Green Building Construction for Sustainable Future

Green building construction is relatively new phenomenon in Indian construction industry. With increasing awareness about global warming and climate change movement for sustainable development is gaining force. Indian Government also realizes the need for sustainable construction as its economy is growing at fast pace (7 to 8 percent annually) and that needs a rapid and vast infrastructure development. This paper provides a state of the art literature review on green building construction movement in India. This study provides an overview of green building rating systems, cost & benefits, green design strategies, and discusses their implications for future of sustainable development in India. A need for widespread awareness about sustainable development and capacity building for design, construction and operations of green buildings is realized. Key Words: Green Buildings, LEED, GRIHA, Intelligent Building

The effect of graphene-poly(methyl methacrylate) fibres on microbial growth

A novel class of ultra-thin fibres, which affect microbial growth, were explored. The microbial properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) fibres containing 2, 4 and 8 wt% of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were studied. GNPs were dispersed in a polymeric solution and processed using pressurized gyration. Electron microscopy was used to characterize GNP and fibre morphology. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of beaded porous fibres. GNP concentration was found to dictate fibre morphology. As the GNP concentration increased, the average fibre diameter increased from 0.75 to 2.71 mm, while fibre porosity decreased. Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to investigate the properties of 2, 4 and 8 wt% GNP-loaded fibres. GNP-loaded fibres (0 wt%) were used as the negative control. The fibres were incubated for 24 h with the bacteria; bacterial colony-forming units were enumerated by adopting the colony-counting method. The presence of 2 and 4 wt% GNP-loaded fibres promoted microbial growth, while 8 wt% GNP-loaded fibres showed antimicrobial activity. These results indicate that the minimum inhibitory concentration of GNPs required within a fibre is 8 wt%

Viral Filtration Using Carbon-Based Materials

Viral infections alone are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and have a detrimental impact on global healthcare and socioeconomic development. The discovery of novel antiviral treatments has gained tremendous attention and support with the rising number of viral outbreaks. In this work, carbonaceous materials, including graphene nanoplatelets and graphene oxide nanosheets, were investigated for antiviral properties. The materials were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis showed the materials to be two-dimensional with lateral dimensions ranging between 1 - 4 µm for graphene oxide, 110 ± 0.11nm for graphene nanoplatelets. Antiviral properties were assessed against a DNA virus model microorganism at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt/v%. Both carbonaceous nanomaterials exhibited potent antiviral properties and gave rise to a viral reduction of 100% across all concentrations tested. Graphene oxide nanosheets were then incorporated into polymeric fibres and their antiviral behaviour was examined after 3 and 24 hours. A viral reduction of ~39% was observed after 24 hours of exposure. The research presented here showcases, for the first time, the antiviral potential of several carbonaceous nanomaterials, also included in a carrier polymer. These outcomes can be translated and implemented in many fields and devices to prevent viral spread and infection

