Novel approaches to produce Al2O3– TiC/TiCN– Fecomposite powders directly from ilmenite

Al2O3 –TiC/TiCN–Fe composite powders were successfully prepared directly from ilmenite at 1300–1400℃.The effects of Al/C ratio,sintering atmosphere,and reaction temperature and time on the reaction products were investigated.Results showed that the nitrogen atmosphere was bene cial to the reduction of ilmenite and the formation of Al2O3 –TiC/TiCN–Fe composite powders.When the reaction temperature was between 600 and 1100℃,the intermediate products,TiO2,Ti3O5 and Ti4O7 were found,which changed to TiC or TiCN at higher temperature.Al/C ratio was found to affect the reaction process and synthesis products.When Al addition was 0.5 mol,the Al2O3 phase did not appear.The content of carbon in TiCN rose when the reaction temperature was increased.     

Effect of SiO2/Na2O mole ratio on the properties of foam geopolymers fabricated from circulating fluidized bed fly ash

Geopolymers are three-dimensional aluminosilicates formed in a short time at low temperature by geopolymerization. In this pa-per, alkali-activated foam geopolymers were fabricated from circulating fluidized bed fly ash （CFA）, and the effect of SiO2/Na2O mole ratio （0.91-1.68） on their properties was studied. Geopolymerization products were characterized by mechanical testing, scanning electron mi-croscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDX）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that SiO2/Na2O mole ratio plays an important role in the mechanical and morphological characteristics of geopolymers. Foam samples prepared in 28 d with a SiO2/Na2O mole ratio of 1.42 exhibit the greatest compressive strength of 2.52 MPa. Morphological analysis reveals that these foam geo-polymers appear the relatively optimized pore structure and distribution, which are beneficial to the structure stability. Moreover, a combina-tion of the Si/Al atomic ratio ranging between 1.47 and 1.94 with the Na/Al atomic ratio of about 1 produces the samples with high strength.     

Suspension calcination and alkali leaching of low-grade high-sulfur bauxite:Desulfurization,mineralogical evolution and desilication

To enable the utilization of low-grade and high-sulfur bauxite, the suspension calcination was used to remove the sulfur and the activate silica minerals, and the calcinated bauxite was subjected to a desilication process in Na OH solution under atmospheric pressure. The desulfurization and desilication properties and mineralogical evolution were studied by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and FactSage methods. The results demonstrate that the suspension calcination method is efficient for sulfur removal: 84.21% of S was removed after calcination at 1000°C for 2 min. During the calcination process, diaspore and pyrite were transferred to α-Al2O3, magnetite, and hematite. The phase transformation of pyrite follows the order FeS2 → Fe3O4 → Fe2O3, and the iron oxides and silica were converted into iron silicate. In the alkali-soluble desilication process, the optimum condition was an alkali solution concentration of 110 g/L, a reaction time of 20 min, and a reaction temperature of 95°C. The corresponding desilication ratio and alumina loss ratio were 44.9% and 2.4%, respectively, and the alumina-to-silica mass ratio of the concentrate was 7.9. The Al2O3·2SiO2, SiO2, and Al2O3 formed during the calcination process could react with Na OH solution, and their activity decreased in the order of Al2O3·2 SiO2, SiO2, and Al2O3.     

Effect of Al2O3 on the viscosity of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-Cr2O3 slags

We investigated the effect of Al2O3 content on the viscosity of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8wt%MgO-1wt%Cr2O3(mass ratio of CaO/SiO2 is 1.0,and Al2O3 content is 17wt%-29wt%)slags.The results show that the viscosity of the slag increases gradually with increases in the Al2O3 content in the range of 17wt%to 29wt%due to the role of Al2O3 as a network former in the polymerization of the aluminosilicate structure of the slag.With increases in the Al2O3 content from 17wt%to 29wt%,the apparent activation energy of the slags also increases from 180.85 to 210.23 kJ/mol,which is consistent with the variation in the critical temperature.The Fourier-transform infrared spectra indicate that the degree of polymerization of this slag is increased by the addition of Al2O3.The application of Iida’s model for predicting the slag viscosity in the presence of Cr2O3 indicates that the calculated viscosity values fit well with the measured values when both the temperature and Al2O3 content are at relatively low levels,i.e.,the temperature range of 1673 to 1803 K and the Al2O3 content range of 17wt%-29wt%in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8wt%MgO-1wt%Cr2O3 slag.     

