Microstructure characterization of porous microalloyed aluminium-silicate ceramics

Kaolinite and bentonite clay powders mixed with active additives, based on Mg(NO3)2 and Al(NO3)2, sintered at high temperatures produce very porous ceramics with microcrystalline and amorphous regions and highly developed metalized surfaces (mainly with magnesium surplus). Microstructure investigations have revealed non-uniform and highly porous structure with broad distribution of grain size, specifically shaped grains and high degree of agglomeration. The ceramics samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and IR spectroscopy analysis, prior and after treatment in “synthetic water”, i.e. in aqueous solution of arsenic-salt. Grain size distribution for untreated and treated samples was done with software SemAfore 4. It has shown great variety in size distribution of grains from clay powders to sintered samples

The effects of colloidal SiO2 and inhibitor on the solid deposit formation in geothermal water of low hardness

Low solubility of SiO2 and its occurrence in geothermal waters in the form of ionic, colloidal and suspended state are the main cause of the solid deposit occurrence. Certain chemical types of silica, under the influence of Fe2+, Al3+, F−, OH- ions and other micro-constituents, and due to significantly decreased solubility of SiO2, stimulate nucleation, particle growth and solid deposit formation. The aim of this paper is to inhibit the process of nucleation and solid deposit formation by adding originally designed inhibitor in the form of an emulsion, when the total concentration of the present and added colloidal SiO2 is beyond the solubility limit (120 mg/dm3). By turbidimetric, SEM, EDS and XRD analysis, the processes of solid deposit formation were investigated in Vranjska Banja (Serbia) spa geothermal water source (water hardness of 4ºdH), and theoretical and practical conclusions were made

Intergranular area microalloyed aluminium-silicate ceramics fractal analysis

Porous aluminium-silicate ceramics, modified by alloying with magnesium and microalloying with alluminium belongs to a group of advanced multifunctional ceramics materials. This multiphase solid-solid system has predominantly amorphous microstructure and micro morphology. Intergranular and interphase areas are very complex, because they represent areas, where numbered processes and interactions take place, making new boundaries and regions with fractal nature. Fractal analysis of intergranular microstructure has included determination of ceramic grain fractal dimension by using Richardson method. Considering the fractal nature of intergranular contacts, it is possible to establish correlation between material electrical properties and fractal analysis, as a tool for future correlation with microstructure characterization. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. ON 172057 i br. III 45012

Electrical properties and microstructure fractal analysis of magnesium-modified aluminium-silicate ceramics

The addition of Mg2(NO)3 and some active additives, composed of Al salts, to the mixtures of kaolinite and bentonite can provide clay compositions which, after sintering at high temperatures, produce very porous ceramics with microcrystalline and amorphous regions and highly developed metalized surfaces (mainly with magnesium surplus). Characterization of sintered samples was done before and after treatment in “synthetic water”, i.e. in aqueous solution of arsenic-salt. Microstructure investigations have revealed non-uniform and highly porous structure with broad distribution of grain size, specifically shaped grains and high degree of agglomeration. Electrical characterization was estimated by determining dielectric constant and electrical resistivity in function of active additives amount and sintering temperature. Fractal analysis has included determination of grain contour fractal dimension

The influence of multifunctional microalloyed ceramics microstructure on its capacity properties

Modified porous alumo-silicate ceramics, alloyed with magnesium and microalloyed with aluminum, belongs to modern multifunctional ceramic materials. Microalloying has led to important changes in dielectric and electrical properties of ceramics, such as dielectric constant and electrical resistance. These changes are conditioned by the microstructural properties of modified porous ceramics. The obtained results have shown the unity of the influence of composition, structure, morphology and application of microalloyed multifunctional alumosilicate ceramics on electrophysical properties. Microstructural investigations have shown that this type of ceramics has an amorphous-crystal structure, which causes important changes in its electrical properties and affects its activity. Therefore the ceramics can be considered as an active dielectric. A correlation between microstructural properties and structurally sensitive, i.e. electrophysical properties of microalloyed multifunctional alumo-silicate ceramics, was confirmed

Microalloying of Continuous Cast Aluminum Strip and Structural Modification Using Plastic Treatment to a 9 μm Foil (Patent no. 39762, P-377/76)

