Mg gas infiltration for the fabrication of MgB2 pellets using nanosized and microsized B powders

MgB₂ superconductor pellets were synthesized through Mg gas infiltration method using nanosized- and microsized B powders. There was a marked difference in the superconducting properties of the two samples, particularly in the pinning force and dominant pinning mechanism. The microstructures of the samples were observed using HR-TEM and STEM-HAADF, and the results showed that the primary reason for the difference in the superconducting properties is the distribution of the nanosized second-phase particle MgO. Additionally, a feasible reaction model for the Mg gas infiltration method was established. Compared to the Mg liquid infiltration method, the gas infiltration showed better penetrability ability with a small amount of residual Mg. This study presents a novel synthesis process to fabricate an MgB₂ pellet with superior density and superconducting properties. This method can be used in multiple applications such as superconducting bearings, compact superconductor magnets, and magnetic shielding.     

Stability assessment of 3D reinforced soil structures under steady unsaturated infiltration

Internal stability assessment of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures (GRSSs) has been commonly carried out assuming plane-strain conditions and dry backfills. However, failures of GRSSs usually show three-dimensional (3D) features and occur under unsaturated conditions. A procedure based on the kinematic limit-analysis method is proposed herein to assess 3D effects and the role of steady unsaturated infiltration on the required geosynthetic strength for GRSSs. A suction stress-based framework is used to describe the soil stress behavior under steady unsaturated infiltration. Based on the principle of energy-work balance, the required geosynthetic strength is determined. A comparison analysis with the prior research is conducted to verify the developed method. Two kinds of backfills, i.e., high-quality backfill and marginal backfill, are considered for comparison in this work. It is shown that accounting for 3D effects and the role of unsaturated infiltration considerably reduces the required geosynthetic strength. The 3D effects are primarily affected by the width-to-height ratio of GRSSs, and the contribution of unsaturated infiltration is mainly influenced by the soil type, flow rate, GRSS's height, and location of the water table.     

Effect of preparation method on the mechanism for oxidation of C/C-BN composites

C/C-BN composites and C_f/BN/PyC composites exhibiting different structures for pyrolytic carbon (PyC) and boron nitride (BN) were studied comparatively to determine their oxidation behavior. This study used five types of samples. Porous C/C composites were modified with silane coupling agents (APS) and then fully impregnated in water-based slurry of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN); the resulting C/C-BN preforms were densified by depositing PyC by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), resulting in three types of C/C-BN composites. The other two C_f/BN/PyC composites were obtained by depositing a BN interphase and PyC in carbon fiber preforms by CVI; one was treated with heat, and the other was not. This study was focused on determining how the PyC deposition mechanism, morphology and pore structure were affected by the method of BN introduction. In the 600–900 °C temperature range, the C_f/BN/PyC composites and C/C composites underwent oxidation via a mixed diffusion/reaction mode. The C/C-BN composites had a different pore structure due to the formation of nodules comprising h-BN particles; both interfacial debonding and cracking were reduced, resulting in higher resistance to gas diffusion, lower oxidation rate and larger activation energy (Ea) in the temperature range 600–800 °C. In addition, the mechanism for oxidation of C/C-BN composites gradually exhibited diffusion control at 800–900 °C because the formation of h-BN oxidation products healed the defects. The oxidation mechanism was more dependent on pore structure than on BN structure or content.     

华北土石山区典型小流域土壤水文特征与模拟研究

土壤水文特征是研究区域水土资源合理配置的基础支撑要素,根据华北土石山区土壤的地貌分异规律,综合考虑地质、植被、土地利用等因素,采用野外调查取样法、环刀法等,研究了易县崇陵流域5种典型植被(油松、侧柏、银杏、刺槐、荆条)条件下的土壤物理性质、土壤水分特征曲线、土壤入渗过程等土壤水文特征。结果表明,同一植被条件下,土壤容重随土壤深度增加逐渐增大,同一深度条件下,荆条覆盖下的土壤容重最小,其他植被覆盖条件下的土壤容重差别不显著;同一植被条件下,随深度增加,饱和含水率逐渐减小,同一植被不同深度条件下的土壤水吸力随土壤含水率的增加逐渐减小;对土壤水分特征曲线进行拟合时,发现Gardner模型适用于油松和银杏,而张景略模型适用于侧柏、刺槐和荆条;土壤入渗过程的渗润阶段发生在土壤入渗开始的前10min内,渗漏阶段持续100~120min;侧柏最佳入渗模型为Kostiakov模型,而油松、银杏、刺槐及荆条最佳入渗模型为蒋定生模型。     

