Papers by Author: Chang An Wang

Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been widely studied in preparing clay-modified electrodes (CMEs) and in assembly of nano-laminated composite that mimics nacre. In this paper, the hydrothermal intercalation and EPD were combined to prepare CMEs with a uniform and continuous polymer/clay composite film of brick-and-mortar nano-laminated structure. X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the structure and composition of the films. Stability of aqueous suspension, temperature for hydrothermal intercalation and deposition time, etc. were systematically studied and discussed.

Abstract: ZrB2/SiC ceramic composites reinforced by nano-SiC whiskers and SiC particles have been prepared by hot-pressing at 1950°C for 1hr under 20 MPa pressure in flow argon atmosphere. Effects of SiC addition on microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal ablation/oxidation behavior of ZrB2/SiC composites were investigated. The results showed that the addition of SiC effectively improved the densification of ZrB2/SiC composites and almost full dense ZrB2/SiC composites were obtained when the amount of SiC increased up to 20 vol%. Flexural strength and fracture toughness of the ZrB2/SiC composites were also enhanced; the maximum strength and toughness reached 600 MPa and 8.81 MPa·m1/2 at SiC additions of 20 vol % and 30 vol%, respectively. The composites possessed good resistance to flame ablation and could keep the whole shape without distinct peeling or cracking after flame ablation by oxyacetylene flame for 3 mins. The more SiC added, the better resistance to flame ablation the composites displayed.

Abstract: In this paper, the MgAlON ceramic was fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and hot press sintering respectively. The results showed that highly pure and single-phase MgAlON could be fabricated at lower sintering temperature in a short period through SPS process, compared with the conventional Hot Press sintering (HP) process. The bending strength of MgAlON specimens prepared by SPS process was higher than 500MPa while bending strength of HP specimens was much lower. The open porosity was almost eliminated in SPS MgAlON specimens. Spark Plasma Sintered MgAlON had a single phase of MgAlON while Hot Press Sintered MgAlON had major MgAlON and minor AlN and Al2O3.

Abstract: Ultra-fine and high-pure zirconium diboride powders were prepared by carbothermal reduction boronization of zirconia/boron carbide/carbon mixtures. Fine-scale mixing of the reactants was achieved by solution-based processing in which zirconium oxychloride (ZrOCl2⋅8H2O) as the zirconia-bearing precursor was precipitated in the suspension of boron carbide (B4C) and carbon powders in water. The carbothermal reduction boronization reaction was substantially completed at relatively low temperatures (<1600°C) and the resulting products (ZrB2 powders) had small average grain sizes (1~2 μm) and high purity (>99.6 wt%). The experiments indicated that excessive B4C and C were necessary during the carbothermal reduction boronization because of volatilization of boron and carbon elements. The effects of temperature and holding time on the synthesis of ZrB2 powders were also discussed.

Abstract: In this paper, ZrB2-based ceramics containing up to 15 vol% nano-SiC whiskers were prepared by hot pressing at 1950°C under 20MPa pressure in flow argon. SEM and XRD techniques were used to characterize the sintered compacts. A fine and homogeneous microstructure was observed. The relative density of ZrB2-based ceramic containing 10vol% SiC whiskers reached to 97.7%. The bending strength and fracture toughness of the composite were 550 MPa and 8.08 MPa·m1/2 respectively, while those of the monolithic ZrB2 ceramic (0 vol% SiC whiskers added) were 424 MPa and 4.52 MPa·m1/2 respectively. The grain size of the ZrB2-based ceramics was reduced greatly by the addition of nano-SiC whiskers during the sintering process.

Abstract: The uniform and transparent nano-crystalline thin films of pure and co-doped with Fe3+/Sn4+ titanium dioxide photo-catalysts were prepared via sol-gel dip-coating process, and were loaded firmly on the surface of glass substrates. The structure and surface morphology of films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In particular, the photo-catalytic activity of films was measured by ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometer. Methyl orange was used as a model compound to study the photo-catalytic activity of films. The effects of the concentrations of doping ions and the number of layers on photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange solutions were investigated. Experimental results showed clearly that the co-doping of iron and tin ions exhibited a synergistic effect, which increased significantly the photo-catalytic activity of titanium dioxide. Especially, the photo-catalytic activity of nano-crystalline titanium dioxide thin films co-doped with 0.1 mol%Fe3+ and 11.41mol%Sn4+ was 2.0 times higher than that of those un-doped for photo-degradation of methyl orange solutions under the 125W self-ballasted fluorescent high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation.

Abstract: By means of a finite element method model, the effects of property parameters of refractory on thermal stress of injection lance have been studied. The results show that the maximum thermal stress increases with the improvement of thermal conductivity and elastic modulus of refractory, while it decreases at first and then increases with the improvement of the coefficient of expansion of refractory.

Abstract: In this work, the reaction between Ti3AlC2 and Cu in the synthesis process of Cu/Ti3AlC2 composites has been studied. According to the results of XRD, SEM and EDS, Ti3AlC2 reacts easily with Cu to generate TiC and intermetallic compound Cu9Al4 when the holding temperature is higher than 950°C, no matter how much Cu is contained. In addition, when the content of Cu increases, more layered Ti3AlC2 grains react with Cu and form irregular shaped grain containing Cu, Ti, Al and C elements. Therefore, the Cu/Ti3AlC2 composites cannot be synthesized above 950°C by hot-pressed method if no specific treatment is used.

Abstract: Extrusion gelation freeform fabrication (EGFF) is a new solid freeform fabrication technique to fabricate ceramic parts. The study of ceramic suspensions rheological behavior is essential to a better understanding of parts fabrication through EGFF process. In this paper, the effects of dispersant concentrations, solids loading and binder composition on the rheological behavior of alumina suspensions were examined. The optimal amount of dispersant was found to be about 0.1 wt.%. The suspensions with 50 vol.% alumina and 1wt.% sodium alginate show shear thickening behavior. Such behavior is unfavorable for extrusion gelation freeform fabrication. By addition of PVA or styrene-acrylic latex, the rheological behavior of suspensions was changed. The addition of PVA or latex has a great effect on the viscosity of the suspensions and the type of their rheological behavior. The ceramic suspensions with PVA or latex were found to be shear thinning more suitable for EGFF.