Effects of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 on agglomeration of fine Al（OH）3 seed in synthetic Bayer solution

Fine Al（OH）3 crystals were aggregated from supersaturated aluminate solution in the batch reaction tanks. By means of laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy, the influences of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 （aK） on agglomeration of fine seed in Bayer process were investigated. The results show that agglomeration is almost finished in 8 h, and seeds with size less than 2 μm are easily aggregated together, and almost disappear in 8 h under the optimal process conditions. In the aluminate solution with the same moderate initial aK, when the reaction temperature reaches 75 ℃, the secondary nucleation does not occur, and the effect of agglomeration is better. And at the same reaction temperature, when the initial aK is 1.62, the initial supersaturation of aluminate solution is moderate, the binders on the surfaces of the seed are enough to maintain the agglomeration process, and the agglomeration degree is better. From SEM images, agglomeration mainly occurs in the fine particles, the combinations among the fine particles are loose and the new formed coarse crystal shapes are irregular.     

Effects of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 on agglomeration of fine AI(OH)3 seed in synthetic Bayer solution

Fine AI(OH)3 crystals were aggregated from supersaturated aluminate solution in the batch reaction tanks.By means of laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy,the influences of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to A12O3 (αK) on agglomeration of fine seed in Bayer process were investigated.The results show that agglomeration is almost finished in 8 h,and seeds with size less than 2 μm are easily aggregated together,and almost disappear in 8 h under the optimal process conditions.In the aluminate solution with the same moderate initial αK,when the reaction temperature reaches 75 ℃,the secondary nucleation does not occur,and the effect of agglomeration is better.And at the same reaction temperature,when the initial αK is 1.62,the initial supersaturation of aluminate solution is moderate,the binders on the surfaces of the seed are enough to maintain the agglomeration process,and the agglomeration degree is better.From SEM images,agglomeration mainly occurs in the fine particles,the combinations among the fine particles are loose and the new formed coarse crystal shapes are irregular.     

铝酸钠溶液种分产品粒数分布的数值模拟

为优化铝酸钠溶液种分过程各工艺参数以达到所需产品的粒度分布,采用对数正态分布函数对铝酸钠溶液种分产品粒度分布进行拟合,构建可计算分解过程中粒子总数及各粒径范围内粒数分布的数学模型,并以几何级数方式划分粒径范围进行计算分析.结果表明,初始晶种粒度分布及比表面积大小是影响分解机理及产物粒度组成的重要参数;使用粗晶种时,溶液分解初期主要由二次成核机制控制,而分解后期种分过程是在附聚和晶体长大共同作用下进行的,分解率较低,易细化;初始晶种较细时,种分过程由附聚和晶体长大机制共同控制,分解率提高但所获产品粒度较细.     

铝酸钠溶液晶种分解过程中的附聚机理

为了对种分附聚过程机理进行深入了解,利用实验室制备的细粒氢氧化铝晶种进行了细颗粒循环次数和附聚时间对附聚过程影响的实验研究,借助于激光粒度分析仪大型检测设备对附聚产物的粒度分布进行了系统分析;运用动量守恒定律,探讨了铝酸钠溶液晶种分解过程中的附聚机理.结果表明：实验条件不同,发生附聚的颗粒最小粒径不同.附聚过程只能发生在细小颗粒之间,且小颗粒优先附聚.附聚过程从最小粒级开始,由小到大依次进行,直到达到临界直径为止.粒度相差较大的颗粒间不能发生有效附聚;粒度相近的颗粒碰撞时,两颗粒发生碰撞时的相对取向也会对附聚效率造成影响,对碰时效果最好.     

Preparation of ultrafine Ti(C, N)-based cermet using oxygen-rich powders

The availability using oxygen-rich powders to prepare ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermets was investigated. The deoxidation process, denitrification phenomenon and the effect of deoxidation on microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered samples were discussed, respectively. The results show that oxygen in the samples prepared even with high oxygen contained in starting powders can be almost completely cleaned away through suitable sintering process. The ultrafine oxygen-rich powders have a significant effect on microstructure, which promotes the formation of white core phase. A ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermet with mean particle size of 0.30 μm, uniform microstructure and excellent mechanical properties is successfully prepared. It is also found that there exists severe denitrification phenomenon in the preparation process of ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermet. Foundation item: Project(50323008) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Structure transition of nano-titania during calcination

1　INTRODUCTIONTitaniahasthreecrystallines :brookite ,anataseandrutile .Theirbasicstructuralunitisthesame[TiO6 ]octahedron ,buttheirlatticestructuresaredifferent .Forexample ,brookitebelongstorhombiccrystallo series ,whilerutileandanatasebelongtosquarecrystallo series .Thoughrutileandanatasearethesamecrystallo series ,theirsymmetricalelementsandunit cellparametersaredifferent[1] .Inrecentyears ,muchattentionhasbeenpaidtophasetransformationoftitaniaparticle ,especiallytothetemperatureofph…     

Grain Refining Performance of SHS Al—50TiC Master Alloys for Commercially pure Aluminum

