Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of Arc-Sprayed Aluminum Coatings

Different posttreatment methods, such as heat treatment, mechanical processing, sealing, etc., are known to be capable to improve microstructure and exploitation properties of thermal spray coatings. In this work, a plasma electrolytic oxidation of aluminum coatings obtained by arc spraying on aluminum and carbon steel substrates is carried out. Microstructure and properties of oxidized layers formed on sprayed coating as well as on bulk material are investigated. Oxidation is performed in electrolyte containing KOH and liquid glass under different process parameters. It is shown that thick uniform oxidized layers can be formed on arc-sprayed aluminum coatings as well as on solid material. Distribution of alloying elements and phase composition of obtained layers are investigated. A significant improvement of wear resistance of treated layers in two types of abrasive wear conditions is observed. This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference and has been expanded from the original presentation. It is simultaneously published in Global Coating Solutions, Proceedings of the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference, Beijing, China, May 14-16, 2007, Basil R. Marple, Margaret M. Hyland, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Chang-Jiu Li, Rogerio S. Lima, and Ghislain Montavon, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007.     

Calibration of tapping AFM cantilevers and uncertainty estimation: Comparison between different methods

We present a comparative study between three different methods for the spring constant calibration of silicon beam-shaped Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilevers, used in tapping AFM mode in air. The geometries of these levers can be quite different from the standard rectangular cross section. We examine a method that combines the knowledge of cantilever dimensions and eigenfrequencies (Cleveland formula), the Sader method and we build cantilever models based on Finite Element Analysis (FEA). We demonstrate that with accurate measurement of dimensions, resonance frequency and quality factor, the Cleveland formula yields a combined cantilever stiffness uncertainty of approximately ±7% and the Sader method an uncertainty of ±5%. We also use FEA to show that when trying to approximate a realistic trapezoidal 3D tipped geometry, there exists a systematic overestimation in cantilever stiffness of ±2%, compared to when considering a simple rectangular cross section. Our constructed FE models are able to account for inhomogeneities in material properties as well as the influence of the added reflective coating in the cantilever stiffness estimation.     

Traction Characteristics of Siloxanes with Aryl and Cyclohexyl Branches

The molecular structures, rheological properties, and friction coefficients of several new siloxane-based polymers were studied to explore their traction characteristics. The molecular structures including branch content were established by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, while the molecular mass distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Density, viscosity, elastohydrodynamic film formation, and friction were investigated over a temperature range of 303–398 K. Film thickness and friction measurements were studied under the conditions that are representative of boundary, mixed, and full-film lubrication regimes, aiming at maximizing traction performance and temperature stability by simultaneous optimization of the size and content of ring-shaped branch structures. This study provides quantitative insight into the effect of siloxane molecular structure on the tribological performance for traction drive applications such as continuously variable transmissions.     

Accelerated High Speed Water Erosion Test for Concrete Wear Debris Analysis

This paper contains investigations of wear particles generated during the erosive wear of four different concrete, mixtures by high velocity water flow at velocities of about 700 m/s.ⁱ The wear particles were collected, dried and analyzed by sieve experiments. Based on the sieve analysis, specific surface and average grain diameter of the particle samples were estimated. 'Using simple, comminution relations, the specific crack length of every' sample is calculated. It is shown that all estimated parameters exhibit a strong relationship to characteristic material properties, such as compressive strength, Young's modulus, and absorbed fracture energy. It was found by regression analysis that the average debris wear size can be effectively characterized by the absorbed fracture energy of the concrete sample. It is concluded that these relations are the result of different paths of fracture propagation through the materials during the generation of a microcrack network.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic consideration on the corrosion of Fe, Ni and Cr beneath a molten KCl-ZnCl2 mixture

Thermogravimetric (TG) experiments have been carried out to study the kinetics of hot corrosion of Fe, Cr and Ni, covered by a molten KCl-ZnCl₂ mixture of a composition close to the eutectic (50 mol% KCl-50 mol% ZnCl₂). Furthermore binary and ternary phase diagrams were calculated in order to describe the corrosion process. The tests were conducted at a temperature of 320 °C in an atmosphere consisting of argon and oxygen. For iron different stages are observed in a TG curve. They can be attributed to the different reaction steps of iron chloride formation (incubation phase), oxide precipitation (linear stage) and scale formation (parabolic or logarithmic stage). Based on these observations a model, described by Spiegel [A. Spiegel, Molten Salt Forum 7 (2003) 253], is confirmed. For Cr and Ni these stages are not observed. At 8 vol% O₂ only slight oxidation of Cr and Ni was observed accompanied by evaporation of the salt deposit. At 16 vol% O₂ the rate of oxidation increases and the experiments yield a curve that is either parabolic or logarithmic for both Ni and Cr. As a result it is shown that the solubility of iron chloride in the KCl-ZnCl₂ melt is higher than the solubility of nickel chloride and chromium (III) chloride in the KCl-ZnCl₂ melt. This enables a higher diffusibility of iron chloride to the upper region of the melt where a higher oxygen partial pressure (p(O₂)) is present leading to a higher oxidation rate of iron.     

