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PublicationA short review on the influence of antimony addition to the microstructure and thermal properties of Lead-Free solder alloy( 2023)
;Nur Syahirah Mohamad ZaimiMohd Izrul Izwan Ramli -
PublicationAlkaline-Activation technique to produce low-temperature sintering activated-HAp ceramic( 2023)
;Hasmaliza Mohamad ;Andrei Victor Sandu ;Petrica Vizureanu ;Madalina Simona BaltatuPatimapon SukmakThe fabrication of hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics prepared by existing conventional sintering requires high-temperature sintering of 1250 °C to 1300 °C. In this paper, the activated metakaolin (MK)/HAp specimens were prepared from varied mix design inputs, which were varied solid mixtures (different amounts of MK loading in HAp) and liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratios, before being pressed and sintered at 900 °C. Phase analysis, thermal analysis, surface morphology, and tensile strength of the specimens were investigated to study the influences of the Al, Si, Fe, Na, and K composition on the formation of the hydroxyapatite phase and its tensile strength. XRD analysis results show the formation of different phases was obtained from the different mix design inputs HAp (hexagonal and monoclinic), calcium phosphate, sodium calcium phosphate silicate and calcium hydrogen phosphate hydrate. Interestingly, the specimen with the addition of 30 g MK prepared at a 1.25 L/S ratio showed the formation of a monoclinic hydroxyapatite phase, resulting in the highest diametrical tensile strength of 12.52 MPa. Moreover, the increment in the MK amount in the specimens promotes better densification when sintered at 900 °C, which was highlighted in the microstructure study. This may be attributed to the Fe2O3, Na2O, and K2O contents in the MK and alkaline activator, which acted as a self-fluxing agent and contributed to the lower sintering temperature. Therefore, the research revealed that the addition of MK in the activated-HAp system could achieve a stable hydroxyapatite phase and better tensile strength at a low sintering temperature. -
PublicationBiotechnological processes in microbial amylase production( 2017)
;Subash C. B. Gopinath ;Periasamy Anbu ;M. K. Md Arshad ;Thangavel LakshmipriyaSuresh V. ChinniAmylase is an important and indispensable enzyme that plays a pivotal role in the field of biotechnology. It is produced mainly from microbial sources and is used in many industries. Industrial sectors with top-down and bottom-up approaches are currently focusing on improving microbial amylase production levels by implementing bioengineering technologies. The further support of energy consumption studies, such as those on thermodynamics, pinch technology, and environment-friendly technologies, has hastened the large-scale production of the enzyme. Herein, the importance of microbial (bacteria and fungi) amylase is discussed along with its production methods from the laboratory to industrial scales. -
PublicationBonding strength characteristics of FA-Based geopolymer paste as a repair material when applied on OPC Substrate( 2020)
;Warid Wazien Ahmad Zailani ;Aissa Bouaissi ;Sorachon Yoriya ;Mohd Remy Rozainy M. A. Z.Hamzah FansuriThis investigative study aims to study the mechanical and morphological properties of fly ash (FA)-based geopolymer paste as a repair material when applied on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) overlay concrete. The first part of this study investigates the optimal mix design of FA-based geopolymer paste with various NaOH concentrations of 8, 10, 12, and 14 M, which were used later as a repair material. The second part studies the bonding strength using a slant shear test between the geopolymer repair material and OPC substrate concrete. The results showed that a shorter setting time corresponds to the higher NaOH molarity, within the range of 53 and 30 min at 8 and 14 M, respectively. The compressive strength of FA-based geopolymer paste was found to reach 92.5 MPa at 60 days. Also, from the slant shear test results, prism specimens with 125 mm length and 50 mm wide have a large bond strength of 11 MPa at 12 M. The scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis showed that the OPC substrate has a significant effect on slant shear bond strength, where the presence of free cations of Ca2+ on the OPC substrate surface contributed to the formation of calcium alumina-silicate hydrate gel (C-A-S-H) by building various cross-links of Ca-O-Si. -
PublicationCharacterization of SnO 2/TiO 2 with the addition of polyethylene glycol via Sol-Gel method for Self-Cleaning application( 2022)
;A. Azliza ;Mohd Mustafa Albakri Abdullah ;V. Chobpattana ;L. Kaczmarek ;M. NabiałekB. JeżTiO2 is one of the most widely used metal oxide semiconductors in the field of photocatalysis for the self-cleaning purpose to withdraw pollutants. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is recommended as a stabilizer and booster during preparation of water-soluble TiO2. Preparation of SnO2/TiO2 thin film deposition on the surface of ceramic tile was carried out by the sol-gel spin coating method by adding different amount of PEG (0g, 0.2g, 0.4g, 0.6g, 0.8g) during the preparation of the sol precursor. The effects of PEG content and the annealing temperature on the phase composition, crystallite size and the hydrophilic properties of SnO2/TiO2 films were studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra revealed different phases existed when the films were annealed at different annealing temperatures of 350°C, 550°C and 750°C with 0.4 g of PEG addition. The crystallite sizes of the films were measured using Scherrer equation. It shows crystallite size was dependent on crystal structure existed in the films. The films with mixed phases of brookite and rutile shows the smallest crystallite size. In order to measure the hydrophilicity properties of films, the water contact angles for each film with different content of PEG were measured. It can be observed that the water contact angle decreased with the increasing of the content of PEG. It shows the superhydrophilicity properties for the films with the 0.8 g of PEG annealed at 750°C. This demonstrates that the annealed temperature and the addition of PEG affect the phase composition and the hydrophilicity properties of the films -
