Sharif Digital Repository

In precipitation hardenable materials, it is desirable to determine the precipitate dissolution temperature for homogenizing the microstructure by controlling the size and distribution of the precipitates. In this research, differential thermal analysis, dilatometry technique, heat treatments followed by microstructure evaluation were used to determine the -γ' dissolution temperature of Nimonic 115. It is assumed that the variation of enthalpy is governed by the changes in y volume fraction and γ concentration with time and temperature, and any contribution of the coarsening of γ' is neglected. The values obtained for the solvus temperature of γ precipitates by the three methods are all in... 

A double-tube vapor phase transport system has been used to grow ZnO nanostructures. Nanopillars, nanorods and nanowires of zinc oxide were synthesized on Au nanoparticle catalyst depending on source-substrate distance and temperature gradient in the quartz tube. In addition, influence of growth time and substrate temperature on the morphology of the nanorods and nanowires were also investigated. The scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to further understand the nanostructures growth mechanism on various temperatures and growth time steps. Longer length (>4μm) with hexagonal-cross-sectional nanowires, in [002]... 

Electrophosphating is the novel method for accelerating the low temperature phosphating bath. This method can be performed as cathodic and anodic treatments. Both of them influence the coating deposition mechanism and therefore coating properties. In this study Zn–Ni electrophosphate coating was applied on galvanized steel using cathodic and anodic electrochemical methods. Microstructure, composition and corrosion resistance of coating were characterized by using a scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction method and potentiodynamic polarization test respectively. The results of this study indicated that, by using cathodic method, compact phosphate coating with high corrosion... 

Electrophosphating is the novel method for accelerating the low temperature phosphating bath. This method can be performed as cathodic and anodic treatments. Both of them influence the coating deposition mechanism and therefore coating properties. In this study Zn-Ni electrophosphate coating was applied on galvanized steel using cathodic and anodic electrochemical methods. Microstructure, composition and corrosion resistance of coating were characterized by using a scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction method and potentiodynamic polarization test respectively. The results of this study indicated that, by using cathodic method, compact phosphate coating with high corrosion... 

In the present study, the wear behaviour of Cu-Al2O3 composites and Cu-Al alloys has been investigated. The experiment involved casting of Cu-Al alloys with 0•37, 1, 2 and 3 wt-% of aluminium under inert gas atmosphere. The composites were produced by internal oxidation of alloys at 950°C for 10 h in presence of Fe2O3 and Al 2O3 powders mixture. The microstructures of composites were studied using SEM and atomic force microscopy. To identify wear behaviour of specimens, dry sliding pin-on-disk wear tests were conducted according to ASTM G99-95a standard. The normal loads of 20, 30, and 40 N were applied on specimens during wear tests. The sliding speed and distances were selected as 0•5 m... 

WO3-TiO2 nano porous layers were synthesized by micro arc oxidation (MAO) process under different applied voltages in electrolytes containing sodium tungstate and phosphate salts with various concentrations. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques were employed to study phase structure and chemical composition of the layers. According to our data analysis, the nano porous layers consisted of anatase, rutile, and tungsten oxide phases with a varying fraction depending on the voltage and electrolyte concentration. Moreover, it was found that WO3 not only dispersed in the TiO2 matrix, but also doped into the TiO2... 

Two-stage chemical deposition (TSCD) technique is used to produce ZnO, Mn2O3 and NiO films on soda-lime glass (SL-G) from an aqueous solution of zinc, manganese and nickel complex, respectively. The TSCD method enables the deposition of metal oxide thin films with a thickness which can be controlled during the preparation procedure. The ZnO, Mn 2O3 and NiO thin films were polycrystalline films which were adherent well to the substrates. The SEM micrographs clearly indicate that the zinc oxide layer is composed of oval shaped crystallites preferably orientated perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The Mn 2O3 and NiO layers were closely packed on the substrate. These particles seem to... 

Density of surface charges of cellulose fibers and -potential of TiO2 nanoparticles in the solution were measured and controlled by pH. The adsorption and clustering of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose fibers were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a scale in different situations of repulsion and attraction between the particles and surface. The experiments show formation of two-dimensional clusters of nanoparticles on the surface. Weight measurement of the adsorbed particles and clusters via the adsorption time results in that there are three stages containing nucleation, two-dimensional growth and saturation for clustering of nanoparticles on the surface.... 

This article deals with the rubber-based friction materials (RBFMs) which can be used in brake system. The physico-mechanical and tribological properties of a series of fiber filled RBFMs containing steel wool and aramid pulp at different concentrations along with a fiber-free reference material were characterized. Rubber-glass transition induced at higher sliding velocities was identified based on the friction fade behavior of the RBFMs. The rubber-glass transition which is inherently originated by viscoelastic response of polymeric binder was found to be influential on the tribological properties of the RBFMs. It was revealed that steel wool increased coefficient of friction (COF) and... 

We decorated Zn-doped TiO2-nanoparticle-based photoanodes with carbon nanotube (CNT)-derived TiO2 nanotubes (TNs) to enhance the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis verified that Zn ions, in the range of 0 to 1 at %, were successfully doped into the TiO2 lattice. Field-emission SEM and TEM images of the TNs, as derived from the sol–gel template-assisted route, revealed that a uniform TiO2 coating with a thickness of 60 to 120 nm was deposited on the surface of the CNT template through a noncovalent route. We observed that the cell efficiency improved from 6.80 for pure TiO2 to 7.52 for 0.75 at % Zn-doped TiO2... 

