The fracture energy of carbon-fibre reinforced glass

The fracture energy of carbon-fibre reinforced glass has been measured by the work of fracture technique, using specimens of varied geometry, Meaningful material properties were obtained only when crack propagation was controlled throughout failure. The work of fracture ( _F) depended on strain-rate and fibre volume fraction, and was typically 3 kJm^–2 for a 40 vol % specimen. Variations of work of fracture due to strain-rates have been related to the microstructure of the fracture surfaces and estimates have been obtained of the fibre-matrix interfacial shear stress during pull-out. Approximate estimates have been made of the fracture initiation energy ( _I) by fracture mechanics analyses, _I was less than _F and no strain-rate sensitivity was detected. An attempt has been made to explain _I in terms of the initial rate of release of strain energy during fibre fracture.     

Some magnetic properties of γ-Fe2O3 synthesized from ferrous fumarate half-hydrate

-Fe₂O₃ synthesized from ferrous fumarate half-hydrate was studied by measurements of D.c. electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, initial magnetization and magnetic hysteresis, and by Mössbauer spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phase transformation observed by electrical conductivity measurements matched well with the phase transformation observed by the variation with temperature of initial magnetization measurements of -Fe₂O₃; this magnetic study also established the single-domain character of -Fe₂O₃. The magnetic hysteresis values of the -Fe₂O₃ synthesized indicated improved values over that of a -Fe₂O₃ sample synthesized by established procedures. The scanning electron micrographs showed that the -Fe₂O₃ particles were acicular in shape and the Mössbauer spectrum showed a well-resolved six-band spectrum. The presence of a hydrogen ferrite phase was also confirmed by the electrical and magnetic measurements.Deceased, 10 October, 1985.     

Direct current electrical conductivity of gamma ferric oxide

The study of the direct current electrical conductivity, , of freshly prepared -Fe₂O₃ and that of a sample stored for seven days in static air suggests that -Fe₂O₃ adsorbs oxygen and water from the atmosphere. From infra-red spectra it is deduced that the absorbed water in -Fe₂O₃ is present as the physically adsorbed water and as lattice water. The adsorbed oxygen and physically adsorbed water are removed by heating to 100 C, while the lattice water remains in -Fe₂O₃ even up to 280 C. The removal of lattice water is associated with a decomposition during which some of the hydrogen formed occupies the vacancy sites. This suggested formation of the hydrogen ferrite phase is based on the kink in the log against T ^–1 curve observed at 177 C. This kink is very well resolved for a sample equilibrated at 100 C in normal atmosphere, and the measurements of above 100 C of this sample are done in an N₂ atmosphere. The suggestion that the hydrogen ferrite phase is formed has been substantiated by comparison of the X-ray diffraction patterns of -Fe₂O₃ heated under the different atmospheres. From the log against T ^–1 plot for a sample heated under a nitrogen atmosphere the activation energy is small (< 0.05 eV) up to 215 C, and it is comparatively large (0.95 eV) above 215 C. These results suggest a hopping mechanism for the direct current electrical conductivity of -Fe₂O₃. This suggestion has been substantiated by data of the temperature variation of Seebeck voltage.     

Chromium substitution and crystallinity changes in γ-FeOOH

Cr-substitution in-FeOOH takes place with changes in the unit cell parameters and a marked decrease in crystallinity. The-FeOOH structure is maintained up to 5.0 atomic % with a progressive diminution of crystallite size, as shown by X-ray line broadening analysis and electron microscopy. The dehydroxilation of the Cr-substituted oxyhydroxide to-sesquioxides and the phase transition sesquioxide take place at lower temperatures than in-FeOOH, due to the lower crystallinity.     

γ ? α2 Phase transformation in fractured high temperature stress rupture Ti-48Al-2Nb(at.%)

The ₂ phase transformation in fractured high temperature stress rupture Ti-48Al-2Nb(at.%) alloy has been studied by analytical electron microscopy. ₂ and phases were found at grain boundaries. ₂ layers that suspended in layers and interfacial ledge higher than 2d ₍₁₁₁₎ at /₂ interfaces were observed in the lamellar grains. These facts indicated that ₂ phase transformation and dynamic recrystallization have occurred during high temperature stress rupture deformation. It can be concluded that deformation induced ₂ phase transformation and dynamic recrystallization resulted in the presence of particles at grain boundaries. A structural and compositional transition area between deformation-induced ₂(or ) and its adjacently original (or ₂) phases was found by HREM and EDS and is suggested as a way to transform between and ₂ phase during high temperature stress rupture deformation. The transition area was formed by slide of partial dislocations on close-packed planes and diffusion of atoms.     

