Al2O3 loss prediction model of selective laser melting Al2O3–Al composite

The element/phase loss is undesirable but existing during selective laser melting (SLM) of materials with volatile element/phase, which not only changes the material composition but also affects the molten pool flow. In the previous researches, the effect of remelting on the element/phase loss was neglected during the SLM process, instead, laser energy density was thought to be uppermost. In fact, the SLM process fabricates the parts in a manner of line by line and layer by layer, i.e., additive character, and the remelting in the overlap zone occurs during the SLM process. In this paper, three different Al₂O₃ loss prediction models of SLM Al₂O₃–Al composite by considering the additive character of SLM and the distribution of the Al₂O₃ associated with the different molten pool driving forces were developed. By comparing with the experimental results and predicted results, it is found that the Al₂O₃ is distributed on both sides of the molten pool under the combined action of the Marangoni flow and the evaporation recoil pressure. This kind of Al₂O₃ distribution enhances the effect of the remelting on the Al₂O₃ loss, i.e., the remelting brings a logarithmic increase in the Al₂O₃ loss rate. This determines the final Al₂O₃ loss rate of the SLMed 3D samples. During this study, although the Al₂O₃ loss rate of the single-track is only 33%, the loss rate of SLMed 3D samples increases significantly to 97% when the hatching space of 60 μm and scanning speed of 200 mm/s are utilized, i.e., almost no Al₂O₃ in the 3D sample. Thus, it is more important to reduce the remelting, i.e., overlap rate for reducing the element/phase loss. This study is a benefit for understanding and reducing the element/phase loss in SLM.     

Enhanced ionic conductivity and thermal shock resistance of MgO stabilized ZrO2 doped with Y2O3

The present work focused on the effect of Y₂O₃ co-doping on the phase composition, microstructure, ionic conductivity and thermal shock resistance of 8 mol% MgO stabilized ZrO₂ (Mg-PSZ) electrolyte ceramics for high temperature applications. The addition of Y₂O₃ could promote the process of monoclinic-to-cubic/tetragonal phase transformation and became the metastable phase at room temperature. Meanwhile, the grain size of Mg-PSZ decreased. It was demonstrated that an appreciable increase in the ionic conductivity and compressive strength occurred on substituting MgO with Y₂O₃ in the Mg-PSZ electrolyte ceramics across the measured temperature range. Moreover, the Y₂O₃ addition could restrain the adverse effect of the cyclic thermal shock on the ionic conductivity and compressive strength of Mg-PSZ. The main reason was that the increase of the amount of monoclinic phase caused by cubic/tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation by the cyclic thermal shock was restrained after the Y₂O₃ addition.     

Femtosecond laser micro-milling dental glass ceramics: An experimental analysis and COMSOL finite element simulation

Dental glass ceramic materials are widely used in all-ceramic restoration technology. In order to effectively solve the problems existing in the process of traditional diamond cutter milling dental glass ceramic materials, such as severe needle loss, large tool wear and general milling efficiency, a new method of ultrafast laser milling dental glass ceramics is proposed. In this paper, 1030 nm femtosecond laser with pulse width of 600fs was used to micro-mill dental glass ceramics. Confocal laser microscopy was used to measure the milling depth and surface roughness of single-layer milling under selected laser processing parameters. The pre-layered milling software was developed to control the z-axis lifting and to compensate the focal length synchronously. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectrometer and Vickers micro-hardness tester were used to characterize the dental glass ceramics after femtosecond laser milling. The results showed that under the specific laser processing parameters, the infrared femtosecond laser milling system can achieve a good processing morphology without changing the surface composition and surface hardness of dental glass ceramics. This new dental glass ceramics processing method based on ultrafast laser technique indicated a new direction for further chair processing of dental all-ceramic restoration technology.     

Investigation on the effect of EDM process variables and environments on acoustic emission signals

Abstract

The performance of electrical discharge machining (EDM) primarily depends on the spark quality generated in the inter-electrode gap (IEG) between the tool and workpiece. A method for obtaining accurate information about the spark gap is required to effectively monitor the EDM process. The rise and fall of thermal energy in the discharge zone at a rapid rate during the dielectric breakdown produces high-pressure shock waves. This work explores the suitability of using acoustic emission (AE) generated from these shock waves and the elastic AE waves released on the workpiece due to the induced stress to monitor the performance and spark gap in EDM. The information content of the AE signals acquired at various machining conditions was extracted using AE RMS, spectral energy and peak amplitude. These features were able to well discriminate the machining condition, tool material, workpiece material, flushing pressure, current density, the initial surface roughness of the tool. Additionally, the AE signal features had a good and consistent correlation with the performance parameters, including material removal rate, surface roughness (Ra and Rq) and tool wear. The findings lay the groundwork to develop an effective, non-intrusive in-situ AE-monitoring system for performance and IEG condition in EDM.     

