Improvement of oxide layer stability by use of chemical surface attack

A new method is proposed to improve the adhesion and temperature cycling stability of oxide layers on nickel-base structural alloys. In contrast with other approaches in which reactive metals, rare earth elements or dispersions of stable oxides were added, an active surface modification technique is applied in this work. An aluminium dipping-removal procedure is used which results in a smoothing of the surface, locally enriches the aluminium and creates nuclei for the development of oxide pegs during subsequent controlled oxidation.Deuterium permeation measurements have been used as a means of quantifying the damage state of the oxide scales which is a result of temperature cycling. The results demonstrate that chemical surface treatment leads to superior stability of the oxide scales. This is attributed mainly to the occurrence of oxide pegs which could be identified after metallographic preparation and examination.     

Two-step pulsed electric current sintering of transparent Al2O3 ceramics

Abstract

Fully densified Al₂O₃ ceramics with fine grain size were obtained by pulsed electric current sintering through a two-step heating profile (referred to as TS-PECS). Highly transparent Al₂O₃ polycrystals with fine grain size (400 nm) were successfully fabricated by the TS-PECS process, namely, sintering at 1000°C for 1 h and followed at 1200°C for 20 min under uniaxial pressure of 100 MPa. Effects of the first step temperature and heating rate were discussed for bulk density, grain size and transparency. The temperature in the first step strongly affects densification and grain growth of Al₂O₃. On the other hand, heating rate, even of 100 K min^?1, in TS-PECS does not give significant influences on densification and grain growth of Al₂O₃. Inline transmittance at 640 nm in wavelength normalised to 1 mm in thickness is increased by decreasing heating rate even in TS-PECS.     

Microstructure,ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of tape-cast Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5P3O12 electrolyte sheets

Free-standing Li_1.5Al_0.5Ti_1.5P₃O₁₂ electrolyte sheets with a thickness of 50–150 μm were prepared by tape casting followed by sintering at 850–1000 °C in air. While a sintering temperature of 850 °C was too low to achieve appreciable densification and grain growth, a peak relative density of 95% was obtained at 920 °C. At higher sintering temperatures, the microstructure changed from a bimodal grain size distribution towards exclusively large grains (> 10 μm), accompanied by a decrease in relative density (down to 86% at 1000 °C). In contrast, ionic conductivity increased with increasing sintering temperature, from 0.1 mS/cm at 920 °C to 0.3 mS/cm at 1000 °C. Sintering behavior was improved by adding 1.5% of amorphous silica to the slurry. In this way, almost full densification (99.8%) and an ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS/cm was achieved at 920 °C.Mechanical characterization was carried out on the almost fully densified material, yielding elastic modulus and hardness values of 109 and 8.7 GPa, respectively. The fracture strength and Weibull modulus were also characterized. The results confirm that densification and reduction of grain size improve the mechanical properties.     

Translucent Mg-α-Sialon Ceramics Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

The translucent Mg-α-sialon ceramics have been prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) α-Si₃N₄ powder with AlN and MgO as the additives at 1850°C for 5 min. The sample possesses a uniform, dense microstructure under the rapid densification of SPS process. The translucent Mg-α-sialon ceramics achieve the maximum transmittance of 66.4% for the sample of 0.5 mm in thickness in the medium infrared region, which could be attributed to the equiaxed microstructure and few glassy phase confirmed by the observation of transmission electron microscopy. The material also exhibits good mechanical properties of high hardness (21.4±0.3 GPa) and fracture toughness (6.1±0.1 MPa·m^1/2).     

