Surface Review and Letters

Adsorption is widely applied to remove arsenic from water. This paper reviewed and compared the recent progresses on the arsenic removal by adsorption using two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphene-based materials as adsorbents. Functional graphene sheet achieved the largest As(III) adsorption capacity of 138.79mg/g, while Mg-Al LDH/GO2 showed the largest As(V) adsorption capacity of 183.11mg/g. Parameters including pH, temperature, co-existing ions and loaded metal or metal oxide affected the adsorption process. The adsorption mechanisms of graphene-based materials for As(III) and As(V) could be explained by surface complexation and the electrostatic attraction, respectively. Future works are suggested to focus on regenerating of two-dimensional graphene-based adsorbents and developing the three-dimensional with large specific surface area and better adsorption performance.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and 90% of coronary interventions consists in stenting procedures. Most of the implanted stents are made of AISI 316L stainless steel (SS). Excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, workability and statistically demonstrated medical efficiency are the reasons for the preference of 316L SS over any other material for stent manufacture. However, patients receiving 316L SS bare stents are reported with 15–20% of restenosis probability. The decrease of the restenosis probability is the driving force for a number of strategies for surface conditioning of 316L SS stents. This review reports the latest advances in coating, passivation and the generation of controlled topographies as strategies for increasing the corrosion resistance and reducing the ion release and restenosis probability on 316L SS stents. Undoubtedly, the future of technique is related to the elimination of interfaces with abrupt change of properties, the elimination of molecules and any other phase somehow linked to the metal substrate. And leaving the physical, chemical and topographical smart modification of the outer part of the 316L SS stent for enhancing the biocompatiblization with endothelial tissues.

In this paper, experimental investigation on cryorolled aluminum AA2219-T87 plate by using friction stir welding (FSW) process is carried out. AA2219-T87 plates with a size of 200$\times$100$\times$22.4 mm were rolled and reduced to 12.2mm thickness (more than 45% of reduction in total thickness of the base material) at cryogenic temperature (operating temperature range $-$90–$-$30${}^{\circ }$C). The cryorolled (CR) plates have reduced grain size, improved hardness and increased corrosion resistance property compared with the uncryorolled AA2219-T87 plates. FSW joints of cryorolled AA2219-T87 plates were prepared using cylindrical threaded FSW tool pin profile. Mechanical and metallurgical behaviors of friction stir welded joints were analyzed and the effects of the FSW process parameters are discussed in this paper. The variation of microhardness in the FSW joint regions were correlated with the microstructure of FSW joints. Cryorolled plate and FSW joints were tested for corrosion resistance using potentiodynamic polarization test. FSW joints shows better result during the corrosion resistance analysis compared to base AA2219-T87. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results showed that fine $\alpha$-Al grains with eutectic phase (Al₂Cu) were present in the weld nugget (WN). The large clusters of strengthening precipitates were reduced in size and merged with the weld nugget portion.

The permittivity as a function of temperature and dc bias in the poly(vinylindene fluoride-trifluorethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)] terpolymer was measured and analyzed using both the Vogel–Fulcher and universal Curie–Weiss law. The decreased permittivity with increasing dc bias has been observed. The lower permittivity in dc bias is due to the suppressed diffusion of phase transition rather than the nonlinear dielectric contribution. Furthermore, the suppression of phase diffusion can be explained by the molecular conformation conversion in dc bias.

An environment-friendly technique for depositing a Mg–Al hydrotalcite (HT) (Mg₆Al₂(OH)${}_{16}$-CO${}_3\cdot 4$H₂O) conversion film was developed to protect the Mg–Gd–Zn alloy from corrosion. The morphology and chemical compositions of the film were analyzed by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS), respectively. The electrochemical test and hydrogen evolution test were employed to evaluate the biocorrosion behavior of Mg–Gd–Zn alloy coated with the Mg–Al HT film in the simulated body fluid (SBF). It was found that the formation of Mg–Al HT film was a transition from amorphous precursor to a crystalline HT structure. The HT film can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloy. It indicates that the process provides a promising approach to modify Mg–Gd–Zn alloy.

