Highly oriented α-Al2O3 transparent ceramics shaped by shear force

Alumina platelets were arranged horizontally in submicron alumina particles by shear force in the flow of slurries during casting. The obtained alumina green bodies with platelets were pressureless-sintered in vacuum, producing ceramics with thoroughly oriented grains and high transmittance. The effects of sintering parameters on the densification, microstructure evolution, and orientation degree of alumina ceramics were investigated and discussed. The results showed that the densification, grain size, orientation degree, and in-line transmittance were increased with increasing sintering temperature. The enhancement of orientation degree was mainly coherent with grain growth. The grain-oriented samples exhibited a much higher in-line transmittance (at 600 nm) of 61 % than that of the grain random sample (29 %). Moreover, the transmission remained a high level in the ultraviolet range (<300 nm).     

Optimization of room-temperature TCR of polycrystalline La0.9-xSrxK0.1MnO3 ceramics by Sr adjustment

High-density La_0.9-xSr_xK_0.1MnO₃ ceramics (LSKMO, A-site = La, Sr and K, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) are successfully fabricated by using facile sol-gel method. Electrical properties are performed by using combination of phenomenological percolation (PP) model, double exchange (DE) mechanism, and Jahn-Teller (JT) effect. Moreover, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy are employed to analyze the structure and morphology of LSKMO ceramics. Valence states and ionic stoichiometry are assessed by using X-ray photoemission spectrometry. Results reveal that Sr²⁺ ions, substituting La³⁺ ions, significantly influenced DE mechanism and JT effect. In addition, Sr-doping plays essential role in improving electrical properties of LSKMO ceramics. At optimal doping content of x = 0.09, peak temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the resistivity is found to be 11.56% K^?1 at 297.15 K, which is optimal TCR for A-site K-occupied perovskite manganese oxides. These results confirm that polycrystalline LSKMO ceramics render high room-temperature TCR values due to Sr-doping.     

Mechanical properties and wear behavior of Tin+1(Al,A)Cn (A = Ga,In, Sn,n = 1, 2) via quasi-high-entropy of single atomic thick A layer

The strengthening method of multi-element M-site solid solution is a common approach to improve mechanical properties of MAX phase ceramic. However, the research on capability of multi-element A-site solid solution to improve mechanical properties has rarely been reported. Thereupon, quasi-high-entropy MAX phase ceramic bulks of Ti₂(Al_1?xA_x)C and Ti₃(Al_1?xA_x)C₂ (A = Ga, In, Sn, x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) were successfully synthesized by in situ vacuum hot pressing via multi-elements solid solution. The multi-elements solid solution in single-atom thick A layer was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mappings. Effects of doped multi-elements contents on the phase, microstructure, mechanical properties, and high temperature tribological behaviors were studied. Results demonstrated that the Vickers hardness, anisotropic flexural strength, fracture toughness, and tribological properties of Ti–Al–C based MAX ceramics could be remarkably improved by constitution of quasi-high-entropy MAX phase in A layers. Moreover, the strengthening and wear mechanisms were also discussed in detail. This method of multi-element solid solution at A-site provides new way to enhance mechanical properties of other MAX phase ceramics.     

Toughness and R-curve behaviour of laminated Si3N4/SiCw ceramics

Laminated Si₃N₄/SiC_w ceramics were successfully prepared by tape casting and hot-pressing. Its mechanical properties were measured and the impact resistance was discussed. The toughness of the laminated Si₃N₄/SiC_w ceramics was 13.5 MPa m^1/2, which was almost 1.6 times that of Si₃N₄/SiC_w composite ceramics, namely 8.5 MPa m^1/2. Moreover, the indentation strength of laminated Si₃N₄/SiC_w ceramics was not sensitive to increasing indentation loads and exhibited a rising R-curve behaviour, indicating that the laminated Si₃N₄/SiC_w ceramics had excellent impact resistance. The improved toughness and impact resistance of laminated Si₃N₄/SiC_w ceramics was attributed to the residual stress caused by a thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the different layers, resulting in crack deflection and bridging of SiC whiskers in the interface layer, thus consuming a large amount of fracture work.     

Synthesis of succinic acid-based polyamide through direct solid-state polymerization method: Avoiding cyclization of succinic acid

Succinic acid is an important synthetic monomer but it is difficult to use it as a precursor for synthesizing high molecular weight polyamide, due to its tendency to perform intra-cyclization reaction at high temperature. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, the direct solid-state polymerization (DSSP) method with the initial reactant, nylon salt which was composed of 1, 5-diaminopentane, succinic acid, and terephthalic acid, was applied to synthesize the bio-based copolyamide PA 5T/54. In comparison with the conventional melting polymerization method, the DSSP method can prevent the cyclization reaction of succinic acid effectively due to the lower reacting temperature as well as the restriction effect of the nylon salt. As a result, the product fabricated by DSSP method has higher molecular weight and much lighter color from red to white. Therefore, the DSSP method is advantageous for the synthesis of the polymers or copolymers composed of the succinic acid as the monomer. Furthermore, the polymerization mechanism proposed in this work can serve as a guidance for the design of the molecular structure and control of the polymerization process.     

