Browsing by Author "Rathnayake, D.T."

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    Impact of Fashion Involvement and Hedonic Consumption on Impulse Buying Tendency of Sri Lankan Apparel Consumers: The Moderating Effect of Age and Gender
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Colombage, V.K.; Rathnayake, D.T.
    Fashion and clothing is a foremost aspect of human life. Early studies have identified many variables as antecedents of fashion related impulse purchases and role of fashion involvement and hedonic consumption as predictors of fashion related impulse buying are less examined. Literature suggests that there can be a moderating effect of age and gender on the relationship between fashion involvement, hedonic consumption and impulse purchases of apparels. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of fashion involvement and hedonic consumption on impulse buying tendency of Sri Lankan apparel consumers with moderating effect of age and gender. Researcher employed single cross-sectional research design for study and population was Sri Lankan apparel consumers who were above twenty years old. Sample of study was drawn from Colombo district where 324 responses were obtained using a structured questionnaire. According to multiple regression analysis, there was a positive impact of fashion involvement and hedonic consumption on impulse buying tendency of Sri Lankan apparel consumers. Hedonic consumption had a higher relative strength to predict impulse purchases of Sri Lankan apparel consumers in comparison to fashion involvement. Further, the researcher examined the moderating effect of age and gender on relationships between fashion involvement, impulse buying and hedonic consumption, impulse buying. However, it was revealed that there is no significant moderating effect from age and gender on aforesaid relationship. Based on the findings of study, it is suggested to practitioners of fashion retailing to stimulate and fulfill hedonic needs and desires of fashion consumers to persuade consumers for more fashion-oriented impulse purchases. Future studies under the same topic can be conducted with cultural influences on the impulse purchase of fashions and situational factors such as time and money availability.
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    The Incorporation of Layered Type Clay in Graphite-Clay Based Electrodes as a Property Enhancement for High-temperature Applications
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Tharangani, L.W.N.; Rathnayake, D.T.; Karunadasa, K.S.P.; Manoratne, C.H.
    Although the recent developments in the field of graphite-clay based electrodes are mainly confined to kaolin type clays, the present study has been investigated the possibility of incorporating layered clay in the fabrication process. The fabrication of graphite-bentonite (layered clay) electrodes (cylindrical) was achieved by mixing raw materials in distilled water (graphite to bentonite ratio of 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20), stirring the content for 1h at 800 rpm and finally pressing the dry composite material (1.00 × 10-2 kg) under 1.03 × 104 N ram force to obtain the electrodes with 4.00 × 10-2 m longer and 1.00 × 10-2 m in diameter, respectively. The compressed electrodes were fired at around 823 K for 1 h. The resistivity of fired electrodes was calculated subsequent to the resistance measurements. Results indicate that the electrode with 80% graphite is accounted for lowest resistivity (1.00 × 10-3 Ω m) whereas the highest resistivity for electrode containing 20% of graphite (1.10 × 10-2 Ω m). The resistivity range between the electrode with the lowest and highest amount of graphite is narrower for graphite-bentonite electrodes, unlike other graphite-clay based electrodes. It is also evident that the resistivity is abruptly decreased with the increased amount of graphite. The fired electrodes are very stable in both molten salts and aqueous solutions. A very high affinity of bentonite towards graphite is observed that further ensures stronger and homogeneous electrode matrix. The uniform composite matrix with minimum defects is accounted for a substantial electrical continuity and low resistivity across the entire electrode. The working temperature range up to 1473 K, low resistivity, electrical and mechanical stability, lightweight and durability are the key attributes of the fabricated electrode. The application of modified bentonite (conductive nanocomposites of clay) in electrode fabrication is also possible and will be achieved in the future.
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    Mechanically Compressed Graphite-Clay Composite Electrode for High-Temperature Applications
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Rathnayake, D.T.; Tharangani, L.W.N.; Karunadasa, K.S.P.; Manoratne, C.H.
    The graphite-clay based electrodes have been received escalating attention very recently. Graphite based electrodes typically use as an anode in high-temperature molten salt deoxidation of minerals. The major objective is to fabricate mechanically compressed electrodes using local graphite and kaolinite to improve electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, thermal stability and durability. The composites were prepared by mixing different ratios of graphite and kaolinite (20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20) followed by continuous stirring of the content for 1 hr at the rate of 1100 rpm. The fabrication of rod-shaped electrodes (length and diameter are around 3.00 × 10-2 m and 1.00 × 10-2 m, respectively) was achieved by pressing 8.50 × 10-3 kg of composite material (under 1.03 × 104 N ram force) using a specially designed stainless steel mould. The resistivity of electrodes was measured before and after the firing of electrodes at around 823 K for 1 hr duration. Results indicate that the fabricated electrodes are very good electrical conductors with considerably low resistivity. The resistivity of fired electrodes is lower than the unfired electrodes. The electrode containing 80% of graphite (fired electrode) is attributed to the lowest resistivity (7.80 × 10-4 Ω m) and vice versa for the electrode containing 20% of graphite (5.80 × 10-2 Ω m). It is also evident that the resistivity of fabricated electrodes is somewhat decreased exponentially with the increased amount of graphite. The fired electrodes are very stable in both molten salts and aqueous solutions over unfired electrodes that eventually failed to endure in the aqueous medium at room temperature. The fired electrodes are capable of withstanding the temperatures up to 1473 K which ensures improved thermal stability. The low resistivity, uniform matrix, higher strength, superior thermal stability, and durability are the salient features of the newly fabricated compressed graphite-kaolinite composite electrode.
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    Preparation of Transparent Superhydrophobic Surface
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Rathnayake, D.T.; Senarathna, K.G.C.
    In the present study, transparent superhydrophobic films on glass substrates have been extensively investigated using a simple dip coating method at room temperature. The main objective of the present study is to fabricate a transparent superhydrophobic glass surface using a surface etching method and further modification was carried out to achieve best outcomes that is required to overcome the major drawbacks of existing superhydrophobic films. The substrates were prepared by using two different chemical etchants such as Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and Hydrogen fluoride (HF) under different deposition time. Besides, Titanium(IV) isopropoxide (Ti{OCH(CH3)2}4) was used as a precursor to fabricate a hydrophobic film on the substrate. The hydrophobicity of deposited coatings is improved by derivatization of coatings with Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) as a silylating agent in ethanol for 24 h. The coated surfaces were characterized by static water contact angle (CA), water tilting angle (TA), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). The enhancement of wetting behaviour is obtained by the sandpapered substrate that is accounted for maximum static water contact angle of 112.49° under 15 min deposition time in 5 mol L-1 NaOH and 24 hrs deposition time in HDTMS. It is also evident that the minimum dynamic water tilting angle is around 10.9 for the substrate dipped in 1 mol L1 NaOH for 1hr and HDTMS for 24 hrs. Results indicate that the most of the coated surfaces attained optical transmittance above 75% in the visible region (378 nm) of the resulted spectrum. It is also evident that the transparent superhydrophobic coatings can be achieve excellent behavior properties with good optical transmission by controlling the surface roughness of the resultant coatings.