PublicationCold-pressed fly ash geopolymers: effect of formulation on mechanical and morphological characteristics( 2021)
;Ong Shee-Ween ;Lynette Wei Ling Chan ;Ooi Wan-En ;Ng Yong-SingThis research uses low alkali activator content and cold pressing technique for fly ash-based geopolymers formation under room temperature condition. The geopolymers were prepared using four different parameters: fly ash/alkali activator ratio, sodium hydroxide concentration, sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratio and pressing force. The results indicated that the compressive strength (114.2 MPa) and flexural strength (29.9 MPa) of geopolymers maximised at a fly ash/alkali activator ratio of 5.5, a 14 M sodium hydroxide concentration, a sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratio of 1.5 and a pressing force of 5 tons (pressing stress of 100.0 MPa and 155.7 MPa for compressive and flexural samples, respectively). The degree of reaction (40.1%) enhanced the structure compactness with minimum porosity. The improved mechanical properties confirmed that a high strength pressed geopolymer could be formed at low alkali activator content without the aid of temperature. -
PublicationComparative mechanical and microstructural properties of high calcium fly ash one-part geopolymers activated with Na2SiO3-anhydrous and NaAlO2( 2021)
;Ooi Wan-En ;Ong Shee-Ween ;Ng Hui-Teng ;Ng Yong-SingLong-Yuan LiThis paper investigates the effect of varying solid alkali activators on the fresh and hardened properties and microstructural changes of one-part geopolymers (OPGs). Single and binary solid alkali activators were used to activate high calcium fly ash. The alkali activators were either solely sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) or a combination of sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) and sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3). The OPG activated with anhydrous Na2SiO3 achieved an excellent 28-day compressive strength of 83.6 MPa while OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 attained a compressive strength of 45.1 MPa. The Na2SiO3-activated OPG demonstrated better fluidity than the OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 due to the thixotropic behaviour caused by the NaAlO2. The Na2SiO3-activated OPG consisted of sodium-calcium aluminium silicate hydrate ((N,C)-A-S-H) gel phase, while the OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 comprised of the coexistence of sodium aluminium silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) and calcium aluminium silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) gel phases. Regardless of the distinctive properties, the OPGs are adequate for building materials applications. -
PublicationContribution of interfacial bonding towards geopolymers properties in geopolymers reinforced fibers: A review( 2022)
;Muhd Hafizuddin Yazid ;Marcin Nabiałek ;Marwan Kheimi ;Andrei Victor Sandu ;Adam RylskiBartłomiej JeżThere is a burgeoning interest in the development of geopolymers as sustainable construction materials and incombustible inorganic polymers. However, geopolymers show quasi-brittle behavior. To overcome this weakness, hundreds of researchers have focused on the development, characterization, and implementation of geopolymer-reinforced fibers for a wide range of applications for light geopolymers concrete. This paper discusses the rapidly developing geopolymer-reinforced fibers, focusing on material and geometrical properties, numerical simulation, and the effect of fibers on the geopolymers. In the section on the effect of fibers on the geopolymers, a comparison between single and hybrid fibers will show the compressive strength and toughness of each type of fiber. It is proposed that interfacial bonding between matrix and fibers is important to obtain better results, and interfacial bonding between matrix and fiber depends on the type of material surface contact area, such as being hydrophobic or hydrophilic, as well as the softness or roughness of the surface. -
PublicationCopper-filled electrically conductive adhesives with enhanced shear strength( 2014)Hiroshi NishikawaIn this study, the effects of diethyl carbitol (diluent) and tertiary amines on the electrical, mechanical, and rheological properties of the Cu-filled polyurethane-based electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) were investigated. Significant difference could be observed in the electrical resistivity and shear strength of ECA prepared with different amount of diethyl carbitol. Reduced electrical resistivity was found in ECAs prepared with addition of tertiary amines, but no obvious change was observed in the shear strength of the ECA joint. Rheological property of the ECA paste was investigated in order to understand the correlation of the viscosity of ECA paste and electrical resistivity and shear strength of ECA joint. Results revealed that decrease in viscosity of the ECA paste reduced electrical resistivity and enhanced shear strength of ECA joint. A Cu-filled polyurethane-based ECA with considerably low electrical resistivity at the magnitude order range of 10-3 Ωcm, and significantly high shear strength (above 17 MPa) could be achieved.
