Effect of the Addition of 4 wt% Zr to BCC Solid Solution Ti52V12Cr36 at Melting/Milling on Hydrogen Sorption Properties

The addition of 4 wt% Zr to Ti52V12Cr36 alloy was carried out in two different ways: arc-melting or ball-milling. The cast alloy showed rapid hydrogen absorption up to 3.6 wt% of hydrogen capacity within 15 min. Ball milling this sample worsened the kinetics, and no hydrogen absorption was registered when milling was carried out for 30 or 60 min. When zirconium is added by ball-milling, the kinetic is slower than that when addition is by arc-melting. This is due to the fact that when added by milling, zirconium does not form a ternary phase with Ti, V, and Cr but instead is just dispersed on the particles’ surface.

Improvement of the Solubilization and Extraction of Curcumin in an Edible Ternary Solvent Mixture

A water-free, ternary solvent mixture consisting of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), ethanol, and triacetin was investigated concerning its ability to dissolve and extract curcumin from Curcuma longa L. To this purpose, 11 NADES based on choline chloride, acetylcholine, and proline were screened using UV–vis measurements. A ternary phase diagram with a particularly promising NADES, based on choline chloride and levulinic acid was recorded and the solubility domains of the monophasic region were examined and correlated with the system’s structuring via light scattering experiments. At the optimum composition, close to the critical point, the solubility of curcumin could be enhanced by a factor of >1.5 with respect to acetone. In extraction experiments, conducted at the points of highest solubility and evaluated via HPLC, a total yield of ~84% curcuminoids per rhizome could be reached. Through multiple extraction cycles, reusing the extraction solvent, an enrichment of curcuminoids could be achieved while altering the solution. When counteracting the solvent change, even higher concentrated extracts can be obtained.

Thermodynamic Modeling and Mechanical Properties of Mg-Zn-{Y, Ce} Alloys: Review

Magnesium alloys are a strong candidate for various applications in automobile and aerospace industries due to their low density and specific strength. Micro-alloying magnesium with zinc, yttrium, and cerium enhances mechanical properties of magnesium through grain refinement and precipitation hardening. In this work, a critical review of magnesium-based binary systems including Mg-Zn, Mg-Y, Mg-Ce, Zn-Y, and Zn-Ce is presented. Based on the CALPHAD approach and first-principles calculations, thermodynamic modeling of Mg-Zn-Y and Mg-Zn-Ce ternary phase diagrams have been summarized. The influence of micro-alloying (yttrium and cerium) on the mechanical properties of magnesium is discussed. A comparison between mechanical properties of magnesium commercial alloys and magnesium–zinc–{yttrium and cerium} have been summarized in tables.

Effects of Different Types of Interlayers on the Interfacial Reaction Mechanism at the Cu Side of Al/Cu Lap Joints Obtained by Laser Welding/Brazing

The influence of tin foil and Ni coatings on microstructures, mechanical properties, and the interfacial reaction mechanism was investigated during laser welding/brazing of Al/Cu lap joints. In the presence of a Zn-based filler, tin foil as well as Ni coating strengthened the Al/Cu joints. The tin foil only slightly influenced the joint strength. It considerably improved the spreading/wetting ability of the weld filler; however, it weakened the bonding between the seam and the Al base metal. The Ni coating considerably strengthened the Al/Cu lap joints; the highest tensile strength was 171 MPa, which was higher by 15.5% than that of a joint without any interlayer. Microstructure analysis revealed that composite layers of Ni3Zn14–(τ2 Zn–Ni–Al ternary phase)–(α-Zn solid solution)–Al3Ni formed at the fusion zone (FZ)/Cu interface. Based on the inferences about the microstructures at the interfaces, thermodynamic results were calculated to analyze the interfacial reaction mechanism. The diffusion of Cu was limited by the Ni coating and the mutual attraction between the Al and Ni atoms. The microstructure comprised Zn, Ni, and Al, and they replaced the brittle Cu–Zn intermetallic compounds, successfully strengthening the bonding of the FZ/Cu interface.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Formulation of Borage (Borago officinalis) Seeds Oil and Leaves Extracts as Microemulsion

Aims: This study aims to investigate antioxidant and antibacterial activities of borage (seeds and leaves) extracts, and to prepare different topical microemulsion formulations using borage oil. Study Design: Borage seeds and leaves were collected from Hebron -Palestine, then the borage leaves and seeds were prepared for extraction and then extracted with Soxhlet using ethanol. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the extracts were studied, and then Ternary Phase Diagram was constructed using the borage extracts (from seeds and leaves). Methodology: The seeds were cultivated upon their ripening season in April of 2016 from the Halhul mountains in Hebron/Palestine. Soxhlet method was used to extract borage seeds and leaves oil by using ethanol 95%. A ternary phase diagram was constructed by determining appropriate nonionic surfactant to assess the ability for microemulsion formulation and durability of each system. Tween 80 was found to be more suitable to solubilize each of borage seeds and leaves extracts compared with Tween 20 due to its prominent hydrophobic properties. The antibacterial activity was evaluated for both borage seeds and leaves extracts using a well diffusion method against Staphyloococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, &Candida albicans. Results: Results showed that the seeds extract has inhibition zone (12 mm) against S. aureus (gram positive bacteria) higher than inhibition zone that leaves extracts exhibited (7.5mm), but no significant effects observed for both extracts against E. coli and C. albicans. In addition, antibacterial activity for microemulsions formulation was measured against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. Results showed that there is minor activity against S. aureus when compared to PenicillinG and the pure seed oil or leaves extract. In contrast no activity was reported against E. coli and C. albicans. The antioxidant activity was further indicated by the quiet good ability to reduce the FRAP reagent for both extracts with the indication of higher seeds extract activity. This variation is explained by the higher seeds extract content of polyphenol, tocopherol and vitamin C than leaves extract. Conclusion: Borage seeds and leaves were extracted, and the extracts were showed antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and showed that they can be used in microemulsion using ternary phase diagram.

Crystal Structure, Microstructure and Electronic Properties of a Newly Discovered Ternary Phase in the Al-Cr-Sc System

This study focused on the crystal and electronic structures of a newly discovered phase in the Al-Cr-Sc system. The latter two species do not mix in a binary alloy, but can be alloyed with aluminium in the vicinity of the Al2−xCrxSc composition, where 0.3 < x < 0.5. After preparation of the pure constituents via arc melting, high-temperature annealing at 990 °C for 240 h was required to achieve full mixing of the elements. A detailed characterisation of the crystal structure, alloy microstructure and stability was obtained using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), in addition to transmission electron microscopy (TEM), especially in high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) mode, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The crystal structure was refined to a hexagonal unit cell of the MgZn2 type, space group no. 194, P63/mmc, which belongs to the Laves phases family. Special attention was paid to the occupancy of the crystallographic sites that were filled by both Cr and Al atoms. First-principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) were performed to investigate the electronic structure of this ternary phase. The total density of states (DOS) exhibited a pronounced sp character, where a shallow pseudo-gap was visible 0.5 eV below the Fermi energy that brought a small but definite contribution to the thermodynamic stability of the compound.

Design and Evaluation of Efavirenz Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticle for Boosting Oral Bioavailability

Present work illustrates that efavirenz-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared with the objective of increasing bioavailability and protection of drugs due to biocompatible lipidic content. Efavirenz is generally used for the treatment of HIV. Selection of the suitable lipid phase, surfactant, and cosurfactant was done by individual screening method with the construction of pseudo-ternary phase study. The formulations were prepared by the microemulsion method followed by the lyophilization technique. EFV-SLN has shown a mean particle size of 55.73 ± 3.9 nm having a PDI of 0.153 ± 0.451. Zeta potential was found to be -9.98mV and the formulation was found stable. In vivo pharmaco-kinetic studies exhibited 5.41-fold enhancement in peak plasma concentration (