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At least 1,171 records · Page 65

Investigation of Current Parameters and Size Effects on Mechanical Properties During Pulsed Electrically Assisted Uniaxial Tension in T2 Red Copper Sheets

It has been found that the electrically assisted (EA) forming can alleviate size effects due to the electroplastic effect. Size effects exist in the manufacture of tiny workpieces and severely affect material performances because the grain boundary hardening effect and strong anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the grains will lead to a strong variation in the forming properties of the sheet. In order to investigate the influences of current parameters and size effects on mechanical properties in EA forming, EA uniaxial tension tests with varying grain size and thickness were conducted on T2 red copper sheets. The small temperature rise shows the thermal effect is slight; the flow stress decreases with the increase in pulse frequency, pulse duty ratio and current density; the finer grains still result in higher strength and better plasticity; Moreover, the fluctuations of tensile strength, maximum uniform strain and fracture strain decrease with the increase in the ratio of thickness to grain size (N) at constant current density, which means pulsed current can weaken size effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dynamic Frictional Characteristics of TP2 Copper Tubes during Hydroforming under Different Loading and Fluid Velocities

Tube hydroforming (THF) experiments were performed on TP2 copper tubes under different loading velocities and fluid velocities using a self-developed measurement system to investigate dynamic frictional characteristics in the guiding zone. The results show that the coefficient of friction (COF) dynamically changes during forming experiments and decreases with tube deformation. The average descending rate and amplitude of the COF increase with increasing loading velocity. Microscopically, the micro-protrusions on the tubular surface are flattened, and the surface scratches are finer and more uniform, as the loading velocity increases, resulting in a decrease in COF. At the same external loading velocity, the COF increases with increasing fluid velocity and is also extremely sensitive to it. Moreover, improving and predicting the formability of such tubes by accurately adjusting and controlling fluid velocity in THF is valuable and critical for the future.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of Transition Layer on Bending Resistance in Copper-Clad Aluminum Composite Casting

The performance of the transition layer in a Cu/Al composite casting directly affects the quality of subsequent plastic deformation processing; however, there are no universal or standardized measurement indices for the performance of the transition layer. In this study, Cu/Al composite castings were prepared using the pouring aluminum method, and the resulting solidification microstructures on the bending resistance were investigated. The results of this study lay a theoretical foundation for the development of the plastic processing technologies of these composite castings. A thinner transition layer in the Cu/Al composite casting led to improved bending resistance. In addition, for a fixed total thickness of the transition layer, the bending resistance was mainly controlled by the γ/β interface and β + eutectic (α + β) microstructure, and the thickness of the γ phase had a negligible effect on the bending resistance. The γ/β interface cracked first when the transition layer bore the tensile and shear stress during the bending process, which resulted in the transition layer easily separating from the copper. The bending resistance of the transition layer can be feasibly judged by measuring the bending angle of the specimen tip, which can be easily performed when the specimen bends toward the aluminum direction, suggesting that our proposed method has considerable practical significance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nickel-Coated Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Copper Composite for Improved Strength and Conductivity

Nickel (Ni)-coated super-aligned carbon nanotube (SACNT) films-reinforced copper (Cu) matrix composites were fabricated by electrodeposition. The microstructure, mechanical property and electrical conductivity of the prepared composites have been studied systematically. The results show that the mechanical properties of SACNT/Cu were significantly improved by coating SACNT with Ni. When the volume fraction of SACNT is 10.0%, the tensile strength and yield strength of the composite can reach 477.8 and 295.5 MPa, respectively, corresponding to 147 and 170% improvement compared to pure Cu prepared by the same method. Meanwhile, due to the super-aligned arrangement of SACNTs and the homogeneous distribution of Ni, which is not mixing or dissolving with Cu, the conductivities of all the Ni-coated SACNT-reinforced Cu composites are above 58% IACS, which is about 4 times higher than the results in previous research. The enhancement of the strength of the SACNT/Cu composites comes from the combined contribution of load transfer and grain refinement strengthening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Deformation Behavior of Pure Copper Castings with As-Cast Surfaces for Electrical Parts

