Hardness and fracture toughness of moissanite

Disparities prevail among the reported hardness and fracture toughness values for hard and brittle materials. A better understanding of the physical nature of hardness and fracture toughness and a standardized technique for reliable measurements of these quantities is urgently needed. We strongly recommend the use of the measured hardness after the bend in the hardness versus load (H−F_Load) curve, when the hardness approaches its asymptotic value. The present work reports a systematic study of hardness and fracture toughness on moissanite (single crystal hexagonal silicon carbide, 6H-SiC) samples. The measurements were performed over a broad load range from 0.49 to 294 N with the direct indentation method. Asymptotic values of Knoop hardness of H_K = 19 GPa and Vickers hardness of H_V = 22 GPa were reached at a high load between 50 N and 100 N. A consistent fracture toughness of K_IC = 1.8 MPa·m^1/2 was obtained across the entire load range. Our study presents experimental results for the hardness and fracture toughness of moissanite in the asymptotic-hardness region, and it raises concern regarding the application of moissanite single crystals as anvil material under shear/fracture conditions.     

Effect of montmorillonite on properties of styrene–butadiene–styrene copolymer modified bitumen

Clay/styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) modified bitumen composites were prepared by melt blending with different contents of sodium montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) and organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT). The structures of clay/SBS modified bitumen composites were characterized by XRD. The XRD results showed that Na‐MMT/SBS modified bitumen composites may form an intercalated structure, whereas the OMMT/SBS modified bitumen composites may form an exfoliated structure. Effects of MMT on physical properties, dynamic rheological behaviors, and aging properties of SBS modified bitumen were investigated. The addition of Na‐MMT and OMMT increases both the softening point and viscosity of SBS modified bitumens and the clay/SBS modified bitumens exhibited higher complex modulus, lower phase angle. The high‐temperature storage stability can also be improved by clay with a proper amount added. Furthermore, clay/SBS modified bitumen composites showed better resistance to aging than SBS modified bitumen, which was ascribed to barrier of the intercalated or exfoliated structure to oxygen, reducing efficiently the oxidation of bitumen, and the degradation of SBS. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1289–1295, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of LiAl5O8 additions on the sintering and optical transparency of LiAlON

LiAl₅O₈ (zeta alumina) was reaction sintered with α-Al₂O₃ and AlN to produce γ-LiAlON. Zeta alumina transforms from a primitive to a face-centered cubic structure above 1290 °C with a lattice parameter similar to γ-AlON. Weight loss measurements combined with XRD suggest solubility of Li in the spinel structure at elevated temperatures. The Vickers hardness, at a 1-kg load, of the pressureless sintered LiAlON was 16.5 ± 0.5 GPa, independent of the grain size or amount of zeta alumina added, for LiAl₅O₈ additions ranging between 0 and 16 wt.%. In-line transmission in the visible and near-IR regions increased with increasing grain size, most likely due to pore coalescence.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble aromatic azopolyamides containing sulfone and ether units

A series of new polyamides 3a–d containing aryl-azo, ether and sulfone groups in the main chain were synthesized from bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl sulfone] 1 and several azo aromatic diacyl chlorides 2a–d by the low temperature solution polycondensation technique. FTIR spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analyses confirmed the structure of these polymers. Owing to the aryl and amide groups in the main chain, these polymers exhibit photochromic properties as well as excellent thermal stabilities. The transition temperatures (T _g) are between 242 and 265 °C, and the char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen atmosphere were above 39%. Based on incorporation of flexible ether linkages and polar sulfone groups, the polyamides show desirable solubility in organic solvents such as DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methyl-2-pyrroidinone (NMP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). And it is exemplified that polyamide containing 2 and 2′ substitutes performed better solubility. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50572081)     

Binding materials of dehydrated phases of waste hardened cement paste and pozzolanic admixture

Fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) were added to improve the performances of regenerated binding materials (RBM) which refer to dehydrated phases with rebinding ability of waste hardened cement paste. Flowability tests, compressive strength tests, SEM, TG-DSC, and non-evaporable water content tests were employed to study the performances of the combined binding materials and the interactions between RBM, FA, and GGBFS. Results show that adding FA or GGBFS can improve the workability of RBM paste, and GGBFS has positive effects on strength of RBM. Pozzolanic reactions happen between RBM, FA, and GGBFS. And the activation effect of RBM to FA and GGBFS is superior to that of P.O grade-32.5 cement, especially at earlier ages, because of the high reactive f-CaO existing in RBM. On the advantages of the synergetic effects of RBM and pozzolanic admixtures such as FA and GGBFS, new combined binding materials can be prepared by blending them together. Funded by the National Science Foundation of China(No. 50508034)     

Molten salts/ceramic-foam matrix composites by melt infiltration method as energy storage material

A new type of high temperature energy storage material was obtained through the melt infiltration method, using compounding SiC ceramic foam as matrix and Na₂SO₄ as phase change material. The resulting composite material was measured by XRD, SEM, TG-DSC methods. The experimental results indicate that the composite is composed of silicon carbide, sodium sulfate and square quartz, and no chemical reactions occurs between Na₂SO₄ and SiC matrix. Na₂SO₄ has a good bonding with the SiC ceramic foam matrix. As the composite material is characterized by high thermal energy storage density and high thermal conductivity, it is suit for energy storage under high temperature. Funded by the “863” Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (2008AA05Z418)     

粉煤灰-脱硫石膏水泥基材料水化活性及微结构

采用DTA—TG、XRD、SEM以及宏观水化收缩和强度试验等手段研究了粉煤灰一脱硫石膏一水泥三元复合胶凝体系的水化过程、活性效应及微观结构等,根据试验结果总结了复合胶凝材料的水化动力学过程。结果表明,粉煤灰一脱硫石膏水泥石的钙矾石吸热峰强于基准样;在各组分相互活性激发和外掺激发剂作用下,粉煤灰一脱硫石膏水泥石中2次水化效应明显;SEM、XRD表明水泥石早期有明显的钙矾石生成,同时粉煤灰颗粒的表面侵蚀现象明显,进一步说明复合胶凝体系的早期活性得到有效激发,硬化后综合性能得到有效保证。且宏观收缩及强度试验也从侧面印证了微观试验结果。粉煤灰一脱硫石膏水泥基复合胶凝材料体系的研发可大量消耗燃煤电厂的工业废渣,具有显著的“绿色”效应。     

Growth characteristics and kinetics of niobium carbide coating obtained on AISI 52100 by thermal-reactive diffusion technique

Niobium carbide coating was produced by thermal-reactive diffusion technique on AISI 52100 steel in salt bath at 1 123 K, 1 173 K, and 1 223 K for 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours. The salt consisted of borax, sodium fl uoride, boron carbide, and niobium pentoxide. The presence of NbC phase on the steel surface was confi rmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Microscopic observation showed that niobium carbide coating formed on the substrate was smooth and compact. There was a distinct and fl at interface between the coating and substrate. The micro-hardness of niobium carbide coating was 2892±145HV. The thickness of coating ranged from 1.6 μm to 14μm. The forming kinetics of niobium carbide coating was revealed. Moreover, a contour diagram derived from experimental data was graphed for correct selection of process parameters. Some mathematical equations were built for predicting the coating thickness with predetermined processing temperature and time. The results showed that these mathematical equations are very practical as well as the kinetics equation.     

Near-zero-shrinkage Al2O3 ceramic foams with coral-like and hollow-sphere structures via selective laser sintering and reaction bonding

The large shrinkage that ceramics undergo during sintering is a severe challenge for high-performance porous ceramics. In this study, we report a powder-based selective laser sintering (SLS) approach to prepare Al₂O₃ ceramic foams with near-zero shrinkage, high porosity, and outstanding strength. The ceramic foams consist of specific coral-like and hollow-sphere structures derived from the raw Al₂O₃/Al composite powders via reaction bonding (RB). A near-zero shrinkage of 0.91 ± 0.15 % and a high porosity of 73.7 ± 0.2 % can be achieved based on the Kirkendall effect during the oxidation of Al particles. Meanwhile, the reinforced sintering necks and robust bond-bridge connections between hollow-sphere and coral-like structures result in a remarkable bending strength of 7.37 ± 0.37 MPa. This measured strength is more than six times higher than other fabricated samples from spherical Al₂O₃ powders, and the comprehensive performance of ceramic foams prepared by this novel SLS/RB strategy is exceptionally remarkable versus that via conventional forming methods.     

On the calibration of cohesive parameters for refractories from notch opening displacements in wedge splitting tests

Cohesive elements are commonly used to describe crack propagation in heterogeneous materials with toughening mechanisms. This work aims to provide a guideline on how these fracture parameters can be calibrated using notch opening displacements (NODs) measured via digital image correlation and force data from wedge splitting tests (WSTs). Weighted finite element model updating was applied to calibrate material and boundary condition parameters in the same framework. The influence of each parameter on force and NOD data are given together with uncertainties for the calibrated parameters. Numerical results were in very good agreement in terms of splitting force, NOD, displacement and gray level residual fields. It is shown that images obtained during WSTs focusing on the crack path (i.e., hiding the loading region) can be used to drive numerical simulations and obtain cohesive parameters.