Peening action and residual stresses in high-velocity oxygen fuel thermal spraying of 316L stainless steel

316L stainless steel powder was sprayed by a high-pressure high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) process. Effects of powder size and the pressure in the combustion chamber on the velocity and temperature of sprayed particles were studied by using an optical instrument, first, at the substrate position. A strong negative correlation between the particle temperature and the diameter was found, whereas the correlation between the velocity and the diameter was not significant. The pressure in the combustion chamber affected the velocity of sprayed particles significantly, whereas the particle temperature remained largely unchanged. In-situ curvature measurement was employed in order to study the process of stress generation during HVOF spraying. From the measured curvature changes, the intensity of peening action and the resultant compressive stress by HVOF sprayed particles were found to increase with the kinetic energy of the sprayed particles. The results were further used to estimate the stress distribution within the coatings. X-ray stress measurement revealed that the residual stress on the surface of the HVOF coatings is low and often in tension, but the stress inside the coatings is in a high level of compression.     

Synthesis, processing, assembly and activation of core-shell structured gold nanoparticle catalysts

This paper describes recent progress of an investigation of the synthesis, processing, assembly and activation of gold nanoparticles that are of potential interest to fuel cell catalysis. Core-shell type gold nanoparticles of a few nanometer core size with organic monolayer encapsulation are highlighted. The activation of the core-shell nanoparticle assemblies towards nanostructured catalyst for potential fuel cell catalytic reactions is discussed. The understanding of the control factors in terms of nanocrystal size and interparticle spatial properties has important implications to the design of highly active nanogold catalysts for practical applications.     

Electron microscopy studies of the thermal stability of gold nanoparticle arrays

A series of monolayer protected gold nanoparticle colloidal solutions have been prepared with average sizes in the 2–15nm range. If a drop of such a colloidal suspension is deposited onto a Si₃N₄ substrate and the solvent allowed to evaporate, the particles have a tendency to self-assemble into monolayer rafts with varying degrees of structural order depending on the initial mono-dispersity of the particles. The thermal stability of these selfassembled gold nanoparticle rafts as a function of particle size, heating method, heating rate and ligand identity have been assessed in this study. In-situ TEM studies show that sub-8nm Au nanoparticles on Si₃N₄ have a tendency to coarsen upon slow heating, whereas those comprised of larger particles exhibit densification. Increasing the heating rate for the smaller particles promoted densification, forcing them to form highly interconnected string-like structures. Finally, rafts of sub-4nm alkanethiol protected Au nanoparticles are shown to sinter spontaneously under ambient conditions at room temperature on the timescale of several months. This unexpected effect may have important implications for the long term structural stability of any device constructed from sub-4nm gold nanoparticles.     

Intrinsic reactivity of gold nanoparticles: Classical, semi-empirical and DFT studies

Gold nanoparticles used in most experiments (1–10 nm) in gold catalysis show varying degrees of reactivity, with particles below 5 nm generally being more reactive. The origin of this activity is a subject of a number of model experiments and theoretical studies on either clusters of a few atoms in size or extended surfaces (smooth or stepped). In the work described here, a classical theory for the variation of the metal workfunction with cluster size, Extended Hückel Theory (EHT) calculations combined with DFT calculations, as well as a carbon monoxide (CO) chemisorption model are combined to develop a relationship between metal particle size and the particle's reactivity towards CO. For gold, it is shown that while the contribution of the d-band hybridization energy to the total CO chemisorption energy is unfavourable for bulk gold, this is not true for gold particles below 5–6 nm. That is, the d-band hybridization energy is negative for small gold particles. This is believed to be explanation of the onset of high reactivity for small gold particles.     

Characterization and sintering of BaZrO3 nanoparticles synthesized through a single-step combustion process

Barium zirconate (BaZrO₃) nanoparticles synthesized by a self-sustained single-step combustion process is reported in this paper. In this process, a phase pure nanopowder of BaZrO₃ has been obtained by the combustion of an aqueous solution containing Ba and Zr ions by using citric acid as complexing agent and liquor ammonia as fuel, thus giving rise to phase pure BaZrO₃ nanopowder in a single-step combustion without any further calcination. The X-ray diffraction studies have shown that the as-prepared powder was single phase, crystalline, and has a cubic perovskite structure (ABO₃) with a lattice constant a = 4.19 Å. The average particle size calculated from FWHM is 30 nm. The phase purity of BaZrO₃ nanopowder has been examined using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The transmission electron microscopic investigation has shown that the particle size of the as-prepared powder was in the range 30–50 nm with a mean size of 40 nm. The nano BaZrO₃ has been sintered to a density of 99% of the theoretical density at 1650 °C in 2 h without the use of any sintering aids. The morphology of the sintered pellets has been studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric constant (_r) and loss factor (tan δ) values obtained at 10 MHz for a well-sintered barium zirconate pellet has been found to be 32.2 and 1 × 10⁻⁴, respectively, at room temperature.     

