In the present study, the weldments were fabricated via friction stir welding (FSW). The dissimilar matrix metals of AA 7075 (T651) and AA 6061 (T6) with nanohexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as reinforcement were the working materials considered. The joints were distinguished in terms of varied volume fraction (3, 5 and 7
Industrial wastewater pollution arising from organic dyes and toxic heavy metal ions represents a serious environmental and public health challenge, demanding sustainable and multifunctional remediation strategies. In this study, NiO-SnO2 nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized via an eco-friendly green solution combustion route using ground nut powder as a bio-derived fuel and systematically explored for environmental and luminescent applications. The resulting materials were comprehensively characterized using XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, SEM, TEM, and PL techniques, confirming their crystalline heterostructure, nanoscale morphology, and visible light activity. Among the different compositions, the 1:0.5 NiO-SnO2 NCs sample demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance toward visible-light-driven Rhodamine B (RdB) dye degrading and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reduction, governed by the surface charge near the point of zero charge (pHPZC=8.35). The NiO-SnO2 NCs exhibited excellent reusability across multiple cycles. Beyond, these NCs showed strong photo-luminescence and high colour purity, enabling their application in latent fingerprint detection. This dual functionality illustrates the potential of NiO-SnO2 NCs as eco-friendly, multifunctional materials suitable for both environmental and forensic applications, contributing to sustainable waste management and advanced biometric identification.
Induction Motors (IM) are extensively deployed in industrial processes, but its high starting current necessitates the use of a reliable soft starting mechanism. However, soft starting increases the current ripples, which in turn is detrimental to the motor speed and lifespan. Therefore, an advanced control strategy using Vienna rectifier, which focuses on providing Power Factor (PF) unity, improved Power Quality (PQ), lower starting current, reduced harmonic distortion and precise speed control of IM, is presented in this work. Moreover, the approach uses Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) for controlling Vienna rectifier to achieve excellent DC utilization and reduced harmonic distortion. The SVPWM also enables the Vienna rectifier to achieve high output voltage with low modulation index. An Artificial Flora Optimization (AFO) based Proportional Integral (PI) controller is implemented to fine-tune the speed control of IM and ensure a stable operation across varying load conditions. Additionally, Modified SVPWM, which combines the advantages of Discontinuous PWM and SVPWM, is also employed for the IM control as it addresses challenges like current distortion during zero-crossing and mid-point voltage imbalance. The appraisal is conducted with simulations using MATLAB and validation with a lab-scale prototype. The attained results accredit to the effectiveness of the proposed technique in providing superior motor control and compliance with industrial standards for energy efficiency.
Tribological evaluation of fly ash-reinforced UV-curable resin composites produced through stereolithography additive manufacturing formed the central focus of this study. Controlled fly ash additions extending up to 2
The present study investigated the methylene blue dye removal from aqueous solutions using biochar produced from raw coconut shell and subsequent chemically modified biochar. Sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide are the two chemicals used for the activation of the raw biochar. The batch experiments were conducted by varying the operating conditions, namely pH, biochar dose, initial dye concentration, temperature, contact time, and rotating speed. To understand the surface morphology, functional groups, crystalline nature and elemental composition of the biochar, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen (CHN) analysis were used. The adsorption mechanism and rate of adsorption were investigated through adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies. The maximum removal efficiency of 98
