Papers by Author: Chang Chun Ge

Abstract: The paper outlined here uses self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) or combustion synthesis that employs more efficient and effective high reaction and cooling rates to produce high quality, reproducible nitride fuels. The fundamental SHS processing parameters was determined to produce Mn-Si-C-N ceramic compounds in which Mn is a surrogate for Am. Because manganese nitride has a relatively low heat of formation the reaction can not be self-sustaining when Si was blended with Mn in the Si:Mn=0.25:1 ratio. The purity of MnSiN2 increases with an increase of the Mn content in Mn-Si-N system. Pure MnSiN2 can be synthesized when Si was blended with Mn in the Si:Mn = 0.5:1 ratio. Volume expansion and porosity decreases, so density, strength and hardness increase as increasing the Mn content in Mn-Si-N system. The powders and sintered cake of MnSiN2-Si3N4 or MnSiN2-Si3N4-SiC was produced by combustion synthesis. The sintered cake of MnSiN2-Si3N4-SiC is attacked by atmospheric moisture to fall to a powder.

Abstract: Silicon nitride was prepared by means of low-pressure preheating combustion synthesis in this paper. When N2 pressure is less than or equal to 2MPa, the lowest preheating temperature is about 653K, reactant could make silicon nitride by combustion synthesis. The additive of ammonium fluoride and ammonium chloride, as the reactive diluent, and Si react and make some useful intermediate products to α -Si3N4 after thermal decomposition. The reactive diluent content must be appropriate. At the same time, with the improvement of Si3N4, as the inert diluent, content in reactant, the adiabatic flame temperature of system would reduce, and combustion reaction rate of Si also drops, so it is propitious to make high level of α -Si3N4.

Abstract: Superfine and nano-sized Fe powders were prepared by a spark plasma discharge process in deionized water. The powders were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) with Oxford Inca EDX, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results indicate that the powders prepared by the process have a bimodal size distribution, high purity, single phase, good spherical shape and high yield.

Abstract: The densification and phase transformation of high α-phase silicon nitride powder synthesized by SHS with a combination of Y2O3 and Al2O3 sintering additives were investigated. The densification process occurred rapidly from 1400 to 1500 °C and was nearly finished at 1500 °C. However, the α-β transformation of silicon nitride progressed rapidly from 1500 to 1600 °C, and completed at 1600 °C. The phase transformation of silicon nitride lagged behind the densification of Si3N4 ceramics. It showed that the solution and precipitation process did not play the main role in the densification of silicon nitride. The sufficient amount of liquid phase was crucial to complete the densification.

Abstract: Molybdenum has many prominent properties, such as high melting point, good thermal properties, and low erosion rate and so on, which make it promising candidate materials for plasma facing materials in the next fusion reactor. In this paper, Molybdenum coatings were deposited onto the oxygen-free copper substrates by atmospheric plasma spraying. The spraying parameters had been carefully selected. Different interlayers were induced between the substrate and the coating. SEM and XRD were used to investigate the photographs and compositions of these coatings. The micro-hardness and bonding strength were also tested. Thermal behaviors of the coatings were evaluated by thermal shock tests. The coatings with interlayers showed better resistance of thermal shock but lower bonding strength compared to coatings that without interlayers.

Abstract: Machinable silicon nitride/ hexahedral boron nitride (Si3N4/h-BN) composites were in-situ synthesized in a nitrogen (N2) atmosphere by means of combustion synthesis gas-solid reaction with silicon (Si) powder and h-BN as raw materials. The effect of the volume fraction of h-BN on the machinable properties of Si3N4/BN composite was studied. The results show that Si powder was fully nitrified and no residual Si was found. Microstructures by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show Columnar crystals of β-Si3N4 are the main phase and acicular crystals of h-BN disperse β-Si3N4 intergranular. With the increasing of the volume content of h-BN, the machinability of the composite increases, but the bending strength of composite decreases firstly and then increases. The lowest bending strength is 84.96MPa at 25% volume fraction of h-BN.

Abstract: Superalloy powders, which have a small particle size and spherical shape, were prepared by a spark plasma discharge process. The electrical parameter, spark voltage, current and pulse duration have very important effects on the size distribution of produced superalloy powders. When current or pulse duration changed the mean size significantly changed.

Abstract: Tungsten has the highest melting point among all metal, which makes it withstand thermal shock and erosion in high temperature environments. In this study, Tungsten coatings were sprayed onto the oxygen-free copper substrates by plasma spraying using inert gases protection. XRD, SEM and EDS were used to identify the phases, morphologies and compositions of the coatings. Vickers micro-hardness and bonding strength of the tungsten coatings were also measured. The results revealed that the hardness distribution of the tungsten coatings was different along the thickness direction. The tungsten coating without any interlayer showed higher bonding strength than that of the other two coatings with NiCrAl and W/Cu interlayers, respectively.

Abstract: A new resistance sintering method under ultra high pressure has been developed for fabrication of Mo/Cu (functional graded material) FGM. The consolidation was carried out under pressure of 8GPa, and input power of 15kW for 50s. The relative density of the FGM specimen was upwards 98% and the composition distribution was nearly the same as designed one. The micro-hardness and bend strength were measured to evaluate the sintering effects. The densification effect and microstructure of these FGM samples were investigated and the sintering mechanism was discussed.

Abstract: Sintering of the Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS) of β-Si3N4 powder with 6.67 wt.% Y2O3 and 3.33 wt.% Al2O3 as sintering additives has been emphatically investigated using hot-press sintering process. The relative density of hot-pressed β-Si3N4 reached near to the full densification (99.43%) at 1700°C. The similar micrographs with self-reinforcing rod-like β-Si3N4 grains forming an interlocking structure were observed. The better mechanical properties of hot-pressed Si3N4, such as the hardness (16.73GPa), fracture toughness (5.72 MPa·m1/2) and bending strength (611.72MPa) values, were obtained at 1700°C. The results indicate that good sinter ability can be obtained with the cheaply SHS of silicon nitride powder for preparing silicon nitride materials, which will make the cost of silicon nitride materials lowered.