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Highly unrelaxed structural states of metallic glasses have often advantageous mechanical properties. Since metallic glasses continuously relax with time (age) or inherently are well relaxed after processing, methods to uniformly rejuvenate the material are needed. One approach that has received attention is the so-called cryogenic-cycling method, during which a metallic glass is repeatedly immersed into liquid nitrogen. In some cases, cryogenic cycling is truly efficient in increasing the stored excess enthalpy of metallic glasses, but it does not seem to be universally applicable to all alloys and structural states. The origins for these differences remain unclear due to our limited understanding of the underlying structural evolution. In order to shed more light onto the fundamental structural processes of cryogenic cycling, we pursue in-situ x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) to trace the atomic-scale structural dynamics of a Zr-based metallic glass in two different structural states (ribbon and bulk metallic glass). This method allows calculating the relaxation times as a function of time throughout the thermal cycling. It is found that the investigated glasses exhibit heterogeneous structural dynamics at 300 K, which changes to monotonic aging at 78 K. Cryogenic cycling homogenizes the relaxation time distribution for both structural states. This effect is much more pronounced in the ribbon, which is the only structural state that rejuvenates upon cycling. We furthermore reveal how fast atomic-scale dynamics is correlated with long-time average structural relaxation times irrespective of the state, and that the ribbon exhibits unexpected additional fast atomic-scale relaxation in comparison to the plate material. Overall, a picture emerges that points towards heterogeneities in fictive temperature as a requirement for cryogenic energy storage.
The hydrogen permeation current increase was noticed for carbon steel in 0.5 mol/L NaCl solution under strong anodic potentials, which is contrary to the common understanding. Hydrogen permeation under cathodic potentials has been widely studied because of possible hydrogen embrittlement failures of high strength steels in seawater, but investigations of anodic polarization on hydrogen permeation are fairly rare, as the hydrogen evolution reaction shall be retarded. To corroborate the observed phenomenon, experiments were conducted using both as-received and vacuum-annealed sheet specimens. It was verified that the observed phenomena originated from the released hydrogen in traps by metal dissolution under anodic polarization.
The feasibility of microbial hydrogen consumption to mitigate the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) under different cathodic potentials was evaluated using the Devanathan-Stachurski electrochemical test and the hydrogen permeation efficiency h. The hydrogen permeation efficiency h in the presence of strain GA-1 was lower than that in sterile medium. The cathodic potential inhibited the adherence of strain GA-1 to AISI 4135 steel surface, thereby reducing the hydrogen consumption of strain GA-1. The adherent GA-1 cells were capable of consuming ‘cathodic hydrogen’ and reducing the proportions of absorbed hydrogen, indicating that it is theoretically possible to control HE by hydrogen-consuming microbes.
Polymers that help tailoring rheological properties during the casting process have become inevitable constituents for all kinds of high-performance concrete technologies. Due to lacking industries, these typically crude-oil based admixtures are not readily available in many parts of the world, which limits the implementation of more sustainable high-performance construction technologies in these regions. Alternative polymers, which often demand for less processing, can be derived from local plant-based resources. The paper provides experimental data of flow tests of cement pastes with polysaccharides from Triumfetta pendrata A. Rich, acacia gum and cassava without and in the presence of polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer. The flow tests are amended by observations of the zeta potentials and the hydrodynamic diameters in the presence of and without calcium ions in the dispersion medium. The results show that in the presence of and without calcium ions all polysaccharides provide negative zeta potentials, yet, they affect flowability and thixotropy in different ways. Cassava starch, acacia gum, and the gum of Triumfetta pendrata A. Rich qualified well for robustness improvement, strong stiffening, and additive manufacturing, respectively. The reason for the different effects can be found in their average sizes and size distribution. Due to the promising results, a flow chart for local value chains is derived on the example of yet unused cassava wastes, which can be converted in parallel.
Non-conventional densely packed concrete mixtures are proposed and evaluated in this paper using engineered recycled mineral admixtures and recycled aggregates obtained from steel slag, quartz mining tailings, and quartzite mining tailings. High fines content sand-concretes containing coarser- and finer-than-cement recycled powders were designed to obtain blends with broader particle-size ranges and improved packing density. As a result, compressive strength up to 99 MPa, cement intensity up to 2.33 kg/m³/MPa, and consumption of recycled material up to 95 vol% were obtained. Compressive strengths up to 66 MPa and cement intensity up to 2.34 kg/m³/MPa were also obtained with the addition of coarse aggregates to such sand-concrete mixtures, with consumption of recycled material up to 96.5%. The results launch new insights on the role of recycled admixtures and aggregates on the mixture design of cement-based composites regarding efficiency improvement and technological performance.
Design : and use of engineered recycled mineral admixtures obtained from industrial and mineral waste are promising strategies to increase the range of materials suitable for use in cement-based composites. In this work, Portland cement-blended pastes containing mineral admixtures designed for improving particle packing were evaluated in the presence of low- and high-charge polycarboxylate-based superplasticizers. The powders were obtained from basic oxygen furnace slag, iron ore tailings, quartz mining tailings, and quartzite mining tailings. The zeta-potentials of the particles were obtained via electrophoretic mobility. The flow properties were evaluated by rheological tests performed in a Couette type rheometer. The hydration kinetics was evaluated by isothermal calorimetry and an adapted method based on the Vicat needle test. The high-charge PCE and the finer mineral admixtures produced more stable blends. Coarser mineral admixtures led to increased flowability and delayed hydration compared to finer ones. Steel slag powders presented the most significant plasticizer effects, but also the largest setting delays and segregation tendency. Quartz-rich superfines reduced the setting delays caused by the superplasticizers. In summary, both superplasticizers were effective in improving flow properties, but the high-charge PCE was effective in preventing segregation in pastes containing mineral admixtures coarser and heavier than cement.
The prediction of the properties of the materials used in the operation of components is of enormous importance, in order to accelerate the development process of new components. To evaluate new materials in terms of their performance (in a component), the development of new innovative methods is necessary. These methods can also be summarized under the term lab-to-field or materials – upscaling, meaning materials being characterised in a laboratory and their properties being upscaled to the component performance by means of e.g. simulation. i-TRIBOMAT is a EU funded project (H2020, GA Nr. 814494) aiming at building an Open Innovation Test Bed for tribological material characterization and offering corresponding services from tribological characterization of new materials to simulation models for predicting the performance of industrial components. By bundling the infrastructure, know-how for characterization and building a digital platform, i-TRIBOMAT becomes the world’s largest open innovation test bed for tribological material characterization.
Based on recently published research on leaching control mechanisms in electric arc furnace (EAF) slags, it is assumed that a FeO/SiO2 ratio of around one leads to low leached V and Cr concentrations. This ratio influences the mineral phase composition of the slag toward higher amounts of spinel and a lower solubility of calcium silicate phases by suppressing the formation of magnesiowuestite and highly soluble calcium silicate phases. To evaluate this hypothesis, laboratory and scaled up tests in an EAF pilot plant were performed on slag samples characterized by elevated V and Cr leaching and a high FeO/SiO2 ratio. Prior to the melting experiments, the optimum FeO/SiO2 ratio was calculated via FactSageTM. In the melting experiments, the ratio was adjusted by adding quartz sand, which also decreased the basicity (CaO/SiO2) of the slag. As a reference, remelting experiments without quartz sand addition were conducted and additionally, the influence of the cooling rate of the slag was examined. The remelted (without quartz sand) and the remelted modified slags (with quartz sand) were analyzed chemically and mineralogically and the leaching behavior was investigated. The modification of the slags yielded a minimized release of V and Cr, supporting the hypothesis that the FeO/SiO2 ratio influences the mineralogy and the leaching behavior.
Etalon features in transmittance spectra of films arise due to the coherent superposition of waves caused by reflections multiple times at the inner film boundaries. The fringe maxima occur at i𝜆 = 2nd cos 𝜑 with i - being an integer, 𝜆 - the wavelength, d - the film thickness, 𝜑 - the angle of incidence in respect to the film normal and n - the refractive index of the film. It is obvious that such features can hinder the interpretation of absorption bands when fringe amplitude and period are in the same range as the expected bands.
This poster discusses the suitability of two optical methods for the THz spectral range applied to Fourier Transform Spectroscopy.
Etalon effects in THz transmittance spectra, either taken in time- domain or frequency-domain, often hamper or even hinder the interpretation of film properties. In this paper we discuss the transferability and applicability of spectroscopic methods typically employed in the near and mid infrared spectral range to eliminate the fringes in the transmittance spectra in the THz spectral range.
Two types of cements were selected as the reference cement in the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005). A thorough characterization of CEM I 42.5 R has been made in a recent publication. In this paper, the characterization data of the other reference cement CEM III/A 42.5 N are presented from the aspects of chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as physical and chemical properties. The characterization data of the slag, which is the second main constituent of this specific cement besides the clinker, are presented independently. For all data received, the mean values and the corresponding errors were calculated. The data shall be used for the ongoing research within the priority program. Also, researchers from outside this priority program can benefit from these data if the same materials are used.
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) can reduce the total amount of Portland cement clinker in concrete production. Rice husk ashes (RHA) can be converted from an agricultural by-product to a high-performance concrete constituent due to a high amount of reactive silica with pozzolanic properties if they are burnt under controlled conditions. The way and duration of combustion, the cooling process as well as the temperature have an effect on the silica form and thus, the chemical and physical performance of the RHA. Various studies on the best combustion technique have been published to investigate the ideal combustion techniques. Yet, the process mostly took place under laboratory conditions. Investigating the difference between the performance of RHA produced in a rural environment and laboratory conditions is useful for the assessment and future enhancement of RHA production, and its application both as building material, for example in rural areas where it is sourced in large quantities, and as additive for high performance concrete. Thus, the paper presents a comparison between RHA produced under rudimentary conditions in a self-made furnace in the rural Bagamoyo, Tanzania and under controlled laboratory conditions at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, with different combustion methods and temperatures. In a second step, RHA was ground to reach particle size distributions comparable to cement. In a third step, cement pastes were prepared with 10%, 20% and 40% of cement replacement, and compared to the performance of plain and fly ash blended cement pastes. The results show that controlled burning conditions around 650 °C lead to high reactivity of silica and, therefore, to good performance as SCM. However, also the RHA burnt under less controlled conditions in the field provided reasonably good properties, if the process took place with proper burning parameters and adequate grinding. The knowledge can be implemented in the field to improve the final RHA performance as SCM in concrete.
Scaled-down experimental facility: Can reproduce actual failures; can produce simulated data for identifying cracks in the substructure or other defects. The acceleration data can be converted into an equivalent deformation. The experimental facility can analyse dynamic loads. Equivalent force data: Facilitates the application to a health monitoring system; simplifies the development of predictive maintenance. These data is helpful in validating analytical or simulation models.
Das Element Phosphor ist für Pflanzen, Tiere und Menschen essenziell. Um die Phosphorversorgung für Pflanzen in der Landwirtschaft zu gewährleisten, werden Phosphordünger eingesetzt. Die Nährstoffe werden hauptsächlich durch Wirtschaftsdünger (Gülle, Jauche, Stallmist) zurückgeführt. Zusätzlich werden in der konventionellen Landwirtschaft mineralische Phosphordünger eingesetzt, die vorwiegend aus dem fossilen Rohstoff Phosphorit gewonnen werden. Um die Abhängigkeit von fossilen Rohstoffen zu reduzieren, sollen nährstoffhaltige Rest- und Abfallstoffe zur Phosphordünger aufbereitet werden. In Abwasserkläranlagen fällt phosphorreicher Klärschlamm als Abfallstoff an. Der größte Anteil des Klärschlammes wird in Steinkohlekraftwerken, Zementwerken oder in Monoklärschlammverbrennungsanlagen verbrannt. Die Klärschlammaschen aus den Monoverbrennungsanlagen enthalten bis zu 12 Gew.-% Phosphor und sind daher für die Düngerherstellung geeignet.
Ein geeignetes Verfahren zur Aufbereitung der Klärschlammaschen ist die thermochemische Behandlung im Drehrohrofen. Mit dem sogenannten AshDec®-Prozess, kann ein Phosphordünger hergestellt werden. Aktuell wird eine großtechnische Anlage in Altenstadt (Bayern) geplant, die im Jahr 2023 den Betrieb aufnehmen soll. Der zentrale Bestandteil ist die Phasenumwandlung von schlecht pflanzenverfügbaren Phosphaten in der Klärschlammasche (vorwiegend das Calciumphosphat Whitlockit und Aluminiumphosphat) zu gut pflanzenverfügbaren Calciumalkaliphosphaten im Produkt. Um dies zu erzielen, werden die Aschen mit Natrium- und/oder Kalium-Verbindungen gemischt und einer thermochemischen Behandlung bei 800-1000 °C zugeführt. Um die Pflanzenverfügbarkeit und Düngewirkung von Phosphaten abschätzen zu können, ist die chemische Extraktionsmethode mit neutraler Ammoniumcitratlösung geeignet.
