Effect of friction stir processing on microstructure of laser clad cobalt-based alloy

(The microstructural refinement of cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) by laser cladding and friction stir processing (FSP) was studied. A nanometer-sized microstructure consisting of fine carbide (particle size: 100–200 nm) and a grain (grain size: 150–250 nm) was successfully fabricated by the FSP on the laser clad cobalt-based alloy. The nanostructured cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) had an extremely high hardness of about 750 HV.     

Effect of in-flight particle behavior on the morphology of flame sprayed Er2O3 splats

The morphology and microstructure of splats impact the comprehensive capability of a new coating methodology called chelate flame spraying (CFS). This study addresses the quantitative characterization of the spread morphologies of flame sprayed Er₂O₃ splats directly deposited under different spray conditions on aluminum alloy substrates with a mirror finish. The influence of the in-flight particle temperature and velocity, carrier gas type, and carrier gas ratio on the solidification mechanism of molten droplets was investigated. Image analysis methods were employed to identify single splats from the morphology observed with field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, Er₂O₃ films were synthesized on an Al–Mg alloy (A5052) substrate using N₂ or O₂ as the carrier gas. When O₂ was used as the carrier gas, 109-μm-thick films were deposited on the A5052 substrate. The cross-sectional porosity of the films was 3.8%. In contrast, films with 101-μm thickness were synthesized on the A5052 substrate when N₂ was used as the carrier gas. The cross-sectional porosity of these films was 13.8%. The results showed that the carrier gas type (N₂) and carrier gas ratio had a significant effect on the flattening behavior of the molten droplets. A spraying method combined with multidimensional modes is proposed to control the morphology of the splats.     

Deformation Mechanism in the Crack-Tip Region of Fine-Grained Magnesium Alloy

The deformation mechanism in the crack-tip region of a fine-grained Mg-2.4 at. pct Zn binary alloy was investigated by focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation and finite element analysis (FEA) at the beginning of the fracture toughness test. The deformed microstructure observations showed the formation of subgrains instead of deformation twins in the fracture toughness tested sample, which was performed at a conventional crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. By preventing the formation of deformation twins at the beginning of the test, the crack tip of the fine-grained magnesium alloys became blunted, and thus, the alloys obtained high fracture toughness. Finite element results showed that the temperature increased 50 to 110 K, and the strain rate became two orders of magnitude higher; however, this temperature increment was not sufficient to form high-angle grain boundaries, i.e., a complete occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. On the other hand, the deformed microstructure observations in the sample, which was tested at a crosshead speed of 50 mm/min, showed the formation of nano-order {10-12} deformation twins and subgrains. The formation of deformation twins was caused, in part, by the severe strain from the operation of a high strain rate in the crack-tip region.     

First-principles investigation on the segregation of Pd at LaFe1-xPdxO3-y surfaces

First-principles calculations were performed to investigate the effect of Pd concentration and oxygen vacancies on the stability of Pd at LaFeO₃ surfaces. We found a much stronger tendency of Pd to segregate by taking the aggregation of Pd at LaFe_1-xPd_xO_3-y surfaces into consideration, resulting in a pair of Pd-Pd around a vacancy. Moreover, we predicted that one oxygen-vacancy-containing FeO₂-terminated surfaces would be stable at high temperatures by comparing the stability of LaFe_1-xPd_xO_3-y surfaces, which further supports our previous conclusion that a Pd-containing perovskite catalyst should be calcined at 1,073 K or higher temperatures in air to enhance the segregation of Pd in the vicinity of surfaces to rapidly transform the Pd catalyst from oxidized to reduced states on the perovskite support.     

A Study on the Effect of Air on the Dynamic Motion of a MEMS Device and Its Shape Optimization

The authors propose a new design concept for controlling the deflection of a micro-membrane with the aid of its thickness distribution for realizing a prescribed design in the MEMS. As an example, the authors treat a micro air pump that comprises a micro-membrane. The membrane is actuated by an electrostatic force. The membrane deflects and thus the deflection is influenced by the air pressure and the electrostatic field. This is a highly complicated system. To find out a proper thickness distribution, the authors use the genetic algorithm that is appropriate to reduce the searching space of solution.     

The use of indoline dyes in a zinc oxide dye-sensitized solar cell

The effects of the position and the type of carboxyl anchor group in double rhodanine-type indoline dyes on the performance of a zinc oxide dye-sensitized solar cell were examined. The optimum position for the carboxymethyl group was on the inner rhodanine moiety; a carboxymethyl group gave optimum results among carboxymethyl, -ethyl, and -propyl derivatives.     

A unified adaptive oculomotor control model

In order to understand mechanisms of oculomotor control systems, an oculomotor model based on eye's anatomical structure and physiological mechanism is developed. In this model, various types of eye movements are considered, and two learning systems, one based on adaptive characteristics of flocculus and the other on vestibular nuclei's are developed. The role of neural paths from ocular muscle stretch receptors into flocculus, which were thought to not contribute in eye movement, is discussed in detail from the viewpoint of system control engineering. The experimental results through simulation show good control performance of the proposed model. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.