Papers by Keyword: Microporosity

Abstract: Microsegregation is intimately coupled with solidification, the development of microstructure, and involved in the formation of various casting defects. This paper demonstrates how the local composition of the metal matrix of graphitic cast irons, measured using quantitative electron microprobe analysis, can be used to determine its solidification chronology. The method is applied in combination with Fourier thermal analysis to investigate the formation of micropores in cast irons with varying proportions of compacted and spheroidal graphite produced by remelting. The results indicate that micropores formed at mass fractions of solid between 0.77 and 0.91, which corresponded to a stage of solidification when the temperature decline of the castings was large and increasing. In 4 out of the 5 castings, pores appear to have formed soon after the rate of solidification and heat dissipation had reached their maximum and were decreasing. While the freezing point depression due to build-up of microsegregation and the transition from compacted to spheroidal type growth of the eutectic both influencing solidification kinetics and the temperature evolution of the casting, the results did not indicate a clear relation to the observed late deceleration of solidification.

Abstract: Heavy-section ductile iron castings solidify under low cooling rates, giving the risk to form defects like non-metallic inclusions, microporosities and degenerated shapes of graphite that have a negative effect on fatigue resistance, favoring the crack nucleation. The aim of this work is to precisely identify the defects that most affect the fatigue behavior in heavy-section castings, in order to guide the foundry to take the proper countermeasures. For this purpose, fatigue rotating bending tests were carried out on specimens machined from small-scale samples opportunely cast to reproduce long solidification times. The fracture surface of broken samples were investigated by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy in order to identify crack initiation points and fracture mechanisms. Shrinkage porosities and spiky graphite were found to play the most important effect on crack nucleation, lowering the fatigue resistance of the castings, while chunky graphite just behaved as a preferential path for crack propagation.

Abstract: Activated carbons (ACs) were successfully prepared using plane tree seed (PTS) as a cheap and renewable raw material. The plane tree seeds were firstly treated combining magnetic (MM) and ultrasonic mixing (USM) during 0.5, 1 and 3 h in 1 M, 3 M and 6 M of H3PO4 solutions, and then activated at 260 °C during 20 h (low temperature hydrothermal carbonization–low HTC) in above mentioned solutions of the same molarity. The influence of combined mixing and activation processes on physical, structural and morphological properties, and their optimization was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

Abstract: Micro-and mesoporous ceramics demonstrate promising properties for applications in energy-and environment-related fields. Due to their high thermal and chemical stability, they are particularly suited for separation in harsh thermal or chemical environments, e.g. as membrane materials for the separation of gas mixtures. In this work, we present the use of a preceramic poly(vinyl)silazane in combination with organic molecular porogens for the generation of micro-/mesoporous non-oxide ceramic structures. Microporosity is generated during the pyrolytic conversion process, while the addition of molecular porogens, to be removed during the heat-treatment, enables further control of the micro-/mesopore structure. A systematic investigation of various porogens showed the suitability of polystyrene for this purpose. Based on these findings, the pore structure and pore connectivity of polysilazane/polystyrene-derived structures were evaluated using gas physisorption and small angle X-ray scattering techniques. This material was further investigated by preparing asymmetric membranes consisting of micro-/mesoporous polysilazane/polystyrene-derived layers on porous ZrO₂/TiO₂ supports. The potential for gas separation applications was then demonstrated by single-gas permance evaluation of the generated structures at temperatures up to 300 °C.

Abstract: The microstructures and mechanical properties of IN738LC superalloy made by investment castings followed by Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) treatment have been investigated. The results revealed that after HIP treatment, the microporosities have been almost removed and the density rose by 0.21%. The eutectic size became smaller and the fraction decreased. The γ' phase was more regular and also increased in size, while a large number of secondary γ' phase appeared. With HIP treatment, the impact toughness increased from 5.0J ~ 7.0J to 8J ~ 9J and tensile strength at 200°C ~ 800°C was improved by approximately 3.2%~19.7%. In addition, the ductility and the stress rupture life have also been greatly improved as well.

