In-situ Fabricated TiB_2 Particle-whisker Synergistically Toughened Ti(C,N)-based Ceramic Cutting Tool Material

The mechanical properties of ceramic cutting tool materials can be modified by introducing proper content of nanoparticles or whiskers.However,the process of adding whiskers or nanoparticles has the disadvantages of high cost and health hazard as well as the agglomeration;although a new in-situ two-step sintering process can solve the above problems to some extent,yet the problems of low conversion ratio of the raw materials and the abnormal grain growth exist in this process.In this paper,an in-situ one-step synthesis technology is proposed,which means the growth of whiskers or nanoparticles and the sintering of the compact can be accomplished by one time in furnace.A kind of Ti（C,N）-based ceramic cutting tool material synergistically toughened by TiB_2 particles and whiskers is fabricated with this new process.The phase compositions,relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties as well as the toughening mechanisms are analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction（XRD）and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）.The composite which is sintered under a pressure of 32 MPa at a temperature of 1700℃in vacuum holding for 60 min can get the optimal mechanical properties.Its flexural strength,fracture toughness and Vickers hardness are 540 MPa,7.81 MPa·m（1/2）and 20.42 GPa,respectively.The composite has relatively high density,and the in-situ synthesized TiB_2 whiskers have good surface integrity,which is beneficial for the improvement of the fracture toughness.It is concluded that the main toughening mechanisms of the present composite are whiskers pulling-out and crack deflection induced by whiskers,crack bridging by whiskers/particles and multi-scale particles synergistically toughening.This study proposes an in-situ one-step synthesis technology which can be well used for fabricating particles and whiskers synergistically toughened ceramic tool materials.

Mechanical Properties and Interfacial Interaction of Modified Calcium Sulfate Whisker]Poly(Vinyl Chloride)Composites

Calcium sulfate whiskers（CSWs） modified with glutaraldehyde-crosslinked poly（vinyl alcohol）（PVA） or traditional surface modifiers,including silane coupling agent,titanate coupling agent and stearic acid,were used to strengthen poly（vinyl chloride）（PVC）,and the morphologies,mechanical and heat resistant properties of the resulting composites were compared.The results clearly show that glutaraldehyde cross-linked PVA modified CSW/PVC composite（c PVA@CSW/PVC） has the strongest interfacial interaction,good and stable mechanical and heat resistant properties.Nielsen＇s modified Kerner＇s equation for Young＇s modulus is better than other models examined for the CSW/PVC composites.The half debonding angle θ of c PVA@CSW/PVC composite is lower than that of other composites except silane coupling agent modified CSW/PVC composites,indicating a very strong interfacial adhesion between c PVA@CSW and PVC.In general,cross-linked PVA is effective and environmentally friendly in modifying inorganic fillers.

Modified Carbothermal Synthesis of TiC Whiskers

A new approach to the massive production of TiC whiskers with high purity and low cost was presented. It is a modified carbothermal reduction method （MCTR） characterized by argon stream flowing vertically and passing through the interior of the mixture of raw materials. It is found for the first time that there is an optimum flow of the upward flowing argon stream, at which large quantity of high quality TiC can be obtained. This paper described the new method, analyzed the mechanism and conditions for the formation of high purity TiC whiskers on a large scale, and compared MCTR with the traditional carbothermal reduction method （TCTR）. Based on the analysis and comparison, it is concluded that in order to produce high quality transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides with low cost TCTR must be replaced by MCTR.

One-step synthesis of basic magnesium sulfate whiskers by atmospheric pressure reflux

We have developed a one-step process for the synthesis of basic magnesium sulfate （5Mg（OH）2-MgSO4-3H20, abbreviated as 513MOS） whiskers from MgSO4,7H20 and MgO by refluxing at atmospheric pressure. The process shows potential for the low-cost mass production of controlled- structure whiskers. Their 0.3-1.0 μm diameter and 40-80 μm length correspond to an aspect ratio of 40-260. The 513MOS whisker morphology is related closely to MgSO4 concentration and reflux time. The optimized MgSO4 concentration is 1.2-1.5 mol/L with a 25-30 h reflux time. X-ray diffractometry revealed that the b-axis is the predominant growth direction of the whiskers. Their growth mechanism is by the relatively slow liquid-phase deposition of Mg2＋, OH-, and SO42-. The long reaction time and high MgSO4 concentration are conducive to the formation of 513MOS whiskers under gentle reaction conditions. Porous MgO whiskers with a fibrous structure were obtained after calcination of the 513MOS whiskers at 1020 ℃.