Papers by Keyword: SEM Observation

Abstract: The screw press is a type of machine press used for extracting crude palm oil from the oil palm’s mesocarp, where its short driveshaft, a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, is often found to be susceptible to failure. Since the initial damage to the short driveshafts in the shaft keyway area is associated with the frequent incidence of shaft failure, this research aimed to discover the root cause of this failure and how to prevent it using visual inspection and stress analysis methods as well as those of the fractography, metallography, chemical composition, and hardness tests. Using the descriptive method to analyse the collected data, the visual inspection and the fractography results of the research indicated that the fatigue crack failure of the short drive shaft in the palm oil screw press machine was caused by the fatigue crack initiation that was safe from stress concentration in its keyway areas. This crack initiation was followed by crack propagation as indicated in beach mark forms. Finally, the ductile fracture observed on the shaft surface was found to have resulted from the continuous rotational motion and the loading and unloading effect of the central shaft driving system.

Abstract: Porous polymeric membranes are used for ion exchange membranes, membrane filter and separators of batteries owing to its micro-porous structure. Extension method is one of the inexpensive processes of such membrane. However, any suitable stability condition of the process has not yet been clarified. In this study, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) observations in production process are carried out and the simulation technology for production is developed for improvement in productivity. In this simulation model, the evolution equation of microscopic damage, constitutive equation depending on microscopic damage and the homogenization method are used for representation of evolution of micro-porous structure of crystalline polymer. It is indicated that numerical results obtained here are in good agreement with the SEM observations.

Abstract: The work we have undertaken consists of preparing nanocrystalline Fe₄₀Co₆₀ powders by the Mechanical Alloying (MA) route. Characterization of obtained powders was applied on two steps. First, structural properties were investigated. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the formation of a disordered α (Fe₄₀Co₆₀) solid solution with a bcc lattice after 60h milling. By the Halder-Wagner approach lattice size, average grain size and residual strain were fixed. The morphology of milled powders was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Then bulk specimens were prepared by cold compaction for microwave measurements. Microwave dielectric permittivity and conductivity were determined using cavity perturbation technique. Microwave absorbing characteristic was measured according to line transmission method. Results obtained confirm that the developed structure after milling is the main factor that influences the microwave properties of nanocrystalline Fe₄₀Co₆₀ powders compared to elemental Fe.

Abstract: The microstructure of sodium or potassium added Mg-23.5 mass%Ni eutectic alloy was observed and the effect of sodium and potassium addition on the eutectic structure was investigated. All alloys showed the eutectic structure which composed of Mg phase and Mg₂Ni phase, and no evidence of the sodium or potassium precipitation occurred. For the sodium added and furnace cooled alloy, the lamellar spacing in the eutectic structure became a little narrow and the Mg₂Ni phase tends to become fragmentary as the amount of sodium increases. The sodium addition has a little effect for the refinement of the eutectic structure. For the potassium added and furnace cooled alloy, the lamellar spacing of the eutectic structure became clearly narrow even by the 0.1 mass% potassium additions. The morphology drastically varied in more than 0.5 mass% potassium added specimens, that is, the refinement and fragmentation of the Mg₂Ni phase occurred. The potassium addition has a large effect for the refinement and the fragmentation of the Mg₂Ni phase in the eutectic structure. For the water quenched specimens, the eutectic structure was extremely fine and globular shape with and without the additive element. The refinement effect by the water quenching is remarkably high even as the non-added specimen. The effect of sodium and potassium addition on the refinement of eutectic structure is not clear in the case of the rapid cooling speed during solidification.

Abstract: Erbium oxide (Er₂O₃) was shown to be a high potential candidate for tritium penetration barrier and electrical insulator coating for advanced breeding blanket systems such as liquid Li, Li-Pb or molten-salt blankets. Recently, Hishinuma et. al. succeeded to form Er₂O₃ coating layer on large interior surface area of metal pipe using Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) process. In this work, Er₂O₃ coating layer of hydrogen penetration control on stainless steel 316 (SUS 316) substrate have been investigated to the effect of hydrogen penetration and using SEM, TEM and SAED patterns. Er₂O₃ coating layer of before hydrogen penetration was granular structures from SEM observation. Er₂O₃ coating layer was columnar grains from TEM observation. TEM image and SAED patterns obtained from Er oxide film can be understood that the growth direction of Er₂O₃ film was [110].

