Special features of the diamond crystallization in the Mg–Zn–B–C system

The diamond crystallization in the Mg–Zn–B–C system occurring in the diamond thermal stability region have been considered. The phase transformations, which take place during the preparation of the alloy–solvent for carbon and its structure, the diamond crystallization and properties of the resultant diamond crystals have been studied. The formation of the acceptor centers and inclusions in diamond crystals caused by the addition of boron into the growth system have been considered. It has been found that the use of the diamond powder produced in this system for abrasive machining surfaces of sapphire parts makes it possible to increase the machining efficiency and quality as compared with that of the powder produced in the Ni–Mn–C system.     

Properties of coatings of the Al–Cr–Fe–Co–Ni–Cu–V high entropy alloy produced by the magnetron sputtering

It has been found that coatings from an Al–Fe–Co–Ni–Cu–Cr–V high entropy equiatomic alloy produced by the magnetron sputtering have nanocrystalline microstructures, are textured, and present a solid two-phase solution, which crystallizes in the bcc (a = 2.91 Å) and fcc (a = 3.65 Å) phases. The ion bombardment of a growing coating caused by the bias voltage (0–(–200) V), which has been applied to the substrate, decreases the growth rate of a condensate and affects its composition and structure. It has been shown that the composition of coatings deposited without an ion bombardment coincides with the target composition, whereas an increase of the ion bombardment intensity leads to the depletion of the coating composition in Al, Cu, and Ni and increase the microhardness. The anisotropy of the coating produced has been revealed.     

Phase Relations in the Reduction of Solid Solutions in the Co–Mn–Ti–O System

The hydrogen reduction of spinel solid solutions in the Co–Mn–Ti–O system was investigated by a static method. Six phase regions were identified in which the gas phase is in equilibrium with various combinations of -Co, TiO₂ (rutile), and solid solutions of variable composition: Co _A Mn _B Ti_{3 – A – B} O₄ (spinel), Co _m Mn_{2 – m} TiO₄ (spinel), Co _N Mn_{1 – N} TiO₃ (ilmenite), and Co _n Mn_{1 – n} O (NaCl). The equilibrium compositions of the solid solutions and the corresponding oxygen partial pressures were determined, and the general trends of the reduction of spinel solid solutions in the Co–Mn–Ti–O system were established.     

Significantly enhanced the ductility of the fine-grained Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy by strain-induced precipitation

A fine-grained structure of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy was produced by a successive two-step deformation (STD) process based on strain-induced precipitation (SIP). The fine-grained alloy treated by the STD process exhibited significantly superior tensile ductility than the conventional hot-deformed (CHD) alloy. Effects of the STD process on microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated, in conjunction with fracture characterizations. Numerous spherical precipitates and dense dislocations were induced by the SIP at 300 °C. A fine lamellar structure was formed during subsequent heating and hot deformation of the STD process, finally contributing to the fine-grained T6-aged alloy. Due to the fine-grained structure, more dimples in the fracture surface of the STD treated alloy were produced than those of the CHD treated alloy. TEM in-situ testified that the grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) originated the initiation of micro-cracks, and the cracks propagated along the (sub)grain boundaries during the tensile loading. The initiation and propagation of micro-cracks were explained in terms of grain boundary precipitates (GBPs), precipitation free zones, and grain refinement. Although initiation and propagation of the cracks easily occur to coarse GBPs and grain boundaries, the fine-grained structure obtained by the STD treatment could effectively delay these behaviors and improve mechanical properties.     

p–T–x Phase Equilibria in the Cd–Zn–Te System

The p–T–x–y phase equilibria in the Cd–Zn–Te system are analyzed. The p–T and T–x–yprojections of the p–T–x–y phase diagram and a T–x–y isobar (for pressures at which Cd_1–x Zn _x Te_{1 ±} solid solutions sublime congruently in terms of Te) are mapped out. The key features of the sublimation behavior of the solid solution are examined. The p–T projection is studied by static vapor pressure measurements at temperatures from 700 to 1300 K and pressures of up to 101.3 kPa. The p–T sections of the phase diagram are constructed for x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.90, and 1. The solid solution containing 35 mol % ZnTe is found to phase-separate at 473 K.     

New Cubic Phases in the Li–Na–Sb–Bi System

New compounds with the general formula A _x A"_3-x B _y B"_1-y (A, A" = Li, Na; B, B" = Sb, Bi) were prepared in the system Li–Na–Sb–Bi. Na₃Sb_0.5Bi_0.5has a hexagonal structure (Na₃As type, a= 5.415 Å, c= 9.595 Å), and Li₃Sb_0.5Bi_0.5and Li₂NaSb_0.5Bi_0.5have a cubic structure (BiF₃type, a= 6.645 and 6.772 Å, respectively). The phase transitions of alkali-metal pnictides were studied by in situ x-ray diffraction at room temperature and pressures from 10⁵Pa to 9.0 GPa. Li₃Sb and Na₃Sb were each shown to exist in two polymorphs with hexagonal (Na₃As type) and cubic (BiF₃type) structures. At atmospheric pressure, Li₃Sb undergoes an irreversible – phase transition at 650°C, while Na₃Sb undergoes a reversible transformation into a cubic phase at 2.3 GPa and room temperature.     

On the beat of the drum: improving the flow shop performance of the Drum–Buffer–Rope scheduling mechanism

One of the main elements of the theory of constraints is its Drum–Buffer–Rope (DBR) scheduling (or release) mechanism that controls the release of jobs to the system. Jobs are not released directly to the shop floor – they are withheld in a backlog and released in accordance with the output rate of the bottleneck (i.e. the drum). The sequence in which jobs are considered for release from the backlog is determined by the schedule of the drum, which also determines in which order jobs are processed or dispatched on the shop floor. In the DBR literature, the focus is on the urgency of jobs and the same procedure is used both for backlog sequencing and dispatching. In this study, we explore the potential of using different combinations of rules for sequencing and dispatching to improve DBR performance. Based on controlled simulation experiments in a pure and general flow shop we demonstrate that, although the original procedure works well in a pure flow shop, it becomes dysfunctional in a general flow shop where job routings vary. Performance can be significantly enhanced by switching from a focus on urgency to a focus on the shortest bottleneck processing time during periods of high load.     

p–T–x Phase Diagram of the Sb–O System

Vaporization processes in the Sb–O system are studied by Knudsen cell mass spectrometric measurements. The results indicate that Sb₂O₄ sublimes congruently and is the most stable oxide in the system. Experimental data are used to evaluate the enthalpies of formation of Sb₂O₃, Sb₂O₄, and Sb₆O₁₃ and to construct the p–T–x phase diagram of the Sb–O system.     

High–temperature phase chemistry of the system Gd–Pd–O

Anisothermal sectionof the phase diagram for the system Gd–Pd–O at 1223 K has been established by equilibrationof samples and phase identification after quenching by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X–ray powder diffraction, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Three ternary oxides Gd₄PdO₇,Gd₂PdO₄ and Gd₂Pd₂O₅ were identified. Liquid alloys, the four inter–metallic compounds and Pd–rich solid solutionwere found to be inequilibrium with Gd₂O₃.

Based on the phase relations, four solid–state cells were designed to measure the Gibbs energies of formation of the three ternary oxides in the temperature range from 920 to 1320 K. Although three cells are sufficient to obtain the properties of the three compounds, the fourth cell was deployed to cross check the data. An advanced version of the solid–state cell incorporating a buffer electrode with yttria–stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte and pure oxygen gas at a pressure of 0.1 MPa as the reference electrode was used for high–temperature thermodynamic measurements. The standard Gibbs energy of formation of the inter–oxide compounds from their component binary oxides can be represented by the following equations:

Gd₄PdO₇(s) : Δ_f(ox)G⁰/J mol^–1 = –25,030 + 0.33T (±140), Gd₂PdO₄(s) : Δf(ox)_f(ox)G⁰/J mol^–1 = –25,350 + 0.84T (±135), Gd₂Pd₂O₅(s) : Δf(ox)_f(ox)G⁰/J mol^–1 = –48,700 + 0.38T (±270)

Based on the thermodynamic information, isothermal chemical potential diagrams and isobaric phase diagrams for the system Gd–Pd–O are developed.     

Phase Relations in the Cu–Sb–O System

The Cu–Sb–O system was studied by x-ray diffraction and thermal analysis between 700 and 1000°C. The compositions of copper antimonates were refined. Sb₂O₄ was found to exist in two polymorphs above 800°C: -Sb₂O₄ (dominant phase) and -Sb₂O₄. The evolution of phase equilibria with increasing temperature was examined. The isothermal sections of the Cu–Sb–O phase diagram were mapped out using new and earlier reported results.     

Phase Relations in the Bi–(Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–Sc–O System

The phase relations in the Bi–(Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–Sc–O system were studied near Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_{8 +} (Bi-2212) and (Bi,Pb)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_{10 +} (Bi-2223) between 850 and 930°C. The introduction of Sc led to the formation of a new compound Sr₂ScBiO₆, which coexisted with Bi-2212 and Bi-2223. Using crystallization from a peritectic melt at different cooling rates, we obtained Bi-2212 matrix composites containing finely dispersed Sr_1.9Ca_0.1ScBiO₆inclusions, with T _cattaining 89 K. The T _cof the Bi-2223–Sr_1.9Ca_0.1ScBiO₆superconducting ceramic prepared by solid-state sintering of a Bi–(Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–Sc–O precursor was 108.5 K.     

Violation of Mermin–Ardehali–Belinksii–Klyshko inequality in the three-Jaynes–Cummings model

In this paper, we consider the situation that three identical two-level atoms are separately trapped in the three single-mode cavities. Each atom resonantly interacts with cavity via a one-photon hopping. The dynamics of nonlocality in the system is investigated via Mermin–Ardehali–Belinksii–Klyshko inequality. The results show that when three atoms are initially in W state and three-cavity fields are in vacuum states both the quantum state of three atoms and that of three cavities all display nonlocality On the other hand, when three atoms are initially in Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger state and three-cavity fields are in vacuum states, the quantum state of three atoms and that of three cavities all do not display nonlocality.     

Density function theory investigation on the thermodynamic properties of the Li–N–H system

The electronic structures and formation enthalpies of compounds in the Li–N–H system have been studied by using the density functional theory. In order to evaluate the competition between each reaction in the system, the chemical potential phase diagrams of compounds in the Li–N–H system have been computed and discussed. Our calculations show that for LiNH₂, Li⁺ combines with [NH₂]^- by an ionic bond. For Li₂NH, the N–H bond displays covalent characteristics. The calculated formation enthalpy of compounds in the Li–N–H system is in agreement with previous results, the LiNH₂ is −212.27 kJ mol⁻¹, LiH is −91.66 kJ mol⁻¹, Li₂NH is −243.14 kJ mol⁻¹, Li₄NH is −309.72 kJ mol⁻¹, Li₃N is −189.11 kJ mol⁻¹, and NH₃ is −102.27 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Using the chemical potential phase diagrams, six reversible reactions are discussed. It is found that Li₄NH takes part in the three reversible reactions and some NH₃ formed in the system react with other compounds in the Li–N–H system. These reversible reactions are confirmed by the proposed mechanism from experiments.     

Phase transformations in the ternary Ag–Ga–Sb system

Phase diagram of the Ag–Ga–Sb ternary system was extrapolated using calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) method. Phase transition temperatures of the alloys with compositions along three vertical sections with constant molar ratios Ga/Sb = 1, Ag/Ga = 1 and Ag/Sb = 1 were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was used for identification of phases in equilibrated samples. Experimental results were compared with thermodynamic prediction.     

Effect of the Eutectic Phase on the Microstructure and Tensile Strength of an Al–Zn–Ni–Mg–Cu Casting Aluminum Alloy

Strength of Materials - The effect of composition, casting, and heat treatment on the eutectic phase morphology of an Al–Zn–Ni–Mg–Cu casting aluminum alloy was studied. The...     

A combined BEM–FEM model for the velocity–vorticity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions

This paper describes a combined boundary element and finite element model for the solution of velocity–vorticity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions. In the velocity–vorticity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations, the Poisson type velocity equations are solved using the boundary element method (BEM) and the vorticity transport equations are solved using the finite element method (FEM) and both are combined to form an iterative scheme. The vorticity boundary conditions for the solution of vorticity transport equations are exactly obtained directly from the BEM solution of the velocity Poisson equations. Here the results of medium Reynolds number of up to 1000, in a typical cubic cavity flow are presented and compared with other numerical models. The combined BEM–FEM model are generally in fairly close agreement with the results of other numerical models, even for a coarse mesh.