In der Dissertation werden die (Phosphor-)Phasenreaktionen und die Prozessbedingungen des thermochemischen Verfahrens untersucht, um das Verfahren gezielt zu modifizieren und die Wirtschaftlichkeit zu steigern. Die Zielphasen der thermochemischen Behandlung sind die Calciumalkaliphosphate CaNaPO4 und CaKPO4, und deren Mischphasen Ca(Na,K)PO4, welche in der Publikation 3.1 synthetisiert wurden. Für diese Calciumalkaliphosphate wurden die thermodynamischen Daten der Standardbildungsenthalpie, Standardentropie, Wärmekapazität und die Wärmemenge der Phasenumwandlung bestimmt (Publikation 3.1).
Bei der thermochemischen Behandlung von Klärschlammaschen wurden als Additive Natrium- und Kaliumsulfat bei verschiedenen Temperaturen getestet. Der Einsatz von Kaliumadditiven ist erwünscht, um den Marktwert des Produktes durch die Produktion eines Phosphor-Kalium-Düngers zu erhöhen. Zusätzlich wird eine möglichst geringe Prozesstemperatur angestrebt, bei der die erwünschten Calciumalkaliphosphate gebildet werden.
In den Publikationen 3.2 und 3.3 wird gezeigt, dass für Klärschlammaschen eine komplette Phasenumwandlung zu Calciumnatriumphosphaten ab 875 °C in Laborversuchen (Korundtiegel) mit dem Additiv Natriumsulfat erzielt werden kann. Der Einsatz von Kaliumsulfat erforderte notwendige Reaktionstemperaturen von über 1100 °C. Diese
unterschiedlichen Reaktionstemperaturen hängen mit den Schmelzpunkten von Natriumsulfat (890 °C) und Kaliumsulfat (1070 °C) zusammen. Um Kaliumsulfat in den Prozess bei niedrigen Temperaturen zu integrieren, wurden Natriumsulfat und Kaliumsulfat vor der Behandlung gemischt. Dies führte zu einer Schmelzpunkterniedrigung und resultierte in Reaktionstemperaturen zwischen 900 °C bis 1000 °C für die untersuchten Mischungen von Natrium- und Kaliumsulfat (Publikation 3.3).
Die Zusammensetzung der Calciumalkaliphosphate Ca(Na,K)PO4 war anders als erwartet. Bei der Phasenanalytik stellte sich heraus, dass bei geringem und mittlerem Anteil von Kaliumsulfat im Alkali-Additiv nur Calciumnatriumphosphate mit sehr geringen Kaliumgehalten gebildet wurden. Erst bei einem hohen Anteil von Kaliumsulfat in der Mischung der Alkalisulfate konnten kaliumhaltige Calciumalkaliphosphate nachgewiesen werden (u.a. (Ca0.9Mg0.1)(Na0.6K0.4)PO4). Dieser geringere Einbau von Kalium in die Calciumalkaliphosphate hängt mit den zusätzlich stattfindenden Reaktionen zwischen den Alkalien und den Silikaten zusammen. Es ist bekannt, dass die zugegebenen Alkalisulfate zuerst mit Silikaten und anschließend mit den Phosphaten reagieren. Silikate bauen bevorzugt Kalium ein, deswegen konnten erst kaliumhaltige Phosphate gebildet werden, wenn die Reaktion mit den Silikaten abgeschlossen war. Dies führte zu einem geringeren Kaliumanteil in den gebildeten Phosphaten im Vergleich zum Kaliumanteil der verwendeten Alkaliadditive. Das in Silikaten gebundene Kalium ist wahrscheinlich schlecht für die Pflanzen verfügbar. Dies könnte den Einsatz der produzierten Phosphor-Kalium-Dünger einschränken. Der bevorzugte Kaliumeinbau in Silikaten konnte auch in Kalkulationen mit den thermodynamischen Daten aus der Publikation 3.1 gezeigt werden.
Mittels Phasenanalytik vor und nach der chemischen Extraktion, konnte die Zugehörigkeit zu verschiedenen Modifikationen der Calciumalkaliphosphaten sicher bestimmt werden und eine ungefähre Zusammensetzung dieser Calciumalkaliphosphate abgeschätzt werden. So konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass die Modifikation vom CaNaPO4 ungefähr 10 % Magnesium einbauen kann. Wenn mehr Magnesium eingebaut wird, bildet sich die Phase (Ca,Mg)NaPO4, die eine vergleichbare Struktur wie die bekannte Phase (Ca0.72Mg0.28)NaPO4 aufweist. Dieses magnesiumreiche Calciumnatriumphosphat entstand vermutlich, wenn entweder erhöhte Anteile an Kalium eingebaut wurden (Ca0.8Mg0.2)(Na0.85K0.15)PO4 (Publikation 3.3) oder die Phasenumwandlung vom Calciumphosphat Whitlockit zum Calciumalkaliphosphat CaNaPO4 noch nicht abgeschlossen war (Publikation 3.2). Wenn mehr Kalium eingebaut wird, dann entsteht eine Phase (u.a. (Ca0.9Mg0.1)(Na0.6K0.4)PO4) ähnlich zu den Mischphasen aus der Publikation 3.1.
In den Publikationen 3.4 und 3.5 wurden keine Klärschlammaschen untersucht, sondern Biokohlen aus Modellklärschlämmen (Publikation 3.5) und Biomasseaschen (Publikation 3.4) aus der Vergasung oder Verbrennung einer Mischung aus Zuckerrohrbagasse und Hühnertrockenkot. Die thermochemischen Produkte der Biokohlen bzw. Biomasseaschen enthielten das gewünschte CaNaPO4 und hatten eine hohe Düngewirkung in Pflanzenwachstumsversuchen mit Sojapflanzen bzw. Gräsern.
In 2019 the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM) conducted a benchmarking to compare the operations of European accreditation bodies and to identify best practices, with the aim of improving key processes in accreditation. Ten European accreditation bodies attended the comparison, four of which had already taken part in the pilot phase of the benchmarking project, which was conducted in 2017 by the German accreditation body Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) and BAM.
The study, designed to examine and compare the operation of accreditation bodies in Europe, used a management tool called Process Maturity Benchmarking Tool, which was especially elaborated and validated for this purpose in the pilot phase, in order to determine the values of indicators, thus enabling a comparison of the accreditation bodies despite different operational processes and organizational forms. The management tool is based on the analysis of selected processes with high relevance for the operation of accreditation bodies. The processes are derived from a process map designed for accreditation bodies in a universally applicable way. The indicators used to characterize the processes come from two sources: The first source relates to data already available from internal databases, reports, financial audits, and others. The second source is derived from the self-evaluation of process maturity performed by the accreditation bodies. The criteria for evaluating process maturities were designed by applying the criteria of the EFQM excellence model 2013 of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) to the processes identified in the process map.
The results of the analysis were presented to and discussed with representatives of the ten accreditation bodies at a Results-Workshop that took place at BAM on 21/22 January 2020.
Sulfate is abundant in the environment and, as a result, sulfate-containing minerals constitute a large and important focus of research. These minerals play an important role in many geochemical and industrial processes, including the sulfur cycle, the construction industry (e.g., plaster of Paris), fault tectonics, acid mine drainage, and even rare biominerals. Important to note are the abundant amounts of sulfate (minerals) located on the surface of Mars, and in meteorites, extending the relevance of this mineral group beyond the realm of our planet. In geological systems, sulfate minerals such as barite are also important for indicating certain sedimentation environments. In this regard, sulfate deposits can be used to evaluate the redox state of ancient oceans during early Earth time periods.
Flexible joint transition systems in the form of bituminous joint transitions, type 4.1a according to RTD1007-1, have been used in the Netherlands with varying success. The lifespan in practice was found to vary greatly: between 1 and 5 years. This is too short a lifespan in relation to the lifespan of the layers of asphalt pavement. Ideally, the replacement of these bituminous joint transitions should take place simultaneously as the maintenance of the asphalt layers.
In the meantime, research has been carried out nationally and internationally into improving the life span of bituminous joint transitions. In Germany and Switzerland, the regulations have been shown to lead to a life span of more than 10 years. On this basis, ETAG032-3 was established in the context of EOTA in 2013.
In a competition "Silent sustainable joint transitions" held by the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management in the period 2007-2012, three flexible bituminous joint transitions have already been tested, two of which were ultimately found to be suitable. These have been included in the multi-choice matrix (RTD 1007-1) as concept 4.1b (anchored bituminous joint transition) and 4.1c (unanchored bituminous joint transition with stretch-spreading inlay and poured asphalt edge beams). Monitoring these joint transitions in practice over the past 8 years has shown that the desired life span is achievable with these improved joint transitions.
It is expected that the improvement in life span achieved abroad can also be realised in the Netherlands if several aspects specific to the Netherlands are taken into account:
For large parts of the Dutch main road network, the traffic intensity of 500,000 heavy vehicles per year assumed in the ETAG032-3 is insufficient. This is a factor 4 to 5 higher on the busiest main roads in the Netherlands.
On 90% of the Dutch main road network, in contrast to countries such as Germany and Switzerland, an open layer (ZOAB (zeer open asfaltbeton [very open asphalt concrete])) is used.
In the Netherlands, in contrast to countries such as Germany and Switzerland, bridges and viaducts are made on a large scale of prefabricated beams and 'floating' support systems that consist entirely of rubber supports that can be deformed all-round. Such constructions have a less favourable, high-frequency deformation behaviour under traffic load.
In Germany and Switzerland, a minimum joint mass temperature of -20 °C is assumed to test bituminous joint transitions. For the Netherlands, -15 °C is assumed, which has a favourable effect.
The present second version of RTD 1007-4 is a guideline for the development and realisation of a new generation of more durable flexible joint transitions with a minimum design life of 10-15 years and is a guideline for contractors to demonstrate that a flexible joint transition system meets the requirements as set out in the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management guideline RTD 1007-2.
Plant tissues are complex composite structures of organic and inorganic components whose function relies on molecular heterogeneity at the nanometer scale. Scattering-type near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) in the mid-infrared (IR) region is used here to collect IR nanospectra from both fixed and native plant samples. We compared structures of chemically extracted silica bodies (phytoliths) to silicified and nonsilicified cell walls prepared as a flat block of epoxy-embedded awns of wheat (Triticum turgidum), thin sections of native epidermis cells from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) comprising silica phytoliths, and isolated cells from awns of oats (Avena sterilis). The correlation of the scanning-probe IR images and the mechanical phase image enables a combined probing of mechanical material properties together with the chemical composition and structure of both the cell walls and the phytolith structures. The data reveal a structural heterogeneity of the different silica bodies in situ, as well as different compositions and crystallinities of cell wall components. In conclusion, IR nanospectroscopy is suggested as an ideal tool for studies of native plant materials of varied origins and preparations and could be applied to other inorganic–organic hybrid materials.
This work presents a spectroscopic study of metallic pigments and metal foils used in reverse glass paintings that were created between 1912 and 1954. Metallic pigments induce a notable sparkling effect by means of the lateral incidence of light, whereas metal foils enhance the gloss and create a glittering effect when the painting is viewed in reflected light. Both effects were desired features especially in modern reverse paintings on glass and applied by artists in manifold creative manner. The paper gives an overview on the composition of the metalfoils and metal pigments in 14 works as determined in situ by X-ray spectrometry. Metal foils made of tin, brass, aluminium and silver were found in nine paintings. Gold imitating Cu-Zn pigments in different hues and with various Cu/Zn net intensity ratios were recorded for six paintings. Silvery pigments were identified mainly as Al pigments, but also as Cu-Zn-Ni alloy in one case. Other uncommon metallic pigments were detected in Arlequin vindicatif (c. 1925) by Floris Jespers, who used not only Cu-Zn and Al pigments, but also brownish Cu and Cu-Zn-Sn pigments. Non-invasive diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to classify the binding media of the metallic pigments. Drying oil and natural resin probably mixed with oil were the most common binding media. A polysaccharide-based binder was found in the silvery Cu-Zn-Ni pigment of Ohne Titel (1954) by Marianne Uhlenhuth.
