Development and Characterisation of Nanoclays from Indian Clays

Indian clays are known for their smecticity. One such clay sample collected from Bhuj (Gujarat)was characterised and modified by successive sedimentation processes for different time intervals.The non-plastic components of clay, viz., quartz, illite, iron oxide, CaO, MgO, and organic matterwere removed in different steps, as the heavy impurities in the clay-water suspensions, settledown during sedimentation. The free iron oxide present in clay suspension was reduced bygiving sodium citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite treatment and iron content was further reducedfrom 12Œ15 per cent to 5Œ7 per cent respectively. The organic matter was removed by sodiumacetate-H2O2 treatment. The modified clay so obtained was characterised by thermal analysis,FTIR, and XRD,  SEM and TEM. The cation exchange capacities of original and modified clayswere determined both by methylene blue method and ammonium acetate method. The cationex change capacity is found to enhance from 120Œ130 meq/100 g to 135Œ145 meq/100 g. Usingthe above procedure, 92 per cent smecticity was obtained. Organo philisation of purified clay(smectite) was carried out by intercalation with alkyl ammonium salt. The  XRD  analysis show edenhancement of interlamellar spacing from 1.294 nm to 2.855 nm.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(4), pp.517-524, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.167

Synthesis of Polycarbosilane, Polymer Impregnation Pyrolysis based C SiC Composites and Prototype Development

Due to some extraordinary thermo-mechanical properties, silicon carbide is considered one of the best materials used for high temperature applications in defence and aerospace. Polycarbosilane (PCS) has been widely used as SiC precursor. This paper describes the research and development work undertaken to establish the technologies for synthesis and characterisation of PCS, fabrication process and characterisation of Carbon fibre reinforced SiC matrix (C/SiC) composite laminates and shaped articles. The molecular weight and softening point of the PCS was found to be 1400-1800 Mn and 140-150 °C respectively. Flexural stress of the unidirectional (UD) C/SiC composites and bidirectional (2D) C/SiC composites was found to be 400-450 MPa and 300-350 MPa respectively. Tensile stress of the 2D C/SiC composite was found to be around 200 MPa. Coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal diffusivity of the 2D C/SiC composites at RT- 1000 °C were found to be in range of 0.3-2.2×10-6/ °C and 32-6 mm2/s respectively. The fabrication process developed for the UD and 2D C/SiC composites using the indigenous PCS has been also demonstrated to fabricate typical size divergent rocket nozzle and hot structure. Fabrication process of the SiC fibre has also been described in brief

Er2O3 coating by reactive magnetron sputtering: Effect of oxygen supply and erbium pre-layer deposition

Erbium oxide (erbia/Er2O3) is one of the leading candidate coating types to address the issues of tritium permeation reduction and Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drag reduction in fusion reactor with liquid Lead–Lithium (Pb–Li) or molten salt Flibe (2LiF+BeF2) as the coolant and breeder materials. The electrical resistivity, hydrogen/deuterium permeation reduction property, liquid metal corrosion, radiation effects and deposition techniques are major areas of research on erbia coating. Though it is having a single stable phase of cubic structure up to 2300°C, it is known to develop metastable monoclinic phase especially in sputter coating methods. We grow erbia by reactive magnetron sputter coating method and study the phase formation, electrical, microstructural and optical dielectric properties. The effects of erbium metal pre-layer deposition, post annealing in oxygen rich vacuum and oxygen to argon gas feed ratio are studied keeping other parameters constant. The film grows in mixed phase of cubic and monoclinic structures when erbium metal pre-layer is deposited on the P91 steel substrate and in pure monoclinic phase in absence of the pre-layer. Post annealing seems to partially convert monoclinic into cubic phase in the mixed phase coating. Better crystallization and slightly more surface roughness is observed in the sample processed with higher oxygen to argon ratio. DC resistivity is found in 1015Ω*cm range and it is marginally more in the sample processed with more oxygen. The spectroscopic ellipsometry on these films to obtain optical dielectric properties gives encouraging results in terms of close match of the thickness and roughness values with those obtained from SEM and AFM respectively. Systematic study of optical dielectric property suggests a trend consistent with DC resistivity