Low energy sputter yields for diamond, carbon–carbon composite, and molybdenum subject to xenon ion bombardment

Sputter yields have been measured for polycrystalline diamond, single crystal diamond, a carbon–carbon composite, and molybdenum subject to xenon ion bombardment. The tests were performed using a 3-cm Kaufman ion source to produce incident ions with energy in the range of 150–750 eV and a profilometry-based technique to measure the amount of sputtered material. The yields increased monotonically with energy with values ranging from 0.16 at 150 eV to 0.80 at 750 eV for the molybdenum and 0.06 to 0.14 for the carbon–carbon. At 150 eV the yield for both diamond samples was 0.07 and at 750 eV 0.19 and 0.17 for the CVD and single crystal diamond, respectively. A number of experimental factors affecting sputter yield measurements using this technique are described.     

Numerical simulation analysis and experimental validation on wear/fracture mechanisms of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride superabrasives in high-speed grinding

In this study, a two-dimensional finite element model is proposed to investigate the wear/fracture mechanisms of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) superabrasives in high-speed grinding process. The special geometric microstructures of PCBN grains are constructed by using the classic Voronoi tessellation technique, and cohesive elements are embedded into the geometric model of PCBN grains as the potential crack propagation paths for simulating the wear/fracture behaviours of PCBN grains under grinding loads. The effects of uncut chip thickness per grain (a_gmax) on the stress distribution characteristics and wear/fracture behaviours of PCBN grains during grinding are discussed in detail. Results show that the wear behaviour of PCBN grains during grinding mainly occurs around the grain vertex region; however, the fracture behaviour, leading to the quick failure of PCBN grains, is prone to appear around the grain–filler bonding interface, which is usually on the opposite side of the in-feed direction. Moreover, to separate the PCBN grains from the macro-fracture during grinding, the uncut chip thickness per grain should be kept smaller than 1.0?µm to prevent the unfavourable fracture behaviour from appearing around the grain–filler bonding interface. Furthermore, the corresponding single-grain grinding trials are performed to validate the numerical simulation results by evaluating the wear/fracture morphologies of the PCBN superabrasives in the actual grinding operation.     

Material properties of Au-Pd thin alloy films

Thin films of Au-Pd of varying composition were formed by electron beam physical vapor deposition. They were characterized and their application as optical hydrogen sensors was studied. In addition, parameters of sensing performance such as Pd deficiency during deposition, grain size, compositional homogeneity, and the appearance of a natural buffer layer, were examined. Following deposition, Au-Pd films exhibited high atomic intermixing, and a PdO_x buffer layer formed spontaneously. This layer makes it possible to increase film thickness, which improves the intensity of the detecting signal. Accordingly, the suggested deposition method may optimize recent efforts to use Au20 wt.%-Pd thin alloy film in optical hydrogen sensors.     

On the role of constitutive model in the forming limit of FCC sheet metal with cube orientations

The effect on forming-limit diagrams (FLD) of an initial cube texture and its evolution was studied using the well-known M-K approach in conjunction with a viscoplastic crystal plasticity model (VPSC). We focused on how the strength of the cube texture affects localized necking. In particular, we addressed the results of Wu et al. [Effect of cube texture on sheet-metal formability. Materials Science and Engineering A 2004;364:182-7] who found that a spread about cube exhibits unexpectedly high limit strains. The FLD and yield loci were determined for several spreads about {1 0 0}〈0 0 1〉 with uniform or Gaussian distributions. A smooth transition in predicted limit strains from the ideal cube, through textures with increasing cut-off angles, to a random texture was calculated using the MK-VPSC approach. Results indicate that the constitutive model selected has a critical importance for predicting the behavior of materials that exhibit a qualitative change in the crystallographic texture, and hence, evolve anisotropically during mechanical deformation.     

Microstructure and growth of ZnTe films

The microstructure and growth of ZnTe films deposited onto glass and freshly cleaved NaCl substrates are carefully studied by a TEM. Effect of different stimulator on the grain growth is also described.     

