Roles of rare earth oxide additives in millimeter-wave sintering of AlN

Roles of rare earth oxide （RE2O3） additives in millimeter-wave（MM） sintering of AIN were investigated from the standpoints of phase diagram, heating characteristics of rare earth oxides, and morphology of intergranular oxide phase. In the millimeter-wave sintering of AIN, densification temperature decreased with the decrease of the ionic radius of rare earth ion and was closely related with the eutectic temperature in the RE2Oa-Al2O3 binary system. The lowest densification temperature in the millimeter-wave sintering of AIN with Yb2O3 additive was attributed to the largest heating rate of Yb2O3-Al2O3 binary oxide under millimeter-wave radiation. Furthermore, the lowest densification temperature could be attained while selecting the Yb2O3 content so as to form the intergranular phase with the eutectic composition in the Yb2O3-Al2O3 binary system. The result showed good agreement with the above mentioned during the sintering of Si3N4 with Yb2O3-Al2O3 additive. From TEM observation, it was verified that film-like intergranular oxide phase formed under millimeter-wave radiation was favorable for attaining high thermal conductivity in the Yb2O3 added AINs.

On the Plasma (ion) Carburized Layer of High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

The manganese concentration of austenitic stainless steel decreases from the inner layer towards the surface of the plasma (ion) carburized layer due to the evaporation of manganese from the specimen surface. The carbon concentration in the carburized layer is influenced by alloyed elements such as Cr, Ni, Si, and Mo, as well as Nitrogen. This study examined the effects of nitrogen on the properties of the carburized layer of high nitrogen stainless steel. Plasma (ion) carburizing was carried out for 14.4 ks at 1303 K in an atmosphere of CH4+H2 gas mixtures under a pressure of 350 Pa. The plasma carburized layer of the high nitrogen stainless steel was thinner than that of an austentric stainless steel containing no nitrogen. This suggested that the nitrogen raised the activity of carbon in the plasma carburized layer, GDOES measurement indicated that the nitrogen level in the layer did not vary after plasma (ion) carburizing.

Grafting Methyl Methacrylate onto Silk via Emulsion Graft Copolymerization Using a Diethylzinc Complex Initiator

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto silk fiber in a one-step emulsion system using a diethylzinc and 1,10-phenanthroline complex. The reaction conditions were investigated by varying temperature and initiator to monomer ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEC) techniques were used to characterize the structure, thermal stability, and surface morphology of the obtained product, respectively. Grafting of MMA onto silk increased the thermal stability of silk. The FTIR spectrum and SEM images provided further evidence that MMA has been successfully grafted onto the silk fiber. A peak ascribed to the C=O stretching vibration of MMA was detected in the FTIR spectrum of grafted silk fiber, which was not present in the spectrum of pure silk fiber. Moreover, the SEM images illustrated the increase in diameter and surface roughness of grafted silk compared with pure silk. Lastly, the dyeing performance of the modified silk was significantly increased.

Emulsion Graft Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Cellulose Nanofibers

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully grafted onto cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) at room temperature in an emulsion system using a diethyl(1,10-phenanthroline N1,N10)zinc(II) complex (Phen-DEZ) with oxygen as the radical initiator. The effects of reaction temperature, initiator concentration, and monomer content on the grafting reaction were investigated. The molecular weight of the non-grafted PMMA, which was produced during graft polymerization, was more than 1 million, as determined by size exclusion chromatography. The PMMA-grafted CNFs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed the grafting of PMMA on the nanofiber surface. The study presents a strategy for the grafting of high-molecular weight PMMA onto CNFs in an emulsion system using Phen-DEZ and O2.