Mechanical property degradation of high crystalline SiC fiber–reinforced SiC matrix composite neutron irradiated to ∼100 displacements per atom

For the development of silicon carbide (SiC) materials for next-generation nuclear structural applications, degradation of material properties under intense neutron irradiation is a critical feasibility issue. This study evaluated the mechanical properties and microstructure of a chemical vapor infiltrated SiC matrix composite, reinforced with a multi-layer SiC/pyrolytic carbon–coated Hi-Nicalon^TM Type S SiC fiber, following neutron irradiation at 319 and 629?°C to ～100 displacements per atom. Both the proportional limit stress and ultimate flexural strength were significantly degraded as a result of irradiation at both temperatures. After irradiation at 319?°C, the quasi-ductile fracture behavior of the nonirradiated composite became brittle, a result that was explained by a loss of functionality of the fiber/matrix interface associated with the disappearance of the interphase due to irradiation. The specimens irradiated at 629?°C showed increased apparent failure strain because the fiber/matrix interphase was weakened by irradiation-induced partial debonding.     

Mullite-bonded SiC-whisker-reinforced SiC matrix composites: Preparation,characterization, and toughening mechanisms

A novel mullite-bonded SiC-whisker-reinforced SiC matrix composite (SiCw/SiC, SiC whisker-to-SiC powder mass ratio of 1:9) was designed and successfully prepared. Before preparing the composite, the inexpensive lab-made SiCw was first modified by an oxidation/leaching process and then coated with Al₂O₃. The kinetics results indicate that the oxidation process can be described by improved shrinking-cylinder models. The aspect ratio of SiCw improved after modification. Subsequently, raw materials with a SiC–SiO₂–Al₂O₃ triple-layered structure were obtained after the Al₂O₃-coating process and used as feedstocks during the subsequent hot-pressing sintering. Finally, the characterization of the composites indicates that the mullite-bonded sample performs better (relative density of 93.8?±?1.4%, flexural strength of 533.3?±?18.2?MPa, fracture toughness of 13.6?±?2.1?MPa?m^1/2, and Vickers hardness of 20.6?±?2.5?GPa) than the reference sample without the mullite interface. The improved toughness could essentially be attributed to the moderately strong interface bonding and effective load transfer effects of the mullite interface.     

Arabic sign language intelligent translator

ABSTRACT

Arabic sign language (ArSL) is method of communication between deaf communities in Arab countries; therefore, the development of systemsthat can recognize the gestures provides a means for the Deaf to easily integrate into society. In this research we implemented a computational structurefor an intelligent interpreter that automatically recognizes the isolated dynamic gestures. The proposed system recognizes and translates gesturesperformed with one or both hands. It comprises five subsystems, building dataset, video processing, feature extraction, mapping between ArSL and Arabictext, and text generation. To apply the system, 100-signs of ArSL was used, which was applied on 1500 video files. It's were divided into five classes:alphabet, numbers, "prepositions, pronouns and question words", Arabic life expressions, and "nouns and verbs". The evaluation indicated that thesystem automatically recognizes and translates isolated dynamic ArSL gestures by highly accurate manner. The results showed that the system accuracy is 95.8%.     

Preparation and mechanism of active Mo–Mn metallization on ZTA particles surface and interfacial bonding of reinforced iron matrix composite

ZrO₂ toughened Al₂O₃ particles (ZTAp) have poor wettability with iron, and therefore some defects are easily formed at the interface between ZTAp and iron matrix, which may lead to material failure. This paper illustrates that the ZTAp were modified on the surface by the active Mo–Mn metallization, and thus, they were used as the reinforcing phases to prepare the iron-matrix composite (ZTAp/Fe composite). It is concluded that the sponge-like skeleton structure was formed on the surface of ZTAp after the metallization. The interface of ZTAp/Fe composite, which has been proved to have bearing and transitional capacity by scratch test, was formed by chemical bonding with elemental diffusion, besides mechanical bonding. The metallization mechanism of elemental diffusion can be explained by the migration of glass phase, and the elements diffusion between the interface and iron matrix is to form solid solution.     

Effect of the sintering temperature on microstructure and properties of Al2O3–Cu–Ni hybrid composites obtained by PPS

In the present research, the influence of sintering temperature on the microstructure and properties of Al₂O₃–Cu–Ni hybrid composites prepared by the Pulse Plasma Sintering (PPS) technique were described. In this research, three temperatures have been selected: 1250°C, 1300°C, and 1350°C. SEM observations were carried out to determine the distribution of the metallic phase in the composite depending on the sintering temperature. The conducted experiments and microscopic observations enabled a better understanding of the phenomena occurring between the ceramic matrix and metallic phase in the obtained materials. The mechanical properties like a hardness and fracture toughness were measured. The technology applied allowed us to obtain ceramic-metal composites with a homogeneous microstructure. It was found that the sintering temperature influences the selected physical and mechanical properties of the composites produced. It was found that samples produced at 1300°C are characterized by the highest relative density and the mechanical properties.     

