Robust single machine scheduling problem with uncertain job due dates for industrial mass production

The single machine scheduling problem which involves uncertain job due dates is one of the most important issues in the real make-to-order environment. To deal with the uncertainty, this paper establishes a robust optimization model by minimizing the maximum tardiness in the worst case scenario over all jobs. Unlike the traditional stochastic programming model which requires exact distributions, our model only needs the information of due date intervals. The worst case scenario for a given seque...     

Si/Al、Na/Al和H2O/Na2O摩尔比对无机铝硅酸盐涂层甲醛阻隔性能的影响

Wood-based panels containing urea-formaldehyde resin result in the long-term release of formaldehyde and threaten human health. In this study, inorganic aluminosilicate coatings prepared by combining metakaolin, silica fume, NaOH, and H₂O were applied to the surfaces of wood-based panels to obstruct formaldehyde release. The Si/Al, Na/Al, and H₂O/Na₂O molar ratios of the coatings were regulated to investigate their effects on the structure and formaldehyde-resistant barrier properties of coatings. Results showed that the cracks in the coatings gradually disappeared and the formaldehyde resistance rates of the barrier increased as the Si/Al molar ratio was increased from 1.6 to 2.2. This value also increased as the Na/Al molar ratio was increased from 0.9 to 1.2 because of the improvement of the degree of polymerization. As the H₂O/Na₂O molar ratio was increased from 12 to 15, the thickness of the dry film decreased gradually and led to the reduction in the formaldehyde resistance rate. When the Si/Al, Na/Al, and H₂O/Na₂O molar ratios were 2.2, 1.2, and 12, respectively, the inorganic aluminosilicate coating showed good performance as a formaldehyde-resistant barrier and its formaldehyde resistance rate could reach up to 83.2%.     

Corrosion resistance evaluation of highly dispersed MgO-MgAl2O4-ZrO2 composite and analysis of its corrosion mechanism: A chromium-free refractory for RH refining kilns

The corrosion resistance behavior of a highly dispersed MgO-MgAl₂O₄-ZrO₂ composite refractory material is examined by testing with high-basicity and low-basicity RH (Ruhrstahl-Hereaeus) slags. The composite material exhibits greater resistance to the RH slags than the traditional MgO-Cr₂O₃ composite, MgO-ZrO₂ composite, and MgO-MgAl₂O₄-ZrO₂ composite. On the basis of the microstructural analysis and mechanisms calculations, the corrosion resistance behavior of the MgO-MgAl₂O₄-ZrO₂ composite is attributable to its highly dispersed structure, which helps protect the high activity of ZrO₂. When in contact with the slag, ZrO₂ reacts with CaO to form the stable phase CaZrO₃, which protects MgAl₂O₄ against corrosion, thereby enhancing the corrosion resistance of the composite.     

Utilization of gold-bearing and iron-rich pyrite cinder via a chlorination-volatilization process

The chlorination-volatilization process has been adopted to make full use of gold-bearing and iron-rich pyrite cinder. However, problems of low recovery rate, pulverization of pellets, and ring formation have been encountered during the industrialization of this process. The effects of various parameters on the volatilization rates of valuable metals and on the compressive strength of roasted pellets were investigated in this paper. The parameters include the CaCl₂ dosage, heating temperature, and holding time. The results show that heating temperature is the most important parameter for the recovery of target metals. More CaCl₂ was needed for the recovery of zinc than for the recovery of gold, silver, and lead. CaCl₂ started to react with sulfides/SO₂/SiO₂ at temperatures below the melting point of CaCl₂ to generate Cl₂/HCl. Gaseous CaCl₂ was formed at higher temperatures and could react with any of the components. The compressive strength of roasted CaCl₂-bearing pellets first decreased slowly with increasing temperature at temperatures lower than 873 K, which could result in the pulverization of pellets during heating. Their compressive strength increased dramatically with increasing temperature at temperatures greater than 1273 K. Certain quantities of CaCl₂ and Fe(Ⅱ) could improve the compressive strength of the roasted pellets; however, the addition of excessive CaCl₂ decreased the compressive strength of pellets.     

