Impact of a Subsonic Dissociated Air Flow on the Surface of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>–30 vol % SiC UHTC Produced by the Sol–Gel Method

A new method, which included the sol–gel synthesis of a HfB₂–(SiO₂–C) reactive composite powder and its subsequent consolidation by hot pressing (1700°C, 30 MPa, 15 min) with simultaneous carbothermic synthesis of nanocrystalline silicon carbide, was used to produce HfB₂–SiC ultra-high-temperature ceramic material promising for using in an air atmosphere at temperatures above 2000°C. Its elemental and phase compositions, as well as its microstructure were investigated. The density and calculated porosity were 7.6 g/cm³ and 13.5%, respectively. The behavior of a cylindrical sample of the material was studied on long-term (40 min) exposure to a subsonic dissociated air flow in a high-frequency induction plasmatron. The change in the temperature of the surface of the material was examined in the context of its relationship with the HfB₂ and SiC oxidation and the evaporation of the oxidation products. The phase composition and microstructure were determined in regions of the oxidized surface of a HfB₂–SiC sample containing 30 vol % SiC that were heated on exposure to high-enthalpy flows to 2600–2700°C and in regions the temperature of which was 1850–1950°C. By scanning electron microscopy, the thickness, microstructure, and composition of the oxidized layer were found.     

Production of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiC (10–65 vol % SiC) Ultra-High-Temperature Ceramics by Hot Pressing of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>–(SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–C) Composite Powder Synthesized by the Sol–Gel Method

The formation of HfB₂–SiC (10–65 vol % SiC) ultra-high-temperature ceramics by hot pressing of HfB₂–(SiO₂–C) composite powder synthesized by the sol–gel method was studied. By the example of HfB₂–30 vol % SiC ceramic, it was shown that the synthesis of nanocrystalline silicon carbide is completed at temperatures of as low as ≥1700°C (crystallite size 35–39 nm). The production of the composite materials with various contents of fine silicon carbide at 1800°C demonstrated that the samples of the composition HfB₂–SiC (20–30 vol % SiC) are characterized by the formation of SiC crystallites of the minimum sizes (36–38 nm), by the highest density (89%), and by higher oxidation resistance during heating in an air flow to 1400°C.     

Impact of a Supersonic Dissociated Air Flow on the Surface of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>–30 vol % SiC UHTC Produced by the Sol–Gel Method

A new method to produce ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites under rather mild conditions (1700°C, 30 MPa, treatment time 15 min) was applied to synthesize a relatively dense (ρ_rel = 84.5%) HfB₂–30 vol % SiC material containing nanocrystalline silicon carbide (average crystallite size ～37 nm). The elemental and phase compositions, microstructure, and some mechanical properties of this material and also its thermal behavior in an air flow within the temperature range 20–1400°C were investigated. Using a high-frequency induction plasmatron, a study was made of the effect of a supersonic dissociated air flow on the surface of the produced ultra-high-temperature ceramic composite shaped as a flat-end cylindrical sample installed into a copper water-cooled holder. On 40-min exposure of the sample to the supersonic dissociated air flow, the sample did not fail, and the weight loss was 0.04%. Although the heat flux was high, the temperature on the surface did not exceed 1400–1590°C, which could be due to the heat transfer from the sample to the water-cooled model. The thickness of the oxidized layer under these conditions was 10–20 μm; no SiC-depleted region formed. Specific features of the microstructure of the oxidized surface layer of the sample were noted.     

HfB2-SiC (45 vol %) ceramic material: Manufacture and behavior under long-term exposure to dissociated air jet flow

Ultra-high-temperature composite materials HfB₂-SiC containing 45 vol % SiC were prepared by spark plasma sintering. The behavior of a sample of this composition under exposure to a subsonic jet of dissociated air of a high-frequency induction plasmatron was studied; the total time was more than 30 min. Under certain test conditions, some regions of the sample were found to experience a rapid increase in temperature up to 2700°C. So, most of the surface area of the sample experienced exposure to temperatures up to 2500–2700°C for more than 15–18 min, while the rest of the surface had a temperature of 1700–1800°C during almost the entire duration of the experiment. The joint use of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (with EDX analysis), X-ray powder diffraction, and X-ray computed microtomography enabled us to study the microstructure and composition of a structurally complex oxidized layer.     

