Study of fragmentation in cBN powders under ultra-high pressure

Studying the fragmentation law and refinement of cubic boron nitride powder under ultra-high pressure is crucial to producing a high-strength, high-density polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. In this paper, brown and black cBN crystalline powders with different micron sizes were selected as initial raw materials for an ultra-high-pressure simulation experiment. Single and mixed particles were extruded under 80MPa low pressure and 5.5GPa ultra-high pressure at ambient temperature for 1 min. The crushing behavior and particle size distribution of cBN powders with different particle sizes and ratios were investigated using a laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed no particle breakage or deformation at low pressure, and the compaction density was low. However, under ultra-high pressure, the cBN particles showed cracks, plastic deformation, and fragmentation, resulting in crushed fine particles filling in the voids of coarse particles, which led to a higher pressing density. Small-sized or mixed cBN particles with high density ratios were not easily crushed; the coarser the particle size, the more severe the ultra-high-pressure extrusion and crushing. The pressing density also declined, and brown cBN crystal particles with higher impact toughness demonstrated a lower particle breakage rate. The ultra-high-pressure crushing law should be considered and appropriate binders should be selected to improve the sintering performance of PcBN materials; ultra-high-pressure crushing of cBN powder contributes to cBN-cBN and cBN-M-cBN bonds under high temperatures and ultra-high pressure.     

A Critical Review of Biological Processes and Technologies for Landfill Leachate Treatment

The most common method to deal with the huge production of municipal wastes is still the disposal in landfills which, however, generates a leachate with high contents of organic and nitrogen pollutants. Requirements must be fixed by law to control leachate release from such landfills, and effective treatment processes and technologies must be applied to reduce its impact on the environment. Biological processes for leachate treatment are discussed in this review, in the former part of which attention is paid to leachate formation and its qualitative and quantitative features, while the latter deals with the state‐of‐the‐art of the most effective biotechnological treatments presently employed. Processes, alternative methods, and technological improvements are compared, with special focus on novel technologies to remove nitrogen pollutants from leachate, highlighting advantages and drawbacks of each treatment.     

Multi-criteria decision-making approach assisting to select materials for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell: Electrolyte,cathode& anode

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) have been emerged as a viable technology to convert chemical energy of fuels to electrical energy efficiently and environmentally friendly. However, some issues hinder the successful implementation of SOFC in industrial scales, such as elevated operating temperature, electrochemical stability, high costs associated with materials and interconnectors. To facilitate SOFCs commercialization, Low Temperature-SOFC (LT-SOFC) technology has been introduced. Various materials for core components of the LT-SOFC have been suggested and their performances are investigated. However, operating LT-SOFC faces challenges such as low ionic conductivity of electrolytes and slow rate of the oxygen reduction reaction. These obstacles can be overcome by selecting appropriate alternative materials that can conduct tasks preferably. Since assessing choices demands multiple measures, conducting a multi-criteria decision-making approach is inevitable. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process is used to evaluate criteria and different options as alternatives for the main constituents of an LT-SOFC.     

Calorimetric study of ytterbium orthovanadate YbVO4 polycrystalline ceramics

The heat capacity of ytterbium orthovanadate was first measured by adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature range T?=?12.28–344.06?K. No obvious anomalies were observed on the curve obtained. The values of standard thermodynamic functions in the temperature range T?=?0–400 K were calculated. Based on low-temperature calorimetry data obtained, previously published data on the high-temperature heat capacity of ytterbium orthovanadate were corrected. The anomalous contribution to heat capacity for YbVO₄ was compared with the data known for YbPO₄.     

Synthesis and properties of (Hf1-xTax)C solid solution carbides

Thermodynamically stable (Hf_1–xTa_x)C (x?=?0.1–0.3) compositions were selected by First Principle Calculation and synthesized in nanopowders via high-energy ball milling and carbothermal reduction of commercial oxides at 1450?°C. The formation of a solid solution during powder synthesis was investigated. The solid solution carbide powders were sintered at 1900?°C by spark plasma sintering without a sintering aid. As a result, the (Hf_1–xTa_x)C solid solution carbides exhibited high densities, excellent hardness and fracture toughness (ρ: 98.7–100.0%, HVN: 19.69–19.98?GPa, K_IC: 5.09–5.15?MPa?m^1/2) compared with previously reported HfC and HfC–TaC solid solution carbides.     