Fabrication of micro heaters on polycrystalline 3C-SiC suspended membranes for gas sensors and their characteristics

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characteristics of micro heaters mad on AlN (0.1 μm)/3C-SiC (1 μm) suspended membranes using surface micromachining technology. 3C-SiC and AlN thin films, which have a large energy band gap and very low lattice mismatch, were used for high-temperature environments. A Pt thin film was used as micro heaters and temperature sensor materials. The resistance of the temperature detector (RTD) and the power consumption of the micro heater were measured and calculated. The heater is designed for an operating temperature up to about 800 °C and can be operated at about 500 °C with a power of 312 mW. The thermal coefficient of the resistance (TCR) of fabricated Pt RTD’s is 3174.64 ppm/°C. The thermal distribution measured by IR thermovision is uniform across the membrane surface.     

Experimental research on micro hole drilling of polycrystalline Nd:YAG

Polycrystalline Nd:YAG materials have wide applications in solid-state lasers. In this study, micro hole drilling experiments were performed on polycrystalline Nd:YAG using a polycrystalline diamond micro drill. The hole diameter, edge chipping, and hole wall surface quality were examined in detail. The results showed that the hole diameter was slightly larger than tool diameter. A diameter error of less than 5.5% was achieved. The edge chipping at the entry hole was formed by the encircled petal shape exfoliations, which were produced by the indentation and rotation movement in the drilling entry stage. Edge chipping at the exit hole was generated by an entire piece of exfoliation, which was produced by a circle of microcracks around the tool tip propagating to the bottom surface in the drilling exit stage. The edge chipping width at the entry hole was smaller than that at the exit hole. Based on different material removal modes, the hole surface morphology was classified into three types: ductile removal, coexisting ductile and brittle removal, and brittle removal. The hole surface quality mainly depended on the proportion of the brittle fracture to ductile removal surface.     

Synthesis of transparent YIG ceramics by pressureless sintering

Transparent YIG (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂) ceramics are successfully synthesized by reactive sintering at normal pressure using γ-Fe₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ as starting materials. The grain size of the sintered YIG ceramics is ca. 10–15 µm. Residual pores are not observed on the surface of sample, but numerous residual pores are observed by infrared transmission microscopy. In-line transmittance of a commercially available high-quality YIG single crystal (thickness 1 mm) fabricated by the floating zone method is 75 % in the near to mid-infrared region, whereas the sample produced in this study shows an in-line transmittance of 71 % in the wavelength range above 1.5 µm.     

Impact of precursor preparation on density of gadolinium iron garnets synthesized via reactive sintering

Gadolinium iron garnet was obtained from two different precursors, homogenized in isopropyl alcohol and in an aqueous environment with a fixed pH. In the first case, it was a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃); in the second, a mixture of GdIP (GdFeO₃) and α-Fe₂O₃. Conditions of homogenization in the aqueous environment were selected based on the zeta (ξ) potential measurements as the function of pH. DSC measurements of the output powder mixtures allowed the identification of the effects observed during the temperature rise. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, with the increasing temperature, we observe three effects, the first of which corresponds to the phase transformation of goethite into α-Fe₂O₃, the second corresponds to the reaction of gadolinium iron perovskite (GdIP) formation, and the third to the reaction in which a gadolinium iron garnet (GdIG) is formed. However, in the case of heat treatment of the mixture of GdIP and α-Fe₂O₃, we only observe the effect responsible for a solid state reaction leading to the formation of gadolinium iron garnet. Dilatometric measurements allowed to determine the changes in linear dimensions at various stages of reaction sintering. The resulting materials were sintered at temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of perovskite and iron (III) oxide, already at the temperature of 1300 °C, a density has been obtained at around 95% of the theoretical density, and the temperature of 1400 °C allowed achieving a density of 97% of the theoretical density. Whereas, for the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, a density above 95% of theoretical density was achieved only at 1400 °C.     

Effect of wear behaviour of single mono- and poly-crystalline cBN grains on the grinding performance of Inconel 718

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PcBN) grains were fabricated by combining the monocrystalline cBN (McBN) nanoparticles and inter-abrasive ceramic materials via high temperature and pressure techniques. Grinding performance of Inconel 718 with single McBN and PcBN grains, including grinding force, force ratio, ground surface quality was investigated. Characterization of the wear morphology evolution of worn grains and scratches of PcBN grains were discussed. In addition, the fracture behaviour of PcBN grains was evaluated as the varying of the undeformed chip thickness. Results show that PcBN grains have the smaller grinding force and force ratio, more stable grain wear rate in comparison to McBN grains. Additionally, the better wear-resistance and grinding performance owing to its multi-cutting edges structure in terms of the grain wear morphology evolution were achieved for PcBN grains regardless of the undeformed chip thickness.