Influence of the oxygen concentration on the formation of crystalline phases of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> during the low-pressure arc-discharge plasma synthesis

The synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles with different percentage of anatase and rutile phases is investigated. The synthesis is performed by controlling the oxygen percentage in the gas mixture in the plasmachemical evaporation–condensation process employing a low-pressure arc discharge. In all our experiments, the pressure in the plasmachemical reactor and the average size of particles remain constant and are 60 Pa and 6 nm, respectively. The crystal structure of synthesized TiO₂ is studied using X-ray diffraction; the morphology of the particles is analyzed employing transmission electron microscopy. Using X-ray phase analysis, it is established that the concentration of the TiO₂ anatase phase decreases upon a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture. It is shown that the TiO₂ anatase phase is more efficient for photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue than the rutile phase.     

Ferrite and high-temperature superconductor targets for sputtering

A method is described of preparing targets for sputtering, which involves the use of plasma deposition of respective powders onto a cooled metal plate. It is demonstrated that the use of plasma technology enables one to produce, in a controlled atmosphere, intricately shaped ceramic targets characterized by a highly uniform composition and by reliable mechanical and thermal contact of the resultant coating with the holder plate. Experiments are performed on the sputtering of targets to prepare polycrystalline ferrite films for magnetooptical applications and epitaxial films of high-temperature superconductors.     

Phase composition and the micro- and macrostructures of quasi-crystalline powders obtained by plasma-chemical synthesis

Quasi-crystalline Al₆₅Cu₂₃Fe₁₂ powders have been obtained by the method of plasma-chemical synthesis. Coarse particles have a spherical form and an inhomogeneous structure because of the laminar growth of crystallites toward the surface of the particles. The influence of heat treatment on phase formation and structuring in Al–Cu–Fe alloys has been studied. It has been found that the heat treatment of as-prepared powders changes the phase relationship in the quasi-crystalline alloy.     

Device for Increasing the Magnetic Flux Pinning in Granular Nanocomposites Based on the High-Temperature Superconducting Ceramic

A device for modifying the granular high-temperature superconducting ceramics in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge has been considered. The particular features of the design and operational principle of this device have been described. The device made it possible to combine the synthesis of that play a role of additional pinning centers and simultaneous deposition of these nanoparticles on microgranules in a single processing cycle. The experimental results on the effect of additional pinning centers on an increase in the critical current thanks to the formation of self-assembled structures in the form of whiskers have been considered.     

Study of magnetic flux pinning in granular YBa2Cu3O7 − y /nanoZrO2 composites

In this work, the effect of ZrO₂ nanoparticles prepared in a low-pressure arc discharge plasma on magnetic flux pinning of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? y} /nanoZrO₂ composites has been studied. It has been shown that the ZrO₂ nanoparticles do not change the superconducting transition and the microstructure of superconductors. At a temperature of 5 K, the addition of 0.5 and 1 wt % of ZrO₂ nanoparticles may lead to the additional effect of magnetic flux pinning and the increase in the critical current density J _c. The J _c value for composites with 1 wt % is two times larger than that for the reference sample. The fishtail effect is observed for YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? y} /nanoZrO₂ composites at the temperatures of 20 and 50 K. The problems associated with the additional effect of magnetic flux pinning of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? y} /nanoZrO₂ composites and the appearance of the fishtail effect have been discussed.     

Physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe coatings prepared by plasma spraying

The physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of quasicrystalline coatings based on the Al₆₅Cu₂₃Fe₁₂ alloy prepared by plasma spraying have been investigated. The specific features of the phase formation due to the competitive interactions of the icosahedral ψ and cubic β phases have been elucidated. A correlation between the microhardness and the content of the icosahedral phase in the coating has been determined. The decisive role of the quasicrystalline phase in the formation of high tribological characteristics of the coatings has been revealed and tested.     

Surface Morphology and Structure of Plasma Coatings

Technical Physics - Specific features of the structure formation in rapidly quenched high-cobalt alloy coatings formed by plasma sputtering have been investigated. The structural state of the...     

Method for producing nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure pulsed arc discharge

A new method for the production of nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge is developed and experimentally studied. This method can be used to synthesize nanoparticles 5–10 nm in size with a narrow size distribution. In this method, a low-pressure arc discharge is used to melt a material, to disperse the molten material, to deliver liquid material droplets to the plasma, to cool the liquid nanoparticles forming in the plasma up to their solidification, and to deposit the solidified nanoparticles onto a substrate.     

Formation of the structure and physicomechanical properties of a quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe alloy upon plasma spraying

Quasicrystalline coatings prepared under various thermal conditions of spraying have been studied. Initial quasicrystalline powders with dispersion of 10–50 μm were prepared in a low-pressure arc discharge plasma. The coatings have been sprayed on copper rings using a swinging plasmatron. It is found that the increase in the quenching rate of melt droplets increases the chemical homogeneity and leads to formation of nanostructured formations. The precipitation of nanostructured grains (d < 100 nm) in the sprayed alloy leads to an increase in the mechanical characteristics (hardness, deformation, and ductility) and can be considered as an additional factor of hardening of the material.     

Plasma-chemical reactor based on a low-pressure pulsed arc discharge for synthesis of nanopowders

A reactor for producing nanopowders in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge has been developed. As a plasma source, a pulsed cold-cathode arc evaporator has been applied. The design and operating principle of the reactor have been described. Experimental data on how the movement of a gaseous mixture in the reactor influences the properties of nanopowders have been presented.