Sequence analysis of the entire 3.5 kb <i>Hind</i>III genomic DNA fragment previously isolated from <i>Nostoc commune</i> UTEX 584 (Defrancesco and Potts 1988), determined the exact locations of the <i>nifU, nifH</i>, and <i>nifD</i> genes and identified two potential stem loop structures, a direct repeat, and an ORF that codes for a protein with a predicted amino acid sequence similar to that of myoglobin from <i>Paramecium caudatum</i>. The <i>N. commune</i> UTEX 584 myoglobin-like protein has a predicted length of 118 amino acids and molecular mass of 12,906 Da. A PCR copy of the gene (<i>glbN</i>) was cloned for overexpression of the protein. The recombinant protein was purified and used for spectral analysis and for the production of polyclonal antisera. Treatment of the recombinant protein with dithionite and CO resulted in spectral shifts characteristic of hemoproteins that bind oxygen. While some of the spectral characteristics are unique to the protein, in general the spectra were more like those of globins than cytochromes. Based on these characteristics and the sequence similarity to the P. caudatum mnyoglobin, we proposed the name cyanoglobin, with the gene designation glbN and the protein designation GlbN. Western analysis of GlbN expression was performed on N. commune UTEX 584 and two species of Anabaena (Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and Anabaena variabilis). In N. commune UTEX 584 a protein with a molecular mass similar to that predicted for GlbN was detected. This protein was produced in increased amounts under the same growth conditions that resulted in increased production of nitrogenase reductase (the nifH gene product). No proteins of similar size to GlbN were detected in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 or A. variabilis. A possible function of GlbN may be for oxygen storage, transport, or protection of the nitrogenase system. These functions as well as those of the direct repeat and the potential stem loop structures and their relationship to nitrogen fixation or other physiological processes in N. commune UTEX 584 require further analysis. / Ph. D.

Fly ash is a lightweight coal combustion by-product (CCB) separated from the exhaust gases of power generating plants using suspension-fired furnaces in which pulverized coal is used as the fuel. Its physical and chemical properties make it useful in construction and industrial materials, especially in cement manufacturing, concrete, liquid waste stabilization, and hydraulic mine backfill. The addition of fly ash into aluminum alloys has the potential to reduce the cost and density of aluminum castings while improving other physical and mechanical properties of the resulting metal matrix composites (MMCs). <p> This study investigated the effect of fly ash addition on the mechanical properties and microstructural behaviour of aluminum casting alloy A535. The unreinforced A535 alloy and its MMCs containing a mixture of 5 wt.% fly ash and 5 wt.% silicon carbide, 10 wt.% fly ash and 15 wt.% fly ash were investigated in the as-cast and solution heat treated conditions. Microhardness measurements, Charpy impact testing, tensile testing, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) were used to evaluate these effects. <p> The results of this study show that increasing the fly ash content of the melt increased the porosity of the castings, which ultimately affected the density, tensile and impact properties of the MMCs. The density, microhardness, tensile strength and Charpy impact energy of the composites decreased with increasing fly ash content. The decline in density of the MMCs was due to extensive porosity developed with fly ash addition. Depletion of solid solution strengthening magnesium in the matrix was the reason observed for the decline in hardness. The loss in Charpy impact energy and tensile properties of the MMCs are also attributed partly to the depletion of solid solution strengthening magnesium atoms from the matrix and partly to porosity. <p> Microstructural studies revealed non-uniform distribution of reinforcement particles in the composites. The fly ash particles were found to congregate at the boundaries of a-aluminium dendrites in the castings. Mg content of A535 alloy decreased with increasing weight fraction of fly ash. Mg was found to be tied up in a complex network of Mg2Si thereby reducing its availability in the matrix for solid solution strengthening.

Fly ash is a lightweight coal combustion by-product (CCB) separated from the exhaust gases of power generating plants using suspension-fired furnaces in which pulverized coal is used as the fuel. Its physical and chemical properties make it useful in construction and industrial materials, especially in cement manufacturing, concrete, liquid waste stabilization, and hydraulic mine backfill. The addition of fly ash into aluminum alloys has the potential to reduce the cost and density of aluminum castings while improving other physical and mechanical properties of the resulting metal matrix composites (MMCs). <p> This study investigated the effect of fly ash addition on the mechanical properties and microstructural behaviour of aluminum casting alloy A535. The unreinforced A535 alloy and its MMCs containing a mixture of 5 wt.% fly ash and 5 wt.% silicon carbide, 10 wt.% fly ash and 15 wt.% fly ash were investigated in the as-cast and solution heat treated conditions. Microhardness measurements, Charpy impact testing, tensile testing, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) were used to evaluate these effects. <p> The results of this study show that increasing the fly ash content of the melt increased the porosity of the castings, which ultimately affected the density, tensile and impact properties of the MMCs. The density, microhardness, tensile strength and Charpy impact energy of the composites decreased with increasing fly ash content. The decline in density of the MMCs was due to extensive porosity developed with fly ash addition. Depletion of solid solution strengthening magnesium in the matrix was the reason observed for the decline in hardness. The loss in Charpy impact energy and tensile properties of the MMCs are also attributed partly to the depletion of solid solution strengthening magnesium atoms from the matrix and partly to porosity. <p> Microstructural studies revealed non-uniform distribution of reinforcement particles in the composites. The fly ash particles were found to congregate at the boundaries of a-aluminium dendrites in the castings. Mg content of A535 alloy decreased with increasing weight fraction of fly ash. Mg was found to be tied up in a complex network of Mg2Si thereby reducing its availability in the matrix for solid solution strengthening.

