In this study, an effective photodegrading properties of WO3 nanoparticles has been enhanced by doping with cerium. To achieve our goal pristine and Ce‐doped WO3 nanoparticles were prepared by a simple and cost effective co‐precipitation route. Characterization of all the specimens were conducted which showed that there were no noticeable structural changes. WO3 retained its monoclinic structure even after doping with (3%, 5%, 8%, 10%) cerium which was also confirmed with X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, XRD and Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy also confirm that no new phases were formed in doped specimens. XRD also depicts that minimum crystallite size is achieved at 3% cerium doping. Scanning electron microscope images show decrease in particle size initially at 3% cerium doping, that is, ~80 ± 2.5 nm. In contrast, further increase in doping percentage increases crystallite and particle sizes. Additionally, defect generation increased at lower doping percentage ~3%. In contrast, further increase in dopant (5%, 8%, 10%) caused defect annihilation process to dominate over defect generation. C/Co ratio and rate constant (KMB) values suggest that maximum degradation of methylene blue will occur at 3% cerium doping due to increase in crystalline defects. Ultraviolet visible Spectroscopy further validates C/Co ratio and degradation rate constant values by showing drastic decline in peak intensity at 3% cerium doping. Therefore, 3% cerium‐doped WO3 is more effective photocatalyst to degrade methylene blue in comparison to most of the previously used photocatalysts. The prepared cerium‐doped WO3 nanoparticles as a sun light driven photocatalyst, may be utilized for industrial wastewater purification.

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The elastic-plastic deformation of 3C-SiC thin film was investigated by a nanoindenter equipped with the Berkovich tip. Transition from pure elastic to elasticplastic deformation was evidenced at an approximate load of 0.35 mN, when loading the sample at several peak loads ranging from 0.5 to 5 mN. The indentation size effect observed in 3C-SiC and was analyzed by Nix-Gao model. In purely elastic region, the Oliver-Pharr hardness values were 44 ± 2 GPa. In contrast, indentation size effects were evidenced in 3C-SiC specimen and the average value of Oliver-Pharr hardness in the indentation size effect region was 36 ± 2 GPa. Furthermore, depth independent or intrinsic hardness extracted from Nix-Gao was estimated as H o = 26 ± 1 GPa which was also validated by proportional specimen resistance model, ie, H 1 = 28 ± 1 and H 2 = 28.5 ± 0.1 GPa.Besides, energy principle was utilized to extract Sakai Hardness as 104 GPa, which is combined elastic and elastic-plastic response. Moreover, based on energy principle, another property, ie, work of indentation was also determined to be 20 nJ/μm 3 . Similarly, elastic modulus had almost depicted stabilized value of 325 ± 8 GPa in pure elastic and elastic-plastic regions. In addition, plastic zone size was also estimated in elastic-plastic region using Johnson cavity model at pop-in and higher loads. Based on the first pop-in load at 0.35 mN, the distributions of shear and principal stresses were evaluated on various slip planes to elaborate the deformation behavior. Increase in loading rate from 100 to 400 μN/s increased critical pop-in load from 0.35 to 0.64 mN. This increase in critical popin load with increasing loading rate and values of maximum contact pressure indicates that no phase assisted transformation will occur at pop-in load. Based on theoretically calculated maximum tensile and cleavage strengths, it was affirmed that the elastic-plastic deformation occurred due to pop-in formation rather than tensile stresses. Moreover, it was also concluded on basis of Hertzian contact theory and Schmidt law that the highest possibility of slippage in 3C-SiC was along the {111} glide plane. K E Y W O R D S

This chapter focuses on the processes in which polyester is usually used for the manufacturing of mechanical components and assemblies. Various methods of manufacturing these products are mentioned in this chapter. These methods include wet layup method, filament winding, pultrusion, vacuum bagging and autoclave curing, resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Various production levels and properties can be achieved by polyester resin using abovementioned processes. Each process has its own benefits and disadvantages, which are discussed in this chapter. Furthermore, the use of polyester in making electrical insulation is also discussed in the chapter. Advantages and disadvantages of each impregnation technique are also explained.

ZnO‐MgO nanocomposites were prepared by a co‐precipitation method and afterward compared with pristine ZnO and MgO accordingly. XRD and EDX spectra were used to confirm the crystal structure and crystallite size of these materials. X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that antibacterial activity of ZnO:MgO composite enhances with crystallite size reduction ~1.34 times in comparison to pristine ZnO or MgO specimens, accompanied by domination of defect generation over defect annihilation activity. Besides, average particle sizes also reduce to ~2 times at 1:3 MgO/ZnO composite in comparison to MgO. The particle size of ZnO was substantially higher due to rod‐like morphology. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration outcomes also show that ZnO‐MgO composites are more effective against gram‐negative pathogens in appropriate ratios (ZnO:MgO) of 1:3 and 3:1 with the concentration of 15,000 µg/ml. Similarly, gram‐positive pathogens were In contrast, ZnO and MgO separately or in 1:1 composite ratio does not prove considerably effective on all the five microbes (required higher >25,000 µg/ml) MIC to counter gram‐negative pathogens. Additionally, lower doses of 3ZnO:1MgO and 1ZnO:3MgO ~5000 µg/ml composite nanoparticles are effective on gram‐positive pathogens. Similarly, 3ZnO:1MgO composition proved highly productive at a much lower concentration, that is, 12500 ≤ X ≤ 15000 to counter gram‐negative pathogens. Besides, 1ZnO:3MgO is effective against gram‐negativepathogens at MIC ranging from 12500 ≤ X ≤ 15000 µg/ml.