Herein, the tensile deformation behavior of pure copper castings with as-cast surfaces was investigated. It was found that small and sufficiently large uniform elongation types corresponded, respectively, to the presence or absence of a Cu-Cu{sub 2}O eutectic phase in the microstructure. Fissure defects were observed near the as-cast surfaces when the eutectic phase was present, probably leading to stress concentration. On the other hand, surface pinholes were observed when the eutectic phase was absent, and these were not prevented by directional solidification. Although the as-cast specimens (non-directionally solidified) exhibited a slightly reduced uniform elongation compared to the machined specimens in the absence of the eutectic phase, the directionally solidified as-cast samples exhibited a uniform elongation that was similar to that of the machined specimens. In addition, micropore arrays were formed along the grain boundaries inside the castings when the eutectic phase was absent, whereas almost no micropores were observed inside the directionally solidified as-cast specimens because the solidification process involved a faster cooling rate and/or higher temperature gradient. These results do not only suggest the existence of surface pinholes but also indicate that microporosity can reduce the cross-sectional area of the specimens, thus, affecting their uniform elongation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Correlations Between Spall Damage Mode Preference and Microstructure in Shocked Polycrystalline Copper: A 3-D X-Ray Tomography Study

Nondestructive characterization techniques are essential for maximizing the amount of high fidelity data obtained from post mortem mechanically tested materials, particularly for the complex experimental techniques used for shock loading. Polycrystalline copper samples of varying thermomechanical histories were shock loaded to induce incipient spall damage conditions via plate impacts at low pressures. Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) and 3-D X-ray tomography (XRT) were utilized to obtain microstructural and void volume data, respectively. Voids were fit to ellipsoids using their inertia tensors obtained from the 3-D XRT data, and the results compared to EBSD data. This, in turn, enabled establishing quantitative correlations between void shapes and preferential damage mode, either inter- or trans-granular, for each thermomechanical history. Greater than 60 % of voids present in heat-treated samples were spherical, indicative of transgranular damage preference. Greater than 90 % of voids present in as-received rolled samples were flat sheetlike voids or unsymmetrical oblate ellipsoids, indicative of intergranular and coalesced damage modes. Analyzing grain boundary damage statistics in conjunction with global damage mode distributions indicate that boundaries become less dominant as preferential void nucleation sites within the spall plane as the bulk strength of the material decreases from heat treatments.

Microstructure↗

Effect of ZrO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and La 2 O 3 on cobalt–copper catalysts for higher alcohols synthesis

In this work three cobalt–copper catalysts singly promoted with La, Zr, or Al were studied for catalytic conversion of syngas to higher alcohols. The properties of the promoted catalysts have been characterized by TPR, XRD, XPS and BET. CO hydrogenation was carried out in a plug-flow reactor under 30 bar, GHSV = 36000 scc/g cat /h, H 2 /CO = 2, and 250 °C at differential conversions. The catalyst activity and selectivity to higher alcohols are greatest on CuCoLa 2 O 3 :ethanol selectivity 10.5% at a conversion of 0.76%. During 9 h of time-on-stream, CO conversion decreased on CuCoLa 2 O 3 while methanol and higher alcohol selectivity increased. The behaviors on CuCoZrO 2 and CuCoAl 2 O 3 were different. On these two catalysts, CO conversion and selectivity reached a near-steady state much more quickly than CuCoLa 2 O 3 . These results suggest changes on CuCoLa 2 O 3 that increase the selectivity for oxygenates continue with time, at least over the time scale investigated here.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Aerobic oxidative coupling of amines to imines by mesoporous copper aluminum mixed metal oxides via generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

We report a mesoporous, monomodal copper aluminum mixed metal oxide (MMO) (average pore size 9.63 nm, surface area 140 m 2 /g) synthesized via a modified inverse micelle method, efficiently catalyzes aerobic oxidative coupling of amines to imines. This material exhibits excellent conversion (> 99%) and selectivity (> 99%) towards imine synthesis under mild, solvent free, green conditions utilizing atmospheric air as the sole oxidant. Catalytic activity is observed for a diverse range of amine substrates. The aerobic oxidation of amines to imines follows a unique mechanistic pathway which involves Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Laser-induced digital oxidation for copper-based flexible photodetectors

Copper oxide compounds (Cu x O) with bandgaps of 1.3–2.1 eV (CuO) and 2.1–2.6 eV (Cu 2 O) have been investigated as promising p-type semiconducting materials. Cu x O is generally obtained by deposition or thermal oxidation, but those methods are not optimal for flexible substrates. Furthermore, additional patterning steps are required to fabricate devices. In this work, we present an easy, controllable method to fabricate a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector using laser-induced oxidation of a thin Cu film. After laser irradiation, the Cu film is heated under ambient conditions, and this leads to a thermal oxidation reaction, in which Cu oxide is monolithically formed in the Cu film and a Cu-Cu x O-Cu MSM structure is produced. Since the laser offers localized heating, an arbitrary CuxO pattern can be written in the Cu film by spatially controlled heating. In addition, by optimizing the heating time, the laser-induced oxidation can be successfully performed even on a flexible substrate. To study the laser-induced oxidation, we examined the correlation between laser parameters and the oxidation pattern and analyzed the composition using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Furthermore, we measured the transient photoresponse and employed scanning photocurrent microscopy to investigate the mechanism of carrier transport behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of Virgin, Re-used, and Oxygen-reduced Copper Powders processed by the Plasma Spheroidization Process