Abstract: This study investigates the properties of cement-based composites with addition of various recycled rock wools and compare with the properties of composites containing fly ash and ggbs. The use of recycled rock wool is with a cylindrical and fiber-shape particle less than 75 μm. Based on the chemical composition and particle size distribution, the material properties of recycled rock wool are similar to other pozzolanic materials such as fly ash and ggbs and can be use a supplementary cementitious material. The experimental results show that partially replacing cement with recycled rock wool improves the compressive strength and porestructure, but reduce the flow spread at the high level replacement. Therefore, the test results indicate that recycled rock wool is an effective mineral admixture, with 10 % to 30 % as suitable replacement ratio of cement for the difference water/cementitious ratios.

Abstract: Chitin is a polysaccharide abundant in nature. Its’ deacetylation product-chitosan- in combination with gelatin (collagen product) is commonly used as biopolymer scaffold for tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to investigate diffrerences in surface characteristics of chitin (CHN CCS) and chitosan –gelatin (CHS-G CCS) composite ceramic scaffolds (CCS), during their incubation in culture medium (DMEM) with or without human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF). CHN CCS and CHS- G CCS, with pore size 70-200μm, were fabricated on the surface of ceramic disks, being coated with a mixture of bioactive glass – ceramic (1:1 wt). Three CCSs of each type were constructed. Each CCS was incubated at 37 °C up to 10 days, either only in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS or in DMEM with the presence of 10⁵ HPDLF. SEM microphotographs and EDS analysis, before and after incubation, were used to investigate CCSs’ surface alterations. Before incubation, all type of CCSs appeared to be macro porous with high interconnectivity. Exposed to incubation, CHN CCSs’ surface porosity seemed to be rapidly reduced and a rough surface without pores was observed with or without HPDLF. Attached HPDLF were rarely detected. CHS-G CCSs appeared to retain surface porosity in DMEM without cells. In HPDLF culture an almost uniform surface with organic aggregates and attached cells was observed. Until day 10, HPDLF could only be detected at CHS-G CCS’s surface. Conclusion: SEM microphotographs observations indicate that CHN CCSs’ incubation in DMEM led in early and rapid coalescence of surface pores, thus inhibiting HPDLF attachment. HPDLF attachment on CHS-G CCSs confirm the beneficial role of gelatin, while differences in CHS-G CCSs’ surface with and without HPDLF culture indicate that not only sedimentation of medium's ingredients, but cell attachment and function could decrease surface’s porosity, affecting consequently HPDLF proliferation.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to experimentally investigate the effect of reinforced SiC particles on the machining of Aluminum/SiC composite (15% volume ratio of SiC particles with average grain size 15m). Aluminum/SiC composite and aluminum metal were milled by a tungsten carbide endmill in this study. Based on the surface observation and surface roughness inspection, it is found that the machining parameters of Aluminum/SiC composite have optimum values, and that the surface roughness of aluminum/SiC composite is smaller than that of aluminum metal. when feedrate and depth of cut are smaller than limited values, satisfactory surface finish can be attainable, however, as the depth of cut and feedrate increases, the microcracks are first initiated at the interface of SiC particles and aluminum matrix, and then periodically macrocracks are formed on the machined surface, The damage mechanism during the machining of aluminum/SiC are discussed in this paper.

Abstract: The pitting corrosion behavior of sintered SUS 444 stainless steels (P/M specimens) with different kinds of porosity ratios of 13.3, 9.11 and 6.88 % was studied in an aqueous solution containing MgCl2 compared with a conventionally processed SUS 444 stainless steel(I/M specimen). The pitting corrosion potential decreased almost linearly as porosity ratio increased, and the I/M specimen showed the best resistance against the initiation of pitting corrosion. The pitting corrosion morphology by SEM observation showed that more small pits were observed on the specimen with larger porosity ratio while less number but larger diameter pits were observed on the specimen with smaller porosity ratio, and it was also confirmed that the I/M specimen had the least number but the largest and deepest pits.

Abstract: Anodizing is widely used in the surface treatment of aluminium alloys in order to preserve the integrity of the alloy surface, to minimize the need for maintenance and repair, and to maximize the component life. The aim of this work is to study the influence heat treatments (T5 and T6) have on the anodization of A357 aluminium alloy produced by a Thixocasting process. In particular the effect of shape, size and distribution of silicon and intermetallic phases on the anodic oxide film formation. SEM and EDS analyses were used to examine the microstructural features found on, within and under the anodic oxide layer. Experiments using a tribometer (pin-on-disc tests) were performed in order to evaluate the friction and wear properties of the different layers.