CHG is very different compared to other graphite degenerations or defects;
Filigree, multi-branched string-like, 3d interconnected structure;
Morphology and volumetric amount of CHG cannot be accessed by stereological interpretation of 2d section data;
Field-tested, technically established method to quantify CHG in components not available;
Fatigue: CHG causes substantial reduction in fatigue limit and significant increase in crack growth rate;
Therefore: Avoid or exclude CHG!
Quasi-static dispersion of dusts for the determination of lower explosion limits of hybrid mixtures
(2020)
Knowledge of explosion limiting concentration of explosible materials is necessary for the design of explosion protection measures. Currently employed methods of testing MEC of a dust cloud or LEL of a hybrid mixture are based on arbitrary assumptions and possess technical limitations that often lead to values of MEC/LEL, which are unrealistically low or poorly reproducible.
This contribution presents an improved method for experimental determination of MEC of a combustible dust cloud or LEL of a flammable gas or hybrid mixture. The new set-up operates under laminar conditions and allows a uniform suspension of dust particles in an open top acrylic glass tube. Dust concentration is measured with the help of infrared sensors installed a few centimeters above and below the ignition source.
In order to evaluate the dependence of MEC on flow front velocity, MEC of lycopodium was determined at four flow velocities. The results show that the flow field intensity does not significantly influence the MEC of lycopodium for the flow ranges tested in this work. Moreover, LEL of hybrid mixtures of lycopodium and methane was also tested at flow velocities of 4.7 cm/s, 5.8 cm/s, 7 cm/s and 11 cm/s and compared with the values obtained from other sources. The results suggest that the requirement of high energy pyrotechnical igniter may be relinquished, provided that a truly homogeneous suspension of dust particles could be achieved.
Moreover, the effect of relative amount of dust and gas, on the course of ignition and flame propagation in hybrid mixtures at their LEL, was studied by the help of high speed videos. For hybrid mixtures of carbonaceous dusts (like lycopodium) at their LEL, ignition occurs in the gas phase, however, flame propagation is only possible through a two-way interaction of dust and gas during the course of combustion.
The efficiency and safety of railway transportation depend both on numerous factors linked to the vehicle, the infrastructure, the operator and the environment. Curved tracks are subjected to demanding situations due to elevated stress levels, as a function of the operating conditions and vehicle/infrastructure design. In such segments, steering forces are superimposed to lateral load transfers. The steering forces depend on the condition and the design of the centre plate and bogies’ suspensions design. While the friction at the centre plate provides the needed damping to mitigate the hunting vibration of the bogie in straight track segments, such yaw resistance originates high steering forces and rail damage on curved tracks. A centre plate with low friction at turns and high friction at straight track segments would thus be highly advantageous. In this paper, a centre plate design is proposed which provides a yaw-rotation resistance torque that depends on the bogie-car relative position. Two different designs are considered for that purpose, one that combines a spring-acted centring mechanism with a lower pair kinematics, while the other one involves higher kinematic pairs which should incorporate lateral damping elements. As a result of using an engineering design approach, the higher kinematic pairs-based design is recommended however, the validation of such operational principles, including the introduction of the needed damping, should be configured on the basis of experimental models.
High-entropy alloys containing up to 6 platinum group metals can be prepared by thermal decomposition of single-source precursors non requiring high temperature. We prepare the first example of a single-phase hexagonal high-entropy alloy. Heat treat- ment up to 1500 K and compression up to 45 GPa do not result in phase changes, a record temperature and pres- sure stability for a single-phase high-entropy alloy. The alloys show pronounced electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation, which opens a route for the use of high-entropy alloys as materials for sustainable energy conversion.
With the advent of widely accessible and cost-effective next-generation sequencing technologies, it has become increasingly feasible to study insect immunity on a deep genomic or transcriptomic level. Here we introduce a protocol that is aimed at exploiting transcriptomic data to study immunity in non-model insect organisms. We provide instructions for an entire workflow, starting with successfiil extraction of insect RNA through to bioinformatic guidelines for the effective analysis of mRNA sequencing data. The RNA extraction procedure is based on TRIzol Reagent and a spin-column clean-up Step. The bioinformatic pipeline is intended to help users identify immune genes from de novo transcriptome data and includes guidelines for conducting differential gene expression analyses on transcriptomic data. The immune gene prediction method is based on inferring protein homologs with HMMERand Blastp and talces Advantage ofthe ImmunoDB database, which is a valuable resource for research on insect immune-related genes and gene families. The differential gene expression analysis procedure utilizes the DESeq2 package as implemented in R. We hope this protocol will serve as a usefi.il resource for researchers aiming to study immunity in non-model insect species.
The Scythica Vindobonensia, the new fragments on Gothic incursions into Roman provinces in the Balkans in the middle of the third century AD that were revealed some years ago in a Greek palimpsest at the Austrian National Library in Vienna (ÖNB), are commonly considered as one of the most important additions of the last decades to the corpus of texts from classical Antiquity. Tere is a high degree of confdence among scholars in supposing that the fragments come from the lost work Scythica written in Greek by the third-century historian P. Herennius Dexippus (Δέξιππος) of Athens. The new fragments have hence also been called Dexippus Vindobonensis. In his Scythica, Dexippus recorded wars of the Romans with the Goths (and other tribes) whom he called Scythians.
The work had been hitherto known only from excerpts and quotes by later authors. Eight pages of a Byzantine manuscript copy of the ancient text have survived hidden underneath the visible surface of the last four parchment folios of the Vienna manuscript Historicus graecus 73, f. 192r -195v4. The copy is written in a Greek calligraphic minuscule which has been estimated by palaeographers to be of the middle or the second half of the eleventh century. In the thirteenth century, the text (on each of the eight pages arranged in one column, with 30 lines per page) was washed of the parchment and the valuable material made from animal skin was re-used for Christian texts. The new writing largely covered the faded remnants of the original text. It thus became hidden from the human eye for more than seven hundred years. Its discovery by Jana Grusková, a classical philologist specialized in the transmission of Greek texts, resulted from a systematic review of all Greek palimpsests kept at the Austrian National Library in Vienna at the beginning of the twenty-first century and a detailed examination of the four folios in 2007-20097.
High and medium entropy alloys gained increasing academic and industrial interest as novel materials for engineering applications. This project is aiming to clarify and compare the general and local corrosion properties of high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi and medium entropy alloy CrCoNi in different aqueous environments. The focus lies on the local corrosion processes that result either from microstructural imperfections (inclusions, defects at grain boundaries etc.) in the base material or processing related changes in the microstructure and/or local composition.
The corrosion behavior of the alloys was monitored via potentiodynamic polarization experiments and the local corrosion characteristics were further investigated by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Their passivation behavior was analyzed in three different electrolyte systems (NaCl, H2SO4 and NaClO4; c = 0.1M). The characterization of the surface morphology and composition of the passive film was performed by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively.
Considering long term corrosion effects, electrochemical work was supported with immersion tests and the analysis of corrosion products by SEM/EDX and XPS depth-profiling. Our results indicate that the medium entropy alloy CrCoNi has a significantly higher corrosion resistance in comparison to the high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi. The presentation will summarize some of our results on the mechanistical aspects of the observed high corrosion resistance.
Within the scope of this work, a laser implantation process has been used, in order to improve the tribological performance of hot stamping tools. This surface engineering Technology enables the generation of dome-shaped, elevated and highly wear resistant microfeatures on tool surfaces in consequence of a localized dispersing of hard ceramic particles via pulsed laser radiation.
As a result, the topography and material properties of the tool and thus the tribological interactions at the blank-die interface are locally influenced. However, a suitable selection of hard ceramic particles is imperative for generating defect-free surface features with a high share of homogenously disturbed particles. For this purpose, different niobium (NbB2 and NbC) as well as titanium-based (TiB2 and TiC) materials were embedded on hot working tool specimens and subsequently analyzed with regard to their resulting shape and mechanical properties. Afterwards, modified pin-on-disk tests were carried out by using conventional and laser-implanted tool surfaces, in order to evaluate the wear and friction behavior of both tooling systems.
Metal-containing nanoparticles (NP) can be characterized with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) in terms of their size and number concentration by using the single-particle mode of the instrument (spICP-MS). The accuracy of measurement depends on the setup, operational conditions of the instrument and specific parameters that are set by the user. The transport efficiency of the ICP-MS is crucial for the quantification of the NP and usually requires a reference material with homogenous size distribution and a known particle number concentration.
Currently, NP reference materials are available for only a few metals and in limited sizes. If particles are characterized without a reference standard, the results of both size and particle number may be biased. Therefore, a dual-inlet Setup for characterizing nanoparticles with spICP-MS was developed to overcome this problem. This setup is based on a conventional introduction system consisting of a pneumatic nebulizer (PN) for nanoparticle solutions and a microdroplet Generator (μDG) for ionic calibration solutions. A new and flexible interface was developed to facilitate the coupling of μDG, PN and the ICP-MS system. The interface consists of available laboratory components and allows for the calibration, nanoparticle (NP) characterization and cleaning of the arrangement, while the ICP-MS instrument is still running.
Three independent analysis modes are available for determining particle size and number concentration. Each mode is based on a different calibration principle.
While mode I (counting) and mode III (μDG) are known from the literature, mode II (sensitivity), is used to determine the transport efficiency by inorganic ionic Standard solutions only. It is independent of NP reference materials. The μDG based inlet system described here guarantees superior analyte sensitivities and, therefore, lower detection limits (LOD). The size dependent LODs achieved are less than 15 nm for all NP (Au, Ag, CeO2) investigated.
While there is a permanent improvement of concrete pavement mixtures and pavement construction types over the last decades, the state-of-the-art joint sealing materials and joint constructions seem to stagnate on an antiquated empirical level. This status has been reaffirmed in the latest European standard. The consequences in the motorway network due to unsatisfying capability and durabilty of joint sealing systems are unacceptable. In addition, inadequate traffic performance (noise emissions, roll-over comfort) and traffic safety losses in the joint area of concrete pavements are existing challenges. These deficits and weaknesses reflect a demand for joint sealing materials and constructions whose approval requirements take functional aspects into account. Furthermore a sufficient analysis of decisive loads and a practice-oriented method to evaluate the requirements towards performance and durability is still missed. In this contribution decisive loads to German highways are analyzed. The design of test specimen for representative functional testing of joint sealing systems is discussed. The focus is on the geometry of the test specimens and the used concrete mixture. Finally, a new approach for a function-orientated test concept that considers representative load functions is presented. The potential of this approach to validate the durability and capability of various joint sealing systems is also presented using an example.
The article “Determination of organically bound fluorine sum parameters in river water samples - Comparison of combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS)” was originally published Online First without Open Access. After publication in volume 413, issue 1, page 103–115 of the journal “Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry”, the authors decided to opt for Open Choice and to make the article an Open Access publication. Therefore, the copyright of the article has been changed to © The Author(s) 2021 and the article is forthwith distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The physical and chemical analysis of aerosols using reliable and physically traceable methods is important for the thorough investigation of airborne particles to support a better understanding of their origin as well as their health and climate impacts. Within the European Metrology Research AeroMet project,the aim of hysikalisch–Technische Bundesanstalt’s (PTB) X-ray spectrometry group is to develop and establish traceable and reliable X-ray methods to measure the elemental mass deposition per unit area, the elemental composition,and the chemical binding state of particulate matter supported by a flat substrate. This approach can substantially contribute to support quantitative analytical methods during on-site measurement campaigns where portable Instrumentation is employed by qualifying suitable calibration samples for commercial analytical X-ray instruments and by investigating samples collected during the field campaign.
A set of some unexpected and interesting microstructures has put the so-called complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) in the eye of the scientific community. The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr refractory (r)CCA, aimed at substituting Ni-base superalloys in gas turbine applications, belongs to this alloy family. After a two-stage heat treatment, this rCCA morphologically resembles the typical a two-phase microstructure of the latter. The objective of this work consists in determining the effect of the two stages of the heat treatment on the microstructure of the AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr alloy to eventually improve it in terms of homogeneity and porosity.
The presentation reflects the questions that have been raised by member states and NGOs.
As background information details on the question how to choose a suitable salvage pressure receptacle (SPR) are provided. This leads to the need for deleting the volume limitation for SPRs and to the discussions in 2014 and 2016 on this issue.
As an adequate substitution for deleting the volume limit for SPRs it is proposed to limit the pressure receptacles to be stored in by a maximum pressure-volume-value of 1.5 Mio bar-litres.
