The Benefits of Stainless Steel Fittings
Stainless steel is a versatile material that is used in many different applications. The two most common types of stainless steel are austenitic which is highly corrosion resistant and ferritic which is magnetic.

In this blog we are going to break down the basics of what austenitic stainless steel is, the key benefits it provides and where the uses of stainless steel fittings can be most beneficial.

Stainless Steel
All steels have the same basic iron and carbon composition along with nickel, but stainless steel also contains chromium - the alloy that gives stainless steel its well-known corrosion resistance.

Austenitic stainless steel contains high levels of chromium and nickel and low levels of carbon providing a balance of strength, workability and corrosion resistance. The standard stainless steel alloys used in plumbing applications contains between 18-20% chromium and 8-12% nickel, as well as small amounts of carbon 0.08% and manganese 2%. Austenitic stainless steel has the highest corrosion resistance and are the most commonly used type of stainless steel around the world.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Fittings
Stainless steel offers a wide range of benefits to the architect and designer of plumbing systems:

Material Benefits
The combining of corrosion resistance with high strength allows the reduction in wall thickness and weight. Stainless steel is resistant to heat and chemical damage. It can withstand very high flow rates - in excess of 40m/s, making it capable to withstand long-term exposure to the elements in almost any environment.

Environmental Benefits
Stainless steel can be used in all types of water, including drinking water in public supply. It has an excellent resistance to the full range of potable waters, including various chloride levels. At the end of its useful life, stainless steel is fully recyclable and retains a higher residual scrap value than ordinary steel.

Economic Benefits
Stainless steel is low maintenance and requires no additional coating, in both indoor and outdoor applications. The expected lifetime of a stainless steel system is more than 50 years, reducing system down time, replacement and maintenance costs over the life of the installation.

Stainless Steel Fitting Applications
With all the benefits that come with stainless steel there are equally just as many applications where these fittings can be utilized. Here are some key beneficial areas:
Residential & Commercial water systems that are subject to various stresses.
Commercial & Industrial piping systems that are needing to perform well under the toughest and harshest conditions.
Industrial Projects for sanitary or highly corrosive applications.
There are three kinds of marine hydraulic flange standards: asian system represented by Japanese standard, European system represented by German standard and North American system represented by the United States. German standard and American standard varieties are more complete, but in the shipbuilding industry is far less than the use of Japanese standard. The conventional flange of JIS is more popular, while the hydraulic flange is not separate into a system, commonly used only 210 Kgf /cm2, 280 Kgf /cm2 and 350 Kgf /cm2 three specifications.
For a long time, high pressure marine hydraulic flange has few specifications, high price, long delivery time and other problems in the market. Considering that the number of hydraulic flanges required throughout the ship is not much. Some shipyards with machining ability often manufacture high-pressure hydraulic flanges by themselves. This paper mainly discusses the basic points of marine hydraulic flange design and gives a design example.

Marine flange design
There are many methods for marine flange design, such as bach method based on material mechanics, waters method based on elastic analysis by TY8100 method, and analysis method based on plastic limit load, etc. These methods are too cumbersome and complicated for engineering applications. Based on the JIS hydraulic flange standard, this paper explores a design method suitable for shipyards.
What components make up a full hose assembly?
When looking at a full hose assembly, it is basically a length of hose with a properly attached fitting on each end. Robert J. Koehler, Sr. Training Specialist at Eaton Corporation, explained that a hose assembly is composed of the hose and the end fittings, which are determined by the application in which the hose assembly is going to be placed.
Hydraulic hoses have three major components, he said, which include the following:
Tube: The tube is the inner-most portion of the hose. Its role is to convey the media from one end of the hose to the other and protect the outside from the media or fluid being conveyed.
Reinforcement: The reinforcement is the strength of the hose and comes in a variety of types, including braided, spiral and helical.
Cover: The cover is designed to protect the reinforcement and tube from the outside environment.
“Each of these three components plays an important role to allow the hose to work in a variety of environments,” Koehler added. “These hoses are designed to meet different specifications and requirements that arise with the different environments where hoses will be installed.”
“Fittings are usually made of metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, brass and so on. Within these fittings there are two major components,” he continued.
Fitting components are comprised of the following:
Socket: The socket is the portion of the fitting that goes over the outer cover.
Stem: The stem is the portion of the fitting that goes directly into the I.D. of the inner tube of the hose. It extends out of the hose and into the connecting end. The connecting end of the fitting is the portion of the fitting that allows the hose to connect to other components.
Hydraulic Hose Definition
A hydraulic hose conveys hydraulic fluid to or between hydraulic components. Components include valves, tools, and actuators. Hydraulic hose is usually flexible and reinforced.
Hose is often made up of several layers of reinforcement. This is necessary because hydraulic systems operate at high pressures.
Needless to say, hydraulic hoses are essential parts of any hydraulic system. The hoses are flexible enough to bend around corners and fit in tight spaces. They can also stretch over long distances.
What is Hydraulic Hose Made Of?
Hydraulic hoses are often constructed of multiple materials. The most common materials are fluoropolymers and silicone, elastomers, metal, and thermoplastics. Composite or laminated materials are also common.
Rubber and elastomeric hydraulic hose is a strong choice when you need flexibility. Fluoropolymer hose has a durable flex life as well. It also has excellent corrosion and chemical resistance, and it can handle high temperatures.
Thermoplastic hydraulic hose has a tight minimum bend radius. It also features superior resistance to kinks. Metal hoses handle high temperatures and high flow materials well.
They can also handle high pressures. Finally, they can be flexible or stiff.
Flexible hoses are easy to install and route compared to rigid tubing. The flexibility reduces noise and vibrations. It also dampens pressure surges and allows for movement between the parts.
Hydraulic Hose Construction
Most hydraulic hose consists of three main parts. They have an inner tube to carry the fluid. Next is a reinforcement layer, followed by a protective outer layer.
The inner tube is flexible and compatible with the fluid it will carry. A common compound is a combination of synthetic rubber, thermoplastics, and PTFE (Teflon).
The reinforcement layer has multiple sheaths. The sheaths include spiral-wound wire, braided wire, or textile yarn. The outer layer is often resistant to abrasion, oil, or weather, depending on its intended use.
What are the components of a hydraulic hose assembly?
The hydraulic system definition is that which transmits pressurised hydraulic fluid within a mechanical system. Hydraulic hose assembly includes the hose and its fittings. There are different types of hydraulic hoses, but they all have the same components:
What are hydraulic hoses made of?
Hydraulic tube material typically includes a thermoplastic, synthetic rubber and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to resist corrosion and chemical impact. The thermoplastics used are often polyamide, polyester and even fluoropolymers, which has a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.
Hydraulic hose fittings
There are different types of hose fittings. Their purpose is to connect hoses securely to your hydraulic system’s components, such as valves, cylinders and pumps. It’s the fittings that help hold and direct the flow of fluid, maintaining the pressure while preventing leaks.
Fittings consist of the same two components. The hydraulic hose socket, along with the stem, mate the hoses. The socket goes over the hose cove while the stem fits into the tube’s inner tube. The stem extends out from the hose and acts as a connector for equipment to attach to.

How a Car Battery Starts a Car
The first purpose of an auto battery is to provide power for starting your vehicle. It also acts as a surge protector for the car's computer and provides power for short-term use of things like lights, stereo, GPS or wipers when the engine is off.
The car battery is part of the starting system. There are three main components in this system:

The switch controls the starter relay (also called a solenoid). When you turn the ignition, it sends a small electrical current to the starter relay. This causes a pair of contacts to close.

