Energy Filtering of Charge Carriers: Current Trends,Challenges, and Prospects for Thermoelectric Materials

Exhaustive attempts are made in recent decades to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials that are utilized for waste heat‐to‐electricity conversion. Energy filtering of charge carriers is directed toward enhancing the material thermopower. This paper focuses on the theoretical concepts, experimental evidence, and the authors' view of energy filtering in the context of thermoelectric materials. Recent studies suggest that not all materials experience this effect with the same intensity. Although this effect theoretically demonstrates improvement of the thermopower, applying it poses certain constraints, which demands further research. Predicated on data documented in literature, the unusual dependence of the thermopower and conductivity upon charge carrier concentrations can be altered through the energy filtering approach. Upon surmounting the physical constraints discussed in this article, thermoelectric materials research may gain a new direction to enhance the power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit.     

Colloidal processing of Al2O3-doped zirconia ceramics with CaO–P2O5–SiO2 glass as additive

Well-dispersed concentrated aqueous suspensions of Al₂O₃-doped Y-TZP (AY-TZP), AY-TZP with 5.4 vol% of CaO–P₂O₅–SiO₂ (CaPSi) glass (AY-TZP5) and 10.5 vol% CaPSi glass (AY-TZP10), with ammonium polyacrylate (NH₄PA) dispersant were prepared to produce slip cast compacts. The rheological properties of 35 and 40 vol% slips were studied. The densification, microstructure as well as hardness and fracture toughness were investigated as a function of CaPSi glass content at 1300°C-1500°C. The optimum NH₄PA concentration of 35 vol% AY-TZP5 and AY-TZP10 slips at pH ~9 was found to be about 43% and 67% greater than that of AY-TZP slips; this behavior was related to the greater amounts of Ca²⁺ ions leached out from the CaPSi glass surface. The viscosity of stabilized 40 vol% slips with NH₄PA attained a minimum value at 5.4 vol% CaPSi glass addition, and resulted in a more dense packing of cast samples. AY-TZP5 can be sintered at a lower temperature (1300°C) compared to that of AY-TZP. AY-TZP5 exhibited a fine microstructure of tetragonal ZrO₂ (grain sizes below 0.3 µm), and ZrSiO₄–Ca₂P₂O₇ particles homogeneously distributed within the zirconia matrix. It presented similar fracture toughness and a slightly lower hardness compared to those of AY-TZP.     

Microstructure and mechanical property of (TiB2-SiC) agglomerate-toughened B4C-TiB2-SiC composites

B₄C-TiB₂-SiC composites toughened by (TiB₂-SiC) agglomerates were prepared via reactive hot pressing with B₄C and TiSi₂ as raw materials. Phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were investigated. The function of (TiB₂-SiC) agglomerates was analyzed, and the strengthening and toughening mechanism were also discussed. Results indicated that some of the in situ formed TiB₂ and SiC were interlocked to form special (TiB₂-SiC) agglomerates in the matrix. The good comprehensive performances of 510 MPa flexural strength, 5.84 MPa·m^1/2 fracture toughness, and 31.93 GPa hardness were obtained in the composites fabricated with 30 wt% TiSi₂. The in situ introduced fine TiB₂ and SiC grains refined the grains of B₄C due to the pinning effect, which enhanced the strength. The special (TiB₂-SiC) agglomerates and the existing toughening phenomena such as crack deflection, branching, and microcrack regions induced by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients, had cumulative effects on improving the fracture toughness.     

自然时效对GT35合金组织与性能的影响

采用XRD、SEM、残余应力测试仪、维氏硬度计、测长机等手段对合金物相、微观组织、残余应力、硬度、线膨胀率进行表征,研究自然时效对GT35合金组织与性能的影响。结果表明,GT35合金在自然时效过程中,增强相TiC的形貌与粒径没有明显变化。当自然时效时间小于15天时,GT35合金的硬度、残余应力与线膨胀率逐渐增加,随后逐渐减小并趋于稳定。当自然时效超过90天后,GT35合金的组织与性能趋于稳定,其硬度、残余应力和线膨胀率分别为945.7 HV5、-184 MPa和-2.22×10^-5。     

