Microstructure and Mechanical Property of Magnetron Sputtering Deposited DLC Film

A diamond-like carbon (DLC) film was deposited on YT14 substrate using magnetron sputtering (MS). The surface morphologies, roughness and bonding spectra of obtained film were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively, and its mechanical property and bonding strength were measured using a nanoindentation and scratch tester, respectively. The results show that the C-enriched DLC film exhibits a denser microstructure and smoother surface with lower surface roughness of 21.8 nm. The ratio of C sp2 at 284.4 eV that corresponds to the diamond (111) and the C sp3 at 285.3 eV that corresponds to the diamond (220) plane for the as-received film is 0.36: 0.64, showing that the C sp3 has the high content. The hardness and Young’s modulus of DLC film by nanoindentation are 8.534 41 and 142.158 1 GPa, respectively, and the corresponding bonding strength is 74.55N by scratch test.     

Structures and Electrochemical Performances of As-spun RE-Mg-Ni-Mn-based Alloys Applied to Ni-MH Battery

The La-Mg-Ni-Mn-based AB₂-type La_1-xCe_xMgNi_3.5Mn_0.5 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) alloys were fabricated by melt spinning technology. The effects of Ce content on the structures and electrochemical hydrogen storage performances of the alloys were studied systematically. The XRD and SEM analyses proved that the experimental alloys consist of a major phase LaMgNi₄ and a secondary phase LaNi₅. The variation of Ce content causes an obvious change in the phase abundance of the alloys without changing the phase composition. Namely, with the increase of Ce content, the LaMgNi₄ phase augments and the LaNi₅ phase declines. The lattice constants and cell volumes of the alloys clearly shrink with increasing Ce content. Moreover, the Ce substitution for La results in the grains of the alloys clearly refined. The electrochemical tests showed that the substitution of Ce for La obviously improves the cycle stability of the as-spun alloys. The analyses on the capacity degradation mechanism demonstrate that the improvement can be attributed to the ameliorated anti-corrosion and anti-oxidation ability originating from substituting partial La with Ce. The as-spun alloys exhibit excellent activation capability, reaching the maximum discharge capacities just at the first cycling without any activation treatment. The substitution of Ce for La evidently improves the discharge potential characteristics of the as-spun alloys. The discharge capacity of the alloys first increases and then decreases with growing Ce content. Furthermore, a similar trend also exists in the electrochemical kinetics of the alloys, including the high rate discharge ability (HRD), hydrogen diffusion coefficient (D), limiting current density (I_L) and charge transfer rate.     

Three-dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Phosphotungstic Acid/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> for Efficient Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization

Three-dimensionally ordered (3DOM) macroporous phosphotungstic acid/SiO₂ (HPW/SiO₂) materials were prepared by using colloidal crystal as templates and applied for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of the model fuel oil. The obtained HPW/SiO₂ materials were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, N₂ sorption, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that 3DOM HPW/SiO₂ possessed hierarchical pore architectures which contained ordered macropores and disordered mesopores, with the Keggin type HPW embedded in the framework of pore structure. The removal rate of dibenzothiophene (DBT) could reach 100% under the optimum conditions, moreover. The performance was only slightly decreased for the regenerated catalyst after 7 cycles.     

Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of LiBiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Doped with V,Nb, and Ta

The crystal structure, band structure, density of states, Mulliken charge, bond population and optical properties for LiBi_1-xM_xO₃ (M=V, Nb, and Ta) were investigated using hybrid density functional theory. It was found that LiBiO₃ doped with V, Nb, and Ta presented distinctly stronger covalent interactions in M-O (M=V, Nb, and Ta) than Bi-O, thus resulting in mild distortion of the structure and facilitating the separation of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, the hybridizations of Bi-6s, M-d (M=V, Nb, and Ta) and O-2p widened the valence and conduction bands, which promoted transmission of photogenerated carriers in the band edge and thus caused better photocatalytic performance.     

Preparation of FRC/Steel by Lap-joint and Its Mechanical Properties

The Lap-joint configuration and the vacuum assisted forming method were put forward to meet the demands of the compression bending strength and the strong connection between the steel and FRC.The bending mechanic tests of the Lap-joint bending specimens carried out, the fabricate processing stability, limit carrying capacity and failure modes were analyzed. The experimental results show that the fabricate processing of the Lap-joint is stable; the bending stiffness is 19.5 N/mm, and the limit bending moment reaches 318 N?m. The main failure modes are the failure of core material at junction of sandwich plate and steel, and the bending failure in the position of the inner and outer surface.     

Hydrothermally Synthesizing Nanospheres of Pd Loaded TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> for Photocatalytically Reducing CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in Isopropanol to Isopropyl Formate

Photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ was carried out on villiform spherical catalysts of Pd-TiO₂ in isopropanol solution. The catalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method, their structures, morphologies and optical absorption properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). The photocatalytic activities with different loading amounts and morphologies were evaluated for determining the dominant effect and optimizing the catalyst preparation. Based on a villiform spherical TiO₂ with the largest specific surface area in our experiments, we prepared a set of catalysts with various loading amounts of palladium and tested them by bubbling CO₂ through the slurry of catalyst and isopropanol. The highest formation rate of isopropyl formate was 276.6 μmol/g·cat/h. Eventually we proposed the reaction mechanism.     

Strength and Chloride Diffusion Behaviour of Three Generations of Repeated Recycled Fine Aggregate Concrete

The feasibility of using different generations of recycled fine aggregate(RFA) in structural concrete in a chloride environment was evaluated by studying the performance of the RFA and the corresponding concrete. The different generations of RFA were recycled by following the cycle of ‘concrete-waste concrete-fine aggregate-concrete'. The properties of three generations of repeatedly recycled fine aggregate(RRFA) were systematically investigated, and we focused on the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength and chloride ion permeability of the related structural concretes with 25%, 75%, and 100% replacement of natural fine aggregates with RFA. The results indicated that the quality of RRFA presents a trend of slow deterioration, but the overall performance of all RRFA still fulfils the quality requirements of recycled fine aggregate for structural concrete. All RRFA concretes achieved the target compressive strength of 40 MPa after 28 days except for the second generation of the recycled aggregate concrete and the third generation of the recycled aggregate concrete with 100% replacement, and all the concrete mixes achieved the target compressive strength after 90 days. The insights obtained in this study demonstrate the feasibility of using at least three generations of RRFA for the production of normal structural concrete with a design service life of 100 years in a chloride environment.     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of PP Composites based on Different Types of Lignocellulosic Fillers

The presents preparation and characterization of different types of lignocellulosic fillers (pine wood sawdust/ walnut shell flour/ black rice husk powder) reinforced polypropylene composites were presented. The effect of MAPP as coupling agent (4wt%) on the physical and mechanical properties was also investigated. Polypropylene composites were prepared at different rates of filler/matrix (wt%) by using extrusion (for melt blending) and hot compression molding process. Maximum values of tensile and flexural strength were obtained as 26.1 and 43.4 MPa, respectively, whereas the elongation at break value was 4.11% at 10% pine wood sawdust reinforced PP. Tensile and flexural modulus of composites reached the maximum values as 3855 and 3633 MPa with the composite of 30% walnut shell flour reinforced PP. Characterization of composites was carried out by using tensile test, flexural test, FT-IR, and SEM.     

Preparation and Characterization of Ni60-Cr<Subscript>3</Subscript>C<Subscript>2</Subscript>-WC/TiC Plasma Welding Surfacing Layer

Using plasma build-up welding technology, Ni60, WC, Cr₃C₂, and TiC composite powders were clad on the surface of the substrate in a certain proportion according to the metallurgical bonding method to increase the bond strength between the coating and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to observe the microstructure of the surfacing layer and the chemical composition of the sample. The hardness and wear resistance of the surfacing layer were tested and analyzed by the HV-1000 hardness tester and the impact wear device. The results showed that in the microstructure, fishbone, spider-web, and floral-like structures appeared in the surfacing layer. When the micro-hardness was tested, the depth of the indentation reflected the hardness of the surfacing layer. When analyzing wear resistance, the amount of wear increases with time.     

Finite element simulation of flexible roll forming with supplemented material data and the experimental verification

Flexible roll forming is a promising manufacturing method for the production of variable cross section products. Considering the large plastic strain in this forming process which is much larger than that of uniform deformation phase of uniaxial tensile test, the widely adopted method of simulating the forming processes with non-supplemented material data from uniaxial tensile test will certainly lead to large error. To reduce this error, the material data is supplemented based on three constitutive models. Then a finite element model of a six passes flexible roll forming process is established based on the supplemented material data and the original material data from the uniaxial tensile test. The flexible roll forming experiment of a B pillar reinforcing plate is carried out to verify the proposed method. Final cross section shapes of the experimental and the simulated results are compared. It is shown that the simulation calculated with supplemented material data based on Swift model agrees well with the experimental results, while the simulation based on original material data could not predict the actual deformation accurately. The results indicate that this material supplement method is reliable and indispensible, and the simulation model can well reflect the real metal forming process. Detailed analysis of the distribution and history of plastic strain at different positions are performed. A new material data supplement method is proposed to tackle the problem which is ignored in other roll forming simulations, and thus the forming process simulation accuracy can be greatly improved.