Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Publication
    Comparative mechanical and microstructural properties of high calcium fly ash one-part geopolymers activated with Na2SiO3-anhydrous and NaAlO2
    ( 2021-11-01)
    Ooi Wan-En
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Li L.Y.
    ;
    ; ;
    Ong Shee-Ween
    ;
    Ng Hui-Teng
    ;
    Ng Yong-Sing
    ;
    Nur Ain Jaya
    This 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.
      2
  • Publication
    Microstructure, thermal behavior and joint strength of Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi/electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG)
    This paper details an investigation into the microstructure, thermal behaviors and joint strength of Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi solder alloy on electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) surface finish. Besides conventional techniques, the real-time synchrotron imaging was used to analyze the microstructure evolution in Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi/ENIG. This research investigated the growth behavior of the primary (Cu,Ni)6Sn5intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the solder joint with the Bi alloying. The elemental distribution analysis showed the Ni diffused from the ENIG surface finish and dissolved into the bulk solder during solidification and that the size of the primary (Cu,Ni)6Sn5IMCs decreased due to the addition of 1.5 wt% Bi. The average kinetic growth rate of the primary (Cu,Ni)6Sn5IMCs in Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi/ENIG was lower than that of the Sn-0.7Cu/ENIG. The thermal analysis revealed that the pasty range slightly increased and the undercooling degree decreased due to the addition of 1.5 wt% Bi for free-standing solder and soldering on ENIG surface finish. The shear strength of the Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi/ENIG was determined using a high-speed bond tester, and it increased by ~12% at bulk solder fracture of ~15% within the solder joint interfacial fracture due to the addition of 1.5 wt% Bi into the Sn-0.7Cu. These occurrences can be attributed to the solid solution strengthening effect at the bulk solder and the formation of finer interfacial (Cu,Ni)6Sn5IMCs within the solder joints. The results indicated that the microstructural changes, especially the size reduction of IMCs, in Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi/ENIG impacted the joint strength.
      1
  • Publication
    Functionalized Carbon Nanotube-Modified ELISA for Early Detection of Heart Attack
    A warning issue of heart attacks in young adults needs immediate attention lately. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an easy and commonly used method for detecting early stages of heart attack. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a responsible biomarker for acute myocardial infarction. However, the conventional ELISA system was only able to detect at 100 pM of cTnI. To improve the system, enhancements were introduced through the integration of functionalized carbon nanotube (fCNT) to amplify cTnI detection signals. By utilizing the advantage of fCNT, a noticeable improvement in results can be obtained. The detection limit was lowered down to an impressive 10 pM. Furthermore, the change of absorbance increased from 31.90% for conventional ELISA surge to 98.61 for modified ELISA system. This three-fold increase in sensitivity shows remarkable improvement through the introduction of fCNT in modified ELISA technique.
      1
  • Publication
    Properties of polyaniline/graphene oxide (PANI/GO) composites: effect of GO loading
    Polyaniline/graphene oxide (PANI/GO) composites at different wt% of GO were prepared via solution method. PANI was mixed with the GO synthesized from the improved Hummer’s method. The formation of GO was confirmed via Raman and C/O ratio. Based on the FT-IR, XRD and SEM results, it confirmed the presence of both PANI and GO characteristics at 10.9°, 25.8° and 27.8° and interactions between PANI and GO particles in PANI/GO composites at different GO loading. SEM micrographs showed a folding and wrinkled surface of GO due to the defect upon oxidation process. This means that the weak π–π interactions or the agglomeration of GO have caused PANI unable to attach on the large conjugated basal planes of GO sheets. The defective domains made GO as an insulator as it contained distortions and oxygen-containing functional groups and their local decoration. Low-conductivity domain had conquered most of the GO region which later reduced the pathway of the current flow; therefore, conductivity is affected. The wrinkled structure also resulted in the low conductivity as it weakens the interfacial interaction between PANI and GO and thus disrupted the electron movement in the composites. Due to this, the electrical conductivity reached up to 1.83 × 10−10 S/cm as the GO loading increased to 50 wt%.
      2