Few studies have been performed on ZrB2- graphite platelet composite made by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. In this research, the influence of adding graphite platelets (Gp) with and without SiC on the fracture toughness of ZrB2 ceramic was studied. The ZrB2- 10Gp, ZrB2- 15Gp, ZrB2- 30SiC-10Gp, and ZrB2- 30SiC-15Gp specimens were sintered by the SPS method at the temperature of 1850 °C for 8 min. The fracture toughness and work of fracture (WOF) were evaluated using the Single-Edge Notched Beam (SENB) technique. It was found that the fracture toughness and WOF were improved by the alone and combined addition of Gp and SiC to the monolithic ZrB2. The maximum fracture toughness of 4.8 ± 0.1 MPa m1/ 2 was obtained for the ZrB2- 15Gp specimen. It seems that adding Gp alone was more effective in enhancing the fracture toughness of ZrB2 than the combined addition of Gp and SiC. While the addition of Gp and SiC simultaneously modified the densification behavior to reach full-densified samples.

PURPOSES : The aim of this study is to review freeze-and-thaw testing apparatuses, develop a freeze-and-thaw testing setup with a test protocol, test the freeze-and-thaw properties of soils collected from different parts of South Korea, and suggest an index for frost susceptibility criteria for soils found in South Korea. METHODS : Based on a literature review, a new freeze-thaw testing setup was developed. In addition, a test protocol was developed for freeze-thaw testing. Soils collected from different parts of South Korea and bedding sand used for block pavements were tested to determine whether the measurements from the newly developed test setup could capture important freeze-thaw characteristics of the soils. Finally, to develop local frost susceptibility criteria, a parameter including both the vertical deformation and thermal conductivity characteristics of the soils was suggested. RESULTS : The results from the laboratory experiments indicate that the newly developed freeze-and-thaw setup captures the required parameters to quantify the responses of soils subjected to cyclic freeze-and-thaw testing. In addition, a vertical deformation of up to 2.437 mm is measured. Moreover, seven soils out of the nine tested soils are classified as having a medium frost susceptibility, whereas the remaining two show low frost susceptibility. The bedding sand experiment also shows that there is a possibility of having a frost susceptible condition based on the moisture content. When submerged, the bedding sand is classified as having a medium frost susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS : The "HEART" freeze-thaw testing setup was able to capture the parameters required for evaluating the frost susceptibility of soils. This setup and testing procedure could be further used to test and prepare criteria for classifying the frost susceptibility of soils found in South Korea.

The utilization of carbonaceous reinforcement-based polymer matrix composites in structural applications has become a hot topic in composite research. Although conventional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) have revolutionized the composite industry by offering unparalleled features, they are often plagued with a weak interface and lack of toughness. However, the promising aspects of carbon fiber-based fiber hybrid composites and hierarchical composites can compensate for these setbacks. This review provides a meticulous landscape and recent progress of polymer matrixbased different carbonaceous (carbon fiber, carbon nanotube, graphene, and nanodiamond) fillers reinforced composites’ mechanical properties. First, the mechanical performance of neat CFRP was exhaustively analyzed, attributing parameters were listed down, and CFRPs’ mechanical performance barriers were clearly outlined. Here, short carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite was distinguished as a prospective material. Second, the strategic advantages of fiber hybrid composites over conventional CFRP were elucidated. Third, the mechanical performance of hierarchical composites based on carbon nanotube (1D), graphene (2D) and nanodiamond (0D) was expounded and evaluated against neat CFRP. Fourth, the review comprehensively discussed different fabrication methods, categorized them according to performance and suggested potential future directions. From here, the review sorted out three-dimensional printing (3DP) as the most futuristic fabrication method and thoroughly delivered its pros and cons in the context of the aforementioned carbonaceous materials. To conclude, the structural applications, current challenges and future prospects pertinent to these carbonaceous fillers reinforced composite materials were elaborated.

This prospective, observational study of acute stroke survivors was completed to report our clinical application of the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), an 8-point multidimensional assessment, used in conjunction with the Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). In addition, we were interested in determining the association of PAS scores at admission, demographics and clinical characteristics with functional recovery (measured by the Functional Independence Measure [FIM]) at discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. There were thirty-five patients that met inclusion and consented. Out of the 35, 34 (97%) were successfully assessed with the PAS with VFSS. Multivariate regression model revealed that the PAS scores, sex, length of stay, and admission FIM scores were significantly associated with functional recovery at hospital discharge (all p values < .05). We conclude that the PAS was feasible to administer with VFSS and implement in our inpatient setting. The PAS provided information about the depth of the airway invasion, material remaining after the swallow, and the response to aspiration, which were not reported in a standardized way prior to this study. The association between the PAS and functional recovery at discharge suggests that stroke survivors with swallowing impairment have less functional improvement noted at discharge than those with better swallowing scores. Therefore, people with dysphagia may need additional services and care. Future research should determine if using the PAS can improve clinical practice and ensure consistency across care transitions (expansion), as those with dysphagia may need additional services and care.

