Property of three-dimensional silica composites

Silica fibers-reinforced, fused silica composites were fabricated with repeated vacuum-assisted liquid-phase infiltration. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, and ablative properties of the samples were evaluated. The effect of the silica fiber content and treatment temperature on the flexural strength of the three-dimensional SiO2 （3-D SiO2） composites also was investigated. The SiO2 composites show good mechanical properties and excellent ablative performance. The flexural strength increases with an increase in silica fiber content, and decreases with an increase in treatment temperature. When the volume fraction of the silica fiber is 50vo1% and the treatment temperature is 700℃ the flexural strength of the composites reaches a maximum value of 78 MPa. By adding cyclohexanone surfactant, the infiltration property can be largely improved, resulting in the density of SiO2 composites increasing up to 1.65 g/cm^3. The fracture surfaces of the flexural specimens observed using SEM, show that the pseudoplasticity and the toughening mechanisms of the composites are caused by absorption of a lot of energy by interface debonding and fiber pulling out.

Mechanical Properties of Three-Dimensional Fabric Sandwich Composites

Three-dimensional( 3 D) fabric composite is a newly developed sandwich structure,consisting of two identical parallel fabric decks woven integrally and mechanically together by means of vertical woven fabrics. In this paper,six types of 3 D fabric sandwich composites were developed in terms of compressive and flexural properties as a function of pile height( 10, 20 and30 mm) and pile distance( 16, 24 and 32 mm) in pile structures. The mechanical characteristics and the damage modes of the 3 D fabric sandwich composites under compressive and flexural load conditions were investigated. Besides,the influence of pile height and pile distance on the 3 D fabric sandwich composites mechanical properties was analyzed. The results showed that the compressive properties decreased with the increase of the pile height and the pile distance. Flexural properties increased with the increase of pile height, while decreased with the increase of pile distance.

Microstructure-based three-dimensional characterization of chip formation and surface generation in the machining of particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites

Particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites(PRMMCs)are difficult to machine due to the inclusion of hard,brittle reinforcing particles.Existing experimental investigations rarely reveal the complex material removal mechanisms(MRMs)involved in the machining of PRMMCs.This paper develops a three-dimensional(3D)microstructure-based model for investigating the MRM and surface integrity of machined PRMMCs.To accurately mimic the actual microstructure of a PRMMC,polyhedrons were randomly distributed inside the matrix to represent irregular SiC particles.Particle fracture and matrix deformation and failure were taken into account.For the model’s capability comparison,a two-dimensional(2D)analysis was also conducted.Relevant cutting experiments showed that the established 3D model accurately predicted the material removal,chip morphology,machined surface finish,and cutting forces.It was found that the matrix-particle-tool interactions led to particle fractures,mainly in the primary shear and secondary deformation zones along the cutting path and beneath the machined surface.Particle fracture and dilodegment greatly influences the quality of a machined surface.It was also found that although a 2D model can reflect certain material removal features,its ability to predict microstructural variation is limited.

Effects of Fiber Volume Fraction on Damping Properties of Three-Dimensional and Five-Directional Braided Composites

The effects of fiber volume fraction on damping properties of carbon fiber three-dimensional and five-directional( 3D-5Dir)braided carbon fiber / epoxyres in composite cantilever beams were studied by experimental modal analysis method. Meanwhile,carbon fiber plain woven laminated / epoxy resin composites with different fiber volume fraction were concerned for comparison. The experimental result of braided specimens shows that the first three orders of natural frequency increase and the first three orders of the damping ratios of specimens decrease, when the fiber volume fraction increases. Furthermore,larger fiber volume fraction will be valuable for the better anti-exiting property of braided composites,and get an opposite effect on dissipation of vibration energy. The fiber volume fraction is an important factor for vibration performance design of braided composites. The comparison between the braided specimens and laminated specimens reveals that 3D braided composites have a wider range of damping properties than laminated composites with the same fiber volume fractions.