When those contacts close, the battery sends voltage to the starter motor, which turns some gears to start the car.
What Are Cold Cranking Amps?
Cold cranking amps (CCA) refers to the amount of power a battery can supply for 30 seconds even at low temperatures. Larger engines require more power to start, as does starting the car for the first time on a cold day.
A high CCA rating is important for standard auto batteries in areas with subzero temperatures, since deeply discharged wet cell batteries can freeze solid in such weather.
How the Car Battery Recharges
The alternator is responsible for recharging your car battery as you drive. This part also supplies power for your car’s electronics when you're underway. It is driven by the alternator belt from the engine. As the belt goes around, it generates electrical current to run your vehicle's electronics. It also sends some current back to the battery to recharge it.
A voltage regulator controls this flow of electricity to keep it even and deliver the right amount of charge to meet needs like running the AC or heater. It also protects the battery from overcharging, which can damage it.
Why Does My Battery Die?
Over the life of a battery, discharge-recharge reactions happen thousands of times. Each cycle wears out the plates a bit, and over time the lead deteriorates. As your car battery loses capacity, cold cranking amps decrease.
Deep discharging, which happens when you use the battery to run the stereo, lights or other electrical systems in your car when the engine is off, is responsible for a good portion of battery failures. Discharging most of your battery's capacity by using it in this manner for too long and then recharging it through driving can cause the sulfur in the electrolyte solution to stick to the lead and create other damage to the plates in the battery.
What Are the Different Types of Auto Battery?
The two most common auto batteries for sale today are standard wet cell batteries and absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries. Both use lead-acid technology. The differences are in the needs of the car.
Standard Wet Cell Batteries
These are also called flooded, conventional or SLI (starting, lights, ignition) batteries. Some standard batteries have vents that allow for airing out corrosive gases, steam, and condensation (these may be called vented batteries). They have removable caps for adding fluid. Other wet cell batteries are closed systems, with no removable caps.
Service needs: Occasional simple maintenance including cleaning off corrosion on terminals and topping off the fluid with distilled water if the battery has removable caps. The battery should be visually checked every year. Battery charge should be checked before road trips and after summer before temperatures fall.
Lithium ion power battery the lives of millions of people each day. From laptops and cell phones to hybrids and electric cars, this technology is growing in popularity due to its light weight, high energy density, and ability to recharge.

THE BASICS
A battery is made up of an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors (positive and negative). The anode and cathode store the lithium. The electrolyte carries positively charged lithium ions from the anode to the cathode and vice versa through the separator. The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector. The electrical current then flows from the current collector through a device being powered (cell phone, computer, etc.) to the negative current collector. The separator blocks the flow of electrons inside the battery.
CHARGE/DISCHARGE
While the battery is discharging and providing an electric current, the anode releases lithium ions to the cathode, generating a flow of electrons from one side to the other. When plugging in the device, the opposite happens: Lithium ions are released by the cathode and received by the anode.
What Is a Car Generator?
The Car Generator utilizes a car’s alternator to supply power to external appliances like a home furnace, refrigerator, or lights.
The Benefits of a Car Generator
The obvious benefit of using a Car Generator is that it can create 1,000W of power when needed. And because the power is coming from a car battery while its engine is running, there’s less noise and lower emissions compared to a typical gas generator. Plus, the Car Generator actually uses less fuel.
Most vehicle engines can handle long periods of idling without detriment to the auto. And as long as there’s gasoline in the tank of the vehicle, the Car Generator can transfer its power to external appliances. So, with a full tank, most users can expect 50 to 80 hours of electrical power.
The Disadvantages of a Car Generator
There are a few drawbacks to consider, however, when using a Car Generator. If, for instance, a load of over 1,000W is put on the system, damage may occur to the vehicle’s alternator. 1000W will require about 90 to 100 amps off the alternator which most can put out without problem. The problem comes when this load is used for extended periods of time. This can overheat the alternator and melt internal windings. This means that you must take care when accumulating several appliances on the electrical line.
For example, most air conditioners require more power than this device can support, as do microwaves and other high heating appliances, so check their wattage requirements before using.
The other consideration may be the wear and tear on the existing vehicle from long idling times. Regularly maintain your auto before taxing its extended running capabilities.
With the development of electric vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for vehicle control technology and the key to raise the level of design electric vehicles the optimization control of the vehicle performance as direction. In order to achieve the rational, coordination of vehicles within the system of integrated control, based on the modular thought, through constructing the distributed control network design overall structure of the control system of pure electric vehicle, the vehicle controller is analyzed on the working principle and its function realization degree, as a pure electric vehicle control system provides the theory basis for performance evaluation.
The development of manufacturing and management, technologies over the previous decade has transformed the automotive industry. The engine management system is undoubtedly one of the most intelligent systems in today’s automobile. The purpose of this paper is to design and simulate an automotive engine management system. Based on a PIC development board, we design and implement engine control functions which include an ignition system, acceleration, deceleration, emergency brakes, hand brakes, speed, and distance travelled. The C language is chosen for the development of PIC microcontroller. Results have shown and proven the success of the proposed system.
Automotive electronics technologies such as autonomous driving, all-electric cars, and in-car infotainment are the new trends in the automotive industry. Automotive vehicles are transforming into the “ultimate electronic devices.” Automotive electronics are predicted to constitute near a third of the total cost of the entire car. The automotive transformations give rise to new features and challenges including (i) autonomous driving (ii) all-electric cars with extreme high power, and (iii) high-speed and secure communications and infotainment.
In recent years, vehicle sensor improvements have led to increasingly advanced autonomous driving technologies that enable higher awareness and visibility. The special advanced features in the vehicle include adaptive cruise control, park assistance, lane-keep assistance, pedestrian detection, and traffic-sign recognition summarizes automotive electronics technology into five main categories as shown. In all five categories, an increasing number of electronics from different function sections are integrated into complex electronic systems. These electronic systems often address multiple categories simultaneously. The transition from mechanical systems to electronic systems in the automotive platform requires both higher electrical signal performance and mechanically reliable electronic packaging

All About Sewing Machines
Prior to the invention of sewing machines, clothes and other materials were sewn by hand. Hand sewing is an art form that was practiced over 20,000 years ago. During those days, sewing needles made of bone or animal horns and thread made of animal sinew were used. In the beginning of 14th century, iron needles were invented and later in the 15th century eyed needles were introduced.

It is believed that the first known attempt for a workable sewing machine was framed in 1790 by Thomas Saint. In 1800, sewing machine was invented and by the mid-nineteenth century it became popular among the public. After Thomas Saint, various attempts were made for inventing a sewing machine. But, all of them turned unsuccessful.

In 1830, Barthlemy Thimonnier-a French tailor- came out with the first functional sewing machine. It used only one thread and a hooked needle for a chain stitch. Later in 1834, Walter Hunt came with an idea for double-thread sewing machine and it was regarded as America's first successful sewing machine. The machine devised by Walter Hunt was a straight-seam sewing machine that used reciprocating eye-pointed needle and an oscillating shuttle.

Following Walter Hunt, Elias Howe developed a machine which had the same features as that of Hunt's sewing machine. After Elias Howe, Isaac Merit Singer patented a similar machine and was regarded as the first commercially successful machine. Singer's machine included a straight eye-pointed needle and transverse shuttle, a table to support the cloth horizontally, a vertical presser foot to hold the material against the upward stroke of the needle, and an overhanging arm to hold the presser foot. Instead of a hand crank, Singer's machine used a foot treadle similar to that of a spinning wheel. Helen Augusta Blanchard, Allen Wilson, John Bradshaw, Charles Miller, and James Edward Allen Gibbs were the other contributors who produced a remarkable framework for sewing machines.

Types of Sewing Machines

There are three types of sewing machines- mechanical sewing machines, electronic sewing machines, and computerized sewing machines. Since their introduction in 1800 till 1960's, all sewing machines were mechanical. Mechanical sewing machines are controlled by a rotary wheel. They have knobs and dials to make changes in the tension or the length or width of the stitch.

Lockstitch sewing machines make use of a hook and a bobbin thread to create stitch patterns, whereas chain stitch machines use a looper to form stitches. One of the major drawbacks of chain stitching is that it is very weak and the stitch can easily be pulled apart. In addition to lock stitching and chain stitching machines, there are blind stitch and buttonhole-and-button-sewing machines that use a spreader to create stitches.

Mechanical sewing machines are less expensive and are the simplest type of sewing machine in terms of build. Bernina 1008, Kenmore 11101, Singer 6038, Elna 2005, Kenmore Mini, Kenmore 15212, and Sears Kenmore 15218 are some of the mechanical sewing machines available in the market.
By the year 1970, electronic sewing machines became popular. There are more features in an electronic sewing machine than in a mechanical sewing machine. Instead of turning knobs or dials, electronic sewing machines use button to adjust length or width of the stitch. Electronic sewing machines have motors; each one is assigned with a specific task and is run by electricity. Singer 7442, Singer 7462, Singer CE-100 Futura, Elna 3230, and Janome Decor Excel 5124 are some instances of electronic sewing machines.

