A pulsed fourier spectrometer for impedance measurements of electrochemical systems

The facility is intended for measuring the impedance of electrochemical systems by the pulse method. The impedance spectrum is calculated by applying the Fourier transform to the step response (variation in the potential due to sample polarization by a step current pulse). The facility is controlled by a computer and contains a programmable galvanizer and 8-bit parallel ADC with a buffer RAM. Measurements are performed by the two-or three-electrode method over a frequency band of 10⁻³ to 3×10⁵ Hz with samples whose tan (δ) is within 0.01–100. The measurement error is 2%.     

Thermal strain analysis of composite materials by electronic speckle pattern interferometry

This study discusses a non-contact optical technique (electronic speckle pattern interferometry) that is well suited for thermal deformation measurement without any surface preparation and compensating process. Fiber reinforced plastics ([0]₁₆, [0/90]_8S) were analyzed by ESPI to determine their thermal expansion coefficients. The thermal expansion coefficient of the transverse direction of a uniaxial composite is evaluated as 48.78×10⁻⁶(1/°C). Also, the thermal expansion coefficient of the cross-ply laminate [0/90]_8S is numerically estimated as 3.23×10⁻⁶ (1/°C) that is compared with that measured by ESPI.     

Effect of Fluoride Content on Friction and Wear Performance of Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al Matrix High-Temperature Self-Lubricating Composites

The self-lubricating composites Ni₃Al–BaF₂–CaF₂–Ag–Cr, which have varying fluoride contents, were fabricated by the powder metallurgy technique. The effect of fluoride content on the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites was investigated. The results showed that an optimal fluoride content and a balance between lubricity and mechanical strength were obtained. The Ni₃Al–6.2BaF₂–3.8CaF₂–12.5Ag–10Cr composite showed the best friction coefficients (0.29–0.38) and wear rates (4.2 × 10⁻⁵–2.19 × 10⁻⁴ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹) at a wide temperature range (room temperature to 800°C). Fluorides exhibited a good reduced friction performance at 400 and 600°C. However, at 800°C, the formation of BaCrO₄ on the worn surface due to the tribo-chemical reaction at high temperatures provided an excellent lubricating property.     

Tribological Properties of Phosphor Bronze and Nanocrystalline Nickel Coatings Under PAO + MoDTC and Ionic Liquid Lubricated Condition

The friction and wear properties of phosphor bronze and nanocrystalline nickel coatings were evaluated using a reciprocating ball-on-plates UMT-2MT sliding tester lubricated with ionic liquid and poly-alpha-olefin containing molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate, respectively. The morphologies of the worn surfaces for the phosphor bronze and nanocrystalline nickel coatings were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The chemical states of several typical elements on the worn surfaces were examined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that the phosphor bronze and nanocrystalline nickel coatings exhibited quite different tribological behaviors under different lubricants. Phosphor bronze plate shows higher friction coefficient (0.14) and wear rate (3.2 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/Nm) than nanocrystalline nickel coatings (average friction coefficient is 0.097, wear rate is 1.75 × 10⁻⁶ mm³/Nm) under poly-alpha-olefin containing molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate lubricated conditions. The excellent tribological performance of nanocrystalline nickel coatings under above lubricant can be attributed to the formation of MoS₂ and MoO₃ on the sliding surface. a quite a number of C, O and F products on worn surface of phosphor bronze than NC nickel coatings can improve anti-wear properties while using ionic liquid as lubricant.     

Application of a monopulsed repetitively pumped Nd:YAlO3 laser for photothermoplastic recording of stroboholographic interferograms

A version of the stroboholographic interferometry method with a photothermoplastic recording medium is described. Its distinguishing feature is the use of a repetitively operating monopulsed laser as an illumination source. The performance characteristics of the developed highly coherent frequency-doubled Nd:YAlO₃ laser with combined modulation of the cavityQ-factor by an acoustooptical shutter and a bleachable filter are presented. A system for synchronization of the monopulses with the required phases of the periodical process under study is described. It is shown that, when using the ΦTпH-Л photothermoplastic medium, recording of double-exposure stroboholographic interferograms of diffusely reflecting objects ∼40×90 mm in size is ensured by 10–16 laser pulses at an output energy of ∼4×10⁻⁴ J and a repetition rate of no more than 10 Hz. Interferograms of larger objects can be obtained by increasing the pulse energy and the laser firing rate. Deceased.     

Reciprocating Sliding Friction and Wear Property of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si Based Alloys Containing Cu in Water Lubrication

Fe₃Si, Fe₃Si alloys containing Cu were fabricated by arc melting followed by hot-pressing. The friction and wear behaviors of Fe₃Si based alloys with and without Cu addition against Si₃N₄ ball in water-lubrication were investigated. The friction coefficient and the wear rates of Fe₃Si based alloys decreased as the load increased. The wear rate of Fe₃Si was higher than that of AISI 304. The addition of Cu can significantly improve the friction and wear properties of Fe₃Si based alloys and substantially reduce the wear rates of Si₃N₄ ball. The wear rate of Fe₃Si–10%Cu was 2.56 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ at load of 20 N and decreased to 1.64 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ at load of 90 N. The wear rate of Si₃N₄ ball against Fe₃Si–10%Cu was 1.41 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, while the wear rate of Si₃N₄ ball against AISI 304 was 5.20 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ at load of 90 N. The wear mechanism was dominated by micro-ploughing. The combination of mechanical action (i.e., shear, smear and transference of Cu) and tribochemical reaction of Si₃N₄ with water was responsible for the improved tribological behavior of Fe₃Si alloys containing Cu under high loads.     

Microwave drying and moisture diffusivity of white mulberry: experimental and mathematical modeling

The literature surveyed revealed that drying kinetics of white mulberry under microwave treatment has not been investigated. In present study, both experimental study and mathematical modeling on microwave drying of white mulberry was performed. The microwave drying process which reduced the moisture content of mulberry from 3.76 to 0.25 (g water/g dry matter) was carried out at 90, 180, 360, 600, and 800 W in a modified microwave drying set-up. The effects of microwave drying technique on the moisture ratio and drying rate of white mulberry were investigated experimentally. Both the effects of microwave power level (under the range of 90–800W) and initial sample weight (50–150g) were studied. No constant rate period was observed. Mathematical modeling of thin layer drying kinetics of white mulberry under microwave treatment was also investigated by fitting the experimental drying data to eight thin layer drying models. Among the models proposed, Midilli et al. model precisely represented the microwave drying behavior of white mulberry with the coefficient of determination higher than 0.999 and mean square of deviation (χ²) and root mean square error (RMSE) lower than 1.1×10⁻⁴ and 8.9×10⁻³, respectively for all the microwave drying conditions studied. The effective moisture diffusivity (D_eff) of white mulberry varied from 0.45×10⁻⁸ to 3.25×10⁻⁸ m²s⁻¹. Both the drying constant (k) and D_eff increased with the increase of microwave power level.     

Elevated temperature deformation behavior in an AZ31 magnesium alloy

An AZ31 magnesium alloy was tested at constant temperatures ranging from 423 to 473 K (0.46 to 0.51T _m ) under constant stresses. All of the creep curves exhibited two types depending on stress levels. At low stress (σ/G<4×10⁻³), the creep curve was typical of class A (Alloy type) behavior. However, at high stresses (σ/G>4×10⁻³), the creep curve was typical of class M (Metal type) behavior. At low stress level, the stress exponent for the steady-state creep rate was of 3.5 and the true activation energy for creep was 101 kJ/mole which is close to that for solute diffusion. It indicates that the dominant deformation mechanism was glide-controlled dislocation creep. At low stress level wheren=3.5, the present results are in good agreement with the prediction of Fridel model.     