Nanogold synthesis in wool fibres: novel colourants

This paper presents the novel synthesis of gold nanoparticles of different sizes and hence colours in a wool fibre matrix, simultaneously utilising the chemical affinity of gold for sulfur to bind the nanogold to the disulfide linkages in cystine amino acids in the keratin protein. For this, the wool fibres act as a solid matrix to control the particle size and prevent agglomeration of the gold nanoparticles and hence facilitate a range of attractive colours in the wool due to the surface plasmon resonance effects of such gold nanoparticles. Because the nanogold is chemically bound to the cystine, it does not wash or rub out and is also stable to UV light, unlike organic colourants. The research innovatively links the high value and prestige of gold through nanoscience for high value textiles and fashion apparel, wherein the nanogold wool composite fibres contain only pure wool and pure gold and are environmentally desirable.     

Zinc oxide nanoparticle decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their optical properties

A simple and efficient approach is developed for the synthesis of single crystal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). Moreover, the effect of heat treatment on ZnO-coated MWNT is investigated. The results reveal that the MWNT are decorated by ZnO particles. The MWNT are continuously coated by ZnO nanoparticles at 450 and 600 °C, and the average size of ZnO nanoparticles is about 11 and 48 nm, respectively. However, the coated layer of ZnO on the surface of MWNT becomes discontinuous when the temperature of heat treatment reaches 750 °C. The average size of ZnO particles at 750 °C is about 89 nm. Furthermore, the UV emission of MWNT is improved significantly through modification with ZnO.     

Hyperfine interactions on iron nuclei in the BCC and fractally decomposed BCC/FCC mixed phase iron–gold alloys

Iron–gold alloys for the gold concentration ranging from 1 at.% till 70 at.% were investigated by means of the ⁵⁷Fe-14.4 keV Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Samples were prepared by arc melting of the elements, and investigated as cast and after annealing. A single BCC phase is obtained for the gold concentration up to about 3 at.%, while for the higher gold concentration one obtains mixed phase samples containing BCC and FCC phases both. The BCC phase is ferromagnetically ordered at room temperature. Contributions to the charge and spin density on iron atoms in the BCC phase due to the gold impurities were determined up to the second neighbors. The FCC phase is either magnetically ordered at room temperature or it is paramagnetic at the above temperature depending upon iron concentration, as the magnetic transition temperature is increasing with the increasing iron concentration. BCC/FCC mixed phase samples are characterized by very small crystallites (nanoparticles) of both phases. These nanoparticles form hierarchical fractal structures on the scale ranging from more than 1 mm till less than 30 nm.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of CeO2 nano-particles

Nano-crystalline particles of CeO₂ have been synthesized via a low temperature hydrothermal synthesis process. Two types of precursors were studied—cerium hydroxide and ceria acetate. The precursors were adjusted to a basic (pH 10) and acidic (pH 4) medium before hydrothermal treatment at various durations of 6, 12, 18, and 24 h at 250 °C using a Teflon-lined hydrothermal bomb. The synthesized samples were characterized using DTA/TGA, XRD and TEM. Based on the characterization results, both precursor systems produced crystalline ceria nano-particles after 6 h of hydrothermal synthesis at 250 °C. The average crystallite sizes were 6 and 15 nm for the hydroxide and acetate system, respectively. The acetate precursor system appeared to produce better particles in terms of crystallinity and morphology. Based on the DTA/TGA analysis, hydrothermal synthesis had been effective in reducing the amount of intermediate products. With increasing hydrothermal treatment duration of up to 24 h, the samples did not exhibit a remarkable improvement in properties. The synthesized nano-particles were subsequently heat treated at 500 and 1000 °C for 2 h. After the heat treatment, enhanced crystallinity and growth in crystallite size was observed, but particles appeared more agglomerated.     

