In this study, a radio frequency magnetron sputtering process was used to deposit F-doped ZnO (FZO) films on polyimide (PI) substrates. The thermal expansion effect of PI substrates induces distortion and bending, causing FZO films to peel and their electrical properties and crystallinity to deteriorate. To address these shortcomings, oxygen (O₂) plasma was used to pretreat the surface of PI substrates using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system before the FZO films were deposited. The effects of O₂ plasma pretreatment time on the surface water contact angle, surface morphologies, and optical properties of the PI substrates were investigated. As the pretreatment time increased, so did the roughness of the PI substrates. After the FZO films had been deposited on the PI substrates, variations in the surface morphologies, crystalline structure, composition, electrical properties, and optical properties were investigated as a function of the O₂ plasma pretreatment time. When this was 30 s, the FZO films had optimal optical and electrical properties. The resistivity was 3.153 × 10⁻³ Ω-cm, and the transmittance ratios of all films were greater than 90%. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of the FZO films, particularly the peaks for O_1s, Zn 2p_1/2, and Zn 2p_3/2, were determined for films with O₂ plasma pretreatment times of 0 and 30 s. Finally, a HCl solution was used to etch the surfaces of the deposited FZO films, and silicon-based thin-film solar cells were fabricated on the FZO/PI substrates. The effect of O₂-plasma pretreatment time on the properties of the fabricated solar cells is thoroughly discussed. Full article

The term additive manufacturing (AM) groups together a set of technologies with similar characteristics forming part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. AM is being developed globally, as evidenced by the standards published by and the agreements between the ISO and the ASTM in 2013. The purpose of this paper is to anticipate the main changes that will occur in AM by 2030 as forecast by more than 100 Spanish experts through Delphi prospection performed in 2018. In this way, the areas, aspects, and business models with the greatest probabilities of occurrence are obtained. The need for technical experts with specific knowledge and skills requires changes to current training syllabuses. Such changes will enable students to have the profiles foreseen in these job trends. The encouragement of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) training through the introduction of AM in study plans may be an appropriate alternative. Finally, the consequences of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the employment market and on jobs, particularly in Spain, are set out and the latest Spanish Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D + I) plans are summarized as the framework for the possible implementation and development of AM. Full article

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the disruption of beneficial microbiota are key problems in contemporary medicine and make the search for new, more efficient infection treatment strategies among the most important tasks in medicine. Multicomponent plant-derived preparations with mild antibacterial activity created by many simultaneous mechanisms together with anti-inflammatory, innate immune and regenerative capacity-stimulating properties are good candidates for this therapy, and proanthocyanidins are among the most promising compounds of this sort. In this study, we have isolated proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides DC root extract and characterized and compared the composition, antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of the proanthocyanidin fraction with those of the whole extract. The results revealed that proanthocyanidins had significantly stronger antioxidant capacity compared to the root extract and exhibited a unique antibacterial action profile that selectively targets Gram-negative keystone periodontal and peri-implant pathogenic strains, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, while preserving the viability of beneficial oral commensal Streptococcus salivarius. The finding suggests that proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides root extract are good candidates for the prolonged and harmless treatment of infectious diseases. Full article

The mechanical and dielectric properties of two types of amorphous silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) fibers prior to and following annealing at 800 °C were studied. The tensile strengths of the Si₃N₄ fiber bundles were measured using unidirectional tensile experimentation at room temperature, whereas the permittivity values were measured at 8.2–12.4 GHz using the waveguide method. The results demonstrated that the tensile strength and dielectric properties of Si₃N₄ fibers were correlated to the corresponding composition, microstructure, and intrinsic performance of electrical resistance. The Si₃N₄ fibers with a lower content of amorphous SiN_xO_y presented an improved thermal stability, a higher tensile strength, a higher conductivity, and a significantly stable wave-transparent property. These were mainly attributed to the highly pure composition and decomposition of less amorphous SiN_xO_y. Full article

In this study, minimum quantity coolant/lubrication (MQCL) is found to have significant impact on the surface quality and mechanical properties of the micromilled thin-walled work piece that is the core component of an aeroaccelerometer. Three kinds of coolants were used in the micromilling process to analyze their effects on surface quality and mechanical properties of the component. The experiment results show that an appropriate dynamic viscosity of coolant helps to improve surface roughness. The high evaporation rate of the coolants can enhance the cooling performance. Comparing with the dry machining case, MQCL has better performance on improving tool wear, surface quality, and mechanical properties of the micromilled work piece. It yielded up to 1.4–10.4% lower surface roughness compared with the dry machining case in this experiment. The machined work piece with the best mechanical properties and the one with the worst mechanical properties appeared in the ethyl alcohol and the dry machining case, respectively. The reasons for deteriorating surface quality and mechanical properties in dry machining cases are also analyzed. For improving the micromilling process, the penetration and cooling effect of the coolants are more important. This paper gives references to obtain better service performance of the component by improving the micromilling process. Full article

