A TEM study on the microstructure of spark plasma sintered ZrB_2-based composite with nano-sized SiC dopant

Sintering behavior of ZrB_2 ceramic with nano-sized SiC dopant was studied. ZrB_2-25 vol% nano-sized SiC was selected as the starting mixture to fabricate the composite. The manufacturing process was accomplished at 1800℃ for 5 min under 25 MPa via spark plasma sintering(SPS). The as-sintered sample reached a relative density of 99%. Besides the initial phases, namely ZrB_2 and SiC, the high-resolution X-ray diffraction(HRXRD) was used to study the formation of an in-situ ZrC phase. The possible chemical interactions during the ZrC phase formation were scrutinized. The microstructure of the composite was studied by the field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Elemental analysis through FESEM evaluations revealed the formation of amorphous phases, rich in Zr, C, Si, B, and O elements, which was in harmony with the thermodynamical assessments. TEM studies endorsed the formation of such phases, containing a glassy bed of Si–B–O with ZrC and C islands dispersed therein.     

Improvement in the protective performance and adhesion of polypyrrole coating on AZ31 Mg alloys

The electrochemical synthesis of polypyrrole (Ppy) coating on AZ31 magnesium alloy was successfully achieved in a solution containing sodium salicylate and monomer of pyrrole through cyclic voltammetry technique. The effect of potential range, passivation pretreatment and number of cycles of polymerization on the quality and protective performance of the coatings was evaluated using surface analysis and electrochemical techniques. Through taking the advantage of charge transfer resistance, current density, corrosion potential, optical microscopy images and SEM micrographs, the optimum condition of synthesis of a Ppy coating with the best adhesion and corrosion protection was determined. The optimal PPy coating synthesized over AZ31 increases the polarization resistance and decreases the corrosion current more than one order of magnitude and shift the corrosion potential about 200 mV toward nobler potentials. The SEM studies showed that Ppy coating have cauliflower morphology of Ppy grains with a diameter ranging from 20 nm to 60 nm.     

Adaptive Output Feedback Regulation for a Class of Uncertain Feedforward Time-Delay Nonlinear Systems

This paper addresses the global output feedback regulation problem for a class of uncertain feedforward time-delay nonlinear systems. Unlike to the previous works, the nonlinear functions in the class of systems under consideration are dominated by an input-output function multiplied by an unknown parameter and linear unmeasured states. By using only one dynamic gain and an appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals, it is shown that the closed-loop system is globally asymptotically stable. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design scheme.     

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.     

Electrical annealing of severely deformed copper: microstructure and hardness

Commercial pure copper sheets were severely deformed after primary annealing to a strain magnitude of 2.32 through constrained groove pressing. After induction of an electrical current, the sheets were heated for 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s up to maximum temperatures of 150, 200, 250, or 300℃. To compare the annealing process in the current-carrying system with that in the current-free system, four other samples were heated to 300℃ at holding times of 60, 90, 120, or 150 s in a salt bath. The microstructural evolution and hardness values of the samples were then investigated. The results generally indicated that induction of an electrical current could accelerate the recrystallization process by decreasing the thermodynamic barriers for nucleation. In other words, the current effect, in addition to the thermal effect, enhanced the diffusion rate and dislocation climb velocity. During the primary stages of recrystallization, the grown nuclei of electrically annealed samples showed greater numbers and a more homogeneous distribution than those of the samples annealed in the salt bath. In the fully recrystallized condition, the grain size of electrically annealed samples was smaller than that of conventionally annealed samples. The hardness values and metallographic images obtained indicate that, unlike the conventional annealing process, which promotes restoration phenomena with increasing heating time, the electrical annealing process does not necessarily promote these phenomena. This difference is hypothesized to stem from conflicts between thermal and athermal effects during recrystallization.     

Fabrication and densification enhancement of SiC-particulate-reinforced copper matrix composites prepared via the sinter-forging process

The fabrication of copper (Cu) and copper matrix silicon carbide (Cu/SiC_p) particulate composites via the sinter-forging process was investigated. Sintering and sinter-forging processes were performed under an inert Ar atmosphere. The influence of sinter-forging time, temperature, and compressive stress on the relative density and hardness of the prepared samples was systematically investigated and subsequently compared with that of the samples prepared by the conventional sintering process. The relative density and hardness of the composites were enhanced when they were prepared by the sinter-forging process. The relative density values of all Cu/SiC_p composite samples were observed to decrease with the increase in SiC content.     

Characterization of low-purity clays for geopolymer binder formulation

The production of geopolymer binders from low-purity clays was investigated. Three low-purity clays were calcined at 750℃ for 4 h. The calcined clays were chemically activated by the alkaline solutions of NaOH and Na₂SiO₃. The compressive strength was measured as a function of curing time at room temperature and 85℃. The results were compared with those of a pure kaolin sample. An amorphous aluminosilicate polymer was formed in all binders at both processing temperatures. The results show that, the mechanical properties depend on the type and amount of active aluminum silicates in the starting clay material, the impurities, and the processing temperature.     

Variation in interleukin 7 receptor alpha chain (IL7R) influences risk of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system affecting more than 1 in 1,000 people in most western countries. The inflammatory lesions typical of multiple sclerosis show autoimmune features and depend partly on genetic factors. Of these genetic factors, only the HLA gene complex has been repeatedly confirmed to be associated with multiple sclerosis, despite considerable efforts. Polymorphisms in a number of non-HLA genes have been reported to be associated with multiple sclerosis, but so far confirmation has been difficult. Here, we report compelling evidence that polymorphisms in IL7R, which encodes the interleukin 7 receptor alpha chain (IL7Ralpha), indeed contribute to the non-HLA genetic risk in multiple sclerosis, demonstrating a role for this pathway in the pathophysiology of this disease. In addition, we report altered expression of the genes encoding IL7Ralpha and its ligand, IL7, in the cerebrospinal fluid compartment of individuals with multiple sclerosis.