Brazing of 6061 aluminum alloy/Ti-6Al-4V using Al-Si-Cu-Ge filler metals

Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge and mixed rare-earth elements (Re) containing Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge-0.1Re filler metals were used for brazing of 6061 aluminum alloy/Ti-6Al-4V. The addition of 20 wt.% copper and 10 wt.% germanium into the Al-12Si filler metal lowered the solidus temperature from 586 °C to 489 °C and the liquidus temperature from 592 °C to 513 °C. The addition of 0.1 wt.% rare-earth elements into Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge alloy caused remarkable Al-rich phase refinement and transformed the needle-like Al₂Cu intermetallic compounds into block-like shapes. Shear strengths of the 6061 aluminum alloy/Ti-6Al-4V joints with the two brazing filler metals, Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge and Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge-0.1Re, varied insignificantly with brazing periods of 10-60 min. The average shear strength of the 6061 aluminum alloy/Ti-6Al-4V joints brazed with Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge at 530 °C was about 20 MPa. Rare-earth elements appeared to improve the reaction of the Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge filler metal with Ti-6Al-4V. The joint shear strength of the 6061 aluminum alloy/Ti-6Al-4V with Al-8.4Si-20Cu-10Ge-0.1Re reached about 51 MPa.     

High-speed deposition of Y-Si-O films by laser chemical vapor deposition using Nd:YAG laser

Y-Si-O films were prepared by laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) with a Nd:YAG laser using TEOS (tetraethyl orthosilicate) and Y(dpm)₃ precursors. The effects of laser power (P_L), deposition temperature (T_dep) and total chamber pressure (P_tot) on the phase, microstructure and deposition rate of Y-Si-O films were investigated. At P_L < 102 W (T_dep < 1140 K), amorphous Y-Si-O films were obtained independent of P_tot. At P_tot = 0.6 kPa, mixture phase films of Y₂SiO₅ (the X1 phase) and Y₂Si₂O₇ (the α, β, δ and y phases) were obtained at P_L = 102 W (T_dep = 1210 K), while single phase X1-Y₂SiO₅ films were prepared at P_L > 139 W (T_dep > 1280 K). Y₂Si₂O₇ mixture phase films were obtained at P_tot = 3.5 kPa and Y₂Si₂O₇ and Y₂SiO₅ (the X2 phase) mixture phase films were obtained at P_tot = 7.5 kPa independent of T_dep. Amorphous Y-Si-O films showed a dense, glassy microstructure. Faceted columnar grains grew on the Y-Si-O films at P_tot = 0.6 kPa, whereas rounded cauliflower-like grains grew at P_tot = 7.5 kPa. The R_dep increased with increasing P_L and T_dep and reached a maximum of 430 μm h⁻¹ at P_tot = 0.6 kPa, P_L = 186 W and T_dep = 1310 K.     

Influence of cerium addition on the resistance to oxidation of AM50 alloy prepared by rapid solidification

The influence of various cerium (Ce) additions and starting temperature on the resistance to oxidation of AM50 alloy prepared by rapid solidification (RS, RS-AM50 alloy) has been investigated. The Ce addition has two opposite effects on the oxide scale. To the RS-alloy, the beneficial effect outweighs the detrimental one. However, when the alloy was prepared by slow solidification at the normal cooling rate (SS, SS-AM50 alloy), the detrimental effect was dominant. The improvement of oxide scale is closely related to the adherence of metal/oxide and tightness of oxide scale of the alloy. In addition, the reaction rate at the surface increased with starting temperature, which finally results in the formation of a protective oxide scale.     

The effects of Co and Ni addition on the hydrogen storage properties of Mg3Mm

The effects of Ni and Co addition on the hydrogen storage properties of Mg₃Mm alloy was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and pressure-composition isotherm (PCI) measurement. The hydrogen absorption kinetics and the thermodynamic parameters (apparent ΔH, ΔS) for Mg₃Mm dehydrogenation reactions in Mg₃Mm, Mg₃MmNi_0.1 and Mg₃MmNi_0.1Co_0.1 alloys have been also investigated. The maximum hydrogen storage content of Mg₃Mm, Mg₃MmNi_0.1 and Mg₃MmNi_0.1Co_0.1 alloys was improved due to that the addition of Ni and/or Co further spurred the MmH₃ phase transforming to MmH₂ phase. On the other side, the kinetics curves show the addition of Co could enhance hydrogen absorption rate while the addition of Ni change the hydrogenation reaction mechanism.     

