The effects of using aqueous nanofluids containing covalently functionalized graphene nanoplatelets with triethanolamine (TEA-GNPs) as novel working fluids on the thermal performance of a flat-plate solar collector (FPSC) have been investigated. Water-based nanofluids with weight concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.1% of TEA-GNPs with specific surface areas of 300, 500, and 750 m2/g were prepared. An experimental setup was designed and built and a simulation program using MATLAB was developed. Experimental tests were performed using inlet fluid temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 °C; flow rates of 0.6, 1.0, and 1.4 kg/min; and heat flux intensities of 600, 800, and 1000 W/m2. The FPSC’s efficiency increased as the flow rate and hea

          In this paper, magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPS) have been prepared and characterized and its concentration effect has been studied on polymers surface (MgO NPS). The results showed that the degradation of poly methyl methacrylate increased when using such metal oxide. The results also showed that the metal oxide increased the degradation of poly methyl methacrylate. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy were used to study the morphological characteristics and size of nano MgO particles analysis.  Films were prepared by mixing the different masses of MgO NPS (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4) % with a polymer solution ratio (W/V) 7 %. Photo-

A new two series of liquid crystalline Schiff bases containing thiazole moiety with different length of alkoxy spacer were synthesized, and the relation between the spacer length and the liquid crystalline behavior was investigated. The molecular structures of these compounds were performed by elemental analysis and FTIR, 1HNMR spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline properties were examined by hot stage optical polarizing microscopy (OPM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All compouns of the two series display liquid crystalline nematic mesophase. The liquid crystalline behaviour has been analyzed in terms of structural property relationship

The spray quality of two spraying agents with different physical properties was investigated under laboratory conditions to find whether the measurement of deposited drops could be affected by spraying those agents. The first spraying agent Moddus, which is a plant growth regulator, has a surface tension of 28 mN m-1 with almost half the value of the second spraying agent Kelpak (58 mN m-1). A mini boom sprayer containing three flat fan nozzles (XR 11003) was used in the test with three traveling speeds (4.74, 5.42 and 8.13 km. h-1). The test was performed to evaluate the quality of spray drops (spray coverage, spray density and stains diameter) after they were deposited on water sensitive papers (WSP). The results showed a higher ability o

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of surface treatments of zirconia (grinding and sandblast with 50μm, 100 μm) on shear bond strength between zirconia core and veneering ceramic. Material and methods: Twenty-eight presintered Y-TZP ceramic specimens (IPS e.max ZirCAD, Ivoclar vivadent) were fabricated and sintered according to manufacturer’s instructions. The core specimens were divided randomly in to 4 groups, group 1: no surface treatment, group2: zirconia specimens were ground with silicon carbide paper up to1200 grit under water cooling, group3: zirconia specimens were ground and sandblast with 100 μm alumina, group 4: zirconia specimens were ground and sandblast with 50 μm alumina. Surfa

Background: Adjustment of any premature occlusal contact of any zirconia restoration requires its polishing or glazing in order to restore the smoothness of the restoration. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of different polishing systems and glazing on the surface roughness of full-contour zirconia. Material and methods: Forty disks (diameter: 8 mm, thickness: 6.4 mm) were prepared from pre-sintered full-contoured zirconia block; they were colored and sintered in a high-temperature furnace at 1500ËšC for 8 hours. The specimens were then leveled and finished using grinding and polishing machine and adjusted using diamond disk. The specimens were then randomly divided into four groups (n=10), group I involves

In this research, a sensor for chemical solutions was designed and formed using optical fiber-based on a surface Plasmon resonance technology. A single-mode optical fiber with three different diameters (25, 45 and 65) µm was used, respectively.  The second layer of the low refractive fiber was replaced by gold, which was electrically deposited at 40 µm thickness. For each of the three types of optical fiber, different saline concentrations (different index of refraction) were used to evaluate the performance of the refractive index sensor (chemical sensor) by measuring its sensitivity and resolutions. The highest values we could get for these two parameters were 240mm/RIU, and 6*10^-5 RIU respectively, when the diameter of a

Cu (In, Ga) Se2 (CIGS) nano ink were synthesized from molecular precursors of CuCl, In Cl3, GaCl3 and Se metal heated to 240 °C for 1 hour in N2-atmosphere to form CIGS nanocrystal ink, Thin films were deposited onto Au/soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates. This work focused on CIGS nanocrystals, including their synthesis and application as the active light absorber layer in photovoltaic devices (PVs). This approach, using spin-coating deposition of the CIGS light absorber layers (75 mg/ml and 150 nm thickness), without high temperature selenization, has enabled up to 1.398 % power conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 solar illumination. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that the structural formation of CIGS chalcopyrite structure. The mo