用于低损耗特种玻璃熔炼的高纯致密锆英石的研制

以纯度大于99.9%(质量分数)的高纯ZrO₂和SiO₂为原料,少量TiO₂为添加剂,采用高温固相法合成高纯锆英石(ZrSiO₄)粉料。研究温度和反应时间对高纯锆英石合成效率的影响,发现粒度小于50 μm的原料粉末经1 500 ℃反应48 h后,ZrSiO₄相的含量可以达到95.77%(质量分数)。将合成的高纯锆英石粉料球磨并冷等静压成型后,在1 550 ℃高温烧结成高纯致密锆英石砖。高纯致密锆英石中杂质Fe的含量仅为29 μg/g,Cu的含量小于1 μg/g,是普通商用致密锆英石的1/10;对磷酸盐玻璃静态光吸收损耗的影响仅为普通致密锆英石材料的1/3。将这种高纯致密锆英石材料用于激光玻璃窑炉,有助于降低玻璃对1 053 nm激光的损耗,提升激光玻璃的激光性能。     

罗河铁矿采空区三维激光扫描及应用分析研究

针对传统采空区探测依靠全站仪测量存在劳动强度大、测量结果不准确等问题,采用BLSS-PE矿用三维激光扫描系统对罗河铁矿45-3^#和47-3^#采空区进行了现场扫描,构建了采空区三维实体模型,并在此基础上计算了采空区体积,说明了传统统计方式存在的不足;计算了矿房的超欠挖体积,为准确量化矿房损失率和贫化率提供了基础数据;基于采空区边界进行了二步骤回采设计,说明了采空区边界对于降低矿房损失贫化的重要意义。     

Adventitial Tertiary Lymphoid Organs as Potential Source of MicroRNA Biomarkers for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an inflammatory disease associated with marked changes in the cellular composition of the aortic wall. This study aims to identify microRNA (miRNA) expression in aneurysmal inflammatory cells isolated by laser microdissection from human tissue samples. The distribution of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, B and T lymphocytes, mast cells) was evaluated in human AAA biopsies. We observed in half of the samples that adventitial tertiary lymphoid organs (ATLOs) with a thickness from 0.5 to 2 mm were located exclusively in the adventitia. Out of the 850 miRNA that were screened by microarray in isolated ATLOs (n = 2), 164 miRNAs were detected in ATLOs. The three miRNAs (miR-15a-3p, miR-30a-5p and miR-489-3p) with the highest expression levels were chosen and their expression quantified by RT-PCR in isolated ATLOs (n = 4), M1 (n = 2) and M2 macrophages (n = 2) and entire aneurysmal biopsies (n = 3). Except for the miR-30a-5p, a similar modulation was found in ATLOs and the two subtypes of macrophages. The modulated miRNAs were then evaluated in the plasma of AAA patients for their potential as AAA biomarkers. Our data emphasize the potential of miR-15a-3p and miR-30a-5p as biomarkers of AAA but also as triggers of ATLO evolution. Further investigations will be required to evaluate their targets in order to better understand AAA pathophysiology.     

汽车总装线上远程激光焊接能量评估

通过分析激光源的类型和结构,建立参数数据库,并结合机器人运动的动力学分析,本研究提出了汽车总装线上远程激光焊接(RLW)的能量评估模型。通过对简单焊件进行焊接实验,将传统激光焊接和远程激光焊接进行了对比,结果发现,焊接过程中机器人运动能量逐渐减少,而激光能量逐渐增加。处理时间和激光功率是影响远程焊接能源效率的主要因素。     

Technologies for Single-Cell Isolation

The handling of single cells is of great importance in applications such as cell line development or single-cell analysis, e.g., for cancer research or for emerging diagnostic methods. This review provides an overview of technologies that are currently used or in development to isolate single cells for subsequent single-cell analysis. Data from a dedicated online market survey conducted to identify the most relevant technologies, presented here for the first time, shows that FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) respectively Flow cytometry (33% usage), laser microdissection (17%), manual cell picking (17%), random seeding/dilution (15%), and microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip devices (12%) are currently the most frequently used technologies. These most prominent technologies are described in detail and key performance factors are discussed. The survey data indicates a further increasing interest in single-cell isolation tools for the coming years. Additionally, a worldwide patent search was performed to screen for emerging technologies that might become relevant in the future. In total 179 patents were found, out of which 25 were evaluated by screening the title and abstract to be relevant to the field.