The hardness and strength of many alloys often differ when measured at the nano, micro, and macroscopic scales. Therefore, it is essential to study the mechanical behavior of important alloys across a wide range of length scales. In this work, we present a scenario in which two industrially significant alloys, In-718 and ASTM F75, exhibit different behaviors at the micro and macroscopic levels. Both alloys are promising candidates for similar applications in the aerospace and petroleum industries. The alloys were first 3D printed using selective laser melting (SLM) and then heat-treated in a vacuum. The average yield strength and percentage elongation (along the build direction) of the In-718 alloy were 29% and 19% higher, respectively, than those observed for the ASTM F75 alloy. The difference between the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Vickers hardness (at a load of 98 N) was almost negligible, i.e., less than 5%. In contrast to the Vickers hardness values of 3.9 GPa and 3.8 GPa, the average nanohardness of the In-718 and ASTM F75 alloys was 5.7 GPa and 7.6 GPa, respectively, which was substantially higher than their Vickers hardness. Furthermore, the ASTM F75 alloy demonstrated much better wear resistance in ScanningWear tests performed using a nanoindenter. The explanation for these differences and the similarities between macro- and nanomechanical behavior are presented in this work.

This study presents a novel, rapidly synthesized geopolymer foam fabricated from granite industrial waste using microwave sintering, reducing the demolding time from 7 days to 3 min and the overall processing time to 24 h, while enhancing mechanical performance. Five sample compositions (G1-G5) were prepared with varying granite powder and alkaline solution ratios, cured in a microwave for 3 min, and sintered for an additional 3 min. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), compressive strength tests, water absorption, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used for thorough characterization. The compressive strength increased progressively from 13 MPa (G1) to 20 MPa (G5), the total porosity decreased from 33.33% to 18.58%, the water absorption reached a minimum of 2.02% (G5), and the bulk density rose from 1.143 to 1.49 g/cm3. XRF analysis confirmed Si/Al molar ratios of 6.5-11.4, indicating enhanced aluminosilicate network development. FTIR confirmed progressive geopolymerization, with integrated Si-O-T band areas increasing from 41,900 a.u. (G1) to 44,680 a.u. (G5). The microwave sintering approach consumed over 90% less active energy than conventional thermal curing, significantly reducing associated CO2 emissions and thereby supporting SDG 7, SDG 12, and SDG 13. These results position granite-waste-derived geopolymer foam as a high-performance, energy-efficient alternative to conventional fired bricks and cement-based construction materials.

Synthetic dyes are characterized by their high toxicity, low biodegradability, carcinogenicity and persistent nature in the environment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) offer a promising approach for degrading dyes in aqueous media. In this study, Reactive Blue 222 (RB 222) dye was treated with Cs-137 gamma radiation in the dose range of 1 to 5 kGy and UV radiation for 30 to 150 min, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidant (0.1 to 0.5 mL/L) at different initial dye concentrations. In case of UV irradiation, the maximum dye degradation was achieved at 80.28% for a 50 mg/L dye concentration after 150 min, which was enhanced to 84.92% in the presence of H2O2. For the gamma ray treatment, degradation was 98.87% at a 5 kGy absorbed dose and reached 100% in combination with H2O2 for a 50 mg/L dye initial concentration. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction was 55% and 68% for the UV (150 min) and gamma (5 kGy) treatments, respectively. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) reductions were observed to be 45.25% and 55.61%, while Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was 44.97% and 54.43% under these respective treatments, respectively. The dye degradation was pronounced in acidic media versus basic conditions of the medium. The G-value of the degradation was observed to be 0.68, 1.20, and 1.83 for 50, 100, and 150 mg/L RR 222 concentrations, respectively. The dose constant values were 0.80, 0.77, and 0.68 for gamma radiation and 0.90, 0.79, and 0.71 for gamma radiation/H2O2 treatment. The results confirm that AOPs provide an effective and versatile strategy for the rapid degradation and mineralization of synthetic dyes in wastewater systems.

