Synthesis and performance of Ca-α/β-SiAlON composites from tailings

Ca-α/β-SiAlON composites were prepared using Ca-α/β-SiAlON powder synthesized from gold ore tailings, which contained abundant Si and Al elements as the major raw materials together with minor additives, through a pressure-less sintering method. The influences of sintering temperature on the phase composition and microstructure of the composites were analyzed. The scanning electron microscopy images of the composites show the interlacing of grains with elongated columnar, short columnar and plate-like morphologies. The composites sintered at 1520℃ for 6 h have a flexural strength of 352 MPa, Vickers hardness of 11.2 GPa, and fracture toughness of 4.8 MPa·m1/2. The relative content of each phase in the products is I(Ca-α-SiAlON):I(β-SiAlON):I(Fe₃Si) = 23:74:3, where I_i stands for the diffraction peak intensity of phase i.     

Hot deformation behavior of microstructural constituents in a duplex stainless steel during high-temperature straining

The hot deformation characteristics of 1.4462 duplex stainless steel (DSS) were analyzed by considering strain partitioning between austenite and ferrite constituents. The individual behavior of ferrite and austenite in microstructure was studied in an iso-stress condition. Hot compression tests were performed at temperatures of 800–1100℃ and strain rates of 0.001–1 s?1. The flow stress was modeled by a hyperbolic sine constitutive equation, the corresponding constants and apparent activation energies were determined for the studied alloys. The constitutive equation and law of mixture were used to measure the contribution factor of each phase at any given strain. It is found that the contribution factor of ferrite exponentially declines as the Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) increases. On the contrary, the austenite contribution polynomially increases with the increase of Z. At low Z values below 2.6.×1015 (lnZ=35.5), a negative contribution factor is determined for austenite that is attributed to dynamic recrystallization. At high Z values, the contribution factor of austenite is about two orders of magnitude greater than that of ferrite, and therefore, austenite can accommodate more strain. Microstructural characterization via electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) confirms the mechanical results and shows that austenite recrystallization is possible only at high temperature and low strain rate.     

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.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the preparation of Cu–Ti3SiC2 metal matrix composite

Ti3SiC2 has the potential to replace graphite as reinforcing particles in Cu matrix composites for applications in brush,electrical contacts and electrode materials.In this paper the fabrication of Cu-Ti3SiC2 metal matrix composites prepared by warm compaction powder metallurgy forming and spark plasma sintering(SPS) was studied.The stability of Ti3SiC2 at different sintering temperatures was also studied.The present experimental results indicate that the reinforcing particles in Cu-Ti3SiC2 composites are not stable at and above 800℃.The decomposition of Ti3SiC2 will lead to the formation of TiC and/or other carbides and TiSi2.If purity is the major concern,the processing and servicing temperatures of the Cu-Ti3SiC2 composite should be limited to 750℃ or lower.The composites prepared by warm compaction forming and SPS sintering at 750℃ have lower density when compared with the composites prepared by SPS sintering at 950℃,but their electrical resistivity values are very close to each other and even lower.     

A novel hydrothermal method for zinc extraction and separation from zinc ferrite and electric arc furnace dust

A novel hydrothermal process was developed to extract zinc from pure zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) nanopowder and zinc-containing electric arc furnace (EAF) dust using hexahydrated ferric chloride (FeCl₃·6H₂O) as a decomposing agent. The effects of solid FeCl₃·6H₂O to ZnFe₂O₄ ratio by mass (R_F/Z), hydrothermal reaction temperature, and time on zinc extraction were systematically investigated. In the results, when the hydrothermal reaction is conducted at 150℃ for 2 h with R_F/Z of 15:20, the efficiency of zinc extraction from ZnFe₂O₄ reaches 97.2%, and the concentration of ferric ions (Fe3+) in the leaching solution is nearly zero, indicating a high selectivity for zinc. In addition, the zinc extraction efficiency from the EAF dust reaches 94.5% in the case of the hydrothermal reaction performed at 200℃ for 10 h with the solid FeCl₃·6H₂O to EAF dust ratio by mass (R_{F/EAF dust}) of 15:10. Zinc and iron separation is achieved by adjusting the pH value of the leaching solution according to the different precipitation pH values of metal hydroxides.     

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.     

