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Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

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12 pages, 5444 KiB  
Article
Effects of Reinforcement Ratios and Sintering Temperatures on the Mechanical Properties of Titanium Nitride/Nickel Composites
by Yi-Cheng Chen and Shih-Fu Ou
Materials 2020, 13(20), 4473; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13204473 - 9 Oct 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2087
Abstract
In this study, powder metallurgy was used to fabricate titanium nitride/nickel metal-matrix composites. First, titanium and nickel powders with weight ratios of 20:80, 50:50 and 80:20 were dry mixed for 24 h. After cold isostatic pressing, the green compacts were soaked in a [...] Read more.
In this study, powder metallurgy was used to fabricate titanium nitride/nickel metal-matrix composites. First, titanium and nickel powders with weight ratios of 20:80, 50:50 and 80:20 were dry mixed for 24 h. After cold isostatic pressing, the green compacts were soaked in a water-based hot forging lubricant and sintered at 850, 950 and 1050 °C for 1.5 h in an air atmosphere. The effects of the amounts of titanium powder and the sintering temperatures on the mechanical properties (hardness, wear resistance and compressive strength) of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that titanium gradually transformed into titanium nitride near the surface after sintering due to the carbothermal reduction reaction; this transformation was observed to significantly increase the hardness. In addition, an oxygen-rich film was observed to form between the titanium nitride particles and the nickel matrix. An optimum sintering temperature of 950 °C provides the composites (titanium–nickel weight ratios of 20:80) the best mechanical properties (wear resistance and compressive strength) among other groups. Furthermore, increasing the titanium content to 80% in the composite increased the hardness; however, the wear resistance and compressive strength decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Matrix Composites)
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19 pages, 3159 KiB  
Review
The Importance of Ionic Liquids in the Modification of Starch and Processing of Starch-Based Materials
by Sylwia Ptak, Arkadiusz Zarski and Janusz Kapusniak
Materials 2020, 13(20), 4479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13204479 - 9 Oct 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3074
Abstract
The main applications of ionic liquids in chemistry and material research on one of the most important natural polymers—starch—are presented in this review. A brief characterization of ionic liquids and the advantages and disadvantages of using them in the modification and processing of [...] Read more.
The main applications of ionic liquids in chemistry and material research on one of the most important natural polymers—starch—are presented in this review. A brief characterization of ionic liquids and the advantages and disadvantages of using them in the modification and processing of polysaccharides is presented. The latest reports on the use of various ionic liquids as solvents or co-solvents; as media for synthesizing starch derivatives in oxidation, etherification, esterification, and transesterification, with particular emphasis on biocatalyzed reactions; and as plasticizers or compatibilizers in the processing of starch-based polymers have been investigated. The current trends, possibilities, and limitations of using this type of compound for the production of functional starch-based materials are presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids)
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21 pages, 5042 KiB  
Article
Metal Removal from Nickel-Containing Effluents Using Mineral–Organic Hybrid Adsorbent
by Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin, Dmitrii Grozdov, Konstantin Vergel, Nadezhda Popova, Grigoriy Artemiev and Alexey Safonov
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4462; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194462 - 8 Oct 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
Nickel is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants and its removal from wastewater is an important task. The capacity of a mineral–organic hybrid adsorbent, consisting of Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm and zeolite (clinoptilolite of the Chola deposit), to remove metal ions from nickel-containing [...] Read more.
Nickel is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants and its removal from wastewater is an important task. The capacity of a mineral–organic hybrid adsorbent, consisting of Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm and zeolite (clinoptilolite of the Chola deposit), to remove metal ions from nickel-containing batch systems under different experimental conditions was tested. The obtained biosorbent was characterized using neutron activation, SEM, and FTIR techniques. It was established that maximum removal of cations, up to 100%, was achieved at pH 6.0. Several mathematical models were applied to describe the equilibrium and kinetics data. The maximum adsorption capacity of the hybrid biosorbent, calculated using the Langmuir model, varied from 3.6 to 3.9 mg/g. Negative Gibbs energy values and positive ∆H° values indicate the spontaneous and endothermic character of the biosorption process. The effects of several parameters (pH and biosorbent dosage) on Ni(II) removal from real effluent, containing nickel with a concentration of 125 mg/L, were investigated. The optimal pH for Ni(II) removal was 5.0–6.0 and an increase of sorbent dosage from 0.5 to 2.0 led to an increase in Ni(II) removal from 17% to 27%. At two times effluent dilution, maximum Ni(II) removal of 26% was attained at pH 6.0 and sorbent dosage of 1.0 g. A 12-fold effluent dilution resulted in the removal of 72% of Ni(II) at the same pH and sorbent dosage values. The obtained hybrid biosorbent can be used for Ni(II) removal from industrial effluents with low Ni(II) concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Heavy Metals Removal from Waters)
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11 pages, 3310 KiB  
Article
Magneto-Fluorescent Hybrid Sensor CaCO3-Fe3O4-AgInS2/ZnS for the Detection of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Media
by Danil A. Kurshanov, Pavel D. Khavlyuk, Mihail A. Baranov, Aliaksei Dubavik, Andrei V. Rybin, Anatoly V. Fedorov and Alexander V. Baranov
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194373 - 30 Sep 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2963
Abstract
Heavy metal ions are not subject to biodegradation and could cause the environmental pollution of natural resources and water. Many of the heavy metals are highly toxic and dangerous to human health, even at a minimum amount. This work considered an optical method [...] Read more.
