Fundamental studies of the solid-particle erosion of silicon

The predictions of the theories of solid-particle erosion of brittle materials are compared to experimental results of studies in which angular Al2O3 particles with mean diameters D of 23 to 270 microns are used to erode (111) surfaces of silicon single crystals at impact angles alpha from 20 to 90 deg and velocities v from 30 to 150 m/s. The description of the steady state erosion rate by a power law, delta W varies directly as (v sin alpha)(n)D(m) must be modified to include threshold and plasticity effects. Furthermore the velocity exponent n depends on D. Results using abrasives of different sizes mixed together can be explained using a logarithmic-normal distribution. The results of transient experiments can be used to explain the synergistic effects which are observed using a biomodal distribution of abrasives

Erosion of composite ceramics

The theoretical basis to describe solid-particle erosion of monolithic ceramics is well developed. In many cases, the models can account for the impact velocity, impact angle and erodent-size dependencies of the steady-state erosion rate. In addition, the models account for effects of materials parameters such as fracture toughness and hardness. Steady-state erosion measurements on a wide variety of composite ceramics, including SiC whisker-reinforced Al[sub 2]O[sub 3], Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] containing Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] or SiC whiskers, Y[sub 2]O[sub 3]-stabilized ZrO[sub 2] reinforced with SiC whiskers, and duplex-microstructure Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] have been reported. The theories developed for monolithic ceramics are, however, less successful in describing the results for composites

Erosion of Composite Ceramics

The theoretical basis to describe solid-particle erosion of monolithic ceramics is well developed. In many cases, the models can account for the impact velocity, impact angle and erodent-size dependencies of the steady-state erosion rate. In addition, the models account for effects of materials parameters such as fracture toughness and hardness. Steady-state erosion measurements on a wide variety of composite ceramics, including SiC whisker-reinforced Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} containing Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} or SiC whiskers, Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-stabilized ZrO{sub 2} reinforced with SiC whiskers, and duplex-microstructure Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} have been reported. The theories developed for monolithic ceramics are, however, less successful in describing the results for composites

Thermoelectric power factors of nanocarbon ensembles as a function of temperature

Thermoelectric power factors of nanocarbon ensembles have been determined as a function of temperature from 400 to 1200 K. The ensembles, composed of mixtures of nanographite or disperse ultrananocrystalline diamond with B 4 C B4C , are formed into mechanically rigid compacts by reaction at 1200 K with methane gas and subsequently annealed in an argon atmosphere at temperatures up to 2500 K. The ensembles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman, x-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques and found to undergo profound nanostructural changes as a function of temperature while largely preserving their nanometer sizes. The power factors increase strongly both as a function of annealing temperature and of the temperature at which the measurements are carried out reaching 1 µW/K 2 ¿cm 1 µW/K2¿cm at 1200 K without showing evidence of a plateau. Density functional “molecular analog” calculations on systems based on stacked graphene sheets show that boron substitutional doping results in a lowering of the Fermi level and the creation of a large number of hole states within thermal energies of the Fermi level [P. C. Redfern, D. M. Greun, and L. A. Curtiss, Chem. Phys. Lett. 471, 264 (2009)]. We propose that enhancement of electronic configurational entropy due to the large number of boron configurations in the graphite lattice contributes to the observed thermoelectric properties of the ensembles

Creep and diffusion in high Tc superconductors

Data from steady-state creep and tracer diffusion tests are presented for the high- $T_{\rm c}$, superconductors YBa 2Cu 3O x, and Bi 2Sri 1.7CaCu 2O y Both compounds exhibit oxygen nonstoichiometry and possess orthorhombic, layered perovskite crystal structures in which Cu occupies the B sites and the other cations occupy the A sites. For each, the A-site cations diffuse most slowly. For every species that has been measured, diffusion is much faster in the ab-plane than in the c-direction. At low stresses, both superconductors deform by diffusional creep with the ratecontrolling species being a A-site cation in YBa 2Cu 3O x

