Effect of Nd3+ incorporation on the microstructure and chemical structure of RF sputtered ZnO thin films

The present work aims at investigating the effects that different levels of Nd atoms incorporation can have on the microstructure and chemical structure of ZnO thin films. Undoped and Nd-doped ZnO films were deposited by RF co-sputtering from pure ZnO and metallic Nd targets in Ar plasma onto Si, quartz and glass substrates. The Nd concentration in the ZnO host matrix was varied in the range 0–26 at.% by varying the bias applied to the Nd target. A comprehensive characterization of the films properties was performed by X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopies, X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. At low Nd atomic concentration (Nd/Zn < 0.07) Nd atoms were successfully incorporated into the ZnO matrix, whose crystalline structure was preserved. A deterioration of the ZnO würtzite phase was observed on the contrary with increasing Nd content in the films together with the precipitation of a second phase, identified as Nd₂O₃.     

Joint properties of friction welded 6061 aluminum alloy/YSZ–alumina composite at low rotational speed

In this study, a ceramic composite of alumina–yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was friction welded to 6061 aluminum alloy. Alumina rods containing 25 wt.% YSZ were formed using slip casting and subsequently sintered at 1600 °C to form a solid body. The 6061 aluminum alloy sample was cut and polished, and then subjected to friction welding experiments. Both rods were 16 mm in diameter. The results of this study showed that the alumina–25 wt.% YSZ composite was able to be friction welded to 6061 aluminum alloy at a lower rotational speed of 630 rpm compared with high rotational speeds. The friction force was maintained at 5 KN for a frictional time of 30 s. Optical Microscopy (OM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) were used to analyze the microstructure of the products, particularly at the interface of the joints. The joints were also examined with EDX line and area (energy dispersive X-ray) in order to determine the phases formed during the low speed welding. The mechanical properties including bending strength and Vickers microhardness were measured. The experimental results indicated that the mechanical strength of friction welded alumina–25 wt.% YSZ composite/6061 aluminum alloy components were obviously affected by joining in the low rotational speed (630 rpm), having higher strength as compared to higher rotational speed.     

Syntactic foam core metal matrix sandwich composite under bending conditions

The present work aims at characterizing a metal matrix syntactic foam core sandwich composite under three-point bending conditions. The sandwich comprises alumina hollow particle reinforced A356 alloy syntactic foam with carbon fabric skins. Crack initiation in the tensile side of the specimen causing failure of the skin, followed by rapid failure of the core in the direction applied load, is observed as the failure mechanism. Crack propagation through the alumina particles is observed in the failed specimens instead of interfacial failure. The average maximum strength, flexural strain and stiffness were measured as 91.2 ± 5.6 MPa, 0.49 ± 0.06% and 20.6 ± 0.7 GPa respectively. The collapse load is theoretically predicted using mechanics of sandwich beams. Experimental values show good agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Blue fluorescent organic light emitting diodes with multilayered graphene anode

As an innovative anode for organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), we have investigated graphene films. Graphene has importance due to its huge potential in flexible OLED applications. In this work, graphene films have been catalytically grown and transferred to the glass substrate for OLED fabrications. We have successfully fabricated 2 mm × 2 mm device area blue fluorescent OLEDs with graphene anodes which showed 2.1% of external quantum efficiency at 1000 cd/m². This is the highest value reported among fluorescent OLEDs using graphene anodes. Oxygen plasma treatment on graphene has been found to improve hole injections in low voltage regime, which has been interpreted as oxygen plasma induced work function modification. However, plasma treatment also increases the sheet resistance of graphene, limiting the maximum luminance. In summary, our works demonstrate the practical possibility of graphene as an anode material for OLEDs and suggest a processing route which can be applied to various graphene related devices.     

Effect of heat treatment on the tribological properties of Al–Cu–Mg/nanoSiC composites

In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the tribological properties of Al–Cu–Mg alloy reinforced with 4 wt.% SiC particles with 650 nm average particle size has been investigated. The age hardening process consists of solution treatment at 540 °C for 6 h, followed by water quenching and ageing at different temperatures of 175, 200 and 225 °C with soaking times of 3, 6 and 9 h. Hardness measurements were applied to monitor the precipitation effect and the aged samples were then subjected to wear tests under dry sliding conditions against steel and alumina counterfaces. The results showed that the reinforced material exhibits an enhanced ageing response compared to the unreinforced material in the same heat treatment conditions. The rate of ageing increases with increasing temperature; however, ageing at 200 and 225 °C for more than 6 h resulted in over-ageing. The best combinations for the enhanced tribological properties for the composite material were selected as 6 h ageing at 225 °C. The precipitation effect for this alloy can be enhanced by the small addition of SiC nanoparticles. Having a small amount of nanoSiC particles with fine precipitates inside the matrix further increases the hardness and wear properties.     

