Arc erosion behaviors of AgSnO_2 contact materials prepared with different SnO_2 particle sizes

To clarify the effect of SnO2 particle size on the arc erosion behavior of AgSnO2 contact material, Ag?4%SnO2 (mass fraction) contact materials with different sizes of SnO2 particles were fabricated by powder metallurgy. The microstructure of Ag?4%SnO2 contact materials was characterized, and the relative density, hardness and electrical conductivity were measured. The arc erosion of Ag?4%SnO2 contact materials was tested, the arc duration and mass loss before and after arc erosion were determined, the surface morphologies and compositions of Ag?4%SnO2 contact materials after arc erosion were characterized, and the arc erosion mechanism of AgSnO2 contact materials was discussed. The results show that fine SnO2 particle is beneficial for the improvement of the relative density and hardness, but decreases the electrical conductivity. With the decrease of SnO2 particle size, Ag?4%SnO2contact material presents shorter arc duration, less mass loss, larger erosion area and shallower arc erosion pits.

Enhanced photocatalytic properties of hierarchical nanostructured TiO_2 spheres synthesized with titanium powders

Using Ti powder as reagent, TiO 2 nanoneedle/nanoribbon spheres were prepared via hydrothermal method in NaOH solution. The samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy （FESEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） with selected area electron diffraction （SAED）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and UV-visible light absorption spectrum. The results indicate that the growth orientations of the crystals are influenced by the hydrothermal temperature and NaOH concentration. The diameter of the nanoneedle spheres and nanoribbon spheres （40 50 μm） are almost the same as that of Ti powders. TiO 2 nanoneedle/nanoribbon sphere powders are anatase after heat treatment at 450 °C for 1 h. Furthermore, methyl orange was used as a target molecule to estimate the photocatalytic activity of the specimens. Under the same testing conditions, the photocatalytic activities of the products decrease in the following order： TiO 2 nanoneedle sphere, TiO 2 nanoribbon sphere and P25.

Preparation of α-Bi_2O_3 from bismuth powders through low-temperature oxidation

α-Bi2O3 powders were prepared from nanometer Bi powders through low-temperature oxidation at less than 873.15 K. XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM were used to characterize the structure and morphology of Bi powders and Bi2O3 particles. Kinetic studies on the bismuth oxidation at low-temperatures were carried out by TGA method. The results show that bismuth beads should be reunited and oxidized to become irregular Bi2O3 powders. The bismuth oxidation follows shrinking core model, and its controlling mechanism varies at different reaction time. Within 0-10 min, the kinetics is controlled by chemical reaction, after that it is controlled by O2 diffusion in the solid α-Bi2O3 layer. The apparent activation energy is determined as 55.19 kJ/mol in liquid-phase oxidation.

Phase evolution of plasma sprayed Al_2O_3-13%TiO_2 coatings derived from nanocrystalline powders

Commercial nanosized alumina and titania particles were selected as raw materials to prepare the blended slurry with composition of A1203-13%TiO2 （mass fraction）, which were reconstituted into micrometer-sized granules by spray drying, subsequently sintering at different temperatures to form nanostructured feedstock for thermal spraying, and then A1203-13%TiO2 nanocoatings were deposited by plasma spraying. The evolution of morphology, microstructure, and phase transformation of the agglomerated powder and as-sprayed coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The results show that A1203 retains the same a phase as the raw material during sintering, while TiO2 changes from anatase to futile. During plasma spraying, some a-A1203 phases solidify to form metastable y-A1203, and the volume fraction of a-A1203 decreases as CPSP increases. However, peaks of the TiO2 phase are not observed from the as-sprayed coatings except for the coatings sprayed at the lower CPSP. As the CPSP increases, nanostructured TiO2 is dissolved easily in y-A1203 or z-A1203＇TiO2 phase. After heat treatment, y-A1203 in the coatings transforms to a-A1203, and rutile is precipitated.

