Electromagnetic acoustic resonance and materials characterization

This paper reviews the operation principles and several applications of electromagnetic acoustic resonance (EMAR). EMAR is an emerging ultrasonic spectroscopy technique for nondestructive and noncontact materials characterization, relying on the use of electromagnetic-acoustic transducers (EMATs) and the superheterodyne circuitry for processing the received reverberation signals excited by long radio-frequency (RF) bursts. The transduction occurs through the Lorentz force mechanism and, for ferrous metals, the dynamic response of magnetostriction and the magnetic force as well. Weak coupling of the EMATs is now essential to realize the high accuracy of measuring ultrasonic velocities and attenuation in conducting materials. High signal to noise ratio is achieved by receiving the overlapping coherent echoes at resonant frequencies. Small changes in the related material properties are well detectable. The spectral response can be interpreted for simple geometries such as plate, cylinder and sphere. EMAR has been proven to be powerful for industrial purposes because of its robustness, the omission of surface preparations and the capacity for simple measurement in a short time. Stress application varies the propagation velocities of ultrasonics and then shifts the resonant frequencies in longitudinal and shear modes in the parallel-sided geometries. Promising applications include the two-dimensional stress distribution in thin plates, the axial stress in railroad rails and the residual stresses around the weldments. In addition, the attenuation is precisely measurable at resonant frequencies and can evaluate the grain size of polycrystalline metals. Furthermore, the EMAR technique serves for developing the basic research on the effects of the metallurgical changes on ultrasonics, leading to the damage estimation of the fatigued, crept or thermally aged metal parts.     

Gain and loss enhancement in active and passive particulate composite materials

Two active dielectric materials may be blended together to realize a homogenized composite material (HCM) which exhibits more gain than either component material. Likewise, two dissipative dielectric materials may be blended together to realize an HCM which exhibits more loss than either component material. Sufficient conditions for such gain/loss enhancement were established using the Bruggeman homogenization formalism. Gain/loss enhancement arises when (i) the imaginary parts of the relative permittivities of both component materials are similar in magnitude and (ii) the real parts of the relative permittivities of both component materials are dissimilar in magnitude.     

Sulfur composite cathode materials: comparative characterization of polyacrylonitrile precursor

The electrochemical behavior of the sulfur composite cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries and the characteristic of the polyacrylonitrile precursor were investigated. The samples of different polyacrylonitrile precursors were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic response, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and differential scanning calorimetry. The electrochemical performance of the sulfur composite cathode material made from the polyacrylonitrile precursor was also tested. The analysis showed that the molecular weight distribution and the impurity of the polyacrylonitrile precursor affected the electrochemical performance of the sulfur composite cathode material made from the precursor. The polyacrylonitrile precursor with the narrower distribution of the molecular weight and the higher structural purity of the polyacrylonitrile precursor led the better electrochemical performance of the sulfur composite cathode material made from the precursor.     

Stiffness matrix invariants to validate the characterization of composite materials with ultrasonic methods

This paper presents a method of testing the ultrasonic measurements of the stiffness matrix, and the identification of the anisotropic behaviour, of composite materials. Some linear combinations of elastic constants are invariants for a rotation around an axis of symmetry. If the stacking sequence is the only parameter which changes in a set of long-fibre composites made of the superimposition of plies, the composites must own these invariants. So, PEEK-carbon fibre composite samples were constructed in this way to measure their elastic properties by immersion and contact ultrasonic methods, and to compare the results with predicted invariants. By changing the stacking sequence of plies three anisotropic models are tested: orthotropic, hexagonal and quadratic. Measurements of ultrasonic velocities in various planes of propagation permit the identification of the elastic constant and invariants. From the invariance of these linear combinations, the precision of the three-dimensional effective moduli can be estimated.     

Determine mechanical properties of particulate composite using ultrasound spectroscopy

It is known that microscopic spherulite growth plays an important role in macroscopical properties such as elastic moduli of some semicrystalline polymers. Ultrasonic spectroscopy can be used to quantitatively determine the role of spherulites. As a first approximation, spherulitic polymers are modeled as a material with spherical inclusions in an amorphous matrix. This two-phase composite model is then physically realized by embedding glass micro-spheres in an epoxy. The dynamic mechanical properties of these composites are experimentally determined by measuring their acoustic properties such as phase velocity and attenuation. Acoustic scattering theories are then applied to this model to test their predictive capabilities for the real composite's mechanical properties.     