Trial search method of determination of structure from LEED I–V curves is to compute the same including multiple scattering for plausible guess structures and finding the actual structure from the best match. This requires enormous amount of computer time and for some cases even may turn unsuccessful. Using change of computational techniques and different search algorithms tremendous advancement have been made, but still it is possible to get struck in a local minima rather than global one. Therefore a method for determination of surface structure from LEED I–V curves, avoiding a search in the parameter space, is always considered important not only for reducing computational time enormously but also for avoiding the trapping in local minima. To this end, we have investigated the possibilities of retrieval of surface structural parameters by reversing the process of layer doubling method of conventional LEED theory.

In this study, a novel pre-magnetization process, which enables easy diffusion of nitrogen, was used to enhance plasma nitriding efficiency. Firstly, magnetic fields with intensities of 1500G and 2500G were applied to the untreated samples before nitriding. After the pre-magnetization, the untreated and pre-magnetized samples were plasma nitrided for 4h in a gas mixture of 50% N₂–50% H₂ at 500${}^{\circ }$C and 600${}^{\circ }$C. The structural, mechanical and morphological properties of samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness tester and surface tension meter. It was observed that pre-magnetization increased the surface energy of the samples. Therefore, both compound and diffusion layer thicknesses increased with pre-magnetization process before nitriding treatment. As modified layer thickness increased, higher surface hardness values were obtained.

In this work the flat abrasive finishing process is reported. The mechanical and chemical phenomena taking place during the finishing process are described. The most common forming process schemes observed during abrasive treatment are reviewed. The schemes of pulsed, geometrical and energetic models are discussed. On the basis of the energetic hypothesis and Preston hypothesis, the rational law of clamping force variation during the finishing is established. This law allowed for the stabilization of the contact pressure and an increase of the treatment efficiency. An exponential dependence of a boundary contact area variation during the finishing of planes with different initial profiles of the macro-topography is developed. An experimental confirmation of the Preston hypothesis during the abrasive finishing is carried out with the plane-finishing machine “Rastr 220”. The comparison experiments are carried out at constant and variable clamping forces of the treated surface towards the tool. It is found that by varying the forces according to the exponential law (i.e. similar to the changing of the boundary contact area during the abrasive finishing) the process efficiency is increasing by a factor of 2.5–3. It is shown that the changes of the root mean square deviation $\sigma$ of the roughness $R_a$ of a treated surface in the beginning of the process (at time $t=1$ min) during the finishing at a constant clamping force is two times higher compared to the treatment at a variable clamping force in the same time period.

This paper introduces the surface modification of Al-6351 alloy by green compact SiC–Cu electrode using electro-discharge coating (EDC) process. A Taguchi L-16 orthogonal array is employed to investigate the process by varying tool parameters like composition and compaction load and electro-discharge machining (EDM) parameters like pulse-on time and peak current. Material deposition rate (MDR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface roughness (SR) are measured on the coated specimens. An optimum condition is achieved by formulating overall evaluation criteria (OEC), which combines multi-objective task into a single index. The signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to investigate the effect of relevant process parameters. A confirmation test is conducted based on optimal process parameters and experimental results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of this approach. The modified surface is characterized by optical microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. XRD analysis of the deposited layer confirmed the transfer of tool materials to the work surface and formation of inter-metallic phases. The micro-hardness of the resulting composite layer is also measured which is 1.5–3 times more than work material’s one and highest layer thickness (LT) of 83.644$\mu$m has been successfully achieved.

A method was developed to conveniently and rapidly determine hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in food. The glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with agmatine sulfate (AS) easily anchoring nickel ion was attached to AS with polyamine structure. As a result, more Ni${}^{2+}$ was obtained and transformed to Ni(OH)₂/NiOOH on the AS–GCE, which caused the electrode to own much better electrocatalytic performance on H₂O₂. Based on these, the content of H₂O₂ in thin sheet of bean curd sample was detected with standard addition method, by which good results were obtained.

