Thermoelectric properties of non-stoichiometric CaMnO3-δ composites formed by redox-activated exsolution

A novel synthesis route for preparing well-defined composites based on CMO (CaMnO₃) has been established taking advantage of the unique phase relations in the system Ca-Mn-O at reducing- and oxidizing atmosphere, respectively. Samples corresponding to stoichiometric CMO and composites with 5 and 10 vol % of Ruddlesden-Popper (Ca₄Mn₃O₁₀)- and spinel (CaMn₂O₄)-phases, respectively, were prepared with final densities >91 %. The presence of secondary phases significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity compared to stoichiometric CMO. The highest electrical conductivity was observed for CMO with 10 vol % spinel varying between 55 and 75 S/cm at temperatures between 100 and 900 °C. This composition also exhibited the highest figure-of-merit (zT) in this study, reaching 0.083 at 800 °C.     

Nanocrystalline matrix TiC–Al3Ti and TiC–Al3Ti–Al composites produced by reactive hot-pressing of milled powders

Mechanically alloyed nanocrystalline TiC powder was short-term milled with 40 vol.% of Al powder. The powders mixture was consolidated at 1200 °C under the pressure of 4.8 GPa for 15 s and at 1000 °C under the pressure of 7.7 GPa for 180 s. The bulk materials were characterised by X-ray diffraction, light and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, hardness, density and open porosity measurements. During the consolidation a reaction between TiC and Al occurred, yielding an Al₃Ti intermetallic. The microstructure of the produced composites consists of TiC areas surrounded by lamellae-like regions of Al₃Ti intermetallic (after consolidation at 1200 °C) or Al₃Ti and Al (after consolidation at 1000 °C). The mean crystallite size of TiC is 38 nm. The hardness of the TiC–Al₃Ti and TiC–Al₃Ti–Al composites is 13.28 GPa (1354 HV1) and 10.22 GPa (1041 HV1) respectively. The produced composites possess relatively high hardness and low density. The results obtained confirmed satisfactory quality of the consolidation with keeping a nanocrystalline structure of TiC.     

二氧化硅加入量对AZ80A镁合金硬度及强度的影响

在熔融镁合金中加入SiO2颗粒，原位反应制备颗粒增强镁基复合材料。用SEM-EDX及衍射仪对制备的复合材料进行相分析。结果表明，SiO2颗粒与镁基复合材料中的镁发生反应，生成增强相Mg2Si，提高了镁基复合材料的硬度和强度，当SiO2加入量在8％范围内时，随着SiO2加入量的增加，镁合金的硬度和强度也相应的增加。     

Glass-ceramics for joining oxide-based ceramic matrix composites (Al2O3f/Al2O3-ZrO2) operating under direct flame exposure

This work focuses on the joining processes of oxide-based ceramic matrix composites (Al₂O_3f /Al₂O₃-ZrO₂), which are used as radiant tube furnace components in the steel industry. These components have to operate in harsh environments, and under high temperatures, and they therefore have to resist corrosion, humidity, and combustion. Two glass-ceramics systems, which have Y₂Ti₂O₇ as their main crystalline phase, as well as specific and optimized properties to withstand severe operating conditions, including temperatures of 900 °C, are here proposed as joining materials. The adhesion of the glass-ceramics to the composite was found to be excellent after mechanical and thermal tests in which they were in direct contact with a 900 °C flame and thermal cycling of between 400 °C and 900 °C.     

聚合物纳米复合材料韧性和破坏行为

在总结高分子材料增韧机理、高分子纳米复合材料冲击破坏行为的基础上,探讨了高分子纳米复合材料的增韧机理。纳米无机粒子起应力集中的作用导致界面脱黏、空化与基体屈服是其增韧高分子材料的主要原因,而碳纳米管则起桥联裂纹、偏转裂纹方向、传递界面应力使聚合物基体屈服而增韧高分子材料。对聚合物／层状填料纳米复合材料而言,分散在聚合物基体中的插层或剥离的无机纳米片层对复合材料银纹的形成有抑制作用,其二维几何结构不利于片层周围基体的屈服与界面脱黏、空化,因而不能增韧高分子材料,反而还导致了聚合物／层状填料纳米复合材料抗冲击强度的降低。高分子材料的纳米复合目前很难达到橡胶增韧的效果,若同时采用纳米复合技术与官能化弹性体增韧技术,可望设计、制备出一系列高强度、高韧性的高分子纳米复合材料。     