To explore the effective way of grain refinement for 2219 aluminum alloy, the approach of ‘thermal compression tests + solid solution treatment experiments’ was applied to simulate the process of intermediate thermo-mechanical treatment. The effects of deformation parameters (i.e., temperature, strain, and strain rate) on microstructural evolution were also studied. The results show that the main softening mechanism of 2219 aluminum alloy during warm deformation process is dynamic recovery, during which the distribution of CuAl₂ phase changes and the substructure content increases. Moreover, the storage energy is found to be decreased with the increase in temperature and/or the decrease in strain rate. In addition, complete static recrystallization occurs and substructures almost disappear during the solid solution treatment process. The average grain size obtained decreases with the decrease in deforming temperature, the increase in strain rate, and/or the increase in strain. The grain refinement mechanism is related to the amount of storage energy and the distribution of precipitated particles in the whole process of intermediate thermal-mechanical treatment. The previously existing dispersed fine precipitates are all redissolved into the matrix, however, the remaining precipitates exist mainly by the form of polymerization. Full article

In automotive manufacturing, high strength materials, and aluminum alloys are widely used to address the requirement of ensuring a lightweight car body and correspondingly, reducing pollution. In this context of complexity of materials and structures, an optimized process design with finite element analyses (FEA) is mandatory, as well as a correct definition of the material forming limits. For this purpose, in sheet metal forming, the forming limit curve (FLC) is used. The FLC is defined by the onset of necking. The standard evaluation method according to DIN EN ISO 12004-2 is based on the cross-section method and assumes that the failure occurs due to a clear localized necking. However, this approach has its limitations, specifically in the case of brittle materials that do not exhibit a distinct necking phase. To overcome this challenge, a pattern recognition-based evaluation is proposed. Although pattern recognition and machine learning techniques have been widely employed in the medical field, few studies have investigated them in the context of analyzing metal sheet forming limits. The application of pattern recognition in metal forming is subject to the exact definition of the forming behaviors. Thereby, it is challenging to relate patterns on the strain distribution during Nakajima tests with the onset of necking for the FLC determination. Thus, the first approach was based on the crack evaluation, since this class is well-defined. However, of substantial interest is the evaluation of the general material instabilities that precede failure. Therefore, in the present study, the analysis of the material behavior during stretching is conducted in order to characterize instability classes. The results of Nakajima tests are investigated using an optical measurement system. A conventional pattern recognition approach based on texture features, considering the outcomes of expert interviews for the definition of classes is used for the FLC determination. Moreover, an analysis of the validity of the supervised learning is conducted. The results show a good prediction of the onset of necking, even for high strength materials with a recall of up to 92%. Some deviations are observed in the determination of the diffuse necking. The discrepancies of the different experts’ prognoses highlight the user-dependency of the FLC, suggesting further investigations with an data-driven approach, could be beneficial. Full article

Eumelanin integration in silica aerogel (SA) was achieved via supercritical adsorption of 5,6-dyhydroxyindole (DHI) from CO₂. Notably, after the supercritical treatment, DHI evolved towards spontaneous polymerization, which resulted in uniform pigment development over the SA. The new material was characterized for its morphological and physicochemical properties, disclosing the formation of a eumelanin-like coating, as confirmed by UV–vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Full article

Peritubular dentine (PTD) and intertubular dentine (ITD) were investigated by 3D correlative Focused Ion Beam (FIB)-Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) tomography, tapping mode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and scattering-type Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM) mapping. The brighter appearance of PTD in 3D SEM-Backscattered-Electron (BSE) imaging mode and the corresponding higher grey value indicate a greater mineral concentration in PTD (~160) compared to ITD (~152). However, the 3D FIB-SEM-EDS reconstruction and high resolution, quantitative 2D map of the Ca/P ratio (~1.8) fail to distinguish between PTD and ITD. This has been further confirmed using nanoscale 2D AFM map, which clearly visualised biopolymers and hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystallites with larger mean crystallite size in ITD (32 ± 8 nm) than that in PTD (22 ± 3 nm). Correlative microscopy reveals that the principal difference between PTD and ITD arises primarily from the nanoscale packing density of the crystallites bonded together by thin biopolymer, with moderate contribution from the chemical composition difference. The structural difference results in the mechanical properties variation that is described by the parabolic stiffness-volume fraction correlation function introduced here. The obtained results benefit a microstructure-based mechano-chemical model to simulate the chemical etching process that can occur in human dental caries and some of its treatments. Full article

Peat, an organic compound easily found in the soil (easy to acquire), has more than 50% elemental carbon in its composition and can be used as raw material to produce carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots, Carbon Dots). In this work we describe two simple and low-cost routes for the acquisition of these photoluminescent materials based on peat. The final products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), absorption (UV-Vis) and emission (PL) spectra and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The produced CQDs have an average size of 3.5 nm and exhibit coloration between blue and green. In addition, it is possible to produce photoluminescence by means of the aromatic compounds also present in the composition of the peat, in turn exhibiting an intense green coloration. The results indicate great versatility of peat for the production of photoluminescent materials. Full article

