The effect of processing parameters on the properties of γ-alumina washcoats deposited on ceramic honeycombs

The coating of cordierite honeycomb specimens with -alumina slurries for the preparation of washcoats for automotive applications was investigated. The dependence of slurry viscosity on factors such as the solids content, the pH and the particle size distribution of the powder used, was determined. Slurry viscosity was correlated to the loading percentage achieved, as well as to the quality of the washcoat in terms of homogeneity and reproducibility. It was found than an adequate solids content in the slurry is necessary for the achievement of satisfactory loading per impregnation. When, though, the particle size of the powder employed is of colloidal dimensions, high solids content leads to extremely high viscosity values. Adjustment of the slurry viscosity is therefore necessary and this was achieved with the use of either HCl or ammonium poly-methacrylate, an organic polyelectrolyte. Optimum loading conditions were achieved when the slurry viscosity lied between 50–150 mPa·s. For a specific solids content, the organic polyelectrolyte led to lower viscosity slurries and resulted in better reproducibility of the loading percentage. With the use of ammonium poly-methacrylate, slurries of fine particles, up to 40 wt% solids content could be handled, resulting in reproducible loading percentages of the order of 15 wt%     

Dielectric and multiferroic properties of 0.75BiFeO3–0.25BaTiO3 solid solution

Solid solution 0.75BiFeO₃–0.25BaTiO₃ (BFO–25 % BT) was prepared by solid state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction showed the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) with the coexistence of both rhombohedral and cubic phases due to splitting in the line at 2θ = 39.7°. Scanning electron micrographs indicated that the ceramic has compact and uniform microstructure with average grain size <3 μm. The polarization vs applied electric field analysis showed an unsaturated hysteresis loop with the remnant polarization 12.95 μC/cm² at 22 kV/cm for 0.75BiFeO₃–0.25BaTiO₃ ceramic. The calculations of diffuse parameter i.e. slope γ = 1.63 suggested a high degree of diffusion in BFO–BT lattice. The room temperature magnetic measurements confirmed the weak ferromagnetism of magnetization ~0.1 emu/gm at an applied magnetic field of H = 5 kOe for 0.75BiFeO₃–0.25BaTiO₃ ceramic. The high temperature magnetic and dielectric analysis suggested a coupling between ferroelectric and magnetic parameters near the antiferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition T_c ~ 310 °C, which was responsible for the broad frequency dependent dielectric maxima. The impedance spectroscopy and complex modulus analysis confirmed the conventional relaxor, NTCR (negative temperature coefficient of resistance), giant ferroelectricity and polydispersive non-Debye type dielectric relaxation behaviour for 0.75BiFeO₃–0.25BaTiO₃ ceramic at 170 °C on 1 kHz with activation energy 2.33 eV. The modulus analysis also confirmed the possibility of hopping mechanism for electrical transport process in material.     

Dielectric properties of carbon black and carbonyl iron filled epoxy–silicone resin coating

The dielectric properties of epoxy–silicone resin coatings containing carbon black (CB) and carbonyl iron (CI) particles as a function of frequency (2–18 GHz) and the CB volume content (0.2–1%) have been investigated. The complex permittivity of the coatings increased with increasing CB content, which mainly attributed to the interfacial polarization at the CB/resin/CI particles interfaces. The complex permittivity also decreased rapidly with increasing frequency in the low frequency range while decreased slowly in the high frequency range. The changes of dielectric properties with frequency and the CB volume content were discussed using the power-law decay and the concept of interfacial polarization.     

Dielectric Properties of Melt-Grown Cd1 – xZnxTe Crystals

The real (") and imaginary (") parts of the complex dielectric permittivity of Cd_{1 – x} Zn _x Te (x= 0.1–0.2) crystals are measured as a function of temperature and frequency. The "-vs.-temperature data show a maximum, and " rises rapidly at about the same temperature. This behavior is interpreted in terms of compositional fluctuations, structural defects, and the associated internal electric fields.     

Dielectric and microwave-absorption properties of the partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites

Partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites were prepared as microwave-absorbing materials in this paper. Their dielectric properties were studied in X-band, and the results showed that the complex permittivity of the composites was closely correlated with the carbonization degree of PAN cloth. The microwave wave absorption ability of the composites could be primarily attributed to the growth of graphite sheets in partially carbonized PAN cloth, which could be optimized by means of controlling carbonization temperature and time of the stabilized PAN cloth. The results demonstrated the possible applications of partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites as lightweight electromagnetic wave absorbers.     