Redox modulated hydrogelation of a self-assembling short peptide amphiphile

Hydrogels resulting from the self-assembly of small peptides are smart nanobiomaterials as their nanostructuring can be readily tuned by environmental stimuli such as pH,ionic strength and temperature,thereby favoring their practical applications.This work reports experimental observations of formation of peptide hydrogels in response to the redox environment.Ac-I 3 K-NH 2 is a short peptide amphiphile that readily self-assembles into long nanofibers and its gel formation occurs at concentrations of about 10 mmol/L.Introduction of a Cys residue into the hydrophilic region leads to a new molecule,Ac-I 3 CGK-NH 2,that enables the formation of disulfide bonds between self-assembled nanofibers,thus favoring cross-linking and promoting hydrogel formation.Under oxidative environment,Ac-I 3 CGK-NH 2 formed hydrogels at much lower concentrations(even at 0.5 mmol/L).Furthermore,the strength of the hydrogels could be easily tuned by switching between oxidative and reductive conditions and time.However,AFM,TEM,and CD measurements revealed little morphological and structural changes at molecular and nano dimensions,showing no apparent influence arising from the disulfide bond formation.     

Character and fabrication of Al/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Al tunnel junctions for qubit application

The superconductive Josephson junction is the key device for superconducting quantum computation. We have fabricated Al/Al2O3/Al tunnel junctions using a double angle evaporation method based on a suspended shadow mask. The Al2O3 junction barrier has been formed by introducing pure oxygen into the chamber during the fabrication process. We have adjusted exposure conditions by changing either the oxygen pressure or the oxidizing time during the formation of tunnel barriers to control the critical current density Jc and the junction specific resistance Rc. Measurements of the leakage in Al/Al2O3/Al tunnel junctions show that the devices are suitable for qubit applications.     

Formation of macroporous gel morphology by phase separation in the silica sol-gel system containing nonionic surfactant

The phase separation and gel formation behavior in an alkoxy-derived silica sol-gel system containing C₁₆EO₁₅ has been investigated. Various gel morphologies similar to other sol-gel systems containing organic additives were obtained by changing the preparation conditions. Micrometer-range interconnected porous gels were obtained by freezing transitional structures of phase separation in the sol-gel process. The dependence of the resulting gel morphology on several important reaction parameters such as the starting composition, reaction temperature and acid catalyst concentration was studied in detail. The experimental results indicate that the gel morphology is mainly determined by the time relation between the onset of phase separation and gel formation.     

Catalysis on Interface of Nano-oxide and Nano-zeolite

1 Results The catalysts which can efficiently hydro-reform higher n-paraffin to lower isoparaffins for environmentally-friendly gasoline were studied. The catalysts were examined by the conversion of n-hexadecane, n-C16H34 to i-C6H14—i-C10H22.The tri-modally nano-porous catalysts composed of (Ni-Mo)/[γ-Al2O3], nano-oxide, and nano-crystalline zeolite had some active and selective performance because of the interface between nano-oxide and nano-zeolite. The catalyst composed of nano-crystalline MFI or BEA zeolite can be more activated with nano-SiO2 than with Al2O3. The catalyst composed of USY (SiO2/Al2O3=12), dealuminated zeolite cannot be activated with nano-SiO2 but with nano-Al2O3. This activation depends on the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of USY as shown in Fig.1.     

Effects of synthetic conditions on the structure and morphology of open-ended vanadium oxide nanotubes and study of their growth mechanism

Vanadium oxide nanotubes (VOx-NTs) have been synthesized by using n-butylamine as structuredirecting template and V2O5 as precursor under hydrothermal conditions. XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, BET and TG-DTA characterizations have been performed to both optimize the synthetic conditions and understand the growth mechanism of VOx-NTs. The results showed that open-ended VOx-NTs were obtained under the optimized conditions (hydrothermal temperature: 150―160°C, hydrothermal time: 5―7 d, the molar ratio of V2O5 to n-butylamine is 1:1) with diameters ranging from about 30 to 100 nm and several micrometers in length. The BET surface area and the desorption cumulative pore volume of pores of the as-synthesized sample were about 27.4609 m2/g and 0.191087 cm3/g, respectively. The result presents that the synthesis of VOx-NTs is controlled by the "rolling" mechanism and temperature is primary driving force for rolling.     

