Effect of Cu addition on microstructural evolution and hardening of mechanically alloyed Al−Ti−O in-situ composite

The microstructure formation and strengthening of an Al−5wt.%TiO₂ composites with additions of 5 wt.% Cu and 2 wt.% stearic acid (as a process control agent, PCA) during mechanical alloying and subsequent thermal exposure were studied. The powder composites were prepared by high-energy ball milling for up to 10 h. Single line tracks of the powders were laser melted. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, XRD analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to study microstructural evolution. The results showed that the Cu addition promotes an effective mechanical alloying of aluminum with TiO₂ from the start of milling, resulting in higher microhardness (up to HV 290), while the PCA, on the contrary, postpones this process. In both cases, the composite granules with uniform distribution of TiO₂ particles were formed. Subsequent heating of mechanically alloyed materials causes the activation of an exothermic reaction of TiO₂ reduction with aluminum, the start temperature of which, in the case of Cu addition, shifts to lower values, that is, the transformation begins in the solid state. Besides, the Cu-added material after laser melting demonstrates a more dispersed and uniform structure which positively affects its microhardness.     

Influence of Al addition on microstructures of Cu−B alloys and Cu−ZrB2 composites

The influence of Al addition on the microstructure of Cu−B alloys and Cu−ZrB₂ composites was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and first-principles calculation. The results show that the eutectic B in Cu−B alloys can be modified by Al from coarse needles to fine fibrous structure and primary B will form in hypoeutectic Cu−B alloys. As for Cu−ZrB₂ composites, Al can significantly refine and modify the morphology of ZrB₂ as well as improve its distribution, which should be due to its selective adsorption on ZrB₂ surfaces. The first-principles calculation results indicate that Al is preferentially adsobed on ZrB₂ (12(__)10), then on ZrB₂ (101(__)0), and finally on ZrB₂ (0001). As a result, smaller sized ZrB₂ with a polyhedron-like, even nearly sphere-like morphology, can form. Due to Al addition, the hardness of Cu−ZrB₂ composites is greatly enhanced, but the electrical conductivity of the composites is seriously reduced.     

Physical modification of polymeric support layer for thin film composite forward osmosis membranes by metal–organic framework-based porous matrix membrane strategy

Physical modification of support layers (SLs) for thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes is the main goal of this study. Accordingly, the strategy of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based porous matrix membrane (PMM) was used for the fabrication of controllable SLs. Fourteen different TFC FO membranes were successfully fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) technique over the fourteen different SLs made of polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), and twelve MOF-based PMM. The controllable MOF particles, fabricated SLs, and TFC membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle (CA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and developed SHN1 method. The results showed that the PMM strategy can lead to an increase in the degree of crosslinking of polyamide (PA) as a result of physical modification of the original SLs. Also, the PMM strategy reduced the structural parameters and hence the internal concentration polarization (ICP) was controlled. However, according to the characteristic curve, physical modification of the structure of PES and PEI by MOF-based PMM strategy caused a small and dramatic effect (respectively) on the performance of the TFC FO membranes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 137, 48672.     

核屏蔽用中子吸收材料研究现状与展望

镉(Cd)、硼(B)和一些稀有元素具有较大的热中子吸收截面，在核屏蔽吸收中子领域具有较广泛的应用前景。本文概述了用于核电站乏燃料“湿法”贮存用中子吸收材料的种类，论述了各种中子吸收材料的优点和不足。阐述了铝基碳化硼(B4C/Al)中子吸收材料的研究进展以及不同制备方法的优点和不足，进一步介绍了搅拌摩擦焊方法和扩散焊方法在连接B4C/Al中子吸收材料过程中的优势。在此基础上，对新型中子吸收材料在成分、结构设计方面进行了分析，对未来核屏蔽用中子吸收材料进行了展望。     

Effect of nano-sized Al2O3 reinforcing particles on uniaxial and high cycle fatigue behaviors of hot-forged AZ31B magnesium alloy

The effect of hot-forging process was investigated on microstructural and mechanical properties of AZ31B alloy and AZ31B/1.5vol.%Al₂O₃ nanocomposite under static and cycling loading. The as-cast alloy and composite were firstly subjected to a homogenization heat treatment at 450 °C and then an open-die forging at 450 °C. The results indicated that the presence of reinforcing particles led to grain refinement and improvement of dynamic recrystallization. The forging process was more effective to eliminate the porosity in the cast alloy workpiece. Microhardness of the forged composite was increased by up to 80% and 16%, in comparison with those of the cast and forged alloy samples, respectively. Ultimate tensile strength and maximum tensile strain of the composite were improved by up to 45% and 23%, compared with those of the forged alloy in similar regions. These enhancements were respectively 50% and 37% in the compression test. The composite exhibited a fatigue life improvement in the region with low applied strain; however, a degradation was observed in the high applied strain region. Unlike AZ31B samples, tensile, compressive and high cycle fatigue behaviors of the composite showed less sensitivity to the applied strain, which can be attributed to the amount of porosity in the samples before and after the hot-forging.     