Another type is the computerized sewing machine, which is very fast and easy to use. Computerized sewing machines are similar to electronic sewing machines. They use the same chips and stepper motors that are used in electronic machines. Besides, they posses a microprocessor which helps the sewing machine to accept new information in a card form and create stitching patterns based on the information loaded in the card. Singer CE-200 Quantum Futura, Singer Quantum XL-6000, Brother SE270D, and Janome 8080 are some examples of computerized sewing machine.
Vintage Sewing Machines

Sewing machine is one of the key inventions that have helped to shape the modern world. There are many popular vintage sewing machines. Most popular vintage sewing machine companies trading over the Internet are Bradbury, Singer, Jones, Frister and Rossmann.

Vintage sewing machines are both collectible and usable. Old sewing machines are still popular because they are well-engineered, well-made workhorses. The value of a vintage sewing machine is great. There are a number of variables involved in determining the value of an old sewing machine; they are condition and completeness of the machine, rarity of the machine and geographic location of the machine.

Most vintage sewing machines date back to the beginning of the 1900's. Most of them are still very popular. Singer machine models 301A, 221 Featherweight and 66 are the popular vintage sewing machines. Of these, the Singer Featherweight 221 is a classic model manufactured by the company between 1933 and 1964. It is a 'collectible' of the first order and is featured on many Web pages which cater to antique sewing machine collectors.

Vintage sewing machines can be bought from stores or antique shops. Some suppliers of vintage sewing machines offer certificates of guarantee, or even warranties.

Before buying a vintage machine, check for authenticity and buy only from trustworthy sellers. Online auctions are dangerous places to buy expensive vintage sewing machines. As buyers don't know anything about the seller, they may cheat in the course of dealing. There are many helpful sites on the Internet providing relevant information about vintage sewing machines. EBay is popular among vintage sewing machine collectors.

Many individuals are now using vintage sewing machines as decorative pieces at home. They may be well-placed in a hallway, entryway, or a family room to showcase the beautiful craftsmanship. So if you possess a vintage sewing machine, take good care of it by consulting an antique dealer to find out the proper way to clean and maintain it. Vintage sewing machines are always an asset for future generations.
Choosing the right concrete mixer
A concrete mixer is a machine that homogeneously mixes cement, aggregates such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. A concrete mixer uses a rotating drum to mix the components. For small jobs, mobile concrete mixers are often used to make the concrete on the construction site and give workers enough time to use it before it hardens.
The Makeup Of An Excavator
The anatomy of an excavator is made up of a boom, dipper (or stick) and bucket. These pieces connect to a cab that sits on a rotating house. Most houses can rotate a full 360 degrees. Excavators are available with either tracks or wheels depending on the manufacturer and what the nature of a project is.
Excavators are available in a variety of sizes and can weigh up to 180,000 lbs. There are many other attachments for excavators that can take the place of the digging bucket to diversify the machine. By swapping out the bucket for an auger, drill, ripper or rake the excavator can be used for many different jobs.
Choosing the Right Excavator for The Job
The best way to choose what excavator rental is needed for your project is to assess what exactly you need the machine to do. Identifying the right size of excavator, what attachments are needed and how long you need the rental for will help you determine the best machine for your job. It is more efficient for a job to rent the right size equipment for what is needed instead of trying to make one piece fit for a variety of jobs.
To the uninitiated, tillers and cultivators may sound like two terms for the same thing --as if the words were completely interchangeable. The fact is they’re not. Though they are similar in design and concept, they are quite different and are intended for two specific purposes.
Essentially, a tiller is the larger of the two and is used primarily during the beginning of the year to prepare new gardens for the growing season. Tillers are often used at the end of the year, as well, to mix all leftover vegetation into the soil for decomposition. Tillers generally dig deep --up to 8 inches of soil can be churned.
Only once the plants have begun to sprout does a cultivator begin to do its job. Cultivating is defined as loosening the soil around growing plants. A cultivator does just that. Cultivators do not churn as deeply as tillers and are often used between rows; keeping the weeds at bay while helping to aerate the soil. This way, the plants benefit from loose soil, which allows more water and fertilizer to get to their roots. By keeping the weeds’ growth down they won’t be able to rob your plants of water and nutrients.
If your gardening space is less than 100 sq. ft., you may be able to use a cultivator in place of a tiller to prepare the soil for planting as well as cultivating during the growing season, thus avoiding the need for two pieces of equipment. For a job larger than that however, the tiller/cultivator combination works best.
If you plan on tilling once a year, then renting may be your best option. The cost of purchasing a tiller, in addition to maintaining and storing one, can be much higher than simply picking one up at your local rental dealer, using it and returning it when you are finished.
What Is a Trencher? Trenchers are pieces of earthmoving equipment that use a metal chain with teeth made of high-strength steel to rip into the ground like a chainsaw would into a tree. Similar to an excavator, a trencher rips up the soil and any roots in the way to create a trench.

Wet wipes: keeping them out of our seas
Fatbergs – those revolting sewer mountains made of wet wipes, grease and other gunk – have been cropping up all over the place in the past year or so, from London and Cardiff to Staffordshire and Devon.
As well as causing trouble in wastewater systems, wipes can find their way into oceans. Along with other types of plastic pollution, they can cause long-term problems for sea creatures and the marine environment.
Wet wipes made up more than 90% of the material causing sewer blockages ? that Water UK investigated in 2017.
Friends of the Earth commissioned a report from research group Eunomia, Reducing Household Contributions to Marine Plastic Pollution [PDF]. This reveals our everyday habits that result in all sorts of plastics getting into our seas. Sometimes from seemingly unlikely sources, such as wet wipes.
What's so wrong with wet wipes?
Millions of us have grabbed a wet wipe to clean our hands, faces, worktops, children, and almost everything else at some point. What harm can it do, we might think – they’re only little squares of wet tissue. Aren’t they?
But now people are realising that wet wipes, like so many other everyday throwaway items, contain plastic, and aren’t so harmless after all.
Three particular stories in the past year have highlighted the growing concerns over wet wipes.
Baby wipes are essential for keeping your baby fresh, clean, moisturized, and comfortable between baths.
But not all baby wipes are created equal, which is why we put so much time into finding the best baby wipes every year!
In this article, we dive into the details to teach you over a dozen important facts about baby wipes, including how they're made, ingredients, textures, cleaning effectiveness, and disposal.
What are Baby Wipes?
Baby wipes are pre-moistened towelettes designed to effectively clean and soothe a baby's skin during diaper changes.
They are usually dispensed single-serve in thin rectangular sheets made from cotton, bamboo, polyester, and other non-woven blends. Importantly, baby wipes use sensitive ingredients to avoid irritating your baby's skin, and usually contain at least one moisturizing and soothing ingredient.
For these reasons, baby wipes are perfect for cleaning both number 1 (urine) and number 2 (poop) off your baby's private parts.
How are Baby Wipes Made?
Most baby wipes are made from cotton, polyester, bamboo, or a nonwoven blend of multiple fibers that are saturated with water, oil, cleansers, and preservatives.
Instead of using a time-consuming fabric weaving process, baby wipe manufacturers use a non-woven fabrication process (similar to how dryer sheets are made).
Here are the typical steps involved in making baby wipes:
Raw ingredients such as cotton, polyester, viscose, cellulose, polypropylene, and bamboo fibers are blended together in giant vats of wet mixture.
Short and long bonds are created between the fibers using chemicals, heat, and/or force, causing them to stick together.
These fiber mixtures are then flattened, spun, and dried, and rolled into spools resembling giant paper towel rolls (see image below).
These rolls are then sent into large industrial machines that cut, shape, saturate (with the wet ingredients), fold, and package the wipes.
Alcohol Wipes for Both Everyday Cleaning and Critical Applications
For many organizations, presaturated wipes are the ideal mix of form and function. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes are commonly used for degreasing, cleaning off fingerprints, removing flux residues, and even disinfecting hard surfaces.
Alcohol wipes generally come packaged in pop-up tubs where the wipes are pulled up from the top, plastic boxes, or pouches that reduce linting caused by wipe perforations. They can even come individually wrapped, which is perfect for field maintenance.
Isopropyl alcohol presaturated wipes can be used in a wide variety of applications:
Cleaning optical surfaces
Cleaning fiber optic connectors and fusion splicers
Cleaning computer keyboards
Cleaning and applying ESD treatments to display screens
Removing oil, dust, and other contaminants
Cleaning and protecting sensitive contact surfaces

What is Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)?
Isopropyl alcohol (also referred to as CAS #67-63-0, IPA, isopropanol and 2-propanol) dissolves a wide range of polar and non-polar soils, including light oils, fingerprints, cutting fluids, flux residues, carbon deposits, and mold release.
For electronic printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, isopropyl alcohol is used to clean flux residues from recently soldered circuit boards and in both PCB repair and rework. IPA is also used to remove solder paste and adhesive from SMT stencils. Maintenance cleaning with isopropyl alcohol is common for removing caked-on and burnt-on flux from SMT reflow ovens, wave soldering fingers, selective soldering nozzles, pallets, and anywhere else flux tends to collect in automated soldering processes.

