Effects of second-phase particles and elemental distributions of ITO targets on the properties of deposited ITO films

As the key material of transparent electrodes in various optoelectronic devices, ITO targets with uniform microstructure and homogeneous elemental distributions are vital to obtain high-quality ITO films in industrial production. In this paper, the differences in the crystalline structure, sheet resistance and transmittance of ITO films with 40 nm, 70 nm and 100 nm thickness were studied between two ITO targets that were respectively sintered at 1580 °C for 10 h (target A) and 1600 °C for 5 h (target B). Surface morphology, surface roughness and thickness uniformity of ITO films with 100 nm thickness and etching property of ITO films with 40 nm and 70 nm thickness in mixed acids were further focused in the paper. The results indicate that target A, which owns homogeneous distributions of second-phase particles and elements, could be conductive to obtain the ITO films with low crystallinity that are easy to be etched leaving less and smaller residual particles. Based on the analysis, the change of sintering process has a great influence on the electrical and etching properties, but it has only a little influence on the optical property.     

Monomer recycling for vulcanized silicone rubbers in the form of cyclosiloxane monomers. Role of acid buffers

The KOH-catalyzed depolymerization of vulcanized silicone rubbers to reproduce cyclosiloxane monomers was studied. First, the depolymerization was carried out in toluene with varying amounts of KOH to find that the yield of monomers first increased and then decreased with the increment of KOH, the highest yield was 65% at the molar ratio KOH/(Si–O) UNITS=0.08. At the molar ratio 0.13 in the absence of solvent, the monomers yield was 46%. However, when an acid buffer such as KH₂PO₄ and KCOOC₆H₄COOH was added after the KOH-catalyzed depolymerization was over, the product yield was increased remarkably to more than 80%.     

Recovery of monomers and fillers from high-temperature-vulcanized silicone rubbers—combined effects of solvent, base and fillers

The depolymerization of high-temperature-vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubbers containing filler silica and alumina into cyclosiloxane monomers and spontaneous recovery of fillers were studied. First, HTV silicone rubber was treated with different types of solvents in the presence of KOH to find that a triad mixture of diethylamine, methanol and hexane was appropriate not only to dissolve the silicone rubber to a suspension but also to separate fillers completely by filtration. The filtrate was distilled to remove solvent first and then give pure cyclosiloxane monomers in 76–84% yields. Second, the rubbers were treated with other types of triad mixture of solvents and bases, e.g. tetramethylammonium hydroxide, hexane and diethylamine. After filtration, residue was again treated with the amine and hexane to recover clean fillers in 83–93% yields. Cyclosiloxane monomers were also obtained from the combined filtrates in 67–78% yields.     

Elevated temperature tensile and bending strength of ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites obtained by different processes

This paper presents a comparison of microstructures and mechanical properties of different ZrB₂-based CMCs, which were manufactured in the frame of the Horizon 2020 European C³HARME research project through different processes: slurry infiltration and sintering (SIS), polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) and radio frequency chemical vapour infiltration (RF-CVI). Tensile testing with a novel optimized shape of the specimens was performed and compared with the results of flexural tests to assess the structural properties. For the first time, tensile tests up to 1600 °C were carried out on UHTCMCs. Despite the different microstructural features, all the ZrB₂-based CMCs demonstrated excellent structural properties even at elevated temperature. The characterization shows how the different amount of porosity and fibre properties, such as its stiffness, strength and elongation, affected the mechanical behaviour of the C³HARME’s composites. Finally, the role of the high level of residual thermal stresses is discussed.     

Investigation of the structure and mechanical properties of a novel dental graded glass/zirconia ceramic

Constructing graded structure is a promising solution to reduce the occurrence of cracking and delamination of bilayered zirconia prosthesis. In this work, a novel graded glass/zirconia ceramic was developed by utilizing the interdiffusion between dense zirconia and a novel lithium disilicate glass in the SiO₂-Li₂O-Al₂O₃ system. Results demonstrated that a graded glass/zirconia structure with a depth of about 300 µm was constructed, which exhibited obviously gradient characteristics in microstructure, glass content and mechanical properties. The hardness (H) and elastic modulus (EM) values at the surface reduced significantly (64% for H and 79% for EM), and increased gradually with depth of graded layer. When the graded layer was subjected to loading force, the biaxial flexural strength increased. The mechanism of the evolution of graded structure and change of strength were also elucidated in detail. This study provides a promising strategy to improve the interface stability of bilayered zirconia restoration.     

磨加工及残余应力对氮化硅陶瓷强度的影响

利用X-射线衍射方法测量了经不同磨削的氮化硅陶瓷表面残余应力及其对抗弯强度的影响。结果表明，磨削工艺所引入的残余应力是拉应力，对陶瓷抗弯强度有显著降低。     

带腐蚀缺陷采油管线剩余强度和剩余寿命的评价

为了评价某采油厂采油管道实际工况,基于ANSYS有限元法对管道腐蚀缺陷进行模拟,研究了不同缺陷类型下,缺陷长度、宽度、深度因素对管道失效的影响,分析了不同腐蚀类型缺陷对管道最大工作压力的影响。利用检测数据,对管道最大腐蚀速率进行了计算,并对管道剩余寿命进行了预测。结果表明:缺陷长度和深度是管道失效的直接影响因素,等效应力和工作压力成正比关系,管线的剩余寿命为10.2 a。此结果对管道的安全运行及维护具有重要的参考价值。     

Residual strength of hybrid-fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete after exposure to high temperatures

Residual strengths of high-strength concrete (HSC) and hybrid-fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete (HFRHSC) after exposure to high temperatures were investigated in the paper. The results showed that normal HSC is prone to spalling after exposure to high temperatures, and its first spalling occurs when the temperature approaches 400 °C. For HSC reinforced by high melting point fibers, the first spalling occurs when the temperature reaches to approximately 800 °C, while there is no spalling during exposing to high temperatures for HSC reinforced by polypropylene (PP) fiber with a low melting point. Mixing high melting point fiber (i.e., carbon or steel fiber) with low melting point fiber (i.e., PP fiber) HSC greatly improves the properties of HSC after exposure to high temperatures.     

Yield response of lentil to directly applied and residual phosphorus in a Mediterranean environment

The response of lentil grown under rainfed conditions to directly applied and residual phosphorus (P) was described by a modified Mitscherlich equation, accounting for the effects of rainfall on (1) potential yield, and (2) the availability of soil-P to the crop. The response of lentil yield to directly applied and residual P was studied in two-course cereal–lentil rotational trials under rainfed conditions in a Mediterranean-type environment. Cereal crops were grown at different P application rates during 4 growing seasons at 3 sites, representing different rainfall zones in northwest Syria. Lentil (Lens culinaris Med.) was grown during 4 seasons at the same sites, each lentil crop following a cereal crop. In 3 out of 4 lentil-growing seasons, additional P was applied to lentil in subplots to compare the residual and direct effects of P application. The initial contents of extractable soil-P (P-Olsen) were low at all sites, in the range of 2–5 ppm P. Under the conditions of the experiments, lentil appeared to benefit slightly more from P applied to the preceding wheat crop (residual P) than from directly applied P. It is shown that the modified Mitscherlich equation could be used as a basis for P fertilizer recommendations for rainfed farming. As for lentil, it was concluded that a single application of P to the wheat crop in a wheat/lentil rotation could reduce the cost of lentil production, without reducing lentil yield.