Sharif Digital Repository

To enhance hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity, N-doped and N–V-codoped TiO2films were coated on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip-coating method. The substrates were previously coated with SiO2using the same method. The coated samples, after annealing at 450 °C for 30 min in air, were analyzed by an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and UV–visible spectroscope. The SiO2/N–V-codoped TiO2photocatalyst showed a narrower band gap (2.93 eV) compared to the SiO2/N-doped. Degradation tests, methyl orange under UV light and stearic acid under visible light, were performed in order to evaluate... 

The probability of occurrence of random cavities' resonance frequency in the Stokes bandwidth of the Raman active medium can cause Raman laser oscillation in the random structures. Due to the small bandwidth of Raman line shape, the probability of the simultaneous appearance of random cavity resonance frequencies in the cascade Stokes line shapes is small. As a result, the cascade Raman laser oscillation effects on the saturation behavior are negligible. The nonlinear transmission matrix method is employed to determine the statistical behavior of a Raman random laser. Our results showed that the statistical behavior depends on the position of the Stokes line shape relative to the center of... 

Addition of spinel (MgAl2O4) to Al2O3-ZrO2 composite inhibits alumina grain growth and produces phase boundaries that leads to formation of a ceramic matrix composite with special mechanical properties such as high temperature superplastic deformation. However, the room temperature mechanical properties of Alumina-zirconia-magnesia spinel composite (AZM) such as fracture toughness were rarely investigated by researchers. In this research the AZM nanocomposite powders were synthesized via the solution combustion method. The dense AZM composite samples were fabricated through gelcasting process. Phase analysis studies were performed on both powder and sintered samples and the effects of spinel... 

In an attempt to reduce the oxidation and Cr evaporation rates, various protective coating layers with a nominal composition of NiCo 2-xFexO4 (x = 0, 0.5, 1) were deposited on the SUS 430 ferritic stainless steel substrate, as interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell application, by sol-gel dip coating method. Then, the coated samples were soaked at 750 C for 2.5 h in N2 and subsequently for 2.5 h in air. Phase composition and microstructure of the coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, long-term isothermal oxidation experiment and area specific resistance (ASR) measurement were also carried out on the coated samples. Results... 

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is an electrokinetic phenomenon which is used for manipulating micro- and nanoparticles in micron-sized devices with high sensitivity. In recent years, electrode-based DEP by patterning narrow oblique electrodes in microchannels has been used for particle manipulation. In this theoretic study, a microchannel with triangular electrodes is presented and a detailed comparison with oblique electrodes is made. For each shape, the behavior of particles is compared for three different configurations of applied voltages. Electric field, resultant DEP force, and particle trajectories for configurations are computed by means of Rayan native code. The separation efficiency of... 

To enhance hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity, N-doped and N-V-codoped TiO2 films were coated on glass substrates by the sol-gel dip-coating method. The substrates were previously coated with SiO2 using the same method. The coated samples, after annealing at 450 °C for 30 min in air, were analyzed by an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and UV-visible spectroscope. The SiO2/N-V-codoped TiO2 photocatalyst showed a narrower band gap (2.93 eV) compared to the SiO2/N-doped. Degradation tests, methyl orange under UV light and stearic acid... 

Gelcasting is a novel forming method in fabricating complex three dimensional ceramic parts, and has many parameters and characteristics required to be specified. Up to now, few articles have been published on determination of the idle time of gelation precisely. In this work the chemorheology of gelation in aqueous solution of acrylamide and N, N′ methylenebisacrylamide monomer, and zirconia (PSZ) suspensions of this solution was investigated. As the viscosity of gel system increases abruptly in gelation point, idle time can be determined precisely by measurement of viscosity against time. Idle time can also be determined through temperature measurement against time since the reaction of... 

Depending on the type of dopant metal, many kinds of zircon based pigments are produced and blue vanadium pigment is the most important one of them. In this study, blue zircon ceramic pigments were synthesized from intermediate product, resulting from decomposition of zircon sand with NaOH. In this regard, various amounts of sulfuric acid, water, NH4VO3 as colorant, NaF as mineralizer and extra quartz were added to the prepared Na 2ZrSiO5. Role of quartz was to omit the repercussions of presence of free zirconia in the composition. The main objective of this work is to assess various reactions at different temperatures during blue pigment synthesis. Phase analysis was done by X ray... 

In the present study, plasma electrolytic oxidation process was carried out on aluminised steel with a pulsed bipolar electrical source at different frequencies, namely, 50, 300, 600 and 1500 Hz with constant 50% duty cycle for 10 min in an alkaline silicate electrolyte. Morphology, wear behaviour and corrosion resistance of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, pin on disc and potentiodynamic polarisation experiment in 3·5 wt-%NaCl solution. The results showed that with increasing the pulse frequency, the density of the residual pores increases, but their size as well as the coating thickness decreases. The corrosion current density of the coating processed at 1500... 

Gelcasting, as a ceramic forming technique, is getting worldwide attention, in that it can be used to make high-quality, complex-shaped ceramic parts with a wide range of powders. However, a model, which can appropriately describe the shear rate dependence behavior of the slurry in casting process simulation, is limited. Therefore, this study mainly sought to investigate the best model representing the behavior of as-prepared gelcast slurry. A premix solution was prepared with monomer/cross linker of AM/MBAM with ratio of 25:1. In this procedure, ammonium polyacrylate sodium (NHPANa) was used as the dispersant and the solid load included Al2O3/20 vol% ZrO2 powder mixture. Series of slurries... 