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PublicationCorrelation between pore structure, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of porous metakaolin geopolymerThis paper investigates the effect of mixing parameters (that are, alkali concentration, AA ratio, and MK/ AA ratio) on the thermal conductivity of metakaolin geopolymers. The combination effect of foaming agent (H2O2) and surfactant (Tween 80) on the physical properties, compressive strength, and pore characteristic was also elucidated. Results showed that metakaolin geopolymer with maximum compressive strength of 33 MPa, bulk density of 1680 kg/m3 , porosity of 18% and thermal conductivity of 0.40 W/mK were achieved with alkali concentration of 10 M, AA ratio of 1.0 and MK/AA ratio of 0.8. Gradation analysis demonstrated that AA ratio was the strength determining factor. Whilst, thermal conductivity was dependent on the MK/AA ratio. Adding H2O2 and surfactant produced geopolymer foam with acceptable compressive strength (0.4–6 MPa). The geopolymer foam had bulk density of 471–1212 kg/m3 , porosity of 36–86% and thermal conductivity of 0.11–0.30 W/mK. Pore structure, size, and distribution were governed by H2O2 and surfactant dosages that have a great impact on the compressive strength. Narrower pore distribution and smaller pore diameter were achieved when both foaming agent and surfactant were used instead of foaming agent alone. The pore size and distribution varied to a greater extent with varying H2O2 contents. Surfactant illustrated distinct pore stabilizing effect at low H2O2 (<0.75 wt%) which diminished at high H2O2 content. In terms of thermal conductivity, even with increasing porosity at high H2O2 and surfactant content, the thermal conductivity did not show substantial reduction due to the interconnected pores as a result of pore coalescence
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PublicationDemonstration of chemistry at a point through restructuring and catalytic activation at anchored nanoparticles( 2017)
;Dragos Neagu ;Evangelos I. Papaioannou ;David N. Miller ;Billy J. Murdoch ;Hervé Ménard ;Ahmed Umar ;Anders J. Barlow ;Peter J. Cumpson ;John T. S. IrvineIan S. MetcalfeMetal nanoparticles prepared by exsolution at the surface of perovskite oxides have been recently shown to enable new dimensions in catalysis and energy conversion and storage technologies owing to their socketed, well-anchored structure. Here we show that contrary to general belief, exsolved particles do not necessarily re-dissolve back into the underlying perovskite upon oxidation. Instead, they may remain pinned to their initial locations, allowing one to subject them to further chemical transformations to alter their composition, structure and functionality dramatically, while preserving their initial spatial arrangement. We refer to this concept as chemistry at a point and illustrate it by tracking individual nanoparticles throughout various chemical transformations. We demonstrate its remarkable practical utility by preparing a nanostructured earth abundant metal catalyst which rivals platinum on a weight basis over hundreds of hours of operation. Our concept enables the design of compositionally diverse confined oxide particles with superior stability and catalytic reactivity -
PublicationEffect of crumb rubber on compressive strength of fly ash based geopolymer concrete( 2016)
;Che Mohd Ruzaidi Ghazali ;Andrei Victor SanduThis study explores the effect of different percentage of crumb rubber on compressive strength of fly ash based geopolymer concrete. This research attempted to produce rubberized geopolymer concrete as an environmentally friendly, lightweight and durable product. Crumb rubber with ranged size from 73 µm to 375 µm was used in order to replace fine aggregates in geopolymer concrete. The replacements of crumb rubber were 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% in the fly ash based geopolymer concrete. The ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator was 2.5 and the ratio of Na2SiO3 to NaOH was fixed at 2.0. After the curing process, the strengths of the samples were tested on days 7 and 28. The results show that there is a reduction in all compressive strength for crumb rubber mixture, but still higher than normal rubberized concrete. Rubberized geopolymer concrete is a suitable solution in some non structural applications. -
PublicationEffect of differences Methanol concentration and extraction time on the antioxidant capacity, phenolics content and bioactive constituents of Orthosiphon Stamineus extracts( 2016)
;Noorhaslina Hashim ;Abdul Razak Shaari ;Awang Soh Mamat -
