The Atomic Oxygen Erosion Resistance Effect and Mechanism of the Perhydropolysilazane-Derived SiOx Coating Used on Polymeric Materials in Space Environment

In this work, the atomic oxygen (AO) erosion-resistance effect and mechanism of the Perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) coating were investigated from the perspective of element distribution in the depth direction. The results revealed that the coating demonstrated good adhesion and intrinsic AO erosion-resistance, which was attributed to the composition gradient formed in the coating. Moreover, the oxygen ratio of the SiOx on top layer of the coating could be elevated during AO exposure, strengthening the Ar ion etching durability of the coating. According to these results, an AO erosion-resistance mechanism model of the PHPS-derived SiOx coating was finally obtained.

Contribution of invasive bivalves (Dreissena spp.) to element distribution: phase interaction, regional and seasonal comparison in a large shallow lake

After introduction, the invasive bivalve dreissenids became key species in the biota of Lake Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe. The contribution of dreissenid soft tissue and shell, as biotic phases, in element distribution and its interaction with the water and upper sediment phases were examined in two basins with different trophic conditions in spring and autumn. Six metals (Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) were detected in all investigated phases. In general, metals were abundant in the water and soft tissue in the eastern basin in spring, and in the sediment and shells in the western basin in autumn. This might be associated with the more urbanized surroundings in the eastern, and the enhanced organic matter production in the western basin. High relative shares of Ba, Cu, Mn, and Pb were associated with the water and shell samples, whereas high shares of Fe and Zn were noted in the soft mussel tissue and sediments. Results suggest that dynamics of metal uptake by dreissenids depend on the seasonal change in metabolic activity. Shell metal content is less changeable; shells might absorb metals from both the soft tissue and water phases. Metallothionein peptides, the scavengers of intracellular metals, were determined to be biomarkers of the bulk contaminants rather than only metals. The present study shows that invasive bivalves, with high abundance, filtering activity, and storing capacity can significantly contribute to element distribution in the shoreline of a shallow lake ecosystem.

Corrosion and Wear Properties of h-BN Modified TC4 Titanium Alloy Micro-Arc Oxide Coatings

In this study, ceramic coatings were prepared on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy by micro-arc oxidation (MAO). The morphology, element distribution and phase composition of MAO coatings were analyzed by SEM, EDS, XRD and other analytical methods. The effect of hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) doping on wear resistance and corrosion resistance of micro-arc oxidation layer was studied. The results show that the coating is mainly composed of rutile TiO2, anatase TiO2 and a small amount of h-BN. Furthermore, the composite coating containing h-BN was less porous than particle-free coating. The test results show that h-BN doping slightly affects the hardness of the MAO coating, and it is helpful in improving the thickness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the coatings. When the amount of h-BN is 3 g/L, the corrosion current density of the coating is the smallest; When the addition of h-BN is 1.5 g/L, the friction coefficient of the coating is the smallest. The wear mechanism was adhesive wear, accompanied by slight abrasive wear.

Wetting Behavior of LBE on Corroded Candidate LFR Structural Materials of 316L, T91 and CLAM

In this work, the wetting behaviors of lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) on corroded 316L, T91, and CLAM surfaces were studied. The wettability of LBE on virgin and corroded surfaces were tested at 450 °C by using the sessile-drop (SD) method after immersing the samples in LBE with saturated oxygen concentration for 400, 800, and 1200 h at 450°C. Additionally, the morphology, as well as element distribution of the corrosion structure, were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the virgin samples of three materials are non-wetting to LBE, and the formation of corrosion structures further reduces the wettability. Besides, the thickness of the corrosion layer formed on the 316L surface grew more slowly than the other two steel, which results in better corrosion resistance of austenitic steel 316L than that of ferritic/martensitic steels T91 and CLAM at 450 °C. Meanwhile, the morphology and distribution of corrosion products are important factors affecting the wettability of the steel surface. The formation of corrosion products with high roughness as well as disorder results in a significant reduction in surface wettability.

