A numerical model to predict the powder–binder separation during micro-powder injection molding

The micro-powder injection molding (micro-PIM) process has the potential to bridge the gap between the design and manufacturing of micro-components that are often used in small and handy devices. Numerical modeling helps to analyze and overcome various difficulties of micro-PIM. In the present work, a numerical model is developed to predict the powder–binder separation (a common defect in PIM and especially severe in micro-PIM) during the injection of an alumina feedstock. A powder–binder separation criterion is proposed dealing with applied injection pressure and friction force between the powder and binder. An indirect comparison of feedstock travel time between two locations is used to validate the model. The predicted segregation from the simulated result is supported by a qualitative experimental measurement. The developed model can be used to optimize injection parameters to get a defect-free product.     

Reconstruction and hydration of hydrotalcite response to thermal activation temperature: Enhancement of properties for magnesia castables

Optimization binding system for refractory castables is significant to enhance the service performance. Hydrotalcite has been considered a promoter for high-temperature performance of basic castables, however, its binding property remains to be improved before practical application. In this work, the thermal activated Mg–Al hydrotalcites were incorporated in magnesia castables, and the mutual influence of pre-calcination temperature on the hydration, microstructure, and strength of castables was investigated. The obtained results indicated that the reconstruction of calcined hydrotalcite took place in the hydration process and effectively motivated the hydrolysis. Hydrate was thus promoted and a relatively dense microstructure of magnesia castables was confirmed by X-ray computed tomography analysis. Hydrotalcite pre-calcinated at 300 °C contributed to the highest early strength for castable, and the high-temperature properties also performed better than that of other pre-calcinated hydrotalcite-adding. The enhancement mechanisms of calcined hydrotalcite were attributed to the two following reasons: (ⅰ) the modified microstructure of magnesia castables from the early stage by hydration process, (ⅱ) the further enhanced sinterability inspired by the appropriate thermal activation effect.     

Effect of impact angle on wear behavior of Mo2NiB2–Ni cermets with different Ni content

Herein, the influence of the impact angle and Ni content on the wear behavior of Mo₂NiB₂–Ni cermets was studied using an erodent-carrying slurry comprising artificial seawater and SiO₂ sands. The results reveal that the material loss may be attributed to the wear damage caused by SiO₂ sands because cermets are expected to exhibit good corrosion resistance in artificial seawater. The relative density of cermets markedly influences their resistance to wear damage, and the material loss experienced by cermets with poor relative density is 2–4 times higher than that of cermets with good relative density; this occurs because a higher relative density can markedly enhance the mechanical properties and reduce the defects in the cermets. Moreover, the results indicate that as the impact angle increases from 0° to 60°, the manifestation of the wear mechanism changes from damaging the Ni binder phase (caused by single cutting wear) to damaging both the Mo₂NiB₂ ceramic and Ni binder phases due to the combination of cutting wear and impact wear. The wear damage is dominated by the cutting wear and impact wear from SiO₂ sand at the low and high impact angles, respectively. Furthermore, the severe deterioration of the single ceramic skeleton at high impact angles indicates that the synergistic influence of the Mo₂NiB₂ ceramic and Ni binder phases on enhancing the wear resistance of the cermets intensifies at high impact angles.     

细粒磁铁精矿球团孔隙结构的优化研究

针对-10 μm粒级含量32.63%、比表面积2 980 cm²/g的细粒磁铁精矿,通过有机粘结剂取代部分膨润土优化细粒磁铁精矿球团的孔隙结构,从而改善了生球及成品球质量。相比单独添加1.75%的膨润土球团,配加0.05%的有机粘结剂使膨润土用量降低至0.8%,由于有机粘结剂使小颗粒团聚成较大的颗粒,使得生球的孔隙率从16.68%提高到23.15%,球团爆裂温度从370 ℃提高到500 ℃;且预热过程球团的氧化率从67.48%提高到79.08%,球团均匀氧化避免了球团焙烧时形成双层结构;同时焙烧球孔隙率从12.33%提高到16.83%,使得球团还原度从56.8%提高到69.7%。有机粘结剂部分取代膨润土成功解决了细粒磁铁精矿球团孔隙率低导致的爆裂温度低、氧化速度慢、还原性能差等问题。     

微波胶粉比表面积对橡胶沥青流变性能的影响

通过考察不同微波辐射时间对胶粉活化处理并制备胶粉改性沥青的效果,研究微波辐射对胶粉表观特性与其改性沥青流变性能的影响。采用气体吸附仪、动态剪切流变仪分别测定胶粉活化前后的比表面积及改性沥青的流变性能,并将胶粉的比表面积与沥青流变性能进行关联。在此基础上,结合扫描电镜,从微观角度揭示活化胶粉对沥青流变性能的影响机理。结果表明:在测定时间内,微波辐射使得胶粉表面变得蓬松,孔隙增多,比表面积增长显著;一定时间范围内(60～120s)的微波辐射对胶粉改性沥青的高温抗车辙能力有显著影响;胶粉微波活化后其比表面积与改性沥青流变性能之间有很好的相关性,胶粉比表面积越大,其复数剪切模量越大,相位角越小,沥青的高温抗变形能力越好。     

Comparisons with high viscosity additive effects on base and modified asphalt

In this research, three types of high viscosity additives with different volumes were added to both 70# base asphalt and SBS modified asphalt, the dynamic viscosity and high temperature performance tests were conducted. The results show that with the same volume and type of the additive, SBS modified asphalt has a much higher dynamic viscosity and high temperature grade than those of the base asphalt. When the volume of each additive type increases from 0% to 12%, the dynamic viscosity would increase in a different trend, which could be described as three stages with different increasing speeds, and the variability and the demarcation point of the adjacent two stages depend on the asphalt modification, additive type and the volume. With regard to the high temperature grade, it was found that the effect of different additive types on high temperature performance should be separated from asphalt modification.     

Effects of water and carbon dioxide pressure on the adhesion of Na2SiO3 and K2SiO3 binders on silica sand surface: Comparison of experimental data and molecular dynamics simulation

In this study, the effects of different water amounts, CO₂ blowing pressures, Na₂O:SiO₂ and K₂O:SiO₂ ratios were studied on the bonding strength of Na₂SiO₃ and K₂SiO₃ binders. It was concluded that the increase in water content had an adverse effect on the bonding strength of CO₂-hardened Na₂SiO₃ sand. The blowing pressure did not have a linear relationship with the bonding strength, but it was closely related to the diffusion coefficient of CO₂. Based on scanning electron microscopic results, it was inferred that the low strength was caused by the formation of lamellar crystals after the adhesive was hardened. It was found that the low strength was caused by the formation of lamellar crystals after the adhesive was hardened. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, different pressures and water contents had a great influence on the diffusion coefficient of CO₂ in the silicate binder system. This research provides an important theoretical background to improve the technology of CO₂-hardened Na₂SiO₃- and K₂SiO₃-bonded sands during the casting process.     

Verification of the new viscoelastic method of thermal stress calculation in asphalt layers of pavements

The new viscoelastic method of thermal stress calculations in asphalt layers has been developed and published recently by the author. This paper presents verification of this method. The verification is based on the comparison of the results of calculations with results of testing of thermal stresses in Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Test. The calculations of thermal stresses according to the new method were based on rheological parameters of the Burgers model. The parameters were measured in laboratory at different low temperatures, at long time creep under constant loading. Five asphalt mixes were tested. Three of them were high modulus asphalt concretes and two conventional asphalt concretes. Specimens were prepared in exactly the same way both for rheological creep tests and for the Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Test. The results of measured thermal stresses were compared with thermal stresses calculated from the new viscoelastic method developed by the author and in most cases a good agreement was found. For comparison, the measured stresses were compared with results of calculations according to the existing methods. The viscoelastic Monismith method failed in prediction of thermal stresses. The prediction from the quasi-elastic Hills and Brien method was underestimated, but better than from the Monismith method and worse than from the new viscoelastic method. The reasons of discrepancies were discussed.     

Rheological properties and storage stability of asphalt modified with nanoscale polyurethane emulsion

Nanoscale polyurethane emulsion which synthesized in previous work was used as polymer modifying agent herein to prepare modified asphalt by gentle agitation method. Rheological properties, storage stability, microstructure and polymer dispersibility of WPU-modified asphalt were investigated using dynamic shear rheological (DSR), segregation test, and fluorescence microscopy. Due to the reaction of active NCO groups in WPU and active hydrogen atoms in asphalt, the modified asphalt system can be stable stored at high temperature. In addition, the nano-particle size of polyurethane emulsion makes polymer uniformly dispersed in modified asphalt and work better.     

锂离子电池硅基负极黏结剂研究进展

硅在自然界中储量丰富,其理论比容量高达4 200 mA∙h/g,已成为高能量密度锂离子电池负极材料的研究热点。但是Si作为负极材料也存在许多不足,最大的问题是电池充放电过程中,硅体积膨胀（高达300%）,导致Si基负极材料粉化脱落、电池容量迅速衰减,其循环性能尚难以满足实际需求。通过研究开发硅基负极专用黏结剂材料,可以有效抑制循环过程中硅的体积变化,维持硅负极结构稳定,提升电池循环性能。本文综述了近年来硅基负极黏结剂材料的研究进展,主要从合成高分子聚合物黏结剂、天然高分子聚合物黏结剂、导电高分子聚合物黏结剂三个方面进行详细归纳总结,并介绍了本课题组在硅基负极黏结剂方面的部分研究成果,期望能为将来的硅基负极专用黏结剂的研究和应用提供一些思路。