超声熔体处理Al-7%Si合金坯料的半固态铸造

由于从循环利用的废料中不断累积增加Fe元素等杂质元素,所以铸造铝合金零部件高性能的要求往往很难实现。要求合金中粗大板条状的含铁化合物β-Al5FeSi在不使用变质剂和昂贵的纯铝锭条件下转变成无害的形貌结构。在凝固过程中通过利用超声振动来检测分析其对具有不同铁含量的Al-7%Si合金坯料的显微组织的变质效果。在感应加热至半固态温度583℃后,立即对超声熔体处理的坯料进行触变铸造,然后对触变铸造的铸件进行微观组织和拉伸性能检测分析。在触变铸造时,要求球形的初生α-Al相充填合金组织中的微小孔洞中,以便首先确定在坯料中通过超声熔体处理使合金显微组织产生变质效果。在605~630℃温度范围内进行超声熔体处理时,初生α-Al相从树枝状晶转变为细小的圆球形形貌。与未进行超声熔体处理的坯料相比,坯料超声熔体处理后合金中的粗大板条状β-Al5FeSi化合物相变得明显细小。升至583℃后进行半固态铸造不会明显改变β-Al5FeSi化合物的尺寸大小,可是却会使初生α-Al相的形貌变得更圆整,这有利于触变铸造。经预先加热的坯料进行触变铸造后,由于低的铸造温度,产生了快速凝固效果,使得合金中的共晶硅层片变得特别细小。在对超声熔体处理的坯料进行触变铸造时,具有不同铁含量的触变试样的抗拉强度变化并不大,即使合金含铁量达到2%。然而,用未处理的Al-7%Si-2%Fe合金坯料进行触变铸造时,其强度较差,仅为80 MPa,而用超声熔体处理的同种合金坯料,其抗拉强度达180 MPa。用超声熔体处理的不同含铁量的Al-7%Si合金坯料进行触变铸造时,其伸长率也提高了约一倍,例如触变铸造超声熔体处理的Al-7%Si-0.5%Fe合金坯料时,试样的伸长率为11%,而未进行超声熔体处理的同种合金触变铸造试件,其伸长率只有5%。     

In-situ TiB2 and Al2O3 formation by DC plasma spraying

In-situ plasma spraying (IPS) is a promising process to fabricate composite coatings with in-situ formed thermodynamically stable phases. In the present study, mechanically alloyed Al-12Si, B₂O₃ and TiO₂ powder was deposited onto an aluminum substrate using atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). It has been observed that, during the coating process, TiB₂ and Al₂O₃ are in-situ formed through the reaction between starting powders and finely dispersed in hypereutectic Al-Si matrix alloy. Also, obtained results demonstrate that in-situ reaction intensity strongly depends on spray conditions.     

Gap control for near-dry EDM milling with lead angle

A new gap control strategy for five-axis milling using near-dry electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been experimentally investigated. The conventional EDM control strategy only allows the retraction of the electrode in the direction of machining trajectory, which results in inefficient gap control when the electrode is not perpendicular to the workpiece. The new gap controller is capable of retracting the electrode in the direction of its orientation. This enables more efficient enlargement of the discharge gap leading to faster recovery of average gap voltage. Experimental results show a 30% increase in material removal rate while the tool electrode wear ratio and surface roughness are not affected. Furthermore, EDM efficiency is improved due to the change in the electrode retraction in its axial direction. The gain tuning of the proposed controller is also discussed. This study shows the direction of electrode retraction is important for five-axis near-dry EDM milling.     

Hydrogen generation from a single crystal magnetite coupled galvanically with a carbon steel in sulfate solution

A galvanic coupling with a single crystal magnetite accelerated the corrosion of a carbon steel in sulfate solutions. A scanning electrochemical microscopic investigation revealed that the hydrogen generation on the magnetite as well as the reduction of the magnetite itself was contributed to a galvanic corrosion of the carbon steel. The estimated current efficiency for the hydrogen generation on the magnetite was about 50% in pH 5.8 sulfate solution. Moreover, the distribution of hydrogen generated above the magnetite surface was observed with the probe current image.     

Thermoelectric properties of A-site doped perovskites (Sr0.6Ba0.4)1−xMxPbO3 (M = La, K)

La- and K-doped perovskite-type ceramics, (Sr_0.6Ba_0.4)_1−xLa_xPbO₃ with x = 0.0−0.1 and (Sr_0.6Ba_0.4)_1−xK_xPbO₃ with x = 0.00−0.15, were prepared to modify thermoelectric properties of semi-metallic Sr_0.6Ba_0.4PbO₃ via the doping of electrons and holes, respectively. The electrical conductivity σ and Seebeck coefficient S for the ceramics were measured at temperatures of 373–1073 K in air. With the La doping, electron carriers were successively doped and the material changed from a semi-metal for the undoped Sr_0.6Ba_0.4PbO₃ to a metal for the (Sr_0.6Ba_0.4)_0.9La_0.1PbO₃. With the K doping, the thermoelectric properties were essentially unchanged probably due to the carrier compensation effect by the generation of oxygen deficiencies. The thermoelectric power factor S²σ was maximized to a value of 3.1 × 10⁻⁴ Wm⁻¹ K⁻² at 773 K for the undoped Sr_0.6Ba_0.4PbO₃ ceramic.     

