In situ reaction and solid solution induced hardening in (Ti,Zr)B2-(Zr,Ti)C composites

(Ti,Zr)B₂ - (Zr,Ti)C ceramics were synthesized by reactive hot-pressing and solid solution coupling effect using ZrB₂ and TiC powders as starting materials. Effects of sintering temperature on phase relations, microstructure and mechanical properties were reported. The equimolar ZrB₂ and TiC reactants ensured a complete in situ reaction to form (Ti,Zr)B₂ and (Zr,Ti)C solid solutions. The (Ti,Zr)B₂ - (Zr,Ti)C composite sintered at 1750°C was fully densified, and exhibited a high hardness of 29.1 GPa due to fine-grain hardening and solid solution hardening. The optimized comprehensive mechanical properties such as a hardness of 27.9 GPa, a strength of 705 MPa and an indentation fracture toughness of 5.3 MPa m^1/2 were achieved in (Ti,Zr)B₂ - (Zr,Ti)C composites sintered at 1800°C for 1 hour.     

Direct comparison of Eulerian–Eulerian and Eulerian–Lagrangian simulations for particle-laden vertical channel flow

Particle-laden flows in a vertical channel were simulated using an Eulerian–Eulerian, Anisotropic Gaussian (EE-AG) model. Two sets of cases varying the overall mass loading were done using particle sizes corresponding to either a large or small Stokes number. Primary and turbulent statistics were extracted from these results and compared with counterparts collected from Eulerian–Lagrangian (EL) simulations. The statistics collected from the small Stokes number particle cases correspond well between the two models, with the EE-AG model replicating the transition observed using the EL model from shear-induced turbulence to relaminarization to cluster-induced turbulence as the mass loading increased. The EE-AG model was able to capture the behavior of the EL simulations only at the largest particle concentrations using the large Stokes particles. This is due to the limitations involved with employing a particle-phase Eulerian model (as opposed to a Lagrangian representation) for a spatially intermittent system that has a low particle number concentration.     

Synthesis of a novel char-forming agent (PEIC): Improvement in flame retardancy,thermal stability,and smoke suppression for intumescent flame-retardant polypropylene composites

A novel char-forming agent named PEIC was designed and synthesized combining pentaerythritol octahydrogen tetraphosphate (PEPA) and tris(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate. PEIC was combined with the silica-gel-microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (OS-MCAPP), preparing intumescent flame-retardant polypropylene (PP) composites. The results of the limiting oxygen index (LOI) show that the composite containing 30 wt % IFR with OS-MCAPP:PEIC = 2:1 presents the optimal LOI of 32.7%. Meanwhile, the cone calorimeter tests show that its peak heat release rate is 432 kW m⁻², which decreases by 62.1% compared with that of pure PP, showing a high-efficient flame retardancy. The exhibited UL-94 V-0 rating for all the composites indicates that the IFR composed of PEIC and OS-MCAPP has high-efficient flame retardancy in PP. The analysis of residue char reveals that PEIC could improve the quality of char in compactness, intumescentia, and the degree of graphitization. Further, the effect of IFR on the mechanical properties of PP composites was also evaluated and discussed. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48296.     

Si含量对Al-Si电子封装材料组织和性能的影响

采用热压成形工艺制备了Al-50Si、Al-60Si、Al-70Si合金电子封装材料,研究Si含量对材料组织和性能的影响。结果表明,Si含量对Al-xSi高Si铝合金有很大影响,Si含量为50%时,Al基体形成连续网络结构,但存在大量细小的孔隙。当Si含量增加到60%,Al基体呈连续网络状分布,内部孔洞减少。当Si含量达到70%,Si颗粒相互依存长大的几率更大,Si相尺寸明显长大。Al-60Si合金性能最佳,热导率为128.0W/(m·K),室温到150℃合金的热膨胀系数为9.92×10^-6℃^-1,密度为2.462g/cm^3。     

Predictions of structural,electronic, mechanical,and thermodynamic properties of TMBCs (TM = Ti,Zr, and Hf) ceramics

In the present work, we have investigated the structural, electronic, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of transition-metal boron-carbon compounds (TMBCs) (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf) using the first-principles calculations. The results showed that TMBCs are energetically and thermodynamically stable, and the sequence of phase stability is HfBC > ZrBC > TiBC. B-C bonds can be formed in TMBCs ceramics due to the strong hybridization between B-2p and C-2p states. The elastic anisotropies of TMBCs were illustrated by elastic anisotropy indexes, 3D surface constructions, and 2D projections, and the results indicated that the sequence of elastic anisotropy is ZrBC > TiBC > HfBC. Finally, the calculated minimum thermal conductivities, based on the Clarke's and Cahill's models, of all TMBCs are anisotropic with the sequence of ZrBC > TiBC > HfBC.     

