Structural regulation and polishing performance of dendritic mesoporous silica (D-mSiO2) supported with samarium-doped cerium oxide composites

Ceria (CeO₂) particles are prevalent polishing abrasive materials. Trivalent lanthanide ions are the popular category of dopants for enriched surface defects and thus improved physicochemical properties, since they are highly compatible with CeO₂ lattices. Herein, a series of dendritic-like mesoporous silica (D-mSiO₂)-supported samarium (Sm)-doped CeO₂ nanocrystals were synthesized via a facile chemical precipitation method. The relation of the structural characteristics and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) performances were investigated to explore the effect of Sm-doping amounts on the D-mSiO₂/Sm_xCe_1?xO_2?δ (x = 0–1) composite abrasives. The involved low-modulus D-mSiO₂ cores aimed to eliminate surface scratch and damage, resulting from the optimized contact behavior between abrasives and surfaces. The trivalent cerium (Ce³⁺) and oxygen vacancy (V_O) at CeO₂ surfaces were expected to be reactive sites for the material removal process over SiO₂ films. The optimal oxide-CMP performances in terms of removal efficiency and surface quality were achieved by the 40% Sm-doped composite abrasives. It might be attributed to the high Ce³⁺ and V_O concentrations and the enhancement of tribochemical reactivity between CeO₂SiO₂ interfaces. Furthermore, the relationship between the surface chemistry, polishing performance as well as the actual role in oxide-CMP of the D-mSiO₂/Sm_xCe_1?xO_2?δ abrasives were also discussed.     

Chemical bond characteristics and infrared reflectivity spectrum of a novel microwave dielectric ceramic CaIn2O4 with near-zero τf

Orthorhombic-structured CaIn₂O₄ ceramics with a space group Pca2₁ were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method. A high relative density (95.6 %) and excellent microwave dielectric properties (ε_r ～11.28, Qf = 74,200 GHz, τ_f ～ ?4.6 ppm/°C) were obtained when the ceramics were sintered at 1375 °C for 6 h. The dielectric properties were investigated on the basis of the Phillips–Van Vechten–Levine chemical bond theory. Results indicated that the dielectric properties were mainly determined by the InO bonds in the CaIn₂O₄ ceramics. These bonds contributed more (74.65 %) to the dielectric constant than the CaO bonds (25.35 %). Furthermore, the intrinsic dielectric properties of the CaIn₂O₄ ceramics were investigated via infrared reflectivity spectroscopy. The extrapolated microwave dielectric properties were ε_r ～10.12 and Qf = 112,200 GHz. Results indicated that ion polarization is the main contributor to the dielectric constant in microwave frequency ranges.     

A new cladding technology to bond aluminium on magnesium

ABSTRACT

An in situ hot press bonding technology has been developed to clad aluminium on magnesium. Followed by regular hot rolling, magnesium sheets, covered by ductile and corrosion-resistant aluminium without detectable oxides in the interface, are produced. The new technology requires no welding, vacuum, protective atmosphere or barrier layer, and it makes good interfacial strength and rollability. Aluminium–magnesium intermetallic phases are formed along the clad–core interface at elevated temperatures. They are not detrimental under compression but may cause clad-core delamination in tensile strain. However, the tensile failure is more dependent on the formability of magnesium core than on the strength of interface.     

Novel high-energy ionic molecules deriving from new monovalent and divalent 4-oxyl-3,5-dinitropyrazolate moieties

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the exploration of a practical strategy for novel energetic molecules with high energy and low sensitivity is very desirable but highly challenging. Novel ionic energetic molecules have attracted much attention in this area due to their prominent advantages including low sensitivities, high thermal stability, and excellent energy performances. Herein, five different ionic energetic molecules based on new monovalent and divalent 4-oxyl-3,5-dinitropyrazolate moieties with enhanced oxygen balance have been synthesized, characterized and evaluated as potential high-energy materials. Thermal stability, sensitivities and energy output test were measured and studied in detail. The heats of formation and energetic parameters were calculated by using Gaussian 09 suite of programs and EXPLO 5 code. The results suggest that all as-prepared new molecules exhibit good thermal stability with high decomposition temperature (3, 231°C; 5, 160°C; 6, 185°C; 7, 180°C; 8, 213°C), and relative low sensitivity (IS > 20 J, FS = 324 N). Inheriting the significant oxygen content of monovalent and divalent 4-oxyl-3,5-dinitropyrazolate moieties, they also possess good energy properties (v _D = 8238 ~ 9208 m s^?1, P = 26.8 ~ 36.7 GPa, V _o = 481.8 ~ 959.4 L kg^?1), which make them competitive high-energy materials.     

Electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of MgAlMnNi quaternary alloys

Al was partially substituted by Mn in Mg₃AlNi₂ to improve the discharge capacity and electrochemical kinetic properties of Mg₃AlNi₂ alloy electrode. By means of pretreatment of ultrasonic dispersion, followed by mechanical milling and combustion synthesis, a series of quaternary alloys, namely Mg₃Al_1-xMn_xNi₂ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that partial substitution of Mn for Al can cause lattice expansion of Mg₃AlNi₂ and the samples all appear similar multiphase structures. The introduction of Mn enhances obviously the maximum discharge capacity of Mg₃AlNi₂ alloy electrode. The high rate dischargeability of the alloys can also be remarkably enhanced by substitution of Mn for Al. The exchange current density (I₀) and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of the alloy electrode increase and decrease continuously with increasing the Mn substitution content, respectively, indicating the improvement of electrochemical kinetics properties. Combining with the potentiostatic discharge test, it is concluded that in the MgAlMnNi quaternary alloys, the kinetic properties are mainly controlled by charge transfer reaction on the electrode surface.     

Effects of Sr2+ substitution on the crystal structure,Raman spectra,bond valence and microwave dielectric properties of Ba3-xSrx(VO4)2 solid solutions

The effects of Sr²⁺ substitution for Ba²⁺ on microwave dielectric properties and crystal structure of Ba_3-xSr_x(VO₄)₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 3, BSVO) solid solution were investigated. Such Sr²⁺ substitution contributes to significant reduction in sintering temperature from 1400 °C to 1150 °C. Both permittivity (∑_r) and quality factor (Q × f) values decreased with increasing x value, which was determined to be related with the descending values of average polarizability and packing fraction, whereas the increase in τ_f value was explained by the decreased average VO bond length, A-site bond valence. BSVO ceramics possessed encouraging dielectric performances with ∑_r = 12.2–15.6 ± 0.1, Q × f = 44,340 - 62,000 ± 800 GHz, and τ_f = 24.5–64.5 ± 0.2 ppm/°C. Low-temperature sintering was manipulated by adding B₂O₃ as sintering additive for the representative Sr₃V₂O₈ (SVO) ceramic and only 1 wt.% B₂O₃ addition successfully contributed to a 21.7% decrease in sintering temperature to 900 °C, showing good chemical compatibility with silver electrodes, which render BSVO series and SVO ceramics potential candidates in multilayer electronic devices fabrication.     

Research on corrosion performance of 6061 aluminum alloy in salt spray environment

Salt spray corrosion test was carried out on 6061 aluminum alloy, and quasi-static tensile test at room temperature was carried out on the sample with universal testing machine. The effect of salt spray corrosion on the mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and electrochemistry. The corrosion rate of 6061 aluminum alloy was quantitatively characterized by different corrosion parameters. It was found that local corrosion of 6061 aluminum alloy occurred in salt spray environment, mainly pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion. With the increase of corrosion time, the polarization resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy decreases, and the corrosion rate significantly increases. The average corrosion rate and the maximum corrosion rate of 6061 aluminum alloy were characterized by corrosion weight loss and corrosion pit depth. And they can be transformed into each other. The mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy were mainly affected by the depth of corrosion pit. With the increase of corrosion time, the tensile strength and fracture strain decreased, resulting in poor plasticity of the sample. At the same time, the change of elongation of 6061 aluminum alloy can be accurately predicted by the depth of corrosion pit.