Study of the Thermal Behavior of Wedge-Shaped Samples of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>–45 vol % SiC Ultra-High-Temperature Composite in a High-Enthalpy Air Flow

By spark plasma sintering, HfB₂–45 vol % SiC ultra-high-temperature ceramic was prepared, from which wedge-shaped samples were cut. The behavior of the samples was examined in a flow of dissociated air produced by an induction plasmatron, where the surface temperature of the leading edges of the samples reached ~2700°C. The dependence of the temperature distribution gradient on the distance from the leading edges of the samples was experimentally investigated. For the samples after the experiments, the elemental and phase compositions were determined, and features of the surface microstructure in various regions of the sample and on its polished surface were studied.     

Investigation of catalytic activity of ZnAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> and ZnMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

A new powder metallurgy technique was developed in order to increase the reinforcement proportion of aluminum with two different fractions of Al₂O₃. Aluminum powders were mixed with 20 % vol of alumina particles as primarily reinforcement, and additional alumina was produced in situ as a result of reaction between Al and additional 7.5 % vol of Fe₂O₃ powder. The three grades of powders were milled and hot-pressed into small preforms, and differential scanning analysis (DSC) was performed to determine the kinetics of microstructural transformations produced on heating. DSC curves were mathematically processed to separate the superposing effects of thermal reactions. Transformation points on resulting theoretical curves evidenced two distinct exothermal reaction peaks close to the melting point of aluminum that were correlated with formation of Fe–Al compounds and oxidation of aluminum. Microstructural investigations by means of SEM-EDX and XRD suggested that these exothermal reactions produced complete decomposition of iron (III) oxide and formation of Fe–Al compounds during sintering at 700 °C, and therefore, heating at higher temperatures would not be necessary. These results, along with calculation of activation energies, based on Kissinger’s method, could be used to optimize the fabrication of Al-Al₂O₃ composites by means of reactive sintering at moderate temperatures.     

Production of ultrahigh temperature composite materials HfB2-SiC and the study of their behavior under the action of a dissociated air flow

Ultrahigh temperature composite materials HfB₂-SiC containing 25, 35, and 45 vol % SiC were produced by spark plasma sintering. Modeling of heating under the action of a dissociated air flow for selected samples using a VGU-4 induction plasma generator showed that these materials do not degrade even while keeping at a surface temperature of more than 2000°C (up to 2600°C) for 11 min. A combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (with EDX analysis), and X-ray computed microtomography were used for investigating the microstructure and composition of the oxidized layer before and after heating.     

How xerogel carbonization conditions affect the reactivity of highly disperse SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–C composites in the sol–gel synthesis of nanocrystalline silicon carbide

A transparent silicon polymer gel was prepared by sol–gel technology to serve as the base in the preparation of highly disperse SiO₂–C composites at various temperatures (400, 600, 800, and 1000°C) and various exposure times (1, 3, and 6 h) via pyrolysis under a dynamic vacuum (at residual pressures of ~1 × 10^–1 to 1 × 10^–2 mmHg). These composites were X-ray amorphous; their thermal behavior in flowing air in the range 20–1200°C was studied. The encapsulation of nascent carbon, which kept it from oxidizing in air and reduced the reactivity of the system in SiC synthesis, was enhanced as the carbonization temperature and exposure time increased. How xerogel carbonization conditions affect the micro- and mesostructure of the xerogel was studied by ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS). Both the carbonization temperature and the exposure time were found to considerably influence structure formation in highly disperse SiO₂–C composites. Dynamic DSC/DTA/TG experiments in an inert gas flow showed that the increasing xerogel pyrolysis temperatures significantly reduced silicon carbide yields upon subsequent heating of SiO₂–C systems to 1500°C, from 35–39 (400°C) to 10–21% (1000°C).     

Effect of Modifying Additives on the Sintering and Properties of SiC/SiC<Subscript>w</Subscript> Ceramic Composite Material

Spark plasma sintering and hot compaction methods were used to obtain experimental samples of a composite material of the SiC?SiC_w system with various modifying additives (AlN, B₄C, HfB₂, Y₂O₃, Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄). The effect of the modifying additives on the sintering process, physicomechanical, and thermal properties of the ceramic composite material was examined. The introduction of the modifying additives lowered the sintering temperature of silicon carbide produced by the hot compaction method by 200°C and that formed with spark plasma spark sintering by 300?450°C as compared with the sintering temperature of silicon carbide without additives.     