PREPARATION OF NANOMETER ZrO_2-8% Y_2O_3 POWDERS BY AZEOTROPIC DISTILLATION PROCESSING

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Effects of heat treatment conditions and Y-doping on structure and phase transition temperature of VO2 powders

The VO2 powders were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis.The effects of heat treatment conditions and Y-doping on the structure and phase transition temperature of VO2 were studied.The XRD,SEM and TEM results show that the heat treatment temperature has a significant effect on the crystal transformation of VO2 precursor.Increasing temperature is conducive to the transformation of precursor VO2(B)to ultrafine VO2(M).The Y-doping affects the structure of VO2.Y^3+can occupy the lattice position of V4+to form YVO4 solid solution,which can increase the cell parameters of VO2.Due to the lattice deformation caused by Y-doping,the aggregation of particles is prevented,and the grain is refined obviously.DSC curves show that Y-doping can reduce the phase transition temperature of VO2(M).After adding 9 at.%Y,the phase transition temperature can be reduced from 68.3 to 61.3℃.

Preparation and Properties of Nano-TiO_2 Powders

This paper reports the preparation of nano-TiO2 (about 10 nm) powder by the method of precipitation. In detail, some breparation conditions were investigated in order to find out how to control the grain size and reduce the agglomeration of powders. Also, the reflex spectra of nano-scale powders with different grain size were studied. It tvas found that the wave length and width of reflex spectra are connected with the grain size of nano-TiO2 powders

Properties, Phases and Microstructure of Microwave Sintered W-20Cu Composites from Spray Pyrolysis-continuous Reduction Processed Powders

The effects of microwave sintering on the properties, phases and microstructure of W-2OCu alloy, using composite powder fabricated by spray pyrolysis-continuous reduction technology, were investigated. Compared with the conventional hot-press sintering, microwave sintering to W-2OCu composites could be achieved with lower sintering temperature and shorter sintering time. Furthermore, microwave sintered W-Cu composites with high densification, homogenous microstructure and excellent properties were obtained. Microwave sintering could also result in finer microstructures. ：~

Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Preparation of Nanosized ZrO_2 Powders by Evaporative Decomposition of Solutions

Nanosized ZrO2 powder was prepared by evaporative decomposition of solution（EDS）. The particle size is from 50 nm to 200 nm. This process has such advantages as high purity, precise compositional control, simple procedure and successive auto-operating. In this process, mixed solution of zirconium acetate and yttrium nitrate was atomized to from a fine mist and blown into the hot zone from the bottom of furnace. The solution was rapidly decomposed at 900℃ and the powder was collected by a filter system. The powder characteristics can be controlled by adjusting the concentration, droplet volume and decomposition temperature of the solution.

Preparation and structure characteristics of nano-Bi_2O_3 powders with mixed crystal structure

The nano-Bi2O3 powders were prepared by a chemical precipitation method with Bi（NO3）3, HNO3 and NaOH as reactants. The structural characteristics and morphology of nano-Bi2O3 powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that under the optimum condition that 300g/L Bi（NO3）3 reacts at 90℃ for 2h, the Bi2O3 powders with 60nm on the average and 99.5% in purity are obtained. The prepared nano-Bi2O3 powders contain a mixed crystal structure of monoclinic and triclinic instead of traditional structure of monoclinic α-Bi2O3. And the mixed crystal structure is stable in air. The reason for the appearance of the mixed crystal structure may be that the ionic radius ratio of Bi 3+ to O 2- changes easily during the formation of nano-Bi2O3 particles by a chemical precipitation method.

Agglomeration Control of Ultrafine Y_2O_3-ZrO_2 and (MgO, Y_2O_3)-ZrO_2 Powders Synthesized by Coprecipitation Process

Chemical coprecipitation was used to produce ultrafine and easily sinterable Y2O3-stabilized and （Y2O3,MgO）-stabilized ZrO2 powders. Six precipitation processes for preparation of ZrO2-based ultrafine powders were designed separately, meanwhile different techniques used to control the agglomeration formation were proposed. By means of TEM, SEM, Raman spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy, the mechanisms of agglomeration control in the precipitation processes and post-precipitation and drying process were investigated. The experimental results show that adding appropriate anion surface active agents （such as PAA1460） or polymer （PEG1540 matching with PEG200） in aqueous solution systems during precipitation processes could reinforce charge effect and location effect for gel particles interface. Adding wetting agents to wet gels washing with distilled water during drying process could change interface structure of gel particles and decrease surface tension between gel particles. The agglomeration control in the precipitation, post-precipitation and drying processes had remarkable influence on the characteristics of powders. By adding various macromolecules in the processes, the agglomeration state could be controlled efficiently, and the characteristics of powders were improved.