We report that fabrication of parts with high mechanical properties heavily depend on the quality of powder deployed in the fabrication process. Copper powder in three different powder types were spheroidized using radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spheroidization process (TekSphero-15 system). The characterized powders include virgin powder as purchased from the powder manufacturer, powder used in electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) process, and reconditioned powder, which was used powder that underwent an oxygen-reduction treatment. The goal of spheroidizing these powder types was to evaluate the change in powder morphology, the possibility of enhancing the powder properties back to their as-received conditions, and assess oxygen reduction of the powder lots given their initial oxygen contents. Also, to investigate the impact of re-spheroidization on powder properties, the second round of spheroidization was performed on the already used-spheroidized powder. The impact of powder type on powder sphericity and particle size distribution was evaluated using the image analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs and laser diffraction, respectively. The spheroidized powder showed higher sphericity and more uniform particle size distribution overall. Depending on the powder collection bin, second round of spheroidization affected the powder sphericity differently. The possibility of deploying the plasma spheroidization process as an alternative oxygen-reduction technique was also investigated through tracking the powders’ oxygen content using inert gas fusion method before and after the spheroidization. The plasma spheroidized powder showed less oxygen content than the hydrogen-treated powder. The second round of spheroidization caused no change in oxygen content. The correlation between oxygen-reduction and created cracks was discussed and compared between plasma spheroidization and hydrogen-treatment. The plasma spheroidization process created a powder with higher sphericity, uniform particle size, and less oxygen content.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electronic cigarette aerosols and copper nanoparticles induce mitochondrial stress and promote DNA fragmentation in lung fibroblasts

Oxidants or nanoparticles have recently been identified as constituents of aerosols released from various styles of electronic cigarettes (E-cigs). Cells in the lung may be directly exposed to these constituents and harbor reactive properties capable of incurring acute cell injury. Our results show mitochondria are sensitive to both E-cig aerosols and aerosol containing copper nanoparticles when exposed to human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) using an Air-Liquid Interface culture system, evident by elevated levels of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS). Increased mtROS after aerosol exposure is associated with reduced stability of OxPhos electron transport chain (ETC) complex IV subunit and nuclear DNA fragmentation. Increased levels of IL-8 and IL-6 in HFL-1 conditioned media were also observed. These findings reveal both mitochondrial, genotoxic, and inflammatory stresses are features of direct cell exposure to E-cig aerosols which are ensued by inflammatory duress, raising a concern on deleterious effect of vaping. - Graphical abstract: Oxidants and possibly reactive properties of metal particles in E-cig aerosols impart mitochondrial oxidative stress and DNA damage. These biological effects accompany inflammatory response which may raise concern regarding long term E-cig use. Mitochondria may be particularly sensitive to reactive properties of E-cig aerosols in addition to the potential for them to induce genotoxic stress by generating increased ROS. - Highlights: • Mitochondria are sensitive to both E-cig aerosols and metal nanoparticles. • Increased mtROS by E-cig aerosol is associated with disrupted mitochondrial energy. • E-cig causes nuclear DNA fragmentation. • E-cig aerosols induce pro-inflammatory response in human fibroblasts.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Nanoscale copper in the soil–plant system – toxicity and underlying potential mechanisms

Nanoscale copper particles (nano-Cu) are used in many antimicrobial formulations and products for their antimicrobial activity. They may enter deliberately and/or accidentally into terrestrial environments including soils. Being the major ‘eco-receptors’ of nanoscale particles in the terrestrial ecosystem, soil–microbiota and plants (the soil–plant system) have been used as a model to dissect the potential impact of these particles on the environmental and human health. In the soil–plant system, the plant can be an indirect non-target organism of the soil-associated nano-Cu that may in turn affect plant-based products and their consumers. By all accounts, information pertaining to nano-Cu toxicity and the underlying potential mechanisms in the soil–plant system remains scanty, deficient and little discussed. Therefore, based on some recent reports from (bio)chemical, molecular and genetic studies of nano-Cu versus soil–plant system, this article: (i) overviews the status, chemistry and toxicity of nano-Cu in soil and plants, (ii) discusses critically the poorly understood potential mechanisms of nano-Cu toxicity and tolerance both in soil–microbiota and plants, and (iii) proposes future research directions. It appears from studies hitherto made that the uncontrolled generation and inefficient metabolism of reactive oxygen species through different reactions are the major factors underpinning the overall nano-Cu consequences in both the systems. However, it is not clear whether the nano-Cu or the ion released from it is the cause of the toxicity. We advocate to intensify the multi-approach studies focused at a complete characterization of the nano-Cu, its toxicity (during life cycles of the least-explored soil–microbiota and plants), and behavior in an environmentally relevant terrestrial exposure setting. Such studies may help to obtain a deeper insight into nano-Cu actions and address adequately the nano-Cu-associated safety concerns in the ‘soil–plant system’.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Baseline blood levels of manganese, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in residents of Beijing suburb

