Microstructure and mechanical properties of TiC0.7N0.3-HfC cermet tool materials

TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC cermet tool materials were fabricated by hot-press sintering. Effects of different metal additives (Ni, Co, Ni-Co and Ni-Mo), sintering temperature and holding time on the microstructures and mechanical properties of TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC cermets were investigated. Results showed that Ni-Mo or Ni-Co as metal additives was better for the mechanical properties of TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC cermets than only Ni or only Co as the metal additives and Ni-Mo better than Ni-Co. HfC particle dispersion existed in these four cermets and only in the TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC-Ni-Mo cermet the core-rim structure obviously existed. TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC-Ni-Mo cermet had significantly smaller grains than the other three cermets because Ni-Mo can significantly refine the grain. With the sintering temperature increasing from 1450?°C to 1650?°C, grains grew gradually; Vickers hardness and flexural strength decreased gradually and the fracture toughness increased firstly and then decreased. With the holding time increasing from 15?min to 60?min, grains grew gradually; Vickers hardness, flexural strength and the fracture toughness increased firstly and then decreased. TiC_0.7N_0.3-HfC-Ni-Mo cermets sintered at 1450?°C with 30?min holding time had the better comprehensive mechanical properties with flexural strength of 1346.41?±?31?MPa, fracture toughness of 8.46?±?0.23?MPa?m^1/2 and Vickers hardness of 22.91?±?0.22?GPa.     

Tribological behaviour of a 3Y-TZP/Ta ceramic-metal biocomposite against ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

This study aims to evaluate the tribological behaviour of 3Y-TZP/Ta (20 vol%) ceramic-metal composites and 3Y-TZP monolithic ceramic prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) against ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). According to the results of pin (UHMWPE)-on-flat wear test under dry conditions, the UHMWPE – 3Y-TZP/Ta system exhibited lower volume loss and friction coefficient than the UHMWPE – monolithic ceramic combination due to the presence of an autolubricating layer that provides sufficient lubrication for reducing the friction. Owing to the lubrication of the liquid media, under wet conditions obtained using simulated body fluid (SBF), similar behaviour is observed in both cases. Additionally, the ceramic and biocomposite materials were subjected to a low temperature degradation (LTD) process (often referred to as “ageing”) to evaluate the changes in the tribological behaviour after this treatment. In this particular case, the wear properties of the UHMWPE-biocomposite system were found to be less influenced by ageing in contrast to the case of the UHMWPE-zirconia monolithic material. In addition to their exceptional mechanical performance, 3Y-TZP/Ta composites also showed high resistance to low temperature degradation and good tribological properties, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications, especially for orthopaedic implants.     

Novel insights on the impact of top water on Steam‐Assisted Gravity Drainage in a point bar reservoir

As efforts are made to efficiently exploit and recover bitumen resources in Canada, increasingly more complex reservoirs in the Athabasca area continue to challenge the application of Steam‐Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) technology. Several studies have been done to investigate the impact of heterogeneities/complexities such as shale barriers, lean zones, and top and bottom water on the performance of the SAGD process. However, the literature is deficient for point bar deposits with top water zones, a common occurrence in oil sands systems. This study, by using thermal reservoir simulation, examines SAGD performance in a point bar deposit reservoir where an overlying top water and an inclined heterolithic strata (IHS) is present. The results show that where the top water is unconfined and steam injection pressure is higher than that of the top water zone, there is a loss of thermal energy, but the top water does not impact steam chamber development. At steam injection pressure lower than that of the top water zone, top water continuously drains into the reservoir and constrains the size of the chamber. However, the IHS zone helps to delay drainage of the top water into the chamber when steam is injected at underbalanced conditions. Finally, under proper steam injection pressure conditions, top water production can be considerably delayed.     

Effect of Different Cosolvents on Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil in a Microreactor

Biodiesel was prepared from waste cooking oil combined with methanol. The process was performed via transesterification in a microreactor using kettle limescale as a heterogeneous catalyst and various cosolvents under different conditions. n‐Hexane and tetrahydrofuran were selected as cosolvents to investigate fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). To optimize the reaction conditions, the main parameters affecting FAME% including reaction temperature, catalyst concentration, oil‐to‐methanol volumetric ratio, and cosolvent‐to‐methanol volumetric ratio were studied via response surface methodology. Under optimal reaction conditions and in the presence of the cosolvents n‐hexane and tetrahydrofuran, high FAME purities were achieved. Considering the experimental results, the limescale catalyst is a unique material, and the cosolvent method can reduce significantly the reaction time and biodiesel production cost.     

