Metalls

Metal-based nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for a set of biomedical applications. According to the World Health Organization, in addition to their reduced size and selectivity for bacteria, metal-based nanoparticles have also proved to be effective against pathogens listed as a priority. Metal-based nanoparticles are known to have non-specific bacterial toxicity mechanisms (they do not bind to a specific receptor in the bacterial cell) which not only makes the development of resistance by bacteria difficult, but also broadens the spectrum of antibacterial activity. As a result, a large majority of metal-based nanoparticles efficacy studies performed so far have shown promising results in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this review has been a comprehensive discussion of the state of the art on the use of the most relevant types of metal nanoparticles employed as antimicrobial agents. A special emphasis to silver nanoparticles is given, while...

Specific energy consumption is an important indicator for a better understanding of the machinability of materials. The present study aims to estimate the specific energy consumption for abrasive metal cutting with ultra-thin discs at comparatively low and medium feed rates. Using an experimental technique, the cutting power was measured at four predefined feed rates for S235JR, intermetallic Fe-Al(40%), and C45K with different thermal treatments. The variation in the specific energy consumption with the material removal rate was analyzed through an empirical model, which enabled us to distinguish three phenomena of energy dissipation during material removal. The thermal treatment and mechanical properties of materials have a significant impact on the energy consumption pattern, its corresponding components, and cutting power. Ductile materials consume more specific cutting energy than brittle materials. The specific cutting energy is the minimum energy required to remove the materi...

Aging heat treatments in maraging steels are fundamental to achieve the excellent mechanical properties required in several industries, i.e., nuclear, automotive, etc. In this research, samples of maraging 300 alloy were aged using a novel procedure that combines different steps with two atmospheres (nitrogen and water vapor) for several hours. The oxidized surface layer was chemical, microstructural and micromechanically characterized. Due to the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, these gases reacted and change the surface chemistry of this steel producing a thin iron-based oxide layer of a homogeneous thickness of around 500 nm. Within the aforementioned information, porosity and other microstructural defects showed a non-homogeneous oxide, mainly constituted by magnetite, nickel ferrite, cobalt ferrite, and a small amount of hematite in the more external parts of the oxide layer. In this sense, from a chemical point of view, the heat treatment under specific atmosphere allows ...

In this work, the effect of corrosion-induced damage on mechanical response of hardmetals was evaluated at small-scale level by nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques. Immersion tests in acidic solution were performed to induce corrosion damage in a controlled way. Results pointed out that the corroded zone led to a strong reduction of hardness and elastic modulus compared to the non-corroded samples. Significant differences were also observed in nanoscratch tracks not only regarding width and depth but also deformation mechanisms developed, as scratching load increased. Corroded surfaces displayed relevant damage even a quite low loads (~45 mN). Cracking and fragmentation of individual WC grains took place together with chipping of fine WC fragments at the track edges. Such microstructural degradation was detected for non-corroded specimens at much higher loads (~400 mN).

Metal-based nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for a set of biomedical applications. According to the World Health Organization, in addition to their reduced size and selectivity for bacteria, metal-based nanoparticles have also proved to be effective against pathogens listed as a priority. Metal-based nanoparticles are known to have non-specific bacterial toxicity mechanisms (they do not bind to a specific receptor in the bacterial cell) which not only makes the development of resistance by bacteria difficult, but also broadens the spectrum of antibacterial activity. As a result, a large majority of metal-based nanoparticles efficacy studies performed so far have shown promising results in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this review has been a comprehensive discussion of the state of the art on the use of the most relevant types of metal nanoparticles employed as antimicrobial agents. A special emphasis to silver nanoparticles is given, while...

Metal-based nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for a set of biomedical applications. According to the World Health Organization, in addition to their reduced size and selectivity for bacteria, metal-based nanoparticles have also proved to be effective against pathogens listed as a priority. Metal-based nanoparticles are known to have non-specific bacterial toxicity mechanisms (they do not bind to a specific receptor in the bacterial cell) which not only makes the development of resistance by bacteria difficult, but also broadens the spectrum of antibacterial activity. As a result, a large majority of metal-based nanoparticles efficacy studies performed so far have shown promising results in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this review has been a comprehensive discussion of the state of the art on the use of the most relevant types of metal nanoparticles employed as antimicrobial agents. A special emphasis to silver nanoparticles is given, while...

