Specular reflection infrared microspectroscopy was used for chemical imaging of cross-sectioned urinary stones to determine their chemical composition and morphology simultaneously. Absorption spectral bands were recovered from reflection spectra by Kramers-Kronig transform. FUse of far-infrared radiation provides high-contrast images and allows more precise constituent distribution determinations than mid-infrared because band asymmetry after the transform caused by diffuse reflection is less in the far-infrared. [...]
Having symmetrical and balanced material properties, polymer matrix composites are increasingly becoming popular due to easiness of construction and are use in the production of aerospace and automotive structures. In the study, we developed polymer composites based on epoxy resins, containing up to 40 wt.% of blast furnace slag and determined their pin-on-disc dynamic friction, wear, Shore hardness and surface roughness values. Wear tests were performed using a pin-on-disc under dry friction conditions, at the loads of 5, 10, 15 and 30 N, using slip velocity of 0.3 m/s and along distance of 500 m. The hardness and wear resistance values increased with the increase in the content of blast furnace slag. Showing the relationship between wear rate and hardness, an equation with parameters dependent on load was provided. There was an increase in the dynamic friction with an increase in the surface roughness. In addition, dynamic friction was an increasing function of the wear rate. The wear surfaces of the polymer composites were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the wear rate of the epoxy composites and pure epoxy samples ranged from 19.85 to 171.42 mm³/Nm.