Effect of electroceramic particles on damping behaviour of aluminium hybrid composites produced by ultrasonic cavitation and mechanical stirring

In this study, electroceramics PBN and PLZT along with SiC were included in Al–3.96 wt.% Mg (A514.0) master alloy. Ultrasonic cavitation (UST) and mechanical stirring (MS) were employed to improve wettability and dispersion during casting. Two composite systems were produced: PBN system (5 wt.% PBN + 1 wt.% SiC and 15 wt.% PBN + 1 wt.% SiC) and the PLZT system (follows the same designation). The influence of fabrication method on the microstructures, particle distribution and wettability as well as electroceramic impact on dynamo-mechanical properties of prepared composites were investigated. Optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results indicate that the processing technique was effective as it promoted wettability and homogeneous dispersion of particles throughout the Al matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) study of the composites demonstrated that the addition of the functional particles to the Al alloy matrix improved damping capacity (Tan δ) at 200 °C. The composites exhibited an increase in Tan δ of 24.3 ± 0.3% and 91.4 ± 0.2% for 5 and 15 wt.% PBN + 1 wt.% SiC and an increase of 19.7 ± 0.5% and 42.5 ± 0.3% for 5 and 15 wt.% PLZT + 1 wt.% SiC, respectively, when compared to the aluminium alloy matrix.     

Study on vacuum brazing of high purity alumina for application in proton synchrotron

The paper describes an experimental study to evaluate two different vacuum brazing processes to obtain high purity alumina (99.7%) joints suitable for application in rapid cycle proton synchrotron. Two different brazing routes, adopted for making alumina–alumina brazed joints, included (i) multi-step Mo–Mn metallization, followed by brazing with BVAg-8 alloy and (ii) advanced single-step active brazing with CuSil-ABA® alloy. Both the brazing routes yielded helium leak tight and ultra-high vacuum (pressure < 10⁻⁹ mbar) compatible joints. Active-brazed specimens exhibited tensile and mean flexural strengths of 62 and 110 MPa, respectively. Metallized-brazed specimens, although associated with relatively lower tensile strength (35 MPa) than the targeted value (>50 MPa), displayed higher mean flexural strength of 149 MPa. The results of the study demonstrated that active brazing is a simple and cost effective alternative to conventional multi-step metallization route for producing quality joints of high purity alumina for application in rapid cycle proton synchrotron machine.     

Removal and preconcentration of lead (II), copper (II), chromium (III) and iron (III) from wastewaters by surface developed alumina adsorbents with immobilized 1-nitroso-2-naphthol

The potential removal and preconcentration of lead (II), copper (II), chromium (III) and iron (III) from wastewaters were investigated and explored. Three new alumina adsorbents of acidic, neutral and basic nature (I–III) were synthesized via physical adsorption and surface loading of 1-nitroso-2-naphthol as a possible chelating ion-exchanger. The modified alumina adsorbents are characterized by strong thermal stability as well as resistance to acidic medium leaching processes. High metal up-take was found providing this order: Cu(II) > Cr(III) > Pb(II) owing to the strong contribution of surface loaded 1-nitroso-2-naphthol. The outlined results from the distribution coefficient and separation factor evaluations (low metal ion concentration levels) were found to denote to a different selectivity order: Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cr(III)) due to the strong contribution of alumina matrix in the metal binding processes. The potential applications of alumina adsorbents for removal and preconcentration of Pb(II), Cu(II), Cr(III) from wastewaters as well as drinking tap water samples were successfully accomplished giving recovery values of (89–100 ± 1–3%) and (93–99 ± 3–4%), respectively without any noticeable interference of the wastewater or drinking tap water matrices.     