Effective antibacterial and phase change PEG/Cu2O@A-HNTs composites for melt-spun difunctional PA6 fiber

Serving as the only defensive line between pathogens and human body, personal protective equipment (PPE) is increasingly attractive among researchers because of their strong antibacterial and temperature control abilities. However, efficient antibacterial properties and regenerative thermal control simultaneously remain unexplored in PPE. Here, one-dimensional halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) modified by acid etch method, are used to synthesis a multifunctional material of PEG/Cu₂O@A-HNTs via in-situ reduction and physical adsorption which serves the above two purposes. PEG/Cu₂O@A-HNTs showed rapid bacterial inactivation and achieved 96.3% bacteriostatic rate against E. coli in only 20 ?min. Meanwhile a broad and complete inactivation spectrum included both E. coli and S. aureus following a series of antibacterial mechanisms. Moreover, adsorption of 70 ?wt% PEG by acid etch HNTs is attributed to the nearly 3 times increased specific surface area compared with native HNTs. This enabled PEG/Cu₂O@A-HNTs to attain a phase change enthalpy of 108.4 ?J/g. In addition, using PEG/Cu₂O@A-HNTs as additives, antibacterial and phase change fiber (APCF) were melt-spun. Their efficiency factor against E. coli and S. aureus was above 99.99%, and retained a temperature control ability for 180s and 272s compared with PA6 fiber in hot and frigid environments respectively.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity and relationships within and between two breeds of duck based on microsatellite markers

The genetic diversity of two natural populations (M, N) of Beijing duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and 11 artificially selected lines of Beijing duck (A, B, E-L, O) from China Gold Star Duck Production Ltd., along with two Cherry Valley duck lines (C and D) from the British Cherry Valley Livestock Division, was evaluated using 18 microsatellite markers covering 16 linkage groups. A phylogenetic tree of the 15 populations of duck, formed of four main branches, was constructed from Nei’s D_A genetic distance. The mean genetic differentiation index (F_ST) in all loci, Nei’s standard genetic distance (Ds), and the genetic distance D_A between the Beijing duck and the Cherry Valley duck were 0.075, 0.143 and 0.142, respectively. These results demonstrated a high degree of genetic similarity between the two breeds and supported the hypothesis that the Cherry Valley duck was derived from the Beijing duck. The F_ST matrix of seven clusters of Beijing duck suggested that the efficiency of selection was not significant to some extent and should be supplemented by marker-assisted selection.     

InAsSb thick epilayers applied to long wavelength photoconductors

InAs_0.052Sb_0.948 epilayers with cutoff wavelengths longer than 8 μm were successfully grown on InAs substrates using melt epitaxy (ME). Scanning electron microscopy observations show that the interface between the epilayers and substrates is flat, indicating the good quality of the epilayers, and the thickness of the epilayers is 40 μm. Photoconductors were fabricated using InAs_0.052Sb_0.948 thick epilayers grown by ME. Ge optical lenses were set on the photoconductors. At room temperature, the photoresponse wavelength range was 2–10 μm. The peak detectivity D_λp* reached 5.4 × 109 cm·Hz1/2·W?1 for the immersed detectors. The detectivity D* was 9.3 × 108 and 1.3 × 108 cm·Hz1/2·W?1 at the wavelength of 8 and 9 μm, respectively. The good performance of the uncooled InAsSb detectors was experimentally validated.     

Formation and mechanical properties of Zr-based bulk metallic glass composites with high oxygen levels

Zr-based bulk metallic glass(BMG) composites with in situ formed Y 2 O 3 particle reinforcements were synthesized by proper additions of Y to ultrahigh-oxygen-containing glass-forming alloy precursors.Microstructures,thermal stabilities,and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated.Glass formation was greatly enhanced by Y additions in the alloys and the resultant particles were homogenously distributed in the glassy matrix,allowing for the fabrication of oxide dispersion strengthened BMG composites.The compressive strength and hardness increased by 10% and 20%,respectively,with the introduction of Y 2 O 3 particles.These results are significant for the design and production of Zr-based BMGs and BMG composites with improved properties using commercial high-oxygen content raw materials under industrial conditions.     