Low-temperature specific heat of YBa2Cu3O7, YBa2Cu3O6, Y2BaCuO5, YBa3Cu2O7, BaCuO2, and CuO

We have measured the low-temperature specific heat (1.3T20 K) and the dc magnetic susceptibility (100T250 K) of eight samples of the high-T _c superconductor Y _x Ba_3–x Cu₃O_7– (x=0.9, 1.0, 1.1) and of two samples of nonsuperconducting YBa₂Cu₃O₆₊. We have also performed specific heat measurements on the possible impurity phases: YBa₃Cu₂O₇, Y₂BaCuO₅, CuO, and BaCuO_2+x . The superconducting samples all have a nonzero, sample-dependent linear term * and an upturn inC/T at very low temperature. We show that this anomalous behavior is at least partly due to the presence of a small amount (1%) of BaCuO_2+x impurity phase in the measured samples. This is evidenced by the correlation between * and the Curie component of the susceptibility, which is proportional to the amount of paramagnetic impurities.     

Li+ ion mobility in eucryptite phases

The two polymorphs of LiAlSiO₄, and eucryptite, were studied by X-ray and thermal methods. The-eucryptite originated from different precursors that obtained from LiA zeolite is presented. It is shown that the electric conductivity of-eucryptites increased as the unit cell parameter,c ₀, increased. These results correlate well with chemical compositions and thermal investigations. The conductivity in mixed systems depends on the ratio/ eucryptites which indicates a higher Li⁺ mobility in the-phase.     

First principles study of effect of lattice misfit on the bonding strength of Ni/Ni3Al interface

By using a discrete variational X (DV-X) method, the electronic structures and bonding strengths of Ni/Ni₃Al (or /) interface with different lattice misfits () were calculated in the framework of the nonrelativistic first-principles theory. In order to describe the effect of on the interfacial binding strength and the structural stability of coherent / interface, we calculated the interfacial binding covalent bond density (CBD) and the local environmental total bond overlap population (LTBOP). Very obvious effects of lattice misfits on the electronic structures of coherent / interface were found. On one hand, less than –0.6% negative lattice misfit can increase the binding strength of the /' interface. On the other hand, the local environmental total bonding strength of the /' interface decreases with increasing magnitude of . Therefore, the magnitude and sign of lattice misfit must be carefully controlled to balance the high-temperature creep strength of Ni-base single crystal superalloy and the structural stability of the /' interface when one designs new alloys.     

Nucleation of recrystallization in compressed aluminium: studies by electron microscopy and Kikuchi diffraction

Following the earlier investigation of recrystallization of aluminium by Bellier and Doherty [1] by transmission Kossel diffraction, the details of the nucleation process were studied by transmission electron microscopy and Kikuchi electron diffraction. This showed that nucleation appeared to occur via a sub-grain coalescence process that occurred selectively at deformation bands and at deformation band, grain boundary junctions. Nucleation occurred only at grain boundaries and at deformation bands. The condition for continued growth, of enlarged sub-grains of length 2L, along the grain boundary L>2r( _s/ _g) where _s is the sub-boundary energy and _g the grain-boundary energy, was found to be obeyed. The values of the stored energy calculated from the measured sub-grain sizes and misorientations were less than the reported experimental value, indicating that in as-deformed aluminium the dislocation arrays in the sub-boundaries may not have the lowest energy structure assumed in the calculation.     

The fracture energy of a glass fibre composite

The fracture energy of a glass fibre-polyester composite has been measured by work of fracture ( _f) measurements on bending beams, and by linear elastic fracture mechanics analyses ( _i) of the bending beams and edge-notched tensile plates. It was found that for the bend specimens _i< _f. The work of fracture, _f, displayed a strain rate dependence, but there was no such dependence of _i. It is postulated that _i is determined by a debonding mechanism while _f is the sum of a debonding mechanism plus a pull-out contribution. The edge-notched tensile plate experiments showed that _i obtained from thick plates was less than that obtained from side-grooved plates, and that in each case there was a dependence of _i on crack size.     

