Two lipid-based edible coatings, Apex B (AC Humko, Memphis, TN) and Durafresh (Pacrite, Ecoscience Produce Systems, Orlando, Fl) were evaluated for their ability to preserve post harvest quality changes in green bell peppers (Capsicum annum L. cv. King Arthur). Post harvest storage quality conditions tested included respiration rates, weight, color and texture changes, and stability of ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) content. Results indicated that no appreciable changes between days or treatment groups occurred in three of the parameters tested: weight, texture, and hue angle (p>0.05 for all parameters). Significant weekly changes were seen in respiration rates, dehydroascorbic acid content, and chromaticity values. Respiration rates and DHA were significantly higher during the last two weeks of the study (p=0.0001, p=0.0001 respectively). Chromaticity values were significantly lower, indicating a more faded color on the 14th day of the study alone (p=0.0097). Initial AA levels were much lower than expected (average initial content=78.72mg/100g). Significant differences between coated and uncoated pepper groups were seen in AA and DHA levels. AA content was found to be significantly lower in coated peppers (p=0.0279), while DHA levels were significantly higher in coated groups (p=0.0126). Overall, coated groups differed little from uncoated counterparts, except in the area of vitamin content in which the coated peppers showed an increase in vitamin breakdown. Despite the results, modifications of lipid coatings are needed, such as creating bilayer and composite coatings that contain either polysaccharide or protein constituents to enhance coating effectiveness. / Master of Science

The main purpose of this research is to determine if polymer films can prevent fretting between two metals, and if they can, what the protection mechanisms are. This research is a part of fretting corrosion studies currently funded by the Army Research Office. Four thermoplastic polymers were tested for their effectiveness. Two other independent variables were also tested: plate hardness and plate roughness. A ball-on-plate device was built to approximate point sliding at the fretting corrosion interface. The tribometer has two experimental positions that are electrically insulated from the rest of the apparatus so that an electrical circuit could be used to monitor metal-to-metal contact. All experiments were run with 52100 steel balls, 1040 steel plates, a normal load of 45 N (10 lbf), an amplitude of .33 mm (.013 in.) and a frequency of 20 Hz. PVC films were found to prevent fretting and metallic contact for 40 minutes. An electrochemical fretting corrosion mechanism has been suggested to explain this behavior. PTFE, LDPE, and PSF films could all produce fretting corrosion while preventing metal-to-metal contact for 40 minutes. Plate hardness and plate roughness had no statistical significance on the measured minimum fretting friction force. / M.S.

En la industria citrícola, las pérdidas económicas más importantes en poscosecha se deben las podredumbres verde y azul, causadas por los hongos Penicillium digitatum (Pers.:Fr.) Sacc. y Penicillium italicum Wehmer. Durante muchos años, se utilizaron ampliamente los fungicidas químicos para el control de estas enfermedades. Sin embargo, la preocupación de los consumidores por el uso excesivo y prolongado de estos productos para el control de las podredumbres ha orientado a los investigadores a buscar métodos alternativos no contaminantes que no depositen residuos peligrosos ni contaminen el ambiente. El uso de películas y recubrimientos comestibles es un método respetuoso con el ambiente que incrementa la vida útil de muchos alimentos incluidas las frutas y verduras. Sin embargo, muy poca investigación se ha enfocado al desarrollo de recubrimientos comestibles compuestos con la adición de compuestos antifúngicos como un nuevo método para controlar las enfermedades poscosecha en frutos cítricos frescos. El objetivo general de esta tesis doctoral fue desarrollar nuevos recubrimientos comestibles compuestos con la adición de aditivos alimentarios antifúngicos para el control de las podredumbres verde y azul en cultivares de cítricos comercialmente importantes. Primero, se desarrollaron las nuevas películas comestibles compuestas en base a hidroxipropil metilcelulosa (HPMC)-lípido con la adición de aditivos alimentarios o compuestos generalmente reconocidos como seguros (GRAS, por sus siglas en inglés), y se seleccionaron de acuerdo a su capacidad de formar emulsiones estables. Las películas se evaluaron por su actividad in vitro contra P. digitatum y P. italicum y sus propiedades mecánicas y de barrera (Capítulo 1). Luego, las emulsiones seleccionadas se usaron para pruebas in vivo en especies y cultivares de cítricos comercialmente importantes y se determinó su actividad antifúngica curativa (fruta recubierta después de la inoculación) y preventiva (fruta recubierta antes de la inoculación fungíca) contra las podredumbres verde y azul (Capítulo 2). / Valencia Chamorro, SA. (2009). Desarrollo de recubrimientos comestibles con actividad antifúngica en frutos cítricos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/6286

