Bainite transformation behavior was monitored using simultaneous measurements of dilatometry and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The volume fraction of bainitic ferrite was estimated from the SANS intensity, showing good agreement with the results of the dilatometry measurements. We propose a more advanced monitoring technique combining dilatometry, SANS and neutron diffraction.

It becomes possible in appropriate circumstances for similarly oriented plates of bainite or martensite to merge and form coarse crystallographically homogeneous domains whose presence leads to a deterioration in mechanical properties. A method is presented here for breaking up such domains, by introducing very small scale chemical composition variations in the austenite prior to its transforma...

Air pollution is associated with significant adverse health effects, including increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) increases ischemic cardiovascular events and promotes atherosclerosis. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that the smallest pollutant particles pose the greatest danger because of...

The aim of this study was to contribute to the assessment of exposure levels of ultrafine particles in the urban environment of Lisbon, Portugal, due to automobile traffic, by monitoring lung deposited alveolar surface area (resulting from exposure to ultrafine particles) in a major avenue leading to the town center during late spring, as well as in indoor buildings facing it. Data revealed dif...

A Ti–46Al(at.%) polysynthetically twinned alloy, which contained a characteristic lamellar spacing of k 1⁄4 1:3 lm, was converted to a polycrystalline fully-lamellar microstructure with k 1⁄4 19:9 nm using an a-phase solution treatment followed by a2 þ c aging. Tensile experiments, performed on microsamples extracted from within single grains of the polycrystalline material, illustrated that ul...

The quality of the refractories applied on integrated gasification combined cycle should be a key factor that affects both the reliability and the economics of gasifier operation. To enhance the workability of chromia/alumina castables, three types of ultrafine alumina powder were added to improve the workability. Densification behavior of such castables in the presence of ultrafine alumina was...

The Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) / Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) ultrafine blend fibers have been prepared for the first time by electrospinning. Trichloromethane was found to be the co-solvent for electrospinning. The PVP/PLLA blend solutions in various ratios were studied for electrospinning into ultrafine fibers. The morphology of the fibers was shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It wa...

Many studies have reported associations between air pollution particles with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (fine particulate matter (PM)) and adverse cardiovascular effects. However, there is an increased concern that so-called ultrafine PM which comprises the smallest fraction of fine PM (aerodynamic diameter <0.1 μm) may be disproportionately toxic relative to the 0.1-2.5 μm fraction. Ultra...

Ambient air particles in the ultrafine size range (diameter < 100 nm) may contribute to the health effects of particulate matter. However, there are few data on ultrafine particle deposition during spontaneous breathing, and none in people with asthma. Sixteen subjects with mild to moderate asthma were exposed for 2 hr, by mouthpiece, to ultrafine carbon particles with a count median diameter (...