The effective surface energy of brittle materials

The effective surface energy of four brittle materials, alumina, poly(methylmethacrylate), glass, and graphite, is calculated from load/deflection curves of notched bars deformed in three-point bending. Two of the methods, which are commonly used in fracture mechanics studies,viz the modified Griffith treatment and the compliance analysis method, are concerned with the effective surface energy at the initiation of fracture, _I . The third method, the work of fracture test, is concerned with the mean effective surface energy over the whole fracture process, _F . The two estimates of _I give consistent values, and there is no systematic variation of _I with notch depth. Values of _F decrease with increasing notch depth as the fracture process becomes more controlled. For alumina _{I F} . For PMMA and glass _I > _F because of a multiplicity of crack sources during fracture initiation. For graphite _I < _F because of subsidiary cracking as fracture proceeds.     

Morphological and crystallographic features of γ-γ′ Ni-Al and Ni-Al-Ti two-phase bicrystals

Several- Ni-Al and Ni-Al-Ti two-phase bicrystals were made by the solid-state diffusion couple method. Each couple consisted of a-phase single crystal and a pure-Ni polycrystal, and was annealed at 1473 K in an Ar gas atmosphere. Single crystal layers of-phase with uniform thickness always grow into the parent-phase single crystals. The resultant/ interface has no voids or facets regardless of the orientation of interface and the chemical composition of the-phase. Porosity formation due to the Kirkendall effect is observed in the diffused region. Concentration profiles exhibit nearly constant gradients in-phase. The orientation relationship between both phases is found to be 001//001, that is, the-phase grows epitaxially along the crystal orientation of-phase.     

Cracks in metallic meteorites

Cracks in four meteorites with different nickel and phosphorus contents were investigated by optical microscopy. There are two types of cracks, those formed at elevated temperatures, 700>T ₁>300° C, and those formed at low temperatures,T ₂<300° C. The former modify the microstructure of the meteorite by acting as additional nucleation sites for the transformation of phosphide precipitation. This can be used to estimate the temperature of crack formation. The low-temperature cracks show the typical features of brittle fracture of steel. In addition, fracture along- phase boundaries is often observed. This type of brittleness disappears if Fe₃P precipitates at these interfaces as small particles. Large phosphide particles can fracture at elevated as well as at lower temperatures. If reheating effects can be excluded, it is likely that the high-temperature cracks have been formed by shockwaves during a collision in the asteroid belt. They provide an important source of information on this event, if it occurs in the temperature range in which the-phase is stable. The low-temperature cracks form at embrittled sites in the microstructure during final impact with the Earth.     

The energy of crack propagation in carbon fibre-reinforced resin systems

The energy expended during controlled crack propagation in unidirectionally reinforced composites of carbon fibre in a brittle resin matrix has been evaluated in terms of the energy dissipated during fibre-snapping, matrix-cracking and fibre pull-out. The work of fracture, _F, is found to depend principally on the frictional shear stress at the fibre/resin interface opposing pulling out of broken fibres. Differences in _F for carbon fibre/resin composites exhibiting a range of interfacial shear strengths and void contents have been explained with reference to variations in fracture surface topography of the fibrous composites. The effect of environment on properties of the interface and work of fracture was also investigated. The energy required to propagate a crack has been compared with the energy for fracture initiation, _I, using a linear elastic fracture mechanics approach. It was found that fibre pull-out energy is the principal contribution to _F, and _I is similar to the elastic strain energy release rate at the initiation of fracture of a brittle, orthotropic solid. For crack propagation parallel to fibres, _F and _I are similar and not unlike the fracture surface energy of the resin alone. The strength of the interface is important only in so far as it affects the value of _I.     

Transport and Magnetic Properties in MgB2 Single Crystals

We report measurements of the transport and the magnetic properties of high-quality MgB₂ single crystals with clear hexagonal-plate shapes. The Debye temperature of _D 1100 K, obtained from the zero-field resistance curve, suggests that the normal-state transport properties are dominated by electron-phonon interactions. The resistivity ratio between 40 K and 300 K is about 5. The superconducting anisotropy, , increases from a value around 2 near T _c to about 3.3 at 26 K. The low-field magnetization and the magnetic hysteresis curves show the bulk pinning of these crystals to be very weak.     

