Microstructure Morphologies of Asphalt Binders using Atomic Force Microscopy

We investigated microstructure morphologies of three asphalts（SK, Karamay, and Esso） used in China using atomic force microscopy（AFM）. The topography and phase contrast images were obtained. Topographic profile and three dimensional images were described. Roughnesses of microstructure were calculated. And the chemical compositions of asphalt were tested to explain the microstructural mechanism of the asphalt. The results show that the topography and phase image in atomic force microscopy are appropriate to evaluate the microstructure of the asphalt binder. There are significant differences in microstructural morphologies including bee-like structure, topographic profile, 3D image, and roughness for three asphalts in this study. There are three different phases in microstructure of asphalt binder. The oil source and chemical composition of asphalt, especially asphaltenes content have a great influence on the microstructure.

Analysis of Solidification in Spray Atomized and Codeposited Metal-matrix Composites Part Ⅱ:Reinforcement Injection and Deposition

The influence of the injection of reinforcing particles (for the production of metal matrix composites and of the droplets-to-substrate heat transfer on the resulting microstructural uniformity of spray atomized and codeposited composite material is analyzed. The reinforcement particles injection velocity has to be limited between an upper and a lower critical values. in order to ensure entrapment into the matrix droplets in flight. The thermal history of the injected droplets during the deposition stage is calculated with the assumption that the in-flight solidifying droplets reach the substrate while containing still at least 20% liquid volume fraction, in order to avoid porosity of the deposited material. The substrate to pouring-tube orifice distance where that condition is achieved depends strongly on the atomization pressure and the convective heat transfer coefficient of the substrate. It is demonstrated that 'tailoring' the microstructures and the reinforcement volume percent in the deposited material is feasible. The critical process parameters : the atomization pressure, the melt flow rate. the substrate to pouring-tube orifice distance, the reinforcement particles injection location and rate can all be adequately chosen in order to obtain any desired microstructure, grain size, reinforcement volume percent, with the additional benefit, if wanted, of rapid solidification processing

Spray Atomized and Codeposited Al-Li Based Metal-matrix Composites Processing and Properties

In spray atomization and codeposition, a molten stream of metal is disintegrated into a fine dispersion of droplets by high velocity gas jets. The resulting semi-solidified droplets are directed towards a substrate where they impact and collect as rapidly solidified splats. Relatively high rates of solidification are achieved as a result of the thinness of the splats and the rapid heat extraction during flight and upon impacting with the substrate. The processing method uses codeposition of the metallic semi-solidified droplets (metallic matrix) with the injected reinforcement ceramic particles. In the present paper, the microstructures, mechanical properties, interfacial properties, thermal stability and aging behaviour of spray atomized and codeposited Al-Li-X MMC's (injected X=SiC, Al2O3) are reported and correlated to the processing conditions.

Analysis of Solidification in Spray Atomized and Codeposited Metal-matrix Composites Part Ⅰ: Atomization

Fluid mechanics, heat transfer and liquid-to-solid phase transformation are assessed in optimizing the spray atomization and codeposition process parameters for size refinement and microstructural uniformity of the deposited material. Atomization gas velocities, atomized droplets velocities, convective heat transfer coefficients, thermal histories of the solidifying droplets, freezing rates, fraction solid evolution and solid-liquid interface propagation velocity are calculated. The influence, on the deposit microstructural features, of process parameters like the atomization gas pressure, the pouring tube orifice diameter, the geometrical features of the atomization device,the potency of , pre-existing or injected as reinforcement, nucleation sites, the wetting angle between the liquid melt bnd impurity particles acting as preferred nucleation sites, the in-flight distance of the solidifying droplets in the atomization chamber, i5 evaluated. As a result of the evaluation, appropriate choice of the adjustable process parameters for the production of powders and/or deposits with desired grain size and microstructure, can be made.

A2Str: Molecular Graph Generation Based on Given Atoms

Molecular graph generation is an emerging area of research withnumerous applications. Most existing approaches generate new molecules bylearning a generative model from a collection of known molecules. However,how to obtain the molecular structure from its atomic composition is a problemto be solved. In this paper, it proposes an autoencoder-based model called A2Strwhich takes the atomic composition of a molecular as input. Its molecular structurewas generated and model structures were designed. The effects were verified oneby one. In addition, experiments were implemented with isomer generation anddetermined that the ratio of more than 3% of molecules with different structurescan be obtained from the same combination of atoms.