What Are the Common Concentrations of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)?
Isopropyl alcohol is available in a variety of dilutions. These dilutions are characterized by the amount of water in each solution. Isopropyl alcohol is hydrophilic or water miscible, so it readily accepts water into an azeotropic solution. When you see “70% isopropyl alcohol” on the label, it refers to the amount of alcohol in relation to the amount of dissolved water – i.e. 70% alcohol to 30% water. Water can be removed to form purer grades of isopropyl alcohol, forming what is called “anhydrous” isopropyl alcohol.
Whether IPA has 0.2% or 50% water has little effect on the look and smell of the material, but greatly impacts surface tension (its ability to wet), and its dry time. The more water isopropyl alcohol contains, the greater the surface tension. With a higher surface tension, you run the risk of the liquid beading up as it dries, which can lead to spotting. “Water spots” are particularly problematic when cleaning mirrors, lenses, and other optics.
The dry time is greatly increased as the percentage of water in the alcohol solution is increased. This can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the application. For example, isopropyl alcohol is often used as a flux remover to remove flux residues from around solder joints. Technicians tend to prefer a fast dry time so they can clean the electronics and bring them back into service as quickly as possible.
For breaking down and removing thick, gummy, or baked-on materials where more dwell or soak time is required, slowing down the dry time often improves the cleaning effectiveness. This is one of the reasons that 70% pure isopropyl alcohol is commonly used for both degreasing and SMT stencil cleaning. In the case of electrical contact cleaning, the faster evaporation helps ensure that flammable solvent is gone before energizing the equipment.
WHAT ARE ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES?

Simply put, antibacterial wipes are pre-moistened towelettes that contain a sanitizing or disinfecting formula that kill or reduce germs on surfaces and skin. They’re often packaged in convenient containers designed to easily use one wipe at a time.
Antibacterial wipes are easier to use than sprays and towels because of their simple, one-step design. Additionally, cleaning with a contaminated towel can spread germs and bacteria to an uncontaminated surface. When used properly, wipes help to eliminate this problem.
CLEANING FORMULA

Beware, all wipes are not formulated the same. You should always be conscious of any ingredients that are toxic, could damage the surfaces you’ll be cleaning, or pose a threat to human health. It’s important to always look for antibacterial wipes that are EPA registered and/or FDA approved.
Taking this one step further, different wipes will list different kill claims and you should always reference the pathogens that a wipe can kill based on your unique business needs. Many state and national regulations require EPA registered and/or FDA approved formulas to be used in public settings. This is because these products are put through extensive testing and scrutiny before earning a seal of approval, and are proven to deliver on their claims.
MATERIAL
Antibacterial wipes can be made of several materials, ranging from non-woven cellulose (thin and prone to leaving fibers on surfaces) to recyclable non-woven polyester and polypropylene wipes (with mid-level durability), to biodegradable fabrics ranging in quality and thickness.
WHAT ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES DO
After answering your question, “What are antibacterial wipes?”, you may also be curious about what they do.
When applied to surfaces, equipment, and skin, antibacterial wipes decrease or completely eradicate the presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that dwell on them. To effectively sanitize or disinfect a surface, the item being wiped typically has to remain wet for a specific time. This is known as the Dwell Time.
So, on average, what is the recommended Dwell Times for antibacterial wipes?
This will vary from formula to formula. The wipes will be tested in a laboratory environment over many trials to determine how long the solution must be in contact with harmful organisms to kill them. These wipes kill pathogens when they are wet. Most EPA-registered sanitizers need between two to ten minutes to sanitize or disinfect a surface.
We’ve all wondered if dog wipes are safe for our pets and if they even work. For years, I rolled my eyes at dog wipes. I was convinced it was a waste of money and harmful to the environment. Then, I saw dog bath wipes on sale at my local salon and decided to try them. I’m still on the fence.
Dog Wipes Do Have a Purpose
Pet wipes are not a substitute for a good dog bath. I want to make that super clear. However, you can use dog bath wipes for quick cleanups. Dog wipes work well on surface dirt, or dirt floating on top of your dog’s coat. They’re also helpful for cleaning small areas, such as dirty paws or mud on your dog’s muzzle. In short, dog wipes are great for spot cleaning.
By far, dog wipes are mostly used for wiping dirty paws clean after a romp in the yard. It’s also a good idea to wipe your dog’s paws down after a walk in the park. You never know what his feet may have come into contact with. If you don’t wipe off his feet, his paws will track inside your home.
Dog bath wipes are an excellent choice if someone is allergic to dog dander. Weekly baths with a gentle shampoo is a must, but daily wipe downs with dog wipes are smart because they’ll remove outdoor allergens from your dog’s coat, which usually causes a reaction for most allergy prone people.

What are the advantages of acrylic bottles?
A good product must have good packaging. There are many packaging forms in our market, and today I will talk about the packaging of the acrylic bottle in the packaging.
It is a material that combines the two properties of plastic bottles and glass bottles in our previous bottle packaging. It provides an effective guarantee for the rapid development of our packaging industry, and also fills in the gap that some products in the domestic packaging industry cannot be packaged. It can basically meet the needs of the domestic market, and some products are still exported. One of the major advantages of this pressure bottle material is that it can be further processed. The previous bottle packaging would not be based on customer requirements, but this acrylic bottle can now meet this requirement, as long as you can think of it, we can now complete it.
Acrylic packaging bottles for cosmetic containers have good transparency, light transmittance of more than 92%, good anti-aging performance, and can be used at ease outdoors. Acrylic packaging bottles have a wide range of varieties, rich colors, and good comprehensive performance. Provides diversified options, which can be dyed, and the surface can be painted, silk screened or vacuum coated.
Acrylic bottle is actually an organic material that combines acrylic and methacrylic materials. This material not only functions as a glass bottle but also a plastic bottle. It embodies the functions of both On the pressure bottle, its effect is also very obvious. It has good transparency, more aging resistance than ordinary bottles, light weight, strong resistance to chipping, and good insulation. The important thing is that it is resistant to corrosive things such as acids and alkalis. The shape can also be processed to become beautiful. If it is used in the field of cosmetics, it would be suitable, and its production has been well represented nationwide.
In the field of cosmetic bottle packaging, cosmetic plastic containers and acrylic bottles are widely used in the packaging of high-end creams, lotions and other cosmetics, and are well received by the market. Acrylic bottle not only has the characteristics of plastic: drop resistance, light weight, easy coloring, easy processing, low cost, etc., but also has the characteristics of glass bottle with beautiful appearance and high-quality texture. It allows cosmetics manufacturers to use the cost of plastic bottles to obtain the appearance of glass bottles, but also has the advantages of resistance to falling and easy to transport.
Impact of Shower Products
So how big is our plastics problem in our bathrooms? For context, in the United States alone, 550 million empty shampoo bottles are thrown away each year. This figure does not include conditioner, body wash, or other bathing products -just shampoo bottles. Compounding this problem is the fact that only a fraction of these bottles are recycled. Instead, most end up directly into our rubbish bins. Most people don’t keep separate recycling bins in their bathroom, so empty plastic containers from the bathroom tend to miss out on recycling. With the average American using 11 bottles of shampoo a year, these large, bulky plastic containers are a significant contributor to many households’ annual waste.
In the United States alone, 550 million empty shampoo bottles are thrown away each year.
Shampoo or Bottle of Water?
Would you like some shampoo with your bottle of water? Yes, you read that correctly - the majority of your shampoos and conditioners are water, with only about 10% being actual products. When cleaning products changed from solid bars to liquids, water was added and thus creating the need to be stored in a plastic container. While shampoo bottles are not quite single-use plastic bottles, they are not far off.
In addition to the plastic waste produced by the bottles, the increased carbon footprint also needs to be considered. Larger and heavier bottles that need to be shipped create a bigger carbon footprint than lighter weight smaller bars and solid products.
These shower gel bottles and shampoo bottles are made entirely of soap for a zero waste alternative.

