Reaction mechanism for in-situ β-Si Al ON formation in Fe_3Si–Si_3N_4–Al_2O_3 composites

In this work,Fe_3Si–Si_3N_4–Al_2O_3 composites were prepared at 1300°C in an N_2 atmosphere using fused corundum and tabular alumina particles,Al_2O_3 fine powder,and ferrosilicon nitride(Fe_3Si–Si_3N_4) as raw materials and thermosetting phenolic resin as a binder.The effect of ferrosilicon nitride with different concentrations(0wt%,5wt%,10wt%,15wt%,20wt%,and 25wt%) on the properties of Fe_3Si–Si_3N_4–Al_2O_3 composites was investigated.The results show that the apparent porosity varies between 10.3% and 17.3%,the bulk density varies from 2.94 g/cm~3 and 3.30 g/cm~3,and the cold crushing strength ranges from 67 MPa to 93 MPa.Under the experimental conditions,ferrosilicon nitride,whose content decreases substantially,is unstable;part of the ferrosilicon nitride is converted into Fe_2C,whereas the remainder is retained,eventually forming the ferrosilicon alloy.Thermodynamic assessment of the Si_5AlON_7 indicated that the ferrosilicon alloy accelerated the reactions between Si_3N_4 and α-Al_2O_3 fine powder and that Si in the ferrosilicon alloy was nitrided directly,forming β-Si Al ON simultaneously.In addition,fused corundum did not react directly with Si_3N_4 because of its low reactivity.     

Effect of reinforcement content on the adhesive wear behavior of Cu10Sn5Ni/Si3N4 composites produced by stir casting

The main objective of this paper was to fabricate Cu10Sn5Ni alloy and its composites reinforced with various contents of Si₃N₄ particles (5wt%, 10wt%, and 15wt%) and to investigate their dry sliding wear behavior using a pin-on-disk tribometer. Microstructural examinations of the specimens revealed a uniform dispersion of Si₃N₄ particles in the copper matrix. Wear experiments were performed for all combinations of parameters, such as load (10, 20, and 30 N), sliding distance (500, 1000, and 1500 m), and sliding velocity (1, 2, and 3 m/s), for the alloy and the composites. The results revealed that wear rate increased with increasing load and increasing sliding distance, whereas the wear rate decreased and then increased with increasing sliding velocity. The primary wear mechanism encountered at low loads was mild adhesive wear, whereas that at high loads was severe delamination wear. An oxide layer was formed at low velocities, whereas a combination of shear and plastic deformation occurred at high velocities. The mechanism at short sliding distances was ploughing action of Si₃N₄ particles, which act as protrusions; by contrast, at long sliding distances, direct metal-metal contact occurred. Among the investigated samples, the Cu/10wt% Si₃N₄ composite exhibited the best wear resistance at a load of 10 N, a velocity of 2 m/s, and a sliding distance of 500 m.     

Electrical conductivity optimization of the Na3AlF6-Al2O3-Sm2O3 molten salts system for Al-Sm intermediate binary alloy production

Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al-Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective of this study was to develop a molten salt electrolyte system to produce Al-Sm alloy directly, with focus on the electrical conductivity and optimal operating conditions to minimize the energy consumption. The continuously varying cell constant (CVCC) technique was used to measure the conductivity for the Na₃AlF₆-AlF₃-LiF-MgF₂-Al₂O₃-Sm₂O₃ electrolysis medium in the temperature range from 905 to 1055℃. The temperature (t) and the addition of Al₂O₃ (W(Al₂O₃)), Sm₂O₃ (W(Sm₂O₃)), and a combination of Al₂O₃ and Sm₂O₃ into the basic fluoride system were examined with respect to their effects on the conductivity (κ) and activation energy. The experimental results showed that the molten electrolyte conductivity increases with increasing temperature (t) and decreases with the addition of Al₂O₃ or Sm₂O₃ or both. We concluded that the optimal operation conditions for Al-Sm intermediate alloy production in the Na₃AlF₆-AlF₃-LiF-MgF₂-Al₂O₃-Sm₂O₃ system are W(Al₂O₃) + W(Sm₂O₃)=3wt%, W(Al₂O₃):W(Sm₂O₃)=7:3, and a temperature of 965 to 995℃, which results in satisfactory conductivity, low fluoride evaporation losses, and low energy consumption.     

