To control infectious diseases, various applications of nanotechnology have been used to enhance the self-cleaning and antibacterial properties of materials.This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial properties of face masks coated with TiO2 nanoparticles.The antibacterial efficacies of cloth face masks coated with TiO2 were measured by inoculating them in bacterial suspensions (10⁵CFUs from bothE. coliandS. aureus). The results showed that TiO2 nanoparticle solutions (at 2%) reduced the starting inoculum of 10⁵CFUs (5 log cfu/cm²) ofE. coliandS. aureusto 1.3 and 1.68 log, respectively, with antibacterial activities of 3.7 and 3.34 log, respectively. Furthermore, at a 1% concentration, the antibacterial activities againstE. coliandS. aureuswere 2.1 and 2.01 log, respectively, while at a low concentration (0.5%), the antibacterial activities againstE. coliandS. aureuswere 1.8 and 1.72 log, respectively. The CFUs in all the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (saline). In conclusion, TiO2 nanoparticle solutions with a high concentration (2%) demonstrated a strong antibacterial effect onE. coliandS. aureus, and the difference was statistically significant, while a significant antibacterial activity was demonstrated with lower concentration (0.5% and 1%) nanoparticle solutions of TiO2 after 18 h. There was a statistically significant difference regarding colony reduction betweenE. coliandS. aureuseven at 3 h. The antibacterial activities of TiO2 in face masks could be promising for reducing the risk of bacterial infections.

The fuel consumption of high-density automobiles has increased in recent years. Aluminum (Al) alloy is a suitable material for weight reduction in vehicles with high ductility and low weight. To address environmental problems in aircraft and maritime applications, in particular rust development and corrosion, the current study assesses the corrosion behavior during friction stir welding (FSW) of two dissimilar Al alloys (AA6061 and AA8011) in various corrosive conditions using salt spraying and submersion tests. Two acidic solutions and one alkaline solution are used in these tests, which are performed at room temperature. The two specimens (AA6061 and AA8011) and the weld region are suspended in a salt spraying chamber and a 5 wt.% NaCl solution is continually sprayed using the circulation pump for 60 h, with the specimens being weighed every 15 h to determine the corrosion rates. According to the salt spraying data, the weld zone has a higher corrosion resistance than the core components. For twenty-eight days, individual specimens are submerged in 3.5 wt.% HCl + H₂O and H₂SO₄ + H₂O solutions and seawater. The weld area specimens exhibit stronger corrosion resistance than the base material specimens, and weight loss in the saltwater medium is lower when compared to the other test solutions, according to the corrosion analysis. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis demonstrates that the base metal AA8011 is considerably corroded on its surface.

Aluminum composites are preferred in many kinds of applications such as aviation, space, automotive, and marine, owing to their outstanding properties, high strength, and corrosion resistance. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of aluminum alloy 6061/titanium dioxide (micro-TiO₂) microcomposite synthesized using the stir casting method. The effects of changes in stir casting parameters, such as stirring speed and tiring durations, were studied. Al6061 matrix was reinforced with micro-TiO₂ particles with weight fractions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt.%. Microstructural and chemical analyses were conducted to explore microstructural transformation resulting from the presence of the TiO₂ microparticles. The mechanical characteristics were evaluated, and the results showed a considerable enhancement in the mechanical strength and hardness resulting from the incorporation of micro-TiO₂ into Al606. The additions of 2 wt.% and 5 wt.% of micro-TiO₂ recorded the highest ultimate tensile strength and hardness, respectively.

Various thermal spraying approaches, such as air/atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying, are widely employed by plants owing to their flexibility, low costs and the high surface quality of the manufactured product. This study focuses on the corrosion behavior of a Ni superalloy coated with powder Cr₃C₂-25NiCr through APS and HVOF at 950 °C under air oxidation and Na₂SO₄ + 0.6V₂O₅ molten salt environments (MSE). The results show that HVOF-deposited Ni superalloys have higher hardness and bond strength than the respective APS coating. The thermo-gravimetric probe reveals that the Ni superalloys exposed to an oxidizing air environment has a minor mass gain compared to those under the MSE domain for both non-coated and coated samples, in line with the parabola curvature rate oxidizing law. The Ni superalloys show good corrosion resistance but poor oxidation resistance in APS-deposited Ni superalloys under the MSE. HVOF-coated Ni superalloys in both environments exhibit better corrosion resistance and lower mass gain than APS-coated superalloys. The excellent coating characteristics of HVOF-coated Ni superalloys lead to their better high-temperature corrosion performance than APS.