Potassium-Selective Solid-Contact Electrode with High-Capacitance Hydrous Iridium Dioxide in the Transduction Layer

This work presents new material for solid-contact layers—hydrous iridium dioxide IrO2·2H2O, characterized by high electrical capacitance value, evaluated using chronopotentiometry (1.22 mF) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (1.57 mF). The remarkable electrical parameters of layers resulted in great analytical parameters of IrO2·2H2O-contacted potassium-selective electrodes. Various parameters of ion-selective electrodes were examined in the scope of this work using a potentiometry method including: linear range, repeatability, stability of potentiometric response and sensitivity to varying measurement conditions. The analytical parameters obtained for solid-contact electrodes were compared with the ones obtained for coated disc electrodes to evaluate the influence of the iridium dioxide layer. The linear range of the IrO2·2H2O-contacted K+-selective electrodes covered concentrations of K+ ions from 10−6 to 10−1 M and the potential stability was estimated at 0.097 mV/h. The IrO2·2H2O-contacted electrodes turned out to be insensitive to varying light exposure and changes in the pH values of measured solutions (in the pH range of 2 to 10.5). A water layer test proved that, contrary to the coated disc electrode, the substantial water film is not formed between the ion-selective membrane and iridium dioxide layer.

Pin-on-disc study of dry sliding behavior of Co-free HVOF-coated disc tested against different friction materials

The dry sliding behavior of three commercial friction materials (codenamed FM1, FM2, and FM3) tested against a Co-free cermet coating produced by high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) on gray cast-iron discs is investigated. FM1 is a conventional low-metallic friction material, FM2 is developed for using against HVOF-coated discs, and FM3 is a Cu-free friction material with a low content of abrasives and a relatively high concentration of steel fibers. For the tribological evaluation, they are tested on a pin-on-disc (PoD) test rig against Co-free HVOF-coated discs, with particular attention to the running-in stage, which is fundamental for the establishment of a friction layer between the two mating surfaces, i.e., the pin and disc. The PoD tests are performed at room temperature (RT) and a high temperature (HT) of 300 °C. At RT, all materials exhibit a long running-in stage. At HT, no running-in is observed in FM1 and FM2, whereas a shorter running-in period, with respect to the RT case, is observed in FM3 followed by the attainment of a comparatively high coefficient of friction. At RT, the pin wear is mild in all cases but severe at HT. FM3 shows the lowest wear rate at both temperatures. Moreover, the coated disc shows no wear when sliding against the FM3 friction material. All the results are interpreted considering the microstructural characteristics of the friction layers formed on the sliding surfaces. The findings of the present study provide insights into reducing wear in braking system components and hence reducing environmental particulate matter emissions from their wear, through the use of disc coatings.

Hydroxyapatite Formation on Coated Titanium Implants Submerged in Simulated Body Fluid

Titanium implants are commonly used in the field of dentistry for prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. For successful therapy, an implant must bind to the surrounding bone in a process known as osseointegration. The objective for this ongoing study is to determine the potential of different implant surface coatings in providing the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA). The coatings include titanium nitride (TiN), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and quaternized titanium nitride (QTiN). The controls were a sodium hydroxide treated group, which functioned as a positive control, and an uncoated titanium group. Each coated disc was submerged in simulated body fluid (SBF), replenished every 48 h, over a period of 28 days. Each coating successfully developed a layer of HA, which was calculated through mass comparisons and observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis x-rays (EDX). Among these coatings, the quaternized titanium nitride coating seemed to have a better yield of HA. Further studies to expand the data concerning this experiment are underway.

Scaling up Photoelectrocatalytic Reactors: A TiO2 Nanotube-Coated Disc Compound Reactor Effectively Degrades Acetaminophen

Multiple discs coated with hierarchically-organized TiO2 anatase nanotubes served as photoelectrodes in a novel annular photoelectrocatalytic reactor. Electrochemical characterization showed light irradiation enhanced the current response due to photogeneration of charge carriers. The pharmaceutical acetaminophen was used as a representative water micropollutant. The photoelectrocatalysis pseudo-first-order rate constant for acetaminophen was seven orders of magnitude greater than electrocatalytic treatment. Compared against photocatalysis alone, our photoelectrocatalytic reactor at <8 V reduced by two fold, the electric energy per order (EEO; kWh m−3 order−1 for 90% pollutant degradation). Applying a cell potential higher than 8 V detrimentally increased EEO. Acetaminophen was degraded across a range of initial concentrations, but absorbance at higher concentration diminished photon transport, resulting in higher EEO. Extended photoelectrocatalytic reactor operation degraded acetaminophen, which was accompanied by 53% mineralization based upon total organic carbon measurements. This proof of concept for our photoelectrocatalytic reactor demonstrated a strategy to increase photo-active surface area in annular reactors.

TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BRAKE DISCS COATED WITH Cr2O3–40% TiO2 BY PLASMA SPRAYING

In this study, the tribological properties of Cr2O3–40% TiO2 coating for brake disc materials were investigated in braking performances. Plasma spraying technique was used in order to deposit coating materials onto cast iron disc with ventilation channels substrate. The braking performances of discs were tested according to SAE J2430 test standard. Microstructures of discs were characterized by means of light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The surface hardness and roughness were measured with testers. In general, it is noted from the LM and SEM images that there was an infinite gradation between coating layer, binding material and the lamellar graphite cast iron and that bonding resistance was excellent. The coated disc exhibited less wear, approximately the same coefficient of friction and longer life than the uncoated disc. As a result, the coated disc could be a much better alternative for new-generation brake discs in the motor vehicles than the uncoated disc.

Structure and Tribological Properties of Chromium Coatings Formed by Electrodeformation Cladding with Flexible Tools

The paper contains results of investigations on structure and tribotechnical properties of chromium coatings formed by a method of electrodeformation cladding with flexible tools (EDCFT). The purpose of these investigations is to assess prospects for application of the coatings as an alternative to galvanic chrome plating which is widely used in manufacturing hydraulic cylinder rods of metal-cutting machines. Rotary metal brushes with a wire pile made of 65Г-steel and 03Х17Н14М2-stainless steel have been used as a flexible tool. A compacted bar obtained by sintering a mixture of pure chromium powders and a nano-sized diamond-graphite blend UDDG has been employed as a donor material for EDCFT. According to results of the research it has been established that alloying elements of wire pile such as chromium and nickel are added to a coating composition while forming coatings a stainless steel brush. So in the case of using brushes with wire pile of 03X17H14M2-stainless steel the amount of chromium and nickel in a clad coating layer is 5.3 and 9.6 times higher in percentage, respectively, in comparison with the coating formed by a 65Г-steel brush that can contribute to improvement of coating corrosion resistance. At the same time, surface relief of the coating has a developed rough structure consisting of chromium microparticles having various size that are tightly packed and elongated in the direction of brush rotation and there are no flaws in the form of discontinuities and delaminations. Tribological tests have been performed under conditions of “boundary lubrication” on a rotary friction machine that implements friction of a rubber indenter on a flat surface of a rotating disk. According to data of the tribotechnical tests it has been ascertained that under conditions of “boundary friction” for such paired samples as “coated disc – rubber roller” chromium coatings formed by the EDCFT method, have the lowest values of a sliding friction coefficient (fтр = 0.023) which are 7.5 times lower than chromium coatings obtained by electroplating. At the same time the wear of rubber rollers in pairs with electroplated chromium coatings has turned out to be less than in pairs with the coating formed by the EDCFT method.

Improved Solid-Contact Nitrate Ion Selective Electrodes Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an Ion-to-Electron Transducer

Possible improvement of the performance characteristics, reliability and selectivity of solid-contact nitrate ion-selective electrodes (ISE) (SC/NO3−-ISE) is attained by the application of a nitron-nitrate (Nit+/NO3−) ion association complex and inserting multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an ion-to-electron transducer between the ion sensing membrane (ISM) and the electronic conductor glassy carbon (GC) substrate. The potentiometric performance of the proposed electrode revealed a Nernstian slope −55.1 ± 2.1 (r² = 0.997) mV/decade in the range from 8.0 × 10−8–1 × 10−2 M with a detection limit of 2.8 × 10−8 (1.7 ng/mL). Selectivity, repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed sensors were considerably improved as compared to the coated disc electrode (GC/NO3−-ISE) without insertion of a MWCNT layer. Short-term potential stability and capacitance of the proposed sensors were tested using a current-reversal chronopotentiometric technique. The potential drift in presence of a MWCNT layer decreased from 167 μVs−1 (i.e., in absence of MWCNTs) to 16.6 μVs−1. In addition, the capacitance was enhanced from 5.99 μF (in absence of MWCNTs) to 60.3 μF (in the presence of MWCNTs). The presented electrodes were successfully applied for nitrate determination in real samples with good accuracy.

INTERACTION OF NOVEL LUBRICANT ADDITIVES BASED ON MoS2 NANOTUBES WITH NON-FERROUS TRIBOLOGICAL MATERIALS

MoS2 nanotubes (NTs) are novel lubricant additives reducing friction and wear of mechanical components made of steel. Nowadays, non-ferrous surfaces are becoming more widely used, mainly as multifunctional coatings working in configuration with a steel pair. As a consequence, the purpose of this work is to reveal the interaction mechanism of nanoparticles with coated elements in lubricated contacts that are essential in future lubrication technologies. The tribological properties were investigated using a reciprocating sliding testing machine in a steel-ball-on-coated-disc configuration. For tribological studies, two commercially available coatings were selected: WC/C and DLC coating. Frictional results show only slight improvement for lubricant blends containing MoS2 nanotubes with selected coatings, and wear tracks are surprisingly very extensive when compare to oils with additives. Generally, the presence of coating in any tribological test configurations diminish the effectiveness of MoS2 NTs when compare to steel/steel contact. Chemical analytics show that interaction mechanisms of the nanotubes and surface changes, depending on the coating material, have the ability to form a chemically derived tribofilm.