Materials Science Forum Vols. 587-588

Abstract: The densification during sintering of borosilicate glass matrix composites with 25 vol. % alumina (Al2O3) particles was investigated. The powder compacts, isostatically pressed at 200 MPa, were sintered at a temperature within the range 800-1000º C and maintained at this temperature during various times. The sintering behaviour of the composites was investigated by density measurement and by axial and radial shrinkage measurements. The crystalline phases present in the sintered composites were identified by XRD and the microstructure was analyzed by SEM. For temperatures up to 900 °C, the relative density of the composites increased continuously with sintering temperature and sintering time, while for higher temperatures, the density increased rapidly and then slowed down to achieve a nearly constant value after sintering the composites for 30 minutes. The composites exhibited isotropic shrinkage behaviour when sintered at 800 °C and 850 °C, but at higher temperatures slightly higher axial shrinkage than radial shrinkage was observed. The shrinkage behaviour and microstructural characteristics of the composites indicate that densification during sintering can be attributed to the viscous flow of the borosilicate glass.

Abstract: In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the lattice dynamics in lanthanum doped SrTiO3 (STO) ceramics, with general formulae LaxSr(1-1.5x)TiO3, we have carried out a detailed Raman study of the x=0.0133 ceramic in the temperatures ranging from 10K to room temperature. Our results show that lanthanum substitution gives rise to new features in the Raman spectra. The Rayleigh band and the extra Raman-forbidden infrared active modes observed provide evidence for the existence of disorder in the system, apparently associated with grain structure, and lattice defects. Moreover, the absence of a TO1 polar soft mode supports the non-existence of a ferroelectric phase at low temperatures. The shift of the para-antiferrodistorsive transition temperature towards higher temperatures clearly evidences that the replacement of Strontium by Lanthanum occurs at the lattice A-site.

Abstract: It is well known that microstructure evolution during rapid solidification depends on the rate between undercooling and solidification velocity. Microstructural evolution in a nonequilibrium solidification process depends critically on the melt undercooling and growth (solidification) velocities of competing phases. One way of obtaining metastable structures is by Thermal Spray Technology. Metastable coatings can be produced starting from microstructured powders through Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) technique, followed by a quenching route. The initial powders are melted during the spraying and deposited over a substrate that is quenched with nitrogen feeders, producing metastable coatings. The obtained coatings were characterized using XRD, SEM, FESEM and TEM in the Thermal Spray Centre (CPT) of the University of Barcelona. The properties of such coatings were studied by hardness, obtaining promising results.

Abstract: Companies are continuously under pressure to innovate their products and processes. In Portugal, there are already several examples of enterprises that have chosen research groups, associated to universities, to straighten collaboration seeking the development of new materials and advanced technological processes, to produce components with complex shapes, high surface quality, and others, at low cost, for continuously more demanding applications. Unfortunately, these cases are still a very small number, and many efforts have to be done to enlarge the collaboration university-companies. Ti and other reactive alloys are important groups of metals that are under intense and continuous research and development. For example, the high mechanical properties, low density, osteointegration behavior, corrosion resistance to fluids and tissues of the human body, the ability to be sterilized, and the possibility to obtain complex shapes, makes Ti a very attractive material for medical applications. The investment casting process, using lost wax or lost rapid prototyping models, allows designers a great amount of freedom and capacity to quickly produce castings of high dimensional accuracy and excellent surface quality suitable for different applications. Many of the castings obtained by this process are immediately ready for use, avoiding costly machining operations and joining processes, making the process very attractive to produce precision parts in Ti and other reactive alloys. However, the high reactivity of the Ti raises several compatibility problems with the traditional materials employed on the ceramic shells for casting steels and non ferrous alloys. The fragile surface layer obtained on the interface Ti-ceramic shell, result of the Ti reaction with oxygen and nitrogen of the shell, significantly reduces the mechanical properties of the cast parts, making them useless. The aim of the present work is the study of the interface properties of the Ti-ceramic shell, in order to be able to manufacture ceramic shells of low chemical reactivity for the investment casting process of reactive alloys, namely; titanium alloys, inconel, aluminotitanates, and others. Ceramic shells manufactured with calcium and yttria stabilized zirconia and other non reactive ceramics were employed and the metallic interface characterized in terms of microscopic and microhardness properties.

