Flash cosintering of a lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite nanofibre/Gd-doped ceria bilayer structure

For solid oxide fuel cells, an important structural requirement is that the electrolyte layer needs to be dense and the electrode layer porous, which is difficult to obtain by conventional cosintering. In this work, flash cosintering of a double layer structure consisting of a Gd-doped ceria substrate with a lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite nanofibre coating is investigated. Experimental and finite element modelling results reveal that when the LSCF layer is connected to the electrode, the heat is concentrated in the LSCF layer, which leads to a huge temperature gradient and introduces severe cracking. When the LSCF layer is electrically isolated from the electrode, the heat is concentrated in the GDC layer, and the temperature gradient is dramatically reduced. In this situation, the density of GDC can reach 92.86% while a high porosity of 52.26% is maintained in the LSCF layer, which is higher than that of the conventional cosintered sample.     

Sealing behaviour of glass-based composites for oxygen transport membranes

In this study, seven different filler materials in different proportions were added to a Ba-Ca-Si glass matrix “H” to investigate new sealant with higher thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) value and good sealing performance for application in oxygen transport membrane (OTM). SrTi_0.75Fe_0.25O_3-δ (STF25) was used as an OTM, and the sealing partners were ferritic steel Aluchrom and pre-oxidized Aluchrom. Compatibility tests were carried out to investigate the feasibility of the composites. Higher CTE values were found in dilatometer tests on composite samples by adding 40 wt% Ag (HAg40) and 30 wt% Ni-Cr (HNC30). Gas-tightness measurements of sandwiched samples produced appropriate helium leakage rates in the range of 10^?6 mbar·l·s^?1. Sealing behaviour of sealants HAg40 and HNC30 were investigated by joining STF25 and as-delivered/pre-oxidized Aluchrom together. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on cross-sections of the joints revealed a homogeneous microstructure and good adherence of the glass sealants to support metals and STF25.     

A first-principles investigation on mechanical and metallic properties of titanium carbides under pressure

The titanium carbides are potential candidates to achieve both high hardness and refractory property. We carried out a structural search for titanium carbides at three pressures of 0 GPa, 30 GPa and 50 GPa. A phase diagram of the Ti-C system at 0 K was obtained by elucidating formation enthalpies as a function of compositions, and their mechanical and metallic properties of titanium carbides were investigated systematically. We also discussed the relation of titanium concentration to the both mechanical and metallic properties of titanium carbides. It has been found that the average valence electron density and tractility improved at higher concentrations of titanium, while the degree of covalent bonding directionality decreased. To this effect, the hardness of titanium carbide decreases as the content of titanium increases. Our results indicated that the titanium content significantly affected the metallic properties of the Ti-C system.     

Study on inhomogeneous cooling behavior of extruded profile with unequal and large thicknesses during quenching using thermo-mechanical coupling model

The interfacial heat transfer coefficient between hot profile surface and cooling water was determined by using inverse heat conduction model combined with end quenching experiment. Then, a Deform-3D thermo-mechanical coupling model for simulating the on-line water quenching of extruded profile with unequal and large thicknesses was developed. The temperature field, residual stress field and distortion of profile during quenching were investigated systematically. The results show that heat transfer coefficient increases as water flow rate increases. The peak heat transfer coefficient with higher water flow rates appears at lower interface temperatures. The temperature distribution across the cross-section of profile during quenching is severe nonuniform and the maximum temperature difference is 300 °C at quenching time of 3.49 s. The temperature difference through the thickness of different parts of profile first increases sharply to a maximum value, and then gradually decreases. The temperature gradient increases obviously with the increase of thickness of parts. After quenching, there exist large residual stresses on the inner side of joints of profile and the two ends of part with thickness of 10 mm. The profile presents a twisting-type distortion across the cross-section under non-uniform cooling and the maximum twisting angle during quenching is 2.78°.     

热等静压处理对K439B高温合金显微组织的影响

对K439B合金进行了1165 ℃/150 MPa,4 h热等静压处理,采用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对比研究了铸态和热等静压态K439B合金的显微组织。结果表明:铸态K439B合金存在0.25%的显微疏松,热等静压后显微疏松基本消除(0.013%)。与铸态相比,经过热等静压处理后合金中的γ/γ′共晶组织体积分数和尺寸减小,各元素分布更加均匀,凝固偏析系数均更接近1。铸态K439B合金枝晶干处γ′相尺寸和体积分数分别是116.9 nm和17.8%,枝晶间部位γ′相尺寸和体积分数分别为244.4 nm和24.9%。热等静压后合金枝晶干部位的γ′相尺寸及体积分数分别为148.0 nm和17.5%,枝晶间部位γ′相尺寸和体积分数分别为159.1 nm和22.8%。热等静压处理使合金枝晶干、枝晶间部位的γ′相尺寸、体积分数和形貌接近,同时γ′相分布变得均匀。     

