Fabrication of 3D structures via direct ink writing of kaolin/graphene oxide composite suspensions at ambient temperature

Kaolin/graphene oxide composite has been widely utilized in aero-space and architectural engineering applications due to its excellent mechanical property. Direct ink writing (DIW) is a freeform rapid prototyping technology that could be used to accurately fabricate the resulting size with complex shapes. In this study, we reported the DIW of kaolin/graphene oxide (GO) composite suspensions (KGCS) to assemble 3D structures at ambient temperature for the first time. The effects of GO on the chemical constitution and microstructure of kaolin suspensions were investigated. Rheology was characterized to ensure printability of KGCS. The addition of GO in kaolin suspensions quickened a flocculation structure, which dramatically changed their rheology properties. The DIW of 3D structures from the optimal KGCS sample maintained their initial shape without spreading. The flexural and compressive strengths of the dried optimal KGCS samples were obviously enhanced due to the improvement and reduction of the micro-defects compared from cured kaolin matrix.     

Unique CNTs-chained Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles as excellent high rate anode materials for Li-ion capacitors

Composite anode materials with a unique architecture of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-chained spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, LTO) nanoparticles are prepared for lithium ion capacitors (LICs). The CNTs networks derived from commercial conductive slurry not only bring out a steric hindrance effect to restrict the growth of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ particles but greatly enhance the electronic conductivity of the CNTs/LTO composites, both have contributed to the excellent rate capability and cycle stability. The capacity retention at 30 C (1 C = 175 mA g^?1) is as high as 89.7% of that at 0.2 C with a CNTs content of 11 wt%. Meanwhile, there is not any capacity degradation after 500 cycles at 5 C. The LIC assembled with activated carbon (AC) cathode and such a CNTs/LTO composite anode displays excellent energy storage properties, including a high energy density of 35 Wh kg^?1 at 7434 W kg^?1, and a high capacity retention of 87.8% after 2200 cycles at 1 A g^?1. These electrochemical performances outperform the reported data achieved on other LTO anode-based LICs. Considering the facile and scalable preparation process proposed herein, the CNTs/LTO composites can be very potential anode materials for hybrid capacitors towards high power-energy outputs.     

Growth,mechanical properties,and tribological performance of TiAlN/NbN and NbN/TiAlN bilayer coatings

Three different coatings, namely TiAlN, TiAlN (external)/NbN (internal) and NbN (external)/TiAlN (internal), were deposited on cemented carbides by arc ion plating. The comparative investigation conducted in this study elucidates the effect of the NbN layer and coating systems on the growth, mechanical properties, and tribological performance of the coatings. The results showed that the surface of the TiAlN and TiAlN/NbN coatings was smoother when TiAlN served as the external layer. The NbN/TiAlN coating, wherein NbN formed the external layer, had a much rougher but more symmetrical surface. With the introduction of the NbN layer, the increased micro stress induced a lower adhesion strength in the TiAlN/NbN and NbN/TiAlN coatings. The TiAlN/NbN and NbN/TiAlN coatings exhibited higher hardness and hardness/effective elastic modulus (H/E*). During the friction test, when the temperature was elevated to 700 °C, the tribological performance of the monolayer TiAlN coating was the lowest because of the TiO₂-induced breakage of the dense tribo-oxide film. The NbN layer participated in the formation of a NbO_x film at elevated temperatures, which was responsible for the high tribological performance of the two bilayer coatings. When the NbN layer was on the outermost layer and in direct contact with the elevated temperature atmosphere, the NbN/TiAlN coating generated a tribo-oxide film with high integrity, and its coefficient of friction decreased by 27% of that at room temperature. Therefore, the NbN/TiAlN coating exhibited the highest wear resistance at 700 °C.     

Cyclic thermal shock resistance of h-BN composite ceramics with La2O3–Al2O3–SiO2 addition

The effects of La₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ addition on the thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), Young's modulus and cyclic thermal shock resistance of hot-pressed h-BN composite ceramics were investigated. The samples were heated to 1000 °C and then quenched to room temperature with 1–50 cycles, and the residual flexural strength was used to evaluate cyclic thermal shock resistance. h-BN composite ceramics containing 10 vol% La₂O₃–Al₂O₃ and 20 vol% SiO₂ addition exhibited the highest flexural strength, thermal conductivity and relatively low CTE, which were beneficial to the excellent thermal shock resistance. In addition, the viscous amorphous phase of ternary La₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ system could accommodate and relax thermal stress contributing to the high thermal shock resistance. Therefore, the residual flexural strength still maintained the value of 234.3 MPa (86.9% of initial strength) after 50 cycles of thermal shock.     