After some explanations to standardisation projects currently also tackling this pV-limit, some risk-based safety criteria for a limitation are mentioned with the focus of the consequence level and the general avoidance of catastrophic worst case scenarios.
The presentation starts with some key figures about BAM. Then it introduces BAM's competence centre H2Safety@BAM and shows aspects of special competence of the centre. It closes with information about the engagement of BAM in European research projects on hydrogen and a reference to our bilingual paper about our hydrogen strategy.
First the acceptance rates resulting from the analysis of different minimum burst ratios and standards are displayed and explained. Especially the problems resulting from a further reduction if the minimum burst ratio are shown.
For a better understanding of these results the process of analysing the acceptance rate is explained in detail. This contains the alleged contradiction between safety of samples due to its scatter while the rejected sample provides a higher mean strength.
Then the importance of batch testing is explained and leads to the recommendation to have a strong interaction between provided mean strength and requested maximum of production scatter.
The fracture mechanics-based IBESS approach is applied to the determination of FAT classes of butt welds with crack Initiation along the weld toe. The aim is an investigation of the effect of the geometrical parameters toe radius, flank angle, reinforcement and secondary notches such as roughness or undercuts. The influence of these parameters is discussed both individually and in combination; however, excluding statistical distributions of them and the material data. The results, when compared with conventional FAT classes for butt welds, are encouraging with respect to a potential contribution of IBESS to the discussion of more advanced quality criteria for welds. To that purpose, demands for further research are proposed.
Structural health monitoring systems have been widely implemented to provide real-time continuous data support and to ensure structural safety in the context of structural integrity management. However, the quantification of the potential benefits of structural health monitoring systems has not yet attracted widespread attention. At the same time, there is an urgent need to develop strategies, such as optimizing the monitoring period, monitoring variables, and other factors, to maximize the potential benefits of structural health monitoring systems. Considering the continuity of structural health monitoring information, a framework is developed in this article to support decision-making for structural Health monitoring systems arrangement in the context of structural integrity management, which integrates the concepts of value of information and risk-based inspection planning based on an approach which utilizes a conjugate prior probability distribution for updating of the probabilistic models of structural performances based on structural health Monitoring information. An example considering fatigue degradation of steel structures is investigated to illustrate the application of the proposed framework. The considered example shows that the choice of monitoring variables, the Monitoring period, and the monitoring quality may be consistently optimized by the application of the proposed framework and approach. Finally, discussions and conclusions are provided to clarify the potential benefits of the proposed Framework with a special view to practical applications of structural health monitoring systems.
The scribe of ‘Erfurt 7’, a thirteenth-century Torah scroll now kept in Berlin, initially left blank spaces for the divine appellations Elohim ( אלהים ) and YHWH Elohim ( ,(יהוה אלהים which were filled in during a second stage of writing. The appearance of the ink employed to write the appellations was significantly darker than that of the surrounding ink.
X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) has shown that the light and dark brown inks had similar elemental compositions, but contained different ratios of iron to potassium, which could be explained by the use of different batches of ink.
According to some medieval sources, the divine appellations were sometimes filled in during a second stage of writing in the presence of ten men from the Jewish community. In Erfurt 7, the two-stage procedure was only performed in the first 1.5 columns of the original sheets, suggesting it may have been part of a public ceremony inaugurating the writing of the divine names in the scroll. Erfurt 7 emerges from this study not only as a ritual object used for liturgy, but as a rallying point for the Jews of Erfurt to come together as a community to express their reverence for the written form of God’s name. The divine name YHWH ( יהוה ) was written in a smaller script than the surrounding text on three replacement sheets using the same two-stage procedure. The ink used on the replacement sheets contained zinc, which is characteristic of other Erfurt manuscripts as well. This suggests that Erfurt was the place where the scroll was used, cherished and eventually repaired.
There are viral, fungal, bacterial and trypanosomal pathogens that negatively impact the individual and superorganismal health of the western honey bee. One fungal pathogen, Ascosphaera apis , affects larvae and causes the disease chalkbrood. A previous genome analysis of As. apis revealed that its genome encodes for RNA interference genes, similar to other fungi and eukaryotes. Here, we examined whether As. apis -targeting double-stranded RNA species could disrupt the germination of As. apis.
We observed that when spores were co-incubated with As. apis -targeting dsRNA, fewer spores were activated for germination, suggesting an uptake of exogenous genetic material at the very onset of germination and consequent damage to essential transcripts needed for germination. Overall, these results indicate that the causative agent of chalkbrood disease, As. apis , can be successfully targeted using an RNAi-based strategy.
Network modifier ions can decisively influence properties and structure of low melting alkali-zinc-borate glasses and thus cause complex effects on the liquid phase sintering of silver-glass metallization pastes. This effect was studied for X2O-ZnO-B2O3 (X = Li, Na, Rb) glasses for silver-glass metallization pastes. Viscosity and the glass transition temperature, Tg, were measured with rotational viscometry and dilatometry. Dried model pastes with 30 vol% LZB, NZB or RZB glass were prepared for sintering studies by means of heating microscopy measuring the silhouette area shrinkage of uniaxially pressed powder compacts during heating at 5 K/min. For comparison, the silhouette area shrinkage of pure glass and silver powder compacts were determined. Glass-silver wetting was investigated during heating of bulk glass cylinders placed on silver substrates. Glass RZB turned out to have the lowest viscosity among the glasses under study. Its glass transformation temperature, Tg, was found at 444 °C and it caused the lowest sintering onset for its glass and paste powder compacts. Slightly increased values of Tg were found for NZB and LZB (468 °C and 466 °C, respectively) and a slightly retarded sintering was found for both paste powder compacts. These results indicate that liquid phase sintering of silver-glass pastes under air atmosphere is mainly influenced by glass viscosity.
The paper presents the results of the radiocarbon dating and ink analysis of a leather fragment bearing an important liturgical text in Hebrew from the early centuries of the common era. The work initiated by the scholarly interest in the text stresses the importance of the date and materiality of the manuscripts and closes with an appeal to the curators of manuscript collections.
Monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles as reference material candidate for particle size measurements
(2020)
In order to utilize and rationally design materials at the nanoscale the reliable characterization of their physico-chemical properties is highly important, especially with respect to the assessment of their environmental or biological impact. Furthermore, the European Commission’s REACH Regulations require the registration of nanomaterials traded in quantities of at least 1 ton. Powders or dispersions where 50% (number distribution) of the constituent particles have sizes ≤ 100 nm in at least one dimension are defined as nanomaterials. This creates a need for industrial manufacturers and research or analytical service facilities to reliably characterize potential nanomaterials. Currently, BAM is developing reference nanoparticles, which shall expand the scarce list of worldwide available nano reference materials certified for particle size distribution and will also target other key parameters like shape, structure, porosity or functional properties. In this respect, materials like iron oxide or titanium dioxide are considered as candidates to complement the already available silica, Au, Ag, and polystyrene reference nanoparticles.
The thermal decomposition of iron oleate precursors in high boiling organic solvents can provide large quantities of iron oxide nanoparticles that can be varied in size and shape.[1, 2] The presence of oleic acid or other hydrophobic ligands as capping agents ensures stable dispersion in nonpolar solvents. Such monodisperse, spherical particles were synthesized at BAM and pre-characterized by electron microscopy (TEM, SEM including the transmission mode STEM-in-SEM) and dynamic light scattering comparing cumulants analysis and frequency power spectrum.
1. REACH regulations and nanosafety concerns create a strong need for nano reference materials with diverse properties.
2. Iron oxide nanoparticles are under development as new candidate reference material at BAM.
3. Narrow particle size distribution confirmed by light scattering and electron microscopy.
For hazard Assessment purposes we need models to predict what would happen in case of an accident.
The challenge in hazard assessment consists not only in choosing the right model, but beforehand to define the correct scenario .If models can be found for the physical effect to be simulated, the validation of these models is the next challenge.
Even if experimental data can be found it should always be checked, if these data are correct, even if in general experimental data are considered as “failsafe” or “the absolute truth”.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease with an up to 80% mortality in case of rupture. Current biomarkers fail to account for size-independent risk of rupture. By combining the information of different molecular probes, multi-target molecular MRI holds the potential to enable individual characterization of AAA. In this experimental study, we aimed to examine the feasibility of simultaneous imaging of extracellular collagen and inflammation for size-independent prediction of risk of rupture in murine AAA. The study design consisted of: (1) A outcome-based longitudinal study with imaging performed once after one week with follow-up and death as the end-point for assessment of rupture risk. (2) A week-by-week study for the characterization of AAA development with imaging after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. For both studies, the animals were administered a type 1 collagen-targeted gadolinium-based probe (surrogate marker for extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling) and an iron oxide-based probe (surrogate marker for inflammatory activity), in one imaging session. In vivo measurements of collagen and iron oxide probes showed a significant correlation with ex vivo histology (p < 0.001) and also corresponded well to inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Combined evaluation of collagen-related ECM remodeling and inflammatory activity was the most accurate predictor for AAA rupture (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%, area under the curve 0.85), being superior to information from the individual probes alone. Our study supports the feasibility of a simultaneous assessment of collagen-related extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammatory activity in a murine model of AAA.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains a fatal disease. Its development encompasses a complex interplay between hemodynamic stimuli on and changes in the arterial wall. Currently available biomarkers fail to predict the risk of AAA rupture independent of aneurysm size. Therefore, novel biomarkers for AAA characterization are needed. In this study, we used a mouse model of AAA to investigate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with an albumin-binding probe to assess changes in vascular permeability at different stages of aneurysm growth. Two imaging studies were performed: a longitudinal study with follow-up and death as endpoint to predict rupture risk and a week-by-week study to characterize AAA development. AAAs, which eventually ruptured, demonstrated a significantly higher in vivo MR signal enhancement from the albumin-binding probe (p = 0.047) and a smaller non-enhancing thrombus area compared to intact AAAs (p = 0.001). The ratio of albumin-binding-probe enhancement of the aneurysm wall to size of non-enhancing-thrombus-area predicted AAA rupture with high sensitivity/specificity (100%/86%). More advanced aneurysms with higher vascular permeability demonstrated an increased uptake of the albumin-binding-probe. These results indicate that MRI with an albumin-binding probe may enable noninvasive assessment of vascular permeability in murine AAAs and prediction of rupture risk.
Learned block iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm for photothermal super resolution imaging
(2020)
Block-sparse regularization is already well-known in active thermal imaging and is used for multiple measurement based inverse problems. The main bottleneck of this method is the choice of regularization parameters which differs for each experiment. To avoid time-consuming manually selected regularization parameters, we propose a learned block-sparse optimization approach using an iterative algorithm unfolded into a deep neural network. More precisely, we show the benefits of using a learned block iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm that is able to learn the choice of regularization parameters. In addition, this algorithm enables the determination of a suitable weight matrix to solve the underlying inverse problem. Therefore, in this paper we present the algorithm and compare it with state of the art block iterative shrinkage thresholding using synthetically generated test data and experimental test data from active thermography for defect reconstruction. Our results show that the use of the learned block-sparse optimization approach provides smaller normalized mean square errors for a small fixed number of iterations than without learning. Thus, this new approach allows to improve the convergence speed and only needs a few iterations to generate accurate defect reconstruction in photothermal super resolution imaging.
Fault detection for linear parameter varying systems under changes in the process noise covariance
(2020)
Detecting changes in the eigenstructure of linear systems is a comprehensively investigated subject. In particular, change detection methods based on hypothesis testing using Gaussian residuals have been developed previously. In such residuals, a reference model is confronted to data from the current system. In this paper, linear output-only systems depending on a varying external physical parameter are considered. These systems are driven by process noise, whose covariance may also vary between measurements. To deal with the varying parameter, an interpolation approach is pursued, where a limited number of reference models – each estimated from data measured in a reference state – are interpolated to approximate an adequate reference model for the current parameter. The problem becomes more complex when the different points of interpolation correspond to different noise conditions. Then conflicts may arise between the detection of changes in the eigenstructure due to a fault and the detection of changes due to different noise conditions. For this case, a new change detection approach is developed based on the interpolation of the eigenstructure at the reference points. The resulting approach is capable of change detection when both the external physical parameter and the process noise conditions are varying. This approach is validated on a numerical simulation of a mechanical system.
