Effect of AlP master alloy on grain refinement of primary silicon in eutectic Al-Si alloys

To obtain the finer primary silicon crystals, the proprietary Al-P masteralloy was adopted to modify the eutectic Al-Si alloys and the most suitable modification process wasmade in the experiments. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and DSC (Differential ScanningCalorimeter) analysis indicate that the Al-P modifier has more advantages over Cu-P and Fe-Pmodifier in easily addition, no elemental alteration and less undercooling of primary silicon'ssolidification, which suggests the Al-P master alloy is an effective modifier of eutectic Al-Sialloys.

Effect of A1P master alloy on grain refinement of primary silicon in eutectic Al-Si alloys

To obtain the finer primary silicon crystals, the proprietary Al-P master alloy was adopted to modify the eutectic Al-Si alloys and the most suitable modification process was made in the experiments. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) analysis indicate that the Al-P modifier has more advantages over Cu-P and Fe-P modifier in easily addition, no elemental alteration and less undercooling of primary silicon’s solidification, which suggests the Al-P master alloy is an effective modifier of eutectic Al-Si alloys.

Effects of Al-Ti-B-RE grain refiner on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-7.0Si-0.55Mg alloy

To investigate the effects of Al-Ti-B-RE grain refiner on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-7.0Si-0.55Mg （A357） alloy, some novel Al-7.0Si-0.55Mg alloys added with different amount of Al-STi-1B-RE grain refiner with different RE composition were prepared by vacuum-melting. The microstructure and fracture behavior of the AI-7.0Si-0.55Mg alloys with the grain refiners were observed by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and the mechanical properties of the alloys were tested in mechanical testing machine at room temperature. The observation of AI-Ti-B-RE morphology and internal structure of the particles reveals that it exhibits a TiAl3/Ti2Al20RE core-shell structure via heterogeneous TiB2 nuclei. The tensile strength of Al-7.0Si-0.55Mg alloys with Al-5Ti-1B-3.0RE grain refiner reaches the peak value at the same addition （0.2%） of grain refiner.

Comparison of Hypolipidemic Effect of Refined Konjac Meal With Several Common Dietary Fibers and Their Mechanisms of Action

The effects of RKM in comparison with pectin, algin and agar on lipid levels in serum and liver and on liver histopathology in rats were studied. In addition, the effects of all the tested materials on the composition and output of fecal bile acid were observed. All four kinds of dietary fiber were given at a level of 5% of diet to young male rats of Wistar strain fed on a lipid-rich diet contalning 5 % lard, 1% cholesteral and 0. 25 % cholate. All the dietary fibers tested have similar effects on serum lipid composition. In all groups, these substances prevent ed increases in total cholesterol in fasting serum, but the level of triglyceride was tmchangd.The concentrations of totaI cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver were lower in the RKM group than in the control group and the other three groups. Hepatic histopathological exami nation also showed the most significant lipotropic effect in the RKM group. The daily output of fecal bile acids (CDCA+GDCA) was significantly increased in the four experimental groups than in the normal group and the control group. The increase of CDCA was more significant than GDCA, suggesting that the increase of fecal bile acids, especially CDCA, may be one of the mechanisms by which RKM and the other three dietary fibers exerts a hypocholesterolemic effect

Refining Effect of Boron on Hypoeutectic Al-Si Alloys

Several concepts of the grain refinement mechanism of B on hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys have been adopted: the refining effect of B on the a-AI and eutectic Si with the different additions of Al-B master alloys made at 850℃ was investigated; and the Al-B master alloys formed under different temperature conditions have been studied to explore the morphologies of AIB2 particles; slowly cooled sample with addition of Al-B was made to explore the refinement mechanism. AI-B master alloy can refine not only a-AI, but eutectic Si. Theoretical analysis indicates that, although AIB2 does not take part directly in the nucleation process in pure Al in the presence of Si, it provides a substrate for precipitation of a small content of Si from which a-At will grow without any undercooling. When the temperature decreases to eutectic line, AIB2 subsequently nucleates eutectic Si; AIB2 particles appear in two different morphologies, namely, hexagonal platelet and tetradehedron morphology which depend on the processing temperature conditions.

The Effect of Foods Containing Refined Konjac Meal on Human Lipid Metabolism

A total of 110 elderly people with hyperlipidemia were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group consumed an ordinary diet plus foods containing refined Konjac meal, and the control group consumed only the ordinary diet. The experiment was carried out for 45 days. The results indicate that for the experimental group blood levels of triglyeendes (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) at the end of the trial, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apoprotein (Al) levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). In contrast, for the control group, the changes in the above parameters were insignificant. The differences in TC. TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels between the two groups were statistically significant. The effects of refined Konjac meal on lipid levels in the blood were somewhat different between patients with hyperlipidemia and subjects with risk critical values only. For the former, TG and TC were decreased by 83.8±133.5 mg/dl, and 42.4±23.4 mg/dl. respectively: but for the latter, they are decreased only by -1.1±23.1 mg/dl and 8.3± 18.2 mg/dl, respectively; the difference mentioned above is Statistically significant (P<0.01). 1990 Academic Press. Inc.