Flash Spark Plasma Sintering (FSPS) of Pure ZrB2

Export Date: 19 August 2014 CODEN: JACTA Correspondence Address: Reece, M.J.; School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom; email: [email protected] Funding Details: EP/K008749/1, EPSRC, European Commission Funding Details: FP7 2007-2013, EC, European Commission References: Cologna, M., Rashkova, B., Raj, R., Flash Sintering of Nanograin Zirconia in <5 s at 850°C (2010) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 93 (11), pp. 3556-3559; Downs, J.A., Sglavo, V.M., Electric Field Assisted Sintering of Cubic Zirconia at 390°C (2013) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96 (5), pp. 1342-1344; Muccillo, R., Muccillo, E.N.S., An Experimental Setup for Shrinkage Evaluation during Electric Field-Assisted Flash Sintering: Application to Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (3), pp. 515-520; Muccillo, R., Muccillo, E.N.S., Electric Field-Assisted Flash Sintering of Tin Dioxide (2014) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 34 (4), pp. 915-923; Jha, S.K., Raj, R., The Effect of Electric Field on Sintering and Electrical Conductivity of Titania (2014) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 97 (2), pp. 527-534; Zapata-Solvas, E., Bonilla, S., Wilshaw, P.R., Todd, R.I., Preliminary Investigation of Flash Sintering of SiC (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (1314), pp. 2811-2816; Grasso, S., Sakka, Y., Rendtorff, N., Hu, C., Maizza, G., Borodianska, H., Vasylkiv, O., Modeling of the Temperature Distribution of flash sintered Zirconia (2011) Nippon Seramikkusu Kyokai Gakujutsu Ronbunshi/J. Ceram. Soc. Jpn., 119 (1386), pp. 144-146; Park, J., Chen, I.W., In Situ Thermometry Measuring Temperature Flashes Exceeding 1,700°C in 8 mol% Y2O3-Stablized Zirconia under Constant-Voltage Heating (2013) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96 (3), pp. 697-700; Zapata-Solvas, E., Jayaseelan, D.D., Lin, H.T., Brown, P., Lee, W.E., Mechanical Properties of ZrB2- and HfB2-Based Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (7), pp. 1373-1386; Grasso, S., Sakka, Y., Maizza, G., Electric Current Activated/Assisted Sintering (ECAS): A Review of Patents 1906-2008 (2009) Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 10 (5), p. 053001; Mallik, M., Kailath, A.J., Ray, K.K., Mitra, R., Electrical and Thermophysical Properties of ZrB2 and HfB 2 Based Composites (2012) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 32 (10), pp. 2545-2555; Steil, M.C., Marinha, D., Aman, Y., Gomes, J.R.C., Kleitz, M., From Conventional Ac Flash-Sintering of YSZ to Hyper-Flash and Double Flash (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (11), pp. 2093-2101; Ortiz, A.L., Zamora, V., Rodríguez-Rojas, F., A Study of the Oxidation of ZrB2 Powders during High-Energy Ball-Milling in Air (2012) Ceram. Int., 38 (4), pp. 2857-2863; Porwal, H., Tatarko, P., Grasso, S., Hu, C., Boccaccini, A.R., Dlouhý, I., Reece, M., Toughened and Machinable Glass Matrix Composites Reinforced with Graphene and Graphene-Oxide Nano Platelets (2013) Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 14, p. 055007 Pure ZrB2 powder was Flash sintered in an SPS furnace (FSPS). The samples were densified up to 95.0% in 35 s under an applied pressure of 16 MPa. Compared to Conventional SPS (CSPS), the newly developed FSPS technique resulted in an unprecedented energy and time savings of about 95% and 98% respectively. ZrB2 monoliths obtained by CSPS and FSPS were compared with respect to microstructures, densification behavior, and grain growth. The developed methodology might find application to a wide range of highly conductive ceramics as such refractory borides and carbides. © 2014 The American Ceramic Society.Export Date: 19 August 2014 CODEN: JACTA Correspondence Address: Reece, M.J.; School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom; email: [email protected] Funding Details: EP/K008749/1, EPSRC, European Commission Funding Details: FP7 2007-2013, EC, European Commission References: Cologna, M., Rashkova, B., Raj, R., Flash Sintering of Nanograin Zirconia in <5 s at 850°C (2010) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 93 (11), pp. 3556-3559; Downs, J.A., Sglavo, V.M., Electric Field Assisted Sintering of Cubic Zirconia at 390°C (2013) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96 (5), pp. 1342-1344; Muccillo, R., Muccillo, E.N.S., An Experimental Setup for Shrinkage Evaluation during Electric Field-Assisted Flash Sintering: Application to Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (3), pp. 515-520; Muccillo, R., Muccillo, E.N.S., Electric Field-Assisted Flash Sintering of Tin Dioxide (2014) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 34 (4), pp. 915-923; Jha, S.K., Raj, R., The Effect of Electric Field on Sintering and Electrical Conductivity of Titania (2014) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 97 (2), pp. 527-534; Zapata-Solvas, E., Bonilla, S., Wilshaw, P.R., Todd, R.I., Preliminary Investigation of Flash Sintering of SiC (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (1314), pp. 2811-2816; Grasso, S., Sakka, Y., Rendtorff, N., Hu, C., Maizza, G., Borodianska, H., Vasylkiv, O., Modeling of the Temperature Distribution of flash sintered Zirconia (2011) Nippon Seramikkusu Kyokai Gakujutsu Ronbunshi/J. Ceram. Soc. Jpn., 119 (1386), pp. 144-146; Park, J., Chen, I.W., In Situ Thermometry Measuring Temperature Flashes Exceeding 1,700°C in 8 mol% Y2O3-Stablized Zirconia under Constant-Voltage Heating (2013) J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96 (3), pp. 697-700; Zapata-Solvas, E., Jayaseelan, D.D., Lin, H.T., Brown, P., Lee, W.E., Mechanical Properties of ZrB2- and HfB2-Based Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (7), pp. 1373-1386; Grasso, S., Sakka, Y., Maizza, G., Electric Current Activated/Assisted Sintering (ECAS): A Review of Patents 1906-2008 (2009) Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 10 (5), p. 053001; Mallik, M., Kailath, A.J., Ray, K.K., Mitra, R., Electrical and Thermophysical Properties of ZrB2 and HfB 2 Based Composites (2012) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 32 (10), pp. 2545-2555; Steil, M.C., Marinha, D., Aman, Y., Gomes, J.R.C., Kleitz, M., From Conventional Ac Flash-Sintering of YSZ to Hyper-Flash and Double Flash (2013) J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 33 (11), pp. 2093-2101; Ortiz, A.L., Zamora, V., Rodríguez-Rojas, F., A Study of the Oxidation of ZrB2 Powders during High-Energy Ball-Milling in Air (2012) Ceram. Int., 38 (4), pp. 2857-2863; Porwal, H., Tatarko, P., Grasso, S., Hu, C., Boccaccini, A.R., Dlouhý, I., Reece, M., Toughened and Machinable Glass Matrix Composites Reinforced with Graphene and Graphene-Oxide Nano Platelets (2013) Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 14, p. 055007 Pure ZrB2 powder was Flash sintered in an SPS furnace (FSPS). The samples were densified up to 95.0% in 35 s under an applied pressure of 16 MPa. Compared to Conventional SPS (CSPS), the newly developed FSPS technique resulted in an unprecedented energy and time savings of about 95% and 98% respectively. ZrB2 monoliths obtained by CSPS and FSPS were compared with respect to microstructures, densification behavior, and grain growth. The developed methodology might find application to a wide range of highly conductive ceramics as such refractory borides and carbides. © 2014 The American Ceramic Society.S.G. was supported by EPSRC (EP/K008749/1, XMat). T.S. was supported by EC FP7 2007-2013 (ADMACOM). O.C. was supported by CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, México)