Fabrication of Ti_2AlC by Spark Plasma Sintering from Elemental Powders and Thermodynamics Analysis of Ti-Al-C System

A ternary-layered carbide Ti2AlC material could be synthesized by spark plasma sintering（SPS） technology using elemental powder mixture of Ti, Al and active carbon. By means of XRD and SEM, phases were identified and microscopically evaluated. The experimental results show that the main phase in the product was fully crystallized Ti2AlC with small particle size when sintered at 1200℃. The synthesis temperature of SPS was 200-400℃ lower than that of hot pressing （HP） or hot isostatic pressing （HIP）. Through thermodynamics calculations, the mechanism of Ti2AlC was studied by calculating changes of Gibbs free energy of reactions.

Sintering of Doped, Nanocrystalline CeO_2 Powders Prepared under Hydrothermal Conditions

Nanocrystalline CeO2 powders (particle size ≈10-15 nm), doped with up to 20 at.-% of Mg,Ca or Y were prepared by chemical precipitation under hydrothermal conditions. The particle size and shape of the powders change slightly with the dopant concentrations. The the of the dopants on the sintering of the compacted powders was investigated during heating at a constant rate of 10℃/min. The elemental composition and the concentration of the dopant has significant efFect on the densification and grain growth. Compared to undoped CeO2, the dopants produce a shift in the densification curve to higher temperatures. For the same dopant concentration and under identical sintering conditions, the Ca doped samples reach nearly full density with the smallest grain size (≈50 nm), however, the Mg doped sample has the lowest density (≈95% of the theoretical) with the largest grain size (≈1 μm)

Formation Mechanism of NiAl/TiB_2 Nanocomposite by Mechanical Alloying Elemental Powders

A NiAl/TiB2 nanocomposite is synthesized by mechanical alloying elemental powders. Upon milling for a certain time, an abrupt exothermic reaction occurs and a large amount of NiAl and TiB2 compounds form simultaneously. It is suggested that two separate chemical reactions,i.e. Ni+Al →NiAl and Ti+2B→TiB2, are involved during the exothermic reaction. Additionof Ti and B to Ni-Al system impedes the structural evolution of Ni and Al powders and delays the abrupt reaction. The final products are equilibrium phases without any metastable phases formed. This type of reaction is suggested to be suitable for alloy systems with two large heatrelease reactions.

Preparation of ZrB_2-SiC Powders via Carbothermal Reduction of Zircon and Prediction of Product Composition by Back-Propagation Artificial Neural Network

Phase pure ZrB2-SiC composite powders were prepared after 1 450℃/3 h via carbothermal reduction route,by using ZrSiO4,B2O3 and carbon as the raw materials.The influences of firing temperature as well as the type and amount of additive on the phase composition of final products were detailedly investigated.The results indicated that the onset formation temperature of ZrB2-SiC was reduced to 1 400℃by the present conditions,and oxide additive（including CoSO4·7H2O,Y2O3 and TiO2）was effective in enhancing the decomposition of raw ZrSiO4,therefore accelerating the synthesis of ZrB2-SiC.Moreover,microstructural observation showed that the as-prepared ZrB2 and SiC respectively had well-defined hexagonal columnar and fibrous morphology.Furthermore,the methodology of back-propagation artificial neural networks（BP-ANNs）was adopted to establish a model for predicting the reaction extent（e g,the content of ZrB2-SiC in final product）in terms of various processing conditions.The results predicted by the as-established BP-ANNs model matched well with that of testing experiment（with a mean square error in 10^（-3） degree）,verifying good effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

