Key Engineering Materials Vols. 434-435

Abstract: Effects of B4C and C additives on the densification behavior, phase composition, and microstructure of TiB2 ceramics were studied. The relative density of pure TiB2 ceramics by hot pressing at 2000°C for 1 h was only 77.4%. With the introduction of B4C and C additives, the relative density increase to 97.4% and 98.1%, respectively. The great improvement on densification was due to the removal of surface oxides of TiB2 powders by reaction with B4C and C additives. Microstructure observation showed the addition of B4C led to some TiB2 grains abnormal growth (>10 µm), whereas the addition of C produced a uniform and fine-grained microstructure.

Abstract: Abstract. ZrB2-SiC ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) was hot-pressed at a temperature of 1900°C with the addition of carbon black as a reinforcing phase. Microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Analysis revealed that the amount of carbon black had a significant influence on the sinterability and mechanical properties of ZrB2-SiC ceramics. When a small amount ( < 10 vol.%) of carbon black was introduced, it may react with oxide impurities (i.e. ZrO2, B2O3 and SiO2) present on the surface of the starting powder, thus promote the densification and grain refining of ZrB2-SiC ceramics. As a result, the mechanical properties including flexural strength and fracture toughness were improved. However, with the further adoption of carbon black, mechanical properties were not improved much, which could be attributed to the redundant phase at grain boundaries. The results presented here point to a potential method for improving densification, microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrB2-based ceramic composites.

Abstract: The influence of hot pressing temperature and SiC content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrB2-SiC ceramics was investigated. ZrB2 containing 20 volume percent SiC were prepared by hot pressing at 1850, 1900 and 1950°C for 60 min. Fully dense ceramic was obtained after hot pressing at temperature of 1950°C. In addition, the materials with SiC content of 0, 10vol.%, 15 vol.%, 20 vol.% and 30 vol.% hot pressed at 1950°C were also investigated. Results showed that the grain size of the ZrB2 significantly reduced on adding 10vol.% SiC and then decreased slightly with further increasing SiC content, whereas the grain size of SiC exhibited a opposite trend. The flexural strength of ZrB2-SiC ceramics remarkedly increased on adding 10vol.% SiC due to the significant decrease of ZrB2 particle size and then slightly increased with increasing SiC content up to 20vol.%. However, further increasing SiC content led to a reduction of the flexural strength.

Abstract: Ultra-high temperature ceramic composites of ZrB2-SiC were densified by pressureless sintering. Ultra-fine ZrB2-SiC composite powders synthesized by sol-gel method were mixed with commercial ZrB2 and SiC powders. The sintered body of hybrid powders (combined commercial and synthesized composite powders) showed excellent properties not only in the relative density but also the flexure strength. Dry-pressed compacts using 4wt% Mo as a sintering aid were sintered to nearly full density at 2200°C/2h. The average strength was ~560MPa and the maximum was ~632MPa. SEM and TEM showed that SiC particles were distributed homogenously in the ZrB2 matrix and the average particle size was ~5μm. From HRTEM observations, the grain boundaries were apparently free of glassy phases and no intermediate phases existed.

Abstract: An overview of the last 16 years of activity on joining of advanced ceramics, glasses and ceramic matrix composites at Politecnico di Torino (Italy) will be presented. Results on thermal assisted direct bonding (TADB) of glasses for lab-on-chip devices, C/C composites to Cu-alloys for nuclear fusion components (ITER), SiC and SiC/SiC joints for nuclear components (fusion and fission), glass joining of foam glass, C/C joints for aerospace applications, ceramics to stainless steels for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), will be shown. Mechanical tests on joined components will be discussed, in particular, the results of an experimental campaign on carbon/carbon and ceramic joints tested in pure and apparent shear by nine different configurations.

Abstract: Abstract. The reaction layer microstructure of SiC/SiC joints brazed by Ag-Cu-Ti filler metal, including composition, morphology, grain size were investigated by X-ray diffraction, electronic probe microanalysis, transmission electron microscope. An obvious reaction layer composed of TiC and Ti5Si3 was observed at the interface of SiC substrate and filler metal. There is a representative structure of SiC substrate/continuous fine TiC layer /discontinuous coarse Ti5Si3 layer/filler metal in the reaction layer. The continuous TiC layer, composed of about 10 nm roundish grains, is 350 ~ 400 nm thick. Ti5Si3 layer is composed of only one row of Ti5Si3 grains, which disperse with diverse size from 100 ~ 500 nm. Different growth behavior of TiC and Ti5Si3 is the main reason to form this microstructure.

Abstract: Mechanical properties of ceramics are important for its engineering application. It would be significant and efficient if some properties could be estimated without tests. Energy dissipation capacity of ceramics is estimated in this work via two common parameters, hardness and elastic modulus, which could be obtained from basic data of commercial ceramics or simple tests. The ratio of hardness to reduced modulus H/Er is found to be related to recovery resistance and energy dissipation capacity of the materials, and the related equations were induced. The reduced modulus can be expressed by conventional elastic modulus E. Thus, the capacity of energy dissipation and elastic recovery can be estimated simply from the H/E ratio. The calculated results indicate that the value of H/E ratio is in reverse proportion to the energy dissipation. Several ceramics with different H/E ratio are analyzed and their energy dissipation capacities are estimated.

Abstract: Elastic modulus of glass was measured using static method, dynamic method and Vickers indentation technique, respectively. The residual indent of Vickers indentation is analyzed to estimate the elastic modulus, using conventional hardness tester without load-depth curve. The modulus and hardness of glass are determined by load, deformation and residual semi-angle of the indent. The result is compared with the modulus obtained by conventional dynamic and static methods. It was shown that the modulus measured by dynamic method provides the highest value and the modulus obtained by indentation technique is between the values of dynamic modulus and static modulus. The result also shows that the modulus measured by dynamic method has very stable value and that measured by bending method has the lowest value. The modulus obtained in indentation tests shows relatively greater scatter.

Abstract: Abstract. Green light emitting Mn2+-doped Zn2SiO4 (Zn2SiO4:Mn2+) phosphor nano-particles were synthesized by sol-gel method combined with a furnace firing from the sol-gel solution made with ZnO, MnCO3 and tetraethoxysilan. The influences of annealing temperatures on the microstructures and photoluminescent properties of the Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphors were investigated. The structural details of the phosphors were examined through XRD and SEM. The photoluminescent properties of the Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphors were characterized by excitation and emission spectra. The results indicate that the XRD patterns of the Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphors exhibit a willemite structure (-Zn2SiO4). Green photoluminescence whose emission peak is located at 525 nm were observed from the synthesized phosphor particles under UV excitation. The photoluminescent mechanisms of the Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphors were discussed.

Abstract: In the search of more microwave dielectric materials with high-quality factor (Qf ) and high relative dielectric constant (r), RENbO4 (where RE = Y, Ce, Yb) niobate ceramics were synthesized from a solid-state ceramic route, their sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. All of the RENbO4 ceramics formed a single-phase fergusonite-type structure (monoclinic, with space group I2/c), except CeNbO4. They all have an excellent quality factor and dielectric constant value in range of 20 – 28, and the inherent reasons were analyzed.