Prediction of three-dimensional elastic behavior of filament-wound composites based on the bridging model

This work provides a method to predict the three-dimensional equivalent elastic properties of the filament-wound composites based on the multi-scale homogenization principle.In the meso-scale,a representative volume element(RVE)is defined and the bridging model is adopted to establish a theoretical predictive model for its three-dimensional equivalent elastic constants.The results obtained through this method for the previous experimental model are compared with the ones gained respectively by experiments and classical laminate theory to verify the reliability of this model.In addition,the effects of some winding parameters,such as winding angle,on the equivalent elastic behavior of the filament-wound composites are analyzed.The rules gained can provide a theoretical reference for the optimum design of filament-wound composites.

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of three-dimensional graphene/polyaniline composites for supercapacitor electrode materials

To improve the specific capacitance and rate capability of electrode material for supercapacitors, a three-dimensional graphene/polyaniline （3DGN/PANI） composite is prepared via in situ polymerization on GN hydrogel. PANI grows on the GN surface as a thin film, and its content in the composite is controlled by the concentration of the reaction monomer. The specific capacitance of the 3DGN/PANI composite containing 10 wt% PANI reaches 322.8 F.g-1 at a current density of 1 A.g-1, nearly twice as large as that of the pure 3DGN （162.8 F.g-1）. The capacitance of the composite is 307.9 F.g-1 at 30 A.g-1 （maintaining 95.4%）, and 89% retention after 500 cycles. This study demonstrates the exciting potential of 3DGN/PANI with high capacitance, excellent rate capability and long cycling life for supercapacitors.

Preparation of Three-Dimensional Carbon Network Reinforced Epoxy Composites and Their Thermal Conductivity

As a thermosetting resin with excellent properties,epoxy resin is used in many areas such as electronics,transportation,aerospace,and other fields.However,its relatively low thermal conductivity limits its wide application in more demanding fields.Here,a three-dimensional carbon(3DC)network was prepared through NaCl template-assisted in situ chemical vapor deposition(CVD)and used to reinforce epoxy resin for enhancing its thermal conductivity.The 3DC was prepared with a molar ratio of sodium atom to carbon atom of 100:20,and argon atmosphere in CVD led to an optimal improvement in the thermal conductivity of epoxy resin.The thermal conductivity of epoxy resin increased by 18%when the filling content was 3 wt.%of 3DC network because of the high contact area,uniform dispersion,and enhanced formation of conductive paths with epoxy resin.As the amount of 3DC addition increases,the thermal conductivity of composites also increases.As an innovative exploration,the work presented in this paper is of great significance for the thermal conductivity application of epoxy resin in the future.

Using Acoustic Emissions to Detect Damage in Three-Dimensional Braided Composites

Three-dimensional(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring without warning.A new methodology for the analysis of failure modes in composite materials by means of acoustic emission techniques has been developed.The occurrence of fiber-breakage during tensile loading tests has been observed by the acoustic emission technology.Using acoustic emission technology is investigated as a means of monitoring 3D braided composites structures,detecting damage,and predicting impending damage.Some of the findings of the research project were presented.

ELASTIC BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF 3D ANGLE-INTERLOCK WOVEN CERAMIC COMPOSITES

A micromechanical model for elastic behavior analysis of angle-interlock woven ceramic composites is proposed in this paper. This model takes into account the actual fabric structure by considering the fiber undulation and continuity in space, the cavities between adjacent yarns and the actual cross-section geometry of the yarn. Based on the laminate theory, the elastic properties of 3D angle-interlock woven ceramic composites are predicted. Different numbers of interlaced wefts have almost the same elastic moduli. The thickness of ceramic matrix has little effect on elastic moduli. When the undulation ratio increases longitudinal modulus decreases and the other Young＇s moduli increase. Good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed model in analyzing the elastic properties of 3D angle-interlock woven ceramic composites. The results of this paper verify the fact that the method of analyzing polyester matrix composites is suitable for woven ceramic composites.