Enhanced hydrogen storage properties of NaBH4–Mg(BH4)2 composites by NdF3 addition

As two important members of complex hydrides, Mg(BH₄)₂ and NaBH₄ have a high gravimetric capacity (14.9 and 10.8 ​wt%, respectively). In this study, the Mg(BH₄)₂ was synthesized by the ion exchange method. Afterwards, the Mg(BH₄)₂ and NaBH₄ composites with different amounts (30, 40 and 50 ​wt%) of NdF₃ were prepared by mechanical milling. Effects of the NdF₃ on the microstructural evolution and hydrogen storage properties were investigated. The results show that NdF₃ catalyst can significantly improve the dehydrogenation kinetics of the eutectic composites of NaBH₄–Mg(BH₄)₂. The onset hydrogen desorption temperature of the composites is about 88.6 ​°C, which is about 110 ​°C lower than that of Mg(BH₄)₂ and NaBH₄ composites. Mg(BH₄)₂–NaBH₄-0.5NdF₃ composites can released 5.2 ​wt% H₂ at 250 ​°C within 30 ​min, and the dehydrogenation capacity is significantly higher than that of Mg(BH₄)₂–NaBH₄ composites. The analysis of the dehydrogenation mechanism reveals that NdF₃ takes participate in the reaction to generate NaMgF₃ to promote the dehydrogenation reaction process of the composites.     

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.     

5,5’-偶氮四唑-5-氮氧化物钠五水合物的晶体结构及相关理论研究

化合物5,5’-偶氮四唑钠（2）在稀盐酸中分解得到5-肼基四唑盐酸盐（3）,5-肼基四唑盐酸盐与氢氧化钠中和后除去产物中的NaCl,在甲醇中重结晶得到5,5’-偶氮四唑-5-氮氧化物钠五水合物（4）,采用MS,元素分析等对这些化合物进行表征. 用X射线单晶衍射法测定获得了化合物 3 和4的晶体数据. 化合物3属于单斜晶系,P2（1）/n空间群,其晶胞参数a=0.438（2）nm,b=2.395 6（2）nm,c=0.493 6（2）nm,Z=4,V=0.546（4）nm3,D_c=1.659 g/cm3,F（000）=280;化合物 4属于三单斜晶系,P-1空间群,其晶胞参数a=0.715 81（19） nm,b=0.766 3（2）nm,c=1.193 3（4） nm,Z=2,V=0.602 7（3） nm3,D_c=1.742 g/cm3,F（000）=324.      

In situ synthesis and hardness of TiC/Ti5Si3 composites on Ti-5Al-2.5Sn substrates by gas tungsten arc welding

TiC/Ti₅Si₃ composites were fabricated on Ti-5Al-2.5Sn substrates by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Identification of the phases was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and optical microscopy (OM). The Vickers hardness was measured with a micro-hardness tester. The TiC/Ti₅Si₃ composites were obtained in a double-layer track, and the Vickers hardness of the track increased by two to three times compared with the Ti-5Al-2.5Sn substrate.     

Magnetoelectric and converse magnetoelectric res ponses in TbxDy1-xFe2-y alloy ＆ Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）（1-x）TixO3 crystal laminated composites

Measured results of magnetoelectric （ME） and converse magnetoelectric （CME） effects of TbxDy1-xFe2-y/ Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）（1-x）TixO3/TbxDy1-xFe2-y （TD/PMNT/TD） and PMNT/TD/PMNT laminated composites are presented. ME effect was determined by measuring laminate voltage output under a Helmholtz-generated AC field biased by a DC field （0-1 kOe） （1Oe = 79.58 A/m）. The CME effect was measured by recording the voltage induced in a solenoid encompassing the ME sample while exposed to a DC bias field and PMNT layer driven by a 10 V AC source. The ME and CME responses in the two laminated structure are linear. The highest values of ME coefficients in TD/PMNT/TD and PMNT/TD/PMNT composites are 384 mV/Oe and 158 mV/Oe, respectively, while the highest values of CME coefficients in the two composites are 118 mG/V and 162 mG/V （1 G=10^-4 T）, respectively.     

Climatic changes documented by stable isotopes of sedimentary carbonate in Lake Sugan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau of China, since 2 kaBP

Lake Sugan at the northern edge of the Qaidam Basin was selected as the research object. The temporal sequence of sedimentary cores retrieved from Lake Sugan since 2 kaBP was reconstructed using the ^210Pb, AMS 14C and conventional 14C dating methods. Carbon and oxygen isotopes of carbonate in the fine-grained lake sediments were analysed. Combined with the changes of 8180 values of surface water and air temperature observation data in the study area, it might be thought that the δ^18O value of the carbonate indicates effective moisture, and the changes in δ^13C values are related to annual freeze-up duration of the lake and indirectly indicate air temperature changes in winter half year. From the above, the sequence of climatic changes in the region since 2 kaBP was established. The climatic changes experienced five stages： Warm-dry climate during 0-190 AD： cold-dry climate during 190-580 AD; warm-dry climate during 580-1200 AD （MWP）; cold-wet climate during 1200-1880 AD （LIA）; cold-dry climate during 1880-1950 AD： and climate warming since 1950s. The air temperature changes in winter half year reflected by carbon isotope since 2 kaBP are in good agreement with the historical literature records and other geologic records, which shows that the climate changes recorded by the stable isotopes from Lake Sugan since 2 kaBP are of universal significance.     

