Microstructure and properties of Ag–Ti_3SiC_2 contact materials prepared by pressureless sintering

Ti_3SiC_2-reinforced Ag-matrix composites are expected to serve as electrical contacts. In this study, the wettability of Ag on a Ti_3SiC_2 substrate was measured by the sessile drop method. The Ag–Ti_3SiC_2 composites were prepared from Ag and Ti_3SiC_2 powder mixtures by pressureless sintering. The effects of compacting pressure(100–800 MPa), sintering temperature(850–950°C), and soaking time(0.5–2 h) on the microstructure and properties of the Ag–Ti_3SiC_2 composites were investigated. The experimental results indicated that Ti_3SiC_2 particulates were uniformly distributed in the Ag matrix, without reactions at the interfaces between the two phases. The prepared Ag–10 wt%Ti_3SiC_2 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°C for 1 h. The incorporation of Ti_3SiC_2 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 Ti_3SiC_2 reinforcement, suggesting its potential application in electrical contacts.     

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.     

Effect of TiB2 content on microstructure and properties of in situ Ti-TiB composites

This study determined the optimal concentration of titanium diboride (TiB₂) particles for the development of in situ titanium-titanium boride (Ti-TiB) metal matrix composites (MMCs) prepared by a conventional powder metallurgy route to be used for industrial applications. The effect of concentration of TiB₂ particles was studied by reinforcing TiB₂ powder in different mass fractions (2wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, and 20wt%) into pure Ti powder during the fabrication process. The MMCs were sintered at high temperatures under vacuum. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed the formation of needle-shaped TiB whiskers, indicating that in situ reaction occurred during vacuum sintering of the powder compacts. All the composite samples had a high sintered density, and the hardness of the composites increased with an increase in the mass fraction of reinforcement. Mechanical and tribological properties such as flexural strength, impact, and wear properties were determined and found to be dependent on the mass fraction of the reinforcement. However, the mechanism for the in situ reaction needs further investigation by high-energy in situ X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Wettability and pressureless infiltration mechanism in SiC-Cu systems

The wetting behavior of copper alloys on SiC substrates was studied by a sessile drop technique. The microstructure of SiC_p/Cu composites and the pressureless infiltration mechanism were analyzed. The results indicate that Ti and Cr are effective elements to improve the wettability, while Ni, Fe, and Al have minor influence on the improvement of wettability. Non-wetting to wetting transition occurs at 1210 and 1190℃ for Cu-3Al-3Ni-9Si and Cu-3Si-2Al-1Ti, respectively. All the copper alloys react with SiC at the interface forming a reaction layer except for Cu-3Al-3Ni-9Si. High Si content favors the suppression of interracial reaction. The infiltration mechanism during pressureless infiltration is attributed to the decomposition of SiC. The beneficial effect of Fe, Ni, and Al is to favor the dissolution of SiC. The real active element during pressureless infiltration is Si.     

Effect of Sintering on Grain Boundary Microstructure and Electrical Properties of CaCu_3Ti_4O_(12) Ceramics

CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramic with a giant dielectric constant was synthesized by sol-gel method and sintered in three different sintering conditions: 1 035 ℃ for 48 h, 1 080 ℃ for 3 h and 48 h. The phase of the ceramics, the element distribution, the valance state of Ti ions at grain boundaries, and the electrical properties were characterized via X-ray diffraction(XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis(EDAX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), electrical conduction and dielectric measurement. The results demonstrate that the grain-boundary microstructure and the electrical properties are influenced by sintering conditions: 1 By raising sintering temperature, the Cu-rich and Ti-poor grain boundary was formed and grain resistivity was decreased. 2 By prolonging sintering time, the content of Ti3+ near the grain boundary increased, leading to the decrease of the grain-boundary resistivity and the increase of the activation energy at grain boundary. The ceramic, sintering at 1 080 ℃ for 48 h, exhibited a small grain resistivity(60.5 *cm), a large grain-boundary activation energy(0.42 e V), and a significantly enhanced dielectric constant(close to 1×105 at a low frequency of 1×103 Hz). The results of electrical properties accord with the internal boundary layer capacitor model for explaining the giant dielectric constant observed in Ca Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and thermal conductivity of Al/diamond composites prepared by spark plasma sintering

Spark plasma sintering was used to fabricate Al/diamond composites. The effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and thermal conductivity (TC) of the composites was investigated with the combination of experimental results and theoretical analysis. The composite sintered at 550℃ shows high relative density and strong interfacial bonding, whereas the composites sintered at lower (520℃) and higher (580–600℃) temperatures indicate no interfacial bonding and poor interfacial bonding, respectively. High relative density and strong interfacial bonding can maximize the thermal conductivity of Al/diamond composites, and taking both effects of particle shape and inhomogeneous interfacial thermal conductance into consideration can give a fairly good prediction of composites’ thermal conduction properties.     