PublicationEffect of hydrochloric acid concentration on morphology of polyaniline nanofibers synthesized by rapid mixing polymerization( 2015)
;Zulkhairi Zakaria ;Nurul F. A. Halim ;Mubaraq H. V. Schleusingen ;A. K. M. Shafiqul IslamMohd N. AhmadPolyaniline (PANI) nanofibers with diameters ranging from 60 nm to 190 nm were successfully synthesized by rapid mixing polymerization method at room temperature. The effects of synthesis conditions such as concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl), ammonium persulfate (APS), and aniline monomer (Ani) on the morphology of PANI nanofibers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and UV-Vis analysis were performed to characterize the PANI nanofibers. The effect of polymerization time and electrical properties of PANI nanofibers was also discussed. A rapid mixing polymerization method is found to be advantageous in producing bulk quantities of nanofibers. -
PublicationEffect of isothermal annealing on Sn whisker growth behavior of Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joint( 2023)
;Andrei Victor Sandu ;Petrica VizureanuIoan Gabriel SanduThis paper presents an assessment of the effect of isothermal annealing of Sn whisker growth behavior on the surface of Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joints using the hot-dip soldering technique. Sn0.7Cu and Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joints with a similar solder coating thickness was aged up to 600 h in room temperature and annealed under 50 °C and 105 °C conditions. Through the observations, the significant outcome was the suppressing effect of Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni on Sn whisker growth in terms of density and length reduction. The fast atomic diffusion of isothermal annealing consequently reduced the stress gradient of Sn whisker growth on the Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joint. It was also established that the smaller (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 grain size and stability characteristic of hexagonal η-Cu6Sn5 considerably contribute to the residual stress diminished in the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 IMC interfacial layer and are able to suppress the growth of Sn whiskers on the Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joint. The findings of this study provide environmental acceptance with the aim of suppressing Sn whisker growth and upsurging the reliability of the Sn0.7Cu0.05Ni solder joint at the electronic-device-operation temperature. -
PublicationEffect of kaolin geopolymer ceramics addition on the microstructure and shear strength of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints during multiple reflow( 2022)
;Nur Syahirah Mohamad Zaimi ;Andrei Victor Sandu ;Petrica Vizureanu ;Mohd Izrul Izwan Ramli ;Kazuhiro Nogita ;Hideyuki YasudaIoan Gabriel SanduSolder interconnection in three-dimensional (3D) electronic packaging is required to undergo multiple reflow cycles of the soldering process. This paper elucidates the effects of multiple reflow cycles on the solder joints of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead (Pb)-free solder with the addition of 1.0 wt.% kaolin geopolymer ceramics (KGC). The samples were fabricated using powder metallurgy with the hybrid microwave sintering method. Apart from using conventional cross-sectioned microstructure imaging, advanced synchrotron real-time in situ imaging was used to observe primary IMC formation in SAC305-KGC solder joints subjected to multiple reflow soldering. The addition of KGC particles in SAC305 suppressed the Cu6Sn5 IMC’s growth as primary and interfacial layers, improving the shear strength after multiple reflow soldering. The growth rate constant for the interfacial Cu6Sn5 IMC was also calculated in this study. The average growth rate of the primary Cu6Sn5 IMCs decreased from 49 µm/s in SAC305 to 38 µm/s with the addition of KGC particles. As a result, the average solidified length in the SAC305-KGC is shorter than SAC305 for multiple reflow soldering. It was also observed that with KGC additions, the growth direction of the primary Cu6Sn5 IMC in SAC305 changed from one growth to two growth directions. The observed results can be attributed to the presence of KGC particles both at grains of interfacial Cu6Sn5 IMCs and at the surface of primary Cu6Sn5 IMC. -
PublicationEffect of Naoh Molar Concentration on Microstructure and Compressive Strength of Dolomite/Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers( 2023)