Climate change is a formidable environmental challenge, compelling all sectors to reduce their carbon footprint. This study explored the behavior of pretreated bamboo as a possible replacement of steel reinforcement in lightweight reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures, since steel is a major source of carbon emissions. Three types of reinforced concrete beams were tested: (1) steel-reinforced, (2) plain bamboo-reinforced, and (3) acetic acid-treated bamboo-reinforced. Results highlighted that acetic acid-treated bamboo demonstrated notable enhancements, with a 32.56% reduction in water absorption, a 17% increase in tensile strength, and a 25% improvement in elongation under load compared to untreated bamboo. The treated bamboo-reinforced beam achieved a failure load of 60.6 kN, significantly higher than untreated bamboo (28.1 kN) and approaching the 77.6 kN load of steel-reinforced beams. However, interfacial bonding issues between concrete and bamboo persisted due to slippage. To address this, nanosilica treatment was applied to enhance surface roughness and chemical adhesion, achieving an average pull-out load of 16 kN and bond strength of 1.052 MPa substantially better than untreated bamboo. This study demonstrates that treated bamboo, enhanced with acetic acid and nanosilica, can serve as a viable steel replacement in RCC structures, contributing to the construction industry's decarbonization and advancing sustainability.

The supercapattery devices have emerged as a prominent energy storage device comprising of high power and energy density values. Metal organic frameworks-based supercapacitors have attracted significant amounts of attention because of their highly porous nature, greater surface area, greater charge conducting, and tunable pore size properties. In this study, Co-H2PDC MOF was synthesized with varying concentrations of PANI using a probe sonication technique, leveraging ultrasound energy to achieve a uniform distribution of the constituents. The formation of the required composition was verified from various surface and elemental analysis. The electrochemical response of each composition was initially evaluated in half cell setups. Later on, the most effective electrode i.e., Co-MOF/10 mg PANI, was paired alongside AC electrode which resulted in achieving a specific capacity of 472.53 C/g at 1.9 A/g. Furthermore, the fabricated device exhibited a significant energy density of 111.56 Wh/kg and an impressive power density of 12,750 W/kg. The hybrid device preserved 92

This study develops polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-based nanocomposites reinforced with milled micrometer carbon fiber (MCF), chopped micrometer carbon fiber (CF), and carbon nanotube (CNT) masterbatch using a multiscale hybrid reinforcement strategy. Comprehensive characterization, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), confirmed the morphology of the fiber matrix, and the maximum value obtained of melt flow index (MFI) was 83 g/10min. Rheological percolation occurred at 1–5 wt.

The increased demand for lightweight structural materials in the transport sector has compelled researchers to develop materials with high strength and reduced structural weight, aiming to enhance vehicle performance, minimize fuel and oil consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. However, their structural weight and strength still need to be improved. Herein, an attempt has been made to fabricate aluminum-based composites reinforced with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN: 1,3,5,7 wt

Decomposition of water under higher current density is crucial for effective long-term generation and commercial consumption of hydrogen. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show great potential for electrocatalysis due to their well-discrete metal active sites and inherently porous structures. Herein, Co is introduced into Ni along with organic ligand pyridine 2, 6-dicarboxylate through hydrothermal approach to form bimetallic electrocatalyst followed by its deposition on a highly porous nickel foam to evaluate both the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions (OER and HER). Electrochemical results show that the NiCo-H2pdc catalyst only require overpotentials of 420 and 263 mV to achieve 30 mA cm−2 of a current density in an alkaline electrolyte for O2 and H2 evolution, respectively, considerably less than the majority of documented electrocatalysts based on non-noble metals, and comparable with the standard Pt/C catalyst. Both OER and HER displayed the Tafel slope values of 89 and 73 mV/dec, also the double-layer capacitance values of 1.5 and 7.65 mF/cm2. The exceptional bifunctional electrocatalytic performance of the developed NiCo-H2pdc catalyst was also observed by a durability test of 24 h for both mechanisms. The innovation of the synergistic effect of dual metals opens up a new pathway for the strategic design of exceptionally efficient electrocatalysts based on MOFs.