Surgical Interventions in Ocular Diseases

THE COLORFUL WORLD WE SEE IS THE RESULT OF THE BEAUTIFUL CREATION OF THE HUMAN BODY – THE HUMAN EYE. Eye surgery has advanced swiftly over the last 25 years. The development of new technology, tools, and techniques has turned corrective eye surgery into a common procedure

Tailored pyroresistive performance and flexibility by introducing a secondary thermoplastic elastomeric phase into graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) filled polymer composites for self-regulating heating devices

A guideline for the selection of a secondary elastomeric phase in self-regulating CPC blends.</p

Flash spark plasma sintering of magnesium silicide stannide with improved thermoelectric properties

Spark plasma sintering has become a routine method for the densification of thermoelectric (TE) materials. However, the impacts and details of direct Joule heating within TE materials have not been fully quantified and clarified. Here we investigated the feasibility of flash-sintering (high heating rate Joule heating) magnesium silicide stannide (MSS) using a spark plasma sintering furnace. A Mg2.1Si0.487Sn0.5Sb0.013 (MSS) green compact was sandwiched between two graphite punches without a die. Then a DC pulse voltage was applied between the punches and the current passed completely though the compact, without any of the current bypassing through a graphite die as occurs with a convectional SPS die–punch system. The direct heating was so efficient that a heating rate of ∼1000 °C was achieved and the sample was fully sintered in less than 45 s. Due to the high local Joule heating at the contacts of the particles, the MgO distribution pattern was modified and optimised, which broke the coated passivation layer on the MSS aggregates. The onset densification temperature was 170 to 350 °C lower than that in convectional SPS (750 °C). Importantly, it was possible to produce dense samples in a wide sintering window of ∼6 s, and the flash-sintering was controllable and repeatable. Flash sintering could open a new way for rapid densification of dense nanostructured and/or textured TE materials with low electrical resistivity by optimising the distribution or removal of the surface oxidation of the powder grains