Effect of the grain size on the formation of a nanophase structure and tribological properties of the friction surface of a ceramic made of partly stabilized zirconia

It is found that the wear of the ZrO₂ + 3 mol% Y₂O₃ ceramics with a grain size of 180 nm in the case of dry friction on steel is smaller by a factor of 20–60 than the wear of a ceramic with an average grain size of 700 nm. It is shown that this is due to the fact that a nanophase structure formed on the friction surface of the ceramic with a grain size of 180 nm consists of ferroelastic nanodomains of the nontransformable T′ phase.     

Investigation of the thermophysical properties of oxide ceramic materials at liquid-helium temperatures

The main regularities in the transport of thermal phonons in oxide ceramic materials are investigated at liquid-helium temperatures. The dependences of the thermophysical characteristics of ceramic materials on their structural parameters (such as the grain size R, the grain boundary thickness d, and the structure of grain boundaries) are analyzed. It is demonstrated that, in dense coarse-grained ceramic materials with qR?1 (where q is the phonon wave vector), the grain boundaries and the grain size are the main factors responsible for the thermophysical characteristics of the material at liquid-helium temperatures. A comparative analysis of the thermophysical characteristics of optically transparent ceramic materials based on the Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) and Y₂O₃ cubic oxides synthesized under different technological conditions is performed using the proposed criterion.     

Fractal dimension of the grain boundaries in ceramics with nanodispersed additions

The fractal dimension of the grain boundaries in Al₂O3-MgO-SiO₂ corundum ceramic is measured. It is shown for the first time that a similarity exists between the aggregation of solid disperse particles and the grain formation in the ceramic and that this similarity can be used to reveal grain formation mechanisms. The fractal dimension of the grain boundaries is found to be 1.68 and 1.42 at sintering temperatures of 1200 and 1600°C, respectively. These values correspond to primary recrystallization and normal grain growth in the ceramic. A relationship between the fractal dimension of the grain boundaries and the sintering temperature of the corundum ceramic is obtained.     

Theoretical model of phonon propagation in micro- and nanostructural materials

Peculiarities of the kinetics of weakly nonequilibrium thermal phonons (λ_ph = 10−50 nm) in nanodispersed ceramics are investigated. The features of the phonon spectrum in the wavelength range λ_ph ∼ R _g (where R _g is the average size of a ceramic grain) are studied. The conditions yielding the formation of a gap in the phonon spectrum of nanodispersed materials are analyzed. It is shown that the presence of inclusions with characteristic sizes smaller than the grain size of the parent ceramic material (pores, inclusions of other phases) shifts the gap toward the high-frequency range of the phonon spectrum. Peculiarities of the transport of nonequilibrium phonons during the transition from nano- to microdispersed sizes of the ceramic structure are analyzed.     

Dielectric Properties of Fine-Grained BaTiO3 Ceramics under High Pressure

We investigate the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant of BaTiO3 ceramic with coarse to nanograin size under different hydrostatic high pressures up to 5000 bar in the range between room temperature and 200℃. The ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition temperatures Tc are determined from the peak of dielectric constant versus temperature. The values of average grain-size are estimated from the SEM images. It is found that the magnitude of dTc/dp varies considerably from sample to sample depending on grain size. The Curie point Tc of the sample with small grain size decreases more sharply than that of samples with larger one.     

Positron trapping at grain boundaries

A simple model is developed for the trapping of positrons at grain boundaries. It is shown that there is a linear relationship between any linear annihilation parameter and the inverse grain size. An effective grain boundary width is defined, which depends on the positron diffusion length and on the strength of the grain boundary for positrons. The effect of detrapping on this effective width is also considered. The model is tested by using the experimental results available in the literature.     

Microstructure and spin wave scattering in polycrystalline yttrium iron garnet

Polycrystalline ceramic YIG has been synthesized with submicron microstructure. The log-log plot of FMR linewidth versus average grain size gives a power law dependence α^-1₀ where α₀ is the average grain size. The instability threshold h_crit for increasing magnetic field vector of the microwave parallel pump shows a linear log-log dependence with average grain size.     

Nd:YAG陶瓷的烧结性能研究

采用注浆成型和真空烧结制备了Nd:YAG激光透明陶瓷,研究了烧结温度和时间对致密化过程的影响。研究结果表明:在1050~1300℃之间坯体发生明显的收缩生成YAM和YAP相;在1300~1420℃,生成YAG相。随着烧结温度的增加,陶瓷中气孔含量减少,晶粒尺寸长大。在1700~1800℃烧结20h能够获得完全致密的Nd:YAG陶瓷样品。     