We are all looking for brilliant solutions to fight plastic pollution. A Berlin-based product designer came up with the concept of a zero waste soap bottle as a clever alternative to the plastic ones. Plastic pollution is indeed a serious matter and it’s actually one of the biggest environmental issues of our time. Some food brands are embracing the use of eco-friendly packaging alternatives such as paper packaging and banana leaves. But we can’t say the same for toiletries and cosmetic products. Every year, an individual uses 11 bottles of shower gel and 10 bottles of shampoo on average. And where do these plastic bottles end up? Most of them end up on landfills and can blow away so, they make their way to drains and they even clutter rivers and the ocean.
In order to reduce the harmful accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, Jonna Breitenhuber created a new kind of bottle. This ingenious packaging is entirely made of soap that can hold liquid such as shower gel and shampoo. And when you’ve used up its content, you can use the bottle as a body soap or detergent. No waste.

A customised creation in hand wash bottles
Companies seeking even greater stand-out shelf appeal for their hand wash turn to Robinson for its innovative and diligent approach to manufacturing custom-made packaging.
With our heritage in plastic packaging, we are trusted to transform designs, bringing them to market with speed of execution, and being highly responsive in integrating new technologies into existing processes. Our expert team have either worked closely with or in FMCGs and other leading brands. It’s this in-depth understanding of the needs of large companies, married with our agility as a smaller business, that means we are impressively fast paced in helping our customers sprint to market.
One example of our custom creations is our 500ml hand wash PET bottle with pump. While it is produced at our Minsk plant in Poland, one of the benefits of our European-wide operation is that we can draw on support as and when needed from our design and technical teams in Europe and the UK.
As is the case with all our customers’ projects, we applied robust project management to the entire process, from stakeholder meetings to discuss the initial concept, to regular consultation and the creation of a range of solutions to put to key decision makers.
Opting for a single-stage injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) process enabled the creation of a highly attractive bottle, incorporating perfectly rounded contours.
ISBM is primarily used to manufacture products where uniform shape or wall thickness is particularly important. It combines the benefits of two technologies in one: the highest neck precision which can be partnered with blow moulding’s extensive possibilities in shaping. It also ensures high breakage resistance and is a process comparatively low in cost.
Our knowhow in such projects extends, of course, to our choice of materials.
The detritus that we leave in our glowy-skinned, bouncy-haired wake is immense. It contributes in no small part to the fact that by the middle of this century — that's not as far away as you think — the ocean may contain more plastic by weight than fish. (Maybe you even ate some recently: A quarter of fish sold at markets in California and Indonesia, for example, has been found to contain human-made debris — either plastic or fibrous materials.) The amount of end-of-life plastic packaging, which includes bottles, jars, bags, and "other," surrounding U.S. products has increased by over 120 times since 1960. In 2018, in the U.S. alone, almost 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic were created just for beauty and personal care products, according to Euromonitor International. "But we recycle," you say? Sadly, not so much.
Twenty years ago, as a wee beauty editor, I would thrill at the crinkle of cellophane as I opened a new face cream, and the excitement would mount as I pulled back layers of cardboard. Oh, and look — a tiny spoon. Today, those trappings feel superfluous. And worse: irresponsible. I can no longer look at a plastic tub without imagining it bobbing on the high seas. Enough already with all the packaging.

Rumblings of change have begun. The L'Ore?al Group says it will source up to 50 percent of its packaging from recycled material by 2025. Procter & Gamble has a program that puts Pantene in refillable containers, and Unilever's Dove has created its first-ever refillable deodorant. Brands like Burt's Bees are creating their own mail-back recycling programs.

Hallo zusammen,

hat jemand einen Bausparvertrag und kann mir sagen, wo ich mich umschauen kann?

LG!

How does an hourglass measure time?
The sand timer hourglass is sometimes referred to as a sand clock or a sandglass. Like other timepieces, it needs to be carefully calibrated. The hourglass maker must test the instrument and fine tune it to measure the correct length of time.
There are many factors that contribute to the ability of an hourglass to accurately measure time. The type and quality of sand is key. It must have a rate of flow that does not fluctuate. Sand that is too coarse will wear away the glass, eventually making the neck too large. Most important is the ratio of the neck (the hole, or tube) width to the diameter of the sand particles.
Here are the other factors that affect the accuracy of an hourglass:
The amount or volume of sand used
The size and angle of the glass bulbs
The quality of the sand or granular material. It must be fine, dry and consistently formed so it can flow smoothly. (Some substances used in the past were fine grain sand, powdered eggshells, and powdered marble.)
The width of the neck
A tight seal so no moisture can get into the chambers. Moisture can add weight to the sand or clog up the neck.
A flat and level surface on which to rest the hourglass
Like a foam roller, a massage ball can also be used to help release tension in our achy muscles after long hours spent in the office or after a workout. One of the differences being that it can get to those hard to reach areas such as the upper back, buttocks and feet. “Knots” or “trigger points” can be massive sources of pain in our bodies and using self-massage techniques can be very satisfying. Before diving in, there are a few important things to know which will help you achieve the best results.
Why a massage ball
Massage balls are affordable and small and therefore they can easily fit into a suitcase or handbag to use wherever you go. They also promote self-sufficiency so there is no need to rely on anyone else. Notwithstanding, it does not always give the same results as a traditional massage delivered by an experienced therapist
Find the right ball
There are many different types of massage balls ranging from very smooth and firm like a lacrosse ball to small and soft like a squash ball. Other balls include a tennis ball and the trusty spikey massage ball. To each his own but if you’re new to using a massage ball, perhaps start with a spikey ball or a tennis ball.
Where and when
Since they are so conveniently easy to use, you can use them almost anywhere for example against a wall, the back of a chair, on the floor or use your hands. Some office workers keep them at their desks as a reminder to use them during the day to help with releasing built-up muscle tension from poor posture or stress.
How
Start with only a few knots at a time, the most painful area being first. The idea is to trap the knot in the muscle with the ball and apply gently to medium pressure until the painful sensation has faded. Once you have the correct spot (and you will know when), hold it there and try to relax until only about 80% of the ache remains. When pressing too firmly, the sensation can be too painful for you to relax which defeats the purpose of using the massage ball in the first place, it could also potentially irritate the area. You are looking for a “good pain”.Roll the ball around to look for more tender spots or just enjoy gently going back and forth over the tight muscle. If you feel the muscle needs it, you can repeat it twice a day. After releasing the knot, follow it up with gentle stretches to the same muscle. It’s okay to lightly exercise the muscle afterward but avoid fatiguing it for 24 hours.
“The Crown Jewels for Collectors” — that’s what Paul Hollister wrote about fine glass paperweights. He was one of the foremost scholars of 17th to 19th century glass studies, glass paperweights, and contemporary studio art glass. Paperweights are considered the most collectable of 19th century glass items, and also the most challenging of the glass arts to make. Fine glass paperweights are, indeed, rare treasures.
Most antique paperweights of quality were made by one of three French factories, as a sideline, for just 10-15 years in the mid-1800s. It’s estimated that only about 25,000-30,000 remain today, with many tightly held in museum collections. Fine contemporary paperweights are made by a limited number of studio artists and are sold either by the artist, or by a small group of specialty dealers.

