Evolution of surface chemistry during sintering of water-atomized iron and low-alloyed steel powder

Water-atomized iron and steel powder is commonly used as the base material for powder metallurgy (PM) of ferrous components. The powder surface chemistry is characterized by a thin surface oxide layer and more thermodynamically stable oxide particulates whose extent, distribution, and composition change during the sintering cycle due to a complex set of oxidation–reduction reactions. In this study, the surface chemistry of iron and steel powder was investigated by combined surface and thermal analysis. The progressive reduction of oxides was studied using model sintering cycles in hydrogen atmospheres in a thermogravimetric (TG) setup, with experiments ended at intermediate steps (500–1300°C) of the heating stage. The surface chemistry of the samples was then investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal changes that occurred during heating. The results show that reduction of the surface oxide layer occurs at relatively lower temperature for the steel powder, attributed to an influence of chromium, which is supported by a strong increase in Cr content immediately after oxide layer reduction. The reduction of the stable oxide particulates was shifted to higher temperatures, reflecting their higher thermodynamic stability. A complementary vacuum annealing treatment at 800°C was performed in a furnace directly connected to the XPS instrument allowing for sample transfer in vacuum. The results showed that Fe oxides were completely reduced, with segregation and growth of Cr and Mn oxides on the particle surfaces. This underlines the sequential reduction of oxides during sintering that reflects the thermodynamic stability and availability of oxide-forming elements.     

Self-strengthening and high temperature sintering in binder-free silicon nitride

A thermal strengthening process, which occurs during low-temperature heating of binder-free silicon nitride, has been investigated using simultaneous thermal analysis, dilatometry and FTIR and shown to occur in separate stages over clearly identifiable temperatures. Reactions which give the strengthening are the loss of physically and chemically combined water and the decomposition of ammonium carbonate and various hydrosilicates. Compacts have bend strengths of 8–10 MPa after strengthening at 500°C and 30–34 MPa after strengthening at 900°C. High-temperature dilatometry shows several stages of sintering. The maximum rate occurs at 1800°C with shrinkage commencing at 1450°C. Densities of 98.3% theoretical are obtained on heating to 1900°C.     

造纸污泥添加剂对麦秆灰烧结熔融特性的影响

利用灰熔点测试仪、XRD及XRF等仪器,对比研究了造纸污泥(脱墨污泥、造纸废水污泥)、城市废水污泥作为添加剂对麦秆灰熔融特性的影响,考察了烧结和熔融过程中的组分变化,分析了污泥添加剂对麦秆灰的作用机理;进一步将污泥添加剂与常规添加剂进行灰熔融特性对比研究。研究发现,添加比例控制为3%-10%,造纸污泥(脱墨污泥、造纸废水污泥)软化温度提升效果均优于城市废水污泥;在添加比例控制为5%时,造纸废水污泥对麦秆灰软化温度提升效果最好;增大添加比例过程中,造纸废水污泥Al_2O_3修饰骨架作用明显,但灰中长石类物质逐渐增多使得软化温度提升效果下降;在不同温度下,脱墨污泥主要是通过形成硅铝榴石使得灰熔点提升,造纸废水污泥则主要是通过生成高熔点物质CaSiO_3抑制低熔点硅酸盐形成,城市废水污泥升温中存在明显SiO_2晶态转变过程;使用污泥添加剂作为抗结渣添加剂具有良好应用前景。     

A facile way to synthesis insoluble sulfur with high thermal stability by low temperature melting method

In order to prepare insoluble sulfur (IS) with high thermal stability by a low temperature melting method, the factors affecting the IS performance were systematically studied. Stabilizers and curing approaches were also employed to improve the thermal stability for the synthesized IS. The synthesized IS was further treated with a distinctive curing method, and the thermal stability can reach up to more than 54%. Furthermore, the synthesized IS of HD was also compared with commercial product of OT20 from FlexSys Inc. The comparative results showed that the synthesized IS of HD reached the performances of commercial product of OT20 from FlexSys Inc.     

Study of soils by thermal analysis

The study of soils is very important in the geological and geological engineering researches. A study of ten samples of soils was carried out by thermal analysis, and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to understand soil evolution in Angra dos Reis region, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The sample collection sites were chosen based on geological characteristics, the soil layer thickness, the soil composition pattern, and whether or not it was moved either by erosion or by gravitational shifts. Because of the humid tropical climatic condition, natural soils tend to show great thickness of weathered mantles with formation of saprolites and saprolite soils. Kaolinite is an important secondary mineral which can be formed from many different minerals, like k-mica and k-feldspar and can be weathered to gibbsite. The results from TG/DTG and DTA indicated which soils had more weathering, and the same results were obtained by XRF, when silica/aluminum ratios from samples are compared with thermal analysis results.     

Thermal degradation and melting point determination of diclofenac

The thermal behaviour of Diclofenac was investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Hot Stage Microscopy, and Thermogravimetric Analysis. A discrepancy was observed between the melting point values recorded under dynamic flow of either dry nitrogen (180°C) or air (160°C). By means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometric analyses, it has been possible to ascribe this difference in melting points to the formation of three degradation products as a result of intramolecular cyclization and condensation reactions during the heating process in an oxidative atmosphere. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal stability and sintering behaviour of hydroxyapatite nanopowders

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanopowders were synthesised following two different precipitation routes: (a) from calcium nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions and (b) from calcium hydroxide suspension and phosphoric acid solution. The influence of precipitation process, concentration, and synthesis temperature on HA particle size and morphology, phase composition, thermal stability, and sintering behaviour was investigated by means of: thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), induced coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) and dilatometry.     

On the determination of the melting point of semicrystalline polymer by DSC

This is a study for criteria to judge the melting point of semi-crystalline polymers from the DSC endotherm for polymer melting. Beyond standard indium DSC melting results an evaluation has been made on a series of polyethylenes for which crystal sizes were measured and predicted from Raman LAM analysis. The results confirm the conclusion of Prof. Wunderlich that the DSC content of melting is the proper basis of reporting melting points.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday