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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanics of Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2024) | Viewed by 12752

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Dr. Luigi Calabrese

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Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contrada Di Dio (Sant'Agata), 98166 Messina, Italy
Interests: functional materials; advanced composite materials; coatings; material corrosion and durability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications” of the journal Materials addresses the recent research progress on materials science and engineering for industrial applications, involving the interest of researchers and specialists worldwide. The aim is to broaden the knowledge on recent scientific improvements in innovative materials for engineering applications. Original research and review articles oriented on applied implications of research in many industrial sectors (such as buildings, energy, textile, oil and gas, automotive, etc. ) are welcome.

In this context, particular emphasis will be given to research developments able to improve the applications and market extension of advanced and functional materials, offering a more recent focus on R&D activities for the topic of industrial materials.

Dr. Luigi Calabrese
Guest Editor

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Keywords

advanced materials and structures
material science and technology
functional materials
industrial applications
new material concepts
energy materials
sustainable materials
innovative technologies

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Necking and Barreling Deformation Behaviors in Bending of Single-Crystal Gold Micro-Cantilever

by Kazuya Fujita, Kosuke Suzuki, Keisuke Asano, Chun-Yi Chen, Tomoyuki Kurioka, Katsuyuki Machida, Hiroyuki Ito, Yoshihiro Miyake, Masato Sone and Tso-Fu Mark Chang

Materials 2024, 17(16), 4054; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164054 - 15 Aug 2024

Viewed by 620

Abstract

Necking and barreling deformation behaviors occurred simultaneously during the bending test of a single-crystal gold micro-cantilever (sample A) with the loading direction parallel to the [1-10] orientation and the neutral plane parallel to the [110] orientation. In contrast, for another single-crystal gold micro-cantilever, sample B, with the loading direction aligned parallel to the [0.37 −0.92 0.05] orientation and the neutral plane parallel to the [0.54 0.28 0.78] orientation, predominant slip band deformation was noted. Sample A exhibited activation of four slip systems, whereas sample B demonstrated activity in only a single-slip system. This difference suggests that the presence of multiple slip systems contributes to the concurrent occurrence of necking and barreling deformations. Furthermore, variations in the thickness of the micro-cantilevers resulted in observable strengthening, indicating that the effect of sample size is intricately linked to the geometry of the cross-section, which we have termed the “sample geometry effect”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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21 pages, 15624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micro- and Macroscopic Analysis of Fatigue Wear of Gear Wheel Top Layer—An Impact Analysis of Thermochemical Treatment

by Piotr Osiński, Włodzimierz Dudziński, Adam Deptuła, Rafał Łuszczyna and Marek Kalita

Materials 2024, 17(13), 3203; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133203 - 1 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1021

Abstract

Today, there are many diagnostic methods and advanced measurement techniques enabling the correct diagnosis and assessment of the type and degree of wear of cogwheels (gears, pumps, etc.). The present study presents an analysis of the surface defects of a cogwheel of an oil pump prototype (3PW-BPF-24). The test object operated for a certain number of hours under controlled operating and environmental parameters. The damage to the surface layer was caused by fatigue phenomena and previous thermo-chemical treatment. On the basis of the significant percentage share (~30%) of residual austenite in the volume of the diffusion layer, a hypothetical conclusion was drawn about the suboptimal parameters of the thermo-chemical treatment process (in relation to the chemical composition of the analyzed pinion). A large number of research studies indicate that the significant presence of residual austenite causes a decrease in tooth surface hardness, the initiation of brittle cracks, a sharp decrease in fatigue strength, an increase in brittleness and a tendency to develop surface layer cracks during operation. High-resolution 3D scans of randomly selected pitting defects were used in the detailed study of the present work. It was indicated that the analysis of the morphology of surface defects allowed some degree of verification of the quality of the heat/chemical treatment. The martensitic transformation of residual austenite under controlled (optimum) repeated heat treatment conditions could significantly improve the durability of the pinion (cogwheel). In the case analyzed, the preferred treatment was the low-temperature treatment. The paper concludes with detailed conclusions based on the microscopic and macroscopic investigations carried out. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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19 pages, 6172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Micro- and Nanosilica on the Mechanical and Microstructural Characteristics of Some Special Mortars Made with Recycled Concrete Aggregates

by Claudiu Mazilu, Radu Deju, Dan Paul Georgescu, Adelina Apostu and Alin Barbu

Materials 2024, 17(12), 2791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122791 - 7 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 663

Abstract

In this paper, we study the influence of densified microsilica and colloidal nanosilica admixtures on the mechanical strength and the microstructural characteristics of special mortars used for immobilizing radioactive concrete waste. The experimental program focused on the replacement of cement with micro- and/or nanosilica, in different proportions, in the basic composition of a mortar made with recycled aggregates. The technical criteria imposed for such cementitious systems, used for the encapsulation of low-level radioactive waste, imply high fluidity, increased mechanical strength and lack of segregation and of bleeding. We aimed to increase the structural compactness of the mortars by adding micro- and nanosilica, all the while maintaining the technical criteria imposed, to obtain a cement matrix with high durability and increased capacity for immobilizing radionuclides. The samples from all the compositions obtained were analyzed from the point of view of mechanical strength. Also, micro- and nanosilica as well as samples of the optimal mortar compositions were analyzed physically and microstructurally. Experimental data showed that the mortar samples present maximum compressive strength for a content between 6 and 7.5% wt. of microsilica, respectively, for a content of 2.25% wt. nanosilica. The obtained results suggest a synergistic effect of micro- and nanosilica when they are used simultaneously in cementitious compositions. Thus, among the analyzed compositional variants, the mortar composition with 3% wt. microsilica and 2.25% wt. nanosilica showed the best performance, with an increase in compressive strength of 23.5% compared to the control sample (without micro- and nanosilica). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images highlighted the decrease in pore diameter and the increase in structural compactness, especially for mortar samples with nanosilica content or a mixture of micro- and nanosilica. This study is useful in the field of recycling radioactive concrete resulting from the decommissioning of nuclear research or nuclear power reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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15 pages, 4121 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sorption Capacity of Polydimethylsiloxane Foams Filled with Thermal-Treated Bentonite—Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Foams for Oil Spill Remediation

by Luigi Calabrese, Elpida Piperopoulos, Vesna Stankov Jovanović, Jelena Nikolić, Slobodan Ćirić, Candida Milone and Edoardo Proverbio

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4818; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134818 - 4 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1395

Abstract

The spillage of oil causes severe and long-lasting impacts on both the environment and human life. It is crucial to carefully reconsider the methods and techniques currently employed to recover spilled oil in order to prevent any possible secondary pollution and save time. Therefore, the techniques used to recover spilled oil should be readily available, highly responsive, cost-effective, environmentally safe, and, last but not least, they should have a high sorption capacity. The use of sorbents obtained from natural materials is considered a suitable approach for dealing with oil spills because of their exceptional physical characteristics that support sustainable environmental protection strategies. This article presents a novel sorbent material, which is a composite siloxane foam filled with bentonite clay, aimed at enhancing the hydrophobic and oleophilic behavior of the material. The thermal treatment of bentonite optimizes its sorption capacity by eliminating water, and increasing the surface area, and, consequently, its interaction with oils. In particular, the maximum sorption capacity is observed in kerosene and naphtha for the bentonite clay thermally treated at 600 °C, showing an uptake at saturation of 496.8% and 520.1%, respectively. Additionally, the reusability of the composite foam is evaluated by squeezing it after reaching its saturation point to determine its sorption capacity and reusability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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16 pages, 4880 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Fluoro-Based Polymers/Graphite Foil for H₂/Natural Gas Separation

by Angela Malara, Lucio Bonaccorsi, Antonio Fotia, Pier Luigi Antonucci and Patrizia Frontera

Materials 2023, 16(5), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16052105 - 5 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1610

Abstract

Membrane technologies and materials development appear crucial for the hydrogen/natural gas separation in the impending transition to the hydrogen economy. Transporting hydrogen through the existing natural gas network could result less expensive than a brand-new pipe system. Currently, many studies are focused on the development of novel structured materials for gas separation applications, including the combination of various kind of additives in polymeric matrix. Numerous gas pairs have been investigated and the gas transport mechanism in those membranes has been elucidated. However, the selective separation of high purity hydrogen from hydrogen/methane mixtures is still a big challenge and nowadays needs a great improvement to promote the transition towards more sustainable energy source. In this context, because of their remarkable properties, fluoro-based polymers, such as PVDF-HFP and Nafion^TM, are among the most popular membrane materials, even if a further optimization is needed. In this study, hybrid polymer-based membranes were deposited as thin films on large graphite surfaces. Different weight ratios of PVDF-HFP and Nafion^TM polymers supported over 200 μm thick graphite foils were tested toward hydrogen/methane gas mixture separation. Small punch tests were carried out to study the membrane mechanical behaviour, reproducing the testing conditions. Finally, the permeability and the gas separation activity of hydrogen/methane over membranes were investigated at room temperature (25 °C) and near atmospheric pressure (using a pressure difference of 1.5 bar). The best performance of the developed membranes was registered when the 4:1 polymer PVDF-HFP/Nafion^TM weight ratio was used. In particular, starting from the 1:1 hydrogen/methane gas mixture, a 32.6% (v%) H₂ enrichment was measured. Furthermore, there was a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical selectivity values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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17 pages, 2474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ionic Liquids as Working Fluids for Heat Storage Applications: Decomposition Behavior of N-Butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate

by Francesca Nardelli, Enrico Berretti, Alessandro Lavacchi, Emanuela Pitzalis, Angelo Freni and Silvia Pizzanelli