ANTICARC1NOGENIC EFFECT OF REFINED AMORPHO-PHALLUS KONJAC ON MNNG-INDUCED LUNG CANCER IN LACA MICE

Five hundreds and fifty LACA mice were used in 3 batches for studying the anticarcinogenic effect of Konjaku powder on MNNG-induced lung cancers. These mice (within each batch) were randomly allocated to four groups, namely, positive control (MNNG), Amorphophallus konjac (A.K.), complex (MNNG+A.K.), and blank control (C) group. In MNNG group, MNNG (250 μg) was injected intravenously once five days for seven times in each mouse, the total dosage of MNNG being 1.75 mk. In A.K. group, according to w/w, 8% A.K. was well mixed into 92% common diet for long-term breeding. In complex group, MNNG was given as that in MNNG group and the mice were reared as those in A.K. group. The mice in MNNG group and in C group were all reared by common diet. The results showed different degrees of anticarcinogenic and preventive effect of refined A.K. on MNNG-induced lung cancers in LACA mice. A.K. not only exerted effect on the number of induced cancer and precancer, causing a drop of the cancerous rate from 70.87% to 19.38% and the mean number of cancer and precancer in each animal, but also postponed the incubation period. The proportional distribution of the kinds of tumor denoted a decrease in malignancy (adenoma with malignant change) , absence of adenocarcinoma, relative Increase in benign adenoma, and prolonged survival time of animals. The results of experiments in 3 batches also exhibited good duplication.

Long-Term Animal Feeding Trial of the Refined Konjac Meal Ⅱ. Effects of the Refined Konjac Meal on the Aging of the Brain, Liver, and Cardiovascular Tissue Cells in Rats

Rats of both sexes were fed on a basal feed containing 1% refined konjac meal (RKM) for 18 months and the effects of RKM on the cell aging were observed. A comparable group fed on the basic feed was used as the control. Results obtained demonstrate that the long-term feeding of RKM to rats can delay the course of cell aging of the gliocyte, cadiomyocyte, and the endothelial cell of the large and medium arteriases, hence it is likely to delay the occurrence of arteriosclerosis and improve the functions of the brain, heart and vascular system.

Long-Term Animal Feeding Trial of the Refined Konjac Meal Ⅰ. Effects of the Refined Konjac Meal on the Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism and the Bone in Rat

Effects of refined konjac meal (RKM) on the calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone parameters were observed in rats of both sexes fed with food containing 1% of RKM for 18 months. A comparable group of rats fed on basic diet only was used as a control.Results obtained indicate that all the measured parameters (serum calcium and phosphorus level, femur weight and its calcium and phesphorus content, and the osteometry of the tibia) showed no significant difference between the experimental and the control groups.Thus there is no adverse effect either on the calcium and phosphorus metabolism or on the bone after a long-term intake at a moderate dosage.

Evolution of secondary phase particles during deformation of Al-5Ti-1B master alloy and their effect on α-Al grain refinement

Addition of Al-5Ti-1B alloy to molten aluminum alloys can refine α-Al grains effectively and thereby improve their strength and toughness. TiAl;and TiB;in Al-5Ti-1B alloy are the main secondary-phase particles for refinement, while the understanding on the effect of their sizes on α-Al grain refinement continues to be fragmented. Therefore, Al-5Ti-1B alloys with various sizes and morphologies of the secondary-phase particles were prepared by equal channel angular pressing（ECAP）. Evolution of the secondary-phase particles during ECAP process and their impact on α-Al grain refinement were studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope（SEM）. Results show that during the ECAP process, micro-cracks firstly appeared inside TiAl;particles and then gradually expanded, which resulted in continuous refinement of TiAl;particles. In addition, micro-distribution uniformity of TiB;particles was improved due to the impingement of TiAl;particles to TiB;clusters during deformation. Excessively large sizes of TiAl;particles would reduce the number of effective heterogeneous nucleus and thus resulted in poor grain refinement effectiveness. Moreover, excessively small TiAl;particles would reduce inhibitory factors for grain growth Q and weaken grain refinement effectiveness. Therefore, an optimal size range of 18-22 μm for TiAl;particles was suggested.

Microstructure of Al-5Ti-1B-1RE nanoribbon and its refining efficiency on as-cast A356 alloys

The novel A1-5Ti-IB-1RE nanoribbons were synthesized by melt-spinning. The microstructure showed that the A1-5Ti- 1B-1RE nanoribbon consisted of granular-like TiB2 and core-shell-like TiA13/Ti2A120Ce. The A1-5Ti-IB-1RE nanoribbon could give rise to the excellent refining effect on as-cast A356 alloys. The refining efficiency and formation mechanism of A1-5Ti-IB-IRE nanoribbons were investigated. In accordance with the experimental results, it could be seen that the A1-5Ti-IB-1RE nanoribbon could maintain the refining effect after 60 min of holding. Additionally, owing to the addition of A1-5Ti-IB-1RE nanoribbon, the mechanical properties of A356 alloys could be enhanced significantly.