Key Engineering Materials Vols. 280-283

Abstract: Optical spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped alkaline-earth metal modified fluoropho sphate glasses have been investigated experimentally for developing broadband fiber and planar amplifiers. The results show a strong correlation between the alkaline-earth metal content and the spectroscopic parameters such as absorption and emission cross sections, full widths at half-maximum and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters. It is found that strontium ions could have more influences on the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters and the absorption and emission cross sections than other alkaline-earth metal ions such as Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+. The sample containing 23 mol% strontium fluoride exhibits the maximum emission cross section of 7.58 × 10-21 cm2, the broadest full width at half-maximum of 65 nm and the longer lifetime of 8.6 ms among the alkaline-earth metal modified fluorophosphates glasses studied. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameter W6s, the emission cross sections and the full widths at half-maximum in the Er3+-doped fluorophosphate glasses studied are larger than in the silicate and phosphate glasses.

Abstract: In the present study, several principles are introduced as the guidelines to design multi- phased materials. Each phase in the multiphase material can offer one function or property to the material. The functions contributed from the phases within the multiphase material can interact with each other. Such interactions can be tailored by suitable microstructure design. The Al2O3-ZrO2-Ni multiphase material is used to demonstrate the applications of the design principles.

Abstract: Non-elastic strain behavior was investigated for several different zirconia ceramics and a possible mechanism for anelasticity was discussed. Anelastic strain was detected in zirconia ceramics irrespective of the crystallographic phase and its productivity depended on the particular kind of dopant additive. It was found that the anelastic properties could be significantly influenced by the level of oxygen vacancy in the matrix, and that the anelastic strain might be produced by a slight shift of ionic species. In order to investigate the effect of anelasticity on mechanical properties on zirconia ceramics, the tensile strength was investigated for a wide range of strain rates. The obviously unique strain rate dependence was observed only in the materials having anelastic properties. It was assumed that anelasticity could be efficient at improving the tensile strength.

Abstract: In this paper, a W/O microemulsion system composed of cyclohexane / water / TritonX-100 / hexyl alcohol is adopted to prepare ultrafine spherical zirconia powder via the reaction between the precipitant and zirconium salt solved in the nano reactors. Furthermore, the powder’s surface characteristics and aqueous dispersibility that strongly depends on the post-treatment process are investigated thoroughly.

Abstract: Zirconia nanopowders were prepared in the ultrasonic field by the sol-gel method and the sonochemical effect on the structure of zirconium hydroxide and the zirconia nanopowder properties were systematically investigated in this work. Ultrasound was introduced into the different stages of the synthesis of zirconia nanopowders in sol-gel reaction system, and zirconium hydroxides and the zirconia nanopowders with different properties were obtained. The results indicated that ultrasonic cavitation could not only disaggregate the agglomerates of zirconia colloidal particles but also reduce the amount of coordinated H2O, free H2O and free hydroxyl groups of the zirconium hydroxide colloidal particles, thus effectively preventing the formation of hard agglomerates in zirconia powders. Moreover, the effects of different ultrasonic output powers and treatment cycles on the structure and properties of ZrO2 nanopowders were studied by TEM, XRD and SAXS. Zirconia nanopowders with an extremely small crystallite size (10.3 nm) and a narrow size distribution were yielded with 520 W ultrasound for 6 treatment cycles on the formation period and 600 W ultrasound for 2 treatment cycles on the washing period. It is concluded that the ultrasonic field is a potential method for nanopowder preparation.

Abstract: Zirconia suspensions with coarse particles were prepared and the rheogical behavior and sediment stability of such suspensions with different dispersants were studied. It was found that ZrO2 suspension stabilized with TAC (tri-ammonium citrate) has an obvious shear-thinning behavior and rapid settlement; In contrast, the suspension stabilized with arabic gum shows a shear-thickening behavior and hardly any settlement. Considering both fluidity and settlement stability, APA (ammonium-polyacrylate) was chosen as the dispersant to increase the solid volume fraction of ZrO2 suspension. Utilizing the above suspension, a kind of refractory nozzle for precision casting of a Cu-Cr alloy was prepared by gelcasting. Such nozzle has a very good resistance to thermal shock and flux scouring.

Abstract: A new method of plastic forming was carried out for zirconia ceramics, which was based on more uniformly mixed and de-agglomerated pastes produced by a process thatinitial dispersion of suspension and subsequent coagulated at a sufficient high solid loading. Through comparing of three approaches or conditions, our results proved that this plastic forming process can give rise to components of higher strength compared to those produced by existing processing route.

Abstract: In this work, porous zirconia ceramic was synthesized using filter papers as a template. Special attention is paid to whether the structural of the filter paper can be transferred to the zirconia structure. Microstructure of so synthesized porous zirconia was observed with SEM and the phase was determined by XRD. The surface area and the pore were investigated with an automatic volumetric sorption analyzer. It has been found that the morphology of the template transmit to the porous zirconia quite well.

Abstract: In order to reduce the raw materials cost, lower the sintering temperature of 3Y-TZP optical fiber ferrules, the 3Y-TZP/ LAS glass ceramics composites were prepared and their properties were investigated in this paper. The results showed that the sintering temperatures and thermal expansion coefficients of the 3Y-TZP/LAS glass ceramics composites were lowered with the increase of glass content. The flexural strength of the composites were decreased with the increase of glass content, but the flexural strength of the composite with 15% weight glass was higher than 400MPa. The LAS glass powder added into the composites was crystallized and b-spodumene s.s was precipitated. during sintering. The b-spodumene s.s. having lower thermal expansion coefficient and higher strength was beneficial to reduce thermal expansion coefficients and keep higher strengths of the composites .