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) has the potential for use in various high-performance applications. However, surface defects such as voids/pits are commonly present on as processed Si₃N₄. When subjected to external forces, fracture originates at such flaws. To reduce or eliminate surface flaws, machining operations are required which constitute a major proportion of production costs. In order to offer an inexpensive alternative to machining and also to enhance the room temperature flexural strength of as fired Si₃N₄, low expansion glaze coatings of lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) and magnesium aluminosilicate (MAS) compositions were developed. Homogeneous and crack-free glaze coatings were successfully formed on as processed Si₃N₄. This ensured formation of compressive surface stresses on the as fired Si₃N₄ which, in turn, led to the reduction of the effects of surface flaws. When compared to the uncoated as fired Si₃N₄, both the glaze coatings helped achieve greater flexural strength. Analyses of the two glazes indicated better strength for the MAS coating compared to the LAS. Wear tests revealed that the MAS glaze exhibited higher wear resistance than the LAS glaze. These differences were attributed to the ability of the magnesium aluminosilicate glaze to achieve greater surface smoothness and better adherence to the substrate than the lithium aluminosilicate. / Master of Science

No / This paper investigates the sliding wear performance of two types of co-electrodeposited cermet coatings com- posed of nano-sized tungsten carbide (WC) and combined tungsten carbide and alumina (Al2O3) particles incor- porated in a nickel matrix. For this purpose, the effects of alternating the ceramic particle concentration in the electrolyte solutions on microhardness of the coatings and also the effect of applied loads on wear performance of the coatings have been studied using ball-on-flat sliding wear tests. The wear track volumes and the progres- sion of wear depths as a function of time and at three applied loads were recorded and wear track morphologies were investigated using FE-SEM and microhardness testing. The results showed that microstructure, microhard- ness and wear performance of the coatings composed of WC improved when Al2O3 particles were introduced into the matrix. It was also found that the rule of mixtures for composite materials provides a good explanation for microhardness behaviour while Archard equation can explain the changes in wear performance due to the hardness and microstructural changes. / Alberta Innovates Future Technologies (Nanoworks) Canada

No description available.

The viscoelastic response of polymer-based composite laminates, which may take years to develop in service, must be anticipated and accommodated at the design stage. Accelerated testing is therefore required to allow long-term compliance predictions for composite laminates of arbitrary layup, based solely upon short-term tests. In this study, an accelerated viscoelastic characterization scheme is applied to T300/5208 graphiteepoxy laminates. The viscoelastic response of unidirectional specimens is modeled using the theory developed by Schapery. The transient component of the viscoelastic creep compliance is assumed to follow a power law approximation. A recursive relationship is developed, based upon the Schapery single-integral equation, which allows approximation of a continuous time-varying uniaxial load using discrete steps in stress. The viscoelastic response of T300/5208 graphite-epoxy at 149C to transverse normal and shear stresses is determined using 90-deg and 10-deg off-axis tensile specimens, respectively. parameters In each case the seven viscoelastic material required in the analysis are determined experimentally, using a short-term creep/creep recovery testing cycle. A sensitivity analysis is used to select the appropriate short-term test cycle. It is shown that an accurate measure of the power law exponent is crucial for accurate long-term predictions, and that the calculated value of the power law exponent is very sensitive to slight experimental error in recovery data. Based upon this analysis, a 480/120 minute creep/creep recovery test cycle is selected, and the power law exponent is calculated using creep data. A short-term test cycle selection procedure is proposed, which should provide useful guidelines when other viscoelastic materials are being evaluated. Results from the short-term tests on unidirectional specimens are combined using classical lamination theory to provide long-term predictions for symmetric composite laminates. Experimental measurement of the long-term creep compliance at 149C of two distinct T300/5208 laminates is obtained. A reasonable comparison between theory and experiment is observed at time up to 10 5 minutes. Discrepancies which do exist are believed to be due to an insufficient modeling of biaxial stress interactions, to the accumulation of damage in the form of matrix cracks or voids, and/or to interlaminar shear deformations which may occur due to viscoelastic effects or damage accumulation. / Doctor of Philosophy