Impact of Pb substitution on the formation of high <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript> superconducting phase in BSCCO system derived through sol-gel process

Sol-gel process was employed to synthesize the Pb-BSCCO system having general composition Bi_2−xPb_xSr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10−δ, where x=0.2, 0.4 and 0.8. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dilatometry and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were employed to study the materials produced at different stages. Two-stage heating firstly at 300 and then 800°C was adopted in order to avoid the burning of the materials and formation of carbonates. The carbonate formation was avoided by heating the materials firstly at 300°C for 2 h and without intermediate cooling moved to the furnace having temperature 800°C and hold for 2 h. The sintering behaviour of samples was studied by dilatometry and the results revealed that the sample having x=0.4 was stabled up to a temperature of 700°C while samples having x=0.2 and 0.8 to a temperature of 625°C. The maximum shrinkage was observed at 850°C in all the samples. On the basis of dilatometry results, the samples were sintered at 845°C for 60 h to observe the superconducting phases. The highest volume fraction of high superconducting phase (2223) was noticed in the sample containing x=0.4 having onset T _c=110 K.     

Formation of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and KTiOPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoclusters on the (001) surface of KTiOPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal upon annealing

Morphology and crystallographic characteristics of (001) KTiOPO₄ air-annealed surface were investigated. The autoepitaxy of nanosized KTiOPO₄ islands was revealed in samples annealed at 550°C for 2–20 h. When annealing at 650°C takes ～20 h, the TiO₂ particles are observed to form on the substrate surface. This indicates the onset of the thermal decomposition of KTP at this temperature.     

Conductivity of Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-NiO composites

The conductivity and transport number of oxygen ions of Bi₂O₃-(10, 30, 50) vol % NiO composites are measured using the four-probe and coulomb-volumetric methods at various temperatures. It is shown that the Bi₂O₃-50 vol % NiO composite exhibits a high mixed ionic-electronic conductivity in the temperature range from 730 to 800°C.     

Temperature calibration of a mass spectrographic evolved gas analysis system

Because of the vacuum used in mass spectrographic evolved gas analysis, the usual effects of temperature lag between actual and apparent sample temperatures are exaggerated. Factors contributing to this temperature difference are discussed. The melting point of various metals in the range 110–1100°C are used to obtain insights and estimates regarding these temperature discrepancies at different heating rates, utilizing a variety of sample holders. In general, if the sample is in good contact with the heated supporting surface, the agreement between the observed and reported equilibrium melting temperatures is good at heating rates of ? ～ 20°C min. At higher heating rates the differences become larger (?10°C) and the effect increases with increasing temperature of melting. For sample holders which are not in good contact with the sample, hot spots can develop at high temperatures due to unequal thermal radiation. Under these circumstances the apparent melting point can be considerably lower than the actual equilibrium temperature and less dependent upon heating rate.     

The influence of annealing in a vacuum on the concentration of radicals in fullerite C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

For fullerite C₆₀ with intercalated oxygen, a sharp (by three orders of magnitude) increase in the intensity of the EPR signal with a g-factor of 2.0024 was observed at ～200°C. Studies of gases formed in heating of the sample in a vacuum showed that molecular oxygen was largely released at temperatures below 100°C, whereas the gas phase formed as the temperature increased to 200°C contained carbon oxides CO and CO₂ in addition to oxygen. The conclusion was drawn that the intensity of the EPR signal was determined by the products of oxygen interaction with fullerene rather than the concentration of oxygen in the sample.     

Phase formation in mixed TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> oxides prepared by sol-gel method

Pure titania, zirconia, and mixed oxides (3–37 mol.% of ZrO₂) are prepared using the sol-gel method and calcined at different temperatures. The calcined samples are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption porosimetry. Measurements reveal a thermal stability of the titania anatase phase that slightly increases in the presence of 3–13 mol.% of zirconia. Practically, the titania anatase-rutile phase transformation is hindered during the temperature increase above 700°C. The mixed oxide with 37 mol.% of ZrO₂ treated at 550°C shows a new single amorphous phase with a surface area of the nanoparticles double with respect to the other crystalline samples and the formed srilankite structure (at 700°C). The anatase phase is not observed in the sample containing 37 mol.% of ZrO₂. The treatment at 700°C causes the formation of the srilankite (Ti_0.63Zr_0.37O_x) phase.     