The effect of thermal stressing on perfluoropolyalkylethers at elevated temperatures

Fultz et al. have reported that the thermo‐oxidative properties of linear PFPAEs can be improved by stressing the fluid at elevated temperature (371°C) in the presence of air. A study of M‐50 steel coupons exposed to unstressed and stressed linear PFPAE fluids at 260 °C and 330 °C each reveal complex surface layers. For the coupon exposed to the unstressed fluid at 260 °C, a subsurface layer is observed between the iron oxide and iron substrate that has been characterized as being composed of FeF₂. In contrast, the coupon exposed to the stressed fluid has a marked increase in the iron oxide thickness ∼2–3 times) when compared to the unstressed sample and shows no evidence of a buried fluorine‐containing layer. An increase in temperature (330 °C) in the stressed fluid O–C test was required to form a subsurface FeF₂ layer. It is proposed that the elimination of the fluorine layer found on the M‐50 substrate increases the upper temperature limit found from the oxidation–corrosion studies. The increase in the oxide layer thickness implies that the FeF₂ layer found in the unstressed sample acts like a diffusion barrier which inhibits the outward movement of Fe⁰ and the decreased rate of iron oxide growth. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Multichannel wire gas electron multipliers with 1- and 3-mm gaps

The operation of multichannel wire gas electron multipliers (MWGEMs) with gaps between electrodes δ = 1 and 3 mm, when the chamber is filled with commercial neon under a 0.4- and 1.0-atm (abs.) pressure and irradiated with α and β particles, is studied. The following maximal proportional electron multiplication coefficients are obtained: 6 × 10³ (α, irradiation, δ = 3 mm, 1 atm, and 20% streamers), 1.2 × 10⁴ (β⁻, 3 mm, 1 atm, and 50% streamers), 6 × 10³ (α, 3 mm, 0.4 atm, and 20% streamers), and 10⁵ (β⁻, 3 mm, 0.4 atm, and 50% streamers). The maximal proportional electron multiplication coefficients are obtained in the MWGEM and its anode (induction) gap in the sequential electron multiplication mode: 1.08 × 10⁵ (β⁻, 1 mm, 0.4 atm, 50% streamers), 2 × 10⁶ (β⁻, 3 mm, 0.4 atm, 20% streamers), and 1.12 × 10⁵ (α, 3 mm, 0.4 atm, 50% streamers).     

Friction and Wear Properties of Silicon Carbide in Water from Different Sources

Low friction and low wear of SiC sliding against itself in water at room temperature have been well reported in the past 20 years, and some practical applications have been developed. However, the properties of friction and wear in pure, deionized or distilled water have been mainly observed and not in water from sources in nature. In this article, the fundamental properties of friction and wear between SiC ball and disk are observed in water from ground, river, and sea, and the results are compared with those in deionized water in the viewpoints of modes of lubrication and wear and the resultant values of friction coefficient and wear rate. The smallest friction coefficient (μ_ℓ = 0.005) in steady state is observed in deionized water and the largest (μ_ℓ = 0.013) in sea water. The smallest wear rate (w _s = 2.2 × 10⁻⁷ mm³/Nm) is observed in sea water and the largest (w _s = 3.1 × 10⁻⁷ mm³/Nm) in deionized water. The intermediate values of μ_ℓ and w _s between the smallest and the largest ones are observed in ground and river water. The modes of lubrication and wear, which generated observed values of μ_ℓ and w _s, are considered as mixed lubrication and tribochemical wear. The chemical elements of Na, Cl, Mg, and K in sea water observed on wear particles and pits are thought effective to generate the largest value of μ_ℓ and the smallest value of w _s.     

Effect of SiC particles on the friction and wear behavior of Ti3Si(Al)C2-based composites

The non-lubricated, sliding friction and wear behavior of Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ and SiC-reinforced Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ composites against AISI 52100 bearing steel ball were investigated using a ball-on-flat, reciprocating tribometer at room temperature. The contact load was varied from 5 to 20 N. For monolithic Ti₃Si(Al)C₂, high friction coefficients between 0.61 and 0.90 and wear rates between 1.79 × 10⁻³ and 2.68 × 10⁻³ mm³ (N m)⁻¹ were measured. With increasing SiC content in the composites, both the friction coefficients and the wear rates were significantly decreased. The friction coefficients reduced to a value between 0.38 and 0.50, and the wear rates to between 2.64 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.93 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ (N m)⁻¹ when the SiC content ranged from 10 to 30 vol.%. The enhanced wear resistance of Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ is mainly attributed to the facts that the hard SiC particles inhibit the plastic deformation and fracture of the soft matrix, the oxide debris lubricate the counterpair, and the wear mode converts from adhesive wear to abrasive wear during dry sliding.     

Tribological characteristics of polycrystalline Magnéli-type titanium dioxides

The results presented in this paper have clarified experimentally, that titania-based Magnéli-phases (Ti₄O₇/Ti₅O₉ and Ti₆O₁₁) with (121)-shear planes exhibit more anti-wear properties than lubricious (low-frictional) properties. The results for dry sliding indicate that the coefficients of friction lie in the range of 0.1–0.6 depending on sliding speed and ambient temperature. The COF decreased with increasing temperature (T= 22–800°C) and increasing sliding speed (υ= 1−6 m/s). The dry sliding wear rate was lowest for the Al₂O₃ at 1 m/s at 800°C with values of 1.7 × 10−8 and 6.4 × 10−8 mm³/N m, comparable to boundary/mixed lubrication, associated with a high dry frictional power loss of 30 W/mm². The running-in wear length and, more important, the wear rate decreased under oscillating sliding tests with increasing relative humidity. The contact pressure for high-/low-wear transition increased under oscillating sliding tests with increasing relative humidity. At room temperature and a relative humidity of 100% the steady-state wear rate under dry oscillating sliding for the couple Al₂O₃/Ti₄O₇–Ti₅O₉ was lower than 2 × 10−7 mm³/N m and therefore inferior to the resolution of the continuous wear measurement sensor. TEM of wear tracks from oscillating sliding revealed at room temperature a work-hardening as mechanism to explain the running-in behavior and the high wear resistance. The hydroxylation of titania surfaces favours the high-/low-wear transition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fourier transform infrared investigation of thin perfluoropolyether films exposed to electric fields

Reflection–absorption Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to monitor thin layers of hydroxyl-terminated perfluoropolyether lubricant (Fomblin ZDOL) for molecular changes caused by long exposures to dc electric fields with intensities in the range 3–6 × 10⁴ V/cm. A new absorption band appears in the 1720–1640 cm⁻¹ region of some field-exposed specimens. The new spectral feature is attributed to the presence of C=O, a functional group not present in the ZDOL chemical structure but commonly found in perfluoropolyether degradation products. The peak position of the carbonyl absorption band indicates that hydrogenated carbon is present at the α-position. The presence of hydrogenated --carbons suggests that structural modifications occur via a mechanism that primarily involves the –CH₂–OH functional endgroup, rather than the more commonly proposed bond cleavage at the –O–CF₂–O– acetal groups in perfluoropolyether lubricants having no polar endgroups. These results suggest that slow but cumulative lubricant degradation may occur when strong electric fields are present at the head-disk interface. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An electric-discharge excimer radiation source on a set of Cl 2 * (258 nm) and ArCl (175 nm) bands

An excimer radiation source with transverse volume discharge pumping that operates simultaneously on a set of bands of 258 nm (Cl ₂ ^* ) and 175 nm (ArCl) is described. A spark UV preionization was used for the perionization of a discharge volume of 18×2.2.×1.0 cm³. The discharge was initiated in the mixtures Ar/Cl₂=(5–30)/(0.1–0.8) kPa. The source was optimized over the composition and pressure of the Ar/Cl₂ mixture. The service life of the excimer source on the electron-vibrational transitions Cl ₂ ^* and ArCl in the gas-static regime with a passive volume of 101 was of the order of 10⁴ pulses.     

NiAl Matrix High-Temperature Self-Lubricating Composite

A high-temperature self-lubricating composite NiAl–Cr–Mo–CaF₂ was fabricated using the powder metallurgy technique, and the tribological behavior of the composite at a wide range of temperatures (room temperature to 1000 °C) was investigated. The results showed that the composite had a favorable friction coefficient of about 0.2 and an excellent wear resistance of about 1 × 10⁻⁵ mm³N⁻¹m⁻¹ at the high temperatures tested (800 and 1000 °C). The excellent self-lubricating performance was attributed to the formation of the glaze film on the worn surface consisting mainly of CaCrO₄ and CaMoO₄ as high-temperature solid lubricants.     

