Isothermal section of ternary Sn ? Zn?Ni phase equilibria at 250 °C

Ternary Sn ?Zn? Ni alloys were prepared and equilibrated at 250 °C for 4? 15 weeks. The phases formed in these equilibrated alloys were determined experimentally. The isothermal section of Sn ?Zn? Ni system was constructed, based on the phase diagrams of the three constituent binary sy stems and the ternary phase equilibria data, determined in this study and referenced in literatures. 12 single-phase regions were identified in the Sn? Zn?Ni ternary system at 250 °C, including the three ternary compounds, δ , τ1 and τ2. There were 13 ternary phase regions and 23 binary phase regions in the 250 °C Sn ? Zn? Ni isothermal section. The solubility of Zn in the binary Sn ?Ni compounds is significant, and is 15.1% (mole fraction) in the Ni3Sn phase.     

Isothermal section of ternary Sn-Zn-Ni phase equilibria at 250℃

Ternary Sn-Zn-Ni alloys were prepared and equilibrated at 250℃for 4-15 weeks.The phases formed in these equilibrated alloys were determined experimentally.The isothermal section of Sn-Zn-Ni system was constructed,based on the phase diagrams of the three constituent binary systems and the ternary phase equilibria data,determined in this study and referenced in literatures.12 single-phase regions were identified in the Sn-Zn-Ni ternary system at 250℃,including the three ternary compounds,δ,τ_1 andτ_2.There...     

Effects of copper content on the shell characteristics of hollow steel spheres manufactured using an advanced powder metallurgy technique

Metallic hollow spheres are used as base materials in the manufacture of hollow sphere structures and metallic foams. In this study, steel hollow spheres were successfully manufactured using an advanced powder metallurgy technique. The spheres’ shells were characterized by optical microscopy in conjunction with microstructural image analysis software, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microscopic evaluations revealed that the shells consist of sintered iron powder, sintered copper powder, sodium silicate, and porosity regions. In addition, the effects of copper content on various parameters such as shell defects, microcracks, thickness, and porosities were investigated. The results indicated that increasing the copper content results in decreases in the surface fraction of shell porosities and the number of microcracks and an increase in shell thickness.     

Facile synthesis of nanosized sodium magnesium hydride, NaMgH3

The ternary magnesium hydride NaMgH 3 has been synthesised via reactive milling techniques.The method employed neither a reactive H2 atmosphere nor high pressure sintering or other post-treatment processes.The formation of the ternary hydride was studied as a function of milling time and ball:powder ratio.High purity NaMgH 3 powder(orthorhombic space group Pnma,a 5.437(2),b 7.705(5),c 5.477(2) ;Z 4) was prepared in 5 h at high ball:powder ratios and characterised by powder X-ray diffraction(PXD),Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(SEM/EDX).The products formed sub-micron scale(typically 200-400 nm in size) crystallites that were approximately isotropic in shape.The dehydrogenation behaviour of the ternary hydride was investigated by temperature programmed desorption(TPD).The nanostructured hydride releases hydrogen in two steps with an onset temperature for the first step of 513 K.     

Do multiple cycles of aeolian deposit-pedogenesis exist in the reticulate red clay sections in southern China？

The Xiangyang reticulate red clay section was newly sampled in high-resolution. The viewpoints different from the previous studies^[1-7] are put forward after studying Munsell color values, weathering degrees, magnetic parameters and stable carbon isotopic compositions of the section.They are as follows: (1) The curves of hue, DCB extracted iron (Fed), DCB extracted iron/total iron ratio (Fed/Fet),weathering index (BA) of the section show that the redness is not significantly correlated with the weathering degree of the layers though the uppermost yellow-brown-colored layer is relatively weakly weathered. The variation in hues of the section is possibly attributed to the change of hematite and goethite contents. It is insufficient to determine the existence of the multiple deposit-pedogenesis cycles in the section, like the Ioess-paleosol sequence in Chinese Loess Plateau, only by the color variation. (2) Magnetic susceptibility (X) values in the non-reticulate and weakly reticulate layers are high; but are quite low in the reticulate red clay layer. The former are more than ten times higher than the latter because of the leaching and collapse of superparamagnetic (SP) and stable single domain (SSD) magnetic particles during the plinthitic processes. Hence, X values in the section are not controlled by weathering and pedogenic processes, and no longer have clear paleoclimatic implication. It is not correct to prove the existence of the multiple deposit-pedogenesis cycles in the section using X curves. (3) The organic δ^13C curve of the section illustrates the reduction of forests and increasing of C4 plants in the study area since the late stage of the Quaternary period. It could not prove the existence of the multiple deposit-pedogenesis cycles in the section either. (4) As a matter of fact, it is difficult to prove the existence of the multiple deposit-pedogenesis cycles in the Xiangyang section like the Ioess-paleosol sequence in Chinese Loess Plateau using the evidence available currently.     