Dry sliding wear behaviour of zinc oxide reinforced magnesium matrix nano-composites

The main objective of the present work is to investigate the dry sliding wear behaviour of a magnesium matrix composite reinforced with zinc oxide nano-particles. Magnesium matrix composites have many applications, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries, due to their superior specific properties. A magnesium matrix composite with 0.5 vol.% ZnO nano-reinforcement was prepared using powder metallurgy and was hot extruded to eliminate pores. The wear behaviour of the Mg/ZnO nano-composite was investigated by conducting dry sliding tests as a function of wear with an oil-hardened non-shrinking (OHNS) steel disc as the counterpart on a pin-on-disc apparatus. Wear tests were conducted for normal loads of 5, 7.5 and 10 N at sliding velocities of 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 m/s at room temperature. The variations of the friction coefficient and wear rate with the sliding distances (500 m, 1000 m and 1600 m) for different normal loads and sliding velocities were plotted and analysed. To study the dominant sliding wear mechanism for various test conditions, the worn surfaces were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The wear rate was found to increase with the load and sliding velocity.     

Effect of sintering temperature on properties of Al2O3 whisker reinforced 3 mol% Y2O3 stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 (TZ-3Y) nanocomposites

In present study, effect of sintering temperature on density and hardness of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (referred to as TZ-3Y) composite reinforced with alumina whiskers (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) has been studied. Initially, Ammonium Aluminum Carbonate Hydroxide (AACH) whiskers were added in TZ-3Y composite and transformed into alumina during sintering performed at different temperatures i.e. 1400, 1500 and 1650 °C. Results revealed that for all sintering temperatures, with increase in whisker concentration, sintered density decreased and hardness increased conversely. Maximum hardness of 14.47 GPa was achieved with 10 wt.% whiskers addition when sintered at 1500 °C. However, with addition of CTAB (1 wt.%) as deflocculating agent the hardness was further improved to 15.11 GPa. While sintering at 1650 °C a decrease in hardness was observed. It was mainly due to high temperature morphological change of whiskers i.e. transformation of whiskers into alumina rich grains.     

Influence of dispersant size on rheology of non-aqueous ceramic particle suspensions

The surface of alumina, which is hydrophilic in general, was made hydrophobic either by adsorption of polymer (phys-adsorption) or by an alkylation reaction with alcohol (chem-adsorption) to enable dispersion in dodecane. Hypermer A70 (8.2 nm) was used as the polymer and 1-octanol (1.2 nm), 1-decanol (1.5 nm) and 1-hexadecanol (2.5 nm) were used as the alcohol (values in brackets are the approximate thickness of the steric barrier). Rheological measurements of ceramic suspensions indicate that it is possible to achieve a high solid loading (50 vol.%) with relatively low viscosity (0.25 Pa s at 100 s^?1, the typical shear rate for pumping of liquids in pipes) as long as the stabilising molecule is large enough. The observed rheological behaviour fitted the Quemada viscosity model quite well when excluded volume effects were taken into account. Addition of 2.8 wt.% of Hypermer A70 with respect to weight of alumina was enough to stabilise the particles.     

Survival of actively cooled microvascular polymer matrix composites under sustained thermomechanical loading

Exposure to high heat can cause polymer matrix composites (PMC) to fail under mechanical loads easily sustained at room temperature. However, heat is removed and temperature reduced in PMCs by active cooling through an internal vascular network. Here we compare structural survival of PMCs under thermomechanical loading with and without active cooling. Microchannels are incorporated into autoclave-cured carbon fiber/epoxy composites using sacrificial fibers. Time-to-failure, material temperature, and heat removal rates are measured during simultaneous heating on one face (5–75 kW/m²) and compressive loading (100–250 MPa). The effects of applied compressive load, heat flux, channel spacing, coolant flow rate, and channel distance from the heated surface are examined. Actively cooled composites containing 0.33% channel volume fraction survive without structural failure for longer than 30 min under 200 MPa compressive loading and 60 kW/m² heat flux. In dramatic comparison, non-cooled composites fail in less than a minute under the same loading conditions.     

Battery in the form of a cement-matrix composite

Reported here is a battery in the form of a cement-matrix composite, with cement paste as the matrix, the pore solution in cement as the electrolyte, zinc particles dispersed in the matrix as the anode, manganese dioxide particles dispersed in the matrix as the cathode, and carbon black dispersed in the matrix as the conductive additive in both anode and cathode regions. The electrolyte is continuous throughout the battery, which consists of successively cast and co-cured anode, electrolyte and cathode layers. The anode layer (4 mm thick) comprises cement and zinc particles. The cathode layer (8 mm thick) comprises cement and manganese dioxide particles. The electrolyte layer (2 mm thick) is cement with an embedded piece of tissue paper for drying shrinkage control. The battery attained open-circuit voltage up to 0.72 V, current up to 120 μA (current density up to 3.8 μA/cm²), power output up to 1.4 μW/cm², capacity up to 0.2 mA h, and fraction of zinc consumed up to 5 × 10^?5.     

Effect of (α + β) heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of (TiB + TiC)/Ti–B20 matrix composite

For the first stage, a metastable β titanium alloy, Ti–3.5Al–5Mo–4V–2Cr–2Sn–2Zr–1Fe reinforced with trace amounts of TiB whiskers and TiC particles was fabricated by vacuum arc melting process and hot forging followed by heat treatment at 780 °C/740 °C, then by aging at 500 °C, 550 °C, 570 °C and 600 °C. For the second stage, the unreinforced titanium alloy was also fabricated by the same process. The microstructural characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Traces of TiB whiskers and TiC particles (2.2 vol.%) with a volume ratio of 2:3 synthesized in situ exerted a hybrid reinforcing effect on the β titanium alloy. The reinforcements were uniformly distributed in the matrix and the elastic modulus was improved about 25 GPa. Ultimate tensile strength and yield strength achieves about 1625 MPa and 1500MPa respectively, with ductility at 7% when the aging temperature is 500 °C. The ductility of (TiB + TiC)/(Ti–3.5Al–5Mo–4 V–2Cr–2Sn–2Zr–1Fe) matrix composite could be enhanced by increasing the aging temperatures. After 780 °C followed by aging at 570 °C, excellent strength and plasticity properties were obtained (ultimate tensile strength of matrix alloy is 1350 MPa with elongation of 18% and ultimate tensile strength of composite is 1500 MPa with elongation of 13%).     

Influence of thermal treatment on microstructure,mechanical and degradation properties of Zn–3Mg alloy as potential biodegradable implant material

In this study, the influence of homogenisation heat treatment effect on Zn–3Mg alloy proposed for biodegradable bone implants was investigated. The alloy was developed via casting process from high purity raw materials and homogenised at 360 °C for 15 h followed by water quenching. Results revealed that the microstructure of as cast alloy was composed of dendritic structure of Zn-rich phase distributed in segregated pattern within Mg₂Zn₁₁ eutectic phase. Exposure to the long duration heating of homogenisation apparently broke the dendrites and transformed them into connected precipitates within the alloy's matrix. Non-equilibrium thermal analysis revealed the formation of Mg₂Zn₁₁ eutectic phase which nucleated at 367 °C and solidified completely at 354 °C. The eutectic coherency point occurred at 368 °C and 424 s when 30% of solid has precipitated during solidification. Homogenisation resulted into lowering the alloy's tensile strength from 104 MPa to 88 MPa but improving elongation at fracture from 2.3% to 8.8%. The homogenised Zn–3Mg alloy showed improved corrosion resistance (corrosion rate = 0.13 mmpy) compared to the as-cast one (corrosion rate = 0.21 mmpy). The mechanical property and corrosion behaviour of the homogenised alloy seem suitable for biodegradable implant applications.     

Binder-free graphene/carbon nanotube/silicon hybrid grid as freestanding anode for high capacity lithium ion batteries

Light-weight graphene/Si (G/Si) hybrid binder-free electrode is deemed a high energy density anode contender for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, paper-like G/Si electrodes tend to show an increased migration distance for Li⁺ through the fast interlayer channel with the increment of electrode size, in addition to an intrinsically slow diffusion kinetics; thereby encumbering their commercial realisation in high energy density and long life LIBs. To address these problems, herein, sandwich-structured graphene/carbon nanotube/silicon (G/CNT/Si, Si: 56 wt.%, ∼500 nm) hybrid grid is designed, cognizant of its uniform and shorter Li⁺ migration distance. Cyclic voltammograms indicate G/CNT/Si paper and grid anode to exhibit good electrochemical activity at both low and high temperatures. Noteworthy is that the Li⁺ diffusion coefficient ratio between G/CNT/Si grid and paper anodes are 1.82, 1.64, 1.43, 1.36 and 1.53 at a temperature of −5, 10, 25, 40 and 55 °C, respectively. The initial coulombic efficiencies of both paper and grid anode are as high as ∼82%. After 60 cycles at 420 mA g⁻¹, the charge capacity of G/CNT/Si grid is retained at 808 mA h g⁻¹, which by far surpasses that of paper anode (i.e., 490 mA h g⁻¹). The attained lithium ion storage performance at both high and low temperatures, underpins the G/CNT/Si sandwiched grid as effective to realise the practical deployment of paper-like graphene electrodes for high energy density and long life LIBs.     