机械合金化法制备的Cu/SiC纳米复合材料的组织、热性能和力学性能评估

Nano-sized silicon carbide (SiC: 0wt%, 1wt%, 2wt%, 4wt%, and 8wt%) reinforced copper (Cu) matrix nanocomposites were manufactured, pressed, and sintered at 775 and 875°C in an argon atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize the microstructural evolution. The density, thermal expansion, mechanical, and electrical properties were studied. XRD analyses showed that with increasing SiC content, the microstrain and dislocation density increased, while the crystal size decreased. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the nanocomposites was less than that of the Cu matrix. The improvement in the CTE with increasing sintering temperature may be because of densification of the microstructure. Moreover, the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites showed noticeable enhancements with the addition of SiC and sintering temperatures, where the microhardness and apparent strengthening efficiency of nanocomposites containing 8wt% SiC and sintered at 875°C were 958.7 MPa and 1.07 vol%?1, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the sample slightly decreased with additional SiC and increased with sintering temperature. The prepared Cu/SiC nanocomposites possessed good electrical conductivity, high thermal stability, and excellent mechanical properties.     

Mechanical and microstructural characterization of Al7075/SiC nanocomposites fabricated by dynamic compaction

This paper describes the synthesis of Al7075 metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC, and the characterization of their microstructure and mechanical behavior. The mechanically milled Al7075 micron-sized powder and SiC nanoparticles are dynamically compacted using a drop hammer device. This compaction is performed at different temperatures and for various volume fractions of SiC nanoparticles. The relative density is directly related to the compaction temperature rise and indirectly related to the content of SiC nanoparticle reinforcement, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the amount of SiC nanoparticles improves the strength, stiffness, and hardness of the compacted specimens. The increase in hardness and strength may be attributed to the inherent hardness of the nanoparticles, and other phenomena such as thermal mismatch and crack shielding. Nevertheless, clustering of the nanoparticles at aluminum particle boundaries make these regions become a source of concentrated stress, which reduces the load carrying capacity of the compacted nanocomposite.     

Reinforcing effect of laminate structure on the fracture toughness of Al3Ti intermetallic

Metal/intermetallic laminate composites can improve the mechanical properties of intermetallic materials using metal layers. In recent years, titanium aluminide intermetallics have received increasing attention due to their excellent performance properties, such as high melting point, high specific strength and stiffness, and good corrosion resistance. However, the low fracture toughness of Al3Ti alloys at room temperature has greatly limited their application, and fiber or particle reinforcement has not shown a significant toughening effect. Research into the reinforcing effects of the interface and near-interface zone on the fracture behavior of Al3Ti is lacking. Ti/Al3Ti metal/intermetallic laminate composite was synthesized from titanium and aluminum foils using vacuum hot-pressed sintering technology. The microstructure of the prepared material was analyzed by scanning electron microscope and electron backscattered diffraction. Results illustrate that both Ti and Al3Ti were single-phase and there was a noticeable stress concentration on the interface. To obtain indentation and cracks, loads were applied to different locations of the composite by a microhardness tester. The growth path of the cracks was then observed under microscope, showing that crack propagation was prevented by the interface between the Ti and Al3Ti layers, and the cracks that propagated parallel to the laminate shifted to the interface. Fracture toughness of the different areas, including Al3Ti layers, interface, and near-interface zone, were measured by the indentation fracture method. The fracture toughness at and near the interface was 1.7 and 2 times that of the Al3Ti layers, respectively. Results indicate that crack blunting and crack front convolution by the laminate structure was primarily responsible for increased toughness.     