Diffusion effects on formation process of mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41

The regular mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 has been investigated at different stages during its formation,using high resolution transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction.The results not only support the liquid-crystal templating mechanism previously postulated,but allow the extension fo its scope to discribe ditails of MCM-41 formation.It has been observed that formation of the hexagonal liquid crystal phase on the one hand and of silica aggregates on the other,occurs simultaneously at the inception of gel formation and throughout the crystallisation.This process is most probably affected by diffusion of both the surfactant molecules and the oligomeric silicate ions.With this postulate it becomes possible to explain several experimental observation(both old and new)and to develop a multi-step synthesis method to grow large particles of MCM-41 using small calcined crystals of MCM-41 as seeds.     

MCM-22分子筛静态水热晶化法合成的优化

系统地考察静态水热晶化法合成条件如硅源、晶化时间、凝胶配比及成胶老化方式等对MCM-22合成的影响,并通过XRD、SEM和FT-IR等方法对合成的MCM-22分子筛进行表征.研究结果表明:硅酸、硅溶胶、硅胶在适当比例下都能合成出较纯的MCM-22分子筛,但其聚集形貌及晶粒大小有所不同;晶化时间为8～10 d,MCM-22分子筛结晶度较高;凝胶的初始配比对产物物相的影响较大,最佳条件为n(SiO2)/n(Al2O3)=30～60,n(OH-)/n(SiO2)=0.15～0.25,n(HMI)/n(SiO2)=0.35～0.6,n(H2O)/n(SiO2)=20～45;成胶老化方式对MCM-22分子筛的晶化影响不大.     

Effect of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3sf</Subscript> addition on the friction and wear properties of (SiC<Subscript>p</Subscript>+Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3sf</Subscript>)/Al2024 composites fabricated by pressure infiltration

Aluminum (Al) 2024 matrix composites reinforced with alumina short fibers (Al₂O_3sf) and silicon carbide particles (SiC_p) as wear-resistant materials were prepared by pressure infiltration in this study. Further, the effect of Al₂O_3sf on the friction and wear properties of the as-synthesized composites was systematically investigated, and the relationship between volume fraction and wear mechanism was discussed. The results showed that the addition of Al₂O_3sf, characterized by the ratio of Al₂O_3sf to SiC_p, significantly affected the properties of the composites and resulted in changes in wear mechanisms. When the volume ratio of Al₂O_3sf to SiC_p was increased from 0 to 1, the rate of wear mass loss (K_m) and coefficients of friction (COFs) of the composites decreased, and the wear mechanisms were abrasive wear and furrow wear. When the volume ratio was increased from 1 to 3, the COF decreased continuously; however, the K_m increased rapidly and the wear mechanism became adhesive wear.     

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.     

不同硅铝比的Beta/MCM-41复合分子筛的合成和性能

分别以四乙基氢氧化铵和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵作为微孔相和介孔相的模板,采用两步晶化法制备了4种具有不同硅铝比,含微孔和介孔双模孔结构的Beta/McM-41复合分子筛.采用X射线衍射、N2吸附-脱附对Beta/MCM-41复合分子筛的结构进行了表征,利用吡啶吸附红外光谱(Py-FTIR)以及正庚烷裂解作为探针反应,对不同硅铝比的Beta/MCM-41复合分子筛的酸量和催化性能进行了研究.实验结果表明,随投料硅铝比的增加,复合分子筛介孔相有序性逐渐提高,微孔相的结晶度逐渐减小,酸量降低,正庚烷裂解的转化率明显下降.说明该复合分子筛的性能可随硅铝比的变化进行调变.     