Abstract: A new powder metallurgical processing route for porous Ti coatings on Ti-6Al-4V substrates based on the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of TiH₂ suspensions is presented. After dehydrogenation and sintering in vacuum, coatings with a fully interconnected porosity (up to 51%, interconnective pore channels (IPC) of 2-50 µm) and high adhesion strength (up to 47 MPa) are obtained. Further evaluation of these coatings for potential use in biomedical implants shows that EPD Ti coatings are significantly less prone to bacterial adhesion compared to state-of-the-art vacuum plasma sprayed (VPS) coatings, while still allowing substantial bone ingrowth. Using EPD, the coating process can easily be transferred to complex-shaped implant components.

Abstract: Cu-doped carbon aerogels were prepared by the sol-gel polymerization of resorcinol with formaldehyde in aqueous solution to produce organic gels that are supercritically dried in n-hexane and subsequently pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere, using sodium carbonate as catalyst and copper acetate as copper source. The addition amount of the copper acetate in the initial reaction mixture has a profound effect on the surface morphology and pore texture of the resulting aerogel. It is shown that the introduction of copper lead to generation of ultrafine micropores. The desulfurization performance of the as-obtained carbon aerogels was evaluated by selective adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a model sulfur compound and benzene as a competitive aromatic compound. It is found that the adsorption capacity for DBT is related to the volume of micropores. And the selectivity is improved with the increase of copper content, indicating the presence of copper is favorable to DBT retention on the surface via its π-complexation effect.

Abstract: In this paper, experimental and finite element modeling methods were adopted to investigate the effects of microporosity on the tensile properties and fracture behavior of high-pressure die-casting (HPDC) AM50 alloy. By specimen-to-specimen fractographic analysis, the variability in tensile properties could be quantitatively correlated with the areal fraction of the porosity presented in the corresponding fracture surfaces by using a simple power law equation. Numerical models of synthetic microstructures with different pore sizes, areal fractions of pores and pore distributions were established. Based on the experimental and numerical simulation results, it could be concluded that the fracture will initially occur in the region where has the highest intensity of equivalent stress field (i.e., contains the most highly localized cluster of pores and shrinkage), and then, fracture crack will fast propagate through the adjacent regions which have the relatively high intensity of stress field.

Abstract: Cast Magnesium alloys often exhibit large variability in fracture related properties such as ductility. In this study, the characteristics of micro-voids in high-pressure die-cast (HPDC) AM50 alloy were investigated by microstructural detecting. Specimen-to-specimen fractographic analysis of tensile fractured surface was executed to summarize the relation between microporosity and tensile properties. The results indicated that the variability in tensile properties is quantitatively correlated to the areal fraction of porosity in the corresponding fracture surface, which could be expressed by a power law equation. All the results proved that the most highly localized cluster of micro-voids is most preferentially to be the origin of fracture, and then, fracture crack will preferentially propagate through the adjacent regions that with large porosity.

Abstract: The calcium phosphate microporous bioceramics, and hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) biphasic compositions, in the granular form of microporous biomaterials, are research themes and present potential biomedical applications in rebuilding and repairing maxillofacial bone and tooth structure and in orthopedic applications. This is associated with microstructural characteristics of biocompatibility and bioactivity and osteoconductivity properties that these biomaterials offer when applied in vivo or in simulated environment. Another differential point of these biomaterials is the solubilization capacity that they present when applied in the biological environment. These compositions of calcium phosphates (hydroxyapatite matrix and/or β-tricalcium phosphate) allow for the gradual release of calcium and phosphate ions for the biological environment, which are absorbed and promote the formation of new bone tissue. These materials are also promising in applications in the field of traumatology as in the repair of traumatized bone tissue and drugs controlled release and bone structure treatments. The favorable results of these biomaterials as bone reconstruction matrix and drugs controlled release are associated with crystallographic characteristics, morphology, surface and solubility that these biomaterials present when in contact with body fluids. This work aimed to describe three types of calcium phosphate microporous granulated biomaterials. The biomaterials used were provided by the Biomaterials Group from Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC and are: hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate and biphasic composition 60% hydroxyapatite/40% β-tricalcium phosphate. The Scanning Electron Microscopy technique (SEM) was used for carrying out the morphological characterization and microstructure studies of granulated biomaterials. The X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) served for characterization of crystalline phases. Arthur Method was used for determining open porosity and hydrostatic density of biomaterials. The BET technique served to support determination of the surface area of microporous granulated biomaterials. The results are encouraging and show that these biomaterials present promising morphological characteristics and microporous microstructure as wettability and capillarity. These characteristics may contribute to biomaterial osteointegration by new tissue, bone formation and mineralization process.