Improved ethanol, acetone and H2 sensing performances of micro-sensors based on loose ZnO nanofibers

Both one-dimensional nanostructures and porous nanostructures are benefit to the sensing enhancement of semiconducting functional materials.The present paper shows an effective route to combining the advantages of these two nanostructures for a novel type of ZnO nanomaterials.Basically,a pore-forming material is employed in an electrospinning method,and the products are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction(XRD),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The obtained materials are loose ZnO nanofibers,which own both porous and one-dimensional nanostructures.Micro-sensors are fabricated by sputtering and etching techniques,and the as-prepared nanofibers are used as the functional materials in them.The sensors show improved sensing properties both in sensitivity and response-speeds.The sensitivity is enhanced from 4 to 8 and the response time is shortened from 14 to 10 s when the sensors are exposed to 100 μL/L ethanol at 260℃.Similar results are also observed in acetone and H2 sensing tests.These enhancements are based on the one-dimensional and porous nanostructures of the nanofibers.     

Effects of sphere size on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ductile iron–steel hollow sphere syntactic foams

The effects of sphere size on the microstructural and mechanical properties of ductile iron–steel hollow sphere (DI–SHS) syntactic foams were investigated in this study. The SHSs were manufactured by fluidized-bed coating via the Fe-based commercial powder–binder suspension onto expanded polystyrene spheres (EPSs). Afterwards, the DI–SHS syntactic foams were produced via a sand-mold casting process. The microstructures of specimens were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The microscopic evaluations of specimens reveal distinct regions composed of the DI matrix, SHS shells, and compatible interface. As a result, the microstructures and graphite morphologies of the DI matrix depend on sphere size. When the sphere size decreases, the area fractions of cementite and graphite phases are observed to increase and decrease, respectively. Compression tests were subsequently conducted at ambient temperature on the DI–SHS syntactic foams. The results reveal that the compression behavior of the syntactic foams is enhanced with increasing sphere size. Furthermore, the compressed specimens demonstrate that microcracks start and grow from the interface region.     

Preparation and characterization of Ni/Co bimetallic nano-clusters

Ni/Co bimetallic nano-cluters have been prepared from the aqueous solution by reducing their corresponding metal salts under suitable conditions. The experimental conditions including the type and concentration of protective agent, feeding order and the pH of the solution that influence the average particle size have been studied in detail. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)indicates that the shape of those bimetallic nano-cluster particles is spheroid. The alloy structure has been shown by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) data have confirmed that the nickel and cobalt in the bimetallic nano-clusters are in the zero-valence state.     

Studies on the Crystallization Properties and Morphology Structure of the Cationic Dyeable Polypropylene Fibers

The crystallization properties and morphology structure of the cationic dyeable polypropylene fibers which were produced by the blending spinning method were studied by making use of X-ray and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It comes to the conclusions that the larger the crystallite size in the fibers is , the better the dycable properties of the fibers are and there is a little compatibility between the dyeable agent and polypropylene resin. And the dye-uptake of the fibers may be up to 90% because the dyeable agent can uniformly be scattered in polypropylene.     

Distribution characteristics of magnetic susceptibility of the surface sediments in the southern Yellow Sea

The characteristic distributions of magnetic susceptibility (MS) are analyzed on the basis of susceptibility of 172 surface sediment samples in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS). The preliminary results are as follows: first, the distributions clearly correspond to different modern sediment assemblages in the continental sea, which indicates different sediment origins. With the 30 μCGS isoline being taken as demarcation line, the study area can then be divided into section H (high MS value area) and section L (low MS value area). Section H is mainly adjacent to land with two main sources of the Changjiang River and the Huanghe River.Section L is mainly an eddy sediment area, where Yellow Sea Cold Water is entrenched all the year round. The distribution pattern of MS could tell apart strong or weak hydrodynamic conditions and has a close relation to the circulation system in this area. At the areas of the SYS Circumfluent and northern East China Sea (NECS) Circumfluent (weak hydrodynamic), the MS has low values, while in the areas of Coastal Current (strong hydrodynamic), the values are high.At the same time, the oxidizing areas tend to take on higher MS, while the reducing areas have lower one. It seems safe to say that the MS in the continental sea reflects more of the sediment origin and sedimentary environment, which is different from that of loess, lake and surface soil as a climate proxy.     

