UV curing-assisted 3D plotting of ceramic feedstock containing thermo-regulated phase-separable,photocurable vehicle for dual-scale porosity structure

We propose a novel approach for manufacturing dual-scale porosity alumina structures by UV curing-assisted 3D plotting of a specially formulated alumina feedstock using a thermo-regulated phase separable, photocurable camphene/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) vehicle. In particular, 3D plotting process was conducted at - 5 °C, and thus an alumina suspension prepared using liquid camphene/TEGDMA at room temperature could undergo phase separation, resulting in camphene crystals surrounded by walls comprised of liquid photopolymer enclosing alumina particles. To enhance the shape retention ability of extruded filaments, polystyrene (PS) polymer was used as the tackifier. The phase-separated feedrod could be extruded favorably through a nozzle and rapidly photopolymerized by UV light during the 3D plotting process. Three-dimensionally interconnected macropores were tightly constructed, which were separated by microporous alumina filaments, where micropores were created by the removal of camphene crystals via freeze-dying. The macroporosity of porous alumina ceramics was controlled by adjusting the distance between deposited filaments, while their microporosity was kept constant, leading to tightly tailored overall porosity and mechanical properties.     

Experimental phase equilibria study and thermodynamic modelling of the PbO-“FeO”-SiO2-ZnO,PbO-“FeO”-SiO2-Al2O3 and PbO-“FeO”-SiO2-MgO systems in equilibrium with metallic Pb and Fe

Phase equilibria of the PbO-“FeO”-SiO₂-ZnO, PbO-“FeO”-SiO₂-Al₂O₃ and PbO-“FeO”-SiO₂-MgO slags with liquid Pb metal, solid or liquid Fe metal and solid oxides (cristobalite and tridymite SiO₂, willemite (Zn,Fe)₂SiO₄, wustite (Fe,Al)O_1+x, spinel (Fe,Al)₃O₄, olivine Fe₂SiO₄, corundum (Al,Fe)₂O₃, mullite Al₆Si₂O₁₃ and pyroxene (Mg,Fe)SiO₃) were investigated at 1125–1670 °C. These conditions correspond to the minimum solubility of PbO in slag in presence of Pb and Fe metals at reducing conditions and represent the limit of lead smelting and slag cleaning process. High-temperature equilibration on silica, corundum or iron foil substrates, followed by quenching and direct measurement of Pb, Fe, Si, Zn, Al and Mg concentrations in the liquid and solid phases with the electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) was used. Present data can be used to improve the thermodynamic models for all phases in this system.     

Orthorhombic to tetragonal polymorphic transformation of YTa3O9 and its inhibition through the design of high-entropy (Y0.2La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Gd0.2)Ta3O9

To explore the mechanism of phase transformation, YTa₃O₉ was prepared by an integrated one-step synthesis and sintering method at 1500 °C using Y₂O₃ and Ta₂O₅ powders as starting materials. High-temperature XRD patterns and Raman spectra showed that a phase transformation from orthorhombic to tetragonal took place in YTa₃O₉ through the bond length and angle changes at 300–400 °C, which caused a thermal conductivity rise. To inhibit the phase transformation, a high-entropy (Y_0.2La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Gd_0.2)Ta₃O₉ (HE RETa₃O₉) was designed and synthesized at 1550 °C using the integrated solid-state synthesis and sintering method. In tetragonal structured HE RETa₃O₉, phase transformation was inhibited by the high-entropy effect. Furthermore, HE RETa₃O₉ exhibited low thermal conductivity, and its tendency to increase with temperature was alleviated (1.69 W/m·K, 1073 K). Good phase stability, low thermal conductivity and comparable fracture toughness to YSZ make HE RETa₃O₉ promising as a new thermal barrier coating material.     