Preparation of polycrystalline YAG/alumina composite fibers and YAG fiber by sol–gel method

Polycrystalline yttrium–aluminum garnet, Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) fiber and α-alumina and YAG matrix composite fiber were prepared by the sol–gel method. α-Alumina and YAG matrix composite fiber with fine and homogeneous microstructure could be successfully fabricated by interpenetrating YAG in alumina matrix and adding α-alumina of seed particles to fibers. Effect of α-alumina seed particles and YAG on crystallization and microstructure of composite fiber were discussed. The size of alumina matrix of the composite fibers heated at 1600°C for 4 h was below 2 μm. The tensile of strength alumina fiber heat-treated at 1500°C was 0.2 GPa, while that of the composite fiber was 1.1 GPa.     

The effect of Ce4 + incorporation on structural,morphological and photocatalytic characters of ZnO nanoparticles

We report a simple chemical precipitation method for the preparation of undoped and cerium doped ZnO nanocrystals. The concentration of cerium in the products can be controlled in the range of 0.025–0.125 mol. The structure and chemical compositions of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; energy dispersive spectrum and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that Ce^4 + ions were successfully incorporated into the lattice position of Zn^2 + ions in ZnO. The morphology of the products was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscope analysis. The optical properties of the products were studied by ultraviolet–visible and room temperature photoluminescence measurements. The photoluminescence emission spectra of Ce-doped ZnO showed enhanced visible emissions as a result of 5d → 4f transition of cerium. In particular, a novel photocatalytic activity of the products was assessed using methylene blue. The obtained result reveals that Ce-doped products show higher reduction efficiency for methylene blue than the undoped ZnO.     

Effects of steam environment on creep behavior of Nextel™720/alumina–mullite ceramic composite at elevated temperature

The tensile creep behavior of an oxide–oxide continuous fiber ceramic composite was investigated at 1000 and 1100 °C in laboratory air and in steam. The composite consists of a porous alumina–mullite matrix reinforced with laminated, woven mullite/alumina (Nextel?720) fibers, has no interface between the fiber and matrix, and relies on the porous matrix for flaw tolerance. The tensile stress–strain behavior was investigated and the tensile properties measured. Tensile creep behavior was examined for creep stresses in the 70–140 MPa range. The presence of steam accelerated creep rates and dramatically reduced creep lifetimes. The degrading effects of steam become more pronounced with increasing temperature. At 1000 °C, creep run-out (set to 100 h) was achieved in all tests. At 1100 °C, creep run-out was achieved in all tests in air and only in the 87.5 MPa test in steam. Composite microstructure, as well as damage and failure mechanisms were investigated.     

Infiltrated Cu8Al–Ti alumina composites

The effect of titanium additions on the interface and mechanical properties of infiltrated Cu8 wt%Al–Al₂O₃ composites containing 57 ± 2 vol% ceramic are investigated, exploring two different Al₂O₃ particle types and four different Ti concentrations (0, 0.2, 1, 2 wt%Ti). Addition of 0.2 wt%Ti leads to the development of a thin (5–10 nm) layer enriched in Ti at the interface between Cu alloy and Al₂O₃ particles; this Ti concentration produces the best mechanical properties. With higher Ti-contents Ti₃(Cu, Al)₃O appears; this decreases both the interface and composite strength. Composites reinforced with vapor-grown polygonal alumina particles show superior mechanical properties compared to those reinforced by angular comminuted alumina particles, as has been previously documented for aluminum-based matrices. Micromechanical analysis shows that damage accumulation is more extensive, as is matrix hardening by dislocation emission during composite cooldown, in the present Cu8 wt%Al matrix composites compared with similarly reinforced and processed Al-matrix composites.