Damage Initiation and Propagation in Composites Subjected to Low-Velocity Impact:Experimental Results,3D Dynamic Damage Model,and FEM Simulations

A three-dimensional dynamic damage model that fits both small and large damage sizes is developed to predict impact damage initiation and propagation for each lamina of T300-carbon/epoxy laminations.First,13 specimens of the same lamination sequence are subjected to three different impact energies(10 J,15 J,and 20 J).After the impact,the laminates are inspected by the naked eye to observe the damage in the outer layers,and subsequently X-rayed to detect the inner damage.Next,the stress analysis of laminates subjected to impact loading is presented,based on the Hertz contact law and virtual displacement principle.Based on the analysis results,a three-dimensional dynamic damage model is proposed,including the Hou failure criteria and Camanho stiffness degradation model,to predict the impact damage shape and area.The numerical predictions of the damage shape and area show a relatively reasonable agreement with the experiments.Finally,the impact damage initiation and propagation for each lamina are investigated using this damage model,and the results improve the understanding of the impact process.

Three-dimensional thermohaline anomaly structures of rings in the Kuroshio Extension region

Using AVISO satellite altimeter observations during 1993–2015 and a manual eddy detection method, a total of 276 anticyclonic rings and 242 cyclonic rings shed from the Kuroshio Extension(KE) were identified, and their three-dimensional(3D) anomaly structures were further reconstructd based on the Argo float data and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology(JAMSTEC) cruise and buoy data through an interpolation method. It is found that the cyclonic(anticyclonic) rings presented consistent negative(positive) anomalies of potential temperature;meanwhile the relevant maximum anomaly center became increasingly shallow for the cyclonic rings whereas it went deeper for the anticyclonic rings as the potential temperature anomaly decreased from the west to the east. The above deepening or shoaling trend is associated with the zonal change of the depth of the main thermocline. Moreover, the composite cold ring between 140° and 150°E was found to exhibit a double-core vertical structure due to the existence of mode water with low potential vorticity. Specifically, a relatively large negative(positive) salinity anomaly and a small positive(negative) one appeared for the composite cyclonic(anticyclonic) ring at the depth above and below 600 m, respectively. The underlying driving force for the temperature and salinity anomaly of the composite rings was also attempted, which varies depending on the intensity of the background current and the temperature and salinity fields in different areas of the KE region, and the rings’ influences on the temperature and salinity could reach deeper than 1 000 m on average.

A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL BRAIDS

This paper describes a study of three-dimensional braids produced by a four-step 1 × 1 method. An analytical approach is employed in conjunction with experimental investigations to establish the relationship between the braid structure and braiding parameters. Based on microscopic observations, we divide a three-dimensional braid structure into three representative regions, i.e., the interior, surface and corner, and treat the three regions, respectively. Three types of microstructural unit-cell models are then established. The surface characteristics and the relationship between the interior and surface unit-cells have been derived. Good agreement has been obtained between the calculated and measured values of fiber volume fraction of the braided composite samples.

A NEW APPROACH TO MANUFACTURING 3D WOVEN PREFORMS USED FOR STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES

The manufacturing of three-dimensional textile preforms used for composites started to re-ceive much attention in the last decade.The major barriers to accelerating the transition from thelamination of two-dimensional fabrics to manufacturing integral three-dimensional near-netshaped textile preforms are high cost and database deficiency.To reduce the cost of weaving three-dimensional preforms,and make full use of the potential of conventional looms,a rig was designedwhich can convert two-dimensional woven fabric to particular three-dimensional preforms wherethe yarn is orientated in the directions of maximum stress.

Three-dimensional stability calculation method for high and large composite slopes formed by mining stope and inner dump in adjacent open pits

