Amir Azam Khan

Efficient ecofriendly synthesis of pyrazole acryloyl analogs by amino acid catalysis

ABSTRACT An easy and effective green approach of Knoevenagel condensation and arylidene formation with the substrates involves pyrazole-3-carbaldehydes and active methylenes under catalytic action of glycine (the simplest amino acid) in dimethylsulfoxide. These reactions were successfully carried out at room temperature. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Tensile properties of ground coffee waste reinforced polyethylene composite

This paper presents composite of oxo-biodegradable high density polyethylene (oxo-HDPE) and ground coffee waste (GCW). The blends were evaluated at the proportion of 94.5 to 5.5 polymer-filler ratio with different particle sizes, extraction and mercerisation treatments. Compression moulding has been employed to fabricate the composite. Microstructure of the ground coffee waste was characterised using SEM. SEM showed the surface of the treated fibres were coarser as impurities were removed. Chemical modificated GCW showed better adhesion with the matrix. Both untreated and treated GCW/oxo-HDPE composite improved in tensile modulus.

Laser surface treatment of porous ceramic substrate for application in solid oxide fuel cells

Laser has offered a large number of benefits for surface treatment of ceramics due to possibility of localized heating, very high heating/cooling rates and possibility of growth of structural configurations only produced under non-equilibrium high temperature conditions. The present work investigates oxidation of porous ZrB2-SiC sintered ceramic substrates through treatment by a 1072 ± 10 nm ytterbium fiber laser. A multi-layer structure is hence produced showing successively oxygen rich distinct layers. The porous bulk beneath these layers remained unaffected as this laser-formed oxide scale and protected the substrate from oxidation. A glassy SiO2 structure thus obtained on the surface of the substrate becomes subject of interest for further research, specifically for its utilization as solid protonic conductor in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs).

The Low Velocity Impact Properties of Pandanus Fiber Composites

The impact properties of biodegradable Pandanus atrocarpus composite laminate is studied. Laminate samples were fabricated using a hot compression molding technique with high-density polyethylene and extracted Pandanus fiber. Pandanus composites were tested under impact loading in order to study their relative impact performance. Under low velocity impact loading, Pandanus fiber laminates offered an excellent resistance to impact penetration. Tests have shown that increasing the volume fraction of Pandanus fiber can enhance the toughness of the composite. The biodegradable composites imply attractive properties that may be accessible for use in engineering sectors.

Surface engineering glass-metal coatings designed for induction heating of ceramic components

The term Surface Engineering is of relatively recent origin and use, however, the use of coatings and treatments to render surfaces of materials more suitable for certain application or environment is not new. With the advent of Vacuum Technology, Surface Engineering has gained a whole new impetus, whereby expensive materials with adequate mechanical, chemical and thermal properties are being coated or treated on their surfaces in order to achieve what is called as Surface Engineered materials. The present paper presents an overview of recent achievements in Surface Engineering and gives a detailed view of a specific application where glass-metal composite coatings were deposited on ceramic components in order to render them sensitive to induction heating. Sintered glaze coatings containing silver particles in appropriate concentration can be used for the induction heating of porcelain. Mixtures of glass ceramic powders with silver are used to prepare self-transfer patterns, which are deposited over porcelain. Several configurations of these coatings, which are aesthetic to start with, are employed and heating patterns are recorded. The microstructure of these coatings is discussed in relation to the heating ability by a classical household induction system. The results show that this technique is practical and commercially viable.

Advanced ceramic matrix composites for high energy X-ray generation

High energy x-ray targets are the anodes used in high performance tubes, designed to work for long operating times and at high power. Such tubes are used in computed tomography (CT) scan machines. Usually the tubes used in CT scanners have to continuously work at high temperatures and for longer scan durations in order to get maximum information during a single scan. These anodes are composed of a refractory substrate which supports a refractory metallic coating. The present work is a review of the development of a ceramic metal composite based on aluminium nitride (AlN) and molybdenum for potential application as the substrate. This composite is surface engineered by coating with tungsten, the most popular material for high energy x-ray targets. To spray metallic coatings on the surface of ceramic matrix composites dc blown arc plasma is employed. The objective is to increase the performance and the life of an x-ray tube. Aluminium nitride-molybdenum ceramic matrix composites were produced by uniaxial hotpressing mixtures of AlN and Mo powders. These composites were characterized for their mechanical, thermal, electrical and micro-structural properties. An optimized composition was selected which contained 25 vol.% of metallic phase dispersed in the AlN matrix. These composites were produced in the actual size of an anode and coated with tungsten through dc blown arc plasma spraying. The results have shown that sintering of large size anodes is possible through uniaxial pressing, using a modified sintering cycle.