Key Engineering Materials Vols. 512-515

Abstract: In this study, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x (Bi-2212) thick films on Ag substrate were fabricated using the dip-coating method. Firstly, the Bi-2212 powders were prepared by Sol-Gel process. Metal nitrates were used as starting materials and ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) was used as chelating agent. Secondly, the resulting powders were used as solute, and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) was used as solvent to prepare suspension via stirring and ultrasonic vibration. Then the suspension was dip-coated on Ag substrate. After heat treatments, the phase compositions of the samples were characterized using the XRD. The microstructure was observed using SEM. Experimental results show that the sintering temperature strongly influence the phase formation of Bi–2212.

Abstract: In this thesis, highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube array films were fabricated via liquid phase depostition (LPD) method, based on different anodized aluminum (AAO) templates. The surface morphology, structure and diffuse reflection spectrum were analyzed by XRD, SEM, UV diffuse reflection spectrum. The results show that the crystal structure of the TiO₂ nano array was anatase after heat-treating at 400 °C. SEM photographs show that nanobube arrays have an average diamieter of 50~80nm, the surface morphology is flat, and the tublar structure is not violated after heat-treating. As the growth times increased, red-shift effect was abserved in diffuse reflection spectra. And the optical band gap is respectively 1.48ev, 1.70ev and 2.08ev as the growth time is 10mins, 20 mins and 30mins.

Abstract: Sm₂S₃ thin films were prepared on Si (100) substrates by liquid phase self–assemble method. The influences of solution pH value on the phases, surface morphologies and optical properties of the as deposited films were investigated. The as–deposited Sm₂S₃ thin films were characterized by X–ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis). Results indicate that Sm₂S₃ thin film with oriented growth along (105) direction can be obtained at pH value of 3.0, deposition temperature of 80 °C, following deposition for 24 h. The grain sizes of the Sm₂S₃ first increase and then decrease with increasing pH value. The as–deposited thin films exhibit a dense and crystallinized surface morphology. The film shows good transmittance in visible spectrum and excellent absorbency of ultraviolet light, and the bandgap of the thin films at pH of 3.0 is calculated to be 4.06 eV.

Abstract: In this paper, a typical Li- and Ta/Sb- modified alkaline niobate-based ceramics are prepared by conventional sintering and two-step sintering respectively. The ceramics sintered by two-step sintering exhibit better electrical properties than the samples prepared by conventional sintering. The related mechanisms are also discussed in terms of phase-structures and microstructures. Results show that two-step sintering can restrain the volatilization of alkali elements and compositional segregation during the process of sintering dense alkaline niobate-based ceramics, and enhance the electrical properties accordingly. Therefore, two-step sintering is a promising approach to achieve high performance alkaline niobate-based ceramics.

Abstract: In this paper, a new type of Ti₃SiC₂/Cu composites with the volume fractions of 30% Ti₃SiC₂ particle was prepared by hot pressing and vacuum sintering respectively. The effects of sintering temperature and holding time on the density, resistance and Vickers hardness of Cu-30vol%Ti₃SiC₂ composite were investigated. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites prepared by hot pressing are better than that prepared by vacuum sintering. The relative densities of Cu-30vol% Ti₃SiC₂ composites are rather high in suitable sintering conditions. It achieved 100% for the composites prepared by hot pressing at 930°C for 2h, and 98.4% for the composites prepared by vacuum sintering at 1250°C for 1h. At the same time, the maximum Vickers hardness reached 1735MPa at 900°C by hot pressing. The resistance and Vickers hardness of the composites decreased with an increase in sintering temperature, whereas the density increased. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to observe the microstructure of the composites. The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties was discussed.

Abstract: In order to aviod much high energy and CO₂ generation. Microwave sintering (MS) is always carried out to prepare refractory. In this work，MS was proposed to sinter mullite composite. An insulation structure based on hybrid heating mode was well designed with the wall of high-aluminum refractory and the aided heaters of SiC. The sintered samples under different sintering processing were characterized by appearent porosity detection and volume density. Phase composition was investigated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Surface and fracture Flied Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was applied to observe pore distribution and grain growth. Sintering profile was provided in this work. It was found that mullite composite could be prepared within 1h at relative lower temperature around 1300°C. Compared with samples prepared by convitional sintering (CS), MS samples presented better densification and more uniform grain growth. Microwave plasma phenomena was explored inside MS samples, however, not found in CS ones.

Abstract: Phase change temperature adjustment of calcium chloride hexahydrate added small quantity of barium hydroxide and strontium chloride hexahydrate was researched. The experimental results demonstrated that, its phase change temperature adjustment could be achieved by means of adding excess water, and its suitable adjustment range of phase change temperature was 21.76°C-26.16°C as the proportion of the added excess water was 0-10% by weight. According to the calculation equation gained by the theoretical regression of the experimental results, its phase change temperature with different proportions of excess water may be forecasted during the suitable adjustment range of phase change temperature. This characteristic is of important application value for temperature control in greenhouse or air conditioning etc.

Abstract: A kind of aqueous based suspensions of lead lanthanum zirconnate titanate (PLZT) was developed for direct ink writing (DIW) assembly. Piezoelectric ceramic woodpile structures with diameter of 315-470μm were fabricated from these inks by using DIW. The preparation of aqueous based piezoelectric inks, the principle of DIW and the sintering process were systematically discussed. The ink with solids volume fraction over 70% by 1 day aging reveals shear-thinning behavior and proper viscoelastic properties, which ensures a feasible extrusion in the whole shaping process. The PLZT samples sintered at varying temperatures between 1150 oC and 1250 oC for 2h or 4 h in either air or a lead-rich atmosphere yielded various microstructures observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Choosing the optimum sintering condition, the sintered products were densified with relative density exceed 98%. The test of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the main phase of sintered samples is rhombohedral Pb0.93La0.07(Zr0.65Ti0.35)0.9825O3. The direct ink writing technique has advantages of good design ability and rapid forming capability, which opens up a potential route for the design and fabrication of piezoelectric devices.

Abstract: In this paper, gel casting process of RBSC was deeply studied. The rheological property of C/SiC slurry was analyzed, high solid loading (67%) slurry with low viscosity was produced. Also the properties of green body and sintered body were studied. Finally, through optimizations of process parameters, a large-sized (650mm), complex-shaped (with thin ribs about 2.5mm) was fabricated through gel casting process with no cracks and deformation. It was showed that gel casting process is suitable for producing large-sized, complex-shaped RBSC components.

Abstract: Fused Quartz crucible with large scale was formed by gelcasting processing in this paper. Effects of dispersant, pH values and particle grading on solids content of slurries were discussed to increase the volume density of the green compacts and decrease the shrinkage and deformation during sintering. Effects of acrylamide content and the ratio of acrylamide to coupling agent on bending strength of the green compacts were investigated. Effects of the amount of initiator and curing temperature on the gelcasting processing were studied as well. The green compacts with solids content of 80% was obtained when the addition ratio of dispersant to Quartz powders was 0.3wt %, the ratio of Quartz powders in D50 of 1.9μm and 7.6μm was adjusted to 3:7, the addition ratio of acrylamide to Quartz powders was 1.0wt % and the ratio of acrylamide to coupling agent was 16:1. The bending strength of the sinterred produts was found to be 76.0MPa with volume density of 1.94 g/cm2. Fused Quartz crucible prepared under conditions mentioned above was 800mm in length, 800mm in width and 400mm in height.