Creep of (La0.55Sr0.45)0.99Mn1-yGayO3

Steady-state compressive creep was measured in (La0.55Sr0.45)0.99Mn1−yGayO3 at temperatures from 1200 to 1270 °C in air at stresses (σ) from 13 to 40 MPa. The Ga concentration was y = 0, 0.05, and 0.10. Strains to 0.14 were obtained. In the creep equation for strain rate, = An exp(−Q/RT), stress exponents (n) were between 1.3 and 1.7, indicating that diffusional flow is the dominant creep mechanism, and the activation energy (Q) was found to vary from 355 kJ mol−1 for y = 0 to 485 kJ mol−1 for y = 0.10

An investigation of silicon carbide-water nanofluid for heat transfer applications

Thermal conductivity and mechanical effects of silicon carbide nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in water were investigated. Mean size of SiC particles was 170 nm with a polydispersity of 30% as determined from small-angle x-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering techniques. Room temperature viscosity of the nanofluids ranged from 2 to 3 cP for nominal nanoparticle loadings 4 – 7 vol %. On a normalized basis with water, viscosity of the nanofluids did not significantly change with the test temperature up to 85 °C. Optical microscopy of diluted nanofluid showed no agglomeration of the nanoparticles. Thermal conductivity of the fluid was measured as a function of the nominal nanoparticle loading ranging from 1 to 7 vol %. Enhancement in thermal conductivity was approximately 28% over that of water at 7 vol % particle loadings under ambient conditions. Enhancements in thermal conductivities for the nanofluids with varying nanoparticle loadings were maintained at test temperatures up to 70 °C. Results of thermal conductivity have been rationalized based on the existing theories of heat transfer in fluids. Implications of using this nanofluid for engineering cooling applications are discussed.Universidad de Chicago Argonne LLC (EE. UU.)-DE-AC02-06CH1135

Deformación plástica de compuestos mullita/óxido de itrio

Los compuestos a partir de mullita (3Al2 O3 .2SiO2 ) presentan unas magníficas propiedades mecánicas y térmicas. Las mismas características que hacen de la mullita resistente a la deformación plástica, dificultan su densificación. El óxido de itrio es uno de los aditivos más utilizados para reducir la temperatura de sinterización de la mullita. Adicionalmente la presencia de silicatos vítreos (en este caso Y2 Si2 O7 ) incrementan la ductilidad. En esta investigación se han usado muestras de mullita con diversas cantidades de Y2 O3 (0%, 5% y 9% en peso). Los detalles sobre el procesado y caracterización de los compuestos han sido objeto de una publicación previa. Se ha estudiado comparativamente la ductilidad de estos materiales mediante experimentos de deformación en compresión a alta temperatura. Los ensayos se han desarrollado entre 1300 y 1400ºC, en atmósfera de aire, cubriendo un rango de tensiones de compresión entre 0.69 y 34.4 MPa.Mullite (3Al2 O3 .2SiO2 ) based composites have excellent mechanical and thermal properties. The same characteristics that give mullite good resistance to plastic deformation also make its sintering difficult. Yttria is one of the most commonly used additives to reduce sintering temperatures in mullite. Additionally vitreous silicates (Y2 Si2 O7 ) could improve ductility. In this work we have used mullite samples with various amounts of Y2 O3 (0, 5 and 9 wt.%). Details of processing and characterization of these composites have been the subject of a previous publication. We have compared the ductility of these composites by means of compressive deformation tests at elevated temperatures. Creep tests were performed at temperatures between 1300 and 1400ºC, in air, in a stress range of 0.69 to 34.5 MPa

Induction annealing and subsequent quenching: Effect on the thermoelectric properties of boron-doped nanographite ensembles

Boron-doped nanographite ensembles (NGEs) are interesting thermoelectric nanomaterials for high temperature applications. Rapid induction annealing and quenching has been applied to boron-doped NGEs using a relatively low-cost, highly reliable, laboratory built furnace to show that substantial improvements in thermoelectric power factors can be achieved using this methodology. Details of the design and performance of this compact induction furnace as well as results of the thermoelectric measurements will be reported here