Sintering Behavior and Microstructure of diphasic β-Sialon/Al2O3 Composites

Six compositions with different ratio of β-Sialon/Al₂O₃ were synthesized from Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄ and SiO₂ by sintering with 3%Y₂O₃(mass fraction) as addition under the cover with powders of SiC+C and at nitrogen atmosphere. Theeffects of atmosphere, sintering temperature and composition on the sintering behavior were studied. The results showedthat the composites reached the best sintering behavior with the highest density about 92% at 1 650℃ under the weakreduction atmosphere. Finally the relative density of diphasic β-Sialon and β-Sialon/Al₂O₃ composites were studied andpredicted using ANN (Artificial Neural Networks) method and the results were experimental examined by fore randomsamples.     

Corrosion-wear behavior of nanocrystalline Fe88Si12 alloy in acid and alkaline solutions

The corrosion-wear behavior of a nanocrystalline Fe₈₈Si₁₂ alloy disc coupled with a Si₃N₄ ball was investigated in acid (pH 3) and alkaline (pH 9) aqueous solutions. The dry wear was also measured for reference. The average friction coefficient of Fe₈₈Si₁₂ alloy in the pH 9 solution was approximately 0.2, which was lower than those observed for Fe₈₈Si₁₂ alloy in the pH 3 solution and in the case of dry wear. The fluctuation of the friction coefficient of samples subjected to the pH 9 solution also showed similar characteristics. The wear rate in the pH 9 solution slightly increased with increasing applied load. The wear rate was approximately one order of magnitude less than that in the pH 3 solution and was far lower than that in the case of dry wear, especially at high applied load. The wear traces of Fe₈₈Si₁₂ alloy under different wear conditions were examined and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicated that the tribo-chemical reactions that involve oxidation of the worn surface and hydrolysis of the Si₃N₄ ball in the acid solution were restricted in the pH 9 aqueous solution. Thus, water lubrication can effectively improve the wear resistance of nanocrystalline Fe₈₈Si₁₂ alloy in the pH 9 aqueous solution.     

In situ reaction mechanism of MgAlON in Al-Al2O3-MgO composites at 1700℃ under flowing N2

The Al-Al₂O₃-MgO composites with added aluminum contents of approximately 0wt%, 5wt%, and 10wt%, named as M₁, M₂, and M₃, respectively, were prepared at 1700℃ for 5 h under a flowing N₂ atmosphere using the reaction sintering method. After sintering, the Al-Al₂O₃-MgO composites were characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that specimen M₁ was composed of MgO and MgAl₂O₄. Compared with specimen M₁, specimens M₂ and M₃ possessed MgAlON, and its production increased with increasing aluminum addition. Under an N₂ atmosphere, MgO, Al₂O₃, and Al in the matrix of specimens M₂ and M₃ reacted to form MgAlON and AlN-polytypoids, which combined the particles and the matrix together and imparted the Al-Al₂O₃-MgO composites with a dense structure. The mechanism of MgAlON synthesis is described as follows. Under an N₂ atmosphere, the partial pressure of oxygen is quite low; thus, when the Al-Al₂O₃-MgO composites were soaked at 580℃ for an extended period, aluminum metal was transformed into AlN. With increasing temperature, Al₂O₃ diffused into AlN crystal lattices and formed AlN-polytypoids; however, MgO reacted with Al₂O₃ to form MgAl₂O₄. When the temperature was greater than (1640 ±10)℃, AlN diffused into Al₂O₃ and formed spinel-structured AlON. In situ MgAlON was acquired through a solid-solution reaction between AlON and MgAl₂O₄ at high temperatures because of their similar spinel structures.     

Ferrites boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over graphitic carbon nitride: a case study of (Co,Ni)Fe2O4 modification

The charge carrier separation and surface catalytic redox reactions are of primary importance as elementary steps in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this study, both of these two processes in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over graphitic carbon nitride（g-C₃N₄） were greatly promoted with the earth-abundant ferrites（Co,Ni）Fe₂O₄modification. Co Fe₂O₄ was further demonstrated to be a better modifier for g-C₃N₄ as compared to Ni Fe₂O₄,due to the more efficient charge carrier transfer as well as superior surface oxidative catalytic activity. When together loading Co Fe₂O₄ and reductive hydrogen production electrocatalyst Pt onto g-C₃N₄, the obtained Pt/g-C₃N₄/Co Fe₂O₄ photocatalyst achieved visible-light（λ>420 nm） hydrogen production rate 3.5 times as high as Pt/g-C₃N₄, with the apparent quantum yield reaching 3.35 % at 420 nm.     