Low-cost solid FeS lubricant as a possible alternative to MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> for producing Fe-based friction materials

Three reaction systems of MoS₂-Fe, FeS-Fe, and FeS-Fe-Mo were designed to investigate the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS₂ for producing Fe-based friction materials. Samples were prepared by powder metallurgy, and their phase compositions, microstructures, mechanical properties, and friction performance were characterized. The results showed that MoS₂ reacts with the matrix to produce iron-sulfides and Mo when sintered at 1050℃. Iron-sulfides produced in the MoS₂-Fe system were distributed uniformly and continuously in the matrix, leading to optimal mechanical properties and the lowest coefficient of friction among the systems studied. The lubricity observed was hypothesized to originate from the iron-sulfides produced. The FeS-Fe-Mo system showed a phase composition, porosity, and density similar to those of the MoS₂-Fe system, but an uneven distribution of iron-sulfides and Mo in this system resulted in less-optimal mechanical properties. Finally, the FeS-Fe system showed the poorest mechanical properties among the systems studied because of the lack of Mo reinforcement. In friction tests, the formation of a sulfide layer contributed to a decrease in coefficient of friction (COF) in all of the samples.     

Solid FeS lubricant:a possible alternative to MoS2 for Cu-Fe-based friction materials

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is one of the most commonly used solid lubricants for Cu-Fe-based friction materials. Nevertheless, MoS₂ reacts with metal matrices to produce metal sulfides (e.g., FeS) and Mo during sintering, and the lubricity of the composite may be related to the generation of FeS. Herein, the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS₂ for producing Cu-Fe-based friction materials was investigated. According to the reaction principle of thermodynamics, two composites-one with MoS₂ (Fe-Cu-MoS₂ sample) and the other with FeS (FeS-Cu₂S-Cu-Fe-Mo sample), were prepared and their friction behaviors and mechanical properties were compared. The results showed that MoS₂ reacted with the Cu-Fe matrix to produce FeS, metallic ternary sulfides, and Mo when sintered at 1050℃. The MoS₂-Cu-Fe and FeS-Cu₂S-Cu-Fe-Mo samples thereby exhibited similar characteristics with respect to phase composition, density, hardness, and tribological behaviors. Micrographs of the worn surfaces revealed that the stable friction regime for both composites stemmed from the iron sulfides friction layers rather than from the molybdenum sulfides layers.     

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.     

Microwave absorption properties of SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids in the 2-18 GHz range

To enhance the microwave absorption performance of silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNWs), SiO₂ nanoshells with a thickness of approximately 2 nm and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were grown on the surface of SiCNWs to form SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids. The microwave absorption performance of the SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids with different thicknesses was investigated in the frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz using a free-space antenna-based system. The results indicate that SiC@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ hybrids exhibit improved microwave absorption. In particular, in the case of an SiC@SiO₂ to iron(Ⅲ) acetylacetonate mass ratio of 1:3, the microwave absorption with an absorber of 2-mm thickness exhibited a minimum reflection loss of -39.58 dB at 12.24 GHz. With respect to the enhanced microwave absorption mechanism, the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated on SiC@SiO₂ nanowires are proposed to balance the permeability and permittivity of the materials, contributing to the microwave attenuation.     

Reaction behavior of trace oxygen during combustion of falling FeSi75 powder in a nitrogen flow

To explore the reaction behavior of trace oxygen during the flash combustion process of falling FeSi75 powder in a nitrogen flow, a flash-combustion-synthesized Fe-Si₃N₄ sample was heat-treated to remove SiO₂. The samples before and after the treatment were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, and the formation mechanism of SiO₂ was investigated. The results show that SiO₂ in the Fe-Si₃N₄ is mainly located on the surface or around the Si₃N₄ particles in dense areas, existing in both crystalline and amorphous states; when the FeSi75 particles, which are less than 0.074 mm in size, fell in up-flowing hot N₂ stream, trace oxygen in the N₂ stream did not significantly hinder the nitridation of FeSi75 particles as it was consumed by the surface oxidation of the generated Si₃N₄ particles to form SiO₂. At the reaction zone, the oxidation of Si₃N₄ particles decreased the oxygen partial pressure in the N₂ stream and greatly reduced the opportunity for FeSi75 particles to be oxidized into SiO₂; by virtue of the SiO₂ film developed on the surface, the Si₃N₄ particles adhered to each other and formed dense areas in the material.     

Blue photoluminescence from nanocrystalline porous silicon structure fabricated by high-current pulsed electron beam irradiation

N-type Si （111） wafers have been processed by high-current pulsed electron beam （HCPEB） treatment with an increasing number of irradiation （1, 10 and 20 pulses）. The results of this work show that a highly porous nanostructure was formed after irradiation. Moreover, the high-density Si nanocrystals （Si-ncs） about 3 nm were distributed on the surface of Si wafers and exhibited 3.02 eV Photoluminescence （PL） emission in blue band. The PL intensity increases with the increase in the Si-ncs＇ density in accordance with the quantum confinement model, which can be ascribed to the different pulse time of HCPEB treatment. The possible formation mechanisms of micropores and Si-ncs are discussed.