Fabrication and superconducting properties of nano-SiC doped MgB2 tapes

Nano-SiC doped MgB2 tapes were prepared by the in situ powder-in-tube method. Heat treatment was performed at 650℃ for 1 h. XRD data indicate that SiC particles had reacted with the MgB2 during sintering process. MgB2 core seemed to be denser after SiC doping, and the critical temperature was slightly depressed. The critical current density Jc of the SiC doped tapes was significantly enhanced in magnetic fields up to 14 T compared to the undoped ones. For the 5% SiC doped samples, Jc was in- creased by a factor of 32 at 4.2 K, 10 T. The enhancement of Jc-B properties in SiC doped MgB2 tapes is considered to be due to the enhancement of grain linkages and the introduction of effective flux pining centers. The substitution of B by C in MgB2 grains is thought to be the main reason for the improve- ment of the flux pinning ability in SiC doped MgB2 tapes.     

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.     

Synthesis of dental resins using diatomite and nano-sized SiO2 and TiO2

The mechanical properties of dental composites were improved by porous diatomite and nano-sized silica (OX-50) used as co-fillers.The resin composites,filled with silanized OX-50 and silanized diatomit...     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb–Si alloys fabricated by spark plasma sintering

This paper deals with microstructural evolutions and mechanical properties of Nb-Si binaries containing dual-phase Nb/Nb5Si3 with Nb to Nb5Si3 fraction ratios of 90:10,80:20,70:30 and 50:50,prepared by spark plasma sintering(SPS).Dense Nb/Nb5Si3 samples with a relative density larger than 99.5% were obtained by SPS processing.The SPS samples consist of the Nb and Nb5Si3 phases with less than 3% fraction of NbO oxide.Hv at room temperature,and compressive strength at 1150℃ and 1250 1C of the bulk SPS alloys increase monolithically by enhancing fraction of the stiffening Nb5Si3 phase.For example,0.2% yield strength,σ0.2,increases from 175 MPa to 420 MPa at 1150℃ and from 110 MPa to 280 MPa at 1250℃,when the Nb5Si3 fraction increases from 10% to 50%.It is interesting that the fracture toughness,KQ,of the bulk SPS samples seems not to be sensitive to phase fraction.Heat treatment,however,plays a key role on the KQ as compared with that of the as-sintered state,at the corresponding Nb5Si3 fraction and considerably improves the KQ by about 100% for samples with the Nb5Si3 fractions of 10%-30%,and by about 50% for the sample with 50% Nb5Si3 fraction.     

Densification behavior of mechanically milled Cu–8 at% Cr alloy and its mechanical and electrical properties

Synthesis and consolidation behavior of Cu–8 at%Cr alloy powders made by mechanical alloying with elemental Cu and Cr powders,and subsequently,compressive and electrical properties of the consolidated alloys were studied.Solid solubility of Cr in Cu during milling,and subsequent phase transformations during sintering and heat treatment of sintered components were analyzed using X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The milled powders were compacted applying three different pressures(200 MPa,400 MPa and 600 MPa)and sintered in H2atmosphere at 900 1C for 30 min and at 1000 1C for 1 h and 2 h.The maximum densification(92.8%)was achieved for the sample compacted at 600 MPa and sintered for 1000 1C for 2 h.Hardness and densification behavior further increased for the compacts sintered at 900 1C for 30 min after rolling and annealing process.TEM investigation of the sintered compacts revealed the bimodal distribution of Cu grains with nano-sized Cr and Cr2O3precipitation along the grain boundary as well as in grain interior.Pinning of grain boundaries by the precipitates stabilized the fine grain structure in bimodal distribution.     

Microstructure and oxidation resistance of SiC–MoSi2 multi-phase coating for SiC coated C/C composites

In order to improve the anti-oxidation of C/C composites, a SiC–MoSi2multi-phase coating for SiC coated carbon/carbon composites(C/C)was prepared by low pressure chemical vapor deposition(LPCVD) using methyltrichlorosilane(MTS) as precursor, combined with slurry painting from MoSi2 powder. The phase composition and morphology were analyzed by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) methods, and the deposition mechanism was discussed. The isothermal oxidation and thermal shock resistance were investigated in a furnace containing air environment at 1500 1C. The results show that the as-prepared SiC–MoSi2coating consists of MoSi2 particles as a dispersing phase and CVD–SiC as a continuous phase. The weight loss of the coated samples is 1.51% after oxidation at 1500 1C for 90 h, and 4.79% after 30 thermal cycles between 1500 1C and room temperature. The penetrable cracks and cavities in the coating served as the diffusion channel of oxygen, resulted in the oxidation of C/C composites, and led to the weight loss in oxidation.     

