| 1. | Lisowski P., Bochenek K., Osial M., Denis P., Gawlicki M., Glinicki M. A., Power ultrasound treatment for a sustainable production of diatomite-containing cement-based materials, Journal of Building Engineering, ISSN: 2352-7102, DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114989, Vol.118, No.114989, pp.1-20, 2026 Lisowski P., Bochenek K., Osial M., Denis P., Gawlicki M., Glinicki M. A., Power ultrasound treatment for a sustainable production of diatomite-containing cement-based materials, Journal of Building Engineering, ISSN: 2352-7102, DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114989, Vol.118, No.114989, pp.1-20, 2026Abstract:
The paper presents a laboratory investigation into the influence of power ultrasound treatment on the reactivity of diatomite in cement-based materials. Diatomite powder was used as a partial replacement of Portland cement in paste and mortar produced using power ultrasound with acoustic energy up to 61 J. The effects of sonication were evaluated in terms of diatomite pozzolanic reactivity, cement hydration kinetics, mechanical properties, and microstructural features of hardened cement paste and mortar. The sonofragmentation of diatomite particles increased with increasing sonication exposure time. The modified Chappelle test revealed that the sonication of diatomite increased Ca(OH)2 consumption by up to 1984 mg/g. As a result of sonication for 10 min. the best-performing diatomite + cement paste exhibited a considerably increased early compressive and flexural strength, by 180 % and 34 %, respectively, also an increased specific surface area (by 69 %), and reduced substitute setting times (by about 35–40 %). The strength activity index of diatomite increased from 57-65 % to 84–90 % due to sonication, showing its efficiency in improving both the early and late strength of diatomite + cement mortar. Such effectiveness is linked to the sonofragmentation and diatomite particle breakage induced by power ultrasound. Results of the study contribute to the development of sonication-assisted manufacturing of low-carbon cement-based materials Keywords:
Diatomite, Early strength development, Power ultrasound treatment, Portland cement, Pozzolanic activity, Sonofragmentation, Ultrasound mediated particle breakage |  |
| 2. | Prakash Dubey V., Przygucka D., Pawlik M., Kowalewski Z. L., Wood P., Kopeć M., Microstructural studies on early-stage deformation in thin-walled LPBF-manufactured SS316L considering its printing orientation, Materials Today Communications, ISSN: 2352-4928, DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2025.114531, Vol.50, No.114531, pp.1-8, 2026Prakash Dubey V., Przygucka D., Pawlik M., Kowalewski Z. L., Wood P., Kopeć M., Microstructural studies on early-stage deformation in thin-walled LPBF-manufactured SS316L considering its printing orientation, Materials Today Communications, ISSN: 2352-4928, DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2025.114531, Vol.50, No.114531, pp.1-8, 2026Abstract:
This study investigates the influence of build orientation on the microstructure and early-stage deformation behaviour of austenitic stainless steel 316 L (SS316L) produced via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Three LPBF specimen orientations: horizontal (XY), inclined at 45° (ZX), and vertical (Z) were compared to conventionally produced wrought SS316L. Mechanical testing was conducted under uniaxial tension to fracture and to a controlled axial strain of 1 % to capture the onset of plasticity. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was performed before and after deformation to quantify grain boundary character, misorientation distribution, and grain morphology evolution. The LPBF material exhibited notable differences in yield strength and strain hardening, with the Z-oriented specimens exhibiting the lowest mechanical performance due to insufficient interlayer bonding and elongated melt pool boundaries aligned with the build direction. In contrast, the XY and ZX orientations showed relatively higher strength and more uniform deformation behaviour. EBSD revealed that early-stage plastic deformation led to the intragranular misorientation accumulation but the degree of it varied significantly with orientation. Wrought SS316L displayed the highest overall mechanical properties and more homogeneous deformation due to its equiaxed, recrystallized microstructure. Keywords:
Stainless steel, Microstructure, Additive manufacturing, Laser Powder Bed Fusion Melting (LPBF-M) |  |
