Materials Science Forum Vols. 486-487

Abstract: Tetra-needle like zinc oxide whiskers (T-ZnOw) were doped with Al3+, Fe3+ or Ag+. The morphological structures and the doped ions were characterized, and the results indicated that mostof the Aluminum existed in a second phase of ZnAl2O4, most of the Fe3+ solid-solutioned into the crystal lattice and the silver generated as nano-particles on the surface of the needles of the ZnO whiskers. Anti-bacterial experiments gave the result that Fe3+ doped T-ZnOw and the nano-silver adnascent ZnOw had obvious effect of killing and inhibiting the bacteria such as Staphylococcus Aureus (ATCC 6538), Escherichia Coli (ATCC 25922) and Candida Albicans (ATCC 10231). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the related doping T-ZnOw were 55~440 PPM. Further experiments indicated that there appeared high margin of safety and no stimulation on skins or eyes for the tested animals. Products such as plastics, coatings, fibbers and papers containing 2wt% of the doped T-ZnOw had more than 99% efficiency for anti the mentioned bacteria. Effect of degradation of organic compound for the doped T-ZnOw was also evaluated by degradation of formaldehyde. The mechanism was tentatively put forward to explain the phenomena and the effect of antibiosis.

Abstract: Visible light responsive TiO2 (Vis-TiO2) thin films were successfully developed by the radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method, and their photocatalytic activities for the water splitting reactions were investigated. Pt-loaded Vis-TiO2 thin films acted as photocatalysts to decompose water involving sacrificial reagent such as methanol or silver nitrate under visible light irradiation (λ³ 420 nm). Furthermore, the separate evolution of H2 and O2 was successfully achieved under solar light irradiation by applying these photocatalysts in a H-type glass container, which consists of two water phases separated by a TiO2 thin film and proton-exchange membrane.

Abstract: The influence of the two deposition parameters on microstructure, and microhardness of plasma sprayed TiO2 coatings were investigated. It was found that a higher spraying power and a shorter distance resulted in a lower porosity and a higher microhardness for the coatings. The anisotropy on the microstructure and microhardness of TiO2 coatings was also found. The denser microstructure is attributed to the higher degree of melting and higher velocity of the TiO2 powders during spraying. The improvement of microhardness is associated with the lower porosity. The difference of porosity and microhardness between surface and cross section resulted from their different microstructures.

Abstract: TiO2 photocatalysts prepared by a novel multi-gelation method showed good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of 2-propanol diluted in water by the control of parameters such as particle size, surface area, crystallinity, pore-volume, pore-diameter as well as anatase and rutile phase composition by changing the number of pH swings during preparation. In particular, with this method the phase transition from anatase to rutile at higher pH swing times can be controlled and high purity and uniformity of the TiO2 particles which leads to higher photocatalytic activity of the particles can be achieved. From our experimental results, it has been observed that TiO2 catalysts prepared by this unique multi-gelation method, i.e., adopting variations in the pH swing, significantly shows higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of 2- propanol diluted in water. It can be considered a viable alternative over existing commercial methods for the preparation of photofunctional catalysts.

Abstract: Fine-grained and coarse-grained Ti3SiC2 materials were synthesized by hot pressing using TiC0.67 and Si powders as starting materials. The oxidation between 900 and 1100oC in air resulted in the formation of an outer TiO2 (rutile) layer and an inner mixed layer of TiO2 and amorphous SiO2, accompanying the liberation of carbon into the air. Fine-grained Ti3SiC2 displayed better oxidation resistance than coarse-grained one, with activation energies of 376.5~380 kJ/mol for oxidation.

Abstract: Microstructure and mechanical behaviors of zirconia [ZR; ZrO2+3mol%Y2O3]–nano hydroxyapatite [HA; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] nanocomposites were studied. A pulse electric current sintering (PECS) method was applied to fabricate ZR-HA composites as biomaterials. The reaction between zirconia and hydroxyapatite was successfully avoided. It was a successful preparation of bioactive composites in the quasi-binary system Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 + ZrO2. One of the most serious problems is that when a mixture of zirconia and nano-hydroxyapatite powders was sintered, extensive chemical reaction between zirconia and hydroxyapatite was unavoidable. By applying a novel super-fast consolidation technique, pulse electric current sintering (PECS), the deleterious reactions were inhibited kinetically. The specimens contain 0, 10, 20, and 30wt% of hydroxyapatite on zirconia as remainder. Samples were sintered using the PECS method at 1100°C , 1150°C, 1200°C, and 1250°C, with increasing 100°C /min, under a pressure of 50Mpa in vacuum atmosphere for 5min. Characterization of the samples was carried out using X-ray diffraction analysis at different sintering temperatures. Flexural strength was estimated with 3-point bending test. The relative density was acquired using an Archimedes method in toluene medium.

Abstract: Thermal behaviors of EAF dust, water-washed EAF dust, and EAF dust/heavy clay mixtures with wet mixing process were characterized by TG/ DTA analysis. The ionic concentrations of some metal ions and anions in the supernatant from water-washing process were evaluated by ICP and IC analysis. Weight loss of water-washed EAF dust above the temperature range of 1000°C was significantly decreased because of the washing effect of chloride and sulfate compounds. The variation of volatile ZnO and PbO contents were not detected in 20wt% D dust-80wt% clay sample. The wet mixing process not only enhanced the homogeneous mixing of EAF dust and clay particles, but also reduced the volatilization of heavy metals(Zn, Pb, etc.) at the high temperature range.

Abstract: The oxidation and tensile properties of a Ni20Cr20Fe5Nb alloy and a Ni20Cr20Fe 5Nb1Y2O3 alloy with nano-sized grains were compared with those of the comercial IN718 alloy. The oxidation resistance of the Ni20Cr20Fe5Nb1Y2O3 alloy was superior to that of the Ni20Cr20Fe5Nb and IN 718 alloys. This superior oxidation resistance was the result of both the formation of dense oxides on the surface of the alloy and the interruption of Cr migration in the alloy by the addition of Y2O3. Moreover, the tensile property of the Ni20Cr20Fe5Nb1Y2O3 alloy at room temperature and 400oC was higher than that of the Ni20Cr20Fe5Nb and IN718 alloys by more than 300MPa (30%). This result can be attributed to the dispersion strengthening of Y2O3. The relatively low tensile strength at 600°C and 800°C of the alloys fabricated by mechanical alloying was attributed to grain refinement showing intergranular fracture at high temperatures.

Abstract: The microstructural changes and the relations between mechanical properties and additive powder with various brazing temperatures and times were investigated. The IN738 and BNi-3 alloy powders were used as an additive and filler metal powders for the brazing process. The wide-gap brazing process was carried out in a vacuum of 2×10-5 torr. The wide-gap region brazed with 60wt.% IN738 additive powder had a microstructure consisting of IN738 additive, and binary eutectic of Ni3B-Ni, and (Cr, W)B. As the brazing temperature and time were increased, the size of IN738 additive powder increased to 181µm, which decreased the amount of low strength Ni3B-Ni eutectic structure, thereby increasing the fracture strength of the wide-gap brazed region. Cracks in the brazed region were observed to propagate through the Ni3B-Ni structure, which lowered the fracture strength of the wide-gap brazed region.