Purpose -The dependency on human expertise for analysis and interpretation is the main reason for wear debris analysis not being used in industry to its full potential and becoming one of the most powerful machine condition monitoring strategies. The dependency on human expertise makes the interpretation and result subjective in nature, costly and time consuming. The purpose of this paper is to review work being done to develop an automatic, reliable and objective wear particle classification system as a solution to the above problem. At the same time it also aims to discuss some common off line test methods being practiced for wear debris analysis. Design/methodology/approach -Computer image analysis is a solution for some of the problems associated with the conventional techniques. First it is tried to efficiently describe the characteristics of computer images of different types of wear debris using a few numerical parameters. Then using some Artificial Intelligence tools, the wear particle classification system can be developed. Findings -Many shape, size and surface parameters are discussed in the paper. Out of these, nine numerical parameters are selected to describe and distinguish six common type of wear debris. Once the type of debris is identified, the mode of wear and hence the machine condition can be assessed. Practical implications -The present process of fault and condition monitoring of an equipment by wear debris analysis involves human judgment of debris formations. A set-up standard for comparison of debris will enable the maintenance team to diagnose faults in a comparatively better way. Originality/value -The aim of this paper is to discuss the difficulties in identifying wear particles and finding out the exact health of equipment, which, due to its subjective nature, is influenced by human errors. An objective method with certain standards for classification of wear particles compatible with an artificial intelligence system will yield some flawless results of wear debris analysis, which has not been attempted in the past as per available literature.

Substantial applications of silica materials in industrial products have caused development of silica extraction methodologies out of various waste products. Rice husk /straw and wheat husk/straw (agricultural waste) are one of the agricultural wastes which have a huge content of silicate materials. This review shows that silica production techniques by using thermal and chemical methods, and also provide directions to efficient, new, rapid microwave assisted method for silica extraction from agricultural waste stream.  Index Terms-agricultural waste, nano amorphous silica, thermal treatment, chemical treatment, microwave technology

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Drilling fluids are designed to assist drilling by minimizing reservoir damage and increasing productivity of pay zone. Excess fluid loss due to degradation of additives of drilling fluids causes a major problem in real-time drilling. Usages of excess biocides are threat to the environment and cause handling problems. Effect of cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide, a cationic surfactant, on rheology, fluid loss and biocide has been studied in a polymer-based drilling fluid. Inhibitive polymer mud was formulated using XC polymer, shale inhibitors like KCl, K 2 SO 4 and CaCO 3 as bridging agent. Rheology and other properties were studied using Fann VG meter, API filter press, mud balance, roller oven apparatus. Dissolved oxygen meter was used to check the microbicidal property of cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide.Addition of cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide increased fluid retention capacity of the fluid even at very low concentration 0.1%(w/v) without affecting the mud properties. Also it is compatible with the commercially available fluid loss preventers like pre-gelatinized starch when used in combination. It also performed well in dissolved oxygen test, suggesting eliminating need of any other biocide to prevent degradation of bio-polymer-based drilling fluid. The dissolved oxygen test results are comparable with commercial available biocides. Thermal stability studies were carried out by using roller oven at different temperatures. It was found suitable for application in high-concentrated brine conditions and at high temperatures up to 120°C without effecting the rheology and shear thinning property of the fluid. Bridging efficiency was investigated by analysing the mud cake using scanning electron microscope.

Silica gel was prepared by using alkaline extraction and acid neutralization method from ash obtained wheat straw, an agricultural waste. Microwave digestion, followed by calcination was used for obtaining ash. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies revealed the ash to be mostly amorphous silica. Alkaline-solubilization and acidneutralization method was used to obtain gel from silica obtained from wheat straw. Gel was characterized using FTIR. Nitration reaction of benzaldehyde using the silica gel (as acid catalyst) and copper nitrate was successfully carried out.

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Materials with small particle size are being extensively used in composites and hybrid materials. Exfoliated clay-polymer hybrids show enhanced properties. Exfoliation of clay platelets can be affected by selecting dispersing agents. In the present work, clay dispersed by natural dispersant (soap stone powder), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) dispersed clay and acid clay (amorphous clay) are taken. They are then polymerized with poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) by solution intercalation method. The thermal stability of these different clay-PMMA hybrids have been studied and compared with that of pure PMMA by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The bonding of clay with PMMA has been studied by IR. Morphology of clay-PMMA hybrids has been shown by SEM and XRD which indicate partially exfoliated structure in T606-4 and intercalated structures in T606-6 and T606-2.