Showing 54 results for Shah
E. Shahmohamadi, A. Mirhabibi, F. Golestanifard,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (March 2020)
Abstract
In the present study, a soft computing method namely the group method of data handling (GMDH) is applied to develop a new and efficient predictive model for prediction of conversion percentage of silicon. A comprehensive database is obtained from experimental studies in literature. Several effective parameters like time, temperature, nitrogen percentage, pellet size and silicon particle size are considered. The performance of the model is evaluated through statistical analysis. Moreover, the silicon nitridation was performed in 1573 k and results were evaluated against model results for validation of the model. Furthermore, the performance and efficiency of the GMDH model is confirmed against the two most common analytical models. The most effective parameters in estimating the conversion percentage are determined through sensitivity analysis based on the Gamma Test. Finally, the robustness of the developed model is verified through parametric analysis.
M. Azadi, M. Ferdosi, H. Shahin,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (March 2020)
Abstract
In this paper, the effects of solutioning and various aging heat treatment processes on the microstructure, the hardness and electrochemical properties of a duplex stainless steel (DSS) were studied. The evaluation of the microstructure and phase compositions were carried out by the optical microscopy (OM) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Electrochemical behaviors of specimens were evaluated by both potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) tests at temperatures of 25 and 60 ºC. The obtained results showed that the solutioning heat treatment increased corrosion rates with respect to the blank specimen. The aging process at 490 ºC for 20 hrs increased the volume percent of the carbide phase to the highest value (25.1%) which resulted in an increase of the hardness value to 170 VHN. The specimen which was aged at 540 ºC for 10 hrs with the Cr7C3 size of 22.8 µm, exhibited the higher corrosion resistance at both temperatures of 25 and 60 ºC with respect to other aged specimens. In addition, the temperature of 60 ºC promoted the anodic reactions in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution which decreased impedance modulus values significantly. Consequently, the carbide size was more effective parameter than the carbide content in predicting electrochemical behaviors of such alloys.
S.m. Moussavi Janbesarayi, M. Mohebi, S. Baghshahi, S.a. Ahmad Alem, E. Irom,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (June 2020)
Abstract
Overusing nitrogen fertilizer causes some serious problems for water resources, soil, and agriculture products. Researchers have been trying to develop effective means which may use less amount of fertilizers containing nitrogen. In this work, cost-effective ceramic granule adsorbent was prepared to be used as a fertilizer carrier of controlled release behavior. A mixture of 70 wt.% domestic kaolin and 30 wt.% gibbsite was used to produce the granules. By utilizing thermal analysis of raw granule, the calcination temperatures were obtained and the effect of various calcination temperatures of 500, 600, and 700˚C on the water adsorption was studied. The characteristics of granules were investigated by XRD, BET, FTIR, and SEM analyses. The results showed that by increasing the calcination temperature, the crystal structure of the granules was transformed into a dehydrated form and by calcination at 600°C the specific surface area of granules increased from 7.50 to 53.45m2/g. The granules were soaked in a 500g/lit solution of urea, where they adsorbed about 10wt.% urea. The dried urea-loaded granules were placed in water where the release of urea was measured by UV-vis spectrophotometry. Finally, different portions of urea-loaded granules were evaluated as fertilizer in the growing bed of corn plant where the height and the stem diameter of samples were compared with a control sample as well as a sample fertilized by urea directly. The results showed that by using the loaded granules, the urea consumption can be reduced by 50%.
P. Shahsavari, B. Eftekhari Yekta, V. Marghussian,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (September 2020)
Abstract
Strong glass-ceramic foams with a compressive strength of 20 MPa were prepared by adding various amounts of Fe2O3 to a soda lime-based glass composition, and SiC as a foaming agent. The foams were prepared by firing the compacted samples in the range of 750–950°C for different soaking times. The crystallization behavior of the samples was investigated by Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA), Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). Based on the results, solid solutions of pyroxene groups were crystallized by the surface mechanism, between 730˚C and 900˚C during the firing of the specimens, and their amounts increases with increasing of the added iron oxide. Besides, we found that Fe2O3 neither acts as a nucleant for pyroxene nor as an oxidizer for SiC. The results also showed that the compressive strength as well as the crystallization behavior of the foams was influenced by the presence of the SiC particles.