Microstructures of SiO2 and TiOX films deposited by atmospheric pressure inductively coupled micro-plasma jet

Atmospheric-pressure inductively coupled micro-plasma jet was used for deposition of SiO₂ and TiO_x thin films. Si and Ti alkoxides respectively were vaporized into Ar gas to be decomposed thermally in the Ar plasma jet, being deposited as the metal oxide films. Microstructures of the films were investigated as changing the plasma conditions such as Ar gas flow rate and concentration of the alkoxides in Ar gas. The SiO₂ and TiO_x films deposited at higher Ar gas flow rates were composed of particles of micron or submicron sizes. The SiO₂ film was composed of a single layer of the particles and the particles sometimes formed unique aggregation structures. On the other hand, the TiO_x film had a structure in which the particles were piled up randomly. The structures suggested that the SiO₂ particles grew on the substrate whereas TiO_x particles were formed in plasma gas phase.     

Effect of Carbon Diffusion on Friction and Wear Behaviors of Diamond-Like Carbon Coating Against Germanium in Boundary Base Oil Lubrication

Tribology Letters - The focus of the research was on investigating the influence of orientation of fibers in graphite fabric-reinforced polyetherimide composite on wear performance in selected wear...     

Anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater at ambient temperature: Analysis of archaeal community structure and recovery of dissolved methane

Anaerobic treatment is an attractive option for the biological treatment of municipal wastewater. In this study, municipal wastewater was anaerobically treated with a bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at temperatures from 6 to 31 °C for 18 months to investigate total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, archaeal community structure, and dissolved methane (D-CH₄) recovery efficiency. The COD removal efficiency was more than 50% in summer and below 40% in winter with no evolution of biogas. Analysis of the archaeal community structures of the granular sludge from the UASB using 16S rRNA gene-cloning indicated that after microorganisms had adapted to low temperatures, the archaeal community had a lower diversity and the relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens decreased together with an increase in hydrogenotrophic methanogens. D-CH₄, which was detected in the UASB effluent throughout the operation, could be collected with a degassing membrane. The ratio of the collection to recovery rates was 60% in summer and 100% in winter. For anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater at lower temperatures, hydrogenotrophic methanogens play an important role in COD removal and D-CH₄ can be collected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid wastage of energy resources.     

Evaluation of some halogen biocides using a microbial biofilm system

A simple method for the formation of microbial biofilms of three species, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, on a small glass slide was established, and its suitability for evaluation of disinfectant efficacy was examined. The biofilms formed were observed in situ by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Using the biofilms established, biocidal efficacy of several halogen biocides, such as hypochlorite (HOCl), bromochlorodimethylhydantoin (Br, Cl-DMH), ammonia monochloramine (NH2Cl), a stabilized hypobromite biocide named STABREX, and a mixed solution of NH4Br and HOCl, was evaluated. The formation of NHBrCl in the mixed solution was indicated by UV spectra analysis. Biofilm cells were more resistant to these biocides than planktonic cells and the extent of resistance varied with the biocide tested. Among the biocides tested, the biocidal potency of HOCl was the most susceptible to the change brought about by biofilm formation. By CLSM observation, differences in biofilm conformation were revealed between the microbial species. The efficacy of the biocide tested varied with the structure of biofilms formed. The assay method developed in the present study would be useful for further investigation on biofilm disinfection.     

Organic air pollutants inside and outside residences in Shimizu, Japan: levels, sources and risks

Concentrations of 38 organic air pollutants including aromatic hydrocarbons (AHCs), carbonyl compounds (CCs), volatile organic halogenated compounds (VOHCs), and organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) were measured in indoor and outdoor air in an industrial city, Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Levels of pollutants tended to be higher indoors than outdoors in both summer and winter except for benzene, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and dichlorvos (DDVP). This trend was especially pronounced for CCs such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. For the organic air pollutants, the concentrations of AHCs and VOHCs substantially increased in winter, but not those of CCs and OPCs; the trends were similar for both indoors and outdoors. We investigated possible indoor sources of pollutants statistically. Multiple regression analysis of corresponding indoor and outdoor concentrations and the responses to our questionnaire showed that indoor concentrations of certain AHCs were significantly affected by their outdoor concentrations and cigarette smoking. For formaldehyde, indoor concentrations were significantly affected by house age and the presence of carpet or pets. For p-dichlorobenzene (pDCB), the concentrations in bedroom trended to be higher than those in other indoors and outdoors, suggested that mothballs for clothes present in bedrooms are the principal indoor source of pDCB. We compared indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations to acceptable risk limits for 11 organic air pollutants. In indoors without smoking samples, the geometric mean concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, pDCB, and DDVP exceeded the equivalent concentration representing the upper bound of one-in-one-hundred-thousand (1x10(-5)) excess risk over a lifetime of exposure.