铌硅基高温合金定向凝固铸造温度场模拟计算

以铌硅基高温合金定向凝固铸造过程为对象，通过实验测试和反求法确定了铌硅基高温合金和型壳的热物性参数，以及凝固过程各界面换热系数等边界条件；利用ProCAST软件对不同抽拉速率下铌硅基高温合金凝固过程温度场进行了模拟。结果表明，随着抽拉速率由5 mm·min?1增加到10 mm·min?1，固/液界面离液态金属锡表面的距离由12.1 mm下降到8.2 mm；平均糊状区宽度逐渐变窄，由11.5 mm减小到10.4 mm。针对抽拉速率为5 mm·min?1的实验结果表明，数值模拟结果与实际定向凝固实验获得的一次枝晶间距差异在6%以内，从一个方面验证了温度场模拟结果的正确性，相关结果可为铌硅基高温合金叶片定向凝固铸造参数的确定提供参考。      

Preparation of Bi2Ti2O7/TiO2 nanocomposites and their photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

To improve visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of TiO₂, the octahedral Bi₂Ti₂O₇ nanoparticles have been successfully supported on TiO₂ nanotubes (Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂) for the first time by a simple hydrothermal method. The structure and electro-optical property of the Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂ were characterized in detail. The obtained Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂ exhibited a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity and good stability for degradation of organic pollutants under visible light. The study presents a new way to synthesize Bi₂Ti₂O₇/TiO₂ using TiO₂ nanotubes as both supporter and reactant.     

Sensitivity of a solid Eu(III) complex towards acetonitrile vapor: Structural and spectroscopic characterization

The Eu(III) nitrate complex of the meso- N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethylene)-1,2-(R,S)-cyclohexanediamine ligand was synthesized and characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The crystal lattice of the complex is capable of absorbing and desorbing selectively acetonitrile molecules, at 293 K upon an acetonitrile vapor pressure of ∼0.1 × 10⁵ Pa. This process, which is partially reversible, can be easily followed by both powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) and Eu(III) luminescence spectroscopy. The acetonitrile molecule, located in the outer coordination sphere of the metal ion, does not affect the radiative transition probability of ⁵D₀ level of Eu(III) and also it does not activate further non-radiative channels from this level. On the other hand, this molecule is capable of affecting the energy position and intensities of the crystal field components of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition. The complex in solid form can be considered a promising material for the optical sensing of acetonitrile vapors.     

Optimization of C/TiCx duplex diffusion barrier coatings for SiCf/Ti composites based on interfacial structure evolution exploration

Introducing a carbon single coating is a popular method used to protect SiC_f/Ti composites from severe interface reactions. However, carbon coatings lose their protective effect on SiC fibres at high temperature, even after a short period time. As such, given the strong demand for high temperature applications in aeronautics and astronautics a more coating which is more effective at high temperatures is desirable. In order to improve the high temperature interfacial stability of SiC_f/Ti composites, a C/TiC_x duplex coating system with different C contents in TiC_x was introduced to explore the protection of fibres at 1200?°C for 1?h. The results show that the C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC coating system protects the SiC fibres most effectively. Based on insights from the evolution of the interface structure, TiC_x has been identified as an interfacial reaction product from the C single coating, exhibiting a gradient in C content and grain size, which is different from a deposited TiC layer with a well-distributed composition and structure. The different coating structure gives rise to different ability to resist C diffusion at high temperatures, in which poor resistance ability appears in TiC_x interfacial reaction layer coming from C single coating due to short-circuit diffusion in C-rich fine-grained TiC layer and fast intracrystalline diffusion trigged by amounts of vacancies in sub-stoichiometric coarse-grained TiC layer. Therefore, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings with a thick, coarse-grained quasi-stoichiometric TiC layer could effectively inhibit C diffusion by comparison to C single coatings, and is more effective than C/rich-carbon TiC duplex coatings due to the existence of short-circuit diffusion in the latter. As such, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings appear to be an optimal diffusion barrier for SiC_f/Ti composites at high temperature.     

Joining of Si3N4 to Si3N4 using a AuPd(Co,Ni)–V filler alloy and the interfacial reactions

Au38.0–Pd28.0–Co18.0–Ni7.0–V9.0 (in wt%) alloy was designed as a filler for joining Si₃N₄. The filler alloy showed a contact angle of 77.2° on Si₃N₄ ceramic at 1473 K. The Si₃N₄/Si₃N₄ joint brazed with the rapidly-solidified filler foils at 1443 K for 10 min exhibits an average three-point bend strength of 320.7 MPa at room temperature and the strength values are 217.9 MPa and 102.9 MPa at 1073 K and 1173 K respectively. The interfacial reaction products were composed of V₂N and Pd₂Si, and the elements Co and Ni in the brazing alloy did not participate in the interfacial reactions. The coarse-network-like distribution of refractory Pd₂Si compound within the Au–Pd–Co–Ni alloy matrix throughout the joint contributes to the stable high-temperature joint strengths.