Investigation of properties of fluorogypsum-slag composite binders – Hydration,strength and microstructure

A composite binder of high strength and low water absorption has been developed using industrial by-products fluorogypsum, granulated blast furnace slag and Portland cement. The development of strength in the binder at an early age is attributed to the conversion of anhydrite into gypsum and at later age is due to the formation of ettringite and tobermorite, as a reaction of slag with lime produced during the hydration of cement. These cementitious phases fill in pores and voids of the hydrating gypsum crystals to form a dense and compact structure of low porosity and low pore volume. The reaction products formed during the hydration period were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The reduction in porosity and low pore volume of binders, as studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry, are responsible for attainment of high strength and better stability towards water in composite binders than the conventional gypsum plaster.     

Effect of minor cerium additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al – Cu – Mg – Ag alloy

Abstract

A series of cast Al – Cu – Mg – Ag based alloys with minor cerium additions have been investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that increasing the cerium content from 0 to 0.45 wt-% increased the tensile strength at the test temperatures of 25°C and 300°C. The high strength of the casting alloys with cerium is attributed to the refined grains and the high density of fine ω precipitates. However, the addition of 0.2 wt-%Ce to the alloy with 0.25 wt-%Ti induced a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties. The cause of this was found to be the formation of the intermetallic compound Al_x Ti₆ Ce₃ Cu.     

Dielectric,mechanical and thermal properties of novel core–shell CuPc@MWCNTs/PEN composite films

In this work, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully enwrapped by a thin layer of tetra-nitrophthalocyanine copper (CuPc) via solvent-thermal method. EDS spectrum shows that the hybrid materials are mainly composed of C, Cu, N and O elements. TEM images exhibit that the MWCNT was wholly coated with a layer of CuPc and micro-nanoscale core–shell CuPc@MWCNTs were formed. FTIR reveals the detailed chemical groups of micro-nanoscale core–shell CuPc@MWCNTs. Thereafter, CuPc@MWCNTs/polyarylene nitrile ethers (PEN) composite films were prepared via solution-casting method. The CuPc@MWCNTs/PEN composite films possess excellent thermal and mechanical properties endowed by PEN matrix. The glass transition temperature of the composite films is about 175 °C and the initial decomposition temperature is in the range of 494–499 °C. Besides, the tensile modulus of the composite films is above 70 MPa. Furthermore, the dielectric constant of the composite film with 5.0 wt% CuPc@MWCNTs loading is 31 at 50 Hz while the dielectric loss is 0.58 at 50 Hz.     

Dielectric and thermal properties of xPbTiO3-(1 − x)SrTiO3 Polycrystals

SrTiO₃ and PbTiO₃ perovskites are combined to form the xPbTiO₃-(1 – x)SrTiO₃ (PST) solid solution. In this work, a study of its dielectric and thermal properties is reported as a function of PbTiO₃ content. The dielectric properties of the xPbTiO₃-(1 – x)SrTiO₃ solid solution are determined through a thermoelectric analysis technique and hysteresis measurements. Such measurements made at room temperature for all compositions show the influence of one component upon the other resulting in a response to the electric field that involves a strained lattice behavior. A limiting case of antiferroelectric-like behavior is observed for x = 0.5. The thermal properties such as the specific heat capacity (c) and thermal diffusivity () were determined using a photoacoustic technique (PA) and the temperature relaxation method (TRM). The thermal conductivity was calculated from the results obtained for c and .     

Dielectric properties of apples in the range 0.1–100 kHz

Capacitance and conductance spectra are measured between 100 Hz and 100 kHz for three varieties of apple. Analysis of the spectra for several types of electrode material indicates that electrode effects may be neglected for frequencies above 1 kHz. Power-law responses are observed withCf ^–0.3 for the capacitance andG _a.c.f ^+0.9 for the a.c. conductance. Activation energies were found to be of the order of 0.05–0.15 eV for the three apple varieties and found to be frequency dependent. Comparison is made with an apple in which the cellular structure has been damaged by freezing. Freezing produced a significant increase in the high-frequency activation energy for conductance and a decrease in the power-law exponent to +0.3 for a.c. conductance. It is suggested that the dielectric properties result from a combination of relatively free ionic diffusion in the extracellular medium and the hopping of counterions along trap sites on the cell wall.     

