The interfacial strength and fracture characteristics of ethanol and polymer modified carbon nanotube fibers in their epoxy composites

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers spun from CNT arrays were used as the reinforcement for epoxy composites, and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and fracture behavior were investigated by a single fiber fragmentation test. The IFSS between the CNT fiber and matrix strongly depended on the types of liquid introduced within the fiber. The IFSS of ethanol infiltrated CNT fiber/epoxy varied from 8.32 to 26.64 MPa among different spinning conditions. When long-molecule chain or cross-linked polymers were introduced, besides the increased fiber strength, the adhesion between the polymer modified fiber and the epoxy matrix was also significantly improved. Above all, the IFSS can be up to 120.32 MPa for a polyimide modified CNT fiber, one order of magnitude higher than that of ethanol infiltrated CNT fiber composites, and higher than those of typical carbon fiber/epoxy composites (e.g. 60–90 MPa). Moreover, the composite IFSS is proportional to the tensile strength and modulus of the CNT fiber, and decreases with increasing fiber diameter. The results demonstrate that the interfacial strength of the CNT fiber/epoxy can be significantly tuned by controlling the fiber structure and introducing polymer to optimize the tube–tube interactions within the fiber.     

Thermal shock resistance of ultra-high temperature ceramics including the effects of thermal environment and external constraints

The thermal shock resistance of ceramics depends on the materials mechanical and thermal properties, also is affected by component geometry and external factors and so on. Therefore, the thermal shock resistance of ceramic materials is the comprehensive performance of their mechanical and thermal properties corresponding to the various heat conditions and external constraints. In the present work, a thermal shock resistance model of the ultra-high temperature ceramics which considered the effects of thermal environment and constraints was established. With this model, the influence of constraints on the thermal shock resistance and critical fracture temperature difference had been studied and an effective idea to improve thermal shock resistance for ceramic material and structure was found. Furthermore, the model was validated by finite element method.     

A modified spray-winding approach to enhance the tensile performance of array-based carbon nanotube composite films

A carbon nanotube (CNT) array based spray-winding approach for CNT film fabrication was developed by adding a post hot-pressing process, and an epoxy solution was used to fabricate CNT/epoxy composite film. It showed that the hot-pressing process benefited the load transfer within CNT films by reducing the porosity among CNT bundles and was more efficient in improving the tensile properties of few wall CNT films. The epoxy modified multi-wall CNT film exhibited a tensile strength and modulus of 1540 MPa and 59 GPa, respectively. From the results of scanning electron microscopy and measurements of contact angle, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, the main mechanism of the improvement was attributed to good wettability of CNT film with epoxy, high degree of CNT alignment, and high CNT load in the CNT film.     

An amendment to the classical model of internal oxidation: Model-inherent transition characteristics

An analytical method based on the flux balance at the inter-region boundary is explored for the evolution of a binary alloy in the corresponding Rhines pack atmosphere where the solute forms only one type of oxide. This alloy may undergo an exclusive external oxidation, an exclusive internal oxidation or a mixed oxidation. The assumption of zero solubility-product is very restrictive for a complete analysis of the mixed oxidation. Nevertheless, an analysis of the exclusive internal oxidation, improved upon the classical theory, gives the transition characteristics and hence a domain of the existence of this possibility.     

钛基形状记忆合金研究进展

近年来,新型钛基形状记忆合金成为了金属智能材料研究领域的重点发展方向之一。这类合金一方面可以作为生物医用Ni Ti形状记忆合金的替代材料,从根本上避免Ni离子溶出造成的细胞毒性和致敏性等危害;另一方面可以获得较高的马氏体相变温度,成为航空、航天和能源等领域应用的高温形状记忆合金。钛基形状记忆合金主要包括Ti-Nb基、Ti-Ta基和Ti-Zr基合金体系。Ti-Nb基合金的相变温度范围较宽(180~561 K),最大形状记忆效应和超弹性应变分别为4.0%和5.0%左右。二元Ti-Ta和Ti-Zr合金的马氏体相变温度均高于373 K,是典型的高温形状记忆合金。重点评述了添加合金化元素和热机械处理对Ti-Nb、Ti-Ta和Ti-Zr基形状记忆合金的相变特性、微观结构、力学性能、形状记忆效应、超弹性以及生物相容性等方面的影响,并提出了钛基形状记忆合金的未来发展方向。     

Lithium insertion into multi-walled raw carbon nanotubes pre-doped with lithium

Raw carbon nanotubes are synthesized by the electric arc method and pre-doped with lithium. Electrochemical intercalation of lithium into the raw carbon nanotubes pre-doped with lithium is investigated. The results show that the irreversible and reversible capacity of the sample is about 500 and 200 mAh g⁻¹, respectively. The reversible capacity is higher than that of the raw carbon nanotubes and the open carbon nanotubes. The main reason is that LiNO₃ absorbed by the carbon nanotubes is decomposed into LiNO₂ at high temperature, and the lithium nitrite can form a film before the electrode contacts the electrolyte. The Li-containing compound film on the electrode surface can prevent the solvent to decompose into other products, so little charge is consumed in the electrolyte decomposition process. Complementary characterization techniques (elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, constant-current charge–discharge tests) are used for a full structural characterization of the carbon nanotubes pre-doped with lithium and the electrochemical intercalation of lithium.     

Evolution of recrystallisation texture and microstructure in low alloyed titanium sheets

The evolution of microstructure and crystallographic texture in low alloyed titanium sheets, initially deformed by 80% cold rolling, are investigated at different stages of the recrystallisation process. Optical and transmission electron microscopies, as well as X-ray diffraction and EBSD are used to provide information about recrystallisation mechanisms and kinetics. Orientation Density Function (ODF) differences are used to quantitatively compare recrystallised and deformed states. The main texture features of the deformed state evolve only slightly during the primary recrystallisation. The major changes in texture result from secondary recrystallisation or grain growth. Primary recrystallisation can be roughly separated into two stages. The first one is very fast and corresponds to the appearance of new grains in about 80% of the material volume. The second stage is more sluggish. It corresponds to the disappearance of the so-called “white grains”, which did not twin during deformation due to their stable orientation near {ϕ₁=0°, φ=45°, ϕ₂=0°}. Recovery is an important mechanism throughout the process and deformation heterogeneities must be taken into account for a good understanding of the recrystallisation in titanium.     

The effect of scandium on the microstructure,mechanical properties and weldability of a cast Al–Mg alloy

The microstructure, mechanical properties and weld hot cracking behaviour of a cast Al–Mg–Sc alloy containing 0.17 wt.% Sc were compared with those of a Sc-free alloy of similar chemical composition. Although this level of Sc addition did not cause grain refinement, the dendritic substructure appeared to be finer. There was a significant increase in the yield and tensile strength and the microhardness of the Al–Mg–Sc alloy relative to its Sc-free counterpart. A discontinuous precipitation reaction was observed at the dendritic cell boundaries. Microchemical analysis revealed segregation of Mg and Sc at these interdendritic regions. No improvement was observed in the resistance of the alloy to weld solidification cracking or heat affected zone (HAZ) liquation cracking. This is explained in terms of the inability of this level of Sc addition to refine the solidification structure and to influence the liquation of solute-enriched dendritic cell boundaries of the cast material.     

Vanadium carbide with periodic anionic vacancies for effective electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction

Although electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has been considered as an emerging pathway to produce ammonia (NH₃) under ambient conditions owing to its low energy consumption, it still lacks efficient the electrocatalysts to dissociate inert NN bonds. Here, we develop an efficient approach to produce vanadium carbide with abundant periodic carbon vacancies (12.5 at. %) and mesoporous structure as electrocatalysts for NRR via a carbothermic reaction. The typical synthesis protocol involves the use of zinc vanadate decorated vanadium pentoxide nanosheets to homogeneously guide the nucleation and growth of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) on their surface, thus facilitating the in-situ formation of unique vanadium carbide during the subsequent carbothermic reaction. Owing to the optimized substrate-adsorbate binding strength, the intrinsic periodic carbon vacancies of the resultant vanadium carbide could act as coordinatively unsaturated sites to adsorb and activate nitrogen through π-back-donation process, thus promoting the reduction of N₂ to NH₃. As a consequence, a high yield rate and high Faradaic efficiency with good stabilities are achieved for producing NH₃ under ambient conditions.