Function mechanism of Y2O3 additive in silicon powder nitridation

Effect of sole Y₂O₃ additive on the nitridation behavior of silicon powder was systematically studied using thermo gravimetry, differential thermal analysis, particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and thermodynamic analysis in this paper. The thermo gravimetry results showed that Y₂O₃ additive can significantly decrease the initial nitriding temperature and increase the nitriding rate. This phenomenon can be attributed to the much lower reaction temperature of the silica film and Y₂O₃ additive than that of the silica film and silicon. In addition, Y₂O₃ additive has little effect on the nitridation of silicon powder at 1300°C. However, it can obviously enhance the nitridation of silicon powder and the formation of β-Si₃N₄ at 1400°C, which is evidenced by the fact that the overall conversion increases from 58.1% to 100% and the fraction of β-Si₃N₄ in generated Si₃N₄ increases from 7.9% to 68.2% with increasing the content of Y₂O₃ additive from 0 to 10 wt%.     

A simple permanent deformation model of rockfill materials

Existing experimental results have shown that using a semi-log linear relationship between the permanent volumetric strain and cyclic number underestimates the volumetric deformation of rockfill materials with a large cyclic number, and that the error increases with the confining pressure. The existing permanent deformation models are not suitable for the seismic safety analysis of high dams during strong earthquakes. In this study, a series of large-scale triaxial cyclic loading tests of rockfill materials were performed, and a new permanent deformation model of rockfill materials was developed and validated with three kinds of rockfill materials. The results show that the proposed model can properly reflect the general features of the permanent deformation of rockfill materials. The main features of the model are as follows: (1) relations between the cyclic number and permanent volumetric/shear strain are described by hyperbolic functions, which can avoid underestimating the volumetric deformation occurring during strong earthquakes; (2) the model can capture the effect of the mean effective stress on the permanent volumetric strain, with greater confining pressure correlating to greater permanent volumetric deformation, and the permanent volumetric strain under low confining pressure near the dam crest can be well represented; and (3) the model can reflect the effect of the consolidation stress ratio on the permanent shear strain.     

Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate Induced Toxicity Study and the Role of Tangeretin in Abrogating HIF-1α-NF-κB Crosstalk In Vitro and In Vivo

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is a potent tumor promoter and highly inflammatory in nature. Here, we investigated the toxic effects of PMA on different model system. PMA (10 μg) caused chromosomal aberrations on the Allium cepa root tip and induced mitotic dysfunction. Similarly, PMA caused embryonic and larval deformities and a plummeted survivability rate on zebrafish embryo in a dose-dependent manner. Persistently, PMA treatment on immortalized human keratinocyte human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells caused massive inflammatory rush at 4 h and a drop in cell survivability at 24 h. Concomitantly, we replicated a cutaneous inflammation similar to human psoriasis induced by PMA. Herein, we used tangeretin (TAN), as an antagonist to counteract the inflammatory response. Results from an in vivo experiment indicated that TAN (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly inhibited PMA stimulated epidermal hyperplasia and intra-epidermal neutrophilic abscesses. In addition, its treatment effectively neutralized PMA induced elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on in vitro and in vivo systems, promoting antioxidant response. The association of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated b cells (NF-κB) crosstalk triggered by PMA enhanced PKCα-ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway; its activation was also significantly counteracted after TAN treatment. Conclusively, we demonstrated TAN inhibited the nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and NF-κB p65. Collectively, TAN treatment ameliorated PMA incited malignant inflammatory response by remodeling the cutaneous microenvironment.     

CO2 methanation over Ni and Rh based catalysts: Process optimization at moderate temperature

H₂ was produced from aluminum/water reaction and reacted with CO₂ over Ni and Rh based catalysts to optimize the process conditions for CO₂ methanation at moderate temperature. Monometallic catalysts were prepared by incorporating Ni and Rh using nickel nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O) and rhodium(III) chloride trihydrate (RhCl₃·3H₂O)as a precursor chemical. The preliminary study of the catalysts revealed higher activity and CH₄ selectivity for Rh based catalyst compared to that of Ni based catalyst. Further, Rh based catalyst was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) involving central composite design. The quadratic model was employed to correlate the effects of variable parameters including methanation temperature, %humidity, and catalyst weight with the %CO₂ conversion, %CH₄ selectivity, and CH₄ production capacity. Analysis of variance revealed that methanation temperature and humidity play an important role in CO₂ methanation. Higher response values of CO₂ conversion (54.4%), CH₄ selectivity (73.5%) and CH₄ production capacity (8.4 μmol g^?1 min^?1) were noted at optimum conditions of 206.7°C of methanation temperature, 12.5% humidity and 100 mg of the catalyst. The results demonstrated the ability of Rh catalyst supported on palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) for CO₂ methanation at low temperature and atmospheric pressure.     

Electro-Photoluminescence Color Change for Deformable Visual Encryption

Although structural coloring and photoluminescence (PL) have been investigated for radiation-responsive color change, electroluminescence (EL) has not been used for the radiation-responsive system. An electro-photoluminescence (EPL) color change is presented here. The phosphors in the alternating current electroluminescence (ACEL) act simultaneously as electro-luminophores and photo-luminophores. The EPL chromaticity is systematically investigated depending on the ACEL frequency and UV intensity. It is found that the PL variation depending on UV intensity is the mechanism of the EPL color change. It is revealed that EL and PL can be controlled independently in the low electric field so that the EPL chromaticity can be adjusted by a linear combination of the EL color and the PL color. The EPL color-changing device is used as a deformable visual encryption system and a soft skin for a soft robotic rover, imitating the concealment and signaling functions in nature.