Neutralization by limestone is a common treatment for acid mine drainage (AMD). The effectiveness of using limestone to treat AMD can be reduced by aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxyhydroxide coatings that form on the limestone, because the coatings inhibit the transport, and thus neutralization, of hydrogen ions (H+) derived from acid mine drainage. I used mixed flow reactor experiments to investigate the effect of Al coatings on the diffusion of H+ to the surface of limestone and to quantify how those Al coatings affect the limestone dissolution rate. Experiments used acidic Al sulfate solutions with initial Al concentrations ranging from 0.002 M to 0.01 M (32 to 329 ppm) and pH values ranging from 3.7 to 4.2, which are typical of conditions found at AMD sites. Cleaved pieces of Iceland spar calcite were used as a proxy for limestone. The pH was measured in the effluent to determine the rate of H+ consumption. Effluent solutions were analyzed for Al, calcium (Ca) and sulfur (S) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Examination of the precipitated coatings using x-ray diffraction indicated that amorphous poorly crystalline gibbsite is the primary Al coating but scanning electron microscope analysis also suggests the possible presence of a poorly crystalline sulfur containing phase, such as hydrobasaluminite. The experimental data were used to calculate the diffusion coefficient of H+ through the Al coatings. The calculated diffusion coefficient for H+, assuming a gibbsite and/or hydrobasaluminite layer, ranged between 10-13 to 10-11 m2/sec, that are significantly lower than in pure water. / Master of Science / Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic discharge characterized by low pH and high concentrations of toxic metals that can have an impact on the aquatic environments. A common treatment method for AMD is the use of limestone drains to neutralize the pH. However, the neutralization capacity of limestone drains can be reduced by coatings of aluminum (Al) that form on the limestone during treatment. I used mixed flow reactor experiments to investigate the effect of Al coatings on the diffusion of H⁺ to the surface of limestone and to quantify how those Al coatings affect the limestone dissolution rate. I measured pH in the effluent to determine the rate of H⁺ consumption during the reaction of the solutions with calcite. I also analyzed effluent solutions for Al, Ca and S concentrations. Examination of the produced coatings with x-ray diffraction suggests amorphous poorly crystalline gibbsite as the primary Al coating but scanning electron microscope analysis also suggests the presence of poorly crystalline hydrobasaluminite, a sulfur-bearing phase. The experimental results were used to model the decline in the limestone neutralization rate as the coatings grow thicker over time under different pH conditions and Al concentrations similar to those found in AMD. Finally, the diffusion coefficient for H⁺ , assuming a gibbsite and/or hydrobasaluminite layer, ranged between 10⁻¹³ to 10⁻¹¹ m²/sec, which is orders of magnitude smaller than the diffusion coefficient in pure water.

The rise of Zn-coatings on direct press hardened steels for body-in-white passenger safety applications over the widely used Al-Si coatings is due to its lower cost, compatibility with Zn-based paint systems, and offers sacrificial cathodic protection in addition to barrier protection. Manufacturing the complexly-shaped high strength automotive parts using the direct hot press forming method (DHPF) transforms the Zn-based coating into a mixture of Γ-Fe3Zn10 and α-Fe(Zn). Previous literature has determined that a minimum of 15 vol% Γ-Fe3Zn10 is required within the coating to provide robust cathodic protection of the steel substrate. This assumed the mixed potential theory is valid for modeling the electrochemical properties of the mixed phase coating; however, the interwoven coating phase morphology results in varying volume fractions of Γ-Fe3Zn10 and α-Fe(Zn). Potentiodynamic polarization scans of GI70 coated 22MnB5 steel annealed at 890°C for various annealing times revealed that Γ-Fe3Zn10 + α-Fe(Zn) coatings with at least 11 vol% Γ-Fe3Zn10 exhibit electrochemical properties insignificantly different from those comprising pure Γ-Fe3Zn10, and behaves similarly to pure α-Fe(Zn) for coatings with less than 11 vol% indicating that the Γ-Fe3Zn10 + α-Fe(Zn) coatings behave as a homogeneous single phase, thus validating the use of the mixed potential theory. Scanning vibrating electrode technique analysis of various galvanic couples determined that Γ-Fe3Zn10 provides strong cathodic protection for the 22MnB5 steel and moderate protection for α-Fe(Zn), while the 22MnB5 steel is only weakly protected by α-Fe(Zn). Separation of the 22MnB5 steel and Γ-Fe3Zn10 by an intermediary α-Fe(Zn) layer reduces the cathodic protection of the 22MnB5 steel since the α-Fe(Zn) layer acts as an electron receptor and limits the macroscale throwing power of Γ-Fe3Zn10. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Zn-coatings on direct press hardened steels are designed to electrochemically protect the steel substrate from corrosion. Manufacturing automotive parts using the direct hot press forming method transforms the Zn-based coating into a two-phase mixture of Γ-Fe3Zn10 and α-Fe(Zn). The previously determined minimum 15 vol% Γ-Fe3Zn10 required for the coating to provide the steel substrate robust protection assumed that mixed potential theory was a valid model to predict the electrochemical properties of the two phase coating, despite its complex microstructure. It was found that the use of mixed potential theory was valid as it was determined that the Γ-Fe3Zn10 + α-Fe(Zn) coatings behave as a single phase, with robust cathodic protection of direct hot pressed coatings requiring a minimum of 11 vol% Γ-Fe3Zn10. It was further determined that Γ-Fe3Zn10 cathodically protects both the steel and α-Fe(Zn), while α-Fe(Zn) only weakly cathodically protects the steel.

No description available.