We have investigated the adsorption sites and the electronic structure correlated with the magnetic properties of ultrathin Fe films on W(110) system using spin-polarized calculations within the density-functional approach with generalized gradient approximation by the pseudopotential plane-wave code. For one Fe monolayer (ML) on W(110) system the Fe atoms prefer to bind on the bridge adsorption sites of the W(110) surface, with an inward relaxation of $-$12.68%. The top and diagonal bridge sites investigated are energetically less favorable. We have shown that intermixing between Fe and W is unlikely: the surface ordered Fe–W alloy is unstable against the 1-ML Fe on W(110). While the control of oxygen element is known to be an important key to a perfect growth of Fe on W(110), its possible contamination is checked. Performing spin polarized calculations with the optimized geometry, the induced magnetic moments on W subsurface are obtained: the W atoms are always antiferromagnetically coupled to the Fe atoms, one exception being the case of the antiferromagnetic Fe surface where, due to frustration, the induced polarization on the W atoms is zero. The bridge site is the lower adsorption energy one for O₂ molecular bonding perpendicular to the surface. In the case of O₂ bonding parallel and oblique to the surface, it is always dissociated into two O atoms on Fe/W(110) surface through geometry optimization, for all considered sites.

In hot-dip galvanizing process, air jet wiping control is so crucial to determine the coating thickness and uniformity of the zinc layer on the steel strip. A numerical simulation of gas-jet wiping in hot-dip galvanizing was conducted to minimize the occurrence of edge over coating (EOC). The causes of EOC were identified by contrasting and analyzing the airflow fields on the strip edge with and without a baffle. The factors influencing the airflow field on the strip edge during the change in the gap between the baffle and the strip edge were also analyzed. The effect of the distance between the air knife and the strip was evaluated. Technological parameters with on-site guidance role were obtained by combining them with the actual production to elucidate the role of the baffle in restraining the occurrence of EOC. The uniform distribution of pressure and coating thickness on the strip is achieved when the distance of the baffle from the strip edge is about 0.3 times of the jetting distance.

The fatigue crack initiation life and growth rate are affected by experimental conditions. A corrosive environment can be created in a laboratory by means of dropping salt water onto the specimen surface, spraying chloride mist into the experimental chamber, etc. In the case of smooth specimens of some metals, fatigue life is shortened and the fatigue limit disappears under such corrosive experimental conditions. In this study, the effects of intermittent spraying of 3% NaCl solution-mist on corrosion fatigue behavior were investigated. The material used was 0.37% carbon steel. This is called JIS S35C in Japan. Spraying of 3% NaCl solution-mist attacked the surface layer of the specimen. It is well known that the pitting, oxidation–reduction reaction, etc. affect the fatigue strength of metals in a corrosive environment. We carried out corrosion fatigue tests with smooth specimens, holed specimens and slit specimens. Then the effects of such specimen geometry on the fatigue strength were investigated when the NaCl solution-mist was sprayed onto the specimen surface. In the case of lower stress amplitude application in slit specimens, the fatigue life in a corrosive atmosphere was longer than that in the open air. It is discussed that the behavior is related to the crack closure which happens when the oxide builds up and clogs the crack or slit.

The grayish black film was prepared on AM50 magnesium alloy with a new method which combined chemical conversion with micro-arc oxidation (MAO). The optimum formula of chemical conversion was obtained by L₉(3⁴) orthogonal test. Meanwhile, the morphology, structure, composition and corrosion resistance of films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy spectrum analysis (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical tests and CuSO₄ drip experiment. The results indicated that Mo element was introduced into the MAO film by chemical conversion pretreatment. The surface of composite film was smooth and compact. The main phase composition of the composite film were SiO₂, Mo₉O${}_{26}$, MgSiO${}_{3,}$ Mg₂SiO₄ and Mo₉O${}_{26}$ was identified to be responsible for giving color to the film. The corrosion resistance of the grayish black film was improved obviously.