Studies on the preparation of C/SiC composite as a catalyst support by CVI in a fluidized bed reactor

In this research, in order to improve the mechanical strength and oxidation resistance of a catalyst support, we studied the formation of SiC layer on the pore surfaces of activated carbons by permeating and depositing SiC from a reaction between hydrogen and dichlorodimethylsilane (DDS). The porous structure should be kept during deposition. A fluidized bed reactor and activated carbons of size of 20-40 mesh were used. By studying characteristics of deposits under various deposition conditions, we confirmed that the best conditions of manufacturing catalyst support are a lower pressure and a lower concentration. In this work, at the conditions of 5 torr of total pressure and 3% of DDS concentration, during the 10 hr processing time, deposition occurred on the pore walls before plugging pores. The results from the mathematical modeling were compared with the experimental results.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of mechanically alloyed and spark plasma sintered amorphous–nanocrystalline Al65Cu20Ti15 intermetallic matrix composite reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles

Multiphase Al₆₅Cu₂₀Ti₁₅ intermetallic alloy matrix composite, dispersed with 10 wt.% of TiO₂ nanoparticles, has been processed by mechanical alloying, followed by spark plasma sintering under pressure in the temperature range of 623–873 K. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction suggest that equilibrium crystalline phases evolve from the amorphous or intermediate crystalline phases. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the composite sintered at 873 K has partially amorphous microstructure, with dispersion of equilibrium, crystalline, intermetallic precipitates of Al₅CuTi₂, Al₃Ti, and Al₂Cu of 25–50 nm size, besides the TiO₂. The composite sintered at 873 K exhibits little porosity, hardness of 5.6 GPa, indentation fracture toughness in the range of 3.1–4.2 MPa√m, and compressive strength of 1.1 GPa. Indentation crack deflection by TiO₂ particle aggregates causes increase in fracture resistance with crack length, and suggests R-curve type behaviour. The study provides guidelines for processing high strength amorphous–nanocrystalline intermetallic composites based on the Al–Cu–Ti ternary system.     

In situ synthesis and characterization of poly(2,5-benzoxazole)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites

This article reports the synthesis of poly(2,5-benzoxazole)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ABPBO/MWNT) composites by in situ polycondensation and their chemical and physical properties. The functional groups yielded from the surface modification of MWNTs by hydrochloric acids have been demonstrated to participate in the polymerization and thus led to the composites with homogenous dispersion of carbon nanotubes. The chemical structures and morphology of the afforded polymer composites have been fully characterized by FTIR, WAXD, UV-vis, TGA and SEM. The ABPBO/MWNT composites exhibit excellent thermal stability and greatly improved mechanical properties. The tensile modulus and tensile strength of the composites are 47% and 83%, respectively, higher than those of the polymer matrix. The dielectric constant of the composites is also significantly enhanced from 4 of the polymer matrix to 65 with the incorporation of 5 wt% MWNTs.     

In-situ P/M Al/(ZrB2+Al2O3) MMCs: processing, microstructure and mechanical characterization

In-situ metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer significant advantages over conventional MMCs from both a technical and an economic standpoint. In this paper, an in-situ MMC, i.e. Al/(10 vol.% ZrB₂+9.2 vol.% Al₂O₃), is produced starting from Al+ZrO₂+B by reactive sintering and subsequently densified by hot-pressing. The formation mechanism of ZrB₂ and Al₂O₃ in Al matrix is studied by XRD, thermal analysis and microstructural characterization. Reaction kinetics are also investigated based on the results of the reaction mechanism. The properties are evaluated in terms of microstructural characterization, Young’s modulus and bending tests. The in-situ processing involves four intermediate steps and the transitional phases are AlB₂, Zr(O, B)₂ and (Zr, Al)(B, O)₂. Regarding the reaction kinetics, conversion fraction vs time relationships have been established for the last three intermediate steps.