Relationships of tensile strength with crosslink density for the high-carbon black-filled EPDM compounds with various softeners

Equilibrium swelling and rheological tests were adopted to systematically investigate the effects of softener type and dosage on the crosslink densities. The results turned out that the chemical crosslink density could be distinguished from the physical crosslink density by comparing the results of equilibrium swelling and rheological tests. The liquid butadiene (LB) as a softener leads to the greatest reduction in crosslink density, followed by polyethylene wax (PW) and paraffinic oil (PO). The tensile strength decreases with increasing PO content while shows peak values with increase of LB and PW contents. The dependencies of chemical crosslink density on the aging time under 150°C are quite different for the three softeners, which can be expected from the double crosslinking networks consisting of small softener and large main crosslinking networks. Further investigation has been performed to correlate the tensile strength with chemical crosslink density of ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer vulcanizates. Three different linear relationships can be obtained for the softeners independent of the aging time. It can now be expected from this study that the role of some new softeners in rubber compounds is not only confined to plasticization but also forms crosslinking networks in the peroxide-cured rubbers.     

Effects of Cu on the corrosion behavior and microstructure of Mg–Zn–Ca bulk metallic glass

For the purpose of developing biodegradable magnesium alloys with suitable properties for biomedical applications, Mg–Zn–Ca–Cu metallic glasses were prepared by copper mold injection methods. In the present work, the effect of Cu doping on mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and glass-forming ability of Mg₆₆Zn₃₀Ca₄ alloy was studied. The experimental findings demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu decreases the corrosion resistance of alloys, but increases the microhardness and degradation rate slightly. However, the addition of a trace amount of Cu can make the samples have antibacterial properties. Therefore, Mg–Zn–Ca–Cu has great advantages in clinical implantation and is the potential implant material.     

Achieving excellent energy storage density of Pb0.97La0.02(ZrxSn0.05Ti0.95-x)O3 ceramics by the B-site modification

The applications of antiferroelectric (AFE) materials in miniaturized and integrated electronic devices are limited by their low energy density. To address the above issue, the antiferroelectricity of the reinforced material was designed to improve its AFE-ferroelectric (FE) phase transition under electric fields. In this present study, the composition of Zr⁴⁺ (0.72 Å) and Ti⁴⁺ (0.605 Å) at B-site of Pb_0.97La_0.02(Zr_xSn_0.05Ti_0.95-x)O₃ ceramics with orthogonal reflections are synthesized via the tape-casting method. These ceramics are modified to enhance their antiferroelectricity by reducing their tolerance factor. A recoverable energy storage density W_rec 12.1 J/cm³ was obtained for x = 0.93 under 376 kV/cm, which is superior value than reported until now in lead-based energy storage systems. Moreover, the discharge energy density can reach 10.23 J/cm³, and 90 % of which can be released within 5.66 μs. This work provides a new window and potential materials for further industrialization of pulse power capacitors.     

Electrodeposition of B,Ni co-doped diamond-like carbon films on AZ91D magnesium alloy: Corrosion and wear resistance

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) possesses brilliant and excellent properties, including excellent corrosion resistance as well as outstanding wear resistance. Ni and B co-doped DLC films were deposited on AZ91D magnesium alloy by electrodeposition under mild conditions (300 V and 25°C). Uniform and dense morphology of co-doped DLC films were observed, and Ni and B were uniformly incorporated into the carbon-based films. Among all the electrodeposits, the appearance of D and G peaks near 1330 and 1570 cm⁻¹ revealed that the as-deposited films were typical DLC films. As the addition of Ni was increased to 0.05 g, the highest microindentation hardness, the lowest friction coefficient, and wear loss were achieved to be 164.5 HV, 0.3, and 0.6 × 10⁻⁵ kg/m, respectively. The amorphous carbon films fabricated at 0.05 g Ni had the lowest corrosion current density and the most positive corrosion potential, which was mainly due to the small and dense granular structure effectively hindering the penetration of corrosion media.     

Dynamic analysis of traction motor in a locomotive considering surface waviness on races of a motor bearing

The traction motor is the power source of the locomotive. If the surface waviness occurs on the races of the motor bearing, it will cause abnormal vibration and noise, accelerate fatigue and wear, and seriously affect the stability and safety of the traction power transmission. In this paper, an excitation model coupling the time-varying displacement and contact stiffness excitations is adopted to investigate the effect of the surface waviness of the motor bearing on the traction motor under the excitation from the locomotive-track coupled system. The detailed mechanical power transmission path and the internal/external excitations (e.g., wheel–rail interaction, gear mesh, and internal interactions of the rolling bearing) of the locomotive are comprehensively considered to provide accurate dynamic loads for the traction motor. Effects of the wavenumber and amplitude of the surface waviness on the traction motor and its neighbor components of the locomotive are investigated. The results indicate that controlling the amplitude of the waviness and avoiding the wavenumber being an integer multiple of the number of the rollers are helpful for reducing the abnormal vibration and noise of the traction motor.