Influence of Different Strain Rates on the Flow Curve and the Formability of Thin Aluminium and Tinplate Sheets

Due to this high number of produced units and the very thin sheet metals used for beverage cans, precise production processes with high production volumes are necessary. To save expenses, while optimising these processes, numerical simulation methods are exploited. Considering this, it is indispensable to identify the material behaviour as exactly as possible. In practise, often results of quasi static tensile tests are used, although these are insufficient for the precise modelling of the material behaviour during can production, since strain rates of up to 10³ s-1 can occur, here. Therefore, quasi static and high speed tensile test have been done on specimens featuring the typical materials and thicknesses of semi-finished parts used for beverage can production. The results were compared with similar materials at higher sheet metal thicknesses and authenticated by numerical simulation. It was shown that there is an influence of the strain rate on the material behaviour and it is necessary to determine material characteristics at strain rates, which are close to the process speed. Furthermore, the results were classified in their signification for beverage can production and forming technologies in general

A simple one step process for enhancement of titanium foil dye sensitised solar cell anodes

The photo-conversion efficiency and stability of back-illuminated dye sensitised solar cells with titanium foil based photoanodes are enhanced by a simple nitric acid treatment through which the foil is passivated. This treatment changes the morphology of the titanium foil and increases its electrochemical double layer capacitance

Allergen immunotherapy on the way to product-based evaluation - a WAO statement

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is widely used in clinical practice for patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis due to inhalant allergens and may be delivered via subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual routes (SLIT). However, the quality of evidence for individual AIT products is very heterogeneous, and extensions of overall conclusions ("class effects") on the efficacy and disease-modifying effects to all AIT products are unjustified. In contrast, each product needs to be evaluated individually, based on available study results, to justify efficacy and specific claims on sustained and disease modifying effects per allergen and targeted patient group (children vs. adults, allergic rhinitis vs. asthma). WAO intends to support the current development to evidence-based AIT, which ultimately will lead to a more efficacious treatment of allergic patients and the appropriate recognition of AIT