Sharif Digital Repository

Polymer-clay nanocomposites (PCNs) have received intensive attention in recent years because of their wide domain of applications. The present report provides an approach to calculate the thickness of nanometric interphase region in exfoliated PCNs based on the information about their macroscopic modulus and their nanoclay content. First, the concept of interphase region in PCNs is explained with an “algae explanation”. Then, a series of parametric finite element simulations together with analytical equations are employed to derive an explicit relationship between the interphase thickness and the PCN macroscopic modulus. The obtained analytical model considers the structural impact of the... 

Fe-Ni nano-particles were synthesized by mechanical alloying and subsequent low-temperature hydrogen reduction of oxide mixtures. First, single-phase nickel ferrite was mechanically synthesized for 30 h with steel balls to powder weight ratio of 20 while the milling was operated at 300 rpm. The as-milled powder was then placed in contact with hydrogen at 600 °C for 1 h. Reduction reactions resulted in production of Fe-Ni nano-particles. Phase identification, morphological and microstructural studies, chemical analysis and magnetic property determination were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transition electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive... 

One-dimensional nanostructures of tin oxide nanotubes were fabricated by carbothermal evaporation at 900°C in air. The synthesized film was grown on Au-coated (100) Si substrate. Heterogeneous catalysis by Au/Sn droplets assisted the formation of the tin oxide nanotubes of less than 40 nm diameter at Sn vapor pressures around 1.4×10 -7 Pa. In order to reduce the nanotube diameter further, an increase in the Sn vapor pressure by changing the source materials' ratio seemed viable. © 2009 Springer-Verlag  

Optical fibers, in particular, glass fibers, are mostly used in the field of optical communication, however in recent years new optical sensors based on the optical fibers have been reported in literature and produced commercially. Extrinsic and intrinsic character of the fibers have been implemented in development of such sensing devices. Glass Optical Fibers (GOF) because of low attenuation are more suitable for the optical communication purposes while Plastic Optical Fibers are advantageous for the linking purpose and some sensing operations. Considering this point different (POF) optical fiber sensors have been developed by author to show potential applications of POFs in sensor... 

This article describes the synthesis and swelling properties of a superabsorbing hydrogel composite based on collagen. The composite have been prepared via graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of kaolin powder using methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. The certain variables of the graft copolymerization (i.e. the monomer, the initiator, and the crosslinker concentration as well as kaolin/collagen weight ratio) affected on the ultimate water-swelling capacity were optimized. Evidence of grafting and kaolin interaction was obtained by comparison of FTIR spectra of initial substrates and superabsorbent... 

Global warming persuades researchers to improve the effectiveness of renewable energy technologies, such as H2 production by methane steam reforming (MSR) an endothermic process. Herein, a nanocatalyst based on open-cell nickel foam 40 (pore per inch) with high thermal conductivity was prepared. The nanocatalyst was synthesized with a chemical stepwise synthesis approach, chemical pretreatment, pulsed electrocodeposition of Ni-Al2O3(γ) nanoparticles, and calcination. Measurements of thermal diffusivity(α) with flash xenon technique gained 4.41×10-6 m2s-1 and values of specific heat capacity, Cp, by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal conductivity(λ) enhanced by 65% in... 

NiTiHf thin films with varying hafnium contents up to 28.7at% were fabricated using simultaneous sputter deposition from separate Ni, Ti, and Hf targets onto unheated substrates. The required film composition was achieved by adjusting the power ratio to the targets. The as-deposited films were amorphous; and post deposition annealing was performed at 550°C, slightly above their crystallization temperatures. The crystallization temperature of the films varied as a function of Hf concentration, and was as high as 520°C at a Hf content of 28.7at%. 2μm thick crystallized films with I0at% or greater Hf were martensitic at room temperature. DSC analysis demonstrated that above 10at%Hf additions... 

In the present study, the TiO2 nanotubes were grown on the surface of porous titanium foam by the anodization method. The surface of titanium foam before and after the coating of TiO2 nanotubes was structurally and morphologically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Additionally, the cytocompatibility of TiO2-coated porous titanium foam was evaluated by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The results have shown that the anatase crystalline phase was formed on the surface with a uniform thickness of 2.5 μm. Finally, TiO2-coated porous titanium foam was biocompatible and significantly enhanced the... 

Integrating implants with the surrounding bone tissue is a significant challenge in medical engineering. A promising option with appropriate biological and mechanical characteristics is porous titanium, which can be employed in mineralizing bones and ingrowth applications. In the present study, titanium foams were fabricated using titanium hydride powder and the following space holders: (1) needle-shaped urea, (2) spherical urea, and (3) cubic sodium chloride. All samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical compression testing. Our results revealed that powder metallurgy is suitable for... 

Alkoxides are the most common precursors used for the production of alumina nanopowders. These materials are, however, expensive and corrosive. This paper introduces a new method for the production of alumina nanopowders by rapid cooling of a synthetic caustic sodium aluminate solution (Bayer liquor), followed by calcination in the presence of a surface-stabilizing agent like 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-benzene disulfonic acid disodium salt (Tiron). The powders produced are characterized by differential thermal analysis, XRD, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller. A nanopowder of α-alumina with an average crystallite size of 27.7 nm and an average... 

In this paper, the impact of three parameters including nanoparticles geometry, particles aggregation and borehole inclination on induced formation damage from water based drilling fluids were investigated by means of experimental studies. Accordingly, we designed a dynamic filtration setup capable to rotate and change well inclination. Nano-based drilling fluids consisting of spherical, cubical and tubular shapes nanoparticles as fluid loss additives were used. Mud cake quality, core permeability impairment and degree of formation damage at various well inclinations were examined. The cluster structure of aggregated particles were determined using fractal theory and applying dynamic light... 

During recent years, many investigations have been carried out to determine how to select different materials for the making of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and bio-MEMS. The NiTi shape memory alloy thin film has been much regarded as a promising candidate for MEMS due. to its unique shape memory effect and high energy output. In this research, NiTi thin film was fabricated using a sputtering technique from separate elemental Ni and Ti targets. The characterizations of the deposited films were, investigated using different analysis techniques, such as Field Emission SEM, DSC, XR.D, electrical resistivity measurement and nanoindentation. © Sharif University of Technology, June 2009... 

Hydrolysis kinetics of the lead silicate glass (LSG) with 40 mol% PbO in 0.5 N HNO3 aqueous acid solution was investigated. The surface morphology and the gel layer thickness were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) were used to determine the composition of the gel layer and the aqueous solution, respectively. The silicon content of the dissolution products was determined by using weight-loss data and compositions of the gel layer and the solution. The kinetic parameters were determined using the shrinking-core-model (SCM) for rate controlling step. The activation energy... 

By making aligned and suspended copper nanowires, a high performance, transferable, and flexible transparent electrode is reported. Indium tin oxide is often used in devices such as displays, solar cells, and touchscreens that require transparent and conductive plates. Because of problems such as brittleness, high cost, and environmental effects, this material is facing rivals, the most serious of which are metallic nanowire meshes, especially copper. We developed a simple technique which uses a U-shaped collector in the electrospinning process with three advantages including the enhancement of the figure of merit (which is related to the surface resistance Rs and the transmittance T) by... 

This paper investigates the mixture of hybrid nanofluid (NF) flow between two concentric cylinders numerically. Ethylene glycol (80%) and water (20%) comprise the base fluid. Additionally, copper oxide (CuO) and silver (Ag) NPs are added. The hybrid NF flows between the two coaxial cylinders is studied. The inner cylinder is fixed and the outer cylinder is rotating. A radial magnetic field also affects fluid flow, and joule heating joule heating is also considered. The transformed system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations is solved numerically using the fifth-order Runge-Kutta method. Numerical solutions are obtained for fluid velocity and velocity gradient, fluid temperature and... 

Free Content Selective synthesis of conjugated enynes from α-arylalkynols using LiCl-Acidic Al2O3 under solvent-free conditions  

7H-benzimidazo[2,1-a]benz[de]isoquinolin-7-one compounds were prepared in a selective manner by reaction between o-phenylenediamines and appropriate 1,8-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydrides using acidic alumina under microwave irradiation  

Cordierite monolith were prepared by acid treatment followed by coating of the CNT onto it through the catalytic chemical-vapor deposition. The resulting material was used as support for the HDS catalyst onto which deposited Co and Mo species. These materials were utilized in an HDS reaction in which naphtha was fed into a concurrent fixed-bed of stainless steel reactor with 1cm ID. The CNT-cordierite monolith was stable and effective as catalyst support possessing desirable specific surface area, suitable pore-size distribution, and good attachment of the CNTs onto the substrate. HDS monolithic catalysts with the same significance (i.e.; activity > 90%) as the powder catalysts were... 

In the present study, an acid treatment of the cordierite monolith followed by coating of the CNT onto it by means of catalytic chemical-vapor deposition (CCVD) of methane over CoMo catalyst was performed. The resulting material utilized as the supports for the HDS catalyst onto which was deposited Co and Mo species. The as-prepared samples were characterized by the BET, XRD, FESEM and ICP-MS techniques. BET experiments showed that a significant increase in specific surface area and pore volume was observed, and a suitable pore size distribution was obtained after acid pretreatment. The FESEM images of CNT coated monolith showed that CNTs were distributed uniformly on the surface of monolith...