Microstructures and mechanical properties of B4C-TiB2-SiC composites fabricated by ball milling and hot pressing

B₄C-TiB₂-SiC composites were fabricated via hot pressing using ball milled B₄C, TiB₂, and SiC powder mixtures as the starting materials. The impact of ball milling on the densification behaviors, mechanical properties, and microstructures of the ceramic composites were investigated. The results showed that the refinement of the powder mixtures and the removal of the oxide impurities played an important role in the improvement of densification and properties. Moreover, the formation of the liquid phases during the sintering was deemed beneficial for densification. The typical values of relative density, hardness, bending strength, and fracture toughness of the composites reached 99.20%, 32.84?GPa, 858?MPa and 8.21?MPa?m^1/2, respectively. Crack deflection, crack bridging, crack branching, and microcracking were considered to be the potential toughening mechanisms in the composites. Furthermore, numerous nano-sized intergranular/intragranular phases and twin structures were observed in the B₄C-TiB₂-SiC composite.     

Hierarchical micro-nanostructured albite-based glass-ceramic for high dielectric strength insulators

A novel glass-ceramic material based on albite type Na-rich feldspar has been synthesized by conventional ceramic process. High crystallinity, >94%?Vol.% is obtained by fast sintering which allows energy saving processing. Albite is the main crystalline phase and tetragonal SiO₂ is a secondary phase. Electrical properties were examined by complex impedance, DC measurements, and dielectric breakdown test. Dielectric characterization shows a non-Debye type dielectric behavior with low dielectric constant, 4.6 at 1?MHz, low dielectric losses, (～10^?3 at 1?MHz, and a large dielectric strength, ～60?kV/mm), that it is the largest value reported in ceramic insulators. Those dielectric properties are attained by the low glassy phase content in the samples and their unique micro-nanostructure. All these properties make this novel material a very promising candidate in the market of ceramic electrical insulator, highlighting for high-voltage applications.     

Self-repair of structural and functional composites with intrinsically self-healing polymer matrices: A review

Self-healing is a smart and promising way to make materials more reliable and longer lasting. In the case of structural or functional composites based on a polymer matrix, very often mechanical damage in the polymer matrix or debonding at the matrix–filler interface is responsible for the decrease in intended properties. This review describes the healing behavior in structural and functional polymer composites with a so-called intrinsically self-healing polymer as the continuous matrix. A clear similarity in the healing of structural and functional properties is demonstrated which can ultimately lead to the design of polymer composites that autonomously restore multiple properties using the same self-healing mechanism.     

Microwave dielectric properties of SrLa[Ga1−x(Mg0.5Ti0.5)x]O4 and SrLa[Ga1−x(Zn0.5Ti0.5)x]O4 (x = 0.2-0.8) ceramics

SrLa[Ga_1−x(R_0.5Ti_0.5)_x]O₄ (R = Mg, Zn) ceramics were prepared by a standard solid state sintering method. The single-phase ceramics with K₂NiF₄-type layered perovskite structure and I4/mmm space group were obtained, indicating that SrLa(R_0.5Ti_0.5) and SrLaGaO₄ can form the unlimited solid solutions. With increasing x for R = Mg and Zn, ε_r increases monotonously, the Qf value first increases and then decreases, while τ_f increases from a negative to a positive value. The optimized microwave dielectric properties were obtained as following: ε_r = 23.3, Qf = 89 400 GHz, τ_f = −0.8 ppm/°C for SrLa[Ga_0.6(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)_0.4]O₄ and ε_r = 23.3, Qf = 76 200 GHz, τ_f = 0.2 ppm/°C for SrLa[Ga_0.7(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)_0.3]O₄, indicating that the present solid solution ceramics are the promising candidates as microwave resonator materials for the telecommunication applications.     

Tribological behavior of Zr-based bulk metallic glass sliding against polymer,ceramic, and metal materials

The tribological properties of zirconium-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) sliding against polymers, steels, and ceramics at different loads and speeds were investigated. Acoustic emission (AE) technology was used to analyze wear states. The frictional coefficients of the BMG slid against the steel and ceramic balls were high but decreased with increased applied normal load and sliding speed. As the steel balls were more ductile than the ceramic ones, the steel–BMG sliding pairs generated weaker AE signals and exhibited larger wear rates. The BMG tested against the polymer balls had much lower and more stable frictional coefficients than the ones against the steel or ceramic balls because of transferred polymer layers on the BMG surfaces. The BMG against the polymer balls also exhibited the highest AE signals among the three types of counter materials used, indicating that abrasive wear dominated in the polymer-BMG sliding pairs. These results demonstrated the potential application of the BMG as a new tribomaterial that could be an alternative to the traditional crystalline metals for various counter materials.     