Effect of CuO addition on the sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of CaSiO3– Al2O3 ceramics

CuO-doped CaSiO3–1 wt% Al2O3 ceramics were synthesized via a traditional solid-state reaction method, and their sintering behavior,microstructure and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The results showed that appropriate CuO addition could accelerate the sintering process and assist the densification of CaSiO3–1 wt% Al2O3 ceramics, which could effectively lower the densification temperature from1250 1C to 1050 1C. However, the addition of CuO undermined the microwave dielectric properties. The optimal amount of CuO addition was found to be 0.8 wt%, and the derived CaSiO3–Al2O3ceramic sintered at 1100 1C presented good microwave dielectric properties of εr?7.27,Q f?16,850 GHz and τf? 39.53 ppm/1C, which is much better than those of pure CaSiO3 ceramic sintered at 1340oC(Q f?13,109 GHz).The chemical compatibility of the above ceramic with 30 Pd/70 Ag during the cofiring process has also been investigated, and the result showed that there was no chemical reaction between palladium–silver alloys and ceramics.& 2014 Chinese Materials Research Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

Abnormal thermal shock behavior in electrical conductivity of Ti2SnC

Some ternary carbide and nitride ceramics have been demonstrated to exhibit abnormal thermal shock behavior in mechanical properties. However, the influence of thermal shock on other properties is not clear. This work reports on the influence of thermal shock on electrical conductivity of Ti_2SnC as a representative member of ternary carbides. Abnormal change in electrical conductivity was first demonstrated during quenching Ti_2 SnC in water at 500-800 ℃. The residual electrical conductivity of the quenched Ti_2SnC gradually decreased with increasing temperature, but abnormally increased after quenching at 600 ℃. The microstructure of surface cracks was characterized. The main mechanism for the abnormal electrical conductivity recovery is that some narrow branching cracks are filled by metallic Sn precipitating from Ti_2SnC.     

Phase stability and thermal conductivity of ytterbia and yttria co-doped zirconia

Rare earth oxides doping has been extensively investigated as one of the effective methods to lower thermal conductivity of 4.55 mol% Y2O3stabilized ZrO2(YSZ) thermal barrier coatings(TBCs).In the present work,5–6 mol% Yb2O3and Y2O3co-doped ZrO2ceramics were synthesized by solid reaction sintering at 1600 1C.The phase stability of the samples after heat treatment at 1500 1C was investigated.Yb2O3and Y2O3co-doped zirconia,especially when Yb2O3/Y2O3≥1,contained less monoclinic phase than single Yb2O3or Y2O3phase doped zirconia,indicating that co-doped zirconia was more stable at high temperature than YSZ.The thermal conductivity of the 3 mol% Yb2O3+3 mol% Y2O3co-doped ZrO2was 1.8 W m 1K 1at 1000 1C,which was more than 20% lower than that of YSZ.     

Effect of La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ morphology on the performance of composite cathodes

In the present work,one dimensional La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3 δ(LSCF) nanofibers with the mean diameter of about 100 nm prepared by electrospinning were deposited on Gd0.2Ce0.8O1.9(GDC) electrolyte followed by sintering to form one dimensional LSCF nanofiber cathode. And LSCF/GDC composite cathodes were formed by introducing GDC phases into LSCF nanofiber scaffold using infiltration method. The polarization resistances for the composite cathode with an optimal LSCF/GDC mass ratio of 1/0.56 are 0.27,0.14 and 0.07 Ω cm2at 650,700 and750 1C,respectively,which are obviously smaller than 2.26,0.78 and 0.29 Ω cm2of pure LSCF nanofiber cathode. And the activation energy is1.194 eV,which is much lower than that of pure LSCF nanofiber cathode(1.684 eV). These results demonstrate that the infiltration of GDC into LSCF nanofiber scaffold is an effective approach to achieve high performance cathode for solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs). In addition,the performance of composite cathode in this work was also compared with that of our previous nanorod structured LSCF/GDC composite cathode.