Competing crystallite size and zinc concentration in silica coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

Silica coated(30 wt%) cobalt zinc ferrite(Co1 xZnxFe2O4, x?0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1) nanoparticles were synthesized by using sol–gel method. Silica acts as a spacer among the nanoparticles to avoid the agglomeration. X-ray diffraction(XRD) reveals the cubic spinel ferrite structure of nanoparticles with crystallite size in the range 37–45 nm. Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of spinel ferrite and SiO2. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) images show that the nanoparticles are nearly spherical and non-agglomerated due to presence of non-magnetic SiO2 surface coating. All these measurements signify that the structural and magnetic properties of Co1 xZnxFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles strongly depend on Zn concentration and nanoparticle average crystallite size in different Zn concentration regimes.& 2014 Chinese Materials Research Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

Synthesis of nonstoichiometric M-type barium ferrite nanobelt by spark plasma sintering method

This study investigated the feasibility of ultrafast crystallization of M-type barium ferrite when the coprecipitation precursors in stoichiometric proportions as BaFe12O19, Fe(OH)3 and BaCO3 nanoparticles, had been heated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The results show that SPS method may realize the ultrafast crystallization of M-type barium ferrite, absolutely prevent the crystallization of intermediate phase α-Fe2O3, and significantly decrease the crystallization temperature of M-type barium ferrite. The sintered samples obtained at 800℃ by sintering the precursors for 10 minutes are a kind of multiphase ferrites composed of major phase M-type barium ferrite and trace amount of BaFe0.24Fe0.76O2.88. It is discovered that M-type barium ferrites in the holes of the sintered samples are in nanobelt microstructure about 100-300 nm in width and several micrometers in length. These M-type barium ferrite nanobelts are non-stoichiometric and may be expressed as BaFe12 xO19 1.5x (-4.77≤x≤6.50). Their composistions suggest completely random Fe-rich or Ba-rich domains.     

Enhanced electromagnetic absorption in ferrite and tantalum pentoxide based polypyrrole nanocomposite

The electromagnetic interference(EMI) shielding properties of polypyrrole/barium ferrite/tantalum pentoxide nanocomposite were studied in the X-band frequency range from 8.2 GHz to 12.4 GHz. The nanocomposites were chemically synthesized at room temperature and then characterized by various techniques. The dielectric material parameters were calculated based on the experimental scattering parameters using Nicholson–Ross and Weir algorithms. The synthesized nanocomposites demonstrated that the shielding effectiveness up to 50 dB depended upon the dielectric loss and weight fraction of ferrite and Ta_2O_5 in the polymer matrix.     

Microstructure and properties of Ag–Ti3SiC2 contact materials prepared by pressureless sintering

Ti₃SiC₂-reinforced Ag-matrix composites are expected to serve as electrical contacts. In this study, the wettability of Ag on a Ti₃SiC₂ substrate was measured by the sessile drop method. The Ag–Ti₃SiC₂ composites were prepared from Ag and Ti₃SiC₂ powder mixtures by pressureless sintering. The effects of compacting pressure (100–800 MPa), sintering temperature (850–950℃), and soaking time (0.5–2 h) on the microstructure and properties of the Ag–Ti₃SiC₂ composites were investigated. The experimental results indicated that Ti₃SiC₂ particulates were uniformly distributed in the Ag matrix, without reactions at the interfaces between the two phases. The prepared Ag–10wt%Ti₃SiC₂ had a relative density of 95% and an electrical resistivity of 2.76×10-3 mΩ·cm when compacted at 800 MPa and sintered at 950℃ for 1 h. The incorporation of Ti₃SiC₂ into Ag was found to improve its hardness without substantially compromising its electrical conductivity; this behavior was attributed to the combination of ceramic and metallic properties of the Ti₃SiC₂ reinforcement, suggesting its potential application in electrical contacts.