In this study TiO2 nanotubular fibers were prepared and subsequently loaded with CdS nanoparticles to obtain visible light activate nanofibers with modified structure. Preparation of TiO2 fibers was based on templating method and Liquid phase deposition technique (LPD) with cellulose fibers as templates. Using LPD, thickness of the TiO2 layer could be controlled precisely by adjusting the reaction conditions, therefore after removal of the template, the resulting material has a fibrous structure, mimicking the cellulose fibers shape. CdS nanoparticles were synthesized by thermochemical growth method and attached to TiO2 fibers through impregnation method. The pure composite nanofibers were... 

The transformation of gibbsite to α-alumina occurs in the range 1100 to 1300°C. The higher the calcination temperature, the larger the crystallites and this leads to abnormal grain growth. The main goal of this research was to reduce the transformation temperature of gibbsite to α-alumina by reducing the gibbsite particles size. The sodium content of the gibbsite used in the study was reduced to less than 0.1% by washing it in HCl solution. It was then ground in a fast mill at ambient conditions for different times then calcined at different temperatures. The microstructure, particles size and thermal behaviour of the samples were examined with SEM, XRD, XRF, PSA and STA, respectively. In a... 

The transformation of gibbsite to α-alumina occurs in the range 1100 to 1300°C. The higher the calcination temperature, the larger the crystallites and this leads to abnormal grain growth. The main goal of this research was to reduce the transformation temperature of gibbsite to α-alumina by reducing the gibbsite particles size. The sodium content of the gibbsite used in the study was reduced to less than 0.1% by washing it in HCl solution. It was then ground in a fast mill at ambient conditions for different times then calcined at different temperatures. The microstructure, particles size and thermal behaviour of the samples were examined with SEM, XRD, XRF, PSA and STA, respectively. In a... 

The internal Oxidation introduces a practical method for producing copper matrix composites reinforced by alumina particles. The mechanical and physical properties of alumina reinforced copper composites and alloy specimens were investigated. This experiment involves casting of Cu-Al alloys with 0.37, 1, 2 and 3 weight percent of aluminium in non-oxidizing atmosphere with pure oxygen free copper. The composite specimens produced after internal oxidation process at 950°C for 10 hours in sealed alumina crucible. The microstructures of composite specimens were studied after internal oxidation using SEM and AFM. The hardness and electrical resistivity tests were measured. The wear properties of... 

Roll bonding is the most important stage of the accumulative roll bonding process, which is used to produce high strength composites. The presence of a particle layer at the interface alters the bonding condition and increases the threshold reduction for the commencement of bonding. In this study, the bonding mechanism in presence of powder at the interface is analyzed and a theoretical model is proposed to predict the required threshold reduction in warm roll bonding of commercially pure aluminum sheets as a function of amount of alumina particles at the interface. The model considers the rolling parameters and the effect of amount and size of particles by defining some constants, which are... 

The study intends to examine the role of financial literacy in sustainable performance of SME’s in Saudi Arabia, with the moderating effect of entrepreneurial resilience. The data for this study were gathered from 203 different SME’s sector entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia using a convenience sampling technique. The hypothesis was tested through Smart-PLS software 3.3.9 version and structural equation modeling technique was used to verify the hypothesis relationships. The findings show that financial literacy has a significant and positive impact on sustainable performance. Moreover, results indicate that entrepreneurial resilience has a significant and positive effect on sustainable... 

The literature on technological capabilities has highlighted the effects of innovation on economic growth. However, further analysis is required to determine how innovation factors affect the technological catch-up process outputs. The main purpose of the present study is therefore to determine the impacts of innovation-building factors (i.e., technological and social capabilities) on the innovation outputs. The role of market and innovation financing in technological catch-up has also been investigated. Partial least squares structural equation modeling has been employed to identify which factors have the most significant effects on this process. We have extracted twelve hypotheses from the... 

The effects of SiO 2 and K 2O were investigated on the glass forming ability (GFA) and structural characteristics of CaOTiO 2P 2O 5 system. Differential thermal analyzer (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and 31P magic angle spinning NMR methods were applied for characterizations of the system. Unwanted crystallization in the initial three components base glass composition was observed by adding SiO 2 and crystalline phases such as TiP 2O 7, rutile (TiO 2) and cristobalite (SiO 2) were formed in it. The results showed that K 2O prevents crystallization of glasses and promotes the formation of glass. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction showed that the addition... 

Considerable researches have been focused on zinc-iron (Zn-Fe) alloy coatings due to their superior characteristics among zinc alloy electrodeposits in recent years. The corrosion behavior of these coatings depends on the phase structure and morphology of the Zn-Fe deposits. In this work the effects of pulse plating variables such as current density, off-time, frequency and pulse modes on the morphology and phase structure of Zn-Fe deposits was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analysis. The corrosion behavior of these coatings was measured by means of polarization curves and Neutral salt spray tests. It was shown...