Enhancement of density and ionic conductivity for garnet-type Li5La3Ta2O12 solid electrolyte by self-consolidation strategy

Garnet-type Li₅La₃Ta₂O₁₂ (LLTaO) solid electrolyte is a potential candidate component for future all-solid-state batteries due to its extraordinary stability against the reaction with molten lithium. In contrast with traditional cold isostatic pressing (CIP) method, which generally pursues ultra-high pressure, this paper tries to enhance the density and ionic conductivity of LLTaO by self-consolidation strategy without the assistance of any pressing operations. A LLTaO bulk with a relative density of 95% is obtained. SEM images reveal that the bulk sample is assembled by large dense particles in size of tens of microns indicating that the interstitial space among the particles has been dramatically minimized. Accordingly, the total ionic conductivity and the bulk ionic conductivity at 30?°C are promoted up about one order of magnitude higher to 2.63?× 10^?5 S?cm^?1 and 1.41?×?10^?4 S?cm^?1, respectively. Moreover, the lithium ionic migration network in the crystalline unit cell of LLTaO is first explored from its assembled way. A hexagon-like basic unit with tetrahedral Li1 joint sites and Li1- - Li1 edges is identified. The tetrahedral Li1 sites act as crucial junctions for the transportation of lithium ions. This work would significantly stimulate the development of LLTaO electrolyte membrane technology.     

CO2 laser-assisted preparation of transparent Eu2Ti2O7 thin films

We present a laser-assisted preparation of transparent europium-titanate Eu₂Ti₂O₇ thin films with tailored structural and optical properties. We have evaluated the effects of the irradiation time on the structural and the optical properties of the films. This approach allows the preparation of nanocrystalline crack-free films and micro patterns. The amorphous thin films were prepared by a sol-gel method. The films were annealed by a CO₂ laser beam for various time intervals. The laser irradiation induced a crystallization process that resulted in the formation of Eu₂Ti₂O₇ nanocrystals. The nanocrystals regularly grew with increasing irradiation time reaching the size from 25?nm to 45?nm. A film of a thickness 480?nm exhibited an optical transmission of 91.9% that is close to the maximal theoretical limit. The film's refractive index at 632?nm was 2.26. A micrometric pattern was prepared by a direct laser writing followed by a wet chemical etching. Feasibility of the demonstrated approach, together with the high film's quality, and europium-titanate chemical resistivity open up many opportunities for advanced applications. The approach can be used for a preparation of protective coatings and integrated photonic devices such as planar optical waveguides and couplers.     

Ultrasonic-vibration-assisted laser annealing of fluorine-doped tin oxide thin films for improving optical and electrical properties: Overlapping rate optimization

An ultrasonic-vibration-assisted laser annealing method was developed to enhance the performance of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin films. The influences of ultrasonic vibration, laser scan line overlapping rate (L_OR) and laser spot overlapping rate (S_OR) on surface morphology, FTO layer thickness, RMS roughness, crystal structure and photoelectric properties of the FTO films were investigated. The results indicated that the presence of ultrasonic vibration during laser annealing could significantly enhance the film compactness, and using moderate L_OR and S_OR values resulted in significantly decreased FTO layer thicknesses and RMS roughnesses as well as slightly increased crystallite sizes, thus yielding significantly improved optical transmittance values and slightly enhanced electrical conductivity values. It was found that the optimal L_OR and S_OR values for ultrasonic-vibration-assisted laser annealing of the FTO films were 80% and 90%, respectively. The as-obtained film possessed the best overall photoelectric property with an average transmittance (400–800?nm) of 85.9%, a sheet resistance of 8.7?Ω/sq and a figure of merit of 2.51?×?10^–2 Ω^–1. This work may be of great significance in terms of performance optimization of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) thin films.     

Ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser engineering net shaping of ZrO2-Al2O3 bulk parts: Effects on crack suppression,microstructure, and mechanical properties

Laser additive manufactured zirconia-alumina ceramic (ZrO₂-Al₂O₃) parts demonstrate severe problems resulting from cracking and inhomogeneous material dispersion. To reduce these problems, we propose a novel ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser engineered net shaping (LENS) process for fabrication of bulk ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ parts. Results showed that the initiation of cracks and the crack propagation were suppressed in the parts fabricated by LENS process with ultrasonic vibration. For the parts fabricated without ultrasonic vibration, the sizes of cracks decreased with the increase of laser power. Scanning electron microscope analyses proved that the introduction of ultrasonic vibration was beneficial for grain refinement and uniform material dispersion. Due to the suppressed cracking, refined grains, and homogenized material dispersion, the parts fabricated with ultrasonic vibration demonstrated better mechanical properties (including higher microhardness, higher wear resistance, and better compressive properties), compared with the parts fabricated without ultrasonic vibration.     

Effects of skim milk concentrate dry matter and spray drying air temperature on formation of capsules with varying particle size and the survival microbial cultures in a microcapsule matrix

The impact of total solid (TS) content in combination with the feed rate and air inlet temperature on the survival of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 after spray drying in a skim milk matrix has been investigated and correlated with the capsule size. Depending on the experimental conditions, the survival rates ranged from 64 to 0.2%. The higher the air inlet temperature, the lower was the survival rate and an inversely correlation between the TS content and particle size has been determined. These results clearly indicate that process stress analyses and product-related characteristics must not be regarded separately.