Characterization of Titanium-Containing Compounds in Gray Iron

Titanium produces different compounds in gray iron. In order to determine their characteristics, a scanning electron microscope, an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and an optical microscopy were used to analyze the morphology, distribution, and composition of titanium-containing compounds in metal- Iographic specimens and machined surfaces in four gray irons. The results show that the titanium-containing compounds in the gray irons are complex compounds containing V, Nb, Mn, S, and other metals, depending on the concentration of these elements in the iron. The number of titanium-containing compounds increases with increasing Ti content in the gray iron. Most of the titanium-containing compounds are located in the pearlite matrix, with some in the steadite and carbides. The results suggest that titanium-containing compounds reduce tool lifetime.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Photoluminescence Properties of Two Cadmium(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymers

The solvothermal reaction of CdCl_2·2.5 H_2O with terephthalic acid yields two new three-dimensional(3 D) cadmium(II) coordination polymers(CPs), namely {[Cd(C_8H_4O_4)Cl]·C_2H_8N}_n and [Cd(C_8H_4O_4)]_n, we use the abbreviations CP1 and CP2 to refer to them, respectively. The compounds are characterized in detail by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA). The results indicate that compounds CP1 and CP2 are 3 D frameworks, and both the compounds feature a uninodal 4-connected framework with a dia net. The empty spaces of such 3 D framework are filed by the other two identical frameworks, leading to a 3-fold interpenetrated network. In addition, the photochemical properties of the frameworks are also investigated. The two frameworks show strong solid-state fluorescence emission at 463 and 503 nm, respectively, which are obvious red-shift compared to the emission of ligand.     

The effects of the guide field on the structures of electron density depletions in collisionless magnetic reconnection

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed to investigate the formation of electron density depletions in collisionless magnetic reconnection.In anti-parallel reconnection,the quadrupole structures of the out-of-plane magnetic field are formed,and four symmetric electron density depletion layers can be found along the separatrices due to the effects of magetic mirror.With the increase of the initial guide field,the symmetry of both the out-of-plane magnetic field and electron density depletion layers is distorted.When the initial guide field is sufficiently large,the electron density depletion layers along the lower left and upper right separatrices disappear.The parallel electric field in guide field reconnection is found to play an important role in forming such structures of the electron density depletion layers.The structures of the out-of-plane magnetic field By and electron depletion layers in anti-parallel and guide field reconnection are found to be related to electron flow or in-plane currents in the separatrix regions.In anti-parallel reconnection,electrons flow towards the X line along the separatrices,and are directed away from the X line along the magnetic field lines just inside the separatrices.In guide field reconnection,electrons can only flow towards the X line along the upper left and lower right separatrices due to the existence of the parallel electric field in these regions.     

Morphology and microstructure characterization of 95W-3.5Ni-1.5Fe powder prepared by mechanical alloying

The mechanism of mechanical solid-state reactions for formation of tungsten heavy alloy powder was discussed. A high-energy ball mill operating at room temperature was used for preparing tungsten heavy alloy powders,starting from elemental tungsten (W),nickel (Ni),and iron (Fe) powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD),particle size analyzer,scanning electron microscopy (SEM),and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to follow the progress of the mechanical solid-state reaction of W,Ni,and Fe pow-ders. These morphological studies revealed three stages in the milling process. In the first stage,the particle deformation changes the irregular structure of the as-received powder particles to flattened morphology,and the average particle size increases. In the second stage,the powder is sufficiently deformed and the tendency to fracture predominates over welding,and the particle size decreases. With continuous milling,the system reaches steady state,and relatively small and uniform particle size distribution is obtained after 20 h of milling.     

Evaluation of the Potential of the Ternary Aluminides in Nb-Ti-Al system for Hiyh Temperature Application

Being aimed to developing intermetallic base structural materials to be worked at above 1000℃, a systematic investigation has been performed of the fundamental crystallographic structure, phase constitution map, density-composition dependence, oxidation resistance and general mechanical behaviour for the ternary intermetallic alloys in the Nb-Ti-Al system. Promissing results have been obtained at the initial stage in the current program. The 1100℃ high temperature strength at the strain rate of 10-2/s and 10-5/s for the ternary compound NbTiAl3 (γ1) base alloys are generally much higher than that of the binary compound TiAl (γ), especially in the γ1 + α2 phase region, it is as high as twice as that of TiAl. The densities are 4.1-4.79g/cm3, depending on relative amount of the intermetallics involved and the density difference between the intermetallics. The oxidation resistance at the temperature of 900-1200℃ of the compound NbTiAl3 is relatively low but still acceptable. However, by adjusting the     

Synthesis and characterization of the nanostructured solid solution with extended solubility of graphite in nickel by mechanical alloying