Selective Coating of SnS on the Bio‐Inspired Moth‐Eye Patterned PEDOT:PSS Polymer Films

A new strategy for the selective coating of tin sulfide (SnS) on the surface of moth‐eye patterned (MEP) conducting polymer film is studied by considering the optical properties of the antireflective moth‐eye pattern and flexibility of polymer films. The semiconductor SnS is selectively coated on the surface of MEP microdomes of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrene‐sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) film. The SnS coated MEP film is obtained by using pore selectively SnS thin layer functionalized polystyrene honeycomb‐patterned porous (HCP) film as a template. Aqueous PEDOT:PSS solution is poured on the SnS functionalized HCP films and detached for the fabrication of SnS coated MEP films. The films show a satisfactory photo‐responsive property under solar stimulated light illumination due to the antireflective MEP structure of PEDOT film and homogenous SnS coating on the surface of the conducting polymer.     

Toughness enhancement and equivalent initial fracture toughness of cementitious composite reinforced with aligned steel fibres

Based on theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the impact of steel fibres on the stress intensity factor (SIF) at the crack tip for cementitious composite was studied. The enhanced toughness of steel fibre reinforced cementitious composite (SFRC) in resisting cracks was explained by the decrement of SIF caused by steel fibre inclusions at the crack tip of the composite. The equivalent initial fracture toughness was used to characterize the crack initiation of SFRC. A simplified method for determining the of SFRC was proposed based on a linear regression method. Fracture tests were conducted on three‐point bending notched beams with different steel fibre volume fractions and specimen sizes to study the crack initiation behaviour of aligned steel fibre reinforced cementitious composite (ASFRC). of ASFRC was calculated, and the size effect of was analysed. The results showed that slightly increased with the steel fibre volume fraction and gradually became stable. For the tested specimens, whose heights varied between 40 and 100 mm, the specimen size had little impact on the .     

Separation of hematite from banded hematite jasper (BHJ) by magnetic coating

The separation of iron oxide from banded hematite jasper(BHJ) assaying 47.8% Fe, 25.6% Si O2 and 2.30%Al2O3 using selective magnetic coating was studied. Characterization studies of the low grade ore indicate that besides hematite and goethite,jasper, a microcrystalline form of quartzite, is the major impurity associated with this ore. Beneficiation by conventional magnetic separation technique could yield a magnetic concentrate containing 60.8% Fe with 51% Fe recovery. In order to enhance the recovery of the iron oxide minerals, fine magnetite, colloidal magnetite and oleate colloidal magnetite were used as the coating material. When subjected to magnetic separation, the coated ore produces an iron concentrate containing 60.2% Fe with an enhanced recovery of56%. The AFM studies indicate that the coagulation of hematite particles with the oleate colloidal magnetite facilitates the higher recovery of iron particles from the low grade BHJ iron ore under appropriate conditions.     

Fe基非晶合金增强1060铝基多层复合材料的组织与性能

采用累积叠轧焊+中间退火法复合轧制1060Al/Fe基非晶多层铝合金复合板材。利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、X-衍射分析仪以及拉伸试验机分析Al基复合材料的微观组织结构变化、断口形貌、物相组成以及力学性能。结果表明:Fe基非晶复合材料的增强体在300 ℃中间退火过程中发生部分晶化,在累积变形轧制过程中发生破碎,并随着变形道次的增加,破碎程度随之增大;复合板前6道次的累积轧制变形出现了明显的加工软化现象,并且随着变形道次的增加,其加工软化的效果愈明显;随着累积轧制变形道次增加,Al基复合材料的力学性能发生了明显的变化,第2道次轧制变形后屈服强度与抗拉强度达到了最大值为140 MPa和156 MPa,伸长率为5.53%,达到最佳综合性能。     

A design of experiments investigation into dry separation using a Knelson Concentrator

Enhanced gravity, or centrifugal, separators have revolutionised gold processing over the past decades, significantly increasing the recovery of fine (−100 μm) free gold. One of the main drawbacks of centrifugal gravity concentrators is the large volume of water required (even if it is all recycled). With water becoming an ever increasingly important “commodity”, reducing this is of importance both from an environmental and a monetary point of view. This work investigated operating a laboratory scale Knelson Concentrator with a dry feed and using air as the fluidising medium. The feed used was a synthetic mixture of tungsten and quartz, used to mimic a gold ore. The response surface method and central composite design techniques were used to design the experiments and to model the results, with the experimental variables being the bowl speed (G-Level), air fluidising pressure and the feed rate. The models corresponded well to the experimental results, indicating that for this experimental setup, the optimal conditions were a bowl G-Level of 40 G, a feed rate of 220 g/min and an air fluidising pressure of 8 psi.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel Ca-alginate-biochar composite as efficient zinc (Zn2+) adsorbent: Thermodynamics,process design,mass transfer and isotherm modeling

In this present work, Ca-alginate-biochar adsorbent has been synthesized, characterized and tested its effectiveness in the removal of aqueous phase Zn²⁺ metal. The removal efficiency was studied under various physicochemical process parameters. External mass transfer model, intraparticle diffusion model and pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to fit the experimental Zn²⁺ adoption kinetic results and to identify the mechanism of adsorption. The desorption studies indicate the possibilities of ion-exchange and physical–chemical adsorption of Zn^2+. The adsorption was best described by Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption process becomes spontaneous, endothermic and irreversible in nature.