A generalized equation for surface tension from the triple point to the critical point

A three-parameter generalized equation is proposed for surface tension from the triple point to the critical point. This equation not only fits the data well but also is good for interpolation between the normal boiling point and the critical point. This equation is also good for extrapolation to the triple point. This equation has been tested using the surface tension of water from the triple point to the critical point. The constants of this equation obtained using orthobaric surface tensions are given for a number of compounds. The isobaric surface tensions determined at a pressure of 1 atm do not differ significantly from the orthobaric surface tensions. Such data also have been used in obtaining equations from the triple to the critical point.Nomenclature T _c Critical temperature, K - T _t Triple point, K - T _m Melting point, K - T _r Reduced temperature, K - X (T _c-T)/T _c - Surface tension, dyne · cm^–1;10^–3N · m^–1 - _m Surface tension at the melting point - _f Surface tension at T _r=0.9 - _t Surface tension at the triple point - Relative deviation 100[ _obsd– _calcd]/ _obsd - Standard deviation [( _obsd– _calcd)²/(No. points—No. parameters)]^0.5     

Microstructural study of ε-iron-carbonitrides formed by a glow discharge technique

The microstructure and phase transformations occurring in-iron-carbonitrides have been studied by means of X-ray and electron diffraction, electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectrometry. Ordering of the interstitial atoms, N or C, results in a hexagonal unit cell for Fe₃(C, N) with parametersa=a3 andc=c wherea andc are the lattice parameters of the hexagonal close-packed (h c p) iron unit cell. Stacking faults on (0001) planes and partial dislocations with Burgers vector b=1/31 0 ¯1 0 are observed in quenched-Fe₄ (C, N). After quench-aging, the carbonitrides show a structural hardening due to the precipitation of a metastable phase. Slow cooling of-carbonitrides with less than 25 at% interstitials leads to the precipitation of-carbonitride and ferrite in-phase grains which allows the orientation relationships between the-,- and-phases to be defined and a model of the-phase--phase transformation to be proposed.     

Microcrack nucleation and its effect on the plastic deformation of FL γ-TiAl alloy

Microcracks and their effect on the plastic deformation of -TiAl alloy with fully lamellar microstructure (FL) at relatively low strain rate (1 × 10^–5/s) has been investigated. It is found that a large number of microcracks nucleate within the grains. The microcrack density increases with the increase of grain size. Most of the microcracks nucleate at the /₂ interfaces and gather at grains with soft-orientations. Based on the observation and analysis, a model of microcrack nucleation in FL -TiAl alloy is built up. The plastic elongation of -based TiAl alloys with FL microstructure changes non-monotonously with the increase of grain size, which results from cooperation of micro-deformations and microcracks.     

Viscoelastic and rheological behavior of concentrated colloidal suspensions

Molecular approaches are discussed to the density (), viscoeleastic (), and rheological () behavior of the viscosity(,,) of concentrated colloidal suspensions with 0.3 < < 0.6, where, is the volume fraction, the applied frequency, and ; the shear rate. These theories are based on the calculation of the pair distribution functionP ₂(r,,), wherer is the relative position of a pair of colloidal particles. The linear viscoelastic behavior(,,=0) follows from an equation forP ₂(r,,) derived from the Smoluchowski equation for small, generalized to large by introducing the spatial ordering and (cage) diffusion typical for concentrated suspensions. The rheological behavior(,,=0) follows from an equation forP ₂(r,) of a dense hard-sphere fluid derived from the Liouville equation. This leads to a hard-sphere viscosity^hs(,) which yields the colloidal one(,) by the scaling relation(,) ₀=^hs(,) _B, where ₀ is the solvent viscosity. _B is the dilute hard-sphere (Boltzmann ) viscosity and the's are appropriately scaled,(,) and(,) agree well with experiment. A unified theore for(,,) is clearly needed and pursued.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994. Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

An investigation of structural transformation during the solidification of copper-gallium alloys

Metallographic examination, X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectral microanalysis, and mlcrohardness measurements were used to study structural changes during the solidification of copper-gallium alloys. It was shown that the solidification of these alloys in the temperature interval 40–200°C takes place as a result of the formation of the -phase. Long-term holding at 200 and 300°C leads to the formation of ₃-, ₂-, ₁-, and-phases.