History
The mid-to-late 1800s were sentimental and romantic times, heralded by an emerging middle class, resulting from the matured Industrial Revolution. Letter writing became a fad, and paperweights were sold in stationery stores as an attractive accessory to desk-sets of pens, inkwells, blotters, and fine stationery. The first glass paperweight was made in 1845 by Venetian glassmakers in response to the letter-writing fad. They could have been made 300 years earlier because the techniques were known, but paper was then a rare commodity and there was no need for a paperweight. They are the perfect example of form following function.
American made paperweights followed from 1851 into the late1880s, by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, and the New England Glass Company — and more rarely by makers including Dorflinger, Mount Washington, Gillinder, and Whithall Tatum companies. Their glassmakers were mainly European immigrants already skilled in the craft, which explains why American weights are somewhat imitative of the European. What American weights may have lacked in quality, they more than made up for in creativity and ingenuity, which makes them even more charming to their collectors.
What does iCloud Keychain do?
When you enter a new password in Safari, you’ve probably seen iCloud Keychain ask if you would like it to save it for use across all your devices. So long as you are running iOS 7.0.3 or later or OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later, iCloud Keychain will store the following items securely in iCloud. Once secured in iCloud Keychain, you will be able to access all these items securely from any Apple system logged into your Apple ID.
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Safari website usernames and passwords
Credit card information
Wi-Fi network information
Ensure Mail, Contacts, Calendar and Messages are synced across all your devices
Protect, access and deploy your LinkedIn, Twitter and other Internet account logins and passwords.
How does iCloud Keychain work?
iCloud Keychain must be enabled on each device. Devices that are not enabled for the service will not be able to access the information it holds, so you’ll need to enter your passwords and other details manually.
How do I use iCloud Keychain in Safari?
When registering for a new website or service you will be asked to enter your information in the site’s registration fields. iCloud will populate these fields with things such as your name and telephone number. You will also be asked to create a password by entering your new password in the password field and the password confirmation field. When you tap your cursor in the first of these fields you will see a small item appear, tap this to use an iCloud supplied password. In practice, if you use your own password or one supplied by iCloud, it should be stored for later use by your iCloud Keychain.
How do I add credit card details to iCloud Keychain?
You can also add your credit card details to iCloud Keychain. You can choose to follow on-screen prompts to do so automatically as and when they appear, or enter these details manually as follows:
On a Mac: Open Safari’s AutoFill item in Preferences. Look for the Credit Cards item and tap Edit. In the next screen, you will be able to add and delete new cards. Tap Done.
On iOS: In Settings, open Safari>Autofill. Here you can choose to enable or disable Autofill of names and passwords, and as well as control what credit card information is held. Tap Saved Credit Cards, and you will be able to add or delete your stored credit card information. Tap Done.
The fabrication of the early spherical shells was limited to free forming of small hemispheres from thin acrylic sheets by compressed air. But even with all the limitations, the ocean engineering community saw the advantages acrylic offered to panoramic visibility.
Actual diving systems with the all-acrylic pressure hulls which demonstrated this potential were HIKINO, KUMUKAHI, and NUCOTE.
HIKINO was conceived in 1962 by the late Dr. William McLean and engineered by D.K. Moore of NOTS, China Lake. The two-person vehicle had the shape of a catamaran with the acrylic sphere suspended between the two hulls. The acrylic sphere itself was assembled from two free-formed hemispheres mated at the equator to a metallic joint ring.
The vehicle successfully demonstrated the design concept of panoramic visibility but because it was free formed from thin commercially available sheets, the design depth was only 20 feet. As a result of this severe limitation, it was subsequently used only as a concept demonstrator in a shallow swimming pool.
KUMUKAHI was conceived in 1967 by T.A. Pryor, engineered by Will Forman, fabricated by Fortin Plastics, and delivered to Oceanic Institute in Hawaii in September 1969. The submersible was configured as a self-propelled diving bell with the batteries and a variable displacement tank contained in a pod suspended directly under the sphere.

How to Determine the Appropriate Mobile or Handheld Metal Analyzer for On-the-Spot Metal Testing Tasks
For metal producers, processors, recyclers, contractors and others, continuous quality control plays a key role in establishing the identity and composition of various metals and alloys from initial melt to finished product or end use. Metals and alloys need to be accurately sorted, identified, and verified at each stage of the process to make certain they meet specific customer and/or industry requirements for physical and chemical composition.
For businesses that perform metal production, processing, recycling, or service contracting, an alloy mix-up at the shipping dock or on the factory floor risks an expensive, inconvenient batch rework or the possibility of a catastrophic loss of business. Fortunately, metal inspection has been made easy, accurate and affordable with the availability of portable, mobile optical emission spectroscopic (OES) metal analyzers and handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometers.
When it comes to metals specifications, the news is full of reports of mistakes, mismeasurements and other related scandals by a host of industries. It’s increasingly clear that quality-conscious organizations can’t afford to hand off responsibility for metals verification. The inspection of the metal makeup of incoming and outgoing components is a critical quality control (QC) task for companies worldwide.
While the focus of this article is on steels, non-ferrous alloy users are confronted with similar situations and are required to perform similar testing tasks. Some steel products are easy to analyze. For many suppliers and end users, testing with a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or simple handheld optical emission spectrometry (OES) analyzer is adequate. Their size and relatively low initial costs have created great interest in these handheld analyzers, which produce fast results for on-the-spot alloy identification, grade sorting or verification.
In many cases, the presence or absence of an alloying element in a steel component is critical to its performance but impossible to detect by physically inspecting the item. Positive material identification (PMI) has become accepted practice for the process and equipment supply industries. The industry-standard approach for achieving efficient PMI is via elemental analysis of the materials.
Slag Analyzer presents a uniquely compact and reliable WDXRF platform configured with Thermo Scientific SmartGonio for analysis of slags and pig iron. This small but powerful instrument comes with factory installed calibration for slags using Jernkontoret standards. Its quick start-up, ease of use, and analytical flexibility provide unparalleled value for iron & steel laboratories.
? New: 500W equivalent analytical performance from 200W X-ray power
? 200W equivalent analytical performance from 50W X-ray power
? High precision, outstanding repeatability and stability to comply with slag analysis requirements
? Pre-calibrated turnkey solution for routine slag analysis
? Lowest cost of ownership thanks to low operating cost, highest reliability and minimal auxiliary equipment
? Optional Multichromators for faster analysis or better performance on selected elements
? Innovative UCCO technology combined with SmartGonio to achieve highest sensitivity
Oil Analysis Can Enhance Your Bottom Line
Oil analyzer offers many benefits. Through regular testing of lubricants, you can:
Enhance equipment life and reliability by ensuring proper lubrication and detecting issues such as excessive wear and contamination
Extend lubricant life by monitoring its condition and, when deemed necessary, treating or cleaning it, typically allowing for longer intervals between fluid changes
Reduce equipment downtime by spotting and correcting potential lubrication problems before they become serious issues
Seven Keys To Effective Oil Analysis
Follow these seven simple steps to help maximize the benefits of oil analysis:
Identify the equipment critical to your operational productivity. At the bare minimum, the lubricants in those components should be analyzed regularly. (Ideally, all lubricants in use at your facility should be tested regularly.)
Register the equipment with the lab. This will help the lab identify appropriate tests for your specific application. Registration also facilitates trending.
Use proper sampling procedures. Improper sampling may produce erroneous test results. Problems could be missed and go untreated, leading to costly problems later. Or conditions may be misdiagnosed, resulting in incorrect, unnecessary and money-wasting actions being taken to correct a nonexistent issue.
Provide complete and accurate information with each sample you submit to the lab. Missing or inaccurate information may lead to a misdiagnosis. Complete all fields on the submission form, including the specific lubricant in use, the component it services, the hours the oil has been in use, and more. Also ensure that the information is legible to help avoid misinterpretation.
Submit samples promptly to the laboratory for analysis. Although a delay inherently has virtually no effect on the sample itself, it does increase the potential for contamination. Also, the condition of the oil in use in the equipment will continue to change over time. The more time that passes between when the sample is taken and when it is analyzed, the less alike the sample will be to the fluid still flowing in the machine. Therefore, the results of the analysis will have less relevance.
Review and respond to test results appropriately. Promptly review the analysis documentation to determine what, if any, action is necessary.
Use oil analysis regularly, not just when you suspect a problem. As part of a preventive maintenance program, regular oil analysis establishes a baseline for monitoring the condition of your lubricants and the components in which they are used. Much like routine, periodic medical screenings, the regular collection of analysis data over time may help identify trends and spot potential complications in early stages, so that they can be corrected and not become big problems.
How do we measure static gel strength development?
Historically, the SGS of a cement slurry was determined by a method using a couette-type rotational viscometer. Today, more specialized instruments have been developed that allow the measurements to be done under conditions of high temperature and pressure.
API-10B6 was developed to establish the testing protocols to determine SGS by different mechanisms, including a rotating-type apparatus, an intermittent rotation-type apparatus and an ultrasonic-type apparatus (removed in the latest API adoption due to patents exclusivity).
Test method using rotating-type static gel strength apparatus
The apparatus contains a pressure chamber that can be heated and pressurized according to a simulated cement job schedule. The SGS is calculated from the torque required to rotate a paddle of known geometry at very low speed. The rotation speed of the paddle during the SGS measurement portion of the test is usually a continuous 0,2 r/min. The initial stirring to simulate placement in the well is typically conducted at 150 r/min.

