Cereals, Grains, and Tubers: Structure, Composition, and Cooking
Cereals
Grain crop farming is the oldest form of agriculture. The nutritional value and nature of cereal seeds were the primary reasons for their cultivation. Cereals have been known in Egypt since 4000 BC, but data suggests their existence as far back as 10,000 or 20,000 BC. Corn was a staple crop for the Aztecs and Incas. Nuts are part of the grass family, containing a single seed or grain. There are 8000 species of grains, the most important being: wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, rye, triticale,
Read MorePowder Metallurgy & Welding Processes: Advantages, Disadvantages & Techniques
ITEM 5 – POWDER METALLURGY
Advantages
- Minimizes raw material loss, using only the necessary amount of powder.
- Provides precise control over composition limits.
- Can eliminate or minimize machining operations.
- All operations are suitable for automation.
- Achieves good surface finishes without molding signals.
- Allows for controlled porosity and highly distributed internal oxidation suitable for hardening.
- Avoids segregation.
- Enables the production of numerous parts not possible with conventional methods.
Disadvantages
- Limited
A Deep Dive into Advanced Materials: Properties, Applications, and Comparisons
What are High Entropy Alloys?
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are substances constructed with equal or nearly equal quantities of five or more metals. These alloys are currently the focus of significant attention in materials science and engineering because they have potentially desirable properties.
Furthermore, research indicates that some HEAs have considerably better strength-to-weight ratios, with a higher degree of fracture resistance, tensile strength, as well as corrosion and oxidation resistance
Read MoreUnderstanding Oil: From Exploration to Refining and Fuel Properties
1. What is Oil?
Oil is a viscous liquid, ranging in color from yellow to dark brown to black, sometimes with green reflections. It has a characteristic odor and floats in water. Oil is primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon, with smaller amounts of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and metals like vanadium, nickel, aluminum, iron, copper, sodium, calcium, and uranium.
2. What is the Composition of Oil?
Oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, including:
- Aromatic Compounds: n-C5-C44 alkanes, branched alkanes,
Aluminum and Its Alloys: Properties, Welding, and Heat Treatment
Aluminum and its Alloys
Properties of Aluminum
Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery-white, and relatively soft metal. It’s known for its good corrosion resistance against air, oil, food, and many chemical agents. This resistance is due to a layer of aluminum oxide, called alumina, which prevents metal corrosion.
This alumina layer is refractory, meaning it has a very high melting temperature. It must be removed before or during welding to allow proper fusion of the base metal.
Aluminum is a very ductile
Read MoreUnderstanding Fire: Origins, Risks, and Safety Measures
The Origin of Fire
Four Factors for Fire Ignition
Fire occurs when four factors coincide in space and time:
- Fuel: Any substance capable of undergoing combustion. This includes:
- Solid fuels (e.g., wood, coal)
- Liquid fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel)
- Gaseous fuels (some support combustion, others suppress it)
- Thermal (e.g., furnaces)
- Electrical (e.g., switches)
- Mechanical (