Arian Heidar Alaghband, Azam Moosavi, Saeid Baghshahi, Ali Khorsandzak,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (September 2021)
Abstract
Porous nanostructured SnO2 with a sheet-like morphology was synthesized through a simple green substrate-free gelatin-assisted calcination process using Tin tetracholoride pentahydrate as the SnO2 precursor and porcine gelatin as the template. Crystalline phase, morphology, microstructure, and optical characteristics of the as-prepared material were also investigated at different calcination temperatures using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-visible absorption, and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), respectively. XRD patterns of all the samples revealed the presence of a tetragonal crystalline structure with no other crystalline phases. Moreover, the synthesized hierarchical sheets assembled with nanoparticles displayed a large surface area and porous nanostructure. The calculated optical band gap energy varied from 2.62 to 2.87 eV depending on the calcination temperature. Finally, photoluminescence spectra indicated that the nanostructured SnO2 could exhibit an intensive UV-violet luminescence emission at 396 nm, with shoulders at 374, violet emission peaks at 405 and 414 nm, blue-green emission peak at 486 nm, green emission peak at 534 nm and orange emission peak at 628 nm.
Hamid Reza Rezaei Ashtiani, Shahab Moghaddam,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (March 2022)
Abstract
In this study, the effects of heat treatment of aluminum alloy on the tube bending process were investigated in the rotary draw bending process. As two experimental and numerical simulation methods were used to determine the wall-thinning, ovality, and spring back for extruded, annealed, and aged AA6063 aluminum alloy tubes in different bending angles and bend radii. Numerical simulations were done by the finite element method with Abaqus software. The results indicated that in comparison with annealed and extruded parts, wall-thinning reduced whereas the amount of ovality and spring-back increased in the aged tubes. Also, in each case, the percentage of wall-thinning decreased with increasing bend radius, and the effect of bend radius was greater in the reduction of ovality from the bending angle. Investigations showed that the spring-back rate also decreased with an increasing bending angle.
Fiza Ur Rehman, Syeda Sohaila Naz, Muhammad Junaid Dar, Annum Malik, Maimoona Qindeel, Francesco Baino, Fazli Wahid, Abbas Rahdar, Saeeda Munir, Sara Qaisar, Kifayat Ullah Shah, Mahtab Razlansari,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (June-Biomaterials Special Issue- 2022)
Abstract
Neoplastic cells have co-opted inflammatory receptors and signaling molecules that potentiate inflammation. Activated inflammatory pathways lead to neo-angiogenesis, lymph-angiogenesis, immunosuppression, tumor growth, proliferation and metastasis. This cancer-sustaining inflammation is a critical target to arrest cancer growth. Multiple drug resistance, high cost, low oral bioavailability and serious side effects have rendered conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutics less impressive. The aim of this research was to achieve cancer debulking and proliferation prevention by limiting ‘cancer-sustaining’ tumor niche inflammation through non-conventional oral approach employing anti-inflammatory agents and avoiding conventional cytotoxic agents. Synergistic anti-inflammatory agents, i.e. celecoxib as selective COX-2 inhibitor and montelukast as cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, were selected. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as nanocarriers because of their efficient synergistic anti-neoplastic effects and excellent oral drug delivery potential. Specifically, selected drugs were co-conjugated onto AgNPs. Synthesized nanoparticles were then surface-modified with poly(vinyl alcohol) to control particle size, avoid opsonization/preferred cellular uptake and improve dispersion. Surface plasmon resonance analysis, particle size analysis, DSC, TGA, XRD, FTIR and LIBS analysis confirmed the successful conjugation of drugs and efficient polymer coating with high loading efficiency. In-vitro, the nanoparticles manifested best and sustained release in moderately acidic (pH 4.5) milieu enabling passive tumor targeting potential. In-vivo, synthesized nanoparticles exhibited efficient dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity reducing the dose up to 25-fold. The formulation also manifested hemo-compatibility, potent anti-denaturation activity and dose-dependent in-vitro and in-vivo anti-cancer potential against MCF-7 breast cancer and Hep-G2 liver cancer cell lines in both orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft cancer models. The anti-inflammatory nanoparticles manifested tumor specific release potential exhibiting selective cytotoxicity at cancerous milieu with slightly acidic environment and activated inflammatory pathways. The formulation displayed impressive oral bioavailability, sustained release, negligible cytotoxicity against THLE-2 normal human hepatocytes, low toxicity (high LD50) and wide therapeutic window. Results suggest promise of developed nanomaterials as hemo-compatible, potent, cheaper, less-toxic oral anti-inflammatory and non-conventional anti-cancer agents.
Hannaneh Ghadirian, Hamid Golshahi, Sara Bahrami, Farhood Najafi, Allahyar Geramy, Soolmaz Heidari,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (June-Biomaterials Special Issue- 2022)
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are among the most commonly used antibacterial agents. The aim of this study was to synthesize a dimethacrylate monomer functionalized with a QAC and to study its effect on the properties of an orthodontic adhesive primer. Urethane dimethacrylate monomer functionalized with a QAC (UDMAQAC) was synthesized and then characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% of UDMAQAC was added to an orthodontic adhesive primer (control group). FTIR analysis was used to measure the degree of conversion (DC). The bond strength of dental brackets was measured by shear bond strength (SBS) test and adhesive remaining index (ARI) was evaluated by stereomicroscope. Agar diffusion test and MTT assay were used to evaluate the antibacterial property and cell viability, respectively. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test (P˂0.05). Although the obtained data did not show significant differences between the SBS and DC of different groups, but the highest values were obtained by adding 10 wt% monomer. Adding more than 10 wt% UDMAQAC resulted in significant increase in antibacterial property. The 15 and 20 wt% groups showed significantly lower cell viability
Pooyan Soroori, Saeid Baghshahi, Arghavan Kazemi, Nastaran Riahi Noori, Saba Payrazm, Amirtaymour Aliabadizadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (September 2022)
Abstract
The goal of the present study is to prepare a room temperature cured hydrophobic and self-cleaning nano-coating for power line insulators. As a result, the installed insulators operating in power lines can be coated without being removed from the circuit and without the need to cut off power. For this purpose, hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method using TEOS and HMDS. The synthesized hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM analyses to investigate phase formation, particle size, and morphology. Then the surface of the insulator was cleaned and sprayed by Ultimeg binder solution, an air-dried insulating coating, as the base coating. Then the hydrophobic nano-silica powder was sprayed on the binder coated surface and left to be air-cured at room temperature. After drying the coating, the contact angle was measured to be 149o. Pull-off test was used to check the adhesion strength of the hydrophobic coating to the base insulator. To evaluate the effect of environmental factors, UV resistance and fog-salt corrosion tests were conducted. The results showed that 150 hours of UV radiation, equivalent to 9 months of placing the samples in normal conditions, did not have any significant effect on reducing the hydrophobicity of the applied coatings.
Saba Payrazm, Saeid Baghshahi, Zahra Sadeghian, Amirtaymour Aliabadizadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (September 2022)
Abstract
In this research, zinc oxide quantum dots and graphene nanocomposites were synthesized via two different methods; In the first (direct) method, ZnO-graphene Nanocomposites were made mixing the synthesized zinc oxide and graphene. In the second (indirect) method, zinc nitrate, graphene, and sodium hydroxide were used to made ZnO-graphene Nanocomposites. XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analyses were used for phase and structural evaluations. The morphology of the nanocomposites w::as char::acterized by SEM. The specific surface area and porosity of the samples were characterized by BET analysis. The optical properties of the samples were investigated by photoluminescence and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analyses. Results showed that using graphene, increased the photoluminescence property and shifted the photoluminescence spectrum of the composites towards the visible light spectrum. The photoluminescence of the synthesized graphene-zinc oxide composite, in the visible light region, was closer to white light than that of pure zinc oxide. According to the results of BET test, the nanocomposite synthesized by direct method had a higher surface area (25.7 m2.g-1) and a higher porosity (0.32 cm3.g-1) than the nanocomposite synthesized by the indirect method with a specific surface area of (16.5 m2.g-1) and a porosity of 0.23 cm3.g-1).
Ali Hasanzade Salmasi, Mahban Zarei, Shadab Safarzadeh Khosroshahi, Soolmaz Heidari, Farhood Najafi, Mojtaba Ghomayshi, Katayoun Lesani,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (September 2023)
Abstract
Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) which is a transient phase in natural bio-mineralization process has recently gained the spotlight. This study aimed to assess the effect of incorporation of nano-ACP (NACP) in a dental adhesive with/without surface treatment with silane coupling agent on bond strength. NACP was synthesized by the wet chemical precipitation technique. To characterize the structure of NACP, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used. Forty molars were randomized into 4 groups of 10. The teeth were restored with composite resin and the bonding agent (one of the four groups). Adper Single Bond 2 was used as the control group. In 4wt% NACP group, NACP fillers were added to the bonding agent. In 0.4wt% and 4wt% SNACP groups, silanized NACP fillers were added to the bonding agent. Finally, the mode of failure of specimens was determined. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Addition of 4wt% non-silanized NACP decreased the bond strength compared with the control group (P<0.05). The bond strength of the groups with silanized fillers was not significantly different from that of the control group. Addition of silanized NACP to dental adhesive had no significant adverse effect on bond strength, which is a promising finding to pave the way for the synthesis of bonding agents containing bioactive fillers.
