Effects of Tl-filling into the voids and Rh substitution for Co on the thermoelectric properties of CoSb3

In order to enhance the thermoelectric (TE) properties of CoSb₃, we tried to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity (κ_lat) by filling Tl into the voids and substitution of Rh for Co. We prepared polycrystalline samples of Tl_x(Co_1−yRh_y)₄Sb₁₂ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and y = 0.1, 0.2) and examined their TE properties from room temperature to 750 K. All the samples indicated negative values of the Seebeck coefficient (S). Both the electrical resistivity and the absolute values of the S decreased with increasing the Tl-filling ratio. The Tl-filling and Rh substitution reduced the κ_lat, due to the rattling and the alloy scattering effects. The minimum value of the κ_lat was 1.54 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 550 K obtained for Tl_0.20(Co_0.8Rh_0.2)₄Sb₁₂. Tl_0.20(Co_0.8Rh_0.2)₄Sb₁₂ exhibited the best TE performance; the maximum value for the dimensionless figure of merit ZT was 0.58 at around 600 K.     

Measurement and Estimation of High-Vacuum Effective Thermal Conductivity of Polyimide Foam in the Temperature Range from 160 K to 370 K for Outer Space Applications

Polyimide foam (PF) is a low-thermal conductivity and lightweight material with high resistances against heat, protons, and UV irradiation. A new thermal insulation composed of PFs and multiple aluminized films (PF–MLI) has potential to be used in outer space as an alternative to conventional multilayer insulation (MLI). As fundamental numerical data, the effective thermal conductivity of PF in wide ranges of density and temperature need to be determined. In the present study, thermal-conductivity measurements were performed by both the periodic heating method and the guarded hot-plate method in the temperature range from 160 K to 370 K and the density range from 6.67  \(\mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{-3}\) to 242.63  \(\mathrm{kg}\cdot \mathrm{m}^{-3}\) . The experiments were carried out in a vacuum and under atmospheric pressure. For confirmation of the validity of the present guarded hot-plate apparatus under atmospheric pressure, the effective thermal conductivity of the lowest-density PF was measured with the aid of the heat flow meter apparatus calibrated by the standard reference material (NIST SRM 1450c) in the temperature range from 303 K to 323 K. In order to cross-check the present experimental results, the temperature and density dependences of the effective thermal conductivity of PF were estimated by means of the lattice Boltzmann method based on a dodecahedron inner microscopic complex structure model which reflects a real 3D X-ray CT image of PF.     

Effect of α-substituents on molecular motion and wetting behaviors of poly(fluoroalkyl acrylate) thin films with short fluoroalkyl side chains

The effect of α-substituent on the molecular motion and wetting behavior of poly{2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl acrylate} [PFA-C₄], poly{2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl methacrylate} [PFMA-C₄], poly{2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl α-fluoroacrylate} [PFFA-C₄], and poly{2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl α-chloroacrylate} [PFClA-C₄] films were characterized by dynamic contact angle measurement, lateral force microscopy (LFM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). WAXD of oriented PFClA-C₄ fiber suggested the presence of rod-like chain due to the presence of bulky α-substituent. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of PFFA-C₄ and PFClA-C₄ were well above the room temperature. The water repellencies of PFFA-C₄ and PFClA-C₄ were as high as that of PFMA-C₄ and their oil repellency of PFFA-C₄ and PFClA-C₄ was higher than the PFMA-C_4. This result was originated from the low main chain mobility of PFFA-C₄ and PFClA-C₄ due to the presence of bulky α-substituents. The effect of molecular motion on water repellency was clarified by the results of temperature dependence studies of dynamic contact angle, LFM, and surface chemical composition measured by XPS.     

EFFECTS OF OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS IN CLOSED SUPERHEATED STEAM DRYING

The effects of operational conditions on the drying performance in closed superheated steam drying were examined theoretically and experimentally. The vapor generated from the sample was circulated in the drying chamber. In the theoretical analysis, the replacement of air with vapor in drying chamber and the convective vapor transfer in sample were considered. At the start of drying, the drying chamber was filled with air. As the drying proceeded, the air was replaced with the vapor generated from sample. The calculated results explained the characteristics of experimental data. The pore diameter of sample had little effect on the drying characteristics. During the internal evaporation period, the evaporation occurred in the narrow zone, which moved from the surface to the bottom of sample. The convective vapor transfer in sample had a significant influence on the drying performance. The excess increments in temperature and velocity of drying gas hardly contributed to shortening the drying time.     

EFFECT OF FLUIDIZING PARTICLE ON DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF POROUS MATERIAL IN FLUIDIZED BED

The drying characteristics of porous material in fluidized bed were examined theoretically and experimentally. The brick ball was used as the sample and immersed in the fluidized bed. The glass beads were used as the fluidizing particles and the particle diameters were changed. When the pore diameter of sample was relatively large, the fluidizing particles were adhered on the sample surface. In the theoretical analysis, the heat and mass transfers in adhered particle layer were considered. The fluidizing particles were adhered on the sample surface during the earlier period of drying. The sample temperature largely decreased when the mass of adhered particle decreased. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data. The diameter of fluidizing particle had a small effect on the drying time. The excess increments in drying gas temperature hardly contributed to shortening the drying time.     

Synthesis of optical quality ZnO nanowires utilizing ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

ZnO nanowires were grown by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The aspect ratio and size of the wire were dependent mainly on the pH value of a precursor solution and the growth temperature. By high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis and photoluminescence measurements, it was confirmed that the nanowires are monocrystalline with good optical quality.     

Molecular Dynamics Study of Atomic Structure and Diffusion Behavior in Amorphous Silicon Nitride Containing Boron

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of amorphous Si₃N₄ containing boron (Si-B-N). We have examined short-range atomic arrangements and self-diffusion constants of amorphous Si-B-N systems with various boron contents. Our simulations show that boron atoms are threefold coordinated by nitrogen atoms and that nitrogen atoms are bonded to both silicon and boron atoms in the amorphous network of Si-B-N. Also, the self-diffusion constant of nitrogen in Si-B-N is much decreased compared with that in amorphous Si₃N₄. This suggests that boron is important in decreasing the mobility of atoms in amorphous Si-B-N, which may explain the improved thermal stability of amorphous Si-B-N relative to amorphous Si₃N₄ observed experimentally.     

不同的表面处理对针织碳纤维复合材料的影响分析(英文)

纤维复合材料已经研究了数十年了。他们有着比传统材料,如钢材,优秀的多的力学性能。然而,由于相对较低的产量,梭织、编织与其3D纤维结构的复合材料被认为较难大量生产。因此,近年来,针织物在复合材料界获得了较高的关注,它的高度可塑性使针织复合材料可以直接生产制造成各种复杂形状的复合材料如管状、圆锥型等,使得材料的浪费可以降到了最低。本文使用了有表面处理和没有表面处理的纬编平针碳纤维制成复合材料。对两种复合材料的经向和纬向分别做了拉伸试验。结果显示:有表面处理的材料具有更好的拉伸性能,尤其是在wale方向上,有表面处理的复合材料比没有表面处理的复合材料的拉伸强度提高75.68%。