Thermal carbonization of nanoporous silicon: Formation of carbon nanofibres without a metal catalyst

An interesting phenomenon is observed while carrying out thermal carbonization of porous silicon (PS) with an aim to arrest the natural surface degradation, and it is a burning issue for PS-based device applications. A tubular carbon structure has been observed on the PS surface. Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron microscope studies, revealed that the tubular structure is nothing but amorphous carbon nanofibres sprouted within the pores in the absence of a metal catalyst, for which a suitable explanation is proposed.     

Influence of particle pre-orientation on elastomagnetic effect in a composite material of ellipsoidal Ni microparticles in a silicone matrix

The dependence of the elastomagnetic effect on the orientation of Ni ellipsoidal microparticles dispersed in a silicone matrix is investigated. When a volume strain is produced on the composite material in a fixed magnetizing field, the effects of mechanical and magnetic torque are simply modeled and the induced magnetization change can be predicted as a function of the particles pre-orientation. The theoretical predictions are experimentally verified. As a consequence, it is possible to govern the elastomagnetic effect by proper microparticle orientation. PACS 75.80.+q; 75.50.-y; 81.05.Zx     

Interfacial reactions and microstructure control in metal and intermetallic matrix composite processing

The achievement of the potential of composites for demanding applications where high specific strength and stiffness are required together with useful toughness is often limited by the available materials processing capabilities to develop specific reinforcement-matrix interface characteristics. Similarly, the elevated temperature stability of advanced composites is dominated by the behavior of internal interfaces. In order to develop effective processing strategies and stable composite designs, it is essential to consider the relevant phase diagrams which for most composites are at least of ternary order. On the basis of these diagrams, it is possible to select compositions of phases which possess desirable properties. In addition to phase diagram data, kinetic data such as the interdiffusion pathway and rates are required to understand and to control the possible interfacial chemical reactions in a composite system. From this basis, reinforcement coatings and barrier layers can be developed to control reactions and allow for in-service lifetime analysis. With solidification processing of composites, melt-reinforcement interactions involved in wetting, solidification reactions, and matrix microstructure evolution can also be evaluated in terms of the phase equilibria and kinetic pathways. Some applications of this approach have been demonstrated in the development of Ti- and A1-based composite systems.     

Dielectric properties of electrospun titanium compound/polymer composite nanofibres

Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/tetrabutyl titanate (PVP/ [CH3(CH2)3O]4Ti) composite nanofibres are prepared by elec- trospinning. After calcining parts of composite nanofibres in air at 700 C, petal-like TiO2 nanostructures are obtained. The characterizations of composite nanofibres and TiO2 nanostructures are carried out by a scanning electron micro- scope, an x-ray diffractometer, and an infrared spectrometer. Electrospun nanofibres are pressed into pellets under different pressures in order to explore their dielectric properties. It is found that the dielectric constants decrease with frequency increasing. The dielectric constant of the composite nanofibre pellet increases whereas its dielectric loss tangent decreases due to the doped titanium ions compared with those of pure PVP nanofibre pellets. In addition, it is observed that the dielectric constant of the composite nanofibre pellet decreases with the increase of the pressure applied in pelletization.     

Mg2Ni分子的结构和势能函数

采用密度泛函B3LYP方法在6-311+g(d,p)基组水平上对MgNi、Mg2和Mg2Ni分子的各种可能的结构进行优化,得到了它们的几何构型、平衡核间距、离解能和谐振频率.采用最小二乘法拟合MgNi和Mg2分子的Murrell-Sorbie势能函数,在此基础上导出光谱数据和力常数.通过多体项展式理论导出Mg2Ni分子的解析势能函数,并绘出了Mg2Ni分子的等值势能面,其等值势能面正确地反应了基态Mg2Ni分子的平衡构型特征.     

The density matrix for a metal

Using Wannier functions, a technique is discussed which, linking moment fitting and idempotency, give the density matrix in a metal.     

Studying the microstructure of AlSiC metal matrix composite material by scanning electron microscopy

The microstructure of fractures in AlSiC metal matrix composite material obtained via vacuum compression impregnation of porous semi-finished materials is studied using a Quanta 200i 3D FEI scanning electron microscope. The disruption of AlSiC samples is shown to be due to the brittle fracturing of the largest grains of silicon carbide and disruption (during plastic deformation) of the material of the matrix alloy located between the grains of the filler. The character of SEM images testifies to considerable adhesion of selected aluminum matrix alloys at matrix-filler interfaces and the high mechanical strength of the material under study.     

The quark mixing matrix in a composite model

The generalized mixing matrix of quarks is computed based on a composite model of quarks and leptons. Among potentials between constituent particles examined V(r) = Ar^s (As > 0) and A ln r (A > 0), it is shown that potentials with exponent 0 ? s ? 3 or ln r are consistent with current experimental data for the mixing matrix elements.     

A TiB2 metal matrix composite coating enriched with nitrogen: Microstructure and wear properties

Metal matrix composites containing titanium nitrides or titanium borides raise great interest to researchers due to their high wear resistance and enhanced corrosion properties. In the present investigation composite coatings containing both titanium nitrides/carbonitrides and titanium diborides were produced on plain steel substrates using the plasma transferred arc (PTA) technique with argon-nitrogen mixtures in the plasma and shielding gas. The microstructure of the metal matrix composites (MMC) obtained was thoroughly studied and found to consist of primary titanium diboride particles surrounded by a eutectic matrix containing, apart from ferrite, both titanium diboride and titanium carbonitride particles. The wear behavior of the composite coatings was assessed by pin on disk experiments. The wear rate against both a tool steel counterbody and an alumina counterbody is of the order of 10⁻⁴ mm³/m. The friction coefficient for both the alloyed layer-tool steel system and the alloyed layer-alumina system increases up to sliding speed of 0.30 m/s and then decreases, when the sliding speed increases further. Specifically, the friction coefficients are varied between the values 0.5 and 0.65. The wear mechanism for the tribosystem alloyed layer-tool steel is characterized by plastic deformation and adherence of material coming from the alloyed layer to the surface of the ball, while for the tribosystem alloyed layer-alumina ball, severe plastic deformation and formation of oxide layer are observed.     

The lepton mixing matrix in a composite model

A generalized mixing matrix for leptons is presented based on a composite model of quarks and leptons. The mixing matrix is expressed in terms of one parameter, which is determined either by discussing that it is identical to that of the quark mixing matrix or by assuming that the observed solar neutrino flux results from neutrino oscillations.     

氢分子在Mg2Ni(010)面的吸附与分解

本文采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一原理赝势平面波(PW-PP)方法,对氢分子在Mg2Ni(010)面的吸附与分解进行了研究,我们发现氢分子以Hor1的方式吸附在表面层Ni原子的顶位时吸附能最高,为0.6769eV,这表明氢分子最可能以Hor1的方式吸附在表面层Ni原子的顶位,此时氢分子跟表面的距离( )和氢分子的键长( )分别为1.6286Å和0.9174Å. 在分子吸附的基础上计算了氢分子沿着选取的反应路径分解时的反应势垒,发现要使氢分子分解需要0.2778eV的活化能,而氢分子分解时的吸附能为0.8390eV,分解后两个氢原子的距离为3.1712Å. 在分子吸附和分解吸附时氢原子跟正下方的Ni原子都有较强的相互作用,氢原子所得到的电子主要来自氢分子正下方的Ni原子.     

氢分子在Mg2Ni(010)面的吸附与分解

本文采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一原理赝势平面波(PW-PP)方法,对氢分子在Mg2Ni(010)面的吸附与分解进行了研究,发现氢分子以Horl的方式吸附在表面层Ni原子的顶位时吸附能最高,为0.6769 eV,这表明氢分子最可能以Horl的方式吸附在表面层Ni原子的顶位,此时氢分子跟表面的距离(rd)和氢分子的键长(rH)分别为1.6286 A和0.9174 (A).在分子吸附的基础上计算了氢分子沿着选取的反应路径分解时的反应势垒,发现要使氢分子分解需要0.2778 eV的活化能,而氢分子分解时的吸附能为0.8390 eV,分解后两个氢原子的距离为3.1712(A).在分子吸附和分解吸附时氢原子跟正下方的Ni原子都有较强的相互作用,氢原子所得到的电子主要来自氢分子正下方的Ni原子.     

金属基复合结构粘接强度的非线性超声混频检测

采用非线性超声混频方法对金属基复合结构的粘接强度进行表征研究。以不同固化剂含量的铝合金丙烯酸酯粘接结构作为检测对象,基于非线性超声混频的共振条件及其作用机制,并结合粘接固化机理,开展了非线性超声混频实验。非线性超声混频模式选取两列横波生成和频纵波的方式,实验测量并计算不同基频周期数下的超声非线性参量。通过拉伸实验标定粘接结构的粘接强度,并采用扫描电镜分析拉伸断面微观结构,进而分析超声非线性参量与粘接强度的关系。从实验结果可以看出在不同周期的基频信号激励下,超声非线性参量随着粘接强度的增大均呈现出减小的趋势。研究表明非线性超声混频信号对金属基复合结构粘接强度的变化比较敏感,可以适用于类似结构件粘接强度状态弱化的表征。     

Formation dynamics of bipolaron in a metal/polymer/metal structure

Charge injection process from metal electrode to a nondegenerate polymer in a metal/ polymer/ metal structure has been investigated by using a nonadiabatic dynamic method. We demonstrate that the dynamical formation of a bipolaron sensitively depends on the strength of applied electric field, the work function of metal electrode, and the contact between the polymer and the electrode. For a given bias applied to one of the electrode (V₀) and coupling between the electrode and the polymer (t^′), such as V₀=0.79 eV and t^′=1 eV, the charge injection process depending on the electric field can be divided into the following three cases: (1) in the absence of the electric field, only one electron tunnels into the polymer to form a polaron near the middle of the polymer chain; (2) at low electric fields, two electrons transfer into the polymer chain to form a bipolaron; (3) at higher electric fields, bipolaron can not be formed in the polymer chain, electrons are transferred from the left electrode to right electrode through the polymer one by one accompanying with small irregular lattice deformations.     

The converse magnetoelectric coupling in asymmetric granule/matrix composite film with Ni/PZT component

In this work, a type of asymmetric granule/matrix composite film is designed, where the Ni granule is dispersed in PZT matrix, meanwhile the top and bottom electrode is constituted by Au and SRO respectively. Predicted through the electrostatic screening model and mean field approximation, considerable electrostatic charge is induced on Ni granule surface by ferroelectric PZT polarization. Predicted through the spin splitting model and spherical shell approximation, both the magnetization and magnetic anisotropy of Ni granule are modulated by ferroelectric PZT polarization. As the volume fraction of Ni granule is increased, the electric modulation of magnetization and magnetic anisotropy is reduced and enhanced respectively. As the dimension of granule/matrix composite is varied, such modulation is retained. Due to the large area–volume ratio of nano-granule, this work benefits to realize the converse magnetoelectric coupling in nanoscale.     

Electrochemical deposition and tribological behaviour of Ni and Ni-Co metal matrix composites with SiC nano-particles

Metal matrix composites reinforced with nano-sized particles have attracted scientific and technological interest due to the enhanced properties exhibited by these coatings. Ni-SiC composites have gained widespread application for the protection of friction parts in the automobile industry. The influence of variables like SiC content, current density and stirring speed on microhardness of nano-composite coatings has been studied. The improved microhardness was associated with the reduction in crystallite size determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The influence of incorporation of nano-SiC in hardened Ni-Co alloy matrix was also studied. It was observed that for 28 wt.% Co content in the matrix the microhardness was higher compared to 70 wt.% for a given nano-SiC content. This was associated to the crystal phase of Ni-28Co-SiC being fcc compared to hcp phase exhibited by Ni-70Co-SiC. The wear resistance of pure Ni, Co and nano-composite coatings was studied using pin-on-disc wear tester under dry sliding condition. The volumetric wear loss indicated that, the wear resistance of Ni-SiC nano-composite is better than that of pure nickel deposit. The wear resistance of Ni-Co composites was observed to be superior to Ni composite. The wear behaviour of Ni and Ni-28Co composite was in accordance with the Archard's law. However, the superior wear characteristic exhibited by Ni-70Co-SiC composite followed the reverse Archard's behaviour.     

Interfaces in metal matrix composites

The interface region in a given composite has a great deal of importance in determining the ultimate properties of the composite. An interface is, by definition, a bidimensional region through which there occurs a discontinuity in one or more material parameters. In practice, there is always some volume associated with the interface region over which a gradual transition in material parameter(s) occurs. The importance of the interface region in composites stems from two main reasons: (i) the interface occupies a very large area in composites, and (ii) in general, the reinforcement and the metal matrix will form a system that is not in thermodynamic equilibrium. One can discuss the interface in a composite at various levels. An optimum one should be neither so simple that it covers only a few special cases nor so complex that it is not useful in designing composites from processing and applications points of view. In this paper, my objective is to give examples of interface microstructure in different metal matrix composite systems and suggest some ways of controlling the interface characteristics in order to control the properties of the composite. I shall give examples of the interface microstructure in different metal matrix composites (particle and fiber reinforced as well as laminates) and discuss some of the important implications on various aspects of metal matrix composites, from the processing stage to ultimate performance of the composite.