Studies on the role of microstructure on performance of a high strength armour steel

This investigation describes and analyses the experimental results pertinent to the ballistic performance of two apparently identical low alloy high strength steel plates against deformable lead projectiles at a velocity about 840 m/s. All the tests are carried out at normal impact angle, i.e. zero obliquity. One plate stopped all projectiles fired at it. However, the other plate failed to stop the projectiles at some locations. Both the plates were subjected to detailed analysis using standard metallurgical techniques to identify the cause of failure in one plate. The experimental results presented include the variation in the microstructure, hardness and retained austenite of the two target plates. The study concludes that the failure is caused by the decrease in resistance of the plate possibly due to higher retained austenite and coarser martensitic structure.     

Evaluation of compatibility of thick-film PTC thermistors and LTCC structures

The electrical and microstructural characteristics of 1 kΩ/sq. thick-film thermistors with high positive temperature coefficients of resistivity, i.e. PTC 5093 (Du Pont) fired either on “green” LTCC (low temperature cofired ceramics) substrates or buried within LTCC structures, were evaluated. The active phase (ruthenium oxide) in the PTC thermistors is not present in the dried films but is formed during firing due to the decomposition of the ruthenate phase. Because of interactions between a glassy LTCC material and thermistors electrical characteristic, i.e. sheet resistivities and noise indices of thermistors fired on the surface LTCC substrates, changed from values obtained on alumina substrates. The differences in the measured electrical parameters were attributed to the interactions between the thermistor layers and the glassy LTCC substrates. The inter-diffusion of oxides, mainly PbO and Al₂O₃, was confirmed by microanalysis. In the case of buried thermistors, presumably due to the incompatibility of both materials, the structure de-laminated during firing. Cracks between the buried PTC films and the LTCC substrates as well as cracks in PTC films resulted in high sheet resistivities and high noise indices.     

Modeling on oxide dependent 2DEG sheet charge density and threshold voltage in AlGaN/GaN MOSHEMT

We have developed a physics based analytical model for the calculation of threshold voltage, two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) density and surface potential for AlGaN/GaN metal oxide semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MOSHEMT). The developed model includes important parameters like polarization charge density at oxide/AlGaN and AlGaN/GaN interfaces, interfacial defect oxide charges and donor charges at the surface of the AlGaN barrier. The effects of two different gate oxides (Al₂O₃ and HfO₂) are compared for the performance evaluation of the proposed MOSHEMT. The MOSHEMTs with Al₂O₃ dielectric have an advantage of significant increase in 2DEG up to 1.2×10¹³ cm^-2 with an increase in oxide thickness up to 10 nm as compared to HfO₂ dielectric MOSHEMT. The surface potential for HfO₂ based device decreases from 2 to -1.6 eV within 10 nm of oxide thickness whereas for the Al₂O₃ based device a sharp transition of surface potential occurs from 2.8 to -8.3 eV. The variation in oxide thickness and gate metal work function of the proposed MOSHEMT shifts the threshold voltage from negative to positive realizing the enhanced mode operation. Further to validate the model, the device is simulated in Silvaco Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) showing good agreement with the proposed model results. The accuracy of the developed calculations of the proposed model can be used to develop a complete physics based 2DEG sheet charge density and threshold voltage model for GaN MOSHEMT devices for performance analysis.     

Studies on Extraction of Potassium from Feldspar by Roast-leach Method Using Phosphogypsum and Sodium Chloride

The extractions of potassium value from feldspar via roasting and leaching route was studied with a focus on the effects of the roasting time, temperature, additives, and particle size. Sodium chloride and phosphogypsum (PG) were used as a source of chloride and calcium, respectively, and played the important role during the roasting of feldspar. When the feldspar sample was roasted at 900°C with sodium chloride alone, the extraction of potassium was limited to 61%. The extraction could go up to 92.5% by the addition of phosphogypsum along with sodium chloride. The optimum conditions of potassium extraction were found to be, particle size 100 µm, roasting temperature 900°C and roasting time of one hour. The X-ray diffraction study indicated the formation of sylvite (KCl) in the roasted product and its disappearance in roast-leach residue due to its high water solubility. The morphological changes during the roasting process were clearly observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images. The extraction of potassium from feldspar was best fitted by the Ginstling and Brounshtein kinetic model. The activation energy of 238.6 KJ/mole and 28.73 KJ/mole for low and high-temperature regions indicated that the overall extraction process follows two-steps reaction path.     

Novel hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane‐urea/silica hybrid coatings and their characterizations

Thermally resistant and mechanically stable novel hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane‐urea/silica hybrid coatings were prepared by using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a coupling agent with SiO₂ as a crosslinker. The extent of hydrogen bonding was investigated to show a dependence on SiO₂ concentration, which increased the glass transition temperature of the polymers with increasing SiO₂ concentration. Thermal decomposition profiles and the corresponding stability data suggest two‐step decomposition for the hybrids; further, their stability increased with increasing concentration of SiO₂.Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A modified quasi‐creep model for assessment of deformation of topas COC substrates in the thermal bonding of microfluidic devices: Experiments and modeling

The effects of thermomechanical properties of dissimilar polymer plates on thermal bonding were investigated and the resultant deformation of cover Topas COC plate was modeled using a simplified quasi‐creep model. The appropriate conditions for thermal bonding for minimal deformation of both the Topas cover and substrate plates could be established through simulation using the quasi‐creep model. Both the cover plate and the substrate containing microchannels were fabricated by injection molding. The elastic modulus of the COC plate at different temperatures was measured using three‐point bending test. The thermal bonding was conducted at different temperatures, pressures, and holding times. The deformation of the cover plate (consisting of Topas with a lower glass transition temperature, T_g) into the microchannel of the substrate plate (consisting of Topas with a higher T_g) was found to be significant even at lower bonding pressures when the bonding temperature was higher than a critical temperature. Such deformation was dependent on the viscoelastic creep behavior of the material and the thermal bonding temperature and load. This deformation behavior was predicted by the numerical model, and the predicted results agree well with the experimental data. The bonding strength of the sealed microchannels was evaluated using the burst test. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effect of heat treatment on mechanical and ballistic properties of a high strength armour steel

In the present study an ultra high strength armour steel was austenatised at 910°C followed by tempering at 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600°C. After heat treatment the properties of tensile strength, ductility, charpy impact strength, hardness and microstructure were evaluated from the mechanical tests and metallographic analysis respectively. The ballistic behavior of the heat-treated plates was evaluated impacting against non-deformable hard steel core projectiles at 840 ± 15 m/s at normal angle of attack. The changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties with heat treatment have been correlated with ballistic performance of the steel. Experimental results showed that 200°C tempering gives the best ballistic performance.     

Polymers from renewable resources. XIII. Interpenetrating polymer networks derived from castor oil–hexamethylene diisocyanate and polymethacrylamide

Several castor oil‐based polyurethanes (PUs) samples were synthesized using various diisocyanates such as hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) with varying NCO/OH ratios. All the PUs were reacted with methacrylamide (MAM) using an ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) crosslinker and benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers was followed using a computer analysis method for assigning the kinetic mechanism. The degradation steps are discussed in the light of kinetic parameters. The scanning electronic microscopy of some of the interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were studied and the morphology was examined. The samples were subjected to wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis. Ruland and Vonk's method was used to calculate the degree of crystallinity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1349–1353, 2001