An Al-50wt^TiC composite was directly synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis(SHS) technology,and then was used as a grain refining master alloy for commercially pure aluminun.The microstructure and grain refining performance of the synthesized master alloy were emphatically investigated.The SHS master alloy only ocntained submicron TiC particles except for Al matrix.Moreover,TiC particles were relatively free of agglomeration.Grain refining tests show that adding only 0.1wt^ of the master alloys to the aluminum melt could transform the sturcture of the solidified samples from coarse columnar grains to fine almost 1.5h at 1003K.Therefore,it is concluded that the SHS master alloy is an effective grain refiner for aluminum and its alloys,and that it is highly resistant to the grain refining fading encountered with most grain refiners.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of macroporous bioactive glass

Porous sol-gel glass of CaO-SiO2-P2O5 system with macropores larger than 100 μm was prepared by adding stearic acid as pore former when the sintering was carried out at 700 ℃ for 3 h. The sol-gel porous glass shows an amorphous structure. The diameter of the pore created by pore former varies from 100 to 300 μm, and macroporous glass has a narrow and small pore size distribution in mesoporous scale. The porosity and pore size ofmacroporous bioactive glass can be controlled.     

Design and micro mechanical properties of nano-SiO2 strengthened composite coatings towards remanufacturing

Nano-SiO₂ particles strengthened Ni-based composite coating was designed and prepared on steel substrate. The structures and nanoparticle content of the nano-SiO₂/Ni composite coating were determined by SEM, EDS and TEM; and the micro mechanical properties were tested by nano-indentation technique. The results show that 56% of particles in the solution are dispersed in size of less than 100 nm, the content of nanoparticles co-deposited in the coating doubles and structure of the coating is more compact and uniform than that of Ni coating. Nano-SiO₂/Ni coating exhibits excellent micro mechanical properties, and the nanohardness and elastic modulus are 7.81 GPa and 198 GPa, respectively, which are attributed to finer crystal strengthening, dispersion strengthening and high-density dislocation strengthening of nano-SiO₂ particles to the composite coatings. Foundation item: Project (50235030) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project (G1999065009) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China     

Effect of infiltrating Si on friction properties of C/C composites

In order to improve the friction-wear properties of the C/C composites for aircraft brake pairs, the friction behavior of samples with infiltrating Si was investigated. The influence of Si smearing thickness on friction properties was studied in detail. The results show that with the increase of Si smearing thickness and β-SiC content, the friction coefficient reduces from 0. 40 to 0. 30; the linear wear of stators increases from 2. 0 μm to 18. 9 μm per cycle, and that of rotors increases from 1. 4μm to 22. 6 μm per cycle; mass wear of stators increases from 20. 6 mg to 126. 9 mg per cycle, and that of rotors increases from 13. 7 mg to 166. 2 mg per cycle. On the other hand, when a large number of inhomogeneous β-SiC particulates are performed, friction surfaces of the samples flake off layer by layer and many nicks are observed.     

Manufacture of high-dispersed W-Cu composite powder by mechano-thermal process

In order to improve the process of co-reduction of oxide powder, a new mechano-thermal process was designed to produce high-dispersed W-Cu composite powder by high temperature oxidation, short time high-energy milling and reduction at lower temperature. The particle size, oxygen content and their sintering abilities of W-Cu composite powder in different conditions were analyzed. The results show that after a quick milling of the oxide powder for about 3-10 h, the reduction temperature of the W-Cu oxide powder can be lowered to about 650 ℃ from 700-750 ℃ owning to the lowering of particle size of the oxide powder. The average particle size of W-Cu powder after reduction at 650 ℃ is about 0. 5μm smaller than that reduced at 750 ℃. After sintering at 1 200℃ for 1 h in hydrogen atmosphere, the relative density and thermal conductivity of final products (W-20Cu) can attain 99. 5% and 210 W ·m-1· K-1 respectively.     

Automatic brush-plating technology for component remanufacturing

An automatic brush-plating system was developed for component remanufacturing. With this system, Ni/nano-alumina composite coatings from an electrolyte containing 20 g/L nano-alumina particles were prepared. Microstructure, surface morphology, microhardness and wear resistance of automatically plated coating and manually plated coatings were investigated comparatively. The results show that the automatically plated coatings are relatively dense and uniform and have lower friction coefficient of 0.089 under lubricant condition, when compared with manually plated coatings with friction coefficient of 0.14. Foundation item: Project(50235030) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(G1999065009) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China     

Preparation of ferromagnetic metal fine fibers by organic gel-thermal reduction process

The organic gel-thermal reduction process was used for the preparation of ferromagnetic metal Ni, Co and Fe fine fibers from the raw materials of citric acid, lactic acid and metal salts. The structure, thermal decomposition process and morphologies of the gel precursors and fibers derived from thermal reduction of these gel precursors were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that spinnability of gel largely depends on molecular structure of metal-carboxylate complex that is a linear-type structure formed in the gel. As a result, the gels exhibit a good spinnability. Metal Ni, Co and Fe fine fibers are featured with diameters of around 1 μm and a high aspect ratio up to 1×106.     