Baseline blood concentrations of metals are important references for monitoring metal exposure in environmental and occupational settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the blood levels of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) among the residents (aged 12–60 years old) living in the suburb southwest of Beijing in China and to compare the outcomes with reported values in various developed countries. Blood samples were collected from 648 subjects from March 2009 to February 2010. Metal concentrations in the whole blood were determined by ICP-MS. The geometric means of blood levels of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were 11.4, 802.4, 4665, 42.6, and 0.68 µg/L, respectively. Male subjects had higher blood Pb than the females, while the females had higher blood Mn and Cu than the males. There was no gender difference for blood Cd and Zn. Smokers had higher blood Cu, Zn, and Cd than nonsmokers. There were significant age-related differences in blood levels of all metals studied; subjects in the 17–30 age group had higher blood levels of Mn, Pb, Cu, and Zn, while those in the 46–60 age group had higher Cd than the other age groups. A remarkably lower blood level of Cu and Zn in this population as compared with residents of other developed countries was noticed. Based on the current study, the normal reference ranges for the blood Mn were estimated to be 5.80–25.2 μg/L; for blood Cu, 541–1475 μg/L; for blood Zn, 2349–9492 μg/L; for blood Pb, <100 μg/L; and for blood Cd, <5.30 μg/L in the general population living in Beijing suburbs. - Highlights: • Baseline blood levels of metals in residents of Beijing suburb are investigated. • BMn and BPb in this cohort are higher than those in other developed countries. • Remarkably lower blood levels of Cu and Zn in this Chinese cohort are noticed. • The reference values for blood levels of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd are established.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Process parameter translation strategies for variable directed energy deposition spot size using 316L, copper, and Inconel 625

Directed energy deposition (DED) is a form of additive manufacturing available across a variety of laser spot diameter values, often referred to as spot sizes. However, there is no method to easily transfer process parameters across discrete spot sizes, leading to DED process parameters that are equipment specific and not widely applicable. In this study, a strategy is proposed and investigated for five spot sizes that keep the areal energy density constant while varying power, feed rate, and powder flow during the deposition of 316L stainless steel. An assessment of trends in hardness and microstructure is possible due to the novel production of components of a single material across several spot sizes using a single nozzle on a single DED system. The proposed strategy was used to nullify the hardness drop during functional grading of Inconel 625 and pure copper, enabling fabrication of multi-material sample that does not compromise desirable properties. This application shows the value in establishing more efficient process parameter development and understanding spot size influences on geometric and material property flexibility, to enable a more diverse powder-based DED design space and to increase the industry adoption of DED systems.

316L↗

Copper-64-diacetyl-bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone) Pharmacokinetics in FaDu Xenograft Tumors and Correlation With Microscopic Markers of Hypoxia

Purpose: The behavior of copper-64-diacetyl-bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone) ({sup 64}Cu-ATSM) in hypoxic tumors was examined through a combination of in vivo dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) and ex vivo autoradiographic and histologic evaluation using a xenograft model of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials: {sup 64}Cu-ATSM was administered during dynamic PET imaging, and temporal changes in {sup 64}Cu-ATSM distribution within tumors were evaluated for at least 1 hour and up to 18 hours. Animals were sacrificed at either 1 hour (cohort A) or after 18 hours (cohort B) postinjection of radiotracer and autoradiography performed. Ex vivo analysis of microenvironment subregions was conducted by immunohistochemical staining for markers of hypoxia (pimonidazole hydrochloride) and blood flow (Hoechst-33342). Results: Kinetic analysis revealed rapid uptake of radiotracer by tumors. The net influx (K{sub i}) constant was 12-fold that of muscle, whereas the distribution volume (V{sub d}) was 5-fold. PET images showed large tumor-to-muscle ratios, which continually increased over the entire 18-hour course of imaging. However, no spatial changes in {sup 64}Cu-ATSM distribution occurred in PET imaging at 20 minutes postinjection. Microscopic intratumoral distribution of {sup 64}Cu-ATSM and pimonidazole were not correlated at 1 hour or after 18 hours postinjection, nor was {sup 64}Cu-ATSM and Hoechst-33342. Conclusions: The oxygen partial pressures at which {sup 64}Cu-ATSM and pimonidazole are reduced and bound in cells are theorized to be distinct and separable. However, this study demonstrated that microscopic distributions of these tracers within tumors are independent. Researchers have shown {sup 64}Cu-ATSM uptake to be specific to malignant expression, and this work has also demonstrated clear tumor targeting by the radiotracer.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Stabilization and manipulation of highly concentrated copper single atoms by high entropy oxides