By polymerizing acrylonitrile in the presence of ammonium persulfate as an initiator and Pterocladia capillacea-activated carbon (P-AC) as a filler, a composite material polyacrylonitrile/Pterocladia capillacea-activated carbon (PAN/P- AC) was developed. By reacting hydroxylamine with the composite's nitrile groups, the prepared composite was functionalized by amidoximation. FTIR spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis were all applied to thoroughly characterize the fabricated adsorbent. For the treatment of Cr(VI) ions from synthetic solutions, the adsorption properties of amidoximated polyacrylonitrile/Pterocladia capillacea-activated carbon (PAO/P-AC) were investigated. The pH effect, uptake kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and thermodynamics studies were used to characterize adsorption properties. As a kinetic model analysis, the data confirmed that the pseudo-second-order rate equation matched well the adsorption process. With coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.9998, the Tempkin isotherm model had the lowest error, suggesting that it is the best fitted model to describe this adsorption mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that Cr(VI) adsorption was endothermic.

Sugarcane bagasse has been used as a substrate for the development of microporous nano-activated carbons for the treatment and elimination of dissolved materials from aquatic environment. The activated carbon was produced using chemical activation in one-step method with zinc chloride ( ZnCl2) as the activating agent at a carbonization temperatures range from 500 to 900 °C. The effects of temperature and time of carbonization on the activated carbon product properties were thoroughly studied. The activated carbons that resulted were characterized using the N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET), pore property analysis, micropore (MP) surface area, t-plot surface area, TGA, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and EDX analyses. The prepared activated carbon’s point of zero charge, Boehm titration process, iodine removal percentage, and methylene blue number were also investigated. The prepared activated carbon’s maximum surface area was achieved using a 2/1 impregnation ratio (dried sugarcane bagasse/ZnCl2) at 600 °C temperature of carbonization and 60 min residence time. 1402.2 m2/ g, 0.6214 and 1.41 cm3/ g, respectively, were the largest surface area, total pore volume, and micropore volume. As the activation temperature increased, the total pore volume increased and the BET study measured a pore diameter of 0.7 nm and a mean pore diameter of 1.77 nm.

A 1.8 μm thick polycrystalline diamond (PCD) thin film layer is prepared on a Si(100) substrate using hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. Thereafter, its thermal conductivity is measured using the conventional laser flash analysis (LFA) method, a LaserPIT-M2 instrument, and the newly proposed light source thermal analysis (LSTA) method. The LSTA method measures the thermal conductivity of the prepared PCD thin film layer using an ultraviolet (UV) lamp with a wavelength of 395 nm as the heat source and a thermocouple installed at a specific distance. In addition, the microstructure and quality of the prepared PCD thin films are evaluated using an optical microscope, a field emission scanning electron microscope, and a micro-Raman spectroscope. The LFA, LaserPIT-M2, and LSTA determine the thermal conductivities of the PCD thin films, which are 1.7, 1430, and 213.43 W/(m·K), respectively, indicating that the LFA method and LaserPIT-M2 are prone to errors. Considering the grain size of PCD, we conclude that the LSTA method is the most reliable one for determining the thermal conductivity of the fabricated PCD thin film layers. Therefore, the proposed LSTA method presents significant potential for the accurate and reliable measurement of the thermal conductivity of PCD thin films.

We confirm whether Zr powders can restrain a rapid nitrification reaction and offer a stable oxidation reaction according to temperatures in nitrogen gas purification. A pellet-type, porous Zr getter is prepared (diameter: 10 and thickness: 3 mm) using Zr powder with an average particle size of 45 μm. While maintaining the whole system, the Zr getter reaction is confirmed with an increase in temperature from 150 to 550 oC at increments of 100 oC under 99.999 % purity nitrogen atmosphere comprising of 10 ppm of impurity. Surface color, pore size, stabilized layer, and phase change are confirmed with optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, Micro-Raman, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) according to the Zr getter temperature. The surface color of the Zr getter changes from metallic silver to dark gray as temperature increases. In the EDS results, the nitrogen component is not observed, and oxygen content increases from each surface at elevated temperatures. The Raman and XRD results show the oxidation layer as a result of 350 oC annealing. Therefore, the Zr getter can be applied as a nitrogen getter under 5-nine purity nitrogen atmosphere after appropriate oxidized pre-stabilization process to prevent rapid nitrification reaction.