Low-Temperature Thermal Degradation of Disinfected COVID-19 Non-Woven Polypropylene—Based Isolation Gown Wastes into Carbonaceous Char

Yields of carbonaceous char with a high surface area were enhanced by decreasing the temperature to improve the conversion of hazardous plastic polypropylene (PP), the major component in abundantly used isolation gowns. This study applied pyrolysis with different low pyrolytic temperatures to convert disinfected PP-based isolation gown waste (PP-IG) into an optimised amount of char yields. A batch reactor with a horizontal furnace was used to mediate the thermal decomposition of PP-IG. Enhanced surface area and porosity value of PP-IG derived char were obtained via an optimised slow pyrolysis approach. The results showed that the amount of yielded char was inversely proportional to the temperature. This process relied heavily on the process parameters, especially pyrolytic temperature. Additionally, as the heating rate decreased, as well as longer isothermal residence time, the char yields were increased. Optimised temperature for maximum char yields was recorded. The enhanced SBET values for the char and its pore volume were collected, ~24 m2 g−1 and ~0.08 cm3 g−1, respectively. The char obtained at higher temperatures display higher volatilisation and carbonisation. These findings are beneficial for the utilisation of this pyrolysis model in plastic waste management and conversion of PP-IG waste into char for further activated carbon and fuel briquettes applications, with the enhanced char yields, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Effect of Powder Ball Milling on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Fe-Cr-Mo-Mn-(Cu) Steel

The effect of ball milling powder mixtures of Höganäs pre-alloyed iron Astaloy CrM, low-carbon ferromanganese Elkem, elemental electrolytic Cu and C-UF graphite on the sintered structure and mechanical properties was evaluated. The mixing was conducted using Turbula mixer for 30 minutes and CDI-EM60 frequency inverter for 1 and 2 hours. Milling was performed on 150 g mixtures with (in weight %) CrM + 1% Mn, CrM + 2% Mn, CrM + 1% Mn + 1% Cu and CrM + 2% Mn + 1% Cu, all with 0.6%C. The green compacts were single pressed at 660 MPa according to PN-EN ISO 2740. Sintering was carried out in a laboratory horizontal furnace Carbolite STF 15/450 at 1250°C for 60 minutes in 5%H2 – 95%N2 atmosphere with a heating rate of 75°C/min, followed by sintering hardening at 60°C/min cooling rate. All the steels were characterized by martensitic structures. Mechanical testing revealed that steels based on milled powders have slightly higher mechanical properties compared to those only mixed and sintered. The best combination of mechanical properties, for ball milled CrM + 1% Mn + 1% Cu was UTS 1046 MPa, TRS 1336 MPa and A 1.94%.

The Effect of Processing Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Structural Steels Based on Prealloyed Powders / Wpływ Parametrów Wytwarzania Na Strukturę I Własności Mechaniczne Spiekanych Stali Wykonanych Na Bazie Proszków Stopowych

The object of the study was to evaluate the effect of production parameters on the structure and mechanical properties of Cr and Cr-Mo PM steels. The measurements were performed on sintered steels made from commercial Höganäs pre-alloyed powders: Astaloy CrA, Astaloy CrL and Astaloy CrM mixed with carbon, added in the form of graphite powder grade C-UF.Following mixing in a Turbula mixer for 30 minutes, green compacts were single pressed at 660 MPa according to PNEN ISO 2740 standard. Sintering was carried out in a laboratory horizontal furnace at 1120°C and 1250°C for 60 minutes, in 5%H2-95%N2atmosphere. After sintering, the samples were tempered at 200°C for 60 minutes in air. The steels are characterized by ferritic - pearlitic, bainitic - ferritic and bainitic structures.Following mechanical testing, it can be assumed that steel based on Astaloy CrA pre-alloyed powder could be an alternative material for steels based on Astaloy CrL powder. These steels sintered at 1250°C with 0.6% C had tensile strengths about 650 MPa, offset yield strengths about 300 MPa, elongations about 8.50 %, TRSs about 1100 MPa, hardnesses 220 HV.

Sintered Structural Pm Cr and Cr-Mo Steels/ Spiekane Stale Konstrukcyjne Chromowe I Chromowo-Molibdenowe

The object of the study was the evaluation of the effect of production parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr and Cr-Mo PM steels. The steels were processed from commercial Höganäs pre-alloyed powders: Astaloy CrA, Astaloy CrL and Astaloy CrM with carbon, added in the form of grade C-UF graphite powder in amounts of 0.4 and 0.8 wt. %. Following Turbula mixing for 30 minutes, green compacts were single pressed at 660 MPa according to PN-EN ISO 2740 standard. Sintering was carried out in a laboratory horizontal furnace at 1120°C and 1250°C for 60 minutes in a 5%-95% hydrogen-nitrogen atmosphere. After sintering, the samples were tempered at 200°C for 60 minutes in air. Mechanical tests indicate that the steel based on Astaloy CrA pre-alloyed powder could be an alternative material to steels based on Astaloy CrM. Steels sintered at the higher temperature revealed better mechanical properties.

Structural and Morphological Properties of Nanostructured ZnO Particles Grown by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis Method with Horizontal Furnace

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized in a horizontal furnace at 500°C using different zinc nitrate hexahydrate concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 M) as reactive solution by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. The physical-chemical properties of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles have been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). With the TGA is has optimized the temperature at which the initial reactive (Zn(NO3)2·6H2O), is decomposed completely to give way to its corresponding oxide, ZnO. SEM revealed secondary particles with a quasispherical shape that do not change significantly with the increasing of precursor solution concentration as well as some content of the broken spheres. Increasing the precursor solution concentration leads to the increase in the average size of ZnO secondary particles from248±73to470±160 nm; XRD reveals the similar tendency for the crystallite size which changes from23±4to45±4 nm. HRTEM implies that the secondary particles are with hierarchical structure composed of primary nanosized subunits. These results showed that the precursor concentration plays an important role in the evolution on the size, stoichiometry, and morphology of ZnO nanoparticles.

Surface Studies of PVT Grown CdS Crystals

Physical vapour technique (PVT) is a versatile method to grow IIVI semiconductors. In present investigations, CdS crystals have been grown by this method using dual zone micro processor controlled horizontal furnace. CdS crystals grown in present case have been characterized by EDAX for stoichiometric conformation. The roughness of surface of grown CdS crystals has been studied in detail using optical microscopy, SEM and AFM. The surface topography study of as grown crystals has been carried out to understand the growth mechanism which was necessary for its application in electronic devices.