Influence of Yb_2O_3-MgO on Mechanical Properties and Thermal Conductivity of Silicon Nitride Ceramics via Gas Pressure Sintering

In this work,Yb2O3 and Mg O were used as sintering aids in preparing silicon nitride ceramics by gas pressure sintering（ 0. 6 MPa N2atmosphere） to investigate how the amounts of Yb2O3- Mg O influence the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of silicon nitride ceramics. The total contents of Yb2O3- Mg O added were 1 mol%,2 mol%,4 mol%,6 mol%,8 mol%,10 mol%,12 mol%,14 mol%,keeping the Yb2O3-Mg O molar ratio of 1 ∶ 1 steadily. Curves of the relative density,thermal conductivity and bending strength plotted against the aids content present a ‘mountain＇shape with a maximum at nearly 10 mol% aids. The fracture toughness increased with the amounts of additives up to10 mol% and decreased slightly thereafter. The mechanical properties and thermal conductivity were almost proportional to the amount of the additives before10 mol%. When the content of aids exceeded 10 mol%,it would weaken the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of the ceramics. The optimum content of Yb2O3- Mg O was 10 mol% by gas pressure sintering（ 0. 6MPa） at 1 850 ℃ for 4 h,which led to a relative density of 98. 9%,a flexural strength of（ 966 ± 38）MPa as well as a fracture toughness of（ 6. 29 ± 0. 29）MPa·m1 /2and thermal conductivity of 82 W /（ m·K）.

Mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube-based silver and silver–palladium alloy composites

The mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube（CNT）-based silver and silver–palladium（10：1, w/w） alloy nanocomposites are reported. To tailor the properties of silver, CNTs were incorporated into a silver matrix by a modified molecular level-mixing process. CNTs interact weakly with silver because of their non-reactive nature and lack of mutual solubility. Therefore, palladium was utilized as an alloying element to improve interfacial adhesion. Comparative microstructural characterizations and property evaluations of the nanocomposites were performed. The structural characterizations revealed that decorated type-CNTs were dispersed, embedded, and anchored into the silver matrix. The experimental results indicated that the modification of the silver and silver–palladium nanocomposite with CNT resulted in increases in the hardness and Young＇s modulus along with concomitant decreases in the electrical conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion（CTE）. The hardness and Young＇s modulus of the nanocomposites were increased by 30%？40% whereas the CTE was decreased to 50%-60% of the CTE of silver. The significantly improved CTE and the mechanical properties of the CNT-reinforced silver and silver–palladium nanocomposites are correlated with the intriguing properties of CNTs and with good interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and silver as a result of the fabrication process and the contact action of palladium as an alloying element.

Numerical analysis of thermal process in the near field around vertical disposal of high-level radioactive waste

For deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste(HLW)in granite,the temperature on the HLW canisters is commonly designed to be lower than100fiC.This criterion dictates the dimension of the repository.Based on the concept of HLW disposal in vertical boreholes,thermal process in the nearfield(host rock and buffer)surrounding HLW canisters has been simulated by using different methods.The results are drawn as follows:(a)the initial heat power of HLW canisters is the most important and sensitive parameter for evolution of temperaturefield;(b)the thermal properties and variations of the host rock,the engineered buffer,and possible gaps between canister and buffer and host rock are the additional key factors governing the heat transformation;(c)the gaps width and thefilling by water or air determine the temperature offsets between them.

Analysis on the Characteristic Properties of PEDOT Nano-particle Based on Reversed Micelle Method

Based on the study of a new type of conducting polymer poly （3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene） （PEDOT）,we focussed on the preparation and characteristics of PEDOT nanoparticles made by reversed micelle method.Moreover,we deeply investigated the optical,electrical and the thermal stability of PEDOT nanoparticles.The main results are as follows： the small-sized PEDOT nanoparticles were prepared and utilized by different methods,such as ultraviolet/visible （UV-Vis） spectroscopy,Fourier-transform infrared （FT- IR） spectrum,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and so on.The results show that the amount of oxidizer,ultrasonic treatment,polymerizing temperature and doping degree can influent morphology,electrical ability and gas sensitivity of PEDOT nanoparticles.The Bragg peaks of nanoparticles at 6.7°,12.7°,25° were observed by XRD and the better orientation of molecular chain was attributed to the effective doping of toluene-p-sulfonic acid,which also resulted in an enhancement of thermal stability of nanoparticles than conventional PEDOT.

Thermoelectric properties of Yb x Co_4 Sb_(12) system

Yb x Co 4 Sb 12 polycrystals were fabricated by vacuum melting combined with hot-press sintering.The effect of Yb-filling on thermoelectric property of unfilled skutterudite CoSb 3 was investigated,which indicated the enhancement of the power factor of the material.Transport properties of materials changed from semi-conductor to semi-metal during the measurement of electrical conductivity,which indicated the change of electronic band structure.The maximum value of electrical conductivity was about 190000 S/m at 300 K for all samples.On the basis of Yb-filling,power factor of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 5-6 mW/（m·K） during the measurement temperature.Thermal conductivity decreased with increase of Yb content,and the thermal conductivity of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 3.2 W/（m·K） at 600 K.The ZT value of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 1.16 at 700 K due to positive contribution from high power factor and low thermal conductivity.