Inhalation is used for local therapy of the lungs and as an alternative route for systemic drug delivery. Modern powder inhalation systems try to target the required site of action/absorption in the respiratory tract. Large porous particles (LPPs) with a size >5 μm and a low mass density (usually measured as bulk or tapped) of <0.4 g/cm3 can avoid protective lung mechanisms. Their suitable aerodynamic properties make them perspective formulations for deep lung deposition. This experiment studied the effect of spray-drying process parameters on LPP properties. An experimental design of twelve experiments with a central point was realized using the Box-Behnken method. Three process parameters (drying temperature, pump speed, and air speed) were combined on three levels. Particles were formed from a D-mannitol solution, representing a perspective material for lung microparticles. The microparticles were characterized in terms of physical size (laser diffraction), aerodynamic diameter (aerodynamic particle sizer), morphology (SEM), and densities. The novelty and main goal of this research were to describe how the complex parameters of the spray-drying process affect the properties of mannitol LPPs. New findings can provide valuable data to other researchers, leading to the easy tuning of the properties of spray-dried particles by changing the process setup.

• Keywords
• Box–Behnken design, inhalation, large porous particles, mannitol, microparticles’ properties, multiple linear regression, process parameters, spray drying,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The purpose of this study was to find and optimize the process parameters of producing tool steel 1.2709 at a layer thickness of 100 μm by DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering). HPDC (High Pressure Die Casting) tools are printed from this material. To date, only layer thicknesses of 20-50 μm are used, and parameters for 100 µm were an undescribed area, according to the state of the art. Increasing the layer thickness could lead to time reduction and higher economic efficiency. The study methodology was divided into several steps. The first step was the research of the single-track 3D printing parameters for the subsequent development of a more accurate description of process parameters. Then, in the second step, volume samples were produced in two campaigns, whose porosity was evaluated by metallographic and CT (computed tomography) analysis. The main requirement for the process parameters was a relative density of the printed material of at least 99.9%, which was achieved and confirmed using the parameters for the production of the samples for the tensile test. Therefore, the results of this article could serve as a methodological procedure for optimizing the parameters to streamline the 3D printing process, and the developed parameters may be used for the productive and quality 3D printing of 1.2709 tool steel.

• Keywords
• 3D printing, 3D printing parameters optimization, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), additive manufacturing, energy density, layer thickness,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

This study investigates the microstructural effects of process parameters on Ti6Al4V alloy produced via powder bed fusion (PBF) using laser beam melting (LB/M) technology. The research focuses on how variations in laser power, exposure velocity, and hatching distance influence the final material's porosity, microhardness, and microstructure. To better understand the relationships between process parameters, energy density, and porosity, a simple mathematical model was developed. The microstructure of the alloy was analyzed in the YZ plane using a confocal microscope. The study identified optimal parameters-302.5 W laser power, 990 mm/s exposure velocity, and 0.14 mm hatching distance-yielding the lowest porosity index of 0.005%. The material's average hardness was measured at 434 ± 18 HV0.5. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing printing parameters to produce high-quality Ti6Al4V components using PBF-LB/M technology, shedding light on the critical relationship between process parameters and the resulting microstructure.

• Keywords
• PBF-LB/M, Ti6Al4V, additive manufacturing, aluminum, metal alloys, microhardness, microstructure, porosity, titanium, vanadium,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The paper deals with the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process (O-U), its approximation by discrete random processes designed for modelling of the O-U process and some methods of statistical evaluation. The known elementary properties of the O-U process and its discretization are summarized. As to the statistical methods, the maximum-likelihood estimates of parameters of the O-U process and some methods for hypothesis testing are demonstrated on results obtained by simulation of the O-U process on the computer.

• MeSH
• Stochastic Processes * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Despite the high quantities of tablets produced daily, many tableting processes are still operated at sub-optimal settings and hence lack the necessary flexibility to mitigate for possible process deviations. However, to ensure this flexibility on tableting throughput it is important to select the most robust feed frame design and settings regarding die-filling. In this research study, four paddle designs for a two-compartment forced feeder (equipped with a metering and a feeding paddle wheel) were evaluated at a wide range of process-settings (i.e. tableting speed, paddle speed, overfill level) and feed frame features (i.e. deaeration) for their impact on the die-filling step of a poorly flowing model formulation (i.e. MCC 101) using a quality-by-design approach. No benefit on die-filling was observed when using higher speeds of the metering paddle wheel compared to the feeding paddle wheel, and no convincing arguments were obtained to use the feed frame deaeration opening. Some combinations of paddle design and process-settings significantly increased the risk for inconsistent die-filling (i.e. high tablet weight variability) which can therefore limit the efficiency of the tableting process. The approach used in this study enabled to compare the paddle designs for their die-filling performance in function of varying tableting speeds, eventually resulting in the selection of a feed frame design that is most robust and therefore will provide a uniform die-filling over a wide range of throughputs. Selection of the most robust parameters is an important prerequisite for the ability of using the rotary tablet press as an agile unit-operation.

