– The purpose of this work was to study the cracking susceptibility of a 7017 aluminium alloy, after anodising under various conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this work was to study the cracking susceptibility of a 7017 aluminium alloy, after anodising under various conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
Slow strain tests in dry air, laboratory air and sodium chloride solution were employed. Anodic oxide films were produced with various applied current densities and thicknesses, in horizontal or vertical orientation of the coatings, at the free corrosion potential and also at various anodic or cathodic potentials. For the interpretation of the results, a metallographic study of the specimens before and after straining to failure was carried out using a scanning electron microscope.
Findings
The behaviour of anodic coatings was found to depend very much on the anodising conditions. The coatings reduced the ductility of the alloy in dry air but can actually increase the ductility in laboratory air and in 3.5 per cent sodium chloride solution. In most cases, the ductility of coated specimens was greater in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution than in dry air, possibly due to crack blunting by the aggressive environment. Anodic coatings moved the free corrosion potential of the alloy in the noble direction and both the anodised and the bare alloy generally suffered a reduction in ductility at potentials anodic or cathodic to the free corrosion potential, the fall being more rapid for the anodised alloy.
Research limitations/implications
The mechanism causing the increased ductility of coated specimens in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution than in dry air remains yet to be confirmed.
Practical implications
The selection of suitable anodic coatings for the protection of aluminium alloys against stress corrosion cracking depends on the anodising conditions.
Originality/value
The paper provides information regarding the influence of anodising conditions on the anticorrosive properties of electrolytically prepared anodic coatings on aluminium alloys.
Details
Keywords
Panagiotis E. Dimitropoulos and Dimitrios Asteriou
The aim of this paper is to examine the relevance of financial reporting. In order to achieve this, a model that includes specific ratios is developed, which have proved to be…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to examine the relevance of financial reporting. In order to achieve this, a model that includes specific ratios is developed, which have proved to be indicators of falsified financial statements in the Greek capital market, and by estimating accruals quality, measured both by discretionary and non‐discretionary accruals.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected from a sample of 101 non‐financial firms listed at the Athens stock exchange. The time frame spans from 1995 to 2004 and the methodology used was OLS regression models.
Findings
The results indicate that the ratios of working capital to total assets and net profit to sales have a negative impact on stock returns, while the ratios of net profit to total assets and sales to total assets affect returns positively. Additionally, both types of accruals have incremental importance – with the non‐discretionary appearing to be more important compared to the discretionary one – in explaining stock return movements. Thus, it is concluded that the Greek stock market depicts prices accruals.
Originality/value
The present study adds to the existing literature by examining the issue of financial reporting relevance within the context of an emerging capital market such as Greece. This is believed to be the first study which considers the aforementioned issues in the Greek accounting setting.
Details
Keywords
Emmanuel Mamatzakis, Panagiotis Pegkas and Christos Staikouras
The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the Greek firms' earnings management policies compared with debt, taxation and the financial crisis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the Greek firms' earnings management policies compared with debt, taxation and the financial crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors show that existed measures of real earnings management, whether corrected for performance or not, rely crucially on strong assumptions. The authors provide a novel modelling that permits panel structure so as to correct for heterogeneity across firms while permitting to determine endogenously the number of underlying firm-groups in the data generating process.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that Greek firms are likely to reduce earnings manipulation activities when they face liquidity risk. Taxation and financial crisis have a negative and positive effect on earnings management, respectively.
Originality/value
The effect of debt, taxation and financial crisis on earnings management has never been investigated in Greece. The empirical results offer valuable information to shareholders and investors as they can understand how some main factors, such as debt, taxation and financial crisis, influence firm's accounting practices.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) literature in order to understand issues involved in its conceptualization and operationalization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) literature in order to understand issues involved in its conceptualization and operationalization.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses systematic literature review method. The unit of analysis is peer-reviewed journal articles published during 1984 to 2017.
Findings
Findings suggest manufacturing, banking, information technology, higher education, healthcare are the top sectors contributing to the SQ literature. More than 60 models of the SQ have been identified. Service-driven capabilities may be structured along adaptation with strategic drivers and imperatives, learning and alignment, and problem structuring. In doing so the SQ literature is evolving across overlapping phases of conceptualization, expansion, re-conceptualization and integration.
Research limitations/implications
The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of more than 814 articles published in the last three decades.
Practical implications
Insights from the paper will help practitioners in understanding customers’ expectations and accordingly configuring effective service delivery systems, setting standards and communicating value to end-customers. This in turn helps them in developing service-based competencies and achievement of competitive advantage.
Social implications
Insights from the paper may help in conceptualizing and delivering SQ-driven public services.
Originality/value
The paper synthesizes and presents various facets of the SQ as a unified body of knowledge.