In the present work, mechanical alloying of a powder mixture of nickel and graphite (up to 15wt%) was carried out in an attrition mill under a nitrogen atmosphere. The as-milled powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 15wt% graphite dissolved into the nickel (exceeding the negligible solid solubility in the nickel-carbon system), thereby forming a supersaturated solid solution of graphite in a nickel matrix. The dissolved graphite occupied interstitial positions along the dislocation edges and at the grain-boundary regions. A three-step graphite dissolution mechanism has been proposed. The associated changes in the nickel lattice, such as changes in the crystallite size (62 to 43 nm), lattice strain (0.12% to 0.3%), and lattice parameter (0.3533 to 0.3586 nm), which led to the formation of the supersaturated solid solution, were also evaluated and discussed.     

Dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by nickel nanoparticles under the acidic conditions

Metal nanoparticles are effective for remediation of contamination with a range of compounds including chlorinated organics.However,the sorption process of the passivation oxide layers on the metal nanoparticle surfaces may result in incomplete degradation of contaminants.This phenomenon can be prevented by an acidic washing procedure or reaction in an acidic medium.In this paper,nickel nanoparticles manufactured via the carbonyl powder process were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The sorption and degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by nickel nanoparticles under acidic conditions was then investigated.Transmission electron microscopy and XRD results showed that the nickel nanoparticles range in size from 10 to 20 nm,and a thin passivation layer of NiO is present on the surface.This oxide layer can be removed by pretreatment washing with acidic solutions.It was indicated that dechlorination was the key reaction pathway for degradation of 2,4-DCP by nickel nanoparticles under acidic conditions.The main degradation products were 4-Chlorophenol,2-Chlorophenol,and Phenol,and among these,Phenol was dominant.The acidic medium promoted degradation by providing an appropriate pH,and H+ may be involved in the reaction.Dechlorination of 2,4-DCP by nickel nanoparticles under the acidic condition follows the second order kinetic model,and the rate constants at 298,306,316 K are 0.02,0.2 and 0.3 (g L h)-1,respectively.     

Characterization of 17-4PH stainless steel powders produced by supersonic gas atomization

17-4PH stainless steel powders were prepared using a supersonic nozzle in a close-coupled gas atomization system. The characteristics of powder particles were carried out by means of a laser particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The results show that the mass median particle diameter is about 19.15 μm. Three main types of surface microstructures are observed in the powders:well-developed dendrite, cellular, and cellular dendrite structure. The XRD measurements show that, as the particle size decreases, the amount of fcc phase gradually decreases and that of bcc phase increases. The cooling rate is inversely related to the particle size, i.e., it decreases with an increase in particle size.     

Spheroidization of molybdenum powder by radio frequency thermal plasma

To control the morphology and particle size of dense spherical molybdenum powder prepared by radio frequency (RF) plasma from irregular molybdenum powder as a precursor, plasma process parameters were optimized in this paper. The effects of the carrier gas flow rate and molybdenum powder feeding rate on the shape and size of the final products were studied. The molybdenum powder morphology was examined using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The powder phases were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The tap density and apparent density of the molybdenum powder were investigated using a Hall flow meter and a Scott volumeter. The optimal process parameters for the spherical molybdenum powder preparation are 50 g/min powder feeding rate and 0.6 m3/h carrier gas rate. In addition, pure spherical molybdenum powder can be obtained from irregular powder, and the tap density is enhanced after plasma processing. The average size is reduced from 72 to 62 μm, and the tap density is increased from 2.7 to 6.2 g/cm3. Therefore, RF plasma is a promising method for the preparation of high-density and high-purity spherical powders.     

Kinetics and mechanism of titanium hydride powder and aluminum melt reaction

Based on the measurement of the released hydrogen gas pressure (P_H2), the reaction kinetics between TiH₂ powder and pure aluminum melt was studied at various temperatures. After cooling the samples, the interface of TiH₂ powder and aluminum melt was studied. The results show that the 2 H P_H2-time curves have three regions; in the first and second regions, the rate of reaction conforms zero and one order, respectively; in the third region, the hydrogen gas pressure remains constant and the rate of reaction reaches zero. The main factors that control the rate of reaction in the first and second regions are the penetration of hydrogen atoms in the titanium lattice and the chemical reaction between molten aluminum and titanium, respectively. According to the main factors that control the rate of reaction, three temperature ranges are considered for the reaction mechanism:(a) 700-750℃, (b) 750-800℃, and (c) 800-1000℃. In the first temperature range, the reaction is mostly under the control of chemical reaction; at the temperature range of 750 to 800℃, the reaction is controlled by the diffusion and chemical reaction; at the third temperature range (800-1000℃), the dominant controlling mechanism is diffusion.