The goal of this work is to identify the optimal operating input for a lithiation reaction that is performed in a highly innovative pilot scale continuous flow chemical plant in an industrial environment, taking into account the process and safety constraints. The main challenge is to identify the optimum operation in the absence of information about the reaction mechanism and the reaction kinetics. We employ an iterative real-time optimization scheme called modifier adaptation with quadratic approximation (MAWQA) to identify the plant optimum in the presence of plant-model mismatch and measurement noise. A novel NMR PAT-sensor is used to measure the concentration of the reactants and of the product at the reactor outlet. The experiment results demonstrate the capabilities of the iterative optimization using the MAWQA algorithm in driving a complex real plant to an economically optimal operating point in the presence of plant-model mismatch and of process and measurement uncertainties.
Abstract: Since it is unknown for many applications, which PFASs are used and how they enter the environment, target analysis-based methods reach their limits. The two most frequently used sum parameters are the adsorbable organically bound fluorine (AOF) and the extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF). Both can be quantified using either combustion ion chromatography (CIC) or high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). Here we provide an insight on the advantageous and disadvantageous of both sum parameters and both detection methods. Our study is based on the analysis of surface water samples. Next to total fluorine (TF) analysis, AOF and EOF were determined as well as CIC and HR-CS-GFMAS are compared and results are comparatively discussed. Fluorine mass balancing revealed that, the AOF/TF proportion was higher than the EOF/TF proportion. The AOF made up 0.14–0.81% of TF and the EOF 0.04–0.28% of TF. Although, organically bound fluorine represents only a small portion of TF, PFASs are of worldwide concern, because of their extreme persistence and their bioaccumulation potential. The EOF-HR-CS-GFMAS method turned out to be more precise and sensitive than the AOF-CIC method and is a promising tool for future monitoring studies/routine analysis of PFASs in the environment.
Up to now, different analytical methods for single cell analysis exist focusing on key features such as size, shape, morphology and elemental composition. The combination of the latest ICP-MS techniques - ICP-ToF-MS - together with the latest developments in the field of sample delivery - micro droplet generator (MDG) – will allow a Deep insight into the composition and size of cells.
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is an oxidation of metals affected by the presence or activity (or both) of microorganisms e.g. Shewanella Putrefaciens in biofilms on the surface of the corroding material. As this can happen for example in the soil on iron pipes of water pipes, in oil tanks or on steel sheet piling, there is great interest in MIC research, not only from various industrial sectors, but also from the environmental aspect.
A new approach towards performance-related design and scientific evaluation of joint sealing systems
(2020)
While there is a permanent improvement of concrete pavement mixtures and pavement construction types over the last decades, the state-of-the-art joint sealing materials and joint constructions seem to stagnate on an antiquated empirical level. This status has been reaffirmed in the latest European standard.
The consequences in the motorway network due to unsatisfying capability and durability of joint sealing systems are unacceptable. In addition, inadequate traffic performance (noise emissions, roll-over comfort) and traffic safety losses in the joint area of concrete pavements are existing challenges. These deficits and weaknesses reflect a demand for joint sealing materials and constructions whose approval requirements take functional aspects into account. Furthermore a sufficient analysis of decisive loads and a practice-oriented method to evaluate the requirements towards performance and durability is still missed.
In this contribution decisive loads to German highways are analyzed. The design of test specimen for representative functional testing of joint sealing systems is discussed. The focus is on the geometry of the test specimens and the used concrete mixture. Finally, a new approach for a function-orientated test concept that considers representative load functions is presented. The potential of this approach to validate the durability and capability of various joint sealing systems is also presented using an example.
The demonstration of competency and equivalence for the assessment of levels of contaminants and nutrients in primary foodstuffs is a priority within the 10-year strategy for the OAWG Track A core comparisons. The measurements are core challenges for reference material producers and providers of calibration Services. This key comparison related to low polarity analytes in a high fat, low protein, low carbohydrate food matrix and Benzo[a]pyrene in edible oil was the model System selected to align with this class within the OAWG strategy. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons is needed to document measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (Dis). 16 National Metrology Institutions participated in the Track A Key Comparison CCQM-K146 Low-Polarity Analyte in high fat food: Benzo[a]pyrene in Olive Oil. Participants were requested to evaluate the mass fractions, expressed in µg/kg, of Benzo[a]pyrene in the olive oil material. The KCRV was determined from the results of all NMIs/DIs participating in the key comparison that used appropriately validated methods with demonstrated metrological traceability. Different methods such as liquid-liquid extraction, GPC and SPE were applied in the sample pretreatment and HPLC-FLD, HPLC-MS/MS, and GC-MS or GC-MS/MS were applied for detection by the participants. The mass fractions for BaP were in the range of (1.78 to 3.09) µg/kg with Standard uncertainties of (0.026 to 0.54) µg/kg, with corresponding relative Standard uncertainties from 0.9% to 21%. Five labs withdrew their result from the Statistical evaluation of the KCRV for technical reasons. One lab was excluded from the KCRV evaluation, as they did not meet the CIPM metrological traceability requirements. A Hierarchical Bayes option was selected for the KCRV value, which was determined as 2.74 µg/kg with a Standard uncertainty of 0.03 µg/kg. The 10 institutes those were included in the calculation of the consensus KCRV all agreed within their Standard uncertainties. Successful participation in CCQM-K146 demonstrates the measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with molecular mass of 100 g/mol to 500 g/mol, having low polarity pKow < -2, in mass fraction range from 0.1 µg/kg to 1000 µg/kg in a high fat, low protein, low carbohydrate food matrix.
As the most electronegative element, fluorine has a strong influence on material properties such as absorption behaviour or chemical and thermal stability. Fluorine can be easily integrated into coordination polymers (CPs) via a fluorinated acetate, here trifluoroacetate in Ba(CF3COO)2, or directly via a metal fluorine bond (BaF(CH3COO)). In the present study both possibilities of fluorine integration were tested and their effect on structure and properties of barium coordination polymers was investigated in comparison with the non-fluorinated barium acetate (Ba(CH3COO)2). In addition to the study of their thermal behaviour and their decomposition temperature, the CPs structures were tested for their application as possible anode materials in lithium ion batteries and for their sorption of water and ammonia. The properties of the CPs can be traced back to the individual structural motifs and could thus trigger new design ideas for CPs in LIBs and/or catalysis.
According to UN Test O.2, surprisingly, the polychlorosilanes hexachlorodisilane (HCDS), octachlorotrisilane (OCTS) and decachlorotetrasilane (DCTS) formally fulfill the criteria of the “test for oxidizing liquids”. This result is in contrast to the properties of polychlorosilanes that are described in the literature and those we have experienced in our own production.
By investigating the reaction products from the UN O.2 test reactor, using IR, Raman and XPS spectroscopy, it was shown that the results are not due to oxidizing properties of HCDS, OCTS or DCTS, but are caused by the specified test substance cellulose. To our knowledge, this is the very first substance class in which the reference substance oxidizes the test sample, instead of vice versa. This represents an important limitation of the internationally used UN Test O.2 for this substance class. The cause for this false-positive result is the known high degree of affinity of oxygen to silicon.
It is shown that the correctly executed UN Test O.2 produces false-positive results and that the polychlorosilanes do not have an oxidizing effect and, therefore, do not have to be classified as “oxidizing substances”.
Composition and microstructure stability of cement compound under cyclic hydrothermal condition
(2020)
There have been many researches focused on the performance improvement of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) by autoclaving treatment. The goal of autoclaving is to increase the pozzolanic reaction, and to densify the cement stone and the transition zone which originates from the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as silica fume, fly ash and blast furnace slag. Due to the superior properties, UHPC can also be utilized under high mechanical load and aggressive condition, for example, the fabrication of water tanks for thermal storage which is of great significance for saving energy and reducing CO2 emission. It is known that mineral stability of the hydration products of an inorganic binder is highly related to the temperature and pressure of the environment. A certain stable composition at room temperature, however, may undergo a phase transformation at high temperature and the performance decrease under this severe condition will generally be more severe. In this way, the rationale behind this deterioration under long-term hydrothermal condition involving many cycles and long duration has to be clarified, and then appropriate optimizing methods will be performed in order to obtain a kind of construction with high durability under aggressive environment. For this purpose, different types and amounts of SCMs are introduced into the standard mixture of UHPC and the phase compositions after autoclaving at 200 °C and 15.5 bar are determined by combined X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Mercury intrusion porosimeter is used to characterise the microstructure of the samples. In order to establish the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties, compressive and flexural strength are also investigated.
Composition and microstructure stability of cement compound under cyclic hydrothermal condition
(2020)
There have been many researches focused on the performance improvement of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) by autoclaving treatment. The goal of autoclaving is to increase the pozzolanic reaction, and to densify the cement stone and the transition zone which originates from the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as silica fume, fly ash and blast furnace slag. Due to the superior properties, UHPC can also be utilized under high mechanical load and aggressive condition, for example, the fabrication of water tanks for thermal storage which is of great significance for saving energy and reducing CO2 emission. It is known that mineral stability of the hydration products of an inorganic binder is highly related to the temperature and pressure of the environment. A certain stable composition at room temperature, however, may undergo a phase transformation at high temperature and the performance decrease under this severe condition will generally be more severe. In this way, the rationale behind this deterioration under long-term hydrothermal condition involving many cycles and long duration has to be clarified, and then appropriate optimizing methods will be performed in order to obtain a kind of construction with high durability under aggressive environment. For this purpose, different types and amounts of SCMs are introduced into the standard mixture of UHPC and the phase compositions after autoclaving at 200 °C and 15.5 bar are determined by combined X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Mercury intrusion porosimeter is used to characterise the microstructure of the samples. In order to establish the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties, compressive and flexural strength are also investigated.
Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is known for its high compressive strength of more than 150 MPa and its high durability. Thermal treatment at 90°C can accelerate the strength development so that the 28-days-strength can be achieved immediately after the treatment and an additional increase up to 30 % in some cases. The reason for the strength development is an accelerated hydration of the clinker minerals and an intensified pozzolanic reaction leading to a denser microstructure.
In previous research inhomogeneities in form of a zonation after unprotected thermal treatment were observed and analysed in respect to changes in the microstructure. This zonation is defined by a different microstructure in the core compared to the outer zone in the matter of porosity, mineral phase composition and a significant change in the potassium and sulphur concentration of the zones is measurable.
To isolate different transport mechanisms responsible for these element distributions UHPC samples were thermally treated at 90 °C and the microstructure was investigated under dry conditions and after immersion in water to investigate the influence of dehydration during and rehydration after the thermal treatment on the microstructure. Through durability testing via water absorption, water vapour diffusion, permeability testing and sulfuric acid resistance transport mechanisms like diffusion, migration, capillary suction are under investigation in correlation with the microstructure analysis. For the microstructure analysis measurements with µXRF, mercury intrusion porosity, XRD and SEM were conducted.
Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is known for its high compressive strength of more than 150 MPa and its high durability. Thermal treatment at 90°C can accelerate the strength development so that the 28-days-strength can be achieved immediately after the treatment and an additional increase up to 30 % in some cases. The reason for the strength development is an accelerated hydration of the clinker minerals and an intensified pozzolanic reaction leading to a denser microstructure.
In previous research inhomogeneities in form of a zonation after unprotected thermal treatment were observed and analysed in respect to changes in the microstructure. This zonation is defined by a different microstructure in the core compared to the outer zone in the matter of porosity, mineral phase composition and a significant change in the potassium and sulphur concentration of the zones is measurable.
To isolate different transport mechanisms responsible for these element distributions UHPC samples were thermally treated at 90 °C and the microstructure was investigated under dry conditions and after immersion in water to investigate the influence of dehydration during and rehydration after the thermal treatment on the microstructure. Through durability testing via water absorption, water vapour diffusion, permeability testing and sulfuric acid resistance transport mechanisms like diffusion, migration, capillary suction are under investigation in correlation with the microstructure analysis. For the microstructure analysis measurements with µXRF, mercury intrusion porosity, XRD and SEM were conducted.
Fault detection for linear parameter varying systems under changes in the process noise covariance
(2020)
Detecting changes in the eigenstructure of linear systems is a comprehensively investigated subject. In particular, change detection methods based on hypothesis testing using Gaussian residuals have been developed previously. In such residuals, a reference model is confronted to data from the current system. In this paper, linear output-only Systems depending on a varying external physical parameter are considered. These systems are driven by process noise, whose covariance may also vary between measurements. To deal with the varying parameter, an interpolation approach is pursued, where a limited number of reference models { each estimated from data measured in a reference state { are interpolated to approximate an adequate reference model for the current parameter. The problem becomes more complex when the different points of interpolation correspond to different noise conditions. Then con icts May arise between the detection of changes in the eigenstructure due to a fault and the detection of changes due to different noise conditions. For this case, a new change detection approach is developed based on the interpolation of the eigenstructure at the reference points. The resulting approach is capable of change detection when both the external physical parameter and the process noise conditions are varying. This approach is validated on a numerical simulation of a mechanical system.