Microstructure,mechanical and wear properties of aluminum borate whisker reinforced aluminum matrix composites

The microstructural features and the consequent mechanical properties were characterized in aluminium borate whisker (ABOw) (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) reinforced commercially-pure aluminium composites fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy technique. The aluminium powder and the whisker were effectively blended by a semi-powder metallurgy method. The blended powder mixtures were cold compacted and sintered at 600 °C. The sintered composites were characterized for microstructural features by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Porosity in the composites with variation in ABOw contents was determined. The effect of variation in content of ABOw on mechanical properties, viz. hardness, bending strength and compressive strength of the composites was evaluated. The dry sliding wear behaviour was evaluated at varying sliding distance at constant loads. Maximum flexural strength of 172 MPa and compressive strength of 324 MPa with improved hardness around HV 40.2 are obtained in composite with 10 wt.% ABOw. Further increase in ABOw content deteriorates the properties. A substantial increase in wear resistance is also observed with 10 wt.% ABOw. The excellent combination of mechanical properties of Al−10wt.%ABOw composites is attributed to good interfacial bonds, less porosity and uniformity in the microstructure.     

Effects of preform pore structure on infiltration kinetics and microstructure evolution of RMI-derived Cf/ZrC-ZrB2-SiC composite

Reactive melt infiltration (RMI) is often used to fabricate highly dense ceramic matrix composite by infiltration of alloy melt into porous preform. Here, C_f/B₄C-C preforms with various pore structures were prepared, and the effects of pore structure on the ZrSi₂ melt infiltration and the as-received C_f/ZrC-ZrB₂-SiC composites were investigated. Compared with the preform prepared by slurry impregnation (SI), the preform prepared by sol impregnation shows more uniform pore size distribution, which leads to more homogeneous melt infiltration, as well as more uniform formation of ZrC-ZrB₂-SiC and better mechanical properties in the composites. The calculation results of infiltration kinetics indicate that the pore radius decreases quickly during the melt infiltration. As the time needed for pore closure in sol-preform is longer than that in SI-preform, it makes the infiltration kinetics more favorable in the former preform. This study can provide guidance for the pore structure regulation in the fabrication of RMI-composites.     

Enhancing High-Temperature Strength and Thermal Stability of Al_2O_3/Al Composites by High-Temperature Pre-treatment of Ultrafine Al Powders

Amorphous Al_2 O_3-reinforced Al composite(am-Al_2 O_3/Al) compacted from ultrafine Al powders for high-temperature usages confronts with drawbacks because crystallization of am-Al_2 O_3 at high temperatures will result in serious strength loss.Aiming at this unsolved problem,in this study,high-temperature Al materials with enhanced thermal stability were developed through introducing more thermally stable nano-sized particles via high-temperature pre-treatment of ultrafine A1 powders.It was found that the pre-treatment at ≤550℃ could introduce a few Al_2 O_3 in the Al matrix and increase the strength of the composites,but the strength was still below that of am-Al_2 O_3/Al because without being pinned firmly,grain boundaries(GBs) were softened at high temperature and intergranular fracture happened.When the pre-treatment was carried out at 600℃,nitridation and oxidation processes happened simultaneously,producing large numbers of intergranular(AlN+γ-Al_2 O_3) particles.GB sliding and intergranular fracture were suppressed;therefore,higher strength than that of am-Al_2 O_3/Al was realized.Furthermore,the(AIN+γ-Al_2 O_3)/Al exhibited more superior thermal stability compared to amAl_2 O_3/Al for annealing treatment at 580℃ for 8 h.Therefore,an effective way to fabricate high-temperature Al composite with enhanced thermal stability was developed in this study.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/carboxyl graphene mixed matrix membranes: High-power ultrasonic treatment for enhanced pervaporation performance

High-power ultrasonic treatment was conducted during the mixing process to obtain poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/carboxyl graphene (CG) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Results from X-ray photoelectron spectrometer and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the enhanced esterification reaction. The increased amorphous region and free volume were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope measurements suggested that ultrasonic could uniformly disperse CG in PVA polymer matrix. The mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of as-prepared membrane were enhanced due to ultrasonic treatment. The permeation flux and separation factor of PVA/CG-US membrane for 90 wt % ethanol aqueous solution were 0.79 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and 860, respectively. For methanol (15 wt %)/methyl tert-butyl ether mixture, its permeation flux and separation factor were also increased significantly compared with membranes without ultrasonic treatment. Due to the simplicity of the ultrasonic process and the versatility of the inorganic fillers, this method may contribute to the design of various MMMs and extend the application of these membranes in different uses. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48526.     

集成式铁基质生物膜反应器自养反硝化深度脱氮

以污水厂处理水为研究对象，采用铁基质生物载体与生物膜耦合实现高效自养反硝化脱氮。考察停留时间（HRT）对系统脱氮效能的影响，通过动力学及微生物群落结构分析，揭示耦合技术的脱氮机理。结果表明：HRT为8 h，对一级A和一级B污水厂处理水，总氮(TN)平均去除率分别为95.41%和92.55%，TN处理负荷分别为0.48 kg TN/(m³·d）和0.58 kg TN/(m³·d），硝化过程氨氮(NH₄⁺-N)饱和常数分别为1.17 mg/L和0.72 mg/L，反硝化过程硝氮(NO₃^--N)饱和常数分别为0.87 mg/L和0.67 mg/L。出水水质分别达到《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅲ类、Ⅴ类水质标准。铁基质生物载体与生物膜耦合系统中微生物优势菌属为Maritimimonas、Rhodobacter和Sphaerotilus, 均为自养反硝化菌，证实了铁基质生物载体可为自养反硝化菌提供电子，实现生物自养反硝化脱氮。