Aluminum alloys are a suitable substitution for heavy ferrous alloys in automobile structures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the flow stress behavior of as-cast and homogenized A535 aluminum alloy under various deformation conditions. A hot compression test of A535 alloy was performed in the temperature range of 473-673 K (200-400˚C) and strain rate range of 0.005-5 s-1 using a GleebleTM machine. Experimental data were fitted to Arrhenius-type constitutive equations to find material constants such as n, nʹ, β, A and activation energy (Q). Flow stress curves for as-cast and homogenized A535 alloy were predicted using an extended form of the Arrhenius constitutive equations. The dynamic shock load response of the alloy was studied using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test apparatus. The strain rate used ranged from 1400 s-1 to 2400 s-1 for as-cast and homogenized A535 alloy. The microstructures of the deformed specimens under different deformation conditions were analyzed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Obtained true stress-true strain curves at elevated temperatures showed that the flow stress of the alloy increased by increasing the strain rate and decreasing the temperature for both as-cast and homogenized specimens. The homogenization heat treatment showed no effect on the mechanical behavior of the A535 alloy under hot deformation conditions. Hot deformation activation energy for both as-cast and homogenized A535 alloy was calculated to be 193 kJ/mol, which is higher than that for self-diffusion of pure aluminum (142 kJ/mol). The calculated stress values were compared with the measured ones and they showed good agreement by the correlation coefficient (R) of 0.997 and the average absolute relative error (AARE) of 6.5 %. The peak stress and the critical strain at the onset of thermal softening increased with strain rate for both the as-cast and homogenized A535 alloy. Homogenization heat treatment affected the high strain-rate deformation of the alloy, by increasing the peak stress and the thermal softening onset strain compared to those obtained for as-cast specimens. Deformed shear bands (DSBs) were formed in both the as-cast and homogenized A535 alloy in the strain rate range of 2000-2400 s-1.

There is a great need in the transportation industry for high strength, high stiffness and lightweight materials with excellent dimensional stability. The use of these materials reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission as well as malfunctioning of components when subjected to fluctuating temperatures. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are designed to meet these needs of transportation and other industries. However, their use is limited by lack of information on their thermal behaviour. In addition, reactions that occur in MMCs alter their microstructure and properties. These reactions have been widely investigated using X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) and electron microscopy (EM). However, these techniques cannot provide information such as charge transfer and local elemental structures in materials. Synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) could be used to identify reaction products in MMCs as well as provide information which XRD and EM cannot provide.<p> The thermal behaviour of Al-Mg alloy A535 containing fly ash particles as well as charge transfer and reactivity in particulate aluminium alloy metal matrix composites (MMCs) were investigated in this work. The materials studied were (i) Al-Cu-Mg alloy AA2618 and its composites reinforced with 10 and 15 vol.% alumina (Al2O3) particles and (ii) Al-Mg alloy A535 and its composites reinforced with a mixture of 5 wt.% fly ash and 5 wt.% silicon carbide, 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% fly ash. The investigative techniques used included Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA), Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS).<p> The results obtained showed that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of A535 decreased with the addition of fly ash and silicon carbide. Also, the addition of these particles improved the dimensional stability of the alloy in that the residual strain, åp, cycling strain, åc, and CTE decreased. The results obtained from XAS measurements showed evidence of charge redistribution in the aluminium in AA2618 with the addition of alumina particles. The results obtained from XAS measurements showed evidence of charge redistribution in the aluminium in AA2618 with the addition of alumina particles. The addition of alumina particles into AA2618 increased the p-orbital population and also changed the surface chemistry of the matrix. It was also demonstrated that the XAS technique can be used to determine the presence of various oxides in industrial fly ash and spinel (MgAl2O4) in alumina and fly ash particles extracted from the MMCs.

