Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology 

About: Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology is an academic journal published by Scientific Research Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Corrosion & Adsorption. It has an ISSN identifier of 2161-4881. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 230 publications have been published receiving 2053 citations. The journal is also known as: JSEMAT.

Recent Progress in Preparation of Superhydrophobic Surfaces: A Review

Abstract: In nature, water-repellency (superhydrophobicity) is found, besides in plants, in insects and bird feathers. The booming field of biomimetics allows one to mimic nature to develop nanomaterials, nanodevices, and processes which offer desirable properties. Biomimetics means mimicking biology or nature. Inspired from nature, which reveals excellent superhydrophobicity, researchers have recently developed and implemented biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces in a variety of smart and simple ways. Superhydrophobicity is an effect where surface roughness and chemical composition combine to generate unusual water repellent surface, causing water to bounce and roll off the surface. This review article provides the overview of the recent progress (within the last four years) in the synthesis, characterization, theoretical modelling, and applications of superhydrophobic surfaces, with focus on the different techniques used and how they have developed over the years. At last, the difficulties related to implementation of superhydrophobic surfaces in day to day life are discussed. This review can find interesting for students, scientists and industrial companies working especially on superhydrophobic surfaces.

FT-IR Spectroscopy Applied for Surface Clays Characterization *

Abstract: The present paper should be considered as a review of the application of Fourier Transform Infra-Red for surface clay characterization. The application of surface clay materials for water treatment, oil adsorption, excipients or as active in drugs has largely increased these recent years. The surface clay material presents hydroxyl groups, which can link very easily water molecules. These hydroxyl groups can react with organic groups and by their vibration in the infra-red region, FT-IR can be easily used as a technical method for surface clay characterization. In this paper, we focus on the determination of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites on the clay surface, a critical review of the sample preparation, the surface characterization of bulk clay and the modified surface clay samples using FT-IR spectroscopy.

Effect of Processing Paramters on Metal Matrix Composites: Stir Casting Process

Abstract: Conventional stir casting process has been employed for producing discontinuous particle reinforced metal matrix composites for decades. The major problem of this process is to obtain sufficient wetting of particle by liquid metal and to get a homogenous dispersion of the ceramic particles. In the present study, aluminium metal matrix composites were fabricated by different processing temperatures with different holding time to understand the influence of process parameters on the distribution of particle in the matrix and the resultant mechanical properties. The distribution is examined by microstructure analysis, hardness distribution and density distribution.

Metal Nanoparticle Modified Polysulfone Membranes for Use in Wastewater Treatment: A Critical Review

Abstract: Membrane separation processes have been widely applied in the treatment of wastewater. Polysulphone (PSF) membranes are the most common membranes used in ultrafiltration of wastewater due to its mechanical robustness and structural and chemical stability. Unfortunately these membranes are mostly hydrophobic by nature and therefore highly susceptible to fouling. Many studies have been conducted to increase the hydrophilic properties of the polysul-phone/ polyethersulfone membrane surface, more recently metal nanoparticles have been added to the polymer matrix in order to reduce fouling potential and increase membrane performance. TiO2 nanoparticles have proven successful in mitigating fouling of organic matter onto PES. Embedded Ag nanoparticles have improved virus removal from wastewater due to the bactericidal properties of silver. Al2O3 and most recently ZrO2 nanoparticles reduced the fouling rate of polyethersulfone membranes in wastewater, while the latter also showed lower flux decline of the composite membrane. These metal nanoparticles all impart specific properties onto the membrane surface. Scanning electron microscopy, steady state fouling rate and contact angle measurements are membrane characterisation techniques discussed in this review that reveal specific changes to membrane properties brought about by metal nanoparticles. This paper reviews the most recent developments and shortcomings of metal nanocomposite polysulfone and polyethersulfone (PES) membranes and strives to identify specific focus areas to consider in future research.

Effect of Annealing on Structural, Morphological, Electrical and Optical Studies of Nickel Oxide Thin Films

Abstract: Sol gel spin coating method has been successfully employed for the deposition of nanocrystalline nickel oxide (NiO) thin films. The films were annealed at 400°C - 700°C for 1 h in an air and changes in the structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties were studied. The structural properties of nickel oxide films were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis shows that all the films are crystallized in the cubic phase and present a random orientation. Surface morphology of the nickel oxide film consists of nanocrystalline grains with uniform coverage of the substrate surface with randomly oriented morphology. The electrical conductivity showed the semiconducting nature with room temperature electrical conductivity increased from 10-4 to 10-2(Ωcm)-1 after annealing. The decrease in the band gap energy from 3.86 to 3.47 eV was observed after annealing NiO films from 400oC - 700oC. These mean that the optical quality of NiO films is improved by annealing.