Addition of fine zirconia particles in the alumina matrix in order to produce ZTA composite is a well-known method for improving the mechanical properties of alumina ceramics such as flexural strength and fracture toughness. Increasing homogeneity and reducing alumina grain size are two key factors for achieving proper mechanical properties in this ceramic matrix composite. In this work two batches of ZTA powder precursor were prepared through mixing of alumina and zirconia by ball milling and in situ synthesis of ZTA composite via solution combustion method. The bending strength testing samples were fabricated through gel-casting process. The effects of different powder processing methods... 

Uniform nanostructure anatase films were coated on 316L stainless steel by the sol-gel dip coating method. Sols with different values of pH were applied. The corrosion protective behavior of coated samples was investigated by electrochemical measurements in 0.5 molar NaCl solutions on samples placed under UV illumination and dark condition using Tafel curves. It was found that in addition to acting as a physical barrier, anatase thin films are more protective under UV illumination due to photocathodic protection. Neutral sols give better protection due to formation of more uniform and less defective coatings  

In order to perform the drug delivery via lung, tracking the trajectories of fine inhaled particles in the acinar airways is of high importance. The causes of irreversibility in the motion of fine particles (0.1 - 1 micron) and chaotic flow deep in the acinar region of lung has been always under investigation. In this study we demonstrate the importance of geometric hystersis and asynchrony of lung deformation on the issue. We adapted a 2D axisymmetric geometry of alveolated duct from recent relative works and deformed it in a way that some hystersis would appear in a respiration period. The overall deformation of duct was corresponding to the transpulmonary pressure of lung reported in... 

Electro-deposition process is one of the main steps in the LIGA procedure to fabricate microstructures. In this paper, one-dimensional modeling of Nickel electro-deposition process is implemented on Rayan and developed for simulation of time-dependence diffusion and migration of charge species with reduction reactions on the cathode surface. This model is proposed by considering governing equations on electro-kinetic phenomena consist of Nernst-Plank equation and Poisson's equation of electric potential. Transport of ions toward the cathode is considered based on the effect of convection, reaction rate, diffusion and migration. The numerical results cover two series of data consisting of... 

Size distribution of aerosol particles is prevalently obtained through electrical characterization techniques and study of charged particles' dynamics in the presence of electric field. In this work, a wire-cylinder corona charger is presented, redesigned, and aero dynamically optimized. An initial 2D axisymmetric geometry of the charger was employed for the simulations using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) commercial code FLUENT 6.3.26. Through successive attempts, a new geometry was obtained by streamlining the walls to eliminate the undesired vortices produced in the flow field of the previous ones. The process optimized the charger by minimizing losses and dilutions of the... 

Micro-mixers are considered as vital components of Micro Total Analysis systems (μTAS). Major objective in the design of micro-mixers is achieving high mixing quality in short mixing times. In this paper, numerical simulation of some micro-mixer designs has been carried out to understand the detailed flow pattern and thereby to propose modifications for improving mixing efficiency. It is well known that inducing convection will provide turbulent like behavior with corresponding mixing enhancement. In micro systems to drive the flow, electro-osmotic force is usually used by introducing electrodes. In this work, mixing electrodes have been implemented to induce convection and eddies. This... 

A red pigment has been prepared by substituting chromium ions in aluminum ion sites in YAlO3 perovskite structure. In a first step, effect of various mineralizers on YAlO3 formation has been investigated, which resulted in decrease of formation temperature down to 1400 °C. In the next step, a red pigment corresponding to YAl1-yCryO3 (y = 0.05), has been prepared by heating a mixture containing Y2O3, Al2O3 and Cr2O3 at 1500 °C for 6 h. Later, effect of the doped chromium amount on the pigment redness (a*) has been studied. The highest redness has been obtained when y was 0.04(YAl1-yCryO3). Application of the prepared red pigment in low and high temperature glazes, demonstrated its high... 

This research focused on fabrication of various carbon nanofibers (CNFs) from electrospun Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by utilization of iodine (I2) and cadmium acetate dihydrate (Cd) as stabilizers. Moreover, the influence of carbon nanotube (CNT) incorporation on structure and morphology of CNFs was investigated. In this regard, PVA and PVA-Cd solutions were individually prepared and electrospun. The resulting nanofibers were treated in I2 vapor and then carbonized. In the case of CNT incorporation, oxidized CNTs were first scattered in PVA and PVA-Cd solutions and then electrospun, iodinated and carbonized in the same conditions as mentioned above. It was found that the I2, Cd and their... 

TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal assisted sol-gel technique. The preparation parameters including pH value, the amount of water, titanium tetra isopropoxide content, temperature and time of hydrothermal process were investigated by Taguchi statistical experiments to determine the influence of synthesizing variables on the optimal conditions and to realize the highest degree of crystallinity or smallest crystallite size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and direct band gap energy (Eg) values, measured via diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), proved that all the samples consist of anatase as a unique phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and specific surface area... 

Alumina-silicate composite coatings were formed on titanium substrate by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process using a silicate-based electrolyte containing alumina nanoparticles. Microstructure, chemical and phase compositions, and thickness of the coatings were investigated to determine, coating mechanism and probable reactions during the process. The effect of processing time on corrosion resistance of the coatings was investigated using the potentiodynamic polarization test. Barrier layer (TiO2) formation, micro arcs occurrence, and electrolyte ionization were the main stages of PEO coating growth process. Alumina nanoparticles were incorporated into the coating by cataphoretic and...