Preparation method and thermal properties of samarium and europium-doped alumino-phosphate glasses

The present work investigates alumino-phosphate glasses from Li₂O–BaO–Al₂O₃–La₂O₃–P₂O₅ system containing Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions, prepared by two different ways: a wet raw materials mixing route followed by evaporation and melt-quenching, and by remelting of shards. The linear thermal expansion coefficient measured by dilatometry is identical for both rare-earth-doped phosphate glasses. Comparatively to undoped phosphate glass the linear thermal expansion coefficient increases with 2 × 10⁻⁷ K⁻¹ when dopants are added. The characteristic temperatures very slowly decrease but can be considered constant with atomic weight, atomic number and f electrons number of the doping ions in the case of T_g (vitreous transition temperature) and T_sr (high annealing temperature) but slowly increase in the case of T_ir (low annealing temperature–strain point) and very slowly increase, being practically constant in the case of T_D (dilatometric softening temperature). Comparatively to undoped phosphate glass the characteristic temperatures of Sm and Eu-doped glasses present lower values. The higher values of electrical conductance for both doped glasses, comparatively to usual soda-lime-silicate glass, indicate a slightly reduced stability against water. The viscosity measurements, showed a quasi-linear variation with temperature the mean square deviation (R²) being ranged between 0.872% and 0.996%. The viscosity of doped glasses comparatively to the undoped one is lower at the same temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis did not show notable mass change for any of doped samples. DSC curves for both rare-earth-doped phosphate glasses, as bulk and powdered samples, showed T_g values in the range 435–450 °C. Bulk samples exhibited a very weak exothermic peak at about 685 °C, while powdered samples showed two weak exothermic peaks at about 555 °C and 685 °C due to devitrification of the glasses. Using designed melting and annealing programs, the doped glasses were improved regarding bubbles and cords content and strain elimination.     

The Recovery of a Mixed Rare-Earth Oxide and the Preparation of Cerium,Europium and Neodymium Oxides from a South African Phosphoric Acid Sludge by Solvent Extraction

Abstract

A novel process based largely on solvent-extraction methods has been developed for the recovery of rare-earth oxides from waste calcium sulphate sludges obtained during the manufacture of phosphoric acid from a South African apatite ore. A mixed rare-earth oxide (90-98% purity) was first recovered from calcium nitrate leach liquors by extraction with TBP or DBBP, after which it was dissolved in nitric acid to enable pure cerium dioxide (99.98%) to be prepared by selective extraction of cerium(IV) nitrate into TBP. The heavy (yttrium), middle, and light rare-earth fractions were then separated by sequential extraction into D2EHPA at controlled pH values. Pure europium oxide (99.98%) was isolated from the middle fraction by reductive precipitation of europim(II) sulphate, followed by conversion to soluble europium(II) chloride and removal of trivalent rare-earth impurities by extraction with D2EHPA or Versatic 10 acid. Finally, magnet-grade neodymium oxide (95-96%) was obtained from the light rare-earth fraction by extraction of the contained lanthanum, cerium and praseodymium into Aliquat 336 nitrate.     

Microporous rare-earth coordination polymers constructed by 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate

In this paper, three novel microporous materials of 1, 4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate Ln[(C₈H₁₀O₄)_1.5(H₂O)] · 0.5(H₂O) (Ln = Eu for 1, Nd for 2, Sm for 3) are synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrate three complexes are isomorphism. The crystal structure of the coordination polymer 1 reveals that the Eu³⁺ ion center is located in the nine-coordinated environment and the carboxyl groups chelate Eu³⁺ ions to form 1-D channels through c-axis in μ_1, μ₂ and μ₃ fashion. The properties of the microporous materials are all characterized by the adsorption and desorption of the nitrogen gas and show tremendous difference. TGA illustrate the open frameworks are stable to about 450 °C and they are retained upon removal of water molecules in channels.     

High-quality, oriented and mesostructured organosilica monolith as a potential UV sensor

We synthesized high-quality and oriented periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) monoliths through a solvent evaporation process using a wide range of mole ratios of the components: 0.17–0.56 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE): 0.2 cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl): 0–1.8 × 10⁻³ HCl: 0–80 EtOH: 5–400 H₂O. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that the mesoporous channels within the monolith samples were oriented parallel to the flat external surface of the PMO monolith and possessed a hexagonal symmetry lattice (p6mm). The PMO monolith synthesized from a reactant composition of 0.35 BTSE: 0.2 CTACl: 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ HCl: 10 EtOH: 10 H₂O had a pore diameter, pore volume, and surface area – obtained from an N₂ sorption isotherm – of 25.0 Å, 0.96 cm³ g⁻¹ and 1231 m² g⁻¹, respectively. After calcination at 280 °C for 2 h in N₂ flow, the PMO monolith retained monolith-shape and mesostructure. Pore diameter and surface area of the calcined PMO monolith sample were 19.8 Å, 0.53 cm³ g⁻¹ and 1368 m² g⁻¹, respectively. We performed ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy experiments to confirm the presence of Si–C bonding within the framework of the PMO monoliths. We investigated the thermal stability of the PMO monoliths through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, rare-earth ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Tm³⁺) were doped into the monoliths. Optical properties of those Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Tm³⁺-doped PMO monoliths were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectra to evaluate their potential applicability as UV sensors.     

Enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell by rare-earth doped oxide of Lu2O3:(Tm, Yb)

In order to increase of the photocurrent, photovoltage and energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), rare-earth doped oxide of Lu₂O₃:(Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺) is prepared and introduced into the TiO₂ film in the DSSC. As a luminescence medium, Lu₂O₃:(Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺) improves incident light harvest via a conversion luminescence process and increases photocurrent; as a p-type dopant, the rare-earth ions elevate the energy level of the oxide film and increase the photovoltage. Under a simulated solar light irradiation of 100 mW cm⁻², the light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with Lu₂O₃:(Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺) doping reaches 6.63%, which is increased by 11.1% compared to the DSSC without Lu₂O₃:(Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺) doping.