Grain boundary curvature and grain growth kinetics with particle pinning

Second-phase particles are used extensively in design of polycrystalline materials to control the grain size. According to Zener’s theory, a distribution of particles creates a pinning pressure on a moving grain boundary. As a result, a limiting grain size is observed, but the effect of pinning on the detail of grain growth kinetics is less known. The influence of the particles on the microstructure occurs in multiple length scales, established by particle radius and the grain size. In this article, we use a meso-scale phase-field model that simulates grain growth in the presence of a uniform pinning pressure. The curvature of the grain boundary network is measured to determine the driving pressure of grain growth in 2D and 3D systems. It was observed that the grain growth continues, even under conditions where the average driving pressure is smaller than the pinning pressure. The limiting grain size is reached when the maximum of driving pressure distribution in the structure is equal to the pinning pressure. This results in a limiting grain size, larger than the one predicted by conventional models, and further analysis shows consistency with experimental observations. A physical model is proposed for the kinetics of grain growth using parameters based on the curvature analysis of the grain boundaries. This model can describe the simulated grain growth kinetics.     

Effect of grain boundaries on the electron work function of nanocrystalline nickel

The electron work function of nickel with various grain sizes has been studied. It has been shown that the work function decreases as the specific length of grain boundaries in nickel increases with decreasing average grain size. It has been found that the transformation of grain boundaries from a nonequilibrium to equilibrium state leads to an increase in the electron work function by 0.15 eV.     

晶粒棱长、尺寸与拓扑学特征之间关系的Monte Carlo仿真研究

采用Potts模型Monte Carlo方法研究了晶粒棱长、尺寸与拓扑学特征之间的统计关系.结果表明,晶粒棱长与晶粒面数之间呈线性统计关系,并且平均N面体晶粒模型和Poisson-Voronoi组织均支持该结论.不同时刻的晶粒长大仿真数据表明,在准稳态晶粒长大阶段晶粒棱长的分布具有自相似性.个体晶粒的平均棱长随晶粒面数（或晶粒尺寸）的增加而逐渐增大,这说明一些理论模型中采用的“不同面数的晶粒平均棱长均相等”的假设具有局限性.仿真数据和纯铁实验数据均表明,晶粒尺寸与晶粒面数之间的统计关系表现为一条单调递增的凸曲线. 关键词： 晶粒棱长 晶粒尺寸 拓扑学 Monte Carlo仿真     

Effect of the sintering temperature of ceramic manganites La0.7Mn1.3O3 ± Δ on their grain sizes, magnetic and electrical properties

The effect of the sintering temperature from 1070 to 1670 K of ceramic samples of lanthanum manganite La_0.7Mn_1.3O₃ on their grain size, structure, magnetic and resistive properties has been studied. An increase in the sintering temperature to 1270 K is shown to lead to an insignificant increase in the grain size and an increase in the density, fraction of the ferromagnetic phase in a grain, and colossal magnetoresistance. The ceramics sintering at temperatures higher than 1470 K is found to sharply increase the grain size; simultaneously, the grain takes a layered structure. The grain growth at these temperatures is established to be accompanied by manganese precipitation at the grain boundaries and likely in the grain interior. The increase in the sintering temperature is accompanied by appearance of a magnetically phase heterogeneity and a decrease in the Curie temperature and magnitude of the colossal magnetoresistance effect.     

The grain size distribution in nanocomposite films

The grain size distributions and related mechanisms in nanocomposite films with nanostructures comprising a nanocrystalline (nc) phase surrounded by an amorphous (a) matrix under different amorphous phase amounts (V _a) have been analyzed by using a Monte Carlo grain growth model. The results show that with the V _a value increasing to a critical value of ～28%, the grain size distribution approaches lognormality, and it becomes off-lognormal when the V _a value is larger or smaller than ～28%. The simulated results are in a good agreement with the experiment. It is shown that the homogenous or inhomogeneous grain growth mode, determined by the energy exerted on the grain boundary, originates in lognormal or off-lognormal grain size distributions in nanocomposite films. Also, in a system with lognormal grain size distribution, the amorphous phase just covers all grain boundaries (GBs) and the length obtained by summing the boundary circumference of all nanograins is the longest. It is expected that this microstructure can result in exceptional properties of nanocomposite films.     

基于微观结构的Cu互连电迁移失效研究

提出了一种基于微观晶粒尺寸分布的Cu互连电迁移失效寿命模型. 结合透射电子显微镜和统计失效分析技术, 研究了Cu互连电迁移失效尺寸缩小和临界长度效应及其物理机制. 研究表明, 当互连线宽度减小, 其平均晶粒尺寸下降并导致互连电迁移寿命降低. 小于临界长度的互连线无法提供足够的空位使得铜晶粒耗尽而发生失效. 当互连长度大于该临界长度时, 在整个电迁移测试时间内, 部分体积较小的阴极端铜晶粒出现耗尽情况. 随着互连长度的增加该失效比例迅速增大, 电迁移失效寿命减小. 当互连长度远大于扩散长度时, 失效时间主要取决于铜晶粒的尺寸, 且失效寿命和比例随晶粒尺寸变化呈现饱和的波动状态. 关键词： Cu 互连 电迁移 微观结构     