采用有限元分析法量化不同中空玻璃边缘密封的热位移

间隔条和玻璃板片之间的相对热位移是中空玻璃边缘密封乃至中空玻璃(IGU)本身老化的主要原因之一.作者采用有限元分析法(FEA),建立了发生在大尺寸(1.5 m×2.1 m)的中空玻璃边缘密封的热位移与温差变化之间的模型,这是三种商业化的、不同材质的、不同设计的间隔条,在温度变化为-30～ 60℃范围内的模型.此模型是基于铝间隔条和镀锌钢间隔条与尼龙插角的搭配,不锈钢间隔条和弯曲插角的搭配.尼龙插角假定为实心的并稳固地固定于间隔条上;弯曲插角被建模成实心弯曲的金属插角,并同样稳固地固定于间隔条上.由于实际的弯曲插角是空心的,模型可能高估了这种转角设计的应力.正如预期那样,在低温时,插角会被向内拉,导致弯曲角度大于90°;在高温下,插角会被向外推,导致弯曲角度小于90°.通过检测发生在中空玻璃周边第一道密封的聚异丁烯密封胶厚度的变化,作者发现,到目前为止,不锈钢间隔条对于截面积的变化影响最小;铝制间隔条的影响最大.这个发现与基于间隔条材料与浮法玻璃之间热膨胀系数差异而预期的性能一致.因此,热位移引起的第一道密封的有效扩散横截面变化,可以解释为何具有不同间隔条材料的中空玻璃之间的性能差异.     

阳极氧化铝的表面参数对硅酮结构的装锒密封胶长期黏结性的影响(连载一)

硅酮密封胶对阳极氧化铝的黏结质量千差万别.影响黏结性的关键因素是铝材表面的封孔程度、氧化层的着色情况、清洁剂的特性以及基材表面清洁与打胶之间允许的时间间隔.由于清洁剂将有机污染物从阳极氧化铝表面去除的效果不同,所以此效果并不和黏结质量有必然联系.据猜测,吸附在阳极氧化铝表面的清洁溶剂会改善基材表面从而提高硅酮胶的黏结性,但这种改善效果会随着清洁溶剂随时间的的挥发而降低.对于给定的溶剂,最佳的黏结效果取决于材料表面的封孔程度.依照ISO 2143酸刻蚀方法测量材料表面的封孔程度,可以预测未着色的阳极氧化铝基材的黏结性.对于着色的阳极氧化铝表面,依照ISO 2931的测试标准,用电相位漂移方法可以用来预测黏结质量.一种控制阳极氧化铝表面的方法被提了出来,此方法是测量不同频率下基材的电阻抗并将它成功地和硅酮密封胶与该材料表面的长期黏接性联系起来.     

阳极氧化铝的表面参数对硅酮结构的装锒密封胶长期黏结性的影响(连载二)

硅酮密封胶对阳极氧化铝的黏结质量千差万别.影响黏结性的关键因素是铝材表面的封孔程度、氧化层的着色情况、清洁剂的特性以及基材表面清洁与打胶之间允许的时间间隔.由于清洁剂将有机污染物从阳极氧化铝表面去除的效果不同,所以此效果并不和黏结质量有必然联系.据猜测,吸附在阳极氧化铝表面的清洁溶剂会改善基材表面从而提高硅酮胶的黏结性,但这种改善效果会随着清洁溶剂随时间的的挥发而降低.对于给定的溶剂,最佳的黏结效果取决于材料表面的封孔程度.依照ISO 2143酸刻蚀方法测量材料表面的封孔程度,可以预测未着色的阳极氧化铝基材的黏结性.对于着色的阳极氧化铝表面,依照ISO 2931的测试标准,用电相位漂移方法可以用来预测黏结质量.一种控制阳极氧化铝表面的方法被提了出来,此方法是测量不同频率下基材的电阻抗并将它成功地和硅酮密封胶与该材料表面的长期黏接性联系起来.     

基于不同三组分模型解析生物质热解过程

三组分模型（three pseudocomponent model）通常被用来表征生物质热解过程。传统三组分模型中单个模型的反应级数被限定为1或3。在本研究过程中，利用非线性最小二乘法，在不限定反应级数的前提下回归三组分模型动力学参数（活化能、指前因子、反应级数）。通过研究发现，纤维素（cellulose）分解反应级数接近1，与前人结果相一致。木质素（lignin）分解级数与生物质种类有关，接近于1或3。半纤维素（hemicellulose）的分解过程最复杂，其反应级数在1.5～4之间变化。以Ozawa方法计算得到的活化能作为相对标准，对3种三组分模型进行比较，发现反应级数未确定时的模型比其他两种模型更精确地表征生物质热解过程。