;Emy Aizat Azimi ;Ikmal Hakem A. Aziz ;Jitrin Chaiprapa ;Petrica Vizureanu ;Sorachon Yoriya ;Marcin NabialekJerzy J. WyslockiDolomite can be used as a source of aluminosilicate to produce geopolymers; however, this approach is limited by its low reactivity. This study analyzes the viability of producing geopolymers using dolomite/fly-ash with sodium silicate and NaOH solutions (at multiple concentrations) by determining the resultant geopolymers’ compressive strengths. The dolomite/fly-ash-based geopolymers at a NaOH concentration of ~22 M resulted in an optimum compressive strength of 46.38 MPa after being cured for 28 days, and the SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the denser surface of the geopolymer matrix. The synchrotron micro-XRF analyses confirmed that the Ca concentration exceeded that of Si and Mg, leading to the formation of calcium silicate hydrate, which strengthens the resulting geopolymers. -
PublicationEffect of Ni on the suppression of Sn whisker formation in Sn-0.7Cu solder joint( 2021)
;Andrei Victor Sandu ;Noor Zaimah Mohd MokhtarJitrin ChaiprapaThe evolution of internal compressive stress from the intermetallic compound (IMC) Cu6Sn5 growth is commonly acknowledged as the key inducement initiating the nucleation and growth of tin (Sn) whisker. This study investigates the effect of Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni on the nucleation and growth of Sn whisker under continuous mechanical stress induced. The Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni solder joint has a noticeable effect of suppression by diminishing the susceptibility of nucleation and growth of Sn whisker. By using a synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) spectroscopy, it was found that a small amount of Ni alters the microstructure of Cu6Sn5 to form a (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 intermetallic layer. The morphology structure of the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 interfacial intermetallic layer and Sn whisker growth were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) in secondary and backscattered electron imaging mode, which showed that there is a strong correlation between the formation of Sn whisker and the composition of solder alloy. The thickness of the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 IMC interfacial layer was relatively thinner and more refined, with a continuous fine scallop-shaped IMC interfacial layer, and consequently enhanced a greater incubation period for the nucleation and growth of the Sn whisker. These verification outcomes proposes a scientifically foundation to mitigate Sn whisker growth in lead-free solder joint. -
PublicationEffect of sodium aluminate on the fresh and hardened properties of fly ash-based one-part geopolymer( 2021)
;Ooi Wan-En ;Ong Shee-WeenAndrei Victor SanduThe one-part geopolymer binder was synthesis from the mixing of aluminosilicate material with solid alkali activators. The properties of one-part geopolymers vary according to the type and amount of solid alkali activators used. This paper presents the effect of various sodium metasilicate-to-sodium aluminate (NaAlO2/Na2SiO3) ratios on fly ash-based one-part geopolymer. The NaAlO2/Na2SiO3 ratios were set at 1.0 to 3.0. Setting time of fresh one-part geopolymer was examined through Vicat needle apparatus. Mechanical and microstructural properties of developed specimens were analysed after 28 days of curing in ambient condition. The study concluded that an increase in NaAlO2 content delayed the setting time of one-part geopolymer paste. The highest compressive strength was achieved at the NaAlO2/Na2SiO3 ratio of 2.5, which was 33.65 MPa. The microstructural analysis revealed a homogeneous structure at the optimum ratio. While the sodium aluminium silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) and anorthite phases were detected from the XRD analysis. -
PublicationEffect of solids-to-liquids, Na2SiO3-To-NaOH and curing temperature on the palm oil boiler ash (Si + Ca) geopolymerisation system( 2015)Andrei Victor SanduThis paper investigates the effect of the solids-to-liquids (S/L) and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratios on the production of palm oil boiler ash (POBA) based geopolymer. Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution were used as alkaline activator with a NaOH concentration of 14 M. The geopolymer samples were prepared with different S/L ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75) and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0). The main evaluation techniques in this study were compressive strength, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results showed that the maximum compressive strength (11.9 MPa) was obtained at a S/L ratio and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio of 1.5 and 2.5 at seven days of testing.