Manufacture Process of 8Y_2O_3 Stabilized ZrO_2 from Nano Powders

The manufacture process of 8mol% Y-2O-3 stabilized ZrO-2(YSZ) from nano powders, including the forming and sintering stages, was studied. During the forming process of YSZ powders, the relative density of YSZ increases lineally with the forming press,and the sintering linear shrinkage of YSZ to the forming press compiles to the parabola trend. When the forming press exceeding 500MPa, the samples with lower shrinkage and high density were obtained. The sintering temperature of YSZ decreases greatly because of the small size and high active surface of YSZ powders. As a result, the beginning sintering temperature of YSZ made in the experiment is as low as 825℃, and the end sintering temperature is 1300-1350℃. The relative density of YSZ ceramic by solid sintering at 1300-1350℃ is more than 97%, with little and small pores in the uniform microstructure.

Self-Propagating High-Temperature Reductive Synthesis of TiB_2-Al_2O_3 Composite Powders

TiB2-Al2O3 composite powders were produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis（SHS） method with reductive process from B2O3-TiO2-AI system. X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） analyses show the presence of TiB2 and Al2O3 only in the composite powders produced by SHS. The powders are uniform and free-agglomerate. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and high resolution electron microscopy （HREM） observation of microstructure of the composite powders indicate that the interfaces of the TiB2-Al2O3 bond well, without any interfacial reaction products. It is proposed that the good interfacial bonding of the composite powders can be resulted from the TiB2 particles crystallizing and growing on the Al2O3 particles surface with surface defects acting as nucleation centers.

STUDY ON PREPARATION OF YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) ULTRAFINE POWDERS BY SOL-GEL PROCESS

The ultrafine powders of YBa2Cu3O7-x with the size of 100nm were synthesized by Sol-Gel process using cit-rate as complex and ammonium hydroxide to adjust pH of solu-tion. The process of Sol formation and Gel polymerization of YBa2Cu3O7-x in the Sol-Gel synthetic reaction has bee studied. The particle size ,pruity, sintering activity and superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-x prepared by Sol-Gel method are better than by solid state reaction.

Preparation and characterization of carbon nano-sheet powders

Carbon nanosheet films were deposited on A1 substrates by using plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition （PACVD） technique. And after being peeled off from A1 substrates, carbon nanosheet powders （CNSPs） were obtained. In Raman spectrum of carbon film, there was a strong and broadened peak at about 1,580 cm^-1, indicating a carbon diamond-like film. Atomic force microscope image showed that the carbon diamond-like film had a grain size less than 100 nm, and its surface roughness Ra was 17.95 nm in an area of 5×5 μm^2. The CNSPs were irregular sheets with curly edges and a length of several micrometers to several hundreds of micrometers. The BET surface area of CNSPs was 6.66 m^2/g with no micro-pore present, which was confirmed by N2 adsorption-desorption characterization. In the adsorption testing, when the relative pressure p/po was higher than 0.3, the adsorption behavior did not follow the Langmuir equation. The addition of CNSPs to carbon black （catalyst support） could improve hydrodesulfurization performance of carbon supported Ni-W catalysts for diesel oil.

Relationship between powder characteristic and internal oxidation of Al in Cu-Al pre-alloyed powders

Since Cu-Al powder characteristics have important effects on the preparation of Cu/Al2O3 composite, the apparent activation energy of Al internal oxidation reaction in Cu-Al pre-alloyed powders with different characteristics was calculated in the present investigation. The microstructure and properties of the synthesized Cu/Al2O3 were studied. The results show that high-energy milling can obviously promote internal oxidation of Al in Cu-Al powders in the same solid solubility. At the same milling conditions and internal oxidation parameters, the solid solution of Al in Cu either in low or high amount will result in the poor microstructure and properties of the Cu/Al2O3 composite. Subsequently, when high-energy milling and internal oxidation are synchronously used to prepare the Cu/Al2O3 composite, there should be an appropriate solubility and milling effect for the pre-alloyed powders.