Application of dilatometric analysis to the study of autoclaved calcium silicate materials

The process of shrinkage of calcium silicate hydrate was investigated by dilatometry up to 350 °C. The properties of this material are based on the formation of C–S–H phases during the reaction at temperatures between 180 and 205 °C and water vapor pressure lower than 16 bars. The main C–S–H phases are 11.3 Å tobermorite and xonotlite. 11.3 Å tobermorite converts to 9.3 Å tobermorite on air at temperatures around 300 °C. The hydrosilicate materials were prepared from quicklime and finely ground sand with different CaO/SiO₂ ratios under different hydrothermal conditions. The reaction time was 24 h. Materials based on xonotlite and tobermorite were produced, and the calcium silicate phases were characterized by XRD and TG/DTA methods. Dilatometry measurements were used to study the effect of heating conditions on sample shrinkage. Dehydration of hydrated calcium silicate minerals occurred during heating. The results show that sample shrinkage is dependent on the type and amount of C–S–H phases, the amount of bound water and formation of 9.3 Å tobermorite. All samples showed shrinkage after heating up to 350 °C, but this change was not irreversible for all samples after cooling to room temperature.

     

Mechanism of the Enhanced Electrochemical Properties of LiNi<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> Cathode Materials by a Pre-Sintering Process

α-NaFeO₂ layered LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ cathode materials were synthesized by mechanical milling accompanied by the solid phase sintering. The sample exhibited a good crystallinity and layered structure while sintered at 900°C, which can be further improved by adding a pre-sintering process at 500°C before high temperature sintering. The sample with a pre-sintering process presents an average particle size about 0.6 μm, and a hexagonal crystalline structure. The optimally fabricated sample showed a first charge capacity of 210.2 mA h/g, discharge capacity of 171.2 mA h/g with a current rate of 0.2 C within the voltage range of 2.7~4.5 V. With increasing the current rate to 1 C, the charge–discharge capacity faded quickly during the cycling process, which can be partially recovered while operated at a low current rate. However, the capacity fading at a current rate of 2 C was largely irreversible. The evolution of the surface chemical states was evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the charged and discharged samples to understand the high rate capacity fading.     

Polymer Technology of Porous SiC Ceramics Using Milled SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Fibers

The paper describes a developed polymer composition and a process for manufacturing highporous chemically pure silicon carbide ceramics from this composition, using milled industrial wastes of quartz fiber non-woven fabrics as the source of silicon dioxide, which is important as a rational utilization of these wastes. The necessity of pre-milling of the SiO₂ fibers was experimentally substantiated. Without this stage, the duration of treatment at 1400°C under dynamic vacuum considerably (≥12 h) increased, because of the non-uniform distribution of the components in the polymer composite. In the case of stoichiometric ratio of SiO₂ and carbon formed upon pyrolysis of the polymeric phenol binder, the obtained SiC ceramic contained a large amount of unreacted carbon. This indicaties that side reactions take place to give volatile silicon monoxide, which is distilled off from the reactor. The effects of the milling time of SiO₂ fibers and the carbothermal reduction temperature on the elemental and phase composition, density, and porosity of the obtained samples and the ultimate compressive strength were studied. Analysis of the experimental results served for optimization of the composition of the initial polymer composites. As a result, highly porous (83%) and relatively strong (ultimate compressive strength of 8.2MPa) SiC-ceramic samples free from unreacted carbon and silicon dioxide and other stubborn impurities were fabricated at 1400°C (dynamic vacuum, heat treatment for 4 h).     

Preparation of HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SiC composite powders by sol–gel technology

Sol–gel technology was used to chemically modify the surface of HfB₂ powders with highly dispersed silicon carbide using two carbothermy protocols: (1) under heating to 1500°С in flowing argon (100 mL/min) without exposure and (2) under dynamic vacuum conditions (p ~ 1 × 10^–5–1 × 10^–6 MPa) at 1400°С with 4-h exposure. The phase composition and microstructural features of the thus-prepared HfB₂/xSiC (x = 10–65 vol %) composite powders were studied. The products prepared by the second protocol showed an enhanced oxidation resistance in the range 20–1400°C in flowing air compared to individual HfB₂.     

Transport properties and microstructure changes of talc characterized by emanation thermal analysis

Thermal behavior of talc samples (from locality Puebla de Lillo, Spain) were characterized by emanation thermal analysis (ETA), DTA and TG. The ETA, based on the measurement of radon release rate from samples, revealed a closing up of surface micro-cracks and annealing of microstructure irregularities of the talc samples on heating in the range 200–500°C. For ground talc sample a crystallization of non-crystalline phase formed by grinding, into orthorhombic enstatite was characterized as a decrease of radon mobility in the range 785–825°C and by a DTA exothermal effect with the maximum at 830°C. ETA results characterized the microstructure development of the talc samples on heating and served to evaluate their radon mobility and transport properties on heating and cooling. Transport properties of the talc samples were evaluated by using ETA experimental data measured during heating to 600 and 1300°C, respectively, and subsequent cooling to room temperature.