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as a chemical precursor to deposit ultra-thin SiO x C y plasma polymer films onto mild steel surfaces for preventing the corrosion process. The structure–property relationships of the coatings were evaluated by X-ray Photo Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) completed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs confirmed a pinhole-free surface morphology of the low-pressure deposited plasma polymer films. The TEOS molecules become fragmented in the plasma by numerous collisions with energy-rich electrons and heavier particles. Recombination of fragments and condensation onto the steel substrate is responsible for the formation of organic SiO containing plasma polymer layers. Such thin layers consist of predominantly SiO x structures. Their properties are determined largely by the gap distance between the two samples used as electrodes in the plasma. The efficiency of the corrosion-protecting coating was compared with uncoated samples. The corrosion protection was determined by exposure of samples to 3.5% NaCl aqueous solutions. For this purpose, polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used to monitor the corrosion. The optimal gap distance between the electrodes was determined for corrosion protection. The best protective efficiency reached more than 97% of the total protection as measured at room temperature.
The synthesis and optimization of superior and eco-friendly sorbents for Pb(II) pose a great challenge in the field of water treatment. The sorbent was developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) into the matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam. The immobilization of GO in PVF results in significant increase in the maximum adsorption capacity (Qt) of GO powder for Pb(II), from ≈800 to ≈1730 mg g−1 in the case of GO/PVF foam. As compared with GO powder in Pb(II) aqueous solutions, PVF matrix keeps GO sheets stable without any agglomeration. The large surface area of GO sheet allows the abundant oxygenated functional groups on its surface to participate effectively in the Pb(II) adsorption process, leading to the huge increase of the Qt. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process of Pb(II) on GO/PVF was done on heterogenous surface by ion-exchange reaction. The GO/PVF foam showed an excellent reusability for more than 10 cycles with almost the same efficiency and without any significant change in its physical properties.
Herein, two polyurethane oligomers were successfully synthesized using a prepolymer mixing process. The prepolymers were synthesized based on the step-growth addition polymerization of polypropylene glycol, Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. Isopropanol was functioned as the isocyanate blocking agent. Thereafter, different terpolymer emulsions were prepared by the emulsion graft copolymerization with the vinyl acetate monomer in presence of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as a vinyl monomer. The chemical structures of the synthesized oligomeric monomers were probed by FTIR spectroscopy and found to vary with the content of acrylic monomer used in the oligomer synthesis phase (i.e.hydroxyethyl acrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The topography, thermal stability, and particle size of terpolymers were investigated by SEM, TGA, and zeta potential, respectively. The TGA results demonstrated marked enhancement in thermal stability of the synthesized terpolymers up to ca. 600°C, which was concurrent with enhanced surface homogeneity and film properties as evidenced by the SEM images. These terpolymers showed also property enhancement as binders for textile pigment printing in terms of rubbing resistance, color strength and fastness to washing when compared to the commercial binders.
These judgments would provide a new competent synthesis route by introducing polyurethane acetate vinyl acrylate as the binder for use in pigment printing of cotton fabrics.
We show how the combination of the spatial autocorrelation function and permeability calculations, applied to 3D X-ray computed tomography data, can yield quantitative information on the anisotropy of both meso-structure and fluid flow in Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) materials, such as Cordierite and SiC. It was found that both the degree of anisotropy, and the orientation of the permeability and meso-structure are similar, but not identical. We confirm that the morphological anisotropy of cordierite materials is weak, and clearly influenced by the extrusion process that determines the main direction of anisotropy. Properties of the autocorrelation function are discussed and it is shown why estimating the characteristic length of real meso-structures (grain or ?pore? size) is not possible. Finally, we show that the autocorrelation function applied on grey-level images can give a good estimate of the degree of anisotropy even with limited resolution.
An extensive set of information about the diffracting volume is carried by EBSD patterns: the crystal lattice, the reciprocal lattice, the crystal structure, the crystal symmetry, the mean periodic number of the diffracting phase, the source point from where it has been projected (projection centre), the crystal orientation, the sample topography (local tilt), the (preparation) quality of defect density of the crystal, and possible pattern overlaps. Some of this information is used regularly in conventional EBSD analyses software while others are still waiting for a more widespread application. Despite the wealth of information available, the accuracy and precision of the data that are presently extracted from conventional EBSD patterns are often well below the actual physical limits. Using a selection of example applications, we will demonstrate the gain in angular resolution possible using relatively low-resolution patterns of approximately 20k pixels in combination with pattern matching (PM) approaches. In this way, fine details in a microstructure can be revealed which would otherwise be hidden in the orientation noise.
Climate change, CO2 reduction, resource efficiency are only 3 current keywords that describe the current industrial-economic situation. In order to influence climate change effectively, the conversion of supply systems with technically usable forms of energy must succeed in the next decade. The international network founded in Baku in 2015 bundles research activities in the broad field of energy supply and energy efficiency.
Discuss current research approaches and results with scientists and experts from renowned universities and follow Azerbaijan's efforts to implement the energy revolution.
In the DECHEMA Virtual Talks, general aspects of the safety and acceptance of hydrogen technologies were presented. How can trust in new technologies be built when past accidents led to myths and fairy tales? The presentation does away with general prejudices and shows that handling hydrogen is neither more unsafe nor safer than handling other fuel gases. The basis for the safe handling of hydrogen is always a risk analysis.
Elastomer seals are used in many industrial applications due to their excellent mechanical properties at a wide range of temperatures. Their high versatility and recovery potential under several load conditions make them well suitable for the application in containers designed for transport, storage and/or disposal of radioactive materials. In containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste, elastomer seals are used as barrier seals, and as auxiliary seals in storage and transportation casks (dual purpose casks) for heat generating radioactive waste, such as spent fuel and high-level waste. While a seal exchange at defined intervals is typical in many conventional applications, it is impossible or at least hard to perform when principles of minimization of radiation exposure have to be considered and prohibit an unnecessary cask handling. An extensive knowledge of the change of the elastomer’s properties during aging and the availability of reliable end-of-lifetime criteria to guarantee the permanent safe enclosure of the radioactive material is mandatory. As BAM is involved in most of the national cask licensing procedures and in the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues, great efforts have been already made and are still planned to scientifically support this task.
Compression stress relaxation and compression set were identified as key indicators of elastomer long-term performance and quantitatively investigated in comprehensive test programs. Among other representative types of elastomers, specimens made from ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) were tested before, during and after aging to capture the most important of their complex mechanical properties.
In the presented study, exemplary results were used to simulate the compression stress relaxation and the compression set of elastomer O-rings during aging. Regarding the influence of temperature, the time temperature superposition principle is applied in the relaxation analysis of elastomer O-rings. The proposed model is implemented in the commercial finite element software ABAQUS/Standard® [1] with a sequential temperature displacement coupling. Numerical results match the experimental compression stress relaxation measurements well. The prediction of compression set values after long-term aging shows a relatively good agreement with the experimental results. Nevertheless, all input parameters derived from the specimen tests, additional assumptions concerning boundary conditions and modeling strategy are discussed with regard to the identified slight discrepancies.
The possibility to extend the finite element model to represent the O-ring seal’s ability to recover after a (fast) partial release is taken into account
Polycarboxylate ethers (PCEs) are widely used in construction, but the exact nature of their interaction with cement is still debated. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) in cement hydration, we assessed the potential of optical spectroscopy in combination with a water-soluble fluorescent organic reporter dye (S0586) to monitor the early hydration of C3A in the presence of 26 wt% CaSO4.2H2O (C3A26G-S) with and without PCE. As optical methods, steady-state fluorescence and diffuse reflectance (UV–VisDR) spectroscopy were employed. Phase characterization and particle size distribution were performed with in-situ X-ray diffraction (in-situ XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Our results show that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy can be used to monitor the formation of metastable phases by the disaggregation of the dye S0586 in a cement paste as well as changes in ettringite formation. Addition of PCE slowed down the disaggregation of the dye as reflected by the corresponding changes of the dyes absorption and fluorescence. This prolonged induction period is a well-known side effect of PCEs and agrees with previous reported calorimetric studies and the Inhibition of gypsum dissolution observed by in-situ XRD. This demonstrates that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy together with a suitable optical probe can provide deeper insights into the influence of PCE on C3A-gypsum hydration which could be e.g., utilized as screening method for comparing the influences
of different types of PCEs.
The ability to track electrode degradation, both spatially and temporally, is fundamental to understand performance loss during operation of lithium batteries. X-ray computed tomography can be used to follow structural and morphological changes in electrodes; however, the direct detection of electrochemical processes related to metallic lithium is difficult due to the low sensitivity to the element. In this work, 4-dimensional neutron computed tomography, which shows high contrast for lithium, is used to directly quantify the lithium diffusion process in spirally wound Li/SOCl2 primary cells. The neutron dataset enables the quantification of the lithium transport from the anode and the accumulation inside the SOCl2 cathode to be locally resolved. Complementarity between the collected neutron and X-ray computed tomographies is shown and by applying both methods in concert we have observed lithium diffusion blocking by the LiCl protection layer and identified all cell components which are difficult to distinguish using one of the methods alone.
We demonstrate the potential of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy for the straightforward assessment and in situ monitoring of the stability of upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs). Therefore, we prepared hexagonal NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNPs with various coatings with a focus on phosphonate ligands of different valency, using different ligand exchange procedures, and studied their dissolution behaviour in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) dispersions at 20 °C and 37 °C with various analytical methods. The amount of the released UCNPs constituting fluoride ions was quantified by potentiometry using a Fluoride ion-sensitive electrode and particle disintegration was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy studies of the differently aged UCNPs. In parallel, the luminescence features of the UCNPs were measured with special emphasis on the lifetime of the sensitizer emission to demonstrate its suitability as Screening parameter for UCNP stability and changes in particle composition. The excellent correlation between the changes in luminescence lifetime and fluoride concentration highlights the potential of our luminescence lifetime method for UCNP stability screening and thereby indirect monitoring of the release of potentially hazardous fluoride ions during uptake and dissolution in biological systems. Additionally, the developed in situ optical method was used to distinguish the dissolution dynamics of differently sized and differently coated UCNPs.
Redox switches are applied in various fields of research, including molecular lifts, electronic devices and sensors. Switching the absorbance between UV and Vis/NIR by redox processes is of interest for applications in light harvesting or biomedicine.
Here, we present a series of push-pull benzothiadiazole derivatives with high fluorescence quantum yields in solution and in the crystalline solid state. Spectroelectrochemical analysis reveals the switching of UV-absorption in the neutral state to Vis/NIR absorption in the reduced state. We identify the partial irreversibility of the switching process, which appears to be reversible on the cyclic voltammetry timescale.
Background: Cathodic protection by sacrifcial anodes composed of aluminum-zinc-indium alloys is often applied to protect ofshore support structures of wind turbines from corrosion. Given the considerable growth of renewable energies and thus ofshore wind farms in Germany over the last decade, increasing levels of aluminum, Indium and zinc are released to the marine environment. Although these metals are ecotoxicologically well-studied, data regarding their impact on marine organisms, especially sediment-dwelling species, as well as possible ecotoxicological efects of galvanic anodes are scarce. To investigate possible ecotoxicological efects to the marine environment, the diatom Phaedactylum tricornutum, the bacterium Aliivibrio fscheri and the amphipod Corophium volutator were exposed to dissolved galvanic anodes and solutions of aluminum and zinc, respectively, in standardized laboratory tests using natural seawater. In addition to acute toxicological efects, the uptake of these elements by C. volutator was investigated.
Results: The investigated anode material caused no acute toxicity to the tested bacteria and only weak but signifcant efects on algal growth. In case of the amphipods, the single elements Al and Zn showed signifcant efects only at the highest tested concentrations. Moreover, an accumulation of Al and In was observed in the crustacea species.
Conclusions: Overall, the fndings of this study indicated no direct environmental impact on the tested marine organisms by the use of galvanic anodes for cathodic protection. However, the accumulation of metals in, e.g., crustaceans might enhance their trophic transfer within the marine food web.
