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The purpose of this paper is to analyze microstructural integrity at the interface and consequent implicating effect on mechanical behavior of fiber‐reinforced polymer composites.

In the light of Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR imaging) and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimeter, a sorption mechanism was established. Thermal spike and thermal shock treatment was carried out at 150 and 80°C, respectively. This suggested that fiber/matrix adhesion rests on the structure and properties of both the fiber and matrix in the region near the interface during the hygrothermal treatment.

The carbon surface was found to selectively absorb the tertiary amine catalyst and to modify the chemical state of the cured resin apparently through the effects of absorbed water. The higher values of glass transition temperature (Tg) resulted in longer immersion time and higher exposure temperature. Together, these techniques provide a comprehensive picture of chemical and physical changes at the interphase region. Thermal spike of hybrid composite at 150°C temperature might possibly improve the adhesion level at the interface. Whereas, in case of thermal shock treatment at 80°C the fall in inter‐laminar shear strength value at higher number of cycles. This degradation of the interface region has been monitored by scanning electron microscope analysis.

The reported data are based on experimental investigation.

The main objective of this experimental investigation is to assess the effect of thermal and cryogenic treatment on hygrothermally conditioned glass fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites, and the impact on its mechanical properties with change in percentage of individual constituents of the laminates.

The present investigation is an attempt at evaluating the performance of the laminates subjected to different thermal and cryogenic treatments for varying time with prior hygrothermal treatment. The variability of hygrothermal exposure is in the range of 4‐64 h. Glass fibre reinforced plastics laminates with different weight fractions 0.50‐0.60 of fibre reenforcements were used. The ILSS, which is a matrix dominated was studied by three‐point bend test using INSTRON 1195 material testing machine.

The post‐hygrothermal treatments (both thermal and cryogenic exposures) resulted in an increase in the rate of desorption of moisture. It is noted that the hygrothermal treatment prior to the exposure to thermal or cryogenic conditioning is the major attribute to the variations in the ILSS values. The extent of demoisturisation of the hygrothermally conditioned composites due to a thermal or a cryogenic exposure is observed to be inversely related to its ILSS, independent of the fibre‐weight fractions. Also the ILSS is inversely related to the fibre‐weight fraction irrespective of the post‐hydrothermal treatment.

The reported data are based on experimental investigations.

The purpose of this paper is to perform a numerical analysis on the static and dynamic behaviors of beams made up of functionally graded carbon nanotube (FG-CNT) reinforced polymer and hybrid laminated composite containing the layers of carbon reinforced polymer with CNT. Conventional fibers have higher density as compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs), thus insertion of FG-CNT reinforced polymer layer in fiber reinforced composite (FRC) structures makes them sustainable candidate for weight critical applications.

In this context, stress and strain formulations of a multi-layer composite system is determined with the help of Timoshenko hypothesis and then the principle of virtual work is employed to derive the governing equations of motion. Herein, extended rule of mixture and conventional micromechanics relations are used to evaluate the material properties of carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) layer and FRC layer, respectively. A generalized eigenvalue problem is formulated using finite element approach and is solved for single layer FG-CNTRC beam and multi-layer laminated hybrid composite beam by a user-interactive MATLAB code.

First, the natural frequencies of FG-CNTRC beam are computed and compared with previously available results as well as with Ritz approximation outcomes. Further, free vibration, bending, and buckling analysis is carried out for FG-CNTRC beam to interpret the effect of different CNT volume fraction, number of walls in nanotube, distribution profiles, boundary conditions, and beam-slenderness ratios.

A free vibration analysis of hybrid laminated composite beam with two different layer stacking sequence is performed to present the advantages of hybrid laminated beam over the conventional FRC beam.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the risk of violent conflict with the global conflict risk factors in the Middle East economies by using an integrated fuzzy decision approach. For this purpose, five different dimensions and 24 different criteria are defined by analyzing similar studies in the literature. The dataset is borrowed from the European Commission, and experts appointed for the linguistic evaluation of each dimension and criterion. Additionally, fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology is used to weigh dimensions and criteria and Multi-objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA) approach is considered to rank the countries with respect to the conflict risk. Social dimension was concluded to have the highest importance of the Global Conflict Risk Index. Moreover, Syria, Libya, and Saudi Arabia were identified as the countries that have high conflict risk. Because these countries have high risk of facing conflict in the future, it is strongly recommended that they should primarily focus on social factors in order to minimize this risk.

The objective of the present work is to ascertain the failure modes under different loading speeds along with change in percentage of constituents of FRP composites.

This involves experimental investigation of FRP composites with woven roving fibers and matrix. Different types of composites, i.e. glass: epoxy, glass: polyester and (carbon+glass): epoxy are used in the investigation with change in percentage of constituents. The variability of fiber content of the composite is in the range of 0.55‐0.65 weight fractions. The matrix dominated property, like inter laminar shear strength (ILSS) has been studied by three point bend test using INSTRON 1195 material testing machine with increasing five cross head velocities.