The authors rely on their previously proposed model of the strategic decision making system in groups of companies, which allows simultaneously integrating several important management functions and set clear criteria for the efficiency of future decisions with due consideration of the data on the static and dynamic conditions of the subsidiary, as well as predicting the development of the group of companies aimed at the long-term sustainable growth of its total value and business reputation. The indicators that turn the previously published theoretical model into a practical tool, which will later be tested on empirical data, are systematized and logically interconnected in this article.

This contribution reports the effects of an ultrasonic-vibration assisted ball burnishing process on the topological descriptors of nickel-based alloy Udimet®720. This material is of high interest for the transportation industry, and specifically for the aeronautical sector. Despite the acknowledged necessity to finish this material to achieve excelling mechanical performances of parts, surface integrity enhancement by means of plastic deformation through ball burnishing has seldom been explored in previous references so far. In this paper, different surface descriptors are used to report how the topology changes after ultrasonic-assisted ball burnishing, and how burnishing conditions influence that change. The burnishing preload and the number of passes are the only influential factors on surface change, whereas the feed velocity of the tool and the strategy reveal not to be relevant on the result. Additionally, the extent to which the process successfully modifies the objective su...

The information in the basic references about the relation between elastic constants and particularly Young’s modulus (E) behavior and plastic deformation indicates that this parameter is constant or almost constant. At the beginning of the XX century several authors indicated that E of some metals decreased when cold deformation increased and detected reductions up to 15% in steels, aluminum, copper, brass... In the last years this behavior is taking into account during the finite-element analysis of sheet metal stamping or other plastic deformation processes. This work includes an extensive review of papers of our research team and of other authors related with the behavior of Young’s modulus during plastic deformation of some metallic alloys. This parameter can diminish up to 10% by plastic deformation (tension test) in iron, aluminum, and stainless steel (UNS S 30403) but remains practically unaltered in aluminum alloys deformed before or after aging. Results of Young’s modulus ...

Nickel-based superalloys are extensively used in the aerospace and power generation industries due to their excellent mechanical properties at elevated temperatures and good corrosion resistance. Typically, these alloys require accomplishing critical standards during their manufacturing process. In this study, an Inconel 718 (IN718) Ni-based superalloy was subjected to a delta-processing treatment (DP718) and subsequently deformed at high temperature. Samples were compressed below and above the δ-solvus temperature at two different strain rates of 0.001 s−1 and 0.01 s−1. A detailed microstructural characterization was carried out by the electron backscattered diffraction technique (EBSD). Kikuchi patterns and the orientation relationship of the δ-phase were identified. For samples deformed above the δ-solvus at 0.01 s−1, an increase in the percentage of low angle grain boundaries (LAGB) within deformed grains and a decrease in high angle grain boundaries (HAGB) were observed. Compre...

The paper focuses on the evolution of the South African iron and steel industry from the industrial engineering perspective. The earliest ironmaking in South Africa dates to the fifth century CE; but the major evolution of the industry began in 1882 and, by the year 1934, steel production from native ore was in full swing. The study highlights the major developments in South Africa’s iron and steel industry, and ends by exploring the extent of the application of industrial engineering techniques to published research into the steel industry.

The interface between corporate governance and law is of key importance:
-  in driving or changing behaviour through creating obligations or sanctions
-  in contributing to society’s attitudes to particular issues at particular times
- in providing some of the tests as to what constitutes “acceptable” conduct
-  in providing for certain standards, some of which may be considered “minimums”
- in contributing to wider political, economic and social objectives.

Corporate governance however is a much broader subject than corporate law; it is also about much more than legal compliance and risk management, very important though those aspects are.

This paper comments on how corporate governance is concerned with the way in which  corporates should structure and operate
their relationships and decision - making processes as between shareholders, directors,management and outside parties, so as to best achieve that entity’s objectives ina ccordance with the criteria and values the entity elects to follow.

The paper  addresses three topics - related party dealings, conflicts of interest and risk management - in a corporate governance context.

The topic of the paper is linked with scientific inquiries in the area of global financial markets and financial systems in the discussion how the post crisis changes influence current accounts receivable management in firms. The general attention of the paper is paid to the European financial and sovereign debt crisis, changing the cost of capital rate for the firm and in the result their decision in the choice the most suitable accounts receivable policy.