Wood protection technology in the marine environment has changed over the last decades and will continue to do so. New active ingredients, newer formulations, and novel wood-based materials including physically- and chemically-modified wood, together with increasing concerns over environmental impacts of wood preservatives, urgently demand a major revision of EN 275 “Wood preservatives – Determination of the Protective Effectiveness against Marine Borers”, dated from 1992. This IRG document reports on the technical work in CEN TC 38 regarding the revision of this standard. A Task Group within WG 24 of CEN TC 38 was formed consisting of experts from different field of competence (e.g. wood preservatives industry, wood scientists, marine biologists, archaeologists and cultural heritage conservators). Starting by e-mail correspondence in 2014, and continuing with four physical meetings (Berlin 2x, Florence, Venice) with experts from Germany, Italy, Sweden, and UK were held so far. Significant items for revision in EN 275 were identified as: number of replicates, duration of the test, dimension of specimens, number of test sites, number of reference species, reference material including reference preservative, re-immersion of specimens after non-destructive periodical evaluation for longer periods of time vs higher number of replicates for successive destructive examinations without re-immersion, utilization of X- ray apparatus and specific software to ease evaluation, etc.
Furthermore, the task group is working on a standardized lab test for time-saving evaluation of different wood qualities for their potential to resist attack by limnorids. The suitability of this lab test will be determined by round robin tests as soon as safe face-to-face collaboration permits. The outcome will be published as a CEN TR (Technical Report) document, with a view to eventual adoption within the revised standard.
The Intelligence for Soil (I4S) project deals with the development of an integrated system for the site-specific soil fertility management. One goal of the project is to establish a mobile sensor platform for soil mapping. The task here is the installation and optimization of a XRF sensor for online measurement directly on the field. The fast soil mapping allows later on a site-specific fertilisation of essential plant nutrients like K, Ca and P. In order to optimize the application of the fertilizers it is necessary to relate the total contents analysed with XRF to the soil nutrients which are available to the plants. For this purpose the plant available phosphate supply was analysed with the Calcium-Acetate-Lactate extraction method (CAL) according to VDLUFA and compared with the total contents.
In this presentation we discuss the online monitoring of metallic AM parts produced by the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process by using optical, thermographic and electromagnetic methods. In a first approach we present the detection of defects generated during the process and discuss how to improve these methods for the optimization of design and production of metallic AM parts.
The mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced composites with polymer matrix is governed by several mechanisms operating at different length scales. In this contribution we describe first non-destructive techniques which are adequate for the characterization of the fiber-matrix interphase at a microscopic level. In a second step we describe on a mesoscopic level the influence of manufacturing related elements on the mechanical properties of rotor blades for wind turbines. We concentrate on thermography, laminography and ultrasound in connection with mechanical testing systems. Finally we present methods for monitoring rotor blades by using embedded optical fibers.
The evaluation of measurement uncertainty is essential for testing and calibration laboratories. This paper provides a general process description for the determination of the measurement uncertainty of quantitative data and its application to the conformity assessment with examples, and how to deal with the uncertainty of qualitative (Boolean) results, e. g. when "Alarm" or "No alarm" occours in an instrument display.
Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) with inorganic nanofillers dispersed in a polymer matrix have been widely studied from the 1990s, since the pioneering work by Toyota Central Research. The possibility of producing advanced tailor-made, light weight and low-cost materials, inspired academic and commercial research towards numerous potential applications, facilitating PNCs to become a billion-dollar global industry. The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) to a polymer matrix is expected to result in improved properties. The outstanding performance of PNCs is determined not only by the characteristics of the used components but also by their phase morphology, including the dispersion of NPs and interfacial properties. Understanding of structure-property relationships is particularly important for polymer nanocomposites with high industrial significance, such as epoxy-based materials reinforced with inorganic nanofillers. These PNCs have been successfully adopted by the marine, automotive and aerospace industries, although they are still rarely studied on a fundamental level. Therefore, this thesis aims for a detailed understanding of the structure, molecular mobility and vitrification kinetics first, of two epoxy-based materials with different network structures and second, of the corresponding nanocomposites with different alumina-based nanofillers. The first system considered (EP/T-LDH) was based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) and taurine-modified layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) NPs. The taurine molecule bears additional functionalities that could enhance the interactions between the matrix and the nanofiller, improving the interphase formation. The seconds system (EP/BNP) was based on DGEBA and methyl tetrahydrophtalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) as a hardener, reinforced with boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs). The comparison of the two systems enables for a comparative study on the effect of different hardeners and the morphology and modification of the alumina-based nanofillers on the material behavior. The materials were investigated employing complementary techniques with different sensitivities and frequency windows. The following methodology was used: transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small – and wide – angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), calorimetry in a form of conventional DSC and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC), as well as specific heat spectroscopy (SHS) in a form of temperature modulated DSC, temperature modulated FSC and static FSC by calculating the thermal relaxation rates from the cooperativity approach. The FSC method (based on adiabatic chip calorimetry to probe micrometer-sized samples) was successfully employed in this work, exploiting all its possibilities for the first time in literature for a PNC. Moreover, a systematic analysis technique was established to overcome the problem of vague glass transition regions observed for highly loaded PNCs in the heat flow and heat capacity curves.
First, TEM, SAXS/WAXS and indirectly BDS and SHS were employed to obtain the information about the approximate morphology of the PNCs. It was found that epoxy-based materials exhibit a structural heterogeneity in a form of regions with different average crosslinking density. This was indicated by multiple-peak scattering pattern of the polymer matrix and two distinct α-processes (dynamic glass transition) related to the cooperative fluctuation of the epoxy network found by BDS and SHS. This was described for the first time for epoxy-based materials. The two α-relaxations were evidenced differently for the two systems, which is related to different network structures and dipole moments due to the employed hardeners. Nevertheless, structural heterogeneity is an intrinsic feature of these materials, independent of the type of hardener used for the network formation and nanofiller. In addition, matrix inhomogeneities were more pronounced with increasing nanoparticle content. Furthermore, a powerful new technique was applied for X-ray scattering data, using Monte Carlo fits, to describe the NPs dispersion throughout the whole sample volume (as opposed to the local investigations performed by most researches). Additional structural information of the two systems was extracted by BDS and SHS, such as qualitative and quantitative estimation of polymer segments physically adsorbed and/or chemically bonded onto the nanoparticles. Due to the immobilized character of this interphase with respect to the cooperative segmental motions, it is denoted as a rigid amorphous fraction (RAF). For instance, on the contrary to EP/BNP, for EP/T-LDH a dielectrically active process was found, related to the localized fluctuations within RAF. Moreover, the amount of RAF in EP/T-LDH was reaching up to 40 wt % of the system, whereas in EP/BNP it ranged between 1-7 wt %. In the latter case the presence of NPs was found to simultaneously increase and decrease the number of mobile segments, due to the interphase formation and changes in crosslinking density. The difference between the two systems was ascribed to the presence of additional amine functionalities in the T-LDH nanofiller.
Second, employing BDS and SHS, a systematic study on the effect of NPs on the segmental dynamics was performed. For example, depending on the nanofiller, the α-processes related to regions with higher crosslinking density was found to shift to higher and lower temperatures with increasing T-LDH and BNPs concentration, respectively. The observed difference is due to the different synergism of the polymer matrix with the nanofiller.
Third, a detailed investigation of the vitrification kinetics was performed with DSC and FSC. The concentration dependence of the glass transition temperature was found, similar to the behavior of the α-processes. It was shown that, in parallel to the detected main glass transition, epoxy-based materials can exhibit an additional low temperature vitrification mechanism. As expected from the two distinct α-processes, this behavior was however not discussed in prior studies for an unfilled network former. This finding was correlated to the structural heterogeneity evidenced by other techniques.
This thesis, dealing with an in-depth research on the epoxy-based materials that are already successfully employed in numerous applications underlines the necessity of more fundamental research in this field. It shines light on the complexity of these systems and contributes to defining how the structure-property relationships can be determined by combining multiple experimental techniques and analytical methodology.
Micromechanical response of multi-phase Al-alloy matrix composites under uniaxial compression
(2020)
Aluminum alloys are extensively used in the automotive industry. Particularly, squeeze casting production of Al-Si alloys is employed in the conception of metal matrix composites (MMC) for combustion engines. Such materials are of a high interest since they allow combining improved mechanical properties and reduced weight and hence improve efficiency. Being a multiphase material, most MMCs show complex micromechanical behavior under different load conditions. In this work we investigated the micromechanical behavior of two MMCs, both consisting of a near-eutectic cast AlSi12CuMgNi alloy, one reinforced with 15%vol. Al2O3 short fibers and the other with 7%vol. Al2O3 short fibers + 15%vol. SiC particles. Both MMCs have complex 3D microstructure consisting of four and five phases: Al-alloy matrix, eutectic Si, intermetallics, Al2O3 fibers and SiC particles.
The in-situ neutron diffraction compression experiments were carried out on the Stress-Spec beamline and disclosed the evolution of internal phase-specific stresses in both composites. In combination with the damage mechanism revealed by synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (SXCT) on plastically pre-strained samples, this allowed understanding the role of every composite’s phase in the stress partitioning mechanism. Finally, based on the Maxwell scheme, a micromechanical model was utilized. The model perfectly rationalizes the experimental data and predicts the evolution of principal stresses in each phase.
This poster summarizes the points that need to be addressed towards the standardization of an efficient procedure for the analysis of VVOC emissions: Standard mixture generation and investigations on mutual reactivity, selection of an appropriate sorbent combination, water management and choice of a suited GC column.
This study shows that formaldehyde Emission results in micro-scale emission chambers are comparable with results in bigger chambers both for particle boards and wooden toys. On the contrary, the WKI flask method was leading to more variable results depending on sample geometry. Thus, microchambers could be used for reliable routine market surveillance. An exposure assessment led to noticeable formaldehyde indoor air concentration values, pointing out the need for an effective Surveillance of such samples.
In 2018, the production of Municipal SolidWaste (MSW) in EU-28 reached 250.6 Mt, with the adoption of different management strategies, involving recycling (48 wt %), incineration and thermal valorization (29 wt %) and landfilling (23 wt %). This work was based on the analysis of the baseline situation of MSW management in EU-28 in 2018, considering its progress in 2008–2018, and discussed the possible improvement perspectives based on a framework involving incineration and recycling as the only possible alternatives, specifically evaluating the capability of already-existing incineration plants to fulfill the EU needs in the proposed framework. The results of the assessment showed two main crucial issues that could play a pivotal role in the achievement of Circular Economy action plan targets: the need to increase the recycling quotas for specific MSW fractions through the separate collection, and therefore the improvement of definite treatment process chains; the optimization of the recovery of secondary raw materials from incineration bottom ash, involving the Recycling of ferrous and nonferrous metals and the mineral fraction. Both issues need to find an extensive application across all member states to decrease the actual differences in the adoption of sustainable MSW management options.
Motivated by the tensile strength loss of 9%Ni steel arc welded joints made using Ni-based austenitic filler metals, the feasibility of maintaining the tensile strength using matching ferritic filler metal has been demonstrated. In comparison with shielded metal arc welded joint made using Ni-based austenitic electrode ENiCrMo-6, higher tensile strength comparable to that of the base metal was obtained using matching ferritic electrode. Besides, sufficient impact toughness energies with much lower mismatch were obtained for weld metal and heat-affected zone.
Welded joint with a lower mechanical mismatching is of considerable importance for achieving acceptable combination of tensile strength and impact toughness. A better combination of These mechanical properties is ensured by applying a post weld heat treatment.
In this investigation, two conventional peristaltic pumps are compared with a new pump based on the “easy click” principle using a simultaneous ICP-AES instrument with standard operating conditions. It is found that the figures of merit achieved are quite comparable for all three pumps. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) range between 0.2% and 1.8%, and limits of detection as low as 0.1 μg/L have been achieved , demonstrating that the easy click principle of the new pump does not compromise the analytical figures of merit.
To assess the clinical course of a sheep stifle joint model for osteochondral (OC) defects, medial femoral condyles (MFC) were exposed without patella luxation using medial parapatellar skin (3–4 cm) and deep incisions (2–3 cm). Two defects (7 mm diameter; 10 mm depth; OC punch) were left empty or refilled with osteochondral autologous transplantation cylinders (OATS) and explanted after six weeks. Incision-to-suture time, anesthesia time, and postoperative wound or impairment scores were compared to those in sham-operated animals. Implant performance was assessed by X-ray, micro-computed tomography, histology, and immunohistology (collagens 1, 2; aggrecan). There were no surgery-related infections or patellar luxations. Operation, anesthesia, and time to complete stand were short (0.5, 1.4, and 1.5 h, respectively). The wound trauma score was low (0.4 of maximally 4; day 7). Empty-defect and OATS animals reached an impairment score of 0 significantly later than sham animals (7.4 and 4.0 days, respectively, versus 1.5 days). Empty defects showed incomplete healing and dedifferentiation/heterotopic differentiation; OATS-filled defects displayed advanced bone healing with remaining cartilage gaps and orthotopic expression of bone and cartilage markers. Minimally-invasive, medial parapatellar surgery of OC defects on the sheep MFC allows rapid and low-trauma recovery and appears well-suited for implant testing.