Evolution of core–rim structures and phase transformations in infra-red transmitting Y-α-SiAlON ceramics

Core–rim structures were observed as common features in Y-α-SiAlON ceramics hot-pressed between 1550?1950 °C. We found most dopants were taken into α’-rims, and a transition layer grown first on α-cores from liquid-phase over-saturated with metal solutes. Elongated β’-grain were formed as minor phase with α’- or AlN-cores thus only after the α’ matrix had consumed up all Y solutes, revealing that the α’ → β’ transformation is controlled by the transient liquid-phase and similar defects and dangling bonds could be detected in both SiAlON phases by cathodoluminescence. Quantitative assessment of Y_m/3Si_12?(m+n)Al_m+nO_nN_16?n demonstrates the multiphase evolution, initiated by over-saturation of Y solutes at low temperatures thus retaining α-phase as cores to lower the infra-red transmittance, dictated by homogenization of Al solutes at higher temperature. The elimination of those phase boundaries leads to better dopant and sintering design for achieving transparent and high-performance SiAlON ceramics.     

Facile self-assembly approach to construct a novel MXene-decorated nano-sized phase change material emulsion for thermal energy storage

In recent years, phase change material emulsions (PCMEs) with enhanced energy storage capacities and good flow characteristics have drawn significant attention. However, due to the thermodynamically unstable nature and tiny particle confinement, the nanomaterial modification strategies at PCM/water interface to improve stabilities and reduce supercooling of nano-sized PCMEs (NPCMEs) are very limited and challenging. Herein, we report a facile strategy for constructing MXene-decorated NPCME with good stability, little supercooling, and high thermal conductivity by self-assembly of MXene nanosheets at PCM/water interface. The concentrations of MXene have great influences on the average droplet diameters, stabilities, and thermophysical properties of the NPCMEs. The results show that the PCMs have been well dispersed into the water in the form of quasi-spherical droplets, with average droplet diameters of 242–805 nm. The thermal conductivity of 10 wt% n-tetradecane/water NPCME containing 9 mg ml^-1 MXene is 0.693 W m^-1·K^-1, achieving an enhancement by 15.5%, as compared to that of water. Besides, the MXene-decorated paraffin/water NPCMEs exhibit little supercooling and enhanced heat storage capacities. More importantly, this facile self-assembly strategy opens a new platform for preparing high-performance NPCMEs, which can be used as novel heat transfer fluids for thermal energy storage systems.     

基于自适应阈值活动语音检测和最小均方误差对数谱幅度估计的低信噪比降噪算法

针对低信噪比(SNR)环境下传统方法对声信号降噪的局限性，提出了一种联合自适应阈值活动语音检测（VAD）算法和最小均方误差对数谱幅度估计（MMSE-LSA）的实时降噪算法。首先，在VAD算法中通过基于能量概率最大值的概率统计来对背景噪声进行估计，对得到的背景噪声进行实时更新并保存；然后，将实时更新的背景噪声作为MMSE-LSA的参考噪声，并对噪声幅度谱进行自适应更新，最后进行降噪处理。通过在真实场景中对四类声信号进行实验，结果表明，该算法在保证对低SNR声信号的实时处理的情况下，相较于传统MMSE-LSA算法，降噪信号的SNR能够提高10~15 dB，且不存在信号过减的情况，可应用于实际工程。     

Influence of Different Additives on the Interaction of Quinolone Antibiotic Drug with Surfactant: Conductivity and Cloud Point Measurement Study

Conductometric and cloud point (CP) measurement studies have been performed to investigate the interaction of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and Triton® X-100 (TX-100) with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CFH) in different solvents over the temperature range of 295.15–315.15 K. CFH is used for the treatment of various bacterial infections. The observed critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of TTAB were found to be reduced in the presence of electrolytes (Na₂SO₄/Na₃PO₄), and this reduction proceeds with the elevation of salt concentration. The order of the CMC of TTAB follows the trend: > >. The observed CMC values of TTAB were found to increase with increasing temperature and decrease with increasing concentration of CFH in aqueous medium. The values of Gibbs free energy of micellization () for the TTAB/TTAB + CFH mixture were found to be negative, implying spontaneous micellization. The estimated CP of TX-100 decreases with increasing concentration of TX-100 in aqueous medium. The CP values first decrease with increasing concentration of CFH and then increase at higher concentration of CFH almost in all cases investigated. The values of free energy of clouding were found to be positive in all cases studied implying that phase separation of TX-100 was nonspontaneous. The other thermodynamic parameters associated with the micellization of TTAB and the phase separation of TX-100 were estimated and explained.     

