Correlation of Microstructures and Tribological Properties of Ferrous Coatings Deposited by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying on Al-Si Cast Alloy Substrate

The microstructure and tribological properties of ferrous coatings applicable to cylinder bores were investigated in this study. Two kinds of ferrous powders were sprayed on Al-Si cast alloy (EN AlSi10Mg) substrate by atmospheric plasma spraying. Microstructural analysis showed that various Fe oxides were formed in the coatings. The presence of pores, unmelted particles, and Fe precipitates was also noticed. The pin-on-ring tribometer was used to carry out tribological tests under lubricated sliding conditions: sliding speed of 0.5 m/s, sliding distance of 5000 m, and normal load of 450 N. High porosity and the presence of larger and irregularly shaped pores as well as the amount of oxides were the controlling factors for the crack initiations and, consequently, the wear rate. Tribological properties of the coatings were compared with gray cast iron as a standard material for cylinder blocks and showed that, for the investigated conditions, both coatings could be an adequate substitution

Effects of prolonged ethanol intake and malnutrition on rat pancreas

Nutritional factors, especially the protein and fat content of the diet, may change pancreatic morphology after ethanol induced injury. This study was performed to delineate the combined effects of a low fat diet and longterm ethanol ingestion on the rat pancreas. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained with five different diets for 12 weeks and the pancreas removed on the day they were killed. Rats fed a very low fat diet without ethanol (5% of total calories as lipid) developed malnutrition, pancreatic steatosis, and reduction in zymogen granules content. Animals fed a 35% lipid diet with ethanol also developed pancreatic steatosis but changes in zymogen granules content were not detected. Both malnutrition and longterm ethanol consumption increased pancreatic cholesterol ester content, and their effects were additive. Pancreatic steatosis was accompanied with hypercholesterolaemia. Amylase, lipase, and cholesterol esterase content were reduced in malnourished rats; but longterm ethanol ingestion, regardless of the nutritional state, increased lipase content and decreased amylase. It is suggested that high serum cholesterol concentrations and increased pancreatic lipase activity could cause accumulation of cholesterol esters in acinar cells. Fat accumulation in the pancreas has been reported as the earliest histopathological feature in alcoholic patients and may be responsible for cytotoxic effects on the acinar cells at the level of the cell membrane. Although it is difficult to extrapolate results in this animal study to the human situation, the results presented in this work might explain the higher incidence of pancreatitis is malnourished populations as well as in alcoholic subjects that is reported in dietary surveys