Innovative procedure of microalloying continuous cast aluminum strip, thickness 10 mm, by Be, Zr and Mn using 3C Pechiney technology (no. 39762, P-377/76), and modifying the existing parameters for strip casting and crystallization was implemented under industrial conditions with two randomly selected batches 2×8 tones, without previous selection of standardized quality of aluminum, purity Al 99.5%, obtained by electrolysis. The application of microalloying and overall structural modification of the technology resulted in obtaining nanoscale, ultra-thin, compact oxide high-gloss film with uniform surface of continuous cast strip, instead of the usual thick and porous oxide film. The outcome of microalloying the obtained equiaxed fine-grained nano/micro structure was avoiding anisotropic and dendritic microstructure of the strip, and improving deformation and plastic properties of modified continuous cast strip subjected to the technology of plastic treatment by rolling until the desired foil thickness of 9 μm was obtained. The invention of microalloying and structural modification, including multiplying effect of several components, directly or indirectly, changed numerous structurally-sensitive properties. The obtained nano/micro structure of crystal grains with equiaxed structure resulted in the synergy of undesirable and inevitable and textures. Numerous properties were significantly enhanced: elastic modulus was improved, and intensive presence of cracks in warm forming condition was prevented due to rapid increase of the number of grains to 10000 grains/cm2 in as-cast state

The influence of multifunctional microalloyed ceramics microstructure on its capacity properties

Modified porous alumo-silicate ceramics, alloyed with magnesium and microalloyed with aluminum, belongs to modern multifunctional ceramic materials. Microalloying has led to important changes in dielectric and electrical properties of ceramics, such as dielectric constant and electrical resistance. These changes are conditioned by the microstructural properties of modified porous ceramics. The obtained results have shown the unity of the influence of composition, structure, morphology and application of microalloyed multifunctional alumosilicate ceramics on electrophysical properties. Microstructural investigations have shown that this type of ceramics has an amorphous-crystal structure, which causes important changes in its electrical properties and affects its activity. Therefore the ceramics can be considered as an active dielectric. A correlation between microstructural properties and structurally sensitive, i.e. electrophysical properties of microalloyed multifunctional alumo-silicate ceramics, was confirmed

Interaction of Mg enriched kaolinite-bentonite ceramics with arsenic aqueous solutions

Mg-enriched kaolinite–bentonite ceramics prepared in this work exhibited very porous and non-uniform structures, with grain sizes ranging from 1 to 20 μm. During the interaction of this ceramics with aqueous solutions of Na2HAsO4·7H2O, it was observed that the concentrations of Na, K, Ca and Mg in the ceramics and arsenic concentration in the solution decrease. These changes of metals concentrations in the ceramics and arsenic concentrations in water solutions appear to be on the account of arsenic deposition into the ceramics surface. The interaction of the ceramic samples prepared at 600 °C and 800 °C with used arsenic aqueous solutions reduced their arsenic concentration about 70–90%

Change of water redox potential, pH and rH in contact with magnesium enriched kaolinite–bentonite ceramics

It was established that the addition of Mg to the mixtures of kaolinite and bentonite can provide clay compositions which, after sintering at high temperatures, produce very porous ceramics with microcrystalline and amorphous regions of stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric oxides and highly developed metallized surfaces (in this case mainly with magnesium surplus). The ceramics surface exhibited high electrochemical and chemical activity when placed in contact with water. This leads to pH, EROX and rH changes of the treated waters, which can be controlled (magnesium aluminium silicate ceramics reduces or oxidises waters). In fact, with careful planning and appropriate selection of active components of the aluminium silicate ceramics it is possible to build in tailor made electric capacity, electrochemical activity and consequently program their effects on the structure and the content of the waters it interacts with

Application of Minkowski layer for intergranular fractal surfaces of multiphase active microalloyed and alloyed aluminium-silicate ceramics

Microalloyed and alloyed aluminium-silicate ceramics represents multiphase and multifunctional solid-solid system. The microstructure of aluminium-silicate ceramics matrix is arranged with favorable relationship between crystallinity and amorphousness. Numbered physical processes and interactions take place in very complex intergranular and interphase areas, making new boundaries and regions with fractal nature. Fractal nature of grains contours, macro, mezzo and micro pores and nanostructure phases at grain boundaries make this ceramics an active dielectric material. The synergistic effect of additives, dislocations and impurities leads to dislocations movement at grain boundaries and fragmentation of existing grains in a large number of micrograins with distinct fractal nature. Hence, permanent change of micromorphology occurs in intergranular area. Fractal analysis of intergranular microstructure has included application of Minkowski layer, correlated with fractal dimension. It represents convex layer of grains contour roughness and irregularity, determined in accordance with grain contours fractality. The introduction of fractal microstructure analysis allows better interpretation of many physical and physico-chemical processes, bearing in mind that Minkowski layer defines grains contact probability. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved