Ceramics for Electronics and Energy: Issues and Opportunities

The ceramic electronic components market is growing mainly because of portable electronics. The market drives toward device miniaturization, which is achievable by extremely tiny electronic components; but the electronic components miniaturization itself is approaching the technical limit. The R&D efforts of academic and industrial scientists are focused not only on new materials and advanced characterization tools, but also on advanced ceramic processing techniques to shift the miniaturization limit. For instance, the production of submicrometer powders prepared by conventional methods has reached the level where new strategies, such as bottom‐up methods for material synthesis might be required for further improvement. Established ceramic processing technologies are close to limitations too — for example, submicrometer tape‐casted ceramic layers — and the re‐evaluation of methods, which have not yet been used on an industrial level, might be the breakthrough. Solutions may come from disciplines outside of the traditional ceramic‐manufacturing world as well. Advanced analytical tools and deeper understanding of the solid state chemistry have revealed the importance of grain boundaries characteristics and submicrometer scale structures. Nanoscale engineering has become crucial in many fields. Many ceramic components are based on metals with a potential environmental impact (e.g., Pb, Cd, Te) or limited resources (e.g., rare earth elements). A growing scientific activity is devoted to greener formulations, less rare raw materials, and the entire life‐cycle of ceramic components. “Healthcare” and “Energy” are appealing markets. Bio‐integrated electronics based on flexible silicon integrated circuit open opportunities for social benefit — and fruitful business — beyond imagination. Energy market is in need of materials, which can operate at higher temperature and higher energy density with improved reliability. Ceramic materials open new chances.     

Additive Manufacturing of Ceramics: Issues,Potentialities, and Opportunities

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a technology which has the potential not only to change the way of conventional industrial manufacturing processes, adding material instead of subtracting, but also to create entirely new production and business strategies. Since about three decades, AM technologies have been used to fabricate prototypes or models mostly from polymeric or metallic materials. Recently, products have been introduced into the market that cannot be produced in another way than additively. Ceramic materials are, however, not easy to process by AM technologies, as their processing requirements (in terms of feedstock and/or sintering) are very challenging. On the other hand, it can be expected that AM technologies, once successful, will have an extraordinary impact on the industrial production of ceramic components and, moreover, will open for ceramics new uses and new markets.     

Some Issues in Rubber Nanocomposites: New Opportunities for Silicone Materials

This paper focuses on some issues regarding rubber nanocomposites especially silicone rubbers. An outstanding affinity of carbon nanotubes towards poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has been observed. The reinforcing effect of carbon nanotubes is much more important than that imparted by in situ generated silica particles that are well known to lead to significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the elastomeric matrix. The good dispersion of carbon nanotubes in PDMS allows the formation of a conductive interconnecting filler network at a very small loading (0.05 phr).     

纳米陶瓷的特性和烧结

本文介绍了纳米陶瓷新颖的性能和特殊的烧结方法,阐述了这些特殊烧结方法的烧结机理。同时也对纳米复相陶瓷的性能和制备方法进行了介绍,并对纳米陶瓷今后的研究进行了展望。     

影响纳米陶瓷性能因素分析

本介绍了纳米陶瓷的性能，详细分析了纳米陶瓷的微结构和纳米粉体的制备技术、团聚、成型方法以及纳米陶瓷的烧结技术等因素对纳米陶瓷性能的影响。     

纳米陶瓷的特性和烧结方法研究进展

本文综述了纳米陶瓷在超塑性、铁电性能、力学性能和增韧等方面的特殊性能,介绍了纳米陶瓷的两步法烧结、放电等离子烧结、超高压烧结和微波烧结等成功的烧结方法并阐述了这些特殊烧结方法的烧结机理.此外,对纳米复相陶瓷的特性也进行了介绍.     

Low-Temperature Processing and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia and Zirconia–Alumina Nanoceramics

The 1.5- to 3-mol%-Y₂O₃-stabilized tetragonal ZrO₂ (Y-TZP) and Al₂O₃/Y-TZP nanocomposite ceramics with 1 to 5 wt% of alumina were produced by a colloidal technique and low-temperature sintering. The influence of the ceramic processing conditions, resulting density, microstructure, and the alumina content on the hardness and toughness were determined. The densification of the zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramic at low temperatures was possible only when a highly uniform packing of the nanoaggregates was achieved in the green compacts. The bulk nanostructured 3-mol%-yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic with an average grain size of 112 nm was shown to reach a hardness of 12.2 GPa and a fracture toughness of 9.3 MPa·m^1/2. The addition of alumina allowed the sintering process to be intensified. A nanograined bulk alumina/zirconia composite ceramic with an average grain size of 94 nm was obtained, and the hardness increased to 16.2 GPa. Nanograined tetragonal zirconia ceramics with a reduced yttria-stabilizer content were shown to reach fracture toughnesses between 12.6–14.8 MPa·m^1/2 (2Y-TZP) and 11.9–13.9 MPa·m^1/2 (1.5Y-TZP).     

Spectroscopic Studies of Nanopowder and Nanoceramics La2Hf2O7:Pr Scintillator

Sintered nanoceramics of Pr‐doped lanthanum hafnate, La₂Hf₂O₇:Pr, were prepared by means of a high‐pressure sintering technique using nanopowders made by Pechini method. Structure, morphology, and spectroscopic properties of the ceramics compared to the starting powder are presented and discussed. Emission and excitation spectra recorded at room temperature as well as at 7 K using synchrotron radiation are presented together with results of luminescence kinetics measurements. In ceramics, at 7 K, the Pr³⁺ luminescence from ³P₀ (blue‐green, green, and red region) and ¹D₂ (red) levels is accompanied by a broad‐band emission located in the 380–530 nm range of wavelengths, whereas powders gives only the Pr³⁺‐related luminescence. Depending on the excitation wavelength, the broad‐band emission maximum moves between 430 and 470 nm indicating superposition of at least two components. In sintered nanoceramics, the lifetimes of Pr³⁺ emissions from ³P₀ and ¹D₂ levels were by 10%–20% shorter compared to the powder. The existence of different luminescence centers was proved by the selective emission decays examination. The fast 5d → 4f luminescence of Pr³⁺ was not observed from either of the two types of La₂Hf₂O₇:Pr materials.     

Stabilized Zirconia Nanoceramics Prepared by Magnetic Pulsed Compaction of Nanosized Powders

Ceramic materials with a fine structure are synthesized from zirconia-based nanopowders through magnetic pulsed compaction and subsequent sintering under different temperature-time conditions. The kinetics of crystallite growth and polymorphic phase transformations are analyzed. Unstabilized zirconia ceramic materials with a density of 96% and a crystallite size of 50 nm are prepared. It is found that, in the case when the ceramic materials with a cubic or tetragonal yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) matrix are synthesized with small additives of alumina nanopowders, the temperatures of active shrinkage and the polymorphic transformation γ-Al₂O₃ → α-Al₂O₃ are shifted to the high-temperature range, the density and microhardness of the final ceramics slightly decrease, and the size of α -Al₂O₃ crystallites does not exceed 100 nm. It is also established that the alumina additives have no noticeable effect on the growth of crystallites of the YSZ matrixOriginal Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fizika i Khimiya Stekla, Ivanov, Khrustov, Paranin, Medvedev, Shtol’ts, Ivanova, Nozdrin.     

Positron Annihilation Study of Zirconia Nanopowders and Nanoceramics Stabilized by Magnesia and Ceria

Positron lifetime (LT) and coincidence Doppler broadening (CDB) measurements on nanopowders and ceramics of ceria‐ and magnesia‐stabilized zirconia (CeSZ and MgSZ, respectively) are presented. The nanopowders were prepared by the coprecipitation technique. Effects of nanopowder calcination and sintering at various temperatures were investigated. In the nanopowders, the two kinds of open‐volume defects associated with grain boundaries (GBs) could be identified via positron trapping: (i) vacancy‐like misfit defects situated along GBs and (ii) larger defects at the intersections of at least three GBs (triple points). CDB measurements on CeSZ compacted nanopowders indicated a segregation of Ce ions along GBs. A few percent fractions of positrons were found to form positronium localized in pores of ≈1.8 nm diameter in compacted nanopowders. Sintering of nanopowders at 1500°C appeared to be sufficient for disappearance of pores and triple point defects. In sintered ceramics, contrary to compacted nanopowders, positrons were trapped in zirconium vacancies in grain interiors.     

Selective Oxidation Catalysis: Opportunities and Challenges

This contribution discusses some aspects crucial for designing optimal and sustainable oxidation processes. The catalyst, although at the heart of the system, is only one decisive design parameter amongst many others. Indeed, an interdisciplinary approach is required to improve existing processes, but also to rationally and systematically access opportunities for oxidation research on renewable feedstock compounds.     

微波烧结制备碳酸化多孔羟基磷灰石纳米陶瓷

采用活性炭辅助微波烧结的方法制备多孔碳酸化磷酸钙纳米陶瓷。通过考察多孔陶瓷坯体在不同烧结温度的线收缩率和抗压强度得到合适的烧结温度。1000℃微波烧结得到多孔碳酸化磷酸钙纳米陶瓷：抗压强度约为2.5MPa,平均晶粒尺寸约为132nm,孔隙率约为75%。与常规陶瓷相比,该种陶瓷抗压强度相当、晶粒尺寸更小并且微观结构更均匀...     

Sustainable Infrastructure Materials: Challenges and Opportunities

The recent quest for developing new low carbon footprint construction materials to lower the environmental emissions and implications of infrastructure has imposed many challenges and has created many opportunities for research and development in academia and industrial sectors. The present paper, discusses and summaries these challenges and opportunities and provides a synopsis of the ideas presented in the Infrastructure sessions of the Fourth International Congress on Ceramics (ICC4). This paper also discusses recent advances in the development of sustainable infrastructure materials.     

Drying of Foamed Biological Materials: Opportunities and Challenges

An overview is provided on hot air drying of foamed materials in a thin layer (foam-mat drying), foam-spray drying, microwave-assisted drying of liquid foams, as well as microwave drying of frozen foams with and without dielectric solid inserts, used as complementary heat sources. In particular, the mechanisms of heat and moisture transport during the drying of foams are identified. The effects of foam characteristics (e.g., foam density and stability) and drying conditions (temperature, air velocity) on drying kinetics and product quality are examined, and the differences between the drying of non-foamed and foamed materials are discussed.     

Drying of Foamed Biological Materials: Opportunities and Challenges

An overview is provided on hot air drying of foamed materials in a thin layer (foam-mat drying), foam-spray drying, microwave-assisted drying of liquid foams, as well as microwave drying of frozen foams with and without dielectric solid inserts, used as complementary heat sources. In particular, the mechanisms of heat and moisture transport during the drying of foams are identified. The effects of foam characteristics (e.g., foam density and stability) and drying conditions (temperature, air velocity) on drying kinetics and product quality are examined, and the differences between the drying of non-foamed and foamed materials are discussed.     

Fused Deposition Modeling of Polyolefins: Challenges and Opportunities

Polyolefins are the largest class of commercially available synthetic polymers that are extensively used in a variety of applications from commodities to engineering owing to their low cost of production, good physico-mechanical properties, light weight, good processability, and recyclability. Compared to conventional molding techniques, fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D printing is a smart manufacturing technology for thermoplastics due to its low cost, ease of production of complex geometrical parts, rapid prototyping, and scalable customization. FDM 3D printing can be an ideal manufacturing technology for polyolefins to manufacture various complex parts. However, FDM 3D-printing of polyolefins is challenged bycritical printing problems like high warpage, dimensional inaccuracies, poor bed adhesion, and poor layer-to-layer adhesion. In this review, a fundamental understanding of polyolefins and their FDM 3D-printing process is established, and the recent progress of FDM 3D printing of polyolefins is summarized. Furthermore, strategies to overcome warpage and to improve mechanical strength of the 3D-printed polyolefins are provided. Finally, future prospectives of FDM 3D-printing of polyolefins are critically discussed to inspire prospective research in this field. It is believed that this review article can be tremendously useful for research work related to FDM of polyolefin-based materials.     

Flagellotropic Bacteriophages: Opportunities and Challenges for Antimicrobial Applications

Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere. As viruses that solely infect bacteria, phages have myriad healthcare and agricultural applications including phage therapy and antibacterial treatments in the foodservice industry. Phage therapy has been explored since the turn of the twentieth century but was no longer prioritized following the invention of antibiotics. As we approach a post-antibiotic society, phage therapy research has experienced a significant resurgence for the use of phages against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a growing concern in modern medicine. Phages are extraordinarily diverse, as are their host receptor targets. Flagellotropic (flagellum-dependent) phages begin their infection cycle by attaching to the flagellum of their motile host, although the later stages of the infection process of most of these phages remain elusive. Flagella are helical appendages required for swimming and swarming motility and are also of great importance for virulence in many pathogenic bacteria of clinical relevance. Not only is bacterial motility itself frequently important for virulence, as it allows pathogenic bacteria to move toward their host and find nutrients more effectively, but flagella can also serve additional functions including mediating bacterial adhesion to surfaces. Flagella are also a potent antigen recognized by the human immune system. Phages utilizing the flagellum for infections are of particular interest due to the unique evolutionary tradeoff they force upon their hosts: by downregulating or abolishing motility to escape infection by a flagellotropic phage, a pathogenic bacterium would also likely attenuate its virulence. This factor may lead to flagellotropic phages becoming especially potent antibacterial agents. This review outlines past, present, and future research of flagellotropic phages, including their molecular mechanisms of infection and potential future applications.