Materials 2023, 16(5), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051762 - 21 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1607

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) represent promising working fluids to be used in thermal energy storage (TES) technologies thanks to their peculiar properties, such as low volatility, high chemical stability, and high heat capacity. Here, we studied the thermal stability of the IL N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([BmPyrr]FAP), a potential working fluid for TES applications. The IL was heated at 200 °C for up to 168 h either in the absence or in contact with steel, copper, and brass plates to simulate the conditions used in TES plants. High-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was found to be useful for the identification of the degradation products of both the cation and the anion, thanks to the acquisition of ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁹F-based experiments. In addition, elemental analysis was performed on the thermally degraded samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our analysis shows a significant degradation of the FAP anion upon heating for more than 4 h, even in the absence of the metal/alloy plates; on the other hand, the [BmPyrr] cation displays a remarkable stability also when heated in contact with steel and brass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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26 pages, 16486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cyclic Shear Behavior of Frozen Cement-Treated Sand–Concrete Interface

by Rongkai Pan, Zhaohui (Joey) Yang, Ping Yang and Xin Shi

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8756; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248756 - 8 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1390

Abstract

The cyclic shear behavior of frozen cement-treated soil–concrete interfaces is critical for analyzing soil–structure interfaces and foundation design in cold regions and artificially frozen ground. The cyclic shear behavior of the interface between frozen cement-treated sand and structure is investigated in this paper at various normal stresses and temperatures. Experimental results include the variation of the peak shear stress, peak normal displacement, shear stiffness with the number of cycles, and the relationship between peak shear stress and smoothness under certain conditions. Peak shear stresses of warm frozen cement-treated sand and cold frozen cement-treated sand varied with cycle number. Additionally, the former is significantly larger than the latter in the stable phase. The peak normal displacement showed the same results, indicating that the ice crystals formed on the surface and the strength of the frozen cement-treated sand have significant differences at various temperatures. The study’s findings aid in understanding the complexities of the cyclic shear behavior of frozen cement-treated sand and structure interfaces and provide references on frozen cement-treated sand zones in practical engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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15 pages, 5284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sulfonated-Recycled-PEEK as Matrix of Water Vapor Adsorbent SAPO-34 Based Composite Coatings for Adsorption Heat Pumps: Mechanical and Thermochemical Characterization

by Davide Palamara and Luigi Calabrese

Materials 2022, 15(23), 8439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238439 - 26 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1218

Abstract

In this work, a composite adsorbent coating constituted by high SAPO 34 content and a sulfonated recycled poly (ether ether ketone) was investigated for adsorption heat pump technology. Specifically, the effect of polymer recycling on mechanical and thermal properties, as well as on water vapor adsorption and desorption performance, has been investigated. The degree of sulfonation obtained after 48 h of reaction remained approximately unaltered. The degradation of the polymer due to recycling anticipates the degradation of the C-C bonds of the polymer by about 20 °C without affecting the temperature at which the sulfonic groups degrade. From the mechanical point of view, the coating containing 90% zeolite, due to the use of recycled PEEK, evidenced a worsening of only 11.8% in scratch resistance compared to the virgin one, whereas the adhesive strength exhibited an increase of about 23.2% due to better miscibility of the sulfonated recycled polymer. Adsorption/desorption isobars show an almost similar adsorption capacity of the coating produced with recycled polymer compared to the virgin one, confirming that the water vapor diffusion is not hindered by the polymer matrix during the adsorption/desorption process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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Review

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19 pages, 6048 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress on Helmet Liner Materials and Structural Applications

by Xingyu Zhang, Bin Yang, Jinguo Wu, Xin Li and Ronghua Zhou

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112649 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1294

Abstract

As an important part of head protection equipment, research on the material and structural application of helmet liners has always been one of the hotspots in the field of helmets. This paper first discusses common helmet liner materials, including traditional polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., as well as newly emerging anisotropic materials, polymer nanocomposites, etc. Secondly, the design concept of the helmet liner structure is discussed, including the use of a multi-layer structure, the addition of geometric irregular bubbles to enhance the energy absorption effect, and the introduction of new manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing technology, to realize the preparation of complex structures. Then, the application of biomimetic structures to helmet liner design is analyzed, such as the design of helmet liner structures with more energy absorption properties based on biological tissue structures. On this basis, we propose extending the concept of bionic structural design to the fusion of plant stalks and animal skeletal structures, and combining additive manufacturing technology to significantly reduce energy loss during elastic yield energy absorption, thus developing a reusable helmet that provides a research direction for future helmet liner materials and structural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Materials Science for Engineering Applications)

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