Microstructural,mechanical, and thermal properties of microwave-sintered KLS-1 lunar regolith simulant

KLS-1 Lunar regolith simulant was microwave sintered to explore its potential applicability in future lunar construction. The effects of sintering temperature on linear shrinkage, density, porosity, and microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated. As the sintering temperature increased, linear shrinkage and density increased and porosity decreased. Structural evolution in the sintered samples was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Unconfined compressive strength testing showed that mechanical strength increased significantly with increasing sintering temperature, with 1120 °C giving the highest strength of 37.0 ± 4.8 MPa. The sintered samples exhibited a coefficient of thermal expansion of approximately 5 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹, which was well-maintained even after cyclic temperature stress between −100 and 200 °C. Therefore, this microwave processing appears promising for the fabrication of building material with sufficient mechanical strength and thermal durability for lunar construction.     

Comparative study of embrittlement of quenched and tempered steels in hydrogen environments

The study of steels which guarantee safety and reliability throughout their service life in hydrogen-rich environments has increased considerably in recent years. Their mechanical behavior in terms of hydrogen embrittlement is of utmost importance. This work aims to assess the effects of hydrogen on the tensile properties of quenched and tempered 42CrMo4 steels. Tensile tests were performed on smooth and notched specimens under different conditions: pre-charged in high pressure hydrogen gas, electrochemically pre-charged, and in-situ hydrogen charged in an acid aqueous medium. The influence of the charging methodology on the corresponding embrittlement indexes was assessed. The role of other test variables, such as the applied current density, the electrolyte composition, and the displacement rate was also studied. An important reduction of the strength was detected when notched specimens were subjected to in-situ charging. When the same tests were performed on smooth tensile specimens, the deformation results were reduced. This behavior is related to significant changes in the operative failure micromechanisms, from ductile (microvoids coalescence) in absence of hydrogen or under low hydrogen contents, to brittle (decohesion of martensite lath interfaces) under the most stringent conditions.     

From modification to mechanism: Supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nano-zirconia

Nano-zirconia has been widely applied due to its excellent physical and chemical properties (e.g., high strength, corrosion resistance, oxygen ion conductivity). Existing preparation methods of nano-zirconia tend to require long reaction time, and the sizes of final particles are large with uneven distributions. Sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nanoparticles is favored by researchers owing to controllable reaction process, uniform particle size distribution, good reproducibility, short reaction time, high conversion rate and harmlessness to environment. In this paper, the characteristics and mechanisms of dissolution, crystallization and growth of nano-zirconia during sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis are systematically reviewed. The influences of process and material parameters on the size and purity of particles are analyzed. Then, the reaction mechanism and product phase transition mechanism during hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia are summarized to provide a theoretical reference for the oriented preparation. Finally, the improvement and commercialization of sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis technology are evaluated, and the future research topics are proposed.     

Recent advances during CH4 dry reforming for syngas production: A mini review

Given the continuing issues of environment and energy, methane dry reforming for syngas production have sparked interest among researchers, but struggled with the process immaturity owing to catalyst deactivation. This review summarizes the recent advances in the development of efficient and stable catalysts with strong resistance to coking and metal sintering, including the application of novel materials, the assessment of advanced characterizations and the compatibility to improved reaction system. One feasible option is the crystalline oxide catalysts (perovskite, pyrochlore, spinel and LDHs), which feature a fine metal dispersion and surface confinement effect via a metal exsolution strategy and exhibit superior reactivity and stability. Some new materials (h-BN, clays and MOFs) also extend the option because of their unique morphology and microstructure. It also is elaborated that progresses were achieved in advanced characterizations application, leading to success in the establishment of reaction mechanisms and attributions to the formed robust catalysts. In addition, the perspective described the upgrade of reaction system to a higher reaction efficiency and milder reaction conditions. The combination of efficient reaction systems and robust catalysts paves a way for a scaling-up application of the process.     

In-situ deflectometic measurement of transparent optics in precision robotic polishing

In the ultra-precision manufacturing of large optics, industrial robots have the potential to become an intelligent and economical choice of surface polishing. However, the transport of the workpieces between the polishing platform and the measurement instrument seriously limits the manufacturing efficiency. Therefore, an in-situ measurement system based on the monoscopic deflectometry is developed to determine the form quality of the optical lenses during rough polishing. Stray light reflected from the lower surface of transparent lenses may degrade the measuring quality, thus an effective absolute phase retrieval algorithm is developed to decouple the superposed fringes associated with the upper and lower surfaces. Then, the form of the upper surface under polishing can be reconstructed to guide the subsequent polishing. Experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy of the method is comparable to that of the coordinate measuring machine, consequently the manufacturing efficiency and reliability of large optical workpieces can be greatly improved.     

Synergistic effect for co-coking of sawdust and coal blending based on the chemical structure transformation

Biomass was used as additives in coal blending for making coke in terms of widening the alternative raw materials and reducing CO₂ emissions. To obtain the influences of biomass incorporation on the semicoke formation, the chemical structure transformation as well as the gas evolution during sawdust (SD)/coal blending (BC) co-coking were investigated using in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry (In-situ FTIR-MS). Meanwhile, the role of biomass in the semicoke formation was also characterized by several analytical techniques. The transformation of the five main functional groups between SD and BC exhibited the largest difference, and the synergistic effect based on the chemical structure transformation was also proposed for the SD/BC blends co-coking. The synergistic effect based on the chemical structure transformation was divided into two stages during semicoke formation. One stage occurred at 100–280 °C that was assigned to the physical effect that inhibited the BC decomposition. Another stage happened at 280–500 °C that was mainly attributed to the hydrogen transfer that enhanced the aromatization of semi-coke. In addition, it was also noted that the thermoplastic properties decreased proportionately to the quantity of the SD, and the non-agglomeration between BC and SD was clearly observed by SEM.     

In-situ formation of BN layers by nitriding boron powders in BN/Si3N4-based composite ceramics

Boron nitride/silicon nitride (BN/Si₃N₄) composite ceramics were fabricated via the in-situ nitridation of boron (B) and silicon (Si) powders in forming gas (95%N₂/5%H₂) at 1390?°C. The effect of the B content on the phase composition, microstructure, density/porosity, machinability as well as mechanical properties of nitridized BN/Si₃N₄ composite ceramics was investigated. The addition of B slightly increased the nitridation degree of the Si and B powders mixture, and improved the ratio of the β-Si₃N₄ phase significantly at low B contents. B powders may have acted as a nucleating agent to promote the formation of β-Si₃N₄ crystals. A core-shell Si₃N₄/BN structure was revealed by the TEM technique, and the number of BN layers increased with the increase of the B content. The in-situ BN formed by the nitridation of B played a similar role with the BN directly added in enhancing the machinability of the BN/Si₃N₄ composite ceramics. The method of the in-situ nitridation of B is also effective to prepare SiC fiber-reforced BN/Si₃N₄ ceramic matrix composites.     

Transformation of metallic polymer precursor into nanosized HfTaC2 ceramics

Polymeric precursor for HfTaC₂ ceramic was prepared by coordination reaction between metal alkoxides and acetylacetone, subsequent hydrolysis, and blend with oligomeric novolac carbon sources. The phase analysis and microstructure study were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It showed that after pyrolyzed at 1450 °C for 90 min, HfTaC₂ was obtained with particle size ~50 nm and uniform elemental distribution. Phase transition from precursor to ceramic was studied by in situ XRD measurements at temperatures from 800 to 1200 °C. In the early stage, oxide solid solution Hf₆Ta₂O₁₇ was firstly detected at ~950 °C, followed by Ta₂O₅ and TaO. As temperature was raised, signals for TaO and Hf₆Ta₂O₁₇ gradually weakened and disappeared, while those for other phases strongly strengthened. Furthermore, formation of Hf_xTa_yC_z solid solution was monitored and confirmed by peak migration during 1300 °C isothermal treatment. When the sample was pyrolyzed at 1450 °C, solid solution Hf_xTa_yC_z was detected at different holding time. Phase structure at 90 min was the closest to standard HfTaC₂ with particle size D_v (90) ~ 200 nm.     

In-situ synthesized nanocrystalline UO2/SiC composite with superior thermal conductivity

In this study, a novel UO₂/SiC nanocomposite pellet was constructed via in-situ hydrothermal synthesis and SPS. Such method could avoid the problem of traditional mechanical mixing that could obtained the molecular level mixing during a chemical process. Using such method, SiC was dispersed uniformly in the UO₂ matrix. Its thermal conductivity is significantly higher than those of UO₂ pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder and traditional UO₂ pellets at both working temperature (400 °C) and near-accident temperature (1000 °C). The thermal conductivity of UO₂/SiC nanocomposite pellet increased 23.7 % over traditional UO₂ and 48.9 % over UO₂ pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 400 °C. It also increased 33.6 % over traditional UO₂ and 74.8 % over UO₂ pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 1000 °C. These advantages are expected to maintain high thermal conductivity of fuels, enhance heat transferring efficiency of reactors, and minimize risks of pellet failure in the entire fuel life cycle.     

基于流变模型的地应力剖面预测——以贵州黔北地区安页1井为例

地应力是非常规油气勘探开发中"甜点"评价、水平井部署和压裂设计的重要基础参数。目前国内外主要将基于弹性模型的常规储层地应力评价技术应用于泥页岩储层,未考虑流变特性对泥页岩储层地应力分布规律的影响,导致泥页岩储层地应力评价结果误差较大。为了提高地应力参数评价计算的准确性,提出了一种基于流变模型的地应力评价新方法(以下简称新方法),利用偶极声波测井数据获取的岩石力学参数,参考相关试验结果确定岩石流变参数随深度变化的规律,结合盆地埋藏史和地壳应变率,建立了贵州黔北地区安页1井地应力剖面。新方法评价得到的地应力值与小型压裂实测和应力多边形法确定的地应力值的对比分析结果表明:新方法预测的安页1井地应力剖面与实测结果吻合较好,并且其地应力评价结果与伽马测井结果也具有较好的对应关系,即随着黏土矿物或有机质含量的升高,水平主应力差变小。结论认为,采用新方法得到的地应力评价结果更加符合于真实的地应力分布规律。