Effects of size and position of an unconnected aluminum electrode on bipolar anodization in an AC electric field

The effects of the size and position of an aluminum bipolar electrode (BPE) on the uniformity of formation of anodic porous alumina in an alternating current electric field were investigated. Anodized specimens were dyed, and the resistance was measured after the specimens were anodized again. Phenomena observed during film formation indicated that the BPEs had unique potential distributions that strongly depended on their length and width. The color variations and electrical resistance of the BPEs were symmetrical and varied from the centers of the BPEs to their ends. When multiple BPEs were processed at the same time, their position in the non-uniform electric field was demonstrated to be an important factor for controlling the uniformity of film formation. The best results were obtained when the BPE was placed at the center of the defined space.

The effectiveness of sunflower cultivation in the Southern chernozems of the Volgograd region by complex pre-sowing seed treatment

Sunflower is the main oilseed crop in Russia, at the same time it is widely used in the feed production. The purpose of the research was to improve the technology of sunflower cultivation in the zone of Southern chernozems in the Volgograd region by conducting a comprehensive presowing seed treatment in an electric field with subsequent seed treatment with a growth regulator in order to increase the yield and quality of oilseeds studied sunflower hybrids. According to the chosen experimental plan, three types of experiments have been carried out. During the first experiment, seeds of sunflower hybrids NK Neoma, LG 5550, EC Petunia have been treated in the alternate current electric field, in the second experiment the seeds have been treated with a growth regulator (the drug “Zerebra Agro”), in the third experiment the seeds have been subjected to a complex effect of electrophysical and biological factors. The level of profitability on sunflower hybrids NK Neoma, LG 5550 and EC Petunia in the control (without treatment) varied in the range of 147–200 %. Processing of sunflower seeds with the drug “Zerebra Agro” contributed to the increase in the level of profitability. On the sunflower hybrid of NK Neoma the profitability level was 178 %, on the sunflower hybrid LG 5550 it was 232 % and on the sunflower hybrid EC Petunia it was 171 %. When processing seeds in the alternate current electric field, the level of profitability was higher than when processing with the drug “Zerebra Agro”. On the sunflower hybrid of NK Neoma, the profitability level was 190 %, on the sunflower hybrid LG 5550 it was 252 % and on the sunflower hybrid EC Petunia it was 184 %. When using complex pre-sowing treatment, the maximum profitability value was achieved for sunflower hybrids NK Neoma, LG 5550 and EC Petunia 230 %, 271 and 201 %, respectively.

Effect of fouling resistance in heat exchanger and the crystal form of CaCO3 in hard circulating cooling water with electrostatic field and alternating current electric field

The effect of high voltage electrostatic field and high voltage alternating current electric field on the heat exchanger surface fouling under the condition of hard water was investigated. The Ca2+ concentration in two water conditions was 12 mmol/L. The Mg2+ concentration was 10 mmol/L and 12 mmol/L respectively. The concentration changed with the Mg2+ concentration. X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscope results confirmed that the main crystal phases of the scale samples consist of calcite and aragonite. The high voltage electrostatic treatment can promote scale growth under both water quality conditions. However, the high voltage alternating current electric field treatment shows a good scale inhibition effect under both water quality conditions, and the scale inhibition effect is best when both Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations are 12 mmol/L, and the average scale inhibition rate reaches 47.58%. When the calcite content of the scale sample is significantly higher than that of aragonite, Mg2+ affects the growth and solubility of crystals. On the other hand, the high voltage alternating current electric field treatment can effectively extend the fouling induction period of the adherent scale on the heat exchanger surface, which is favorable for heat exchanger fouling.

Master sintering curve of W-Mo-Cu alloy prepared by electric field sintering

The master sintering curve (MSC) was developed for the densification description and prediction of W-Mo-Cu alloy sintered by lager current electric field sintering. W-Mo-Cu compacts were sintered at the temperature of 975°C, pressure of 30MPa, and heating rate of 25,75,125°C/s, respectively. The MSC of W-Mo-Cu alloy was successfully constructed with the calculated value Q = 110kJ/mol and experimental data (such as shrinkage data and sintering time and temperature) of the compact. The shrinkage response and the densification process of the compact were studied with the MSC. What's more, the densification of the alloy was verified and predicted by the MSC. The results show that the MSC is a promising strategy for predicting the densification evolution of ternary alloy during sintering.

Effect of Oxidative Stress on Physicochemical Quality of Taiwanese Seagrape (Caulerpa lentillifera) with the Application of Alternating Current Electric Field (ACEF) during Post-Harvest Storage

This study aims to determine the physicochemical quality of seagrape (Caulerpa lentillifera) as a freshness label for products cultivated in different seasons. The applied post-harvest storage experiments compared between, within and without seawater that led to oxidative stress conditions. Water content, malondialdehyde (MDA) compound, total phenolic content (TPC), and chlorophyll content were observed at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of storage. The storage without seawater showed sharper quality reductions by reaching 20–40% of water loss, 70–90% of MDA production, 15–25% of TPC reduction, and 40–60% of total chlorophyll degradation. The storage within seawater showed lower quality reductions due to the specific growth rates still reaching 5–10%. This study found that the greater the physicochemical quality, the slower the decomposition rates of the stored seagrape during storage. Therefore, the seagrapes’ obvious discoloration occurred earlier in winter, followed by summer and spring. Kinetics of chlorophyll degradation on seagrape in different seasons meet different order-reactions during storage. Furthermore, alternating current electric field (ACEF) treatment with 125 kV/m of intensity for 60 min can lower the spring seagrapes’ physicochemical quality by reaching 10–30% of inhibition, resulting in the shelf-life extension for up to 12 days of post-harvest storage.