The load–deflection curve acquired from the Small Punch Test (SPT) is used to obtain the mechanical properties of materials using different correlation methods. The scattering level of these regressions tends to be high when a wide set of materials is analyzed. In this study, a correlation method based on a specific slope of the SPT curve was proposed to reduce scattering. Assuming the Ramberg–Osgood hardening law, the dependence of the SPT curve slope on the yield strength and the hardening coefficient is demonstrated by numerical simulations (FEM). Considering that the ultimate tensile strength could be obtained from the hardening coefficient, a response surface of the ultimate tensile strength with the yield strength and SPT curve slope, along with its equation, is presented for steel alloys. A summary of steel mechanical properties, based on the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) and limited to yield strengths lower than 1300 MPa, is shown to select a set of experimental tests (tensile tests and SPTs) for which the range is completely covered. This experimental analysis validates the previous FEM analyses and the validity of the proposed correlation method, which shows more accurate correlations compared to the current methods. Full article

In this study, the effect of Zn and Ca addition on microstructure and strength at room temperature of Mg-Sn alloys was investigated by comparison of Mg-6Sn, Mg-6Sn-2Zn, and Mg-6Sn-2Zn-1Ca alloys in as-cast and as-extruded states. In the as-cast samples, α-Mg and Mg₂Sn phases were the main phases of Mg-6Sn and Mg-6Sn-2Zn alloys, while the CaMgSn phase was formed in Mg-6Sn-2Zn-1Ca alloy due to the addition of the Ca element. Mg₂Sn phase dissolved into the matrix during homogenization while CaMgSn phase remained. Incomplete dynamic recrystallization (DRX) took place in these alloys during hot extrusion. Fine Mg₂Sn precipitates were observed in α-Mg matrix of as-extruded samples. Zn showed little influence on microstructure, whereas Ca reduced the volume fraction of un-DRXed grains and increased the size of DRXed grains. As-extruded Mg-Sn alloys exhibited typical fiber texture. The strength at room temperature of Mg-Sn alloys improved significantly after hot extrusion. The addition of Zn element was beneficial to the strength at room temperature of the Mg-6Sn alloy, while the further addition of Ca element was harmful to the strength. Among these alloys, the Mg-6Sn-2Zn alloy exhibited the best strength at room temperature in both as-cast and as-extruded states. Full article

In this study, the impact of different surface treatment and degree of vacuum on the interface and mechanical properties of 304/Q345 stainless steel clad plate was investigated. The study indicated that more continuous or aggregated Al₂O₃ and Si-Mn composite oxides were formed at the interface after brush grinding. However, less inclusions such as Al₂O₃, MnS and Ca-Mg-Al-Si composite oxides were formed at the interface after pickling treatment. For the vacuum degrees of 10⁻² Pa, 1 Pa and 105 Pa, the oxidation reaction became more intense with the decrease in vacuum degree. The interface inclusions were gradually changed from Al₂O₃ and Si-Mn complex oxides to oxide scale and MnCr₂O₄ spinel oxide. The interfacial bonding strength of stainless steel clad plate was improved with the increase in degree of vacuum. The bonding strength was 55 MPa at vacuum of 10⁵ Pa, but it was 484 MPa at vacuum of 10⁻² Pa, which is far greater than that of the national standard, and an excellent performance was obtained. Full article

Aggregate is an indispensable raw material for emulsified asphalt construction. For the purpose of explaining the influence of aggregate characteristics on the demulsification speed of emulsified asphalt, the surface energy and specific surface area (SSA) characteristics of aggregates were calculated based on the capillary rise method and the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) adsorption test. Afterwards, the effect of the surface energy and specific surface area of the aggregate on the emulsified asphalt demulsification speed was systematically studied by using ultraviolet spectroscopy as well as the orthogonal test. Experimental results indicate that the specific surface energy parameter of the aggregate is certainly related to the particle size of the aggregate. That is, the surface free energy of the unit system is proportional to the surface area A and the density of the interface unit. The specific surface area parameter of aggregates increases with the decrease of particle size, when the particle size is reduced to 600 mesh, the specific surface area parameters of the three aggregates selected in this paper tend to be consistent. Orthogonal experimental analysis demonstrates that the surface energy and specific surface area have an impact on the emulsion breaking speed and they are proven to be positively correlated. Meanwhile, in the case of small particle sizes, there is no statistically significant correlation between the physical properties of aggregates and the demulsification speed of emulsified asphalt, and the physical property of aggregates is not the main factor that affects the demulsification speed of the emulsified asphalt. On the contrary, the material properties of the aggregate, such as acid-base property and chargeability, are the dominant factors. Full article

Utilising dislocation-related vertical etching channels in gallium nitride, we have previously demonstrated a simple electrochemical etching (ECE) process that can create layered porous GaN structures to form distributed Bragg reflectors for visible light at wafer scale. Here, we apply the same ECE process to realise AlGaN-based ultraviolet distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs). These are of interest because they could provide a pathway to non-absorbing UV reflectors to enhance the performance of UV LEDs, which currently have extremely low efficiency. We have demonstrated porous AlGaN-based UV DBRs with a peak reflectance of 89% at 324 nm. The uniformity of these devices is currently low, as the as-grown material has a high density of V-pits and these alter the etching process. However, our results indicate that if the material growth is optimised, the ECE process will be useful for the fabrication of UV reflectors. Full article