High-performance materials with better mechanical and tribological properties are critical for automotive and aerospace industries. Cu and Cu-based composites have been investigated for good electrical and thermal conductivity applications. However, their mechanical, tribological, and microstructural investigation, especially reinforced with hexagonal boron nitride, have not yet been explored much. This study focuses on enhancing the properties of Cu-based composites using hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Through powder metallurgy approach, composites with varying h-BN (2-10 wt.%) and GNPs (0.25-1 wt.%) contents were fabricated and the evaluations revealed that Cu/2wt.% h-BN exhibited the higher relative density (93.64%), Vickers hardness (52 +/- 2 HV), and elastic modulus (128.38 +/- 0.24 GPa). GNPs were added in best performing Cu/2wt.%h-BN composites where Cu/2wt.%h-BN/0.5wt.%GNPs composition demonstrated excellent synergistic properties: relative density (96.14%), elastic modulus (145.7 +/- 0.27), and Vickers hardness (68.3 HV). The composite's hardness and modulus showed a significant improvement of 58.1% and 35.96% over pure Cu, attributed to uniform reinforcement distribution hindering dislocation movement. Tribological performance was also improved with h-BN and GNPs addition yielding optimal wear rate and COF for Cu/10wt.% h-BN and Cu/2wt.% h-BN/1wt.% GNPs, respectively. The findings demonstrate the synergy of h-BN and GNPs in enhancing mechanical strength and tribological properties.

Nature-inspired hydrophobic coatings have caught great attention due to their repellency to corrosive mediums and less interaction between substrate and chemical species. Aluminum is considered one of the metals having superior properties against corrosion due to passive film formation. It can further be enhanced by the formation of a hierarchical structure through 2nd step anodization. In previous studies, carbon infiltrated in anodized alumina pores through CVD method (chemical vapor deposition) was quite an expensive and complex method. The fabrication of anti-corrosion coating with a simple and cost-effective method will broaden the aluminum alloy applications in the chemical, petrochemical, and aerospace industries, etc. In this research, pyrolytic carbon is infiltrated in porous alumina through pyrolysis at three different temperatures for 30 min under a controlled environment by using flaxseed oil as a source of carbon. The surface morphology along with chemical composition and wetting angle were studied through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), and Sessile drop method. It was found that both low surface energy and high roughness participate in increasing the wetting angle. Nanocomposite coating having maximum carbon content has a maximum wetting angle with inorganic liquid. Based on the electrochemical behavior determined by Tafel and EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) analysis, the hydrophobic coating containing 57.5% carbon content having a contact angle of 95 degrees exhibits maximum corrosion resistance of around 28,000 kohm as compared to anodized aluminum having minimum corrosion resistance of around 4.26 kohm. The results and the cost-effective method could be beneficial in aircraft parts as well as in aeronautical applications.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were polymerized with polyaniline (PANI) via an in-situ polymerization approach. These functionalized CNTs (PANI-CNTs) were added in various concentrations to the sono-chemically synthesized Co-Ni binary transition metals phosphate (CoNi(PO4)2) to ultimately have their nanocomposites. Electron microscopy (SEM & HRTEM) was employed to reveal the morphology and microscopic features. The structural evaluation of metal phosphate and PANI/CNTs was done by X-ray diffractometer analysis, whereas chemical grafting of cobalt nickel phosphate (CoNi(PO4)2) was done by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The hierarchical structured CoNi(PO4)2 with 40 mg PANI/CNTs mass (CNP40) presented enhanced specific capacity of 1268 Cg−1 (2136 F g−1 at 1.5 F g−1) with excellent diffusive behavior (b = 0.5). A resulted hybrid supercapacitor device consisting of CNP40 as +ve electrode and activated carbon AC) as −ve electrode, presented excellent energy density of ∼87 Whkg−1 with good power density of 680 W kg−1 maintained to 32.9 W kg−1 (@ 20,400 W kg−1) with 37% rate performance, and excellent cyclic performance (∼100%) after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, capacitive-diffusive analysis revealed that the device showed 55% diffusive and 45% capacitive behaviour. This improved electrochemical performance might be attributed mainly to the uniform and hierarchical chemical grafted morphology of the novel combination of binary phosphates and PANI functionalized CNTs in the nanocomposite obtained via a rather different sonochemical approach.