Novel manufacturing method of optical fiber coupler

Based on the coupling mode theory that the coupling ratio of fiber coupler changes periodically with center distance of two optical fibers, a novel manufacturing method of optical fiber couplers was developed with fused biconical taper experimental system. Its fabrication process is that the fiber is fused but not stretched when light begins to split, and the reduction of diameter of fiber is dependent on the theological characteristic of the fused fiberglass. The performance of the coupler was tested. The results show that the performance of the novel optical fiber coupler meets the performance expectations, and its diameter of coupling region （about 30 μm） is twice as long as that of classical fused biconical taper coupler （about 16 μm）, so the default, that is, the device is easy to fracture, is restrained and the reliability is greatly improved.     

Influence of nano-scaled dispersed second phase on substructure of deformed dispersion strengthened copper alloy

The deformation behavior of dispersion strengthened copper alloy Cu-Al₂O₃ was studied by TEM. The results show that nano-scaled dispersed second phase not only increases dislocation density in matrix, but also has an important influence on the dislocation substructure. The presence of fine dispersed Al₂O₃ particles results in a uniform and random dislocation distribution in matrix copper and causes the difficulty in formation of dislocation cell structure and the decrease in the amount of cell structure during deformation. Deformation gives rise to much more dislocations and dislocation cells form more difficultly and the decrease in the cell size with the increase of dispersion degree. Foundation item: Project (2002AA302505) supported by the National Advanced Materials Committee of China     

Effect of anions on preparation of ultrafine α-Al2O3 powder

Ultrafine alumina power was obtained by calcining the precursor at 1 200 ℃ for 2 h, which was prepared by homogeneous precipitation method using aluminium salts and urea as raw materials. The effects of anions on the morphology, particle size, surface area and configuration of the precursors were studied. The results show that the reactions of urea with aluminium nitrate and aluminium chloride result in agglomerates gels with bad filtering performance, the morphology is fibrillar. Aluminium sulphate-urea reactions result in the direct formation of amorphous powders with good filtering performance, of which morphology are regular spherical particles with larger granularity and smaller surface area. The reaction of mutual compound of aluminium sulphate and aluminium nitrate with molar ratio of 40:60 with urea can produce precursor with good filtering performance, spherical morphology, and uniform granularity distribution in the particle size range of 2-3 μm.     

Electrical resistivity of TiB2/C composite cathode coating for aluminum electrolysis

1INTRODUCTIONThere are many disadvantages in the presentHall-Heroult electrolytic process[1],such as highenergy consumption,low unit productivity and se-rious environmental pollution and so on,especiallythe high energy consumption of per ton alumin-ium,which ranges from13MW·h to15MW·h,and the energy efficiency is less than50%[2].Therefore,low-energy consumption aluminumre-duction cell has been a research focus for interna-tional aluminum companies and institutes.Thedrained cathode cel…     

Average cluster sizes and cluster size distributions of superfine nickel particles in light media

Effects of shear rates on average cluster sizes (ACSs) and cluster size distributions (CSDs) in uni- and bi-systems of partly charged superfine nickel particles were investigated by Brownian dynamics, and clustering properties in these systems were compared with those in non-polar systems. The results show that the ACSs in bi-polar systems are larger than those in the non-polar systems. In uni-polar systems the behavior of clustering property differs: at the lower ionic concentration (10%), repulsive force is not strong enough to break clusters, but may greatly weaken them. The clusters are eventually cracked into smaller ones only when concentration of uni-polar charged particles is large enough. In this work, the ionic concentration is 20%. The relationship between ACS and shear rates follows power law in a exponent range of 0.176–0.276. This range is in a good agreement with the range of experimental data, but it is biased towards the lower limit slightly. Foundation item: Projects(50474037, 50874087) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project (BK2006078) supported by the Natural Scientific Funds of Jiangsu Province, China     

Analysis of disagreement between numerically predicted and experimental heat transfer data of impinging jet

1 INTRODUCTIONI mpinging jet (IJ) , with high heat and masstransfer rates have been widely usedin a number ofindustrial areas ranging from thermal drying ofcontinuous sheets , production of foodstuffs toelectronic component cooling, annealing of metalsheets ,tempering of glass ,and cooling of turbinevanes . Over the past 30 years , experi mental andnumerical investigations of flow and heat transfercharacteristics with single or multiple jets havebeen a very hot research field. Due to the …     

Microstructural evolution during aging of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe alloy

The evolution of microstructure on aging of an (α+β) titanium alloy (Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe) in the β and (α+β) solution-treated and quenched conditions was investigated. The presence of very fine ω phase was detected by electron diffraction for samples aged below 400 °C. The fine α aggregates are uniformly formed within β grains by nucleating at the ω particles or β/ω interfaces. At higher temperature, the formation of ω phase is avoided and the α lamellae are precipitated at the preferred site of grain boundary and then within the matrix. The highest hardness values are found when the alloys are aged at 450 °C for β condition and 350 °C for (α+β) condition. Foundation item: Project (50634030) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project (2007DS04014) supported by the Program of Science and Technology of Shandong Province, China; Project supported by the Open Research Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, China