Thermodynamic analysis and preparation of β-SiC/ZrO2 composites

A predominance area diagram for the Zr-Si-C-O system at 1773 K was plotted according to correlative thermodynamic data. β-SiC/ZrO₂ composites were prepared based on the phase diagram by carbothermal reduction of zircon (ZrSiO₄) in argon atmosphere. Zircon and carbon black were mixed according to the C/ZrSiO₄ mass ratio of 0.2, and with 0, 1wt% and 2wt% extra addition of La₂O₃. Phase evolution of the mixture was investigated at 1723-1803 K by X-ray powder diffraction, and the microstructure of the product prepared at 1803 K for 4 h was examined by scanning electronic microscope. The results show that the decomposition of ZrSiO₄ and the formation of β-SIC can be promoted by increasing the heating temperature and adding La₂O₃. The β-SiC/ZrO₂ composites can be prepared at 1803 K for 4 h in a mixture of zircon, carbon black and La₂O₃, and the contents of β-SIC and m-ZrO₂ in the product sample with 2wt% La₂O₃ reach the highest values of 10.8wt% and 89.2wt%, respectively. The crystal size of the products is about 200 nm.     

Design,preparation,and structure of particle preforms for Si3N4(P)/Si3N4 radome composites prepared using chemical vapor infiltration process

A particle preform was designed and prepared by conglomerating and cold-pressed process, which was condensed by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process to fabricate silicon nitride particles reinforced silicon nitride composites. The conglomerations are of almost sphericity after conglomerated. There are large pores among the conglomerations and small pores within themselves in the preform according to the design and the test of pore size distribution. The pore size of the preform is characterized by a double-peak distribution. The pore size distribution is influenced by conglomeration size. Large pores among the conglomerations still exist after infiltrated Si₃N₄ matrix. The conglomerations, however, are very compact. The CVI Si₃N₄ looks like cauliflowershaped structure.     

Effect of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the crystallization behavior of glass-ceramics produced from naturally cooled yellow phosphorus furnace slag

CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (CAS) glass-ceramics were prepared via a melting method using naturally cooled yellow phosphorus furnace slag as the main raw material. The effects of the addition of Fe₂O₃ on the crystallization behavior and properties of the prepared glass-ceramics were studied by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The crystallization activation energy was calculated using the modified Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation. The results show that the intrinsic nucleating agent in the yellow phosphorus furnace slag could effectively promote the crystallization of CAS. The crystallization activation energy first increased and then decreased with increasing amount of added Fe₂O₃. At 4wt% of added Fe₂O₃, the crystallization activation energy reached a maximum of 676.374 kJ·mol-1. The type of the main crystalline phase did not change with the amount of added Fe₂O₃. The primary and secondary crystalline phases were identified as wollastonite (CaSiO₃) and hedenbergite (CaFe(Si₂O₆)), respectively.     

Reaction behavior of trace oxygen during combustion of falling FeSi75 powder in a nitrogen flow

To explore the reaction behavior of trace oxygen during the flash combustion process of falling FeSi75 powder in a nitrogen flow, a flash-combustion-synthesized Fe-Si₃N₄ sample was heat-treated to remove SiO₂. The samples before and after the treatment were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, and the formation mechanism of SiO₂ was investigated. The results show that SiO₂ in the Fe-Si₃N₄ is mainly located on the surface or around the Si₃N₄ particles in dense areas, existing in both crystalline and amorphous states; when the FeSi75 particles, which are less than 0.074 mm in size, fell in up-flowing hot N₂ stream, trace oxygen in the N₂ stream did not significantly hinder the nitridation of FeSi75 particles as it was consumed by the surface oxidation of the generated Si₃N₄ particles to form SiO₂. At the reaction zone, the oxidation of Si₃N₄ particles decreased the oxygen partial pressure in the N₂ stream and greatly reduced the opportunity for FeSi75 particles to be oxidized into SiO₂; by virtue of the SiO₂ film developed on the surface, the Si₃N₄ particles adhered to each other and formed dense areas in the material.     

熔盐制备金属氮化物/金属氮氧化物复合光催化剂

Pyrolysis of the Ta₂O₅/melamine mixture in molten chlorides is herein demonstrated as a facile and controllable method to nitridize and functionalize Ta₂O₅. The influence of the stoichiometry and composition of Ta₂O₅/melamine in molten salts on the nitridation process is rationalized to ensure the controllable preparation of Ta₃N₅ and Ta₃N₅/TaON. The characterization results, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, all confirm the existence of the Ta₃N₅/TaON heterojunction, in which the TaON nanoparticles are closely anchored to the Ta₃N₅ nanorods. Benefiting from its composition and structure, the Ta₃N₅/TaON composites show enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue. The present study highlights that the molten salt method using a solid nitrogen source can be a new technique for rationalizing the design of nitrides and oxynitrides.     

添加Co3O4纳米颗粒引起的残余结构应变对粉末冶金制备的Al/Co3O4纳米复合材料的结构、硬度和磁性能的影响

Al composites are of interest due to their appropriate ratio of strength to weight. In our research, an Al/Co₃O₄ nanocomposite was generated using a sintering technique. The powders of Al with various Co₃O₄ nanoparticle contents (0wt%, 0.5wt%, 1.0wt%, 1.5wt%, 2.0wt%, and 2.5wt%) were first blended using planetary milling for 30 min, and compressed in a cylindrical steel mold with a diameter of 1 cm and a height of 5 cm at a pressure of 80 MPa. The samples were evaluated with X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers hardness, and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Although the crystallite size of the Al particles remained constant at 7–10 nm, the accumulation of nanoparticles in the Al particle interspace increased the structural tensile strain from 0.0045 to 0.0063, the hardness from HV 28 to HV 52 and the magnetic saturation from 0.044 to 0.404 emu/g with an increase in Co₃O₄ nanoparticle content from 0wt% to 2.5wt%.     

Effect of Fe2O3 on the size and components of spinel crystals in the CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-Cr2O3 system

size of spinel crystals in the CaO-SiO₂-MgO-Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ system was investigated using lab experiments carried out in a carbon tube furnace. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the microstructure, components, and the mineral phases of synthetic slags. FactSage 7.1 was used to calculate the crystallization process of the molten slag. The results showed that the addition of Fe₂O₃ promoted the precipitation of spinel crystals and inhibited the formation of dicalcium silicate. The size of spinel crystals increased from 2.74 to 8.10 μm and the contents of chromium and iron in the spinel varied as the Fe₂O₃ addition was increased from 0 to 20wt%. Fe₂O₃ thermodynamically provided the spinel-forming components to enhance the formation of FeCr₂O₄, MgFe₂O₄, and Fe₃O₄. The addition of Fe₂O₃ increased the fraction of liquid phase in a certain temperature range and promoted diffusion by decreasing the slag's viscosity. Therefore, Fe₂O₃ is beneficial to the growth of spinel crystals in stainless steel slag.     

Microwave absorption properties of SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids in the 2-18 GHz range

To enhance the microwave absorption performance of silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNWs), SiO₂ nanoshells with a thickness of approximately 2 nm and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were grown on the surface of SiCNWs to form SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids. The microwave absorption performance of the SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids with different thicknesses was investigated in the frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz using a free-space antenna-based system. The results indicate that SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids exhibit improved microwave absorption. In particular, in the case of an SiC@SiO₂ to iron(Ⅲ) acetylacetonate mass ratio of 1:3, the microwave absorption with an absorber of 2-mm thickness exhibited a minimum reflection loss of -39.58 dB at 12.24 GHz. With respect to the enhanced microwave absorption mechanism, the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated on SiC@SiO₂ nanowires are proposed to balance the permeability and permittivity of the materials, contributing to the microwave attenuation.     

