Examining the effect of nano-additions of rare earth elements on the hardness of body armor ceramic

64-72Body armor is a very critical entity in protecting soldier's live. Soldiers carry heavy stuff on duties, and the ceramic insert in those body armors is one of them. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of Nano-rare-earth elements as additives to the ceramic base material on the armor's performance. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) has been selected as the base material of the ceramic in this study. This study has chosen two additives: Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and Nano-ceramic lab composite (NCLC). In this work, we have presented results of mechanical characterization for alumina-nanocomposites armor plates. Three different concentrations of NCLC and ZnO2 alumina-based compositions have been prepared and pressed at 40 and 50 MPa and sintered at 1350°C for 120 min. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques have been employed to characterize structural, morphological, and phase identification of the films. Mohs test hardness measurements of samples after sintering have been performed. Results have shown that the compositions with NCLC showed a higher hardness than a composition with ZrO2. This result has indicated that the addition of NCLC to Alumina enhances the microstructure and increases the ceramics' hardness

Catalytic Electrochemical Water Splitting Using Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) Electrodes as a Promising Energy Resource and Storage Solution

The present study developed a new system of electrochemical water splitting using a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode in the electrochemical reactor. The new method assessed the electrical current, acidity (pH), electrical conductivity, absorbance, dissipation, and splitting energies in addition to the water splitting efficiency of the overall process. Employing CuO NPs and ZnO NPs as catalysts induced a significant impact in reducing the dissipated energy and in increasing the efficiency of splitting water. Specifically, CuO NPs showed a significant enhancement in reducing the dissipated energy and in keeping the electrical current of the reaction stable. Meanwhile, the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs induced a similar impact as that for CuO NPs at a lower rate only. The energy dissipation rates in the system were found to be 48% and 65% by using CuO and ZnO NPs, respectively. However, the dissipation rate for the normalized system without catalysis (water buffer at pH = 6.5) is known to be 100%. The energy efficiency of the system was found to be 25% without catalysis, while it was found to be 82% for the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs compared to that for CuO NPs (normalized to 100%). The energy dissipated in the case of the non-catalyzed system was found to be the highest. Overall, water splitting catalyzed with CuO NPs exhibits the best performance under the applied experimental conditions by using the BDD/Niobium (Nb) electrodes

Technopreneurial Intentions: The Effect of Innate Innovativeness and Academic Self-Efficacy

Several factors can affect students’ intention to start a new technology-based venture (technopreneurial intentions). Understanding these factors is important when developing technical educational programs. This study investigates the effect of innate innovativeness and academic self-efficacy on technopreneurial self-efficacy and the forming of technopreneurial intentions. It does this by developing a conceptual model that relates technopreneurial intentions, technopreneurial self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, and innate innovativeness. The data was collected from 378 undergraduate engineering students enrolled in a Jordanian university with a self-administered questionnaire survey. The results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS showed that technopreneurial self-efficacy had a positive and significant impact on technopreneurial intentions. Academic self-efficacy had both a direct and indirect positive effect on technopreneurial intention. The indirect effect occurred through increased technopreneurial self-efficacy. Innate innovativeness had a direct effect on technopreneurial intentions, but it did not have a significant indirect effect through technopreneurship self-efficacy as was initially hypothesized. The findings suggest that those who show interest in starting a new technology-based venture have a strong belief in their abilities to perform the technological and entrepreneurial tasks needed, are confident about their ability to acquire the academic technical skills required, and have the inner motivation to seek what is technologically new and different

Catalytic Electrochemical Water Splitting Using Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) Electrodes as a Promising Energy Resource and Storage Solution

The present study developed a new system of electrochemical water splitting using a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode in the electrochemical reactor. The new method assessed the electrical current, acidity (pH), electrical conductivity, absorbance, dissipation, and splitting energies in addition to the water splitting efficiency of the overall process. Employing CuO NPs and ZnO NPs as catalysts induced a significant impact in reducing the dissipated energy and in increasing the efficiency of splitting water. Specifically, CuO NPs showed a significant enhancement in reducing the dissipated energy and in keeping the electrical current of the reaction stable. Meanwhile, the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs induced a similar impact as that for CuO NPs at a lower rate only. The energy dissipation rates in the system were found to be 48% and 65% by using CuO and ZnO NPs, respectively. However, the dissipation rate for the normalized system without catalysis (water buffer at pH = 6.5) is known to be 100%. The energy efficiency of the system was found to be 25% without catalysis, while it was found to be 82% for the system catalyzed with ZnO NPs compared to that for CuO NPs (normalized to 100%). The energy dissipated in the case of the non-catalyzed system was found to be the highest. Overall, water splitting catalyzed with CuO NPs exhibits the best performance under the applied experimental conditions by using the BDD/Niobium (Nb) electrodes

Examining the effect of nano-additions of rare earth elements on the hardness of body armor ceramic

Body armor is a very critical entity in protecting soldier's live. Soldiers carry heavy stuff on duties, and the ceramic insert in those body armors is one of them. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of Nano-rare-earth elements as additives to the ceramic base material on the armor's performance. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) has been selected as the base material of the ceramic in this study. This study has chosen two additives: Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and Nano-ceramic lab composite (NCLC). In this work, we have presented results of mechanical characterization for alumina-nanocomposites armor plates. Three different concentrations of NCLC and ZnO2 alumina-based compositions have been prepared and pressed at 40 and 50 MPa and sintered at 1350°C for 120 min. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques have been employed to characterize structural, morphological, and phase identification of the films. Mohs test hardness measurements of samples after sintering have been performed. Results have shown that the compositions with NCLC showed a higher hardness than a composition with ZrO2. This result has indicated that the addition of NCLC to Alumina enhances the microstructure and increases the ceramics' hardness