Bio-based carbonaceous composite materials from epoxidised linseed oil, bio-derived curing agent and starch with controllable functionality

Development of biomass-derived materials using sustainable practices has been one of the major scientific aims over the last few decades. A new class of bio-derived nanocomposite derived from epoxidised linseed oil, a bio-derived crosslinker and a starch based carbonaceous mesoporous material (Starbon®) has been developed. The use of Starbons® technology enables the incorporation of carbonaceous materials with tuneable surface functionality (from hydrophilic to hydrophobic). The resulting composite demonstrated good thermal stability up to 300 °C, good low temperature modulus, flexibility and uniformity, as demonstrated by TGA, DMA and SEM studies, respectively. Furthermore, the thermoset composites' swelling behaviour in solvents with a high polar index through to non-polar ones was investigated, revealing initially that non polar solvents have a greater impact on swelling than polar solvents and that in all cases the addition of filler reduces the extent of swelling. The inclusion of this carbonaceous material with hierarchical pore structure and high BET surface area may further aid the use of such composites in membrane separation applications

Modular Horizontal Continuous Casting Machine: Meeting the Challenge of Flexible Manufacturing of the Future

Manufacturing of the future has to be more flexible and versatile in order to meet the ever changing needs of the customer. Most continuous casting machines today are rather inflexible in that they are designed to cast specific types of alloys and with limited size ranges, thus suitable for the mass production paradigm. This paper reports the design and development of a modular horizontal continuous casting machine (HCCM). The aim is to have a machine that can continuously cast a variety of ferrous alloys from carbon steels, low alloy steels, stainless steels to cast irons, and with ranges of cross-sectional areas. The modular design approach and quick changing techniques are employed as the key design concept. The construction of the first prototype of the machine is completed and several field trials have been conducted. The results are promising. For carbon and low alloy steel billets, the overall structures and surface quality are good although the amount of porosities is rather large. The overall quality of stainless steel billets is better than that of carbon and low alloy steels. Adapting and setting up the machine for casting different alloys and/or different billet sizes require a little time, no more than 20 minutes.</jats:p

Discussion on grain refining mechanism of AM30 alloy inoculated by MgCO3

AM30 was inoculated by MgCO3 powder with different holding time. The influence of MgO decomposed by MgCO3 on the grain refinement effect was mainly discussed in the present study. Three sets of comparative samples were prepared. They were AM30 alloy inoculated by MgO and pure Mg inoculated by MgO and MgCO3. The possible nucleating particles were observed and analyzed by EPMA and SEM. AM30 alloy could be effectively refined by either MgCO3 or MgO inoculation. Grain refining efficiency and fading effect of MgO inoculation were better than those of MgCO3 inoculation. However, pure Mg could not be refined by these two inoculants. Al is an indispensable element to determine the grain refinement of Mg alloys inoculated by either MgCO3 or MgO. MgO should not be the effective substrates for α-Mg phase. A novel grain refining mechanism of MgCO3 inoculation on AM30 alloy was proposed by combining experimental results with theoretical calculation, i.e., MgAl2O4 should be the potent nuclei of α-Mg grain for the AM30 alloy in addition to Al4C3. Keywords: AM30 alloy, Grain refinement, Magnesium carbonate, Nucleating substrate