Abstract: Glass and glass-ceramics (GCs) find wide applications in various disciplines of science and technology including sealing, vacuum, energy devices because of their desired thermomechanical, electrical, optical properties and chemical durability. We shall report here some recent studies carried out on thermo-physical and structural properties of TiO2 doped sodium aluminophosphate (NATP) glasses, interface studies on Li2O-ZnO-SiO2-P2O5-B2O3-Na2O (LZS) glassceramics for matched type of seal with Cu metal and machinability of magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) glass-ceramics suitable for high voltage and ultra high vacuum applications. Structural studies have been carried out using XRD, FTIR, Raman and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Thermo-physical measurements carried out on NATP glasses have been discussed in the light of structural properties.

Abstract: In this review a small overview is given about methods of powder preparation and thick films tested in the field of High-Temperature-SuperConductors (HTSC). The first and very important step on the way to applications consists generally in the preparation of an adequate powder, alternatively prepared by the common ceramic way or tailor made by wet chemistry. Following, the preparation of thick films are discussed, mostly made by low cost processes in contrast to the expensive manufacturing of thick films.

Abstract: We report the evolution of magnetism in bioglass ceramics 41CaO.(52-x)SiO2.4P2O5. xFe2O3.3Na2O (2 ≤ x ≤ 10 mole % Fe2O3) prepared by melt quenching technique followed by heat treatment at 1050 oC. The structural investigation revealed the presence of magnetite phase in the heat treated samples with x ≥ 2 mole % Fe2O3. Room temperature magnetic measurements showed a very weak ferrimagnetic behaviour for the sample with x = 2 mole % of Fe2O3. Samples with x > 2 mole % of Fe2O3 exhibited magnetic behavior similar to soft magnetic materials with low coercivity. The evolution of magnetic properties in these samples as a function of Fe2O3 molar concentration is correlated with the amount of magnetite phase present in them.

Abstract: Copper nitride films prepared by sputtering have applications such as optical data storage material, insulation barriers in micro electronic devices and coatings for mechanical applications. The present study examines nanocomposites prepared by mechanical alloying of copper with copper nitride under nitrogen atmosphere, at room temperature, in order to establish a comparison with properties of Cu-N sputtered films. The powders were consolidated into bulk samples via warm extrusion at temperatures ranging from 300 to 500°C (0.42-0.64 Tf) after encapsulation without degassing. The as-milled powders and the extruded materials were studied using X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and microhardness measurements. Also, the TEM observation of the extruded sample indicates a mean grain size of about 50 nm. This evidences a higher thermal stability of the as-milled powders and the advantage of using a fast consolidation process, at a relatively low temperature. Therefore, the consolidated material did not show the dramatic softening associated with recrystallization. The consolidation of nanostructured copper-copper nitride composite powders via warm extrusion, without major grain coarsening, was demonstrated.

Abstract: This work reports the synthesis and thermal characterization of poly(borosiloxanes) (PBS) derived from methyltrietoxysilane (MTES) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), aiming to use these polymers as precursors of ceramic matrices for the protection of carbon fibers in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The resulting materials exhibited better thermal stability than the carbon fiber, especially the Cfiber/SiBCO composite derived of the methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) system prepared with a B/Si ratio of 0.5. This study showed that poly(borosiloxanes) are promising materials for the oxidation protection of carbon fibers, and consequently for thermal protection systems.

Abstract: The interest of the automotive industry on biodegradable and green composites is increasing dramatically due two environmental legislation that obliges automakers to reduce the disposal of waste from vehicles [1]. As an answer to this recent demand several research groups are working on the development of these composites. This work shows the development of a loudspeaker front made of two different biodegradable composites: PLA (polylactic acid) and SCA (blend of starch and cellulose acetate) reinforced with different percentages of cellulose spent fibres. The composites were previously extruded on a counter-rotating twin screw extruder and injection moulded into tensile specimens. The mechanical properties of the produced tensile specimens were assessed with an Instron Universal Testing Machine as well as the morphological aspects of the materials, studied with optical and scanning electron microscopies. After these preliminary set of tests, the best composites were chosen to produce the final parts (loudspeaker front). These parts were injection moulded on a Ferromatik Milacron K85 injection moulding machine (850 kN clamping force) and subjected to a wide set of automotive tests to evaluate their performance. The best materials for this application proved to be the PLA reinforced composites, although there is still a large window for improvement of properties, based on the engineering of the matrix/reinforcement interface and also on the improvement of the thermal properties of the PLA material.