Test method using intermittent rotation-type static gel strength apparatus
This apparatus works on the same principles/methods as the previous one with the sole difference that this it operates intermittently during the SGS testing phase at 0,01 r/min for 6s after a time interval adjustable between 1 min and 10 min. In general, an intermittent rotation every 3 min is used.

Test method using ultrasonic-type static gel strength apparatus
The instrument measures the static gel strength of API cement under high temperature and high-pressure conditions. The instrument is equipped with an internal processor board that sends and receives an ultrasonic pulse through the slurry, then performs post processing of the data to determine the static gel strength (SGS) versus time plot. Additionally, as an option, the instrument may be used to determine the compressive strength of the cement using the same algorithms and method found in a conventional Ultrasonic Cement Analyzer (UCA). This testing methodology was included in API10B6 original version but was later removed as it’s patent protected and exclusive to Chandler Ametek. The machine is known as Static Gel Strength Analyzer (SGSA).
Food security and why it matters
The global food security challenge is straightforward: by 2050, the world must feed 9 billion people. The demand for food will be 60% greater than it is today. The United Nations has set ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture as the second of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the year 2030.
To achieve these objectives requires addressing a host of issues, from gender parity and ageing demographics to skills development and global warming. Agriculture sectors have to become more productive by adopting efficient business models and forging public-private partnerships. And they need to become sustainable by addressing greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste. The risks: malnutrition, hunger and even conflict.
Why is food security such a major global challenge?
The obvious reason is that everybody needs food. But the complexity of delivering sufficient food to a national population and to the whole world’s population shows why food security is such a priority for all countries, whether developing or developed.
In short, this is a global challenge because it’s not just about food and feeding people but also about practically all aspects of an economy and society.

High-Temperature Grease Guide
There are many criteria to consider when selecting a high temperature grease for hot, grease-lubricated equipment.
The selection must include consideration of oil type and viscosity, oil viscosity index, thickener type, stability of the composition formed by the oil and the thickener), additive composition and properties, ambient temperature, operating temperature, atmospheric contamination, loading, speed, relubrication intervals, etc.
With the variety of details to resolve, the selection of greases that must accommodate extreme temperature conditions poses some of the more challenging lubrication engineering decisions.
Given the variety of options, the potential for incompatibility problems and high prices for a given high-temperature product, the lubrication engineer must be selective and discriminating when sourcing products to meet high-temperature requirements.
High-Temperature
‘High’ is relative when characterizing temperature conditions. Bearings running in a steel mill roll-out table application may be exposed to process temperatures of several hundreds of degrees, and may experience sustained temperatures of 250oF to 300oF (120oC to ±150oC).
Automotive assemblers hang painted metal parts on long conveyors and weave them through large drying ovens to dry painted metal surfaces. Operating temperatures for these gas-fired ovens are maintained around 400oF (205oC).
In these two cases, the selection criteria differ appreciably. In addition to heat resistance, the grease to be used in a hot steel mill application may require exceptional load-carrying capability, oxidation stability, mechanical stability, water wash resistance and good pumpability, and at a price suitable for large-volume consumption. With all of the important factors to consider, it is useful to have a grease selection strategy.
Selection Strategies
A reasonable starting point for selecting a high temperature grease is to consider the nature of the temperatures and the causes of product degradation. Greases could be divided by temperatures along the lines in Table 1.
There is general correlation between a grease’s useful temperature range and the expected price per pound. For instance, a fluorinated hydrocarbon-based (type of synthetic oil) grease may work effectively as high as 570oF (300oC) in space applications but may also cost hundreds of dollars per pound.
The grease’s long-term behavior is influenced by the causes of degradation, three of which are particularly important: mechanical (shear and stress) stability, oxidative stability and thermal stability. Oxidative and thermal stresses are interrelated. High-temperature applications will generally degrade the grease through thermal stress, in conjunction with oxidative failure occurring if the product is in contact with air. This is similar to what is to be expected with most industrial oil-lubricated applications.
Large production facilities have a variety of grease-lubricated equipment, ranging from steady-state applications to applications that vary significantly in speed and load, and operate in aggressive (wet or dusty) environments.
If machine designers address equipment lubrication needs based strictly on a dynamic loading requirement, they might have to specify a wide variety of greases to meet the many existing needs. In this approach, the added system complexity would likely increase the cost and the risk of failure due to misapplication and cross-contamination.
To maximize grease lubrication effectiveness, minimize cost and minimize risk of application-induced failure, lubricant manufacturers have made an effort to formulate greases that cover a variety of applications. These greases range from slow to high speeds, and from low to high loads, in an effort to provide a single product to meet a multitude of requirements. The result is general purpose grease.
What is General Purpose Grease?
A general purpose (GP) grease is designed to meet a broad range of requirements. It is grease manufactured to medium consistency with a medium viscosity base oil and medium wear, washout and oxidation resistance properties. Essentially, it is a product designed to fit the largest possible cross-section of grease lubricated components in an operation.
If the demand on the lubricated components in a plant could be rated on a curve according to speed, load and environment/application severity, the resulting curve would likely resemble a Pareto chart. The typical application in most plants does not severely challenge a GP grease. Some applications would be considered tough, and may or may not be suitable for a GP grease. A few extreme applications will require a grease with one or more special qualities.
The proportion of typical, tough and extreme applications might vary considerably. This distribution has no correlation to the criticality of the mission of the grease-lubricated machines. Many of the tough and most of the extreme applications will require a thorough technical review to determine what special lubricant properties might be required. Lubricant criteria are fairly narrow at the extremes of load and speed, and therefore may require products that do not suit the vast majority of lubricated components.
However, it is advisable to cover as many of the lubricated components as possible with as few products as possible. With this in mind, begin by examining the lubricated components for an average requirement and work selectively toward extremes in load and speed.
Equipment Properties to Consider
Given the wide range of characteristics that may exist in the greases at any given plant, it is best to first characterize the equipment and plant conditions, then select a general purpose grease to meet the conditions.

Equipment Condition Considerations
Keeping the objective in mind, a general purpose (GP) grease is used as a multi-application grease in a production process to reduce complexity and the potential for component failure due to misapplication. Consider the following operational characteristics when selecting the GP grease.
Size and Type
Ball screws, cables, linear bearings, plain bearings, rolling element bearings, slide-ways and seals are just a few of the many different component types that are grease lubricated. If sliding friction is the dominant contact type, then there may be a greater reliance on heavy viscosity oils, polymers and solid additives to support the load and provide lubricating film protection.
If rolling friction is the dominant contact type, then greases with lighter viscosity base oils and minimal use of polymers, solids and antiwear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP) additives can be effectively used.
Load
As the load increases, the grease’s base oil viscosity must also increase to support the load. If the majority of the components in the mill/plant environment are heavily loaded, it may make sense to use high-viscosity base oils for a general purpose product. This might be the case in a cement, steel or paper mill environment. It is not uncommon to find GP greases made from 460 cSt (40°C) and heavier oils in these types of environments.
Speed
As the speed increases or the load diminishes, the required base oil viscosity also diminishes. In operations with predominantly moderate to high-speed and lightly to moderately loaded applications, the grease’s oil viscosity would fall to an ISO 46 to 150 range. It is unusual to find highly loaded applications that also operate at high speeds that are lubricated with grease. This type of application would likely warrant special consideration and therefore fall outside this discussion.
Atmosphere
The three atmospheric factors that must be accounted for are temperature, moisture and airborne solid contaminants (particles). Although the influence of atmospheric factors can be significant, these factors are considered after the viscosity selection is complete.
Lubrication Intervals
The method of application combined with the application cycle dictates the rate of application. The rate of relubrication is the amount of lubricant fed into the component in a given time.
Greased components require a constant supply of lubricant at the load zone to sustain the hydrodynamic film much the same as oil lubricated components. The reserve grease contained in the cavity in the housing serves as an oil reservoir that components draw from for lubrication.
When grease is resupplied to the housing, the oil reservoir is replenished. The longer the duration between cycles, the greater the likelihood that the reservoir will deplete and the component will run to a semi-dry (mixed film) condition.
The oil in the load zone is squeezed and pushed away over time. If the relubrication volume is insufficient, or the cycle is sporadic (greater risk with manual lubrication), the likelihood that the oil film will dissipate leading to mixed film conditions increases. When these conditions are prevalent, the grease selection must be one that resists the squeezing action and tendency to dissipate. Greases formulated with heavier viscosity base oils and chemical and mechanical film forming additives can be helpful in these circumstances.

Air Force Research Lab orders 15 Silent Arrow unmanned cargo gliders
Looking for a new way to resupply ground troops, the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has ordered 15 cargo glider drone/runway drone from Silent Arrow, a company of Yates Electrospace.
The AFRL ordered the “Silent Arrow Precision Guided Bundle”, a new glider variant that is a smaller version of the “Silent Arrow GD-2000” drone, which Silent Arrow built for the US Special Operations Command.
The smaller Precision Guided Bundle UAV will be able to be launched from aircraft side doors and cargo ramps. Aircraft capable of deploying the drones will include those as small as Cessna Caravan turboprops and as large as Boeing C-17 strategic airlifters, the company says.
The autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) will be built at the company’s Irvine site, then shipped north for operational evaluations in 2022 at Pendleton UAS Test Range in Oregon, Silent Arrow adds.
The Silent Arrow line of cargo gliders have spring-loaded wings that fold for storage and deploy for flight. The type is advertised as being cheaper than the US Army’s Joint Precision Airdrop System, a GPS-guided parachute system used for delivering cargo.
The un-powered Precision Guided Bundle has a 34.8nm (64.4km) glide range and is “deployable from high altitudes and airspeeds”, says Silent Arrow. It is about 1m (3.3ft) long and has 159kg (350lb) of cargo payload capacity. By comparison, the larger Silent Arrow GD-2000 can carry 740kg of cargo.
Silent Arrow says Precision Guided Bundles will also have swarming abilities, likely meaning the UAVs will be able to share sensor data and work together to find landing zones.
The details: The flight was a significant technical challenge, thanks to Mars’s bone-chilling temperatures (nights can drop down to -130 °F/-90 °C) and its incredibly thin atmosphere—just 1% the density of Earth’s. That meant Ingenuity had to be light, with rotor blades that were bigger and faster than would be needed to achieve liftoff on Earth (although the gravity on Mars, which is only about one-third of Earth’s, worked in its favor). The flight had originally been scheduled to take place on April 11 but was delayed by software issues.
Why it’s significant: Beyond being a significant milestone for Mars exploration, the flight will also pave the way for engineers to think about new ways to explore other planets. Future helicopter drones could help rovers or even astronauts by scoping out locations, exploring inaccessible areas, and capturing images. Ingenuity will also help inform the design of Dragonfly, a car-size drone that NASA is planning to send to Saturn’s moon Titan in 2027.
What’s next: In the next few weeks, Ingenuity will conduct four more flights, each lasting up to 90 seconds. Each one is designed to further push the limits of Ingenuity’s capabilities. Ingenuity is only designed to last for 30 Martian days, and is expected to stop functioning around May 4.
When you get a drone you might think that everything you need will come in the box, and on a basic level that is true. Most consumer drones come with everything you need to have a satisfying flying experience. However, the more you get into the hobby of flying drones, you begin to experiment with different things and start understanding some of the other gear you might need to get the most out of your drone.
Drone accessories are an often overlooked yet important aspect of the drone flight experience. Accessories like a carrying case, SD cards, extra batteries and propellers, and ND filters will help you get the most out of your drone both in performance and lifespan.
There are many accessories for your drone, but before you start loading up on gear, you should make sure that the accessories you choose fit your specific drone model. If not, you might purchase something that doesn’t work for your model, and then you’ll have to go through the hassle of returning it and getting a replacement.
This article will help you think through some of the most necessary and best drone accessories in 2021, as well as helping you make sure you get the right gear specific to your drone.
As I said, most drones do not absolutely require you to add any accessories. They are sufficient on their own out of the box. However, after flying drones for a while, I have often found myself thinking that I wish I had a certain accessory that would simply make things more convenient or efficient.
That is why I have compiled the following list of accessories that are extremely helpful for anyone who flies drones.
1. Carrying Case or Bag
Many of the high-end drones come with a flimsy carrying case just big enough to fit your drone and controller. They often do not fit everything else you might want or need to carry with you when you’re out flying.
Since the included bag isn’t really stellar, getting a quality case or bag for your drone is a great idea. There are many drone backpacks on the market, so you’ll have to shop around to find the one that will fit all your gear and suit your taste as well as fits your budget.
2. Extra Batteries
Once you start flying your drone, you’re going to want to fly it for longer without having to wait until your batteries charge. That’s why you’ll want to pick up a few extra batteries.
Since most batteries don’t last more than about 20-30 minutes at a time, a few extra drone batteries are a great investment to add to the drone accessories you are thinking about purchasing.
3. Charging Hub
While we’re talking about extra batteries, you may want to get a hub to charge your extra batteries. That way when you are ready to fly, all the batteries are ready at the same time.
4. Battery Bag
If you purchase extra batteries and want to transport them, it would be a good idea to get a battery bag. There are added concerns when transporting loose LiPo batteries, so a battery bag that is fireproof will help you transport them with confidence that you’re not going to start a fire.
5. High Capacity SD Cards
Most of us fly drones to capture incredible aerial views with high-definition cameras. We want to be able to share those views with others. If you’re going to be taking photos and videos with your drone, and want the best possible image files, you’re definitely going to need some high-capacity SD cards.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is also being hailed as a part of Industrial Revolution 4.0, has established its presence across myriad fields in recent years. AI has become somewhat of an umbrella term for a host of scientific and technological evolutions across various applications, computer sciences, and use cases.
Known predominantly as a series of technologies that promote intelligent execution of tasks in machines, AI is rapidly establishing itself as a reality in the current technological landscape, as well as a robust solution for future evolutions. The success of the AI field is characterized by the ever-increasing availability of computing power and data, backed by advancements in electronics miniaturization and machine learning (ML), among others.
While AI already has a significant presence across various commercial sectors such as retail and banking, its scope for defense and security is becoming more prominent in recent years. Artificial intelligence can be used for a plethora of defense applications including novel weaponry development, command and control of military operations, logistics and maintenance optimization, and force training and sustainment.
The integration of AI is also bringing more autonomy to military applications, particularly in unmanned machines and unmanned robot. These range from aerial autonomous vehicles to unmanned ground vehicles that can function with the help of environmental sensors and AI with little to no human intervention.
AUTONOMY IN LAND DEFENSE VEHICLES
The first truly autonomous vehicle came into being in 1984, developed by the ALV and Navlab projects from Carnegie Mellon University. Various research and development efforts have been undertaken since then, giving rise to a number of advanced Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) prototypes. Advancements in technology have expanded the use of robotic autonomous vehicles across many fields in addition to UGVs, including Unmanned Under Water Vehicles (UUV), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). UGVs are vehicles that operate on the ground, without the need for human presence onboard. They are the land counterparts of marine and aerial unmanned vehicles. All of these vehicles play integral roles in enhancing performance, efficiency, and safety across various applications, including military and civilian.