Papers by Author: Tohru Sekino

Abstract: Titanium carbide has been attractive for years an engineering ceramics due to its high hardness, high melting point, and good chemical stability. Similarly, titanium dioxide has excellent anti-microbial ceramic material by photon energy. In this study, the anatase type titanium dioxide layer prepared by oxidation of the titanium carbide powder by high temperature oxidation in air atmosphere was investigated in order to determine the possibility of its photocatalyst materials by radiant energy. TiC powder samples of different grain size were gained by ball mill. These samples were oxidized at room temperature to high temperature. The samples exhibited a steady mass gain with increasing oxidation temperature. Based on the results of the X-ray diffraction analysis, anatase type TiO₂ was detected on the titanium carbide samples. It is considered, the titanium carbide showed convension anatase type titanium dioxide layer produced by oxidation.

Abstract: The electrically conductive AlN with high thermal conductivity were successfully fabricated by sintering AlN with a composite additive of 1wt.% Y2O3 and 4wt.% CeO2 in carbon-reduced atmosphere at over 1600 °C. The sudden increase in electrical conductivity is thought to be caused by transition of grain boundary phase from rare-earth oxide to rare-earth oxycarbide. Their electrical conductivities and thermal conductivities increased with increasing sintering temperature. Additionally, sintering temperature influenced the resultant microstructures.

Abstract: Two types of Aluminum nitride (AlN) based ceramic nanocomposite with multifunctionality were investigated to improve machinability or electrical conductivity of AlN ceramics with high thermal conductivity. The AlN/BN nanocomposite was fabricated by hot-pressing AlN-BN composite powder, which was prepared by reducing and heating AlN particles containing a mixture of boric acid, urea and carbon. The nanocomposite containing 20 vol.% BN showed high strength, good machinability and relatively high thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the sintered AlN ceramics with CeO2 as an additive indicated high thermal conductivity and electric conductivity which is possible for electric discharge machining.