In the present study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with outside diameters of< 8 nm and 20−30 nm were covalently functionalized with β-Alanine using a novel synthesis procedure. The functionalization process was proved successful using Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and TEM. Utilizing the two-step method with ultrasonication, the MWCNTs treated with β-Alanine (Ala-MWCNTs) with weight concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.1% were dispersed in distilled water to prepare water-based nanofluids. The aqueous colloidal dispersions of pristine MWCNTs were unstable. While for Ala-MWCNTs and after> 50 days from preparation, higher colloidal stability was obtained up to relative concentration of 0.955 and 0.939 for the 0.075-wt% samples of Ala-MWCNTs < 8 nm and Ala-MWCNTs 20−30 nm, respectively. The measured values of thermal conductivity were in very good agreement with the model of Nan, Birringer, Clarke and Gleiter and increased as temperature, specific surface area (SSA), and weight concentration increased, up to 14.74% for Ala- MWCNTs < 8 nm and 12.29% for Ala-MWCNTs 20−30 nm. The viscosity increased as weight concentration increased, up 25.69% for 0.1-wt% Ala-MWCNTs 20−30 nm, and decreased with the increase in temperature. Since the matching between the measured values of viscosity and the classical models of Batchelor, Brinkman, and Einstein was bad, a correlation was developed and revealed good agreement. The density and specific heat decreased as temperature increased. As weight concentration increased, the density slightly increased up to 0.065% for Ala-MWCNT < 8 nm while the specific heat decreased down to 0.95% for Ala-MWCNTs 20−30 nm, in comparison with water. The equations of (Pak and Cho) and (Xuan and Roetzel) were in good agreement with the measured values of density and specific heat, respectively. The aqueous colloidal dispersions of Ala-MWCNTs that were prepared in this work displayed robust candidature as successful substitutes for the conventional heat transfer fluids in different engineering applications for enhanced thermal performance.
ABSTRACT
The study aims to identify the level of health services provided in private suites to government hospitals from the perspective of the recipi
... Show MoreMammography is at present one of the available method for early detection of masses or abnormalities which is related to breast cancer. The most common abnormalities that may indicate breast cancer are masses and calcifications. The challenge lies in early and accurate detection to overcome the development of breast cancer that affects more and more women throughout the world. Breast cancer is diagnosed at advanced stages with the help of the digital mammogram images. Masses appear in a mammogram as fine, granular clusters, which are often difficult to identify in a raw mammogram. The incidence of breast cancer in women has increased significantly in recent years.
This paper proposes a computer aided diagnostic system for the extracti
In this study the faunistic of lady beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) was studied in Mehriz region (Yazd province) during 2009-2010. The total number of specimens of coccinellid beetles were collected from 6 different localities having altitudes from 1420-2420 m. Altogether 11 species from 8 genera, 3 tribes and 3 subfamilies were collected and identified. External characters plus characteristics male and female genitalia were used in order to diagnose species. Seven species were recorded for the first time from Yazd province (marked*). Many species were predacious, preying on various species of aphids, mites and coccids. Some species were also sent to Dr. Helmut Fursch in Germany for identification or confirmation. T
... Show MorePultruded materials made of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) come in a broad range of shapes, such as bars, I-sections, C-sections, etc. FRP materials are starting to compete with steel as structural materials owing to their great resistance, low self-weight, and cheap maintenance costs, especially in corrosive conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel concrete Composite Column (CC) using Encased I-Section (EIS) as a reinforcement in contrast to traditional steel bars by using Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) as I-section (CC-EIS) to evaluate the effectiveness of the hybrid columns which have been built by combining GFRP profiles with concrete columns. To achieve the aims of this study, nine circular co
... Show MoreBiodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel and a good substitution for the fossil fuel. However, the purity of this fuel is a major concern that challenges researchers. In this study, a calcium oxide based catalyst has been prepared from local waste eggshells by the calcination method and tested in production biodiesel. The eggshells were powdered and calcined at different temperatures (700, 750, 800, 850 and 900 °C) and periods of time (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hr.). The effect of calcination temperature and calcination time on the structure and activity of the solid catalyst were examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunaure-Emmett-Teller (BET). The optimum catalyst performance was obtained at 900 °C
... Show MoreThis paper presents a novel inverse kinematics solution for robotic arm based on artificial neural network (ANN) architecture. The motion of robotic arm is controlled by the kinematics of ANN. A new artificial neural network approach for inverse kinematics is proposed. The novelty of the proposed ANN is the inclusion of the feedback of current joint angles configuration of robotic arm as well as the desired position and orientation in the input pattern of neural network, while the traditional ANN has only the desired position and orientation of the end effector in the input pattern of neural network. In this paper, a six DOF Denso robotic arm with a gripper is controlled by ANN. The comprehensive experimental results proved the appl
... Show MoreDue to the wide distribution through the Iranian Plateau, especially in its western parts adjacent to Iraq’s northeastern borders, the occurrence of Brandt’s Hedgehog