Changes in the physical properties of honey powder during storage

Honey powders produced by spray drying with the addition of Arabic gum and sodium caseinate were characterised in terms of the influence of storage time on the following physical properties: particle size, moisture content, water activity, bulk density, flowability and hygroscopicity. The storage affected those properties; after 12 weeks of storage, particle size decreased (except Arabic gum powder treated as a control sample), moisture content and water activity increased, hygroscopicity decreased. Changes in bulk density, particle size and moisture content caused the rise of Hausner ratio value; however, the powders were still characterised by a very good flow properties and low cohesiveness. The colour of reconstituted powders was also affected by storage; in most of samples, the darkening, reduction in redness and yellowness were observed. Colour parameters were the most stable in powders obtained with the addition of 2% w/w of sodium caseinate.     

Optimised phase compositions and improved microwave dielectric properties based on calcium tin silicates

The Ca_(1+2y)Sn_(1-x)Si_(1+y)O_(5-2x+4y) low-permittivity microwave dielectric ceramics were prepared through solid-state reaction at 1350–1450 °C for 5 h. The relations between microwave dielectric properties and phase compositions for non-stoichiometric Ca_(1+2y)Sn_(1-x)Si_(1+y)O_(5-2x+4y) ceramics have been investigated. A single CaSnSiO₅ phase with abnormally positive temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f = + 62.5 ppm/°C) was synthesised at 1450 °C. This composition was an effective τ_f compensator of CaSiO₃ and Ca₃SnSi₂O₉ phases with typically negative τ_f value. The CaSiO₃ second phase was related to the Sn deficiency in the CaSn_(1-x)SiO_(5-2x) (0 < x < 1.0) composition, whereas the Ca₃SnSi₂O₉ second phase was obtained by controlling the Ca:Sn:Si ratios on the basis of the Ca_(1+2y)SnSi_(1+y)O_(5+4y) (0 < y < 1.0) composition. A promising low-permittivity millimetre-wave ceramic with most excellent microwave dielectric properties (ε_r = 10.2, Q×f = 81,000 GHz and τ_f = −4.8 ppm/°C) was produced from the Ca_(1+2y)SnSi_(1+y)O_(5+4y) (y = 0.4) ceramic.     

Study on the hydrogen storage properties of a TiZrNbTa high entropy alloy

High-entropy alloys (HEAs), as a new class of metallic materials, have received more and more attention due to its excellent mechanical properties. In this study, the hydrogen absorption properties, such as hydrogen absorption capacity, thermodynamics, kinetics and cyclic properties, as well as the hydride structure of a newly designed TiZrNbTa HEA were investigated. The results showed that multiple hydrides including ε-ZrH₂, ε-TiH₂ and β-(Nb,Ta)H were found in the TiZrNbTa HEA after hydrogenation. With the increase of temperature from 293 K to 493 K, the maximum hydrogen absorption capacity decreased from 1.67 wt% to 1.25 wt% and the plateau pressure related with β-(Nb,Ta)H hydrides increased from 1.6 kPa to 14.8 kPa. The formation enthalpy of β-(Nb,Ta)H hydride was determined to be −6.4 kJ/mol, which was less stable than that of NbH and TaH hydrides. The results also showed that the TiZrNbTa HEA exhibited a rapid hydrogen absorption kinetic even at the room temperature with a short incubation time, and the hydrogen absorption mechanism was determined to be the nucleation and growth mechanism. Moreover, the hydrogen absorption capacity at 293 K decreased slowly with the cycle numbers, and remained 86% capacity after 10 cycles. Cracking occurred after hydrogen absorption and became worse with cycles.     

Process and joint quality of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir lap welding

In order to improve the process effectiveness and joint quality, ultrasonic vibrations were integrated with friction stir lap welding. Effect of ultrasonic exertion on the process and joint quality of AA 6061-T6 were investigated. Upon ultrasonic exertion, joints owned larger effective lap width, shorter hooks and improved strength. Weld fracture mode changed from a ductile–brittle mixed mode to a more ductile mode while the fracture path shifted from lap interface to beyond the stir zone. Material flow and interface defects were characterised using lap welded dissimilar aluminium alloy joints. Ultrasonic vibration improved the material flow and reduced the interfacial defects. Variations in failure load of joints were found in accordance with the variations in material flow and interfacial defects.