Mechanical and thermal properties and microstructural evolution of Ta-doped Nb4AlC3

(Nb_1-xTa_x)₄AlC₃ (x = 0–0.5) ceramics were prepared by the hot press sintering method. The XRD results show that the second phase (Nb_1-xTa_x)C is formed when the Ta content increases to 25 mol%. The SEM micrographs show that (Nb_1-xTa_x)C has a core/rim structure, whose formation mechanism was also investigated. Substituting some Ta for Nb can significantly improve the mechanical properties of Nb₄AlC₃. (Nb_0.75Ta_0.25)₄AlC₃ exhibits an excellent fracture toughness of 8.3 ± 0.3 MPa m^1/2 at room temperature (RT). The highest Young's modulus (349 ± 16 GPa) and Vickers hardness (4.5 ± 0.3 GPa) at RT are exhibited by the (Nb_0.5Ta_0.5)₄AlC₃ sample, which correlate to increases of 18% and 80%, respectively, compared with those of Nb₄AlC₃. The flexural strengths of (Nb_0.5Ta_0.5)₄AlC₃ are 439 ± 18 MPa at RT and 344 ± 22 MPa at 1100 °C, which correlate to increases of 27% and 45%, respectively, compared with those of Nb₄AlC₃. The solid solution of Ta and the formation of (Nb_1-xTa_x)C are beneficial to the strengthening of Nb₄AlC₃. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) increases slightly from 7.08 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ for Nb₄AlC₃ to 7.24 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ for (Nb_0.75Ta_0.25)₄AlC₃ at 25–1400 °C. The thermal conductivity of (Nb_0.75Ta_0.25)₄AlC₃ (28.4–29.8 W/m·K) is higher than that of Nb₄AlC₃ (18.1–21.2 W/m·K) over the whole test range (25–1000 °C). Owing to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties, Ta-doped Nb₄AlC₃ ceramics have good potential as structural materials.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–RE–TM Cast Alloys Containing Long Period Stacking Ordered Phases: A Review

Casting magnesium alloys hold the greatest share of magnesium application products due to their short processing period, low cost and near net shape forming. Compared with conventional commercial magnesium alloys or other Mg–RE-based alloys, the novel Mg–RE–TM cast alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO) phases usually possess a higher strength and are promising candidates for aluminum alloy applications. Up to now, two ways: alloying design and casting process control(including subsequent heat treatments), have been predominantly employed to further improve the mechanical properties of these alloys. Alloying with other elements or ceramic particles could alter the solidifi cation pattern of alloys, change the morphology of LPSO phases and refi ne the microstructures. Diff erent casting techniques(conventional casting, rapidly solidifi cation, directional solidifi cation, etc.) introduce various microstructure characteristics, such as dendritic structure, nanocrystalline, metastable phase, anisotropy. Further heat treatments could activate the transformation of various LPSO structures and precipitation of diverse precipitates. All these evolutions exert great impacts on the mechanical properties of the LPSO-containing alloys. However, the underlying mechanisms still remain a subject of debate. Therefore, this review mainly provides the state of the art of the casting magnesium alloys research and the accompanying challenges and summarizes some topics that merit future investigation for developing high-performance Mg–RE–TM cast alloys.     

LaMgAl11O19 synthesis using non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods

Polycrystalline LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ (LMA) was prepared by four different non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods. From stable solutions, four powder precursors containing an amorphous and nanocrystalline phase with specific reactivity were obtained. The particle size, morphology, thermal behaviour, and phase composition of the powder precursors were studied using DLS, TEM, DSC/TG and XRD. Bulk ceramic samples containing LMA were prepared at 1200?°C for 16?h and examined in terms of phase purity and microstructure using XRD, SEM, and TEM. Raman spectroscopy of pure LMA was used to study the structure in detail. A mechanism of LMA formation and a relation between powder precursor properties and final phase composition is proposed. These findings may be useful for designing modern technologies for fabrication of LMA for optical or protective coating applications.