A study on wear and wear mechanism of exhaust valve and seat insert depending on different speeds using a simulator

The wear of engine valve and seat insert is one of the most important factors which affect engine performance. Because of higher demands on performance and the increasing use of alternative fuel, engine valve and seat insert are challenged with greater wear problems than in the past. In order to solve the above problems, a simulator was developed to be able to generate and control high temperatures and various speeds during motion. The wear simulator is considered to be a valid simulation of the engine valve and seat insert wear process with various speeds during engine activity. This work focuses on the different degrees of wear at three different singular test speeds (10 Hz, 25 Hz & multi-Hz). For this study, the temperature of the outer surface of the seat insert was controlled at 350°C, and the test load was 1960 N. The test cycle number was 6.0×10⁶. The mean (±standard error) wear depth of the valve at 10 Hz and 25 Hz was 45.1 (±3.7)μm and 81.7 (±2.5)μm, respectively. The mean wear depth of the seat insert at 10 Hz and 25 Hz was 52.7 (±3.9) μm and 91.2 (±2.7) μm, respectively. In the case of multi-Hz it was 70.7 (±2.4)/on and 77.4 (±3.8) μm, respectively. It was found that higher speed (25 Hz) cause a greater degree of wear than lower speed (10 Hz) under identical test condition (temperature, valve displacement, cycle number and test load). In the wear mechanisms of valves, adhesive wear, shear strain and abrasive wear could be observed. Also, in the wear mechanisms of seat inserts, adhesive wear, surface fatigue wear and abrasive wear could be observed.     

Simultaneous Determination of Six Trace Elements in Plant Medicines by Derivative Adsorption Waves in Conjunction with a Microwave Technique

Abstract

Complex adsorption waves of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) in substrate solution (pH=9.26) of diacetyldioxime‐ammonia‐ammonium chloride‐sodium citrate‐gelatin‐sodium sulfite were studied and a new method for determination of the six trace elements in aqueous solutions was developed. The results show that there are sensitive adsorption waves of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) complexes at about ?0.45, ?0.61,?0.78, ?1.07, ?1.23, and ?1.38 V, respectively. The method is easy to operate and is able to determine these trace elements in aqueous solutions rapidly and simultaneously. When the signal‐to‐noise ratio equals 3, the detection limits of copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, and zinc are 3.2×10^?4, 4.8×10^?3, 1.9×10^?3, 1.7×10^?5, 2.1×10^?6, and 1.0×10^?3 µg/cm³. Good linear relationships exist between the concentrations and the current peaks when copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, and zinc concentrations are within 6.5×10^?4～10⁰, 9.3×10^?3～10, 4.1×10^?3～10, 3.2×10^?5～10^?1, 4.0×10^?6～10^?2, and 2.1×10^?3～10 µg/cm³, respectively. In conjunction with a microwave assimilation technique, the method has been used in the rapid and simultaneous determination of these trace elements in some plant medicines with satisfactory results.     

Tribological Property of Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al Matrix Composites with Addition of BaMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The Ni₃Al matrix composites with addition of 10, 15, and 20 wt% BaMoO₄ were fabricated by powder metallurgy technique, and the tribological behaviors were studied from room temperature to 800 °C. It was found that BaAl₂O₄ formed during the fabrication process. The Ni₃Al composites showed poor tribological property below 400 °C, with high friction coefficients (above 0.6) and wear rates (above 10⁻⁴ mm³/Nm). However, the composites exhibited excellent self-lubricating and anti-wear properties at higher temperatures, and the composite with addition of 15 wt% BaMoO₄ had the lowest wear rate (1.10 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/Nm) and friction coefficient (0.26). In addition, the results also indicated that BaAl₂O₄ for the Ni₃Al composites did not exhibit lubricating property from room temperature to 800 °C.     

A laser spectrometer of field-asymmetric ion mobility

A method for analyzing a substance has been experimentally tested. The method combines the field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry and laser ionization of molecules under atmospheric pressure. Pulsed radiation of the fourth harmonic of an YAG: Nd³⁺ laser (λ = 266 nm) and a spectrometer with a cylindrical analysis camera were used. The results of detecting nitrocompounds—trinitrotoluene, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (hexogen, RDX), etc.—are presented. The experimental detection limits of the spectrometer are 5 × 10⁻¹⁵ g/cm³ (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) and ≤3 × 10⁻¹⁵ g/cm³ (trinitrotoluene).