Facile and controllable methodologies capable of providing single atom catalysts (SACs) with high-density active metal sites and sintering-resistance under harsh conditions are highly desired and grand challenges in heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, the entropy effect was leveraged to stabilize and manipulate the electronic properties of copper SACs. The as-developed ultrasonication-driven approach could integrate highly concentrated Cu SAs within the lattice of fluorite-structured high entropy oxide (HEFO) under ambient conditions (CuO-HEFO). The dual benefits from the high entropy effect of the support and the in-situ lattice engineering led to the generation of abundant Cu 1+ species and oxygen defects, together with ultra-high stability and sintering-resistance under extremely harsh conditions. This was confirmed by deploying non-high entropy support (CuO-CeO 2 ) or Cu sites located on the surface of HEFO (CuO@HEFO). In conclusion, the catalytic activity of CuO-HEFO surpassed that of CuO-CeO 2 and CuO@HEFO in CO oxidation together with well-maintained long-term stability and resistance to gas impurities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hydrogen activation by rhodium under the cover of a copper oxide thin film

Here, the activation of reactants by catalytically active metal sites at metal-oxide interfaces is important for understanding the effect of metal-support interactions on nanoparticle catalysts and for tuning activity and selectivity. Using a combined experimental and theoretical approach, we studied the activation of H 2 and the effect of CO poisoning on isolated Rh atoms completely or partially covered by a copper oxide (Cu 2 O) thin film. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments conducted in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) show that neither a partially nor a fully oxidized Cu 2 O layer grown on a Rh/Cu(111) single-atom alloy can activate hydrogen in UHV. However, in situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) experiments performed at elevated H 2 pressures reveal that Rh significantly accelerates the reduction of these Cu 2 O thin films by hydrogen. Remarkably, the fastest reduction rate is observed for the fully oxidized sample with all Rh sites covered by Cu 2 O. Both TPD and AP-XPS data demonstrate that these covered Rh sites are inaccessible to CO, indicating that Rh under Cu 2 O is active for H 2 dissociation but cannot be poisoned by CO. In contrast, an incomplete oxide film leaves some of the Rh sites exposed and accessible to CO, and hence prone to CO poisoning. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that unlike many reactions in which hydrogen activation is rate limiting, the rate-determining step in the dissociation of H 2 on thin-film Cu 2 O with Rh underneath is the adsorption of H 2 on the buried Rh site, and once adsorbed, the dissociation of H 2 is barrierless. These calculations also explain why H 2 can only be activated at higher pressures. Together, these results highlight how different the reactivity of atomically dispersed Rh in Cu can be depending on its accessibility through the oxide layer, providing a way to engineer Rh sites that are active for hydrogen activation but resilient to CO poisoning.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scalable fabrication of high activity nanoporous copper powders for electrochemical CO 2 reduction via ball milling and dealloying

Electrochemical CO 2 reduction (ECR) is a promising technology to close the anthropic CO 2 circle using renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality. Future commercialization of ECR will require the development of new catalyst synthesis routes that will allow significant upscaling of catalyst production from current research-level milligram quantities to the kilogram scale and beyond while maintaining the activity and selectivity demonstrated at the research level. Here, we report on generating and testing submicron-sized nanoporous copper (npCu) particles by using a scalable approach consisting of ball milling brittle Cu-based intermetallics followed by dealloying to add nanoporosity for high surface area. The resulting npCu particles have been tested in an industry-relevant large area (25 cm 2 ) electrolyzer platform and showed Faraday efficiencies (FE) for ethylene up to 34 % at current densities of 75–100 mA/cm 2 while keeping FE for hydrogen less than 30 %. Our results demonstrate that a combination of ball milling and dealloying is a promising approach to generate large quantities of high activity and high surface area npCu particles for ECR at an industry-relevant scale.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