Study on mixed‐mode fracture characterization in functionally graded materials

The fracture characterizations on mixed‐mode crack of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are investigated using digital speckle correlation method (DSCM). The stress intensity factors at mixed‐mode crack tip are obtained from digital speckle displacements fields. In combination with finite elements simulation results, the influences of gradient coefficients on fracture behavior of mixed‐mode cracks are analyzed. All the results show that the influence of gradient coefficients on fracture modes is not noticeable, and the stress intensity factor at the crack tip in graded materials are clearly influenced by the gradient coefficients, i.e., the stress intensity factors decrease with the increasing of gradient coefficients. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Laser Pyrolysis of Hydrocarbons in Synthesis of Soot Containing Fullerenes

Abstract

Using a high power CW CO₂ laser, the pyrolysis in a flow reactor of different hydrocarbons/oxidizer mixtures with/without sensitizer lead to soots containing weightable quantities of fullerenes which were identified by FTIR spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The C₆₀ and C₇₀ quantification was done by HPLC. The FTIR spectroscopy of toluene extracts from the soots and of exhaust gases allowed to discuss some aspects concerning the influence of sensitizer (SF₆) addition as well as of the oxidiser (O₂/N₂O) on the fullerene production in laser pyrolysis of benzene-based mixtures.     

Effect of Cu addition on microstructure and impact toughness in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone of high-strength low-alloy steels

The effects of Cu content on microstructure and impact toughness in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of high-strength low-alloy steels were investigated. It has been observed that the microstructure in the simulated CGHAZ of Cu-free steel is dominated by a small proportion of acicular ferrite and predominantly bainite with martensite–austenite constituent. Whereas, in the 0.45 and 1.01% Cu-containing steels, the acicular ferrite increased significantly due to the effective nucleation on intragranular inclusions with outer layer of MnS and CuS. The formation of acicular ferrite is attributed to superior high heat-affected zone impact toughness in the 0.45% Cu-containing steel. Furthermore, the increasing martensite–austenite constituent and ε-Cu precipitates in the simulated CGHAZ of 1.01% Cu-containing steel caused degradation in impact toughness.     

Dynamic switching characteristic dependence on sidewall angle for phase change memory

In this paper, the volume-minimized model of phase change memory (PCM) cell with Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) material has been established to study the dynamic switching (set-to-reset) characteristic dependence on the sidewall angle. Joule heating volume, threshold current, dynamic resistance and phase transition rate of PCM cells by current pulse are all calculated. The results show that the threshold current increases with decreasing the sidewall angle and is significantly impacted by the feature size and aspect ratio. The PCM cell of 90° sidewall angle exhibits the smallest Joule heating volume, the highest RESET resistance and the fastest phase transition property.     

Evolution and recovery of original total organic carbon for carbonate source rocks with different total organic carbon in the Tazhong area,Tarim Basin,China

Source rocks generate and expel hydrocarbon with thermal evolution, which lead to a decrease of total organic carbon (TOC) content. A new quantitative model for original total organic carbon (TOC_o) content evolution and recovery was proposed, and then was used to the carbonate source rocks with different TOCs (CSRDTOC) in the Tazhong area, Tarim Basin, China. Studies showed that the higher the TOC of source rocks, the bigger the range of TOC reduction and recovery coefficient. When vitrinite reflectance (VR) is equal to 2.5%, recovery coefficients of TOC_o = 0.2%, 0.4%, and 1.0% are 1.43, 1.66, and 2.01, respectively. It must restore TOC_o when we evaluate source rocks at the stage of high overmaturity and predict oil and gas resources.     

Development of a bifunctional Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst for converting prairie cordgrass to hydrocarbon biofuel

Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts were prepared using the impregnation method. The HZSM-5 and impregnated Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and X-ray diffraction. The HZSM-5 and Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts were used for prairie cordgrass (PCG) thermal conversion in a two-stage catalytic pyrolysis system. The products contained gas, bio-oil, and bio-char. The gas and bio-oil were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry separately. Higher heating values and elemental composition of bio-char were determined. The results indicated that 12% Ni/HZSM-5 treatment yielded the highest amount of gasoline fraction for hydrocarbons and showed a robust ability to upgrade bio-oil vapor.     

Synergistic interaction of konjac glucomannan and gellan gum investigated by rheology and texture analysis

The rheological kinetics of konjac glucomannan and gellan gum mixed sols were studied using rotational concentric cylinder viscometer. The effects of polymers weight ratio, shear rate, and temperature were systematically investigated. The curves showed a Newtonian plateau followed by strong shear thinning that can be described by a power law dependence on the shear rate. The dynamic viscoelastic character was evaluated by measurements of small-deformation oscillatory. After adding some cations, the mixed sols turned into mixed gels. The contribution of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Zn²⁺ at different concentration was also evaluated by texture analysis. The results reveal a strong dependence of the structural properties of different samples on their preparation conditions. A fine turning of the properties of the mixed sols is possible through the change of the temperature preparation and/or the polymer weight ratio. The texture properties of the mixed gels were also possibly influenced significantly by the cations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Strengthening mechanisms in magnesium alloys containing ternary Ⅰ,W and LPSO phases

This study was aimed at identifying underlying strengthening mechanisms and predicting the yield strength of as-extruded Mg-Zn-Y alloys with varying amounts of yttrium(Y) element. The addition of Y resulted in the formation of ternary I(Mg_3 YZn_6), W(Mg_3 Y_2 Zn_3) and LPSO(Mg_(12) YZn) phases which subsequently reinforced alloys ZM31 + 0.3 Y, ZM31 + 3.2 Y and ZM31 + 6 Y, where the value denoted the amount of Y element(in wt%). Yield strength of the alloys was determined via uniaxial compression testing, and grain size and second-phase particles were characterized using OM and SEM. In-situ high-temperature XRD was performed to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE), which was derived to be 1.38 × 10~(-5 K~(-1) and 2.35 × 10~(-5) K~(-1) for W and LPSO phases, respectively. The individual strengthening effects in each material were quantified for the first time, including grain refinement, Orowan looping, thermal mismatch, dislocation density, load-bearing, and particle shearing contributions. Grain refinement was one of the major strengthening mechanisms and it was present in all the alloys studied,irrespective of the second-phase particles. Orowan looping and CTE mismatch were the predominant strengthening mechanisms in the ZM31 + 0.3 Y and ZM31 + 3.2 Y alloys containing I and W phases, respectively, while load-bearing and second-phase shearing were the salient mechanisms contributing largely to the superior yield strength of the LPSO-reinforced ZM31 + 6 Y alloy.