High-temperature electrical properties of polymer-derived ceramic SiBCN thin films fabricated by direct writing

The in situ temperature monitoring of hot components in harsh environments remains a challenging task. In this study, SiBCN thin-film resistance grids with thicknesses of 1.8 μm were fabricated on alumina substrates via direct writing. Owing to their dense microscopic morphology and extremely high graphitisation level, the produced SiBCN films exhibited large high-temperature oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity. The resistance–temperature, stability, and repeatability characteristics of these films were examined in an aerobic environment at temperatures up to 800 °C. The obtained results revealed that the thermistor resistance decreased monotonously with increasing temperature from room temperature to 800 °C. The SiBCN film resistance variations observed during repeated temperature cycling in the regions of 505–620 °C and 610–720 °C were 0.09% and 1.7%, respectively. The high cyclability and stability of the SiBCN thin film thermistor suggested its potential applicability for the in situ temperature monitoring of hot components in harsh environments.     

Review on development of metal/ceramic interpenetrating phase composites and critical analysis of their properties

Metal/ceramic composites are in high demand in several industries because of their superior thermo-mechanical properties. Among various composite types, the interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) with percolating metallic and ceramic phases offer manifold benefits, such as a good combination of strength, toughness, and stiffness, very good thermal properties, excellent wear resistance, as well as the flexibility of microstructure and processing route selection, etc. The fabrication of metal/ceramic IPCs typically involves two steps - i) processing of an open porous ceramic body, and ii) infiltration of metallic melt in the pores to fabricate the IPC. Although significant progress has been made in recent years for developing both porous ceramics and melt infiltration methods, to the best of the knowledge of the authors, no review article summarizing all the aspects of processing and properties of IPCs has been published till date. This review article is aimed at filling this gap. Starting with a brief introduction about the current status and applications of IPCs, the various processing routes for fabricating open porous ceramic preforms and melt infiltration techniques have been discussed. Subsequently, the data available for various important physical, mechanical, and thermal properties for IPCs have been critically analyzed to thoroughly understand their dependence on various structural and processing parameters. To compare the properties of IPCs with other relevant materials, seven different Ashby material property maps have been used, and the domains for IPCs have been created in them. For each map, the concept of material indices has been employed to critically discuss how IPCs perform in relation to other material classes for various optimum design conditions. Finally, a detailed future outlook for further research on IPCs has been provided.     

Highly sensitive and wide-range flexible sensor based on hybrid BaWO4@CS nanocomposite

Flexible photoelectronic devices are in demand right now. In this work, a new family of biopolymer-based photodetectors is described. Chitosan (CS) was utilized as a safe, biodegradable host biopolymer, and nanostructured barium tungstate (BaWO₄) particles were used as the nanofiller of the biopolymer matrix to prepare flexible optical sensors. The co-precipitation process was used to produce the filler powders, which were then dried at room temperature without using any surfactants or hazardous solvents. The fabricated sensor showed high flexibility and sensitivity to UV/proton/alpha and laser irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), XPS, FTIR, EDX-map analysis also confirmed the successful synthesis, related chemical binding, and elements in the nanocomposite structure. According to the TEM images, the average particle size of synthesized BaWO₄ NPs was obtained at about 110 nm. A considerable luminescence emission was observed in the constructed sensor's blue/green and ultraviolet spectral regions under various excitation sources. The developed sensor was nontoxic to the cells and provided soft, thin, antibacterial activity, flexible, and comfortable contact with skin, and promising ionizing ray detection applications in flexible optical sensors.     

Rare-earth free sensitizer in NaLuCrF4:Er upconversion material

Upconversion phosphors are known as a material system that can convert near-infrared light into visible/ultraviolet emissions by sequentially absorbing multiple photons. The studies on upconversion materials often use two rare earth (RE) ions as a sensitizer-activator pair. We investigated the influences on luminescence intensity depending on Cr-doping content (x) of hexagonal NaLu_0.98–xCr_xF₄Er_0.02 (x = 0–0.9) upconversion material by substituting Lu³⁺ ions with Cr³⁺in the absence of Gd³⁺. The change in upconversion luminescence intensity appears with saddle-like shape. We suggest that Cr³⁺ ions play the dual role as a constituent in host lattice and a sensitizer in the upconversion process. Optimal conditions for gaining the strongest upconversion emission correspond to x = 0.3–0.5, where there are effective energy transfers between Cr³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions and CrEr dimers. Apart from these values, the emission intensity decreases rapidly which can be ascribed to the absence of multiple-photon absorption for the case of low Cr³⁺ contents, and to the coupling between Cr³⁺ and/or Er³⁺ ions for the case of high Cr³⁺ contents. Magnetization and electron-spin-resonant measurements were performed to understand the correlation between the optical and magnetic properties.     

脉冲激光与电弧布置方式对铝合金焊接熔滴过渡与焊缝形貌的影响

以2219铝合金为基板，研究了不同脉冲激光-电弧布置方式下的熔滴过渡与焊缝形貌特征，分析了熔深增加的机理. 结果表明，当脉冲激光照射母材时，脉冲激光主要提供对母材的热输入，母材温度的增加有助于促进熔滴铺展，稳定熔滴过渡过程；当脉冲激光照射熔滴缩颈时，主要提供对熔滴的力输入，蒸发反力的作用下形成"一脉一滴"，显著提高熔滴过渡频率与熔滴飞行速度，增加了熔滴对熔池的冲击力，熔深增加；当脉冲激光交替的照射熔池和熔滴时，一方面能够对母材进行加热，有助于熔滴的铺展，另一方面能够提高熔滴过渡频率，提高焊缝的均匀性.     

基于多特征融合的电影推荐系统

协同过滤算法（CF）根据用户-物品的评分矩阵做推荐，未考虑物品自身属性。本文将MovieLens数据集上的电影属性，作为影响推荐结果的因素，融合电影的简介、评论、评分、导演和演员等多种因素，进行推荐。使用CNN（卷积神经网络）和Word2Vec（Word to Vector,词向量模型）处理电影简介；使用AFINN（Finn rup Nielsen情感词典）处理评论，并对结果进行映射；对导演和演员数据进行建模，得到该因素下的预测评分，最后将各因素下的结果进行加权融合，通过调整权重，得到最佳效果。经验证，该方法的推荐性能优于传统的CF算法。     

Digital image correlation for strain measurement in plastic film blowing process

Surface deformation study of a polymer film during plastic film blowing (PFB) extrusion process though is considered essential, is difficult to execute as the process is fast and continuous. Digital image correlation (DIC) is an optical technique that is non-destructive, highly accurate and designed to measure deformations from micro to macro scale. DIC can be proposed as a reliable tool to understand the relationship of polymer structure-processing-properties. In this literature, digital image correlation, its basic principle of operation and reliability guided DIC for continuous large deformation are comprehensively explored. Versatility of DIC, and the conditions that affect the measurement algorithm as well as preceding use of DIC in polymer processes are reviewed. The implementation and potential use of DIC in PFB are described.

This review was submitted as part of the 2019 Materials Literature Review Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining run by the Editorial Board of MST. Sponsorship of the prize by TWI Ltd is gratefully acknowledged.     

Extraction equilibrium conditions of beryllium and aluminium from a beryl ore for optimal industrial beryllium compound production

This study examines the extraction of beryllium and aluminium from a Nigerian beryl ore using Cyanex®272 in kerosene from an aqueous sulphate pregnant solution. Parameters such as extractant concentration and equilibrium pH that dictates the extraction yield were studied. Under the following conditions: temperature 27?±?2°C, phase ratio 1?1, about 45.50 and 46.76% of beryllium and aluminium were extracted by 0.15?mol?L^?1 Cyanex®272 concentration within 30?min. However, the extraction yield of beryllium and aluminium was increased to 91.68% and 97.89% at equilibrium pH of 3 and 4, respectively, for beryllium and aluminium at 27?±?2°C. A 0.05?mol?L^?1 H₂SO₄ solution was found to be adequate for the stripping of about 99.00% Be and 95.40% Al from the loaded organic phase. The pure solutions containing metal ions were accordingly beneficiated to obtain beryllium and aluminium compounds of industrial values.