Transition metal compounds (TMCs) are being researched as promising electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices (supercapacitors). Among TMCs, transition metal phosphates (TMPs) have good, layered structures owing to open framework and protonic exchange capability among different layers, good surface area due to engrossed porosity, rich active redox reaction sites owing to octahedral structure and variable valance metallic ions. Hence TMPs become more ideal for supercapacitor electrode materials compared to other TMCs. However, TMPs have got some issues like low conductivity, rate performance, stability, energy, and power densities. But these problems can be addressed by making their composites with carbonaceous materials, e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO), graphitic carbon (GC), etc. A few factors like high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity of carbon materials and variable valence metal ions in TMPs caused great enhancement in their electrochemical performance. This article tries to discuss and compare the published data, majorly in last decade, regarding the electrochemical energy storage potential of pristine unary, binary, and ternary TMPs and their hybrid composites with carbonaceous materials (CNTs, GOs/rGOs, GC, etc.). The electrochemical performance of the hybrids has been reported to be higher than the pristine counterparts. It is hoped that the current review will open a new gateway to study and explore the high performance TMPs based supercapacitor materials.

Oilseed crops play a vital role in the economy of Pakistan, yet the production of oilseeds is far less than the demand for them. White mustard (Sinapis alba L.) is an emerging crop, that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It is considered to be an alternative to all other oilseed crops for dry temperate climates. White mustard develops rapidly, and has a large canopy and deep rooting system; hence, it can draw up nutrients from deeper layers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of nitrogen on S. alba agro-morphological attributes and enhance nutrient use efficiencies. During the Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21, an experiment was conducted at the University Research Farm, Chakwal Road, Rawalpindi. The study included seven treatments, i.e., T1-Control, T2-20, T3-40, T4-60, T5-80, T6-100, and T7-120 kg·ha−1. Each treatment was replicated three times, and the study utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results revealed that nitrogen at 100 kg·ha−1 was the optimal concentration and significantly increased the agro-morphological parameters, i.e., plant height (47.01%), primary branches (41.36%), secondary branches (45.33%), 1000 seed weight (54.35%), siliques/plant (41.57%), seeds/silique (52.30%) biological yield (68.38%), seed yield (54.90%), harvest index (11%), and oil yield (38.84%), as compared to the control. Moreover, protein contents and oil contents were significantly increased (5.15% and 6%, respectively), as compared to the control, while glucosinolate content was decreased (4.36%). Similarly, maximum agronomic efficiency (AE), apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) (53%), physiological efficiency (PE), and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) were also improved, as compared to the control. Hence, N application at a concentration of 100 kg·ha−1 can be recommended for S. alba under the present cropping system of Pothwar.

Epoxy-bamboo long natural fibres composites were prepared by hand lay-up method to study the influence of fibre's treatment on their characteristics. SEM showed increased surface roughness due to the removal of amorphous compounds from the treated fibre as confirmed by the disappearance of certain peaks in FTIR spectroscopy. Resultantly, similar to 52% increase in crystallinity was observed by XRD analysis. TGA results also showed the effectiveness of the treatment as mass loss for treated fibres was similar to 15% lesser than the untreated fibres. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis of composites showed highest mass loss in untreated fibres composites and lowest in neat epoxy. The DSC-DTA curves indicated an early start of initiation temperature in treated fibre composite. Tension tests showed similar to 12% and similar to 16% increase in tensile strength and modulus respectively for treated fibres composite due to increased interfacial strength caused by fibre treatment. Treatment also resulted in decreased impact energy and water absorption level.