Effect of the t–m transformation morphology and stress distribution around the crack path on the measured toughness of zirconia ceramics: A case study on Ce-TZP/alumina nanocomposite

The t–m transformation zone and related residual stress fields around two types of crack used for toughness measurements, i.e. SEVNB (arrested crack induced by a V-notch) and IF methods (indentation crack induced by a Vickers impression), are reported for a Ce-TZP/Al₂O₃ nanocomposite, in comparison with 3Y-TZP. The fact that Ce-TZP/Al₂O₃ exhibits significant high toughness value on occasions when evaluated by the IF method was determined to be clearly linked to the presence of wide ranged three-dimensional transformation configuration and resulting substantial compressive residual stress fields. In contrast, for 3Y-TZP, transformation behaviors around the two types of crack were quite similar, which proves that 3Y-TZP shows near toughness values for both SEVNB and IF methods.     

Evaluation of experimentally obtained permeance based on module simulation: How should permeance be evaluated?

Permeance and permeance ratio in binary separation generally are obtained from experimental data using an analytical permeance equation consisting of the logarithmic average of the partial pressure difference (hereafter, approximate permeance equation). The aim of the present study was to clarify the applicable range for this equation. First, the separation performance of a membrane module was calculated with various given membrane properties (permeance, permeance ratio) and operation conditions (pressure, flow rate) via numerical computation. The obtained concentrations and flow rates in the retentate and permeate were used to calculate permeances via approximate permeance equation, and the validity was discussed by comparing permeances used for numerical computation with obtained ones. The present work clarifies the validity of the approximate permeance equation, and yields a general guideline stipulating that the partial pressure difference across the membrane at the inlet and outlet should maintain more than 60% to obtain the correct permeance.     

Unique microstructure analysis of ethylene-propylene copolymer synthesized using catalytic system based on α-diimine nickel complexes: a comparative study by 13C NMR technique

The microstructure of rubber-like ethylene-propylene copolymer (MN4) produced by a mixed nickel-based system (MN) containing catalysts of dibromo[N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,3-butanediimine]nickel(II) n1 and dibromo[N,N′-(phenanthrene-9,10-diylidene)bis(2,6-diisopropylaniline)]nickel(II) n2 was determined by ¹³C NMR technique. Sequences distribution of ethylene (E), propylene (P), EP, inverted propylene and uninterrupted methylene and also methylene number-average sequence lengths for the copolymer (MN4) were estimated. The results obtained from the MN4 EP copolymer were compared with reported copolymers which had been synthesized using constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) and vanadium-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The results demonstrated that the MN4 EP copolymer had fewer alternating comonomer sequences than ethylene-propylene elastomers obtained by CGC and vanadium-based (V) catalysts. A large number of the inversion structures (66 %) and high mole percent of sequences containing a long branch (3.2 mol%) were also observed in unique microstructure of the copolymer (MN4).     

Conversion of two-micron radiation into visible light using glass and ceramics based on ZBLAN: Но<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and ZBLAN: Ho<Superscript>3+</Superscript> + Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

Visualization of infrared radiation of Tm:YLF-laser at the wavelength of 1908 nm has been investigated in the glass and ceramics samples with compositions of 53ZrF₄ · 20 BaF₂ · 1HoF₃ · 3YbF₃ · 3AlF₃ · 20NaF and 53ZrF₄ · 20BaF₂ · 3LaF₃ · 1HoF₃ · 3AlF₃ · 20NaF (mol %). In luminescence spectra of ZBLAN samples doped with Но³⁺, the bands at the wavelengths of 480, 540, and 650 nm were observed, which correspond to ⁵ F ₃ → ⁵ I ₈, ⁵ S ₂, ⁵ F ₄ → ⁵ I ₈, and ⁵ F ₅ → ⁵ I ₈ electron transitions in Но³⁺ ions with the maximum intensity of the red band (650 nm). Occupancy of the ⁵ S ₂ and ⁵ F ₄ levels in the ZBLAN: 1% Но³⁺ samples is related to the sequential absorption of the exciting radiation quanta. The level of ⁵ F ₅ is filled mainly due to the ionic interaction. Additional doping with the Yb³⁺ ions led to the change of the luminescence color to green and a decrease in the threshold radiation power density of the Tm:YLF-laser in ceramic samples up to 2 W/cm².