A meltable precursor for zirconium carbide ceramics and C/C-ZrC composites

For process simplification and rapid densification of ceramic composites, a meltable single-source ZrC precursor was prepared by condensing zirconium acetylacetonate (Zr(acac)₄) at 190?°C for 40–150?min. The preparation of ZrC precursor and the conversion from precursor to ceramics were investigated by using FTIR and NMR spectroscopies, GPC, DSC-TGA, XRD, SEM, EDS and TEM. The precursor had low viscosity (~ 10?mPa?s) and proper processing window (60?min) for precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP). The ceramic yield at 1650?°C was 29.6%, and EDS revealed that the composition was (ZrC)_0.337(HfC)_0.0025(ZrO₂)_0.044C_0.1865. The ceramics were composed of 0.2–0.5?µm grains which aggregated to form a stacked structure surrounded by amorphous carbon. The preparation processes were designed, and C/C-ZrC composites with the density of 2.45?g/cm³ were successfully fabricated through 11 cycles of PIP with Zr(acac)₄. In conclusion, the synthetic method provides a simple and cheap route for precursors, and allows combined composite preparation with high efficiency.     

MOCVD-derived GdYBCO tapes with smooth surface and low Rs based on a new self-heating technology

The metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method was used to prepare GdYBCO films on LaMnO₃/ homo epitaxial-MgO/ ion-beam-assisted-deposition-MgO/ solution-deposition-planarization-Y₂O₃ buffered Hastelloy tapes. By adopting a simple self-heating technique, the substrates were heated by the joule effect after applying a heating current (I_h) through Hastelloy metal tapes. The effects of substrate temperature and (Gd, Y)/Ba ratio (r_c) in the precursor on the biaxial texture, surface morphology and superconducting performance of GdYBCO films were systematically investigated by varying the values of I_h and r_c. Needle-like outgrowths formed on the substrate surface were characterized using a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray diffraction system. The results show that a high I_h or r_c leads to the formation of needle-like outgrowths. Therefore, I_h and r_c are crucial process parameters that control the growth of needle-like outgrowths on the surface of GdYBCO films. Three hundred nanometer thick GdYBCO films were prepared at different I_h and r_c by the MOCVD process. At an I_h of 27.0?A and an r_c of 0.6, the surface of the GdYBCO film was very smooth and dense, which can provide a good template for multiple depositions of GdYBCO films. The critical current density of the deposited 300?nm-thick GdYBCO film was 4.4 MA/cm² (77?K, 0?T), which is attributed to good biaxial texture and appropriate film composition. Furthermore, the microwave surface resistance (77?K, 10?GHz) of the GdYBCO film was merely 0.581?mΩ.     

Carbon content-dependent microstructures,surface characteristics and thermal stability of mechanical alloying derived SiBCN powders

Three types of SiBCN: carbon-lean, -moderate and -rich powders with the same Si/B/N mole ratio were subjected to high-energy ball milling to yield an amorphous structure. The effects of carbon content on microstructures, solid-state amorphization, surface characteristics and thermal stability of the as-milled powders were studied in detail. Results showed that the increases in carbon content can drive solid-state amorphization accompanied by strain-induced, crystallite refinement-induced and/or chemical composition-induced nucleation of nano-SiC from an amorphous body. The specific surface area increases as carbon content increases. The amorphous networks of Si–C, C–B/C–C, C–N, B–N and C–B–N bonds that compose the amorphous nature, but the species and contents of the chemical bonds are carbon content-dependent. Carbon-moderate powders possess satisfying thermal stability while carbon-rich ones perform the worst. Mechanical alloying derived SiBCN powders have outstanding oxidation resistance below 800 °C; however only carbon-moderate powders show desirable anti-oxidation ability at higher temperatures. Thus, mechanical alloying of SiBCN appears a suitable technique for developing amorphous matrix materials for practical applications.     