药型罩材料的晶粒度对射流性能的影响

 通过对紫铜药型罩的静破甲威力实验和脉冲X射线照像，研究了药型罩材料的晶粒度对射流性能的影响。研究结果表明，药型罩材料的晶粒度对射流动态延伸特性有重要影响。罩材料的晶粒细化可以增加有效连续射流的长度，推迟射流断裂的时间，提高静破甲威力水平。最后讨论了晶粒度对射流性能影响的机理。     

掺钕钆镓石榴石激光陶瓷粉体的研究

优质的纳米前驱体是生成良好透明陶瓷的关键。采用Sol-gel法制得颗粒均匀、粒度小、无团聚、分散性好的Nd:GGG激光陶瓷前驱粉体。对透明陶瓷前驱体进行测试XRD分析,与标准JCPDS卡片对比表明样品属于立方晶系,空间群Ia3d,晶格常数为:A=123.7nm。粉体的最佳烧成温度为1000℃,煅烧时间8h。SEM观察发现,样品纯度高、单分散、颗粒均匀且近似球形,符合制备透明陶瓷的粉体要求。     

Effect of Annealing on Ferroelectric Properties of Nanometre BaTiO3 Ceramics Prepared by High Pressure Sintering Method

Dense nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics with a grain size of 5Onto are prepared under 6 GPa at 1273K using a high pressure sintering method. The sintered bulk is uniform and the relative density is above 97%. We anneal the ceramic samples in oxygen with various temperatures and for the annealing, several broadened peaks can be observed at different times without apparent grain growth. After about 378K（ by dielectric measurements. However, these peaks are very different from those of coarser-grained ceramics. It is indicated that both the elimination of oxygen vacancies and the release of residual stresses caused by high pressure greatly improve the overall ferroelectric properties of BaTiO3 ceramics. The observation of nearly linear polarization hysteresis loop after anneal provides the solid evidence of ferroelectricity in these nano-sized BaTiO3 ceramics. It is believed that the absence of 90° domains and the existence of poor-permittivity nonferroelectric grain boundaries contribute to the slim loop.     

光子晶体线缺陷波导中的折射率相位移调制增强效应

在传统的基于全内反射原理的低折射率比介质波导所构建的相位移调制型光学器件中,调制区域的长度通常在毫米到厘米量级.由于器件横向尺寸保持在微米量级,因此狭长结构成为了传统光波导器件的典型特征,这限制了光学器件集成度的提高,严重制约了集成光路的进一步发展.光子晶体的出现为高密集成光路的发展提供了一条新的途径.本文使用平面波展开方法计算了光子晶体线缺陷波导中的色散曲线.研究发现:在色散曲线下边缘处,材料折射率的一个微小变化可以引起传输常数的较大变化,如果工作频率点选择在带下边缘附近,则可以大幅度减小相位移调制型器件调制区域的长度.本文使用时域有限差分方法进一步验证这种增强效应,计算结果表明,对于0.46%的折射率变化,光子晶体线缺陷波导中的相位调制长度仅为均匀媒质中相位移调制长度的11.7%.通过以进一步研究,这种增强效应有望应用与高密度集成光路.     

Influence of grain boundary sliding on fracture toughness of nanocrystalline ceramics

A theoretical model is proposed describing a new physical microscopic mechanism of increased fracture toughness of nanocrystalline ceramics. According to this model, when a ceramic with a microcrack is deformed, intensive grain boundary sliding occurs near the crack tip under certain conditions. This sliding is accompanied by the formation of an array of disclination dipoles (rotational defects) producing elastic stresses. These stresses partially compensate the high local stresses concentrated near the microcrack tip and thereby hamper the microcrack growth. The proposed model is used to theoretically estimate the increase in the critical microcrack length (the length above which the catastrophic growth of microcracks occurs) caused by the formation of disclination dipoles during grain boundary sliding in nanoceramics. The increase in the critical microcrack length is a quantitative characteristic of the increased fracture toughness of nanoceramics.     

Grain size distributions for competitive growth with nucleation

The paper introduces and discusses an idealized competitive growth model with nucleation for the microstructure formation during dense branching phase separation in thin Al/Ge films. Grain size and grain length distributions for the new model are obtained analytically and by simulation. These distributions exhibit a characteristic scaling form similar to cluster size distributions in many other growth models. The cutoff functions in these scaling forms and their influence on the determination of effective exponents are studied in detail. It is found that nucleation introduces a new length scale into the other-wise selfsimilar competitive growth model. This length scale appears only inside the cutoff function and diverges algebraically as the nucleation rate vanishes. We find both analytically and by simulation that the cutoff functions can exhibit stretched exponential behaviour exp(–x ) for large arguments. Our analytical and simulation results for grain size and grain length distributions are in excellent quantitative agreement.