Physical and Dielectric Properties of Some Nonionic Surfactants

Fatty acid esters have been prepared by reacting the acid C18 with polyethylene glycols having varying numbers of Oxythylene units (4~88 units) by the direct eSterification reaction method.Surface and interfacial tensions are studied at various experimental conditions, including, concentration, temperature, and chemical constitution of the surfactants. Critical micelle concentrations (CMC), surface excess Г and residual area occupied by each surface active agent molecule A have been calculated using Gibb's equation. CMC values range from 10 to 55x10-5 mole/L for all studied agents, while the residual area occupied by each molecule varies from 0.6 to 1.5 nm2. Variation of CMC of some of these agents with temperature have been also examined and data obtained are used to calculate the heat of micellization △Hm and the entropy change during micellization △Sm. Values of △Hm varies from 14.63 kJ/mole to 2.717 kJ/mole depending on the chemical constitution of the agent under consideration. The apparent dipole moments μ of three surfactants were measured following the Headstrand's method. Values of μ are 3.24, 3.14 and 3.02 D for stearates. oleates. and linoleates adducts with polyethylene glycol (1000).     

Mechanical performance and architecture of biocomposite honeycombs and foams from core–shell holocellulose nanofibers

CNFs (cellulose nanofibers) based on holocellulose have a pure cellulose fibril core, with a hemicellulose coating. The diameter is only around 6–8 nm and the hemicellulose surface coating has anionic charge. These CNFs are used to prepare honeycomb and foam structures by freeze-drying from dilute hydrocolloidal suspensions. The materials are compared with materials based on “conventional” cellulose CNFs from sulfite pulp with respect to mechanical properties in compression. Characterization methods include FE-SEM of cellular structure, and the analysis includes comparisons with similar materials from other types of CNFs and data in the literature. The honeycomb structures show superior out-of-plane properties compared with the more isotropic foam structures, as expected. Honeycombs based on holocellulose CNFs showed better properties than sulfite pulp CNF honeycombs, since the cellular structure contained less defects. This is related to better stability of holocellulose CNFs in colloidal suspension.     

Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of (1 – x)BiFeO3–xYMnO3 Multiferroics

Technical Physics Letters - Magnetic hysteresis loops obtained in the fields from 0 to ±2.5 kOe and dielectric permittivity ε (at 1 kHz, 1 MHz, and 8.3 GHz) of (1 –...     

Dielectric nonlinearity and electrical properties of K0.5Na0.5NbO3–SrTiO3 relaxor ferroelectrics

K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃–xSrTiO₃(x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) ceramics were prepared using the solid-state method. The phase transition behaviors, electrical properties, and electric field-induced dielectric nonlinearity behaviors were investigated as a function of the SrTiO₃ content. The electrical properties of the investigated compositions exhibited a significant dependence on the content of SrTiO₃. Doped content more than x = 0.1 induced a relaxor transformation, while the dielectric loss decreased quickly. In addition, an “extrinsic” polarization contributed to the dielectric nonlinearity behavior of the composition x = 0.1 with the polar nanoregions and domain-wall motions, by means of the multipolarization-mechanism model fittings of the electric field dependence of the dielectric permittivity. The dielectric tunability and loss angle tangent of the composition x = 0.1 were 32.6 % and 0.028, respectively.     

The microstructure and properties of framework zirconium phosphates based nanocomposites – catalysts of alkane isomerization

Nanocomposites based upon framework zirconium phosphates with supported WO₃, MoO₃ and Pt nanoparticles were synthesized via the incipient wetness impregnation of high-surface-area mesoporous phosphate samples with water solutions of corresponding salts followed by drying and calcination. The structure and surface properties of nanocomposites were studied by using combination of structural and spectral methods. Due to a strong interaction between supports and supported species, the structure of the latter differs considerably from that of the bulk phases. Surface acid centers typical for zirconium phosphates disappear suggesting their participation in bonding nanoparticles of promoters. Instead, new types of strong acid sites associated with tungsten oxide clusters emerge. The effect of these promoters on performance of zirconium phosphates in the reaction of pentane and hexane isomerization is considered. Received: 20 February 2000 / Reviewed and accepted: 15 March 2000     

Modelling of strain rate effects on matrix dominated elastic and failure properties of unidirectional fibre-reinforced polymer–matrix composites

A phenomenological-based, strain rate dependent failure theory, which is suitable for the numerical modelling of unidirectional (UD) carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs), is presented. A phenomenological-based approach is also proposed for the three-dimensional (3D) modelling of strain rate induced material hardening in UD polymer composites. The proposed theory and approach are implemented in the Finite element (FE) code ABAQUS/Explicit for one integration point solid elements. Validation is presented against experimental data from dynamic compressive tests using results available in the published literature.     