Ablation behavior and mechanism of boron nitride - magnesium aluminum silicate ceramic composites in an oxyacetylene combustion flame

In the present study, ablation behavior and properties of BN-MAS (magnesium aluminum silicate) composites impinged with an oxyacetylene flame at temperatures up to 3100 °C were investigated. As ablation time ranged from 5 to 30 s, the mass and linear ablation rates increased from 0.0027 g/s and 0.001 mm/s to 0.0254 g/s and 0.087 mm/s, respectively. A SiO₂-rich protective oxide layer formed during the ablation process, which contributed to the oxidation resistance of the composites. Ablation products mainly consisted of magnesium-aluminum borosilicate glass, mullite, spinel and indialite. The thermal oxidation of h-BN during flame ablation and scouring of MAS by high-speed gas flow were the main ablation mechanisms.     

Power Generation from Coke Oven Gas Using Chemical Looping Combustion: Thermodynamic Simulation

A chemical looping combustion (CLC) combined cycle with coke oven gas as fuel and NiO/NiAl₂O₄ as an oxygen carrier is proposed. The system was simulated by Aspen Plus® and the oxygen carrier circulation ratio was calculated. The effects of key operational temperatures and different gas turbines on the system performance were investigated. Under optimized conditions, a high CO₂ capture efficiency could be achieved. To capture CO₂ thoroughly, the PG6561B gas turbine can be employed, allowing for nearly 100 % CO₂ capture efficiency.     

Giant permittivity and low dielectric loss of Fe doped BaTiO3 ceramics: Experimental and first-principles calculations

Fe doped BaTiO₃ ceramics with giant permittivity and low dielectric loss were synthesized in N₂/H₂ atmosphere started with BaTiO₃ powders and iron powders. XRD analysis exhibited the tetragonal-pseudocubic phase transition when the Fe content is 3 mol%. XPS spectra confirmed the iron oxides with mixed-valence structure of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, while Ti-ions maintain Ti⁴⁺3d⁰ states without any oxidization-reduction. For the case of ceramics with 5 mol% Fe, the dielectric constant was 66,650 at 1000 Hz at room temperature, 19 times higher than that of pure BaTiO₃ ceramics, while the dielectric loss tangent was 0.13. Comparison with other giant-permittivity materials demonstrated the superior potential of present ceramics. First-principles calculations investigated the interfacial interaction of Fe-[TiO₂] interface and Fe-[BaO] interface. Giant dielectric constant was induced by the interfacial polarization between insulating ferroelectrics and semiconducting iron oxides with mixed-valence states, as well as the contribution from the generated electron hopping conduction.     

A polyvinyl alcohol-based mixed matrix membrane with uniformly distributed Schiff base network-1 for ethanol dehydration

In this study, Schiff base network (SNW)-1 nanoparticles with high hydrophilicity and large specific surface area were used to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which were evaluated for ethanol dehydration. Because of the low difference of density between SNW-1 and PVA, the as-prepared nanoparticles can be uniformly distributed into the PVA active layer. The effects of SNW-1 loading, feed temperature, and water concentration on pervaporation (PV) performance were further studied. The results showed the MMM with 10 wt% of SNW-1 loading exhibited a separation factor of 1,501 and a permeation flux of 187 g m⁻² h⁻¹ for feeding 95 wt% ethanol/water binary solution at 75°C. Overall, the SNW-1/PVA MMMs showed great prospect in ethanol dehydration via PV.     

攀西地区白马辉长岩型超低品位钒钛磁铁矿选铁试验研究

论文以攀西地区白马辉长岩型超低品位钒钛磁铁矿为研究对象,查明了该矿石中化学组分、矿物组成、铁和TiO₂的相态。在此基础上进行了多粒级多磁场梯度干式磁选抛尾试验,通过铁和TiO₂的相态分析阐述了干式磁选抛尾的合理性；进行了干式磁选精矿阶段磨矿阶段选别试验,二段磁选在-200目占80%细度下获得了TFe 57.78%、TiO₂ 7.72%、V₂O₅ 0.69%的铁精矿,铁精矿产率为12.93%、铁回收率51.56%,相对磁性铁回收率为98.70%,V₂O₅回收率78.26%。结果表明该矿石虽然铁品位低,仍具综合回收利用价值。