Non-contact measurement technique for dimensional metrology using optical comb

This paper proposes a non-contact pulsed interferometer for dimensional metrology using the repetition frequency of an optical frequency comb. A compact absolute-length measuring system is established for practical non-contact measurement based on a single-mode fiber interferometer. The stability and accuracy of the measurements are compared with those from a commercial incremental laser interferometer. The drifts of both systems have the same tendency and a maximum difference is approximately 0.1 μm. Subsequently, preliminary absolute-length measurements up to 1.5 m were measured. The signal-to-noise ratios of the small signals are improved by a frequency-selective amplifier. It is apparent that the noise is rejected, and the intensity of the interference fringes is amplified, achieving a maximum standard deviation of measurement approximately 1 μm. The proposed technique can provide sufficient accuracy for non-contact measurement in applications such as a simple laser-pulse tracking system.     

Development of a new X-ray source using backscattered X-ray with the use of a cold cathode

The development of an intense X-ray source using backscattered X-ray produced using an advanced electrode configuration is described. The electrodes were composed of field emitters deposited on a wire mounted on a perforated plate as the cathode and a copper plate as the anode. Electrons from these emitters collided with the copper plate and X-ray was generated at collision points. The backscattered X-ray in the direction normal to the electron trajectory through a hole in the anode escaped from the vacuum chamber through a beryllium window. Continuous and characteristic X-rays were detected at an applied voltage lower than that of a conventional X-ray source from 3.0 to 9.4 kV, respectively. Moreover, the X-ray dosage measured with a survey meter reached 0.95 mSv/h at 5.0 kV of applied voltage. The transmission images of three types of material used as an X-ray source for the X-ray imaging system indicate three advantages; low power consumption, focal point controllable by adjusting applied voltage, and photographable motion picture of X-ray transmission.     

Microstructure and properties of alumina-silicon carbide nanocomposites fabricated by pressureless sintering and post hot-isostatic pressing

Al₂O₃/5%SiC nanocomposites were fabricated by pressureless sintering using MgO as a sintering aid and then post hot-isostatic pressed (HIP), which can subsequently break through the disadvantage of hot-pressing process. The MgO additive was able to promote the densification of the composites, but could not induce the grain growth of Al₂O₃ matrix due to the grain growth inhibition by nano-sized SiC particles. After HIP treatment, Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposites achieved full densification and homogeneous distribution of nano-sized SiC particles. Moreover, the fracture morphology of HIP treated specimens was identical with that of the hot-pressed Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposites showing complete transgranular fracture. Consequently, high fracture strength of 1 GPa was achieved for the Al₂O₃/5%SiC nanocomposites by pressureless sintering and post HIP process.     

Characteristics of plasma produced by MHD technology and its application to propulsion systems

This paper analyzes plasma characteristics for the newly proposed concept of a closed-loop MHD power generation combined cycle system, which is used as a pulse-driven MHD accelerator to accelerate plasma to high velocity, with a nuclear plant. In this paper, since the final goal is for the space propulsion system applications, the performance of a MHD acceleration system is also analyzed by the Q1D analysis program. Results reveal that the radial velocity with the MHD effect is accelerated rapidly at the channel exit, with a calculated maximum velocity of about 4700 m/s. Consequently, specific impulse approximately 480 s and thrust of about 6550 N are estimated. The static gas temperature is evaluated at less than 600 K, while the value of about 1800 K is calculated for the stagnation gas temperature in the MHD channel.     

ELECTRON GUN FOR LARGE ORBIT GYROTRON (LOG) WITH DECREASED INFLUENCE OF CATHODE PLASMA ON ELECTRON BEAM PROPERTIES

High power Large Orbit Gyrotron (LOG) [1] is now under development at FIR FU. First version of this device was recently manufactured and then assembled with power supply ETIGO-IV [2]. Results of preliminary tests of electron-optic system are presented. The conditions when stable flat form of current pulse realized are discussed. Analytical estimations of cathode-anode distance to achieve small influence of cathode plasma during high voltage (HV) pulse are performed. Two new electron gun versions with decreased influence of the cathode plasma on its impedance and pulse form are suggested and optimized. New optimal magnetic field distributions are found. First gun has quiasi-flat cathode configuration near the anode diaphragm and provides operating current about 60 A. Second one uses blade cathode with operating current about 30 A. Beam quality for both guns is suitable for LOG operation.