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Hardness and friction behavior of bulk CoAl2O4 and Co–Al2O3 composite layers formed during Spark Plasma Sintering of CoAl2O4 powders

Materials made up of a Co–Al2O3 composite coating over a CoAl2O4 core are prepared during Spark Plasma Sintering of CoAl2O4 powders. The Co particles are precipitated because of a combination of high temperature and low O2 partial pressure. The precipitation and densification processes hamper each other and thus the way the uniaxial pressure is applied during the sintering cycle is an important parameter to control the microstructure of composite layer and its thickness (about 100 mm) and obtain a dense sample (about 4 g/cm3). The friction coefficient of the Co-Al2O3 composites against an Al2O3 ball is lower than that found for an Al2O3 specimen, which could reveal the lubricating role of submicrometer Co particles. However, increasing the load from 5 to 10 N load causes major changes in the friction contact, which are detrimental. Bulk CoAl2O4 was found to have a Vickers microhardness about 15.5 GPa and an average friction coefficient lower than that of an Al2O3 sample

Spark plasma sintering as a reactive sintering tool for the preparation of surface-tailored Fe–FeAl2O4–Al2O3 nanocomposites

Al1.86Fe0.14O3 powders were partially or totally reduced in H2. The fully reduced Fe–Al2O3 nanocomposite powder was sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) without any reaction taking place. For the other powders, the SPS induced the formation of FeAl2O4 and sometimes Fe. The most severe reducing conditions were found at the surface of the materials, producing nanocomposites with a surface layer composition and microstructure different to those of the core. This in situ formed composite layer confers a higher hardness and fracture strength

Mechanical and tribological properties of Fe/Cr-FeAl2O4-Al2O3 nano/micro hybrid composites prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

Fe/Cr–Al2O3 nanocomposite powders are prepared by H2 selective reduction of oxide solid solutions. These powders, an alumina powder and a starting oxide powder, are sintered by spark plasma sintering. The microstructure of the resulting materials is studied. The composites show a lower microhardness and higher fracture strength than unreinforced alumina. The friction coefficient against an alumina ball is lower, revealing the role of the intergranular metal particles, whereas FeAl2O4 grains formed during SPS are beneficial for higher cycle numbers

Influence of pulse current during Spark Plasma Sintering evidenced on reactive alumina–hematite powders

Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is increasingly used. The temperature and current are not independent parameters, making it difficult to separate the current intrinsic role from Joule heating. There is a debate on whether there are any specific SPS mechanisms. The influence of a key parameter, the (on:off) pulse pattern, is studied on the SPS of reactive α-Al2−2xFe2xO3 (x = 0.02; 0.05; 0.07; 0.10) powders. Changing it modifies the current crest intensity and has a great influence on the materials microstructure. Comparisons with runs where the current is blocked and hot-pressing reveal three competing phenomena: formation of FeAl2O4, dominant in the core and not peculiar to SPS, formation of Fe, producing Fe-Al2O3 composite surface layers, and most notably electrical-field induced diffusion of Fe3+ ions towards the cathode, which could have far-ranging implications for the consolidation of ionic materials and the in situ reactive shaping of composites and multimaterials

Condensation of helium in aerogels and athermal dynamics of the Random Field Ising Model

High resolution measurements reveal that condensation isotherms of $^4$He in a silica aerogel become discontinuous below a critical temperature. We show that this behaviour does not correspond to an equilibrium phase transition modified by the disorder induced by the aerogel structure, but to the disorder-driven critical point predicted for the athermal out-of-equilibrium dynamics of the Random Field Ising Model. Our results evidence the key role of non-equilibrium effects in the phase transitions of disordered systems.Comment: 5 p + suppl. materia

Flip-flop detachment tectonics at nascent passive margins in SE Afar

International audienceWe propose a two-stage tectonic evolution of SE Afar in Djibouti leading to the complex development of highly asymmetric conjugate margins. From c. 8.5 to c. 2 Ma, an early mafic crust developed, associated in the upper crust with synmagmatic growth faults dipping dominantly to the SW. After an erosional stage, a new detachment fault system developed from c. 2 Ma with an opposite sense of motion (i.e. to the NE), during an amagmatic extensional event. In the Asal area, break-up occurred after c. 0.8 Ma along the footwall of an active secondary detachment fault rooted at depth above the lithospheric necking zone. This evolution suggests that flip-flop detachment tectonics is developed during extension at passive margins, in connection with the dynamics of the melting mantle and the associated magma plumbing of the crust