Heavy metal ions are not subject to biodegradation and could cause the environmental pollution of natural resources and water. Many of the heavy metals are highly toxic and dangerous to human health, even at a minimum amount. This work considered an optical method for detecting heavy metal ions using colloidal luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Over the past decade, QDs have been used in the development of sensitive fluorescence sensors for ions of heavy metal. In this work, we combined the fluorescent properties of AgInS2/ZnS ternary QDs and the magnetism of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of porous calcium carbonate microspheres for the detection of toxic ions of heavy metal: Co2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+. We demonstrate a relationship between the level of quenching of the photoluminescence of sensors under exposure to the heavy metal ions and the concentration of these ions, allowing their detection in aqueous solutions at concentrations of Co2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+ as low as ≈0.01 ppm, ≈0.1 ppm, and ≈0.01 ppm, respectively. It also has importance for application of the ability to concentrate and extract the sensor with analytes from the solution using a magnetic field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photoactive Materials: Synthesis, Applications and Technology)
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11 pages, 5098 KiB  
Article
Influence of Laser-Welding on Microstructure and Corrosion Properties of Twinning-Induced Plasticity (TWIP) Steel
by Chengcheng Xu, Youkang Zhang, Wanlei Liu, Ying Jin, Lei Wen and Dongbai Sun
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4315; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194315 - 28 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2156
Abstract
The effect of welding speed on microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion properties of laser-assisted welded joints of a twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, electrochemical test, and micro-area scanning [...] Read more.
The effect of welding speed on microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion properties of laser-assisted welded joints of a twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, electrochemical test, and micro-area scanning Kelvin probe test (SKP). The results reveal that the welded joints, with a fully austenitic structure, are obtained by laser welding. In addition, the preferred orientation of grains in fusion zone (FZ) increased with the increase of welding speed. Additionally, the coincidence site lattice (CSL) grain boundaries of FZ decreased with increasing welding speed. However, potentiodynamic polarization and SKP results demonstrated that the welding speed of 1.5 m/min renders superior corrosion resistance. It can also be inferred that the corrosion properties of the welded joints are related to the grain size and frequency of CSL grain boundary in FZ. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Corrosion)
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12 pages, 5607 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Formation Mechanism of Limestone-Derived Porous Rod Hierarchical Ca-based Metal–Organic Framework for Efficient CO2 Capture
by Po-Hsueh Chang, Hua-Pei Hsu, Szu-Chen Wu and Cheng-Hsiung Peng
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4297; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194297 - 26 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3499
Abstract
Limestone is a relatively abundant and low-cost material used for producing calcium oxide as a CO2 adsorbent. However, the CO2 capture capacity of limestone decreases rapidly after multiple carbonation/calcination cycles. To improve the CO2 capture performance, we developed a process [...] Read more.
Limestone is a relatively abundant and low-cost material used for producing calcium oxide as a CO2 adsorbent. However, the CO2 capture capacity of limestone decreases rapidly after multiple carbonation/calcination cycles. To improve the CO2 capture performance, we developed a process using limestone to transform the material into a rod Ca-based metal–organic framework (Ca-MOF) via a hydrothermal process with the assistance of acetic acid and terephthalic acid (H2BDC). The structural formation of rod Ca-MOF may result from the (200) face-oriented attachment growth of Ca-MOF sheets. Upon heat treatment, a highly stable porous rod network with a calcined Ca-MOF-O structure was generated with a pore distribution of 50–100 nm, which allowed the rapid diffusion of CO2 into the interior of the sorbent and enhanced the CO2 capture capacity with high multiple carbonation–calcination cycle stability compared to limestone alone at the intermediate temperature of 450 °C. The CO2 capture capacity of the calcined porous Ca-MOF-O network reached 52 wt% with a CO2 capture stability of 80% after 10 cycles. The above results demonstrated that rod Ca-MOF can be synthesized from a limestone precursor to form a porous network structure as a CO2 capture sorbent to improve CO2 capture performance at an intermediate temperature, thus suggesting its potential in environmental applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Glass and Ceramics: From Preparation to Applications)
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