Fabrication of SiC whisker-reinforced SiC ceramic matrix composites based on 3D printing and chemical vapor infiltration technology

Spray drying, binder jetting and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) were used in combination for the first time to fabricate SiC whisker-reinforced SiC ceramic matrix composites (SiC_W/SiC). Granulated needle-shaped SiC_W was spray dried into SiC_W spherical particles to increase flowability and thereby increase printability. Then, binder jetting was employed to print a novel SiC_W preform with two-stage pores using the SiC_W spherical particles. The subsequent CVI technology produced pure, dense, and continuous SiC matrix with high modulus and strength. Consequently, SiC_W/SiC with appropriate mechanical properties was obtained. Finally, the challenges of the novel method and the ways to improve the mechanical properties of SiC_W/SiC are discussed.     

Recent progress in integration of reforming catalyst on metal-supported SOFC for hydrocarbon and logistic fuels

The metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell (MS-SOFC) is of current research interest in the clean energy field due to its high performance, quick start-up, thermal cycle stability, and lower raw material cost compared to the conventional cermet-based SOFC. To efficiently operate a MS-SOFC using complex hydrocarbon and logistic fuels, it is required to introduce an internal reforming catalyst within the anode metal scaffold. This review article discusses some examples of the performance of MS-SOFCs under hydrocarbon and logistic fuels with and without an additional reforming catalyst. We also discuss the performance improvement of conventional cermet-based SOFCs by adding reforming catalysts via the infiltration method. This information can be directly applied to future MS-SOFC applications. Furthermore, this review article proposes possible novel methods such as direct precursor infiltration, catalyst-anode premixing, and atomic layer deposition methods to introduce the reforming catalyst into a MS-SOFC for improving its initial electrochemical performance and long-term stability under hydrocarbon and logistics fuel.     

Mg/NiTi复合材料的制备及阻尼性能

采用Mg粉的无压熔渗法制备Mg/NiTi复合材料以提高多孔NiTi合金的强度和阻尼性能。通过OM、SEM、EDS和XRD分析Mg/NiTi复合材料的显微组织结构，采用压缩实验分析其抗压强度、吸能能力，采用热机械分析仪分析其内耗和存储模量。结果表明：经Mg粉无压熔渗后，多孔NiTi合金的孔隙被Mg填充，其孔隙率由原来的50.38%下降至5.6%，且Mg与NiTi合金的界面结合良好。多孔NiTi合金主要由B2奥氏体相和B19'马氏体相及少量Ni₃Ti相和NiTi₂相组成；Mg/NiTi复合材料除增加了熔渗的Mg相外，还新生成了Mg₂Ni相。Mg的渗入未改变多孔NiTi合金相变行为，但提高了相变温度。Mg/NiTi复合材料的抗压强度可达554 MPa，较多孔NiTi合金提高了61%，压缩断裂方式也由多孔NiTi合金的孔壁崩塌断裂转变为Mg/NiTi复合材料的剪切断裂。Mg/NiTi复合材料的吸能较多孔NiTi合金有大幅提高。同时，Mg/NiTi复合材料的内耗值有所增加，而存储模量大幅提高，整体呈现出更佳的阻尼性能。     

Compressive strength and wear properties of SiC/Al6061 composites reinforced with high contents of SiC fabricated by pressure-assisted infiltration

Pressure-assisted infiltration was used to synthesize SiC/Al 6061 composites containing high weight percentages of SiC. A combination of PEG and glass water was used to fabricate SiC preforms and the effect of the presence of glass water on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the preforms was evaluated by performing compression tests on the preforms. Also, the compressive strength and the hardness of the SiC/Al composites were investigated. The results revealed that the glass water improved the compressive strength of the preforms by about five times. The microstructural characterization of the composites showed that the penetration of the aluminum melt into the preforms was completed and almost no porosity could be seen in the microstructures of the composites. Moreover, the composite containing 75 wt% SiC exhibited the highest compressive strength as well as the maximum hardness. The results of the wear tests showed that increasing the SiC content reduces the wear rate so that the Al-75 wt% SiC composite has a lower wear rate and a lower coefficient of friction than those of Al-67 wt% SiC composite. This indicated higher wear resistance in these composites than the Al alloy due to the formation of a tribological layer on the surface of the composites.