Element Distribution and Migration Behavior in the Copper Slag Reduction and Separation Process

Copper slag is a solid pollutant with high recyclability. Reduction and separation are regarded as effective disposal methods. However, during the melting process, the separation and migration behavior of elements in the copper slag is complicated. Thus, the formation of pollutants cannot be controlled merely by optimizing the operation parameters. The elemental distribution and migration behavior are discussed in this work. In reduction experiments, the copper slag smelting liquid was divided into three layers: a reduction slag layer, a reactive boundary layer, and an iron ingot layer. Reduction slag and ingot iron were on the top and bottom of the liquid, respectively. Residual carbon oozed at the interface. C can react with reducible “O” atoms, which exist in 2FeO·SiO2, Fe3O4, and CuO. Meanwhile, CO was generated and overflowed from the liquid layer. After reduction by C or CO, metallic iron and copper were produced and migrated to the iron ingot layer. In the liquid, S gradually diffused into the upper layer. Some of the ZnO and CuS spilled from the liquid into the flume. After reduction, CaO·SiO2 was generated and moved to the upper layer.

Temporal variation of planetary iron as a driver of evolution

Iron is an irreplaceable component of proteins and enzyme systems required for life. This need for iron is a well-characterized evolutionary mechanism for genetic selection. However, there is limited consideration of how iron bioavailability, initially determined by planetary accretion but fluctuating considerably at global scale over geological time frames, has shaped the biosphere. We describe influences of iron on planetary habitability from formation events >4 Gya and initiation of biochemistry from geochemistry through oxygenation of the atmosphere to current host–pathogen dynamics. By determining the iron and transition element distribution within the terrestrial planets, planetary core formation is a constraint on both the crustal composition and the longevity of surface water, hence a planet’s habitability. As such, stellar compositions, combined with metallic core-mass fraction, may be an observable characteristic of exoplanets that relates to their ability to support life. On Earth, the stepwise rise of atmospheric oxygen effectively removed gigatons of soluble ferrous iron from habitats, generating evolutionary pressures. Phagocytic, infectious, and symbiotic behaviors, dating from around the Great Oxygenation Event, refocused iron acquisition onto biotic sources, while eukaryotic multicellularity allows iron recycling within an organism. These developments allow life to more efficiently utilize a scarce but vital nutrient. Initiation of terrestrial life benefitted from the biochemical properties of abundant mantle/crustal iron, but the subsequent loss of iron bioavailability may have been an equally important driver of compensatory diversity. This latter concept may have relevance for the predicted future increase in iron deficiency across the food chain caused by elevated atmospheric CO2.

Impact of changes in climatic conditions on temperate fruit production of Himachal Pradesh

The study examined the impacts of changing climate on productivity of temperate fruit crops viz., plum, pear, peach and apricot in Himachal Pradesh based on climate information and farmers’ perception. Three study sites representing different elevations viz., Shimla, Kullu and Palampur were selected to relate the chill units with temperate fruit productivity. The climate element distribution over the period in each study site revealed an increase in the mean temperature to the tune of 0.050, 0.019 and 0.046 °C per year in Shimla, Palampur and Kullu respectively in the past 3 to 4 decade. The rate of decrease of rainfall per year during winter season was -9.86 mm in Shimla, -11.1 mm in Kullu and -8.6 mm in Palampur leading to a decrease in chill accrual. The chill units calculated using the UTAH model showed a decline of more than 4.97 chill units per year during December month, 0.64 units per year in January and 3.75 units per year in February month in past 26 year period in Shimla district. The decrease of 1.73, 1.84 and 1.65 chill units every year during December, January and February months were observed at Kullu. The decrease of chill units during December to February ranged from -2.8 to -12.8 per year in Palampur were also observed. The significance of the slope of chill units was worked out using Mann-Kendall trend test which indicated no significant trend for the December month for Kullu region and January and February months at Shimla. Significant decreasing trends in chill units for January to February months for Kullu, December month for Shimla and December to February months were observed at Palampur. The indications of changes in climate have also been supported by the farmers’ perception in Kullu, Kangra and Shimla districts accounting a reduction in snowfall with an increase in temperature in past 20 to 30 years affecting the chill accumulation. The temperate fruits pear, peach, plum and apricot showed significant increase in the production at the rate of 0.172, 0.064, 0.018 and 0.018 t/ha per year during the past two and half decade respectively. Thus, the decreasing trends in cumulative chill units due to increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall in all locations varied from sub temperate climate in mid hills to temperate in high hills did not affect the productivity of temperate fruits in Himachal Pradesh and a promising replacement for apple shifting region in the face of climate change.