退火温度对HA/Ti-24Nb-4Zr复合材料组织与性能的影响

利用放电等离子烧结(SPS)技术制备了HA/Ti-24Nb-4Zr生物复合材料,研究了不同退火温度对复合材料显微组织和力学性能(抗压强度、屈服强度、屈强比、压缩弹性模量)的影响。结果表明,烧结态复合材料主要由β-Ti相、少量初生α-Ti相及HA相组成;随着退火温度的升高,复合材料基体中β-Ti相含量增多且晶粒逐渐长大,针状次生α-Ti相在晶界处和晶内不断析出,HA相结构和含量变化不大;与烧结态相比,不同退火温度处理后的复合材料强度和弹性模量先略微上升后下降,而塑韧性呈不断提高趋势;复合材料在850 ℃退火处理后,抗压强度、屈服强度、屈强比和压缩弹性模量值分别为1507 MPa、1270 MPa、0.84和42 GPa,塑韧性得到明显改善,作为生物医用植入材料具有潜在的应用前景。     

采用轮廓特征匹配的红外-可见光视频自动配准

为了精确地配准近平面场景下的红外-可见光视频序列,本文提出了一种基于轮廓特征匹配的自动配准方法,通过迭代匹配目标轮廓特征来解决异源图像中配准特征的提取和匹配难题。首先,采用运动目标检测技术获取目标轮廓,并由曲率尺度空间(CSS)角点检测算法提取轮廓特征点。此后,建立全局形状上下文描述子和局部边缘方向直方图描述子描述特征,从而实现可靠的特征匹配。来自不同时刻的匹配点对被保存在一个基于高斯距离准则的特征匹配库中。最后,为了克服近平面场景中目标深度变化的影响,本文结合前景样本随机抽样策略计算配准矩阵的损失函数,完成对全局配准矩阵的更新。在LITIV数据库上对方法进行实验验证,结果表明本文方法的配准精度优于当前先进的对比方法,在9个测试视频上的平均重叠率误差仅为0.194,与对比方法相比下降了18.5%。基本满足了近平面场景下红外-可见光视频序列配准的精度要求,且具有较高的鲁棒性。     

Effects of SiC content on the densification,microstructure, and mechanical properties of HfB2–SiC composites

To investigate the effects of SiC on microstructure, hardness, and fracture toughness, 0, 10, 20, and 30 vol% SiC were added to HfB₂ and sintered by SPS. Upon adding SiC to 30 vol%, relative density increased about 4%; but HfB₂ grain growth had a minimum at 20 vol% SiC. This may be due to grain boundary silicate glass, responsible for surface oxide wash out, enriched in SiO₂ with higher fraction of SiC. By SiO₂ enrichment, the glass viscosity increased and higher HfO₂ remained unsolved which subsequently lead to higher grain growth. Hardness has increased from about 13 to 15 GPa by SiC introduction with no sensible variation with SiC increase. Residual stress measurements by Rietveld method indicated high levels of tensile residual stresses in the HfB₂ Matrix. Despite the peak residual stress value at 20 vol% SiC, fracture toughness of this sample was the highest (6.43 MPa m^0.5) which implied that fracture toughness is mainly a grain size function. Tracking crack trajectory showed a mainly trans-granular fracture, but grain boundaries imposed a partial deflection on the crack pathway. SiC had a higher percentage in fracture surface images than the cross-section which implied a weak crack deflection.     

C/C-SiC component for metallic phase change materials

Thanks to their high energy density and thermal conductivity, metallic Phase Change Materials (mPCM) have shown great potential to improve the performance of thermal energy storage systems. However, the commercial application of mPCM is still limited due to their corrosion behavior with conventional container materials. This work first addresses on a fundamental level, whether carbon-based composite-ceramics are suitable for corrosion critical components in a thermal storage system. The compatibility between the mPCM AlSi₁₂ and the Liquid Silicon Infiltration (LSI)-based carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/C-SiC) composite is then investigated via contact angle measurements, microstructure analysis, and mechanical testing after exposure. The results reveal that the C/C-SiC composite maintains its mechanical properties and microstructure after exposure in the strongly corrosive mPCM. Based on these results, efforts were made to design and manufacture a container out of C/C-SiC for the housing of mPCM in vehicle application. The stability of the component filled with mPCM was proven nondestructively via computer tomography (CT). Successful thermal input- and output as well as thermal storage ability were demonstrated using a system calorimeter under conditions similar to the application. The investigated C/C-SiC composite has significant application potential as a structural material for thermal energy storage systems with mPCM.     

Pressure sensor matrix for indirect measurement of grip and push forces exerted on a handle

To date, a large part of workers is exposed to vibrations (23% in Europe) which can negatively impact on their health. This work discusses the importance of measuring grip and push forces in the context of hand-arm vibration tests, bearing in mind the state-of-art of current standards. It proposes a method for indirect measurement of coupling forces using a matrix of polymeric pressure capacitive sensors and discusses the model used for defining these quantities. The matrix of pressure sensors is wrapped around the tool handle and the acting forces, exchanged with the handle, are derived from the pressure values measured by the matrix. Calibration is presented and the effect of curvature is discussed. The work continues with the experimental validation of the model proposed for push force measurements carried out through lifting tests using known masses with a cylindrical handle. An experimental correction coefficient is defined in correlation to the type of grip. The method for measuring the push force, thus corrected, is assessed by means of push force tests on an instrumented handle. Finally the experimental data are analysed in order to assess the uncertainty of the proposed method for measuring the push force, highlighting the contribution of the different sources of uncertainty. The proposed measurement method allows to measure the push and the grip force (known influencing quantities for the measurement of the hand-arm vibration) during tool test and without modifying the handles.