The 2D limit equilibrium method is widely used for slope stability analysis.However,with the advancement of dump engineering,composite slopes often exhibit significant 3D mechanical effects.Consequently,it is of significant importance to develop an effective 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes to enhance the design and stability control of open-pit slope engineering.Using the composite slope formed by the mining stope and inner dump in Baiyinhua No.1 and No.2 open-pit coal mine as a case study,this research investigates the failure mode of composite slopes and establishes spatial shape equations for the sliding mass.By integrating the shear resistance and sliding force of each row of microstrip columns onto the bottom surface of the strip corresponding to the main sliding surface,a novel 2D equivalent physical and mechanical parameters analysis method for the strips on the main sliding surface of 3D sliding masses is proposed.Subsequently,a comprehensive 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes is developed,and the quantitative relationship between the coordinated development distance and its 3D stability coefficients is examined.The analysis reveals that the failure mode of the composite slope is characterized by cutting-bedding sliding,with the arc serving as the side interface and the weak layer as the bottom interface,while the destabilization mechanism primarily involves shear failure.The spatial form equation of the sliding mass comprises an ellipsoid and weak plane equation.The analysis revealed that when the coordinated development distance is 1500 m,the error rate between the 3D stability calculation result and the 2D stability calculation result of the composite slope is less than 8%,thereby verifying the proposed analytical method of equivalent physical and mechanical parameters and the 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes.Furthermore,the3D stability coefficient of the composite slope exhibits an exponential correlation with the coordinated development distance,with the coefficient gradually decreasing as the coordinated development distance increases.These findings provide a theoretical guideline for designing similar slope shape parameters and conducting stability analysis.

Wear-resistant Ag-MAX phase 3D interpenetrating-phase composites:Processing,structure,and properties

Electrical contact materials are generally Ag-or Cu-based composites and play a critical role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of electrical equipments and electronic instruments.The MAX(M is an early transition metal,A is an element from III or IV main groups,and X is carbon or/and nitrogen)phase ceramics display a unique combination of properties and may serve as an ideal reinforcement phase for electrical contact materials.The biological materials evolved in nature generally exhibit three-dimensional(3D)interpenetrating-phase architectures,which may offer useful inspiration for the architectural design of electrical contact materials.Here,a series of bi-continuous Ag-Ti_(3)SiC_(2) MAX phase composites with high ceramic contents exceeding 50 vol.%and having micron-and ultrafine-scaled 3D interpenetrating-phase architectures,wherein both constituents were continuous and mutually interspersed,were exploited by pressureless infiltration of Ag melt into partially sintered Ti_(3)SiC_(2) scaffolds.The mechanical and electrical properties as well as the friction and wear performance of the composites were investigated and revealed to be closely dependent on the ceramic contents and characteristic structural dimensions.The composites exhibited a good combination of properties with high hardness over 2.3 GPa,high flexural strength exceeding 530 MPa,decent fracture toughness over 10 MPa·m^(1/2),and good wear resistance with low wear rate at an order of 10^(-5)mm^(3)/(N·m),which were much superior compared to the counterparts made by powder metallurgy methods.In particular,the hardness,electrical conductivity,strength,and fracture toughness of the composites demonstrated a simultaneous improvement as the structure was refined from micron-to ultrafine-scales at equivalent ceramic contents.The good combination of properties along with the facile processing route makes the Ag-Ti_(3)SiC_(2)3D interpenetrating-phase composites appealing for electrical contact applications.

Construction of three-dimensional hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped re duce d graphene oxide/hollow cobalt ferrite composite aerogels toward highly efficient electromagnetic wave absorption

The development of graphene-based composites with low density,robust absorption,wide bandwidth and thin thickness remained a great challenge in the field of electromagnetic(EM)absorption.In this work,nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide/hollow cobalt ferrite(NRGO/hollow CoFe_(2)O_(4))composite aerogels were constructed by a solvothermal and hydrothermal two-step route.Results demonstrated that the as-fabricated composite aerogels had the ultralow density and a unique three-dimensional(3D)network structure,and lots of hollow CoFe_(2)O_(4)microspheres were almost homogeneously distributed on the wrinkled surfaces of lamellar NRGO.Moreover,superior EM absorbing capacity could be achieved by modulating the ferrite structure,addition amounts of hollow CoFe_(2)O_(4)and thicknesses.It was noteworthy that the NRGO/hollow CoFe_(2)O_(4)composite aerogel with the addition amount of ferrite of 15.0 mg pos-sessed the minimum reflection loss of-44.7 dB and maximum absorption bandwidth of 5.2 GHz(from 12.6 to 17.8 GHz)at a very thin thickness of 1.8 mm and filling ratio of 15.0 wt.%.Furthermore,the possible EM attenuation mechanism had been proposed.The results of this work would be helpful for developing RGO-based 3D composites as lightweight,thin and highly efficient EM wave absorbers.

Natural high-porous diatomaceous-earth based self-floating aerogel for efficient solar steam power generation

The application of solar steam generation in seawater desalination is an effective way to solve the shortage of fresh water resources.At present,many kinds of photothermal conversion materials have been developed and used as evaporators in seawater desalination.However,some evaporators need additional thermal insulation or water supply devices to achieve efficient photothermal conversion.In addition,their complex,time consuming and no scalable preparation process,high cost of raw materials and poor salt resistance hinder the practical application of these evaporator.Owing to its distinctive nanoporous structure,diatomite as fossilized single-cells algae diatoms is a promising natural silica-based material for seawater desalination.They are taken from sea and that makes true sense to use them in the sea.Herein,we report the first example of synthesis robust three-dimensional(3D)natural-diatomite composite by assembling polyaniline nanoparticles covered diatomite into the polyvinyl alcohol pre-treated melamine foam frameworks and demonstrate its application as new evaporator for seawater desalination.The porous framework does not only improve the sunlight scattering efficiency,but also offer large network of channels for water transportation.The inherent mechanism behind salt desalination process involves the absorption of water molecules on the surface of the internal silica micro-nano pores,and evaporation under the heat induced by the polyaniline absorbed sunlight.Meanwhile,the metal ions are segregated by many available pores and channels to achieve the self-desalting effect.The developed evaporator possesses the superiority of multi-stage pore structure,strong hydrophilicity,low thermal conductivity,excellent light absorption,fast water transportation and salt-resistant crystallization as well as good durability.The evaporation rate without an additional device is found to be 1.689 kg m^(-2)h^(-1)under 1-Sun irradiation,and the energy conversion efficiency is as high as 95%.This work creates a platform and develops the prospect of employing green and sustainable natural-diatomite composite evaporator for practical applications of seawater desalination.

Three-dimensional composite Li metal anode by simple mechanical modification for high-energy batteries

Lithium(Li)metal is believed to be the“Holy Grail”among all anode materials for next-generation Li-based batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity(3860 mAh/g)and lowest redox potential(−3.04 V).Disappointingly,uncontrolled dendrite formation and“hostless”deposition impede its further development.It is well accepted that the construction of three-dimensional(3D)composite Li metal anode could tackle the above problems to some extent by reducing local current density and maintaining electrode volume during cycling.However,most strategies to build 3D composite Li metal anode require either electrodeposition or melt-infusion process.In spite of their effectiveness,these procedures bring multiple complex processing steps,high temperature,and harsh experimental conditions which cannot meet the actual production demand in consideration of cost and safety.Under this condition,a novel method to construct 3D composite anode via simple mechanical modification has been recently proposed which does not involve harsh conditions,fussy procedures,or fancy equipment.In this mini review,a systematic and in-depth investigation of this mechanical deformation technique to build 3D composite Li metal anode is provided.First,by summarizing a number of recent studies,different mechanical modification approaches are classified clearly according to their specific procedures.Then,the effect of each individual mechanical modification approach and its working mechanisms is reviewed.Afterwards,the merits and limits of different approaches are compared.Finally,a general summary and perspective on construction strategies for next-generation 3D composite Li anode are presented.

Excellent tribological properties of epoxy-Ti3C2 with three-dimensional nanosheets composites

As a widely used engineering polymer,epoxy resin has been successfully employed in high-performance components and setups.However,the poor thermal and friction properties of traditional epoxy resin greatly limit its application in many extreme environments.In this work,a new kind of epoxy-Ti3C2 with three-dimensional nanosheets(3DNS)composite which was designed by freeze-drying method showed up excellent thermal and friction properties.As a result,the coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)of epoxy-Ti3C23DNS 3.0 composites was 41.9 ppm/K at 40℃,which was lower than that of the traditional epoxy resin(46.7 ppm/K),and the thermal conductivity(TC)was also improved from 0.176 to 0.262 W/(m-K).Meanwhile,epoxy-Ti3C23DNS 1.0 composites showed up the best friction property,with wear rate 76.3%lower than that of epoxy resin.This work is significant for the research of high-performance composite materials.