Fabrication of TiC-Reinforced Composites by Vacuum Arc Melting: TiC Mode of Reprecipitation in Different Molten Metals and Alloys

TiC crystals were developed and grown through a melt dissolution and reprecipitation mechanism, in different alloy matrices (pure Fe, 316L, Fe-22 at.%Al, Ni-25at.%Al, and pure Co) through the use of Vacuum Arc Melting (VAM) process. The TiC surfaces exhibit a characteristic faceted mode of growth which is explained in terms of classic nucleation and crystal growth theories and is related with the well-known Jackson factor of crystal growth. Different morphologies of the finally solidified TiC grains are observed (dendritic, radially grown, isolated blocky crystals, particle clusters), the establishment of which may be most likely related with solidification progress, cooling rate, and melt compositional considerations. An initial, rough and qualitative phase identification shows a variety of compounds, and the attempts to define specific phase crystallographic-orientational relationships led to rather random results.     

Post deposition annealing studies of lanthanum aluminate and ceria high-k dielectrics on germanium

Germanium MOS transistors with high-k gates are good alternatives for the replacement of SiO₂ in order to improve the performance of modern devices. Especially rare-earth oxides on germanium deposited by molecular beam deposition (MBD) have shown improved electrical properties compared to previous used HfO₂ with a germanium oxynitride (GeON) interfacial layer. In this work we report on the influence of ex situ post-annealing treatment with forming gas on the electrical characteristics of LaAlO₃/Al₂O₃/nGe and CeO₂/nGe MIS capacitors. We have observed an improvement of the electrical characteristics after forming gas anneal (FGA) for LaAlO₃/Al₂O₃/nGe in contrast to CeO₂/nGe which shows no clear trend regarding the influence of FGA.     

Role of cation demixing and quasicrystal formation and breakup on the stability of smectitic colloids

The Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory has been extensively used to explain colloid stability. This study investigated the effect of demixing of monovalent and divalent cations and crystalline swelling on the breakup and formation of smectite quasicrystals (QCs) and how these processes affect flocculation and dispersion of natural soil clay–humic complexes. The results indicated that in a Ca-dominated system the formation of large QCs enhanced flocculation and that increasing the concentration of Na⁺, K⁺, or NH₄⁺ resulted in the breakup of large Ca-QCs, which enhanced dispersion. In low ionic strength systems, dispersion was caused by expanded double layers (DLVO) and the formation of small QCs. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that as large Ca-QCs breakup, monovalent cations resided primarily on the external surfaces and Ca²⁺ was preferentially retained in the interlayers. In high ionic strength systems increasing concentrations of monovalent cations also decreased the size of QCs but the effect was partially counteracted by compression of double layers between QCs. X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that monovalent cations were sorbed on both the external surfaces and in the interlayers in high ionic strength systems.     

The Combination of Two Control Strategies for Series Hybrid Electric Vehicles

With most countries paying attention to the environment protection, hybrid electric vehicles have become a focus of automobile research and development due to the characteristics of energy saving and low emission. Power follower control strategy (PFCS) and DC-link voltage control strategy are two sorts of control strategies for series hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Combining those two control strategies is a new idea for control strategy of series hybrid electric vehicles. By tuning essential parameters which are the defined constants under DC-link voltage control and under PFCS, the points of minimum mass of equivalent fuel consumption (EFC) corresponding to a series of variables are marked for worldwide harmonized light vehicles test procedure (WLTP). The fuel economy of series HEVs with the combination control schemes performs better compared with individual control scheme. The results show the effects of the combination control schemes for series HEVs driving in an urban environment.      

Modification of Kerr nonlinearity in a four-level quantum system near a plasmonic nanostructure

We present a theoretical study for the Kerr nonlinearity of a four-level double-V-type quantum system near a two-dimensional array of metal-coated dielectric nanospheres. In the quantum system under study one V-type transition is influenced by the interaction with surface plasmons while the other V-type transition interacts with free-space vacuum. The quantum system interacts with a linearly polarized weak laser field that couples the lowest state with the upper states in the free-space transitions. We show that the Kerr nonlinearity is strongly influenced by the presence of the plasmonic nanostructure and is particularly sensitive to the distance between the quantum system and the plasmonic nanostructure.     

Study of stress-induced leakage current (SILC) in HfO2/Dy2O3 high-κ gate stacks on germanium

In the present work we study reliability issues of Pt/HfO₂/Dy₂O₃/n-Ge MOS structures under various stress conditions. The electrical characteristics of the micro-capacitors are very good probably due to the presence of a rare earth oxide as interfacial layer. It is shown that the injected charge (Q_inj) at high constant voltage stress (CVS) conditions induces stress-induced leakage current (SILC) that obeys a power-law. We also observe a correlation between the trapped oxide charge and SILC, which is, at low stress field, charge build-up and no SILC, while at high stress field SILC but few trapped charges. Results show that the present bilayer oxides combination can lead to Ge based MOS devices that show acceptable degradation of electrical properties of MOS structures and improved reliability characteristics.     

Oxidation behaviour of single crystal nickel-based superalloys: intermediate temperature effects at 450–550°C

The oxidation behaviour of two single crystal Ni-based superalloys has been investigated at 450°C and 550°C. Isothermal oxidation was carried out for varying times and it was found that exposure resulted in a sub-micrometre thick oxide. The external and internal oxide kinetics were studied via high-resolution image analysis and both showed sub-parabolic growth rates. Thermogravimetric tests indicated that the overall oxidation growth obeys a near quartic power law while parabolic kinetics can describe the transient oxidation period. Characterisation of the resulting oxides was carried out using electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results from thermodynamic modelling of the oxide formation are also presented to further assess the postulated mechanism of low-temperature oxidation in these Ni-based superalloys.     

Advances in the development of a virtual car driver

Fundamental approaches to modeling the control of a car by a driver are reviewed briefly. The context of the work presented is explained. Then previous research on the application of optimal linear preview control to aspects of driving road vehicles is extended. This prior research treated the tracking of a roadway by a vehicle and driver at constant forward speed and the tracking of a speed demand while running straight. The two previously separate problems are now combined, so that longitudinal and lateral path demands are considered in parallel. A new feature is that low-pass filters are included in the driver modeling to represent driver bandwidth limitations. This feature enables the finding of the influence of the driver’s control bandwidth on the optimal strategies and on the closed-loop system performance, by way of frequency-response calculations. A new optimal preview control toolbox is employed. Simulations of the virtual driver-controlled car are shown to demonstrate the closed-loop system following longitudinal and lateral position demands.