Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Nickel Based Alloys via Spark Plasma Sintering

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) nickel based alloys were developed via mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS) of Ni–20Cr powder with additional dispersion of 1.2 wt% Y2O3 powder. Furthermore, 5 wt% Al2O3 was added to Ni–20Cr–1.2Y2O3 to provide composite strengthening in the ODS alloy. The effects of milling times, sintering temperature, and sintering dwell time were investigated on both mechanical properties and microstructural evolution. A high number of annealing twins was observed in the sintered microstructure for all the milling times. However, longer milling time contributed to improved hardness and narrower twin width in the consolidated alloys. Higher sintering temperature led to higher fraction of recrystallized grains, improved density and hardness. Adding 1.2 wt% Y2O3 to Ni–20Cr matrix significantly reduced the grain size due to dispersion strengthening effect of Y2O3 particles in controlling the grain boundary mobility and recrystallization phenomena. The strengthening mechanisms at room temperature were quantified based on both experimental and analytical calculations with a good agreement. A high compression yield stress obtained at 800 °C for Ni–20Cr–1.2Y2O3–5Al2O3 alloy was attributed to a combined effect of dispersion and composite strengthening

Economic evaluation of therapeutic diet formulated for Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) infected crossbred calves

The study aimed to evaluate the economics involved in the formulation of a therapeutic diet for Foot and MouthDisease and its impact on the convalescence period. A total of 22 Holstein Friesian crossbred male calves (10-12months) were considered in which 4 calves were of Control (CON) and 18 calves of treatment groups. The treatmentgroup animals namely, Therapeutic Diet-1 (TD-1), Therapeutic Diet-2 (TD-2), and Therapeutic Diet-3(TD-3) wereinfected with the FMD virus. The therapeutic diet was fed to calves in the morning and ad lib. hybrid Napier greenfodder in the afternoon. The experiment was carried out for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, animals gained18.73, 19.67, 19.10 and 19.42 kg body weight in CON, TD-1, TD-2 and TD-3 groups respectively. Body weightgain between the groups was non-significant. The total cost of feeding inclusive of both therapeutic diet and greenfodder was ₹546.24, 523.43, 521.56 and 509 respectively. Cost per kg body weight gain was also calculated. Thecost per kg body weight gain was non-significant among the groups; being highest in the CON group compared toinfected groups. It can be concluded from the present study that during FMD infectious conditions, the therapeuticdiet feeding either mash or cooked (with or without CNS) not only helped in regaining the body weight quickly butalso reduced the feeding and treatment cost