Al_2O_3-SiO_2∶Ln~(3+)发光陶瓷的合成及发光行为

采用溶胶－ 凝胶法合成出了Ａｌ２Ｏ３－ＳｉＯ２∶Ｌｎ３＋ （Ｌｎ＝ Ｅｕ,Ｔｂ）发光陶瓷粉末．利用ＸＲＤ、ＴＧ－ＤＴＡ和ＩＲ等实验技术,研究了发光陶瓷的形成过程,并对其发光行为进行了研究．     

Synthesis and modification of well-ordered layered cathode oxide LiNi<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Oxalic-acid-based co-precipitation method was employed to prepare LiNi_2/3Mn_1/3O₂ sample with a high-ordered structure. Li⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ acetates were used as starting materials. The influence of the amount of lithium source in the starting materials on Li⁺ content, disorder of Li⁺-Ni²⁺ ions, and electrochemical performance has been investigated. Rietveld refinement shows that the sample prepared with 20% excess Li-source in the starting materials exhibits a perfect ordered structure. A specific discharge capacity is as high as 172 mAh/g at C/20 in the voltage range of 4.35–2.7 V. However, the cyclability is not satisfactory: about 25.3% fade in capacity was observed over 50 cycles. Chemically stable SiO2 was coated on the surface of LiNi_2/3Mn_1/3O₂ particles. A significant improvement in cyclability was attained with 3 wt% SiO2 coating, which is ascribable to the protection of LiNi_2/3Mn_1/3O₂ particles from being dissolved into the electrolyte.     

Preparation and radar-absorbing properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Yb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite powder

Al₂O₃/TiO₂/Fe₂O₃/Yb₂O₃ composite powder was synthesized via the sol-gel method. The structure, morphology, and radar-absorption properties of the composite powder were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and RF impedance analysis. The results show that two types of particles exist in the composite powder. One is irregular flakes (100-200 nm) and the other is spherical Al₂O₃ particles (smaller than 80 nm). Electromagnetic wave attenuation is mostly achieved by dielectric loss. The maximum value of the dissipation factor reaches 0.76 (at 15.68 GHz) in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. The electromagnetic absorption of waves covers 2-18 GHz with the matching thicknesses of 1.5-4.5 mm. The absorption peak shifts to the lower-frequency area with increasing matching thickness. The effective absorption band covers the frequency range of 2.16-9.76 GHz, and the maximum absorption peak reaches -20.18 dB with a matching thickness of 3.5 mm at a frequency of 3.52 GHz.     

In-situ fabrication of Al(Zn)-Al2O3 graded composite using the aluminothermic reaction during hot pressing

In this study, the fabrication of multilayer Al(Zn)–Al₂O₃ with different volume fractions of Al₂O₃ was investigated. Al and ZnO powders were milled by a planetary ball mill, after which five-layer functionally graded samples were produced through hot pressing at 580℃ and 90 MPa pressure for 30 min. Formation of reinforcing Al₂O₃ particles occurred in the aluminum matrix via the aluminothermic reaction. Determination of the ignition temperature of the aluminothermic reaction was accomplished using differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometery analyses were utilized to characterize the specimens. The thermal analysis results showed that the ignition temperatures for the aluminothermic reaction of layers with the highest and lowest ZnO contents were 667 and 670℃, respectively. Microstructural observation and chemical analysis confirmed the fabrication of Al(Zn)–Al₂O₃ functionally graded materials composites with precipitation of additional Zn in the matrix. Moreover, nearly dense functionally graded samples demonstrated minimum and maximum hardness values of HV 75 and HV 130, respectively.     

二氧化硅负载磷钨钼酸催化合成苹果酯-B

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了多相催化剂H3PW6Mo6O40/SiO2,并通过FT-IR、XRD对其进行了表征。探讨了该催化剂对合成苹果酯-B的催化活性,较系统地研究了酯醇物质的量比、催化剂用量、带水剂用量、反应时间等因素对产品收率的影响。研究发现:H3PW6Mo6O40/SiO2是合成苹果酯-B的良好催化剂,在n(乙酰乙酸乙酯)∶n(1,2-丙二醇)=1∶1.3,催化剂用量为反应物总质量的1.0%,带水剂环己烷用量为12 mL,反应时间45 min的适宜条件下,苹果酯-B的收率为71.4%.