Ni-based superalloys are well established in various industrial applications, because of their excellentmechanical properties and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Despite the high development stage anda common industrial use of these alloys, hot cracking remains a major challenge limiting the weldability ofthe materials. As commonly known, the hot cracking susceptibility during welding increases with the amountof precipitation phases. Hence, a large amount of highstrength Ni-Alloys is rated as non-weldable. A newapproach based on electron beam welding at low feed rates shows great potential for reducing the hotcracking tendency of precipitation-hardened alloys. However, geometry and properties of the weld seamdiffer significantly in comparison to the common process range for practical uses. The aim of this study is toinvestigate the influence of welding parameters on the seam geometry at low feed rates between 1 mm/s and10 mm/s. For this purpose, 25 bead on plate welds on a 12 mm thick sheet made of Inconel 718 are carriedout. First, the relevant parameters are identified by performing a screening. Then the effects discovered arefurther studied by using a central composite design. The results show a significant difference between theanalyzed weld seam geometry in comparison to the well-known appearance of electron beam welded seams.
Thermography is one on the most promising techniques for in-situ monitoring of metal additive manufacturing processes. Especially in laser powder bed fusion processes, the high process dynamics and the strong focus of the laser beam cause a very complex thermal history within the produced specimens, such as multiple heating cycles within single layer expositions. This complicates data interpretation, e.g., in terms of cooling rates. A quantity that is easily calculated is the time a specific area of the specimen is at a temperature above a chosen threshold value (TOT). Here, we discuss variations occurring in time-over-threshold-maps during manufacturing of an almost defect free cuboid specimen.
Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, and their potential to enable advanced materials. To effectively understand and regulate the physico-chemical properties and potential adverse effects of nanoparticles, validated measurement procedures for the various properties of nanoparticles need to be developed. While procedures for measuring nanoparticle size and size Distribution are already established, standardized methods for analysis of their surface chemistry are not yet in place, although the influence of the surface chemistry on nanoparticle properties is undisputed. In particular, storage and preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis strongly influences the analytical results from various methods, and in order to obtain consistent results, sample preparation must be both optimized and standardized. In this contribution, we present, in detail, some standard procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analytics. In principle, nanoparticles can be deposited on a suitable substrate from suspension or as a powder. Silicon (Si) Wafers are commonly used as substrate, however, their cleaning is critical to the process. For sample preparation from suspension, we will discuss drop-casting and spin-coating, where not only the cleanliness of the substrate and purity of the suspension but also its concentration play important roles for the success of the preparation methodology.
For nanoparticles with sensitive ligand shells or coatings, deposition as powders is more suitable, although this method requires particular care in fixing the sample.
Calcium alkali metal (potassium and sodium) double and triple phosphates have been synthesized in different ways. Was for the first time used reaction sintering to produce ceramics based on calcium alkali metal mixed phosphates and investigated the densification behavior of mixed phosphate-based multiphase materials during sintering by this method. Was presented the microstructure of polished surfaces of sintered samples differing in phase composition and determined the density of ceramics prepared using reaction mixtures differing in composition. The effect of reaction sintering on the porosity of the ceramics has been assessed. Using stereolithographic printing and reaction sintering, was produced macroporous mixed Calcium phosphate-based ceramic implants. Their compressive strength has been determined to be 0.78 ± 0.21 MPa for two-phase samples and 1.02 ± 0.13 MPa for three-phase samples.
Social immune behaviors are described in a great variety of insect societies and their role in preventing emerging infectious diseases has become a major topic in insect research. The social immune system consists of multiple layers, ranging from the synthesis of external immune molecules to the coordination of individual behaviors into sophisticated collective defensive tasks. But our understanding of how complex group-level behavioral defenses are orchestrated has remained limited. We sought to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the relationship between the external activity of an important immune effector molecule in termites, Gram negative binding protein 2 (GNBP-2) and collective grooming and cannibalism. We reasoned that as an external enzyme capable of degrading entomopathogenic fungi, GNBP-2 can facilitate the spread of pathogenic molecules in the colony, and thus serve to trigger collective defenses in a manner analogous to pathogen-associated molecular signatures (PAMPs) of the individual immune system. To test whether GNBP-2 could play a role in regulating social immune behavior, we experimentally inhibited its fungicidal activity using the glycomimetic molecule, D-d-gluconolactone (GDL) and recorded collective behavioral responses to an infected nestmate. Contrary to expectations, GNBP-2 inhibition did not influence the rate or intensity of grooming of either control or fungus-infected
nestmates. By contrast, we found that the probability of being harmed through defensive cannibalistic behaviors was significantly reduced by the inhibition of GNBP-2. Our findings indicate that the regulation of collective immune behaviors may depend in part on the external secretion of an enzyme originating from the individual immune system, but that other cues are also necessary.
Isotope analysis can be used to determine the age and provenance of geological samples or to study dynamic systems like Li-ion batteries. Modern techniques in optical spectrometry allow us a fast and slow-cost isotope analysis. These techniques include high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-MAS) and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry. This seminar will discuss our recent work on precise and accurate isotope analysis of boron, magnesium, and lithium with geology, climate, and energy research applications.
Advances and Applications of Molecular Absorption Spectrometry: from Non-Metals to Isotope Analysis
(2020)
The present work covers two main aspects of high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS), an analytical technique for elemental trace analysis.
First, a comprehensive mechanistic study of molecule formation in graphite furnaces is presented, which is a key step into the recovery of analytical signals. For this, the molecule formation of CaF was studied, which is used for the indirect analytical determination of fluorine in HR-CS-GFMAS. A zirconium coating catalyzes the CaF formation, and its structure was investigated. The kinetics of this reaction was established by monitoring its molecular spectrum at different atomisation temperatures. An Arrhenius plot showed a pseudo-first order reaction with respect to fluorine (n = 1). An intermediate state was isolated, and its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods: scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS), and Raman microspectroscopy. Here a mechanism is proposed, where ZrO2 works as a heterogeneous catalyst: after a pyrolytic step, an intermediate state of ZrO(OCaF) is activated, and at higher temperatures, CaF(g) is released from the zirconium-coated graphite surface.
Second, analytical methods were developed by using HR-CS-MAS as detector for non-metals and isotope analysis. Therefore, the determination of organic absorbable chlorine in water, the quantification of fluorine in consume care products with declared perfluorinated ingredients, and the determination of sulfur content in crude oils were investigated. Finally, the high resolution of the instrumentation allows to measure isotopic shifts with high precision in some observed molecular spectra. Consequently, the molecular spectra of enriched isotopes of boron and magnesium were investigated, establishing so the potential of HR-CS-MAS for the accurate and precise determination of isotopic amount ratios.
Isotope analysis can be used to determine the age and provenance of geological samples. Modern techniques in optical spectrometry allow us a stand-off isotope analysis. This seminar will discuss how planetary science with the next Moon and Mars missions drive optical spectrometry into precise and accurate isotope analysis and how BAM will contribute.
An established method for characterizing cladding material is the Ring Compression Test (RCT), where a small, cylindrical sample of the cladding tube is subjected to a compressive load. This test is a laboratory representation of a fuel rod load case and has shown a high susceptibility to failure under the occurrence of radial hydrides. Certain hydride morphologies and low temperature might even lead to brittle fracture at very small loads. The BAM research project BRUZL (Fracture mechanical analysis of spent fuel claddings during long-term dry interim storage) aims to study the results of quasi-static RCTs and to establish numerical models to gain an in-depth understanding of the stress state during such experiments. Using a fracture mechanical approach, cases of sudden failure during the RCT procedure are used to characterize the material behaviour and establish a failure criterion.
As an integral part of the project BRUZL, quasi-static Ring Compression Tests have been performed to identify all experimental details, which might be helpful for numerical modelling. Unirradiated samples of the cladding material ZIRLO® have been subjected to hydrogen charging and a thermo-mechanical treatment for radial hydride reorientation. Sample preparation, testing procedures, and analysis results are presented. A numerical model has been established and an elastic-plastic material model was derived from as-received RCT samples by inverse finite element analyses. Cohesive zone modelling has been implemented to reproduce sudden load drops during RCT.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under contract no. 1501561.
Understanding the mechanical behaviour of fuel cladding is decisive for an extended dry interim storage period beyond the currently licensed period of 40 years in Germany and subsequent handling, transport, and disposal considering normal and accidental conditions. Since fuel cladding acts as the first barrier for spent fuel, its integrity should be demonstrated to enable safe and secure discharge and handling options after interim storage and subsequent transportation in preparation of final disposal. An established method for characterizing cladding material is the Ring Compression Test (RCT), where a small, cylindrical sample of the cladding tube is subjected to a compressive load. This test is a laboratory representation of a fuel rod load case and has shown a high susceptibility to failure under the occurrence of radial hydrides. Certain hydride morphologies and low temperature might even lead to brittle fracture at very small loads. The BAM research project BRUZL (Fracture mechanical analysis of spent fuel claddings during long-term dry interim storage) aims to study the results of quasi-static RCTs and to establish numerical models to gain an in-depth understanding of the stress state during the experiments. Using a fracture mechanical approach, cases of sudden failure during the RCT procedure are used to characterize the material behaviour and establish a failure criterion. As an integral part of the project BRUZL, quasi-static Ring Compression Tests have been performed to identify all experimental details, which might be helpful for numerical modelling. Unirradiated samples of the cladding material ZIRLO® have been subjected to hydrogen charging and a thermo-mechanical treatment for radial hydride reorientation. Sample preparation, testing procedures, and analysis results are presented. A numerical model has been established and an elastic-plastic material model was derived from as-received RCT samples by inverse finite element analyses. Cohesive zone modelling has been implemented to reproduce sudden load drops during RCT. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under contract no. 1501561.
CCQM-K143 is a key comparison that assesses participants’ ability to prepare single element calibration solutions. Preparing calibration solutions properly is the cornerstone of establishing a traceability link to the International System of Units (SI), and therefore should be tested in order to confirm the validity of CCQM comparisons of more complex materials. CCQM-K143 consisted of participants each preparing a single copper calibration solution at 10 g/kg copper mass fraction and shipping 10 bottled aliquots of that solution to the coordinating laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The masses and mass fraction for the prepared solutions were documented with the submitted samples.
The solutions prepared by all participants were measured at NIST by high performance inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (HP-ICP-OES). The intensity measurements for copper were not mapped onto values of mass fraction via calibration. Instead, ratios were computed between the measurements for copper and simultaneous measurements for manganese, the internal standard, and all subsequent data reductions, including the computation of the KCRV and the degrees of equivalence, were based on these ratios. Other than for two participants whose measurement results appeared to suffer
from calculation or preparation errors, all unilateral degrees of equivalence showed that the measured values did not differ significantly from the KCRV. These results were confirmed by a second set of ICP-OES measurements performed by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). CCQM-K143 showed that participants are capable of preparing calibration solutions starting from high purity, assayed copper metal.
Similar steps are involved when preparing solutions for other elements, so it seems safe to infer that similar capabilities should prevail when preparing many different, single-element solutions.
In order to shorten time to market of products and to support new developments, the European Community is funding a HORIZON 2020 project called i-TRIBOMAT. In the field of tribology, renowned institutions combine their testing and analytical capabilities to provide the respective services. The later will be offered in Europe via a Single-Entry Point (SEP). Due to this combination of services, a testbed is created consisting of more than 100 tribometers. Thus, a large variety of testers exists, either commercially available or in-house built. Each tester is optimised to simulate a specific tribological contact situation. Currently, there is no standard available for the design of such testers. Especially, the way forces (normal load, friction force) and distances (e.g. stroke, linear wear) are measured, recorded and pre-processed differs from type to type. These forces and distances are essential for the determination of wear/ wear rates and coefficients of friction (COF), the core results of tribo-tests. This matter is complicated by the fact that e.g. for reciprocating motion, there are at least four different ways to determine COF. Depending on the testing conditions, these ways can lead to considerably different results. Currently, it is not obligatory to specify the method used for determining the COF.
In order to make data comparable, there is a need for measures which ensure that each tribometer is delivering similar, at best the same results under the same test conditions, irrespective of its manufacturer, design, location, determination method and even operator. The way forward are improved Round-Robin tests. First results and other challenges faced by creating comparable tribological data will be considered in the present contribution.