Muhammad Shahzad Sadiq, Muhammad Imran, Abdur Rafai, Muhammad Rizwan,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (June 2024)
Abstract
With increasing energy demand and depletion of fossil fuel resources, it is pertinent to explore the renewable and eco-friendly energy resource to meet global energy demand. Recently, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as plausible candidates in the field of photovoltaics and considered as potential contender of silicon solar cells in the photovoltaic market owing to their superior optoelectronic properties, low-cost and high absorption coefficients. Despite intensive research, PSCs still suffer from efficiency, stability, and reproducibility issues. To address the concern, the charge transport material (CTM) particularly the electron transport materials (ETM) can play significant role in the development of efficient and stable perovskite devices. In the proposed research, we synthesized GO-Ag-TiO2 ternary nanocomposite by facile hydrothermal approach as a potential electron transport layer (ETL) in a regular planar configuration-based PSC. The as synthesized sample was examined for morphological, structural, and optical properties using XRD, and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the high crystallinity of prepared sample with no peak of impurity. The optimized GO-Ag-TiO2 ETL exhibited superior PCE of 8.72% with Jsc of 14.98 mA.cm-2 ,Voc of 0.99 V, and a fill factor of 58.83%. Furthermore, the efficiency enhancement in comparison with reference device is observed which confirms the potential role of doped materials in enhancing photovoltaic performance by facilitating efficient charge transport and reduced recombination. Our research suggests a facile route to synthesize a low-cost ETM beneficial for the commercialization of future perovskite devices.
Seyed Farzad Dehghaniyan, Shahriar Sharafi,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (June 2024)
Abstract
Mechanical alloying was employed to synthesize a nanostructured alloy with the chemical formula of (Fe80Ni20)1-xCrx (x= 0, 4). The microstructural and magnetic properties of the samples were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Additionally, theoretical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) under the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Simulations have demonstrated that an appropriate quantity of chromium (Cr) can dissolve within the BCC-Fe (Ni) structure, resulting in a favorable enhancement of the magnetic moment of the lattice. The XRD results indicated that after 96 hours of milling, Fe (Ni) and Fe (Ni, Cr) with a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure were formed. With increasing milling time, the grain size decreased while the microstrain increased. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of Fe80Ni20 composition increased up to 32 hours of milling, but further milling (up to 96 h) resulted in a decrease in the saturation magnetization However, for the (Fe80Ni20)96Cr4 powders, milling up to 64 h caused a reduction in Ms. The coercivity (Hc) trend was different and increased with longer milling times (up to 96 h) for both compositions.
Mahnaz Dashti, Saeid Baghshahi, Arman Sedghi, Hoda Nourmohammadi,
Volume 21, Issue 3 (September 2024)
Abstract
Abstract
The power line insulators are permanently exposed to various environmental pollutants such as dust and fine particles. This may lead to flashovers and therefore widespread power blackouts and heavy economic damage. One way to overcome this problem is to make the insulator surface superhydrophobic. In this research, the superhydrophobic properties of the insulators were improved by applying room-temperature cured composite coatings consisting of epoxy and hydrophobic nano-silica particles. Either octadecyl trichlorosilane (ODTS) or hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) was used to coat the silica nanoparticles and make them hydrophobic. Then, the hydrophobic silica was added to a mixture of epoxy resin and hardener. The suspension was applied on the surfaces of a commercial porcelain insulator and cold cured at ambient temperature. The coating increased the water contact angle from 50° to 149°. Even after 244 h exposure to the UV light, the samples preserved their hydrophobic properties. The adhesion of the coating was rated as 4B according to the ASTM D3359 standard. The coating decreased the leakage current by 40% and increased the breakdown voltage by 86% compared to the uncoated sample and showed promise for making power line insulators self-cleaning.