There is a great need in the transportation industry for high strength, high stiffness and lightweight materials with excellent dimensional stability. The use of these materials reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission as well as malfunctioning of components when subjected to fluctuating temperatures. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are designed to meet these needs of transportation and other industries. However, their use is limited by lack of information on their thermal behaviour. In addition, reactions that occur in MMCs alter their microstructure and properties. These reactions have been widely investigated using X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) and electron microscopy (EM). However, these techniques cannot provide information such as charge transfer and local elemental structures in materials. Synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) could be used to identify reaction products in MMCs as well as provide information which XRD and EM cannot provide.<p> The thermal behaviour of Al-Mg alloy A535 containing fly ash particles as well as charge transfer and reactivity in particulate aluminium alloy metal matrix composites (MMCs) were investigated in this work. The materials studied were (i) Al-Cu-Mg alloy AA2618 and its composites reinforced with 10 and 15 vol.% alumina (Al2O3) particles and (ii) Al-Mg alloy A535 and its composites reinforced with a mixture of 5 wt.% fly ash and 5 wt.% silicon carbide, 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% fly ash. The investigative techniques used included Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA), Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS).<p> The results obtained showed that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of A535 decreased with the addition of fly ash and silicon carbide. Also, the addition of these particles improved the dimensional stability of the alloy in that the residual strain, åp, cycling strain, åc, and CTE decreased. The results obtained from XAS measurements showed evidence of charge redistribution in the aluminium in AA2618 with the addition of alumina particles. The results obtained from XAS measurements showed evidence of charge redistribution in the aluminium in AA2618 with the addition of alumina particles. The addition of alumina particles into AA2618 increased the p-orbital population and also changed the surface chemistry of the matrix. It was also demonstrated that the XAS technique can be used to determine the presence of various oxides in industrial fly ash and spinel (MgAl2O4) in alumina and fly ash particles extracted from the MMCs.

The corrosion behaviour of cast Al-Mg alloy A535 and its composites containing 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% fly ash, and 10 wt.% hybrid reinforcement (5 wt.% fly ash + 5 wt.% SiC) was investigated using weight-loss and electrochemical corrosion tests, optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The tests were conducted in fresh water collected from the South Saskatchewan River and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at room temperature. The pH of the salt solution varied from 3 to 9. For comparison, two other aluminum alloys, AA2618 and AA5083-H116, were tested in the same electrolytes. The results of the weight-loss corrosion test showed that unreinforced A535 alloy had a lower corrosion rate in fresh water and seawater environments than the composites at all the tested pH values. The corrosion rate of the composites increased with increasing fly ash content. As expected, the corrosion rates of A535 alloy and the composites tested in fresh water were lower than those in salt solution. The results of the potentiodynamic and cyclic polarization electrochemical tests showed that the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting potential (Epit) of the alloy were more positive than those of the composites. The corrosion and pitting potentials of the composites became more negative (active) with increasing fly ash content. The composites showed more positive (noble) repassivation or protection potential (Erp) than the matrix alloy, with the positivity increasing with fly ash content. Analysis of the electrochemical noise data showed that pitting corrosion was the dominant mode of corrosion for the alloy in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Optical microscopy and SEM revealed that Mg2Si phase and Al-Mg intermetallics corroded preferentially to the matrix. The EDS data indicated that the protective oxide film formed on A535 contained Al2O3 and MgO.

The corrosion behaviour of cast Al-Mg alloy A535 and its composites containing 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% fly ash, and 10 wt.% hybrid reinforcement (5 wt.% fly ash + 5 wt.% SiC) was investigated using weight-loss and electrochemical corrosion tests, optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The tests were conducted in fresh water collected from the South Saskatchewan River and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at room temperature. The pH of the salt solution varied from 3 to 9. For comparison, two other aluminum alloys, AA2618 and AA5083-H116, were tested in the same electrolytes. The results of the weight-loss corrosion test showed that unreinforced A535 alloy had a lower corrosion rate in fresh water and seawater environments than the composites at all the tested pH values. The corrosion rate of the composites increased with increasing fly ash content. As expected, the corrosion rates of A535 alloy and the composites tested in fresh water were lower than those in salt solution. The results of the potentiodynamic and cyclic polarization electrochemical tests showed that the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting potential (Epit) of the alloy were more positive than those of the composites. The corrosion and pitting potentials of the composites became more negative (active) with increasing fly ash content. The composites showed more positive (noble) repassivation or protection potential (Erp) than the matrix alloy, with the positivity increasing with fly ash content. Analysis of the electrochemical noise data showed that pitting corrosion was the dominant mode of corrosion for the alloy in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Optical microscopy and SEM revealed that Mg2Si phase and Al-Mg intermetallics corroded preferentially to the matrix. The EDS data indicated that the protective oxide film formed on A535 contained Al2O3 and MgO.