicides in a novel way as protective thin films on engineering metals. It can then be possible to take advantage of the potentially good corrosion resistance of metal silicides while compensating for their brittle nature by the ductile bulk material. Transition metal silicide thin films based on the systems of Ti-Si, Cr-Si, Fe-Si, Ni-Si were fabricated by means of ion-beam co-sputter deposition on 304 stainless steel substrates, with or without subsequent annealing treatment. Thin film characterisation was done by means of X-ray photoelectron and X-ray diffraction analysis. For the films in crystalline form after annealing, the silicides were well-characterised by means of both techniques. The co-sputtered films showed short-range ordered structures, but the possible silicide phases could be depicted from the core-level XPS spectra of the transition metal peaks defined by the crystalline forms. Except for the Cr-Si system, the phase formation sequence during annealing processes was possible to predict by means of Pretorius’ effective heat of formation (EHF) model provided that the initial thin film compositions were determined. The corrosion properties of the as-deposited silicide films and the uncoated stainless steel specimens were assessed by means of polarisation measurements in dilute hydrochloric (HCl) and sulphuric (H2SO4) acid solutions. All silicide-coated specimens showed lower current densities along the measured potentials than the uncoated steel, suggesting their lower reactivity. Among the silicide films, the Ti-Si and Ni-Si based films showed the best corrosion properties and Si content above 60 at.% for all films facilitated high integrity Si-oxide layer development, whereby corrosion properties improved. Further studies conducted on the Ni-Si system showed that composition is a more important design factor than structure. When considering their tribological properties, Rockwell-C adhesion tests and reciprocating sliding wear tests proved the silicide films to be well-adhering on the substrates and to show lower specific wear rate (10e-13 m3/Nm) than that (10e-12 m3/Nm) of the uncoated steel. It is supposed that transition metal silicides can act as protective thin films on stainless steel as well as any other engineering materials as far as good adhesion is guaranteed.
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| 7. |
- Kosaraju, Sravya, 1983
(författare)
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A review of the importance of recycling lithium-ion batteries for lithium, in view of impending electric vehicle industry
- 2012
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Automobile electrification is one the technological developments, that will commence an earth friendly transport system, by mitigating emissions and hopefully lead to a less fossil fuel dependent society. With commercial success attained by models like Nissan’s leaf and Chevy’s Volt, the consumer market looks promising to assimilate vehicle electrification. At present these technologies include HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), EVs (complete electric vehicles).A closer look at these technologies will lead us to one of the crucial components of electric vehicles, the “batteries”. This component decides one of the key performance factors which is the energy storage and usage, which means it is the basis for public acceptability.The lithium-ion battery chemistries are chosen to fulfill this requirement. Although lithium constitutes of a small fraction of the complete battery weight, still its contin-ued availability in future is debated among many resource analysts.
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| 8. |
- Öhman, Sebastian, 1991-, et al.
(författare)
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Selective kinetic growth and role of local coordination in forming Al2TiO5-based coatings at lower temperatures
- 2021
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Ingår i: Materials Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2633-5409. ; 2:17, s. 5737-5751
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Negative thermal expansion is an elusive property found among certain materials, whose potential applications have remained limited due to the many challenges faced in their synthesis. Herein, we report the successful formation of aluminium titanate-based coatings (Al2TiO5), a material renowned for its low-to-negative thermal expansion, by the co-deposition of aluminium-isopropoxide and titanium-isopropoxide in a hot-wall chemical vapour deposition instrument. While coatings grown at 450 °C were amorphous as-deposited, a short-range order into the Al2TiO5-phase was found and analysed by using Raman spectroscopy. Upon subsequent annealing at 700 °C for 3 hours, crystalline coatings were achieved without forming any binary phases. The selective synthesis of the Al2TiO5 phase is ascribed to the precursors’ inherent chemical similarities, resulting in a kinetic targeting of this phase and a short-range homogeneity, entailing its preferred crystallisation. The role of local coordination is expressed by demonstrating the formation of intergrowth phases ascribed to lower coordinating interstices in the compound. Both the formation and crystallisation temperatures reported herein, as well as the timescales needed for the synthesises, are considerably lower than any conventional adopted solid-state techniques used so far to attain the Al2TiO5 phase.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Le Breton, Michael, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Application of a FIGAERO ToF CIMS for on-line characterization of real-world fresh and aged particle emissions from buses
- 2019
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Ingår i: Aerosol Science and Technology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0278-6826 .- 1521-7388. ; 53:3, s. 244-259
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. On-line chemical characterization of real-world particle emissions from 13 transit buses was performed using a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) equipped with a filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO). In addition to the fresh emissions the emissions were artificially aged using a potential aerosol mass reactor (Go:PAM). The buses studied were running on different fuel types (diesel, compressed natural gas, and rapeseed methyl ester) and exhaust after-treatment systems (selective catalytic reduction (SCR), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and a three-way catalyst). When evaluating emissions from passing exhaust plumes using the FIGAERO ToF-CIMS, two technical features were highlighted from this work, the use of high mass calibrants and the factor enhancement method to be able to filter important compounds from mass spectra including hundreds of species. Here, acetate was used as the reagent ion to enable detection of highly oxygenated species in the exhaust particle emissions with potential high toxicity and/or secondary organic aerosol formation (SOA) potential. The acetate ionization scheme accounted for 4% to 46% of the total emitted particulate mass through identification of 61 species in the spectra. For aged emission the various fuel types provided overlapping species that could explain up to 19% of the aged emissions. This is hypothesized to come from the oxidation of engine lubrication oil, thus a common source for various fuels which was further supported by laboratory measurements. Specific markers from the SCR technology, such as urea oxidation products and further byproducts from hydrolysis were identified and attributed to reactions of isocyanic acid.
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