Behaviour of AISI 316L Steel Exposed to Demineralized Water

The subject of investigation was the passivation of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel. The effectiveness of various passivation media was tested by means of the potentiodynamic polarization technique. Potentiodynamic polarization was carried out in demineralized water before and after passivation treatment. Comparative analysis of the potentiodynamic curves for different passivation media showed that the best protection of the steel surface was provided by a HNO3 solution, φ= 6.0 %, containing CuSO4 · 5H2O, w = 2.0 %. The satisfactory protective properties were found to agree with the high value of the pitting potential

Shape Memory Alloys (Part II): Classification, Production and Application

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been extensively investigated because of their unique shape memory behaviour, i.e. their ability to recover their original shape they had before deformation. Shape memory effect is related to the thermoelastic martensitic transformation. Austenite to martensite phase transformation can be obtained by mechanical (loading) and thermal methods (heating and cooling). Depending on thermomechanical conditions, SMAs demonstrate several thermomechanical phenomena, such as pseudoelasticity, superelasticity, shape memory effect (one-way and two-way) and rubber-like behaviour. Numerous alloys show shape memory effect (NiTi-based alloys, Cu-based alloys, Fe-based alloys etc.). Nitinol (NiTi) is the most popular and the most commonly used SMA due to its superior thermomechanical and thermoelectrical properties. NiTi alloys have greater shape memory strain and excellent corrosion resistance compared to Cu – based alloys. However, they are very costly. On the other hand, copper-based alloys (CuZn and CuAl based alloys) are much less expensive, easier to manufacture and have a wider range of potential transformation temperatures. The characteristic transformation temperatures of martensitic transformation of CuAlNi alloys can lie between −200 and 200 °C, and these temperatures depend on Al and Ni content. Among the Cu – based SMAs, the most frequently applied are CuZnAl and CuAlNi alloys. Although CuZnAl alloys with better mechanical properties are the most popular among the Cu-based SMAs, they lack sufficient thermal stability, while CuAlNi shape memory alloys, in spite of their better thermal stability, have found only limited applications due to insufficient formability owing to the brittle γ₂ precipitates. The most important disadvantage of polycrystalline CuAlNi alloys is a small reversible deformation (one-way shape memory effect: up to 4 %; two-way shape memory effect: only approximately 1.5 %) due to intergranular breakdown at low stress levels. The technologies for production of shape memory alloys are induction melting, vacuum melting, vacuum arc melting, following hot and cold working (forging, rolling, wire drawing). In addition, rapid solidification methods, like melt spinning and continuous casting have been developed. These methods are characterized by high cooling rates. High cooling rates allow very short time for diffusion processes and may lead to extremely fine microstructure, better homogeneity etc. SMAs have found applications in many areas due to their thermomechanical and thermoelectrical properties (biomedical applications, engineering industry, electrical industry). In this paper, a review of shape memory alloys, properties and applications of mentioned materials is presented

The effect of protective gas on annealing of 42CrMo4 steel pipes

Translated from Czech (Kovove Mater. 2000 (3) p. 149-159)Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9023.190(no 9862)T / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Pilot study of a community pharmacist led program to treat hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are a key population for treatment with direct-acting antiviral medications (DAAs) to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV). We developed a Pharmacist, Physician, and Patient Navigator Collaborative Care Model (PPP-CCM) for delivery of HCV treatment; this study describes clinical outcomes related to HCV treatment (initial evaluation, treatment initiation, completion, and cure), as well as patient satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a single-arm prospective pilot study of adult PWID living with HCV. Participants completed baseline and six-month follow-up surveys, and treatment and outcomes were abstracted from electronic health records. Primary outcome was linkage to pharmacist for HCV evaluation; secondary outcomes included DAA initiation, completion, and cure, as well as patient-reported satisfaction. Results: Of the 40 PWID enrolled, mean age was 43.6 years, 12 (30 %) were female, 20 (50 %) were non-white, and 15 (38 %) were unhoused. Thirty-eight (95 %) were successfully linked to the pharmacist for initial evaluation. Of those, 21/38 (55 %) initiated DAAs, and 16/21 (76 %) completed treatment. Among those completing treatment who had viral load data to document whether they achieved “sustained virologic response'', i.e. cure, 10/11 (91 %) were found to be cured. There was high satisfaction with 100 % responding “agree or strongly agree” that they had a positive experience with the pharmacist. Conclusion: Nearly all participants in this pilot were successfully linked to the pharmacist for evaluation, and more than half were started on DAAs; results provide preliminary evidence of feasibility of pharmacist-led models of HCV treatment for PWID. Clinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT04698629