DP980高强钢连续退火后的组织与性能

研究了不同工艺参数对980 MPa级连续退火双相钢组织及力学性能的影响,利用光学显微镜、透射电镜(TEM)以及拉伸试验对双相钢的微观组织和力学性能进行测试及分析。结果表明:DP980钢的退火组织主要由铁素体、马氏体岛和少量的贝氏体组成,马氏体岛附近的位错密度较高。随着均热温度的升高,DP980钢的抗拉强度呈现先降低后升高的趋势,屈服强度与抗拉强度的趋势一致,伸长率先升高后降低。随着过时效温度的升高,DP980钢的抗拉强度和屈服强度降低,降低幅度较小,伸长率上升,但变化不明显,说明通过调整过时效温度来调控其力学性能的作用较小。     

退火温度对6.5%Si极薄带织构及磁性能的影响

采用单辊甩带法制备了厚度为0.03 mm的6.5%Si极薄带,并在真空炉中进行了880 ℃和920 ℃的退火处理。利用XRD和EBSD研究了其在退火后的宏观和微观织构演变规律。结果表明:经单辊甩带制得的6.5%Si极薄带织构主要由{001}<100>立方织构、{110}<001> Goss织构和{112}<111>织构组成。随着退火温度的升高,λ纤维仍占主导地位,且晶粒尺寸逐渐增大。特别是在920 ℃退火时,{001}<120>和{001}<100>晶粒的尺寸优势逐渐增大,不利织构{111}<110>和{111}<112>逐渐减弱,且最终的磁感应强度B₅₀=1.644 T,铁损耗P_10/400=5.896 W/kg。     

Microstructure and corrosion behaviors of FeCrNiBSiMox stainless steel fabricated by laser melting deposition

In this paper, FeCrNiBSiMo_x (x = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) stainless steels were successfully prepared using a laser melting deposition technology, with the aim to investigate the effect of Mo content on microstructure and corrosion behaviors. The results showed that the as-deposited specimens were composed mostly of α-Fe and a small amount of (Cr, Mo)₇C₃, and (Cr, Mo)₇C₃ existed in the inter-dendritic (ID) region. As the Mo content increased, grain refinement could be clearly observed, and the area of the ID region increased from 27% to 54%. The low-angle boundaries accounted for 60–70% of the grain boundaries of the as-deposited specimens. Increasing the content of Mo improved the microhardness of the as-deposited specimens from 652 HV to 813 HV. The corrosion current density of the as-deposited specimens with the Mo mass fractions of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% were 1.37 × 10⁻⁶, 1.02 × 10⁻⁷, 6.19 × 10⁻⁷, and 3.06 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm², respectively. The as-deposited specimen with Mo content of 1.5% had lower cumulative erosion loss and erosion loss rate than other as-deposited specimens. The FeCrNiBSiMo_x (x = 1.5) specimen exhibited excellent resistance to electrochemical corrosion and cavitation erosion.     

基于ANSYS的带簧油封径向力分析

提出一种考虑弹簧初应力的油封径向力有限元计算方法,即通过二维轴对称模型实现带簧油封的径向力计算。该模型中通过圆管来等效油封弹簧,并可以实现弹簧初应力现象的模拟;圆管模型的材料属性由2种状态下(弹簧装配在油封上和油封装配在轴上)弹簧的拉力转换得到,转换关系通过试验与仿真相结合的办法获得,最终实现了带簧油封2种状态下的径向力有限元计算。通过径向力测量仪验证计算结果的正确性,同时发现弹簧所产生的径向力并非百分之百转化为油封径向力。     

Ti70合金板的组织与力学性能的各向异性

通过拉伸及低温冲击试验、光学显微镜、扫描电镜及X射线衍射仪,对Ti70合金板的组织与力学性能的各向异性进行了研究。结果表明,Ti70合金板热轧及退火后组织未出现明显差异,退火过程中主要以回复为主,但在高密度位错的剪切带上出现了一定数量的再结晶晶粒。退火态Ti70合金板横向屈服强度及低温冲击吸收能量都高于纵向,但抗拉强度低于纵向,表现出了明显的各向异性。退火后Ti70合金板形成了较强的{0002}基面织构,其晶面法向向RD方向(纵向)偏转±30°,向TD(横向)方向偏转±41°。由于基面织构更向RD方向集中,因此造成了Ti70合金板力学性能的各向异性。