The variation of ILSS of laminates of FRP composites is significant for low loading speed and is not so prominent for high speed. The variation of ILSS are observed to be dependent on the type and amount of constituents present in the composites. The laminates with carbon fiber shows higher ILSS than that of glass fiber composites. The laminates with epoxy matrix shows higher ILSS than polyester matrix composites for the same fiber. There is no significant variation of ILSS beyond loading speed 200 mm/min and this can be used for specifications of testing. Matrix resins such as polyester and epoxy are known to be highly rate sensitive. Carbon fiber are relatively rate independent and E‐glass fibers are rate sensitive. Woven roving carbon glass fiber reinforced polymer shows small rate dependence and woven roving glass fiber reinforced polymer shows significant rate sensitivity.

The findings are based on original experimental investigations in the laboratories of the institute and can be used for characterization of composites.

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of monomer composition in core‐shell latex prepared from co‐polymer of styrene‐butylacrylate (BA)‐methyl methacrylate (MMA) and their paint properties.

The core‐shell latex was prepared by a stepwise semi‐batch emulsion polymerisation. A set of dispersion was made with the different core‐shell compositions. The core phase consists of a copolymer of styrene‐BA‐acrylic acid (AA) and the shell phase consists of a copolymer of MMA‐AA. The properties of latex were determined by solid content, viscosity, pH and particle size. Subsequently, emulsion paint (PVC‐37 per cent and NVM‐53 per cent) was prepared using core‐shell latex. The paint properties were determined by block resistance, gloss, elongation at break, etc. The particle morphology was characterised with transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Core‐shell structure of latex was confirmed by TEM. The performance of core‐shell latex has been optimised and the best combination achieved with 25‐40 per cent of hard phase in core‐shell latex.

Although the core‐shell structured latex was prepared from co‐polymer of styrene‐BA‐MMA monomer, the system could be extended with other monomers depending on the end use of surface coating.

The paint industry may use this method to improve paint properties.

The paper shows that, by use of core‐shell latex, it is possible to achieve high‐block resistance, hardness, elasticity and gloss.

In land grid array hybrid or system in package type products passive integration on silicon dies are flip chip mounted on a laminate substrate using Pb‐free solder. To increase the solder bump fatigue life, underfill is applied. The application of underfill resulted in the occurrence of an unexpected and unwanted phenomenon: solder flowing out of the underfill during a second level reflow test. The occurrence of solder flow‐out seemed associated with moisturizing as part of a moisture sensitivity level assessment. The solder flow‐out is preceded by delamination, initiated by mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between copper through‐holes and laminate. This paper aims to describe the phenomenon and possible solutions by combining experiments with finite element (FE) simulations.

Ways to prevent this kind of overstress failures are investigated by design of experiments and observed trends are compared with thermo‐mechanical FE simulations. A significant contribution is made by through‐holes close to the bump and underfill fillet.

The FE simulations confirmed increased thermo‐mechanical induced stress levels by bad positioning of vias, underfill and solder. The integrity of the flip chip construction is substantially improved by optimising product design, underfill material and the associated assembly process.

This paper is a useful source of information on the causes of delamination and solder flow‐out.

During the past ten years, anaerobic process has become a popular technology for treating concentrated effluents. Research and development programmes led by both engineers and microbiologists have resulted in a better understanding of the microbiology of anaerobic reactions and reactor design for anaerobic processes. Considerable progress has been achieved in the development of high rate anaerobic reactors with several configurations for treating concentrated industrial effluents. In this review, attention is paid to highlighting the conceptual and full scale developments of anaerobic fluidized bed reactors, in respect of process performance, design concepts, start‐up of the reactor, stability of the system with respect to various operating parameters, reactor configurations, comparison with competing reactor designs for concentrated industrial effluents and kinetics and modelling of reactor systems.

Probiotics are known to extend health benefits and therefore may be included during yoghurt manufacture to enhance its prophylactic properties. Different probiotic strains may exhibit diverse biotechnological behaviour in association with yoghurt cultures, therefore interactive behaviour amongst probiotic and yoghurt cultures must be evaluated prior to their commercial application. This paper aims to assess the effect of inclusion of different probiotic cultures on various biotechnological (technological, dietetic and prophylactic) characteristics of yoghurt cultures.

Yoghurt was assessed for technological characteristics based on acidification and flavour production, dietetic characteristics based on proteolytic activity, vitamin synthesis and L (+) lactic acid production and prophylactic characteristics based on β‐galactosidase activity, antibacterial spectrum, viability in product as well as during gastro‐intestinal transit, intestinal colonization, immunomodulation, anti‐carcinogenicity and hypocholesterolemic effect.

Different probiotic cultures exhibited diverse technological, dietetic and prophylactic behaviour in association with yoghurt cultures. Functional properties of traditional yoghurt could be enhanced with the combined introduction of probiotic cultures such as Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus and the resultant product may be recommended for consumption as a dietary adjunct.

The paper shows that combined introduction of probiotic cultures such as B. bifidum, B. infantis and L. acidophilus, as microbial additives during the manufacture of yoghurt would result in a product with enhanced functional properties.