Dielectric properties of Lanxide™ Al2O3/Al composites

The dielectric properties of unreinforced Lanxide Al₂O₃/Al composites have been investigated over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies. These composites were formed by the directed oxidation of suitably doped aluminium-based alloy melts, with no filler or reinforcing material in the reaction path. As-grown composite materials were good electrical conductors in all directions owing to the presence of an interconnected metallic constituent. As the metallic phases were partially removed (in favour of porosity) by continuing the oxidation reaction to completion, the composites remained electrically conducting parallel to, and became insulating transverse to, the original growth direction of the composite. This anisotropy apparently was caused by different connectivity of the metal phase between the two directions. Thermal treatments at 1600°C in argon resulted in volatilization of the residual metal in the composite, thus further increasing the porosity. As the metal content was decreased, the composites changed from conducting to insulating along the growth direction. When the metallic phase was removed completely, the porous alumina ceramic maintained anisotropic dielectric properties, due to c-axis alignment of the alumina (corundum) phase along the growth direction. The dielectric constants were 8.0 and 6.4, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis aligned directions of the porous alumina ceramic. A dielectric relaxation phenomenon was observed in some samples of both as-grown and thermally treated material, and was attributed to an unidentified impurity effect.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of 3D printed boron nitride – ABS composites

The current work investigates the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of Boron Nitride (BN)-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites prepared using both 3D printing and injection molding. The thermally conductive, yet electrically insulating composite material provides a unique combination of properties that make it desirable for heat dissipation and packaging applications in electronics. Materials were fabricated via melt mixing on a twin-screw compounder, then injection molded or extruded into filament for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Compositions of up to 35 wt.% BN in ABS were prepared, and the infill orientation of the 3D printed composites was varied to investigate the effect on properties. Injection molding produced a maximum in-plane conductivity of 1.45 W/m-K at 35 wt.% BN, whereas 3D printed samples of 35 wt.% BN showed a value of 0.93 W/m-K, over 5 times the conductivity of pure ABS. The resulting thermal conductivity is anisotropic; with the through-plane thermal conductivity lower by a factor of ~3 for injection molding and ~4 for 3D printing. Adding BN flakes caused a modest increase in the flexural modulus, but resulted in a large decrease in the flexural strength and impact toughness. It is shown that although injection molding produces parts with superior thermal and mechanical properties, BN shows much potential as a filler material for rapid prototyping of thermally conductive composites.     

Modelling and comparative study of viscoelastic laminated composite beam – an operator based finite element approach

Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials - Finite element formulation of damped laminated composite beam considering both Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theory is proposed based on Equivalent...     

Modelling of rheological behaviour of semisolid metal slurries Part 4 – Effects of particle morphology

Abstract

In this part of the series, the fractal dimension D is introduced to quantify the morphology of equiaxed dendrites and the concept of equivalent solid fraction Ψ to connect solid fraction to the effective solid fraction. Generally, dendrite formed during diffusion controlled solidification has a fractal dimension of 2.5, while for a perfectly spherical particle D=3. The rheological model developed in Part 1 is then used to deduce the D data from experimental results of continuous cooling in the literature. It is shown that, within the range of experimental conditions concerned, D is predominantly affected by solid fraction (or semisolid temperature), while shear rate and cooling rate only have a limited effect on D. The rheological model developed in Part 1 is applied to study the rheological behaviour of semisolid metal (SSM) slurries with non-spherical particle morphology. It is found that under constant morphology assumption the shear thinning effect is much more pronounced for SSM slurries with solid particles of lower fractal dimension (i.e. a more dendritic morphology), and that the degree of thixotropy increases with decreasing fractal dimension of solid particles. In addition, it has been demonstrated that as a diffusion controlled process, particle spheroidisation takes many thousands of seconds, and is much slower than the deagglomeration process (a few seconds) and the agglomeration process (a few thousand seconds).