Effects of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the properties of ceramics from steel slag

Ferric oxide is one of the key factors affecting both the microstructure and the properties of CaO-MgO-SiO₂-based ceramics. Research on this effect is significant in the utilization of iron-rich solid wastes in ceramics. Ceramic samples with various Fe₂O₃ contents (0wt%, 5wt%, and 10wt%) were prepared and the corresponding physical properties and microstructure were studied. The results indicated that Fe₂O₃ not only played a fluxing role, but also promoted the formation of crystals. Ceramics with 5wt% of Fe₂O₃ addition attained the best mechanical properties with a flexural strength of 132.9 MPa. Iron ions were dissolved into diopside, consequently causing phase transformation from diopside and protoenstatite to augite, thereby contributing to the enhancement of its properties. An excess amount of Fe₂O₃ addition (10wt% or more) resulted in deteriorated properties due to the generation of an excess volume of liquid and the formation of high-porosity structures within ceramics.     

Enhanced electrochemical properties of LaFeO3 with Ni modification for MH-Ni batteries

In this work, we synthesized LaFeO₃-xwt%Ni (x=0, 5, 10, 15) composites via a solid-state reaction method by adding Ni to the reactants, La₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results revealed that Ni powders evenly dispersed among the LaFeO₃ particles and apparently reduced their aggregation, which imparted the composites with a loose structure. Moreover, the Ni formed a conductive network, thus improving the conductivity of the composites. The maximum discharge capacity of the LaFeO₃ electrodes remarkably increased from 266.8 mAh·g-1 (x=0) to 339.7 mAh·g-1 (x=10). In particular, the high-rate dischargeability of the LaFeO₃-10wt%Ni electrode at a discharge current density of 1500 mA·g-1 reached 54.6%, which was approximately 1.5 times higher than that of the pure LaFeO₃. Such a Ni-modified loose structure not only increased the charge transfer rate on the surface of the LaFeO₃ particles but also enhanced the hydrogen diffusion rate in the bulk LaFeO₃.     

Control the growth of Fe3O4 on the surface of saponite and its redox effect on Cr(VI)

In this paper, Magnetite/Saponite(Fe₃O₄/Sap) composites were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and coprecipitation. The prepared Fe3O4/sap composites had high purity and good crystallinity, and nano-Fe₃O₄was uniformly dispersed on the surface of saponite. Moreover, the removal efficiency of Fe₃O₄/Sap composites for Cr(VI) in water was evaluated. This study revealed the existence of abundant oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl groups on...     

Fabrication of Fe–TiC–Al2O3 composites on the surface of steel using a TiO2–Al–C–Fe combustion reaction induced by gas tungsten arc cladding

The aim of the present study was to fabricate Fe–TiC–Al₂O₃ composites on the surface of medium carbon steel. For this purpose, TiO₂–3C and 3TiO₂–4Al–3C–xFe (0 ≤ x ≤ 4.6 by mole) mixtures were pre-placed on the surface of a medium carbon steel plate. The mixtures and substrate were then melted using a gas tungsten arc cladding process. The results show that the martensite forms in the layer produced by the TiO₂–3C mixture. However, ferrite–Fe₃C–TiC phases are the main phases in the microstructure of the clad layer produced by the 3TiO₂–4Al–3C mixture. The addition of Fe to the TiO₂–4Al–3C reactants with the content from 0 to 20wt% increases the volume fraction of particles, and a composite containing approximately 9vol% TiC and Al₂O₃ particles forms. This composite substantially improves the substrate hardness. The mechanism by which Fe particles enhance the TiC + Al₂O₃ volume fraction in the composite is determined.     

Synthesis and characterization of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> magnetic composite nanoparticles by a one-pot process

Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core–shell composite nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a one-pot process. Tetraethyl-orthosilicate was used as a surfactant to synthesize Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core–shell structures from prepared Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The properties of the Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ composite nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared Fe₃O₄ particles were approximately 12 nm in size, and the thickness of the SiO₂ coating was approximately 4 nm. The magnetic properties were studied by vibrating sample magnetometry. The results show that the maximum saturation magnetization of the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ powder (34.85 A·m2·kg–1) was markedly lower than that of the Fe₃O₄ powder (79.55 A·m2·kg–1), which demonstrates that Fe₃O₄ was successfully wrapped by SiO₂. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ composite nanoparticles have broad prospects in biomedical applications; thus, our next study will apply them in magnetic resonance imaging.