Electromagnetic characterization of rectangular ferroelectric resonators

An optimized geometry for a rectangular ferroelectric resonator (FR) is proposed to increase signal-to-noise ratio in EPR spectroscopy. To develop optimization criteria, the distribution of the microwave electromagnetic field in the FR is computed and analyzed. The computations, based on solution of Maxwell's field equations, were made for two types of rectangular FRs-a FR with a hollow sample hole and a FR with a blind sample hole. To introduce the samples, a hole was drilled through the resonator with its axis aligned to the axis of the FR. We computed and studied the spatial distributions of H- and E-components of the microwave electromagnetic field for two rectangular FRs, made of single-crystal potassium tantalate, with the following sizes: 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.4mm(3) and 1.7 x 1.7 x 3.1mm(3). As analysis of the obtained data indicated, in both resonators, the lowest mode was TE(11delta). By analyzing the distribution of the microwave field in the FR and comparing it with the experimental result, we developed optimization criteria for the geometry of a rectangular FR.     

Mechanically alloyed Al-I composite materials

Mechanically alloyed aluminum-iodine composites with iodine concentrations from 4 to 17 wt% were prepared from elemental aluminum and iodine. A reference sample was prepared from aluminum and AlI₃. A shaker mill and an attritor mill, operating at both room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature, were used for preparation. Materials were characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The iodine release upon heating was studied using thermogravimetry. Mechanical alloying was found to be effective for preparation of Al-I composites that do not release iodine until the material is brought to high temperatures. Mechanical alloying in nitrogen gas at liquid nitrogen temperature was more effective in preparing stabilized Al-I composites than milling at room temperature. Iodine was not retained in materials milled directly in liquid nitrogen. In addition to poorly crystalline AlI₃, other iodine compounds were present in the products. Assuming that the products are similar to other mechanically alloyed materials, it is expected that iodine is mixed with aluminum on the atomic scale, forming metastable Al-I compounds where iodine may be bonded to aluminum more strongly than in AlI₃, explaining why their thermal decomposition and respective iodine release occur at higher temperatures compared to decomposition and boiling of AlI₃.     

Optical properties of inhomogeneous composite materials

Using the condition that the forward scattering amplitude S(0) = 0, we extend the treatment of composite media to optical frequencies and to a model system of metal island spheres suspended in a dielectric. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data from cermets of Au in SiO₂ for volume fractions from 10 to 80% Au in SiO₂.     

New types of reinforced composite materials

The physical properties of solids determine their usefulness as structural materials. Metals have some disadvantageous characteristics which reduce their effectiveness in critical engineering applications. These limitations can be overcome by the use of certain types of fibrous reinforced composites which have become available over the last few years. However, these materials in turn have their own inherent limitations, particularly in their mode of fracture under overload conditions. In this review the basic properties of conventional fibrous composites are discussed, particular emphasis being given to physics of these failure processes.In an attempt to overcome some of these limitations a new type of fibre reinforced composite has been designed and preliminary research data on the physical properties of these systems has now been obtained. The primary reinforcing elements extend throughout the whole length of the composite but differ from others in that they do not fracture when the composite is subjected to a wide ranged of loading and deformation conditions.These characteristics are achieved because the interface between the primary reinforcing members and the rest of the composite structure is responsive to the local stress carried by the reinforcing members. This stress controlled decoupling/recoupling process is very broadly analogous to the transition between elastic and plastic deformation in metals and the physical principles underlying the design of the reinforcing members are outlined.Because the reinforcing members do not fracture any failure process is confined to the rest of the composite structure. Various interactions occur between the non-fracturing and fracturable parts of the system and these suppress crack growth in the latter, thus producing a structure possessing very considerable damage tolerance. A preliminary analysis of the basic physics of these interactions is given.Possible future developments of these materials are outlined. Also ways are discussed in which the simple analytical models, developed in the study of the fracture processes occuring these materials, amy be applied to more conventional fibrous composites.     

Elastic properties of multi-cracked composite materials

The problem of predicting the effective elastic properties of multi-cracked and/or composite materials is both fundamental in materials mechanics and of large technological impact. In this paper we develop a continuum elasticity model, based on the Eshelby theory and on the differential homogenization technique, for the effective elastic moduli of a fibro-reinforced system and we address it to elaborate an estimation of the average failure condition of such composites.     

Homogenization of periodic bi-isotropic composite materials

In this paper, we present a new method for homogenizing the bi-periodic materials with bi-isotropic components phases. The presented method is