Synthesis of SmCo_5 nanoparticles with small size and high performance by hydrogenation technique

SmCo_5 nanoparticles(NPs) have promising applications in high-density magnetic storage and magnetic nanocomposites. In this work, A novel method to yield SmCo_5 particles with small size and high coercivity was reported. Firstly, Sm_2 O_3-Co NPs with size of 6-15 nm were fabricated by a solvothermal route. Then the agglomerated SmCo_5 particles were obtained by thermal reduction of the precursor, which show high coercivity of2.0 T at room temperature. At last, the as-synthesized SmCo_5 particles were further hydrogenated under high hydrogen pressure of 4 MPa at room temperature, where hydrogen absorption process could form small-sized SmCo_5 H_x particles due to their lattice expansion and hydrogen desorption process could convert SmCo_5 H_x NPs into SmCo_5 NPs. The prepared SmCo_5 NPs after hydrogenation, showing well distribution, have a small size of5-20 nm and room temperature coercivity of 1.22 T.     

Large-scale synthesis of Pb1−xLaxTiO3 ceramic powders by molten salt method

The ferroelectric perovskite type lanthanum doped lead titanate (PLT) ceramic powders were synthesized in one step with the starting materials of PbC₂O₄, La₂O₃ and TiO₂ in NaCl–KCl molten salts in the temperature range of 700–950 °C. It was found that molten salt method was a large scale and easy preparation way to produce PLT powders with high dispersity. Tetragonal phase Pb_1−xLa_xTiO₃ ceramic powders were identified by XRD in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 and mono-dispersed particles with spheric shape and less than 100 nm size were observed by SEM. The grain sizes of Pb_1−xLa_xTiO₃ ceramic powders increased with the increase of La content and decreased with calcination temperature. The grain growth progress and the possible reaction mechanism in molten salts and its influencing factors were discussed in this work. The grain growth process was the main influencing factor of the grain size, which depended on the solubility in the flux.     

丝蛋白多肽原位制备金纳米粒子的研究

用来自丝素蛋白的GAGAGAGY序列多肽原位还原氯金酸制备了粒径小于12 nm的球形金纳米粒子,用紫外-可见吸收光谱和透射电子显微镜对反应过程和产物进行了表征分析,探索制备条件对产物的影响。结果表明,多肽可发挥稳定剂的作用,使合成的金纳米溶液具有较好的稳定性;多肽和氯金酸的摩尔比为10:4时合成的粒子粒径大小合适且分布均匀;溶液碱性越强,还原反应速度越慢但金纳米粒径不受影响;反应温度升高,反应速率变快,紫外吸收峰蓝移。     

In Flight Properties of W Particles in an Ar-H<Subscript>2</Subscript> Plasma

An in-flight properties measurement performed on W particles, injected into thermal plasma generated by an inductively coupled RF plasma torch, is presented. The measured surface properties of the particles along the centerline of the plasma plume are expressed by means of temperature and velocity maps, within the domain formed by individual particle’s diameters and their distances from the torch exit. The influence of some of the processing parameters (plate power, carrier gas flow rate, spray chamber pressure) on particle properties is discussed for both individual particles and the resultant integral spray plume characteristics. The results so obtained appear to confirm the suitability of the RF plasma process for the deposition/production of W coatings/deposits.     

Nanogoldpharmaceutics (i) The use of colloidal gold to treat experimentally-induced arthritis in rat models; (ii) Characterization of the gold in Swarna bhasma, a microparticulate used in traditional Indian medicine

Nanosized gold particles (27 +/− 3 nm) have been proven to be effective in ameliorating the symptoms of mycobacterial-, collagen- and pristane-induced arthritis in rat models. This contrasts with the drug sodium aurothiomalate that was only effective against mycobacterial-induced arthritis but not to the same extent as Au⁰. Gold in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine,Swarna bhasma (gold ash), has been characterized as globular particles of gold with an average size of 56–57 nm.     

The role of nanosized gold particles in adsorption and oxidation of carbon monoxide over Au/Fe2O3 Catalyst

The presence of gold is found to promote the development of weakly bonded (CO)_ad species over the surface of Au/Fe₂O₃ catalyst during interaction with carbon monoxide (CO) or a mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen. The concentration of these species and the nature of the bonding depend on the gold particle size. No such species are formed for gold particles larger than ∼11 nm or over gold-free iron oxide. The bulk carbonate-like species, formed in the process with the involvement of the hydroxy groups of the support, are merely side products not responsible for the low temperature activity of this catalyst.     