柱塞副微观表面对间隙油膜压力的影响

根据分形理论中的W-M函数建立柱塞与缸体孔表面三维形貌数学模型,并利用MATLAB软件编写程序,分析分形维数对表面微观形貌的影响。将柱塞副间隙油膜沿轴向展成平面,建立油膜厚度及压力分布计算模型,采用有限体积法求解二维雷诺方程,分析粗糙度对柱塞副间隙油膜压力分布的影响。结果表明:随着分形维数的增加,柱塞表面粗糙度呈增加趋势,且表面粗糙度越大,压力峰值越大。     

Use of Beta Cyclodextrin to Remove Cholesterol and Increase Astaxanthin Content in Shrimp Oil

Shrimp oil is extracted from shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cephalothorax and subjected to the removal of cholesterol by β‐cyclodextrin (βCD). Different oil/βCD ratios (1:2, 1:3, and 1:4, w/w) and homogenization times (1, 10, and 20 min) are used. Cholesterol deduction is attained with increasing βCD levels and homogenization time. Astaxanthin content is augmented, while cholesterol concentration is reduced. Nevertheless, oil yield and astaxanthin concentration of treated oil are decreased as βCD levels are increased. To increase the oil yield, the used βCD is further extracted for three times with ethyl acetate at 1:10 (w/v) ratio, in which yield is increased from 44.6% to 64%. Cholesterol removal of 95% is obtained, while astaxanthin content is increased. Lipid oxidation is lowered as indicated by the lower TOTOX value, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and p‐anisidine value. However, lipid hydrolysis is slightly increased after treatment. Volatiles, especially aldehydes and alcohols, are decreased after treatment. FTIR spectra confirm the removal of phospholipid, which might be associated with the decreased oil yield after treatment. With the developed process, total fatty acid is increased by 15.6%, in which monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) are augmented. βCD could remove cholesterol, increase astaxanthin and fatty acid content. Practical Applications: Shrimp oil has been known to be a rich source of astaxanthin and PUFAs with health benefit. However, it also contains cholesterol, which can be a drawback for consumption as the supplement. The removal of cholesterol, while maintaining PUFA and astaxanthin could pave a way for promoting the intake of shrimp oil. Use of βCD for oil treatment with subsequent extraction of remaining oil in the used βCD could be implemented with ease. Another advantage of the developed process is to increase both fatty acid and astaxanthin contents in the resulting oil. As a consequence, shrimp oil with lowered cholesterol can be directly used as food ingredient and also for neutraceutical purpose.     

浮法玻璃熔窑火焰空间石油焦部分替代重油燃烧的数值模拟

针对浮法玻璃熔窑火焰空间建立模型并进行了数值模拟，在保证热值相同的前提下，对比研究了重油燃烧及将石油焦部分替代重油燃烧时的流场分布特征。结果表明，石油焦部分代替重油燃烧后，两种燃料可很好地混合燃烧，窑炉内温度制度基本不受影响；石油焦着火时间比重油长，两种燃料混合燃烧时平均着火点滞后于仅使用重油时，且燃烧路径更长，燃烧时产生了大量CO，整个火焰空间及烟气出口处NOx的平均排放量与仅使用重油相比降低了30.02%，NOx减排效果明显。     

多因素影响下苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物改性沥青性能分析

通过掺加不同含量糠醛抽出油、红油增塑剂与苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物(SBS)改性剂,分析其对SBS改性沥青各性能指标的影响,判断影响SBS改性沥青性能的主要因素。结果表明:改性沥青中SBS改性剂含量是提高软化点、弹性恢复的主要因素;糠醛抽出油含量增大则可明显提高其延度指标,且改善SBS改性沥青的离析程度;红油增塑剂含量增大可大幅提高SBS改性沥青的延度指标,但高温性能下降且离析严重,短期老化后指标下降幅度高于同等含量抽出油老化后指标。因此可在SBS含量确定的情况下,通过掺加适当的糠醛抽出油以改善SBS改性沥青的性能。     

多孔BN选择性去除燃油中硫化合物的密度泛函理论研究

选择性去除燃油中的硫化物对环境和人类健康具有重要意义。采用基于密度泛函理论（DFT）和含色散矫正的密度泛函理论（D-DFT）的方法，研究了多孔氮化硼（p-BN）及其空位缺陷对燃油中噻吩类硫化物及非硫化物的吸附行为及吸附选择性。结果表明：B—N极性键与硫化物极性分子之间的分子间力使p-BN能选择性去除燃油中的二苯并噻吩（DBT）；引入N、B空位缺陷后，缺陷能级与S原子形成化学相互作用并伴随电荷转移，进一步增强了p-BN对硫化物的吸附。通过对N、B空位缺陷形成能的计算，预测了合成含V_N、V_B的p-BN所需的化学条件：在富硼条件下，采用B₂H₄作为B源比采用B、α-B₁₂和BH₃等更有利于V_N的形成；而在富氮环境下采用N₂H₄作为N源比采用N₂、NH₃等更有利于V_B形成。为实验上有目的地合成高效吸附脱硫材料提供理论依据。