• Keywords
• Continuous tablet manufacturing, Direct compression, Forced feeders, Paddle design, Process-engineering, Quality-by-design (QbD),
• MeSH
• Cellulose chemistry   MeSH
• Powders MeSH
• Drug Compounding instrumentation   MeSH
• Tablets * MeSH
• Hardness MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cellulose MeSH
• microcrystalline cellulose MeSH Browser
• Powders MeSH
• Tablets * MeSH

A stochastic differential equation describing the process of drug dissolution is presented. This approach generalizes the classical deterministic first-order model. Instead of assuming a constant fractional dissolution rate, it is considered here that the rate is corrupted by a white noise. The half-dissolution time is investigated for the model. The maximum likelihood and Bayes methods for the estimation of the parameters of the model are developed. The method is illustrated on experimental data. As expected, due to the nonlinear relationship between the fractional dissolution rate and the dissolution time, the estimates of the dissolution rate obtained from this stochastic model are systematically lower than the rate calculated from the deterministic model.

• MeSH
• Algorithms MeSH
• Bayes Theorem MeSH
• Kinetics MeSH
• Pharmaceutical Preparations chemistry   MeSH
• Solubility * MeSH
• Models, Statistical MeSH
• Stochastic Processes MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Pharmaceutical Preparations MeSH

The process of electrospinning is subject to a variety of input parameters ranging from the characterization of polymers and solvents, the resulting solutions, the geometrical configuration of the device, including its process parameters, and ending with crucial parameters such as temperature and humidity. It is not possible to expect that functional expressions relating all these parameters can be derived in a common description. Nevertheless, it is possible to fix the majority of these parameters to derive explicit relations for a restricted number of entry parameters such that it contributes to the partial elimination of the classical trial-and-error method saving time and financial costs. However, several contributions providing such results are rather moderate. Special attention is provided to fibre diameter approximation as this parameter strongly influences the application of nanofibrous mats in various instances such as air filtration, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. Various difficulties connected with the derivation of these explicit relations are presented and discussed in detail.

• Keywords
• electrospinning, explicit relations, nanofibre diameter,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

LM5 alloy is suitable for metal castings for marine and aesthetic uses due to its admirable resistance to corrosion. In order to make intricate shapes in the LM5 alloy, this study intends to assess the impact of Wire Electric Discharge Machining process variables, like Pulse on Time (Ton), Pulse off Time (Toff), Gap Voltage (GV) and Wire Feed (WF) on responses like Material Removal Rate (MRR), Surface Roughness (SR), and Kerf Width (Kw). The LM5 aluminium alloy plate was produced through stir casting process. SEM, EDAX and XRD images confirm the LM5 Al alloy's microstructure and crystal structure. WEDM studies were conducted using design of experiments approach based on L9 orthogonal array and analysed using Taguchi's Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N) analysis. Pulse on Time has the greatest statistical effects on MRR (68.25%), SR (79.46%) and kerf (81.97%). In order to assess the surface integrity of the WEDM machined surfaces, the SEM study on the topography was conducted using the optimum surface roughness process variables: Ton 110 μs, Toff 50 μs, GV 40 V, and WF 9 m/min. SEM images show the recast layer and its thickness. The average absolute error for MRR is 1.69%, SR is 3.89% and kerf is 0.88%, based on mathematical (linear regression) models. The Taguchi's Signal to Noise ratio analysis is the most appropriate for single objective optimization of responses.

• MeSH
• Aluminum * chemistry   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Surface Properties * MeSH
• Alloys * chemistry   MeSH
• Materials Testing MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aluminum * MeSH
• Alloys * MeSH

The paper is devoted to the analysis of a supersonic nozzle system effect in gas-cooled lances on the technological parameters of slag splashing in an oxygen converter. Simulation calculations were carried out, taking into account the parameters of nozzles used in the technological lines of converter steel plants in Ukraine and Brazil. The problems were solved in several stages. The simulation results of the first stage revealed the influence of different nozzle diameters dcr, dex and the inlet pressure before nozzle P0 on the nitrogen consumption of one nozzle Vн. Calculations also showed the influence of the critical dcr and output dex of the nozzle diameter and nitrogen flow through one nozzle Vн on the power of injected nitrogen N1 and the depth of penetration of the stream hx into the liquid slag. The second stage was dedicated to numerical simulation of the slag splashing process, including an array of results from the first stage. The thermodynamic and physical parameters were calculated using our own computer program, while 3D simulations were conducted using the ANSYS Fluent 2023 R2 program.

• Keywords
• numerical modeling, optimization of process, recycling of waste material, supersonic jets, thermodynamic parameters of splashing,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Machining with rotating tools appears to be an efficient method that employs a non-standard kinematic turning scheme. It is used in the machining of materials that we classify in the category of difficult to machine. The titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, which is widely used in industry and transportation, is an example of such material. Rotary tool machining of titanium alloys has not been the subject of many studies. Additionally, if researchers were dissatisfied with their findings, the reason may not be the kinematic machining scheme itself but rather the tool design and the choice of cutting parameters. When tools are constructed of several components, inaccuracies in production and assembly can arise, resulting in deviations in the cutting part area. A monolithic driven rotary tool eliminates these factors. In the machining process, however, it may react differently from multi-component tools. The presented work focuses on the research of the technology for machining titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V using a monolithic driven rotary tool. The primary goal is to gather data on the impact of cutting parameters on the machining process. The cutting force and the consequent integrity of the workpiece surface are used to monitor the process. The speed of workpiece rotation has the greatest impact on the process; as it increases, the cutting force increases, as do the values of the surface roughness. In the experiment, lower surface roughness values were attained by increasing the feed parameter and the depth of cut. This may predetermine the inclusion of a kinematic scheme in highly productive technologies.

• Keywords
• actively driven tool, rotary tool, titanium alloy, turning,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH