Repeated low-velocity impact responses of SiC particle reinforced Al metal-matrix composites

This study aimed to investigate experimentally the repeated low-velocity impact behaviors of SiC reinforced aluminum 6061 metal-matrix composites for different volume fractions and energy levels. In addition, the hardness variations were measured by the Vickers hardness tests from the impacted and impact-free cross-sections of the particle reinforced metal-matrix composites. Low-velocity impact tests were applied to composite samples manufactured by powder metallurgy (in 10, 20, and 30% volume fractions) at two total energy levels (15 and 60 J as single) and in repetitions equal to the sum of these energy levels (5 + 5 + 5 and 20 + 20 + 20 J as repeated). As a result, in increasing the impact number for all volume fractions, the total contact time was shortened and the peak contact force increased, whereas both the permanent central deflection and the absorbed energies reduced. Hence, these variations obtained under repeated impacts (5 + 5 + 5 and 20 + 20 + 20 J) revealed that metal-matrix composites showed a tougher behavior with an increase in the impact numbers from 1st to 3rd, particularly because of the strain hardening effect. Furthermore, an increase in volume fraction from 10 to 30% resulted in an increase in the impact strength under all repeated and single impacts despite changing deformation and damage mechanisms due to increasing the strain hardening effect and particle fractures. The hardness was affected by the volume fraction and increased as the volume fraction increased in both the impacted and impact-free zones. The repeated impact increased the impacted zone hardness more than the single impact for all volume fractions. Additionally, the hardness of the impacted zone under 20 + 20 + 20 J repeated impact was measured as the highest value in the 30% volume fraction. Therefore, metal-matrix composites can behave harder with the strain hardening effect under repeated impacts.     

Fabrication and characterization of in-situ Al3Ni intermetallic and CeO2 particulate-reinforced aluminum matrix composites

Al-xNi-yCeO₂ (x = 6, 10, 15, 20 and y = 0, 5, 10 wt%) composites were produced by a powder metallurgical production route. Powder mixtures of Al, Ni and CeO₂ were fabricated via mechanical alloying (MA) for 4 h in a Spex-type high-energy ball mill. Both the mechanically alloyed (MAed) and non-MAed (as-blended mixtures) powders were pre-compacted in a hydraulic press under 650 MPa and then pressurelessly consolidated at 630 °C for 2 h under an inert atmosphere. The effects of MA process and the amounts of Ni and CeO₂ on the microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of the sintered composites were determined. Based on the SEM and XRD investigations, the MAed powders illustrated a homogenous structure, comprising flaky particles with smaller crystallite sizes and greater lattice strain. According to the XRD analysis, Ni formed Al–Ni intermetallic compounds in the matrix of sintered composites that act as secondary reinforcement phases. The SEM observations conducted on the MAed samples demonstrated more uniformly and finely distributed Al₃Ni and CeO₂ phases in the microstructure of the MAed samples, unlike the non-MAed ones. The hardness values of sintered composites increased due to the MA process and increasing Ni and CeO₂ amounts, and the hardness value of the MAed Al20Ni–10CeO₂ sample reached 179 HV. The ultimate compressive strength and failure strain of the MAed Al6Ni–10CeO₂ sample were 441 MPa and 11.3%. In the Al20Ni–10CeO₂ sample, the compressive strength and failure strain were 391 MPa and 5.5%, respectively. Additionally, the reciprocating wear test results illustrated that both wear resistance and hardness values of the composites increased as the amounts of Ni and CeO₂ increased, and the Al20Ni–10CeO₂ sample exhibited the highest wear resistance as 0.175 × 10^-3 mm³/Nm.     

Comparative study of microwave absorption properties of Ni–Zn ferrites obtained from different synthesis technologies

Spinel ferrites are widely used for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption applications. In this study, spinel Ni–Zn ferrites with excellent microwave absorption properties were synthesized. Their EMW absorption characteristics and interaction mechanisms were studied to lay the foundation for the study of the role of Ni–Zn ferrite as a magnetic substrate for composites. Herein, Ni_0·5Zn_0·5Fe₂O₄ was prepared by the hydrothermal method (H-NZFO) and the sol–gel auto-combustion method (S-NZFO); both samples exhibited distinct microwave absorption properties. The S-NZFO absorber (thickness = 3.72 mm) demonstrated the best dual-zone microwave absorption with two strong reflection loss peaks at 5.1 and 10.5 GHz. The corresponding effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reached 9.0 GHz, which covered part of the S-band and all of the C- and X-bands. These results were attributed to the high saturation magnetization, outstanding complex permeability, and multiple magnetic loss channels of S-NZFO. The H-NZFO sample exhibited excellent absorption capability and matching thickness. At a thickness as low as 1.71 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of the H-NZFO absorber reached -60.2 dB at 13.1 GHz. The maximum bandwidth corresponding to RL below -10 dB was 4.6 GHz. These results can be attributed to small particle size, high complex permittivity, and multiple dielectric loss channels of H-NZFO. The observed wide effective absorption bandwidth of S-NZFO and strong microwave absorption capability of H-NZFO suggest the potential of both materials as substrates for efficient microwave absorbers in military as well as civilian absorption applications.     

Recycling spent lead acid batteries into aqueous zinc-ion battery material with ultra-flat voltage platforms

The harmless disposal of lead paste in the spent lead-acid batteries (LABs) remains an enormous challenge in traditional pyrometallurgical recycling. Here, we introduced a hydrometallurgical method for the recycling of the spent LABs’ waste to obtain the β-PbO as a novel zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) active material. The obtained β-PbO exhibits ultra-flat charge/discharge voltage platforms (0.21 mV/(mAh g^?1)) and stable specific capacity. During the charge/discharge, the β-PbO spontaneously triggers the formation of (ZnSO₄)[Zn(OH)₂]₃·5H₂O (ZHS) micro-sheets as a surface passivation layer. Moreover, the ex-situ X-ray spectra reveal that the reversible phase transformation occurs between PbSO₄ and Pb with the assistance of ZHS by adjusting the PH value on the electrode-electrolyte interface. The synergistic two-phase-reaction mechanism generates ultra-flat voltage platforms upon the charge/discharge. This “energy-saving and environment-friendly” recycling route eliminates the major source of emission of pollution particulates/gases compared to the traditional pyrometallurgical recycling, while at the same time replacing energy-consuming and environmentally detrimental processes of synthesis of current ZIBs cathodes.     

滇南兰坪南厂铅锌矿矿床成因及成矿作用

南厂铅锌矿位于兰坪—思茅中生代坳陷北端，构造格局复杂，成矿条件优越。通过对矿床进行野外地质调查，对成矿地质背景、矿床地质特征、成矿机制和矿床成因进行了分析，发现南厂铅锌矿体主要呈透镜状赋存于第三系云龙组（Eyb）及下白垩统景星组（K1j1）地层中，与围岩接触部位发育微弱褪色蚀变，云龙组下段（Eya）是矿体底板有效的“屏蔽层”；区内发育原生砂岩型矿石、灰岩型矿石和氧化矿石，沉积构造特征明显，局部具有热液、变质作用改造特征；矿区地层、构造是矿床形成的重要因素，断裂构造是主要的容矿、导矿构造，高盐度热卤水沿导矿构造循环至有利层位、构造部位富集成矿，综合分析认为南厂矿床属热卤水为主的多成因层控型铅锌矿床。     

超声波强化低品位氧化锌矿在NH3-(NH4)2SO4-H2O体系中的浸出

研究了低品位氧化锌矿在NH_3-(NH_4)_2SO_4-H_2O体系中的浸出,并利用超声波进行了浸出过程的强化。结果表明,超声波能够强化低品位氧化锌矿在氨性浸出剂中的浸出。在总氨浓度为7.5mol/L,n[NH_4~+]∶n[NH_3]为2∶1,反应温度为40℃,反应时间为60 min,超声波浸出,液固比为5∶1的条件下,锌的浸出率可以达到92.1%。当NH3与(NH4)2SO4的摩尔比为1∶1时,此低品位氧化锌矿在浸出Zn2+所形成的配位化合物为[Zn(NH_3)_4]~(2+)。适当增加氨浓度及反应温度可有效提高锌的浸出率。     

Tunable Spectrum Selectivity for Multiphoton Absorption with Enhanced Visible Light Trapping in ZnO Nanorods

Observation of visible light trapping in zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) correlated to the optical and photoelectrochemical properties is reported. In this study, ZnO NR diameter and c‐axis length respond primarily at two different regions, UV and visible light, respectively. ZnO NR diameter exhibits UV absorption where large ZnO NR diameter area increases light absorption ability leading to high efficient electron–hole pair separation. On the other hand, ZnO NR c‐axis length has a dominant effect in visible light resulting from a multiphoton absorption mechanism due to light reflection and trapping behavior in the free space between adjacent ZnO NRs. Furthermore, oxygen vacancies and defects in ZnO NRs are associated with the broad visible emission band of different energy levels also highlighting the possibility of the multiphoton absorption mechanism. It is demonstrated that the minimum average of ZnO NR c‐axis length must satisfy the linear regression model of Z _p,min = 6.31d to initiate the multiphoton absorption mechanism under visible light. This work indicates the broadening of absorption spectrum from UV to visible light region by incorporating a controllable diameter and c‐axis length on vertically aligned ZnO NRs, which is important in optimizing the design and functionality of electronic devices based on light absorption mechanism.     

湿法炼锌酸浸渣常规干燥实验研究

本文以湿法炼锌酸性浸出渣为研究对象,实验研究干燥温度、物料量、干燥时间对酸浸渣相对脱水率的影响,综合考虑干燥工艺的时效性、经济效益以及工艺效率,控制物料量为50g、干燥温度为90℃、干燥时间为80min时,酸浸渣相对脱水率可达到98.32%。实验研究对促进酸浸渣中有价金属的资源综合利用、改善环境等具有重要的指导意义。