水热法批量制备粒径可控SnO2纳米粉体（英文）

以SnCl4·5H2O为前驱体、NH3·H2O为矿化剂,通过水热还原技术制备平均粒径在5～30nm的SnO2纳米粉末。系统研究小批量生产(1kg/批)条件下,工艺条件包括溶液浓度、反应温度、压力、时间和pH值对SnO2粒径、形貌和晶型的影响,并采用XRD、TEM等测试手段对样品进行表征。结果表明,在保持SnO2粉末晶型和形貌不变的前提下,通过调节反应温度、反应时间等工艺参数,粉末的粒径尺寸可以有效地控制在5～30nm范围内。不同于之前的报道,SnO2粒径尺寸随着反应时间(反应温度)的变化存在新的变化趋势,并推测解释了此晶粒异常生长的机理。     

Effects on direct synthesis of large scale mono-disperse Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanosized particles

Mono-disperse Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ spinel ferrite particles have been synthesized directly via the hydrothermal method using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant. Particle size could be varied from 6 to 19 nm by changing the experiment parameters. X-ray diffraction, high resolution TEM images confirmed the high crystallinity of ferrite nanocrystals. The effects of precursor suspension pH value, reaction temperature and surfactant (SDS) concentration on phase purity, particle size and dispersed property were discussed. The results indicated that mono-disperse Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ spinel ferrite nanoparticle had been obtained at pH value range (8–9), reaction temperature (90 °C) and moderate SDS concentration (>0.2 mM). The magnetic measurement shows that as prepared Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticle possesses good super-paramagnetic behavior. We also put forward a primary experimental model to shed light on the controllability of the monodispersity of the nanosized particles.     

Synthesis of bulk nanostructured aluminum alloy component through vacuum plasma spray technique

The benefits of large-size engineering components with nanocrystalline structure (providing improved strength) are yet to be realized due to processing difficulties and associated grain growth problems. In this work, a free-standing bulk nanocrystalline structure of hypereutectic aluminum alloy (Al–21wt.%Si) has been fabricated through the vacuum plasma spray (VPS) forming technique using micron-size powder feedstock. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used to investigate the evolution of multi-scale microstructure as the result of rapid solidification in VPS forming process. The characterization implies the presence of nanosized eutectic Al–Si grains (25–100 nm) with uniformly distributed ultrafine primary silicon particles of submicron size. The effect of microstructural evolution on mechanical properties has been studied by tensile testing and microhardness measurement. A considerable improvement in ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the sprayed deposit has been observed in comparison with conventionally cast hypereutectic Al–17wt.%Si alloys.     

Properties of copper matrix reinforced with various size and amount of Al2O3 particles

Copper matrix was reinforced with Al₂O₃ particles of different size and amount by internal oxidation and mechanical alloying accomplished using high-energy ball milling in air. The inert gas-atomised prealloyed copper powder containing 1 wt.% Al as well as a mixture of electrolytic copper powder and 3 wt.% commercial Al₂O₃ powder served as starting materials. Milling of Cu-1 wt.% Al prealloyed powder promoted formation of fine dispersed particles (1.9 wt.% Al₂O₃, approximately 100 nm in size) by internal oxidation. During milling of Cu-3 wt.% Al₂O₃ powder mixture the uniform distribution of commercial Al₂O₃ particles has been obtained. Following milling, powders were treated in hydrogen at 400 °C for 1 h in order to eliminate copper oxides formed at the surface during milling. Compaction was executed by hot-pressing. Compacts processed from 5 to 20 h-milled powders were additionally subjected to high-temperature exposure at 800 °C in order to examine their thermal stability and electrical conductivity. Compacts of Cu-1 wt.% Al prealloyed powders with finer Al₂O₃ particles and smaller grain size exhibited higher microhardness than compacts of Cu-3 wt.% Al₂O₃ powder mixture. This indicates that nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles act as a stronger reinforcing parameter of the copper matrix than micro-sized commercial Al₂O₃ particles. Improved thermal stability of Cu-1 wt.% Al compacts compared to Cu-3 wt.% Al₂O₃ compacts implies that nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles act more efficiently as barriers obstructing grain growth than micro-sized particles. Contrary, the lower electrical conductivity of Cu-1 wt.% Al compacts is the result of higher electron scatter caused by nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles.     

THE MECHANISM FOR NANOMETER-SIZED TiC SYNTHESIZING BY MECHANICAL ＆ THERMAL ACTIVATION PROCESSING

1. IntroductionA w ide variety oftechniquesare being used to synthesize nanostructured m aterials[1].M echanicalalloying (M A )hasbecom e a popularm ethod to m ake nanocrystallinem aterialsdueto the sim plicity,rel-atively inexpensive equipm entneeded, applicability to essentially allclasses ofm aterials and the re-m arkable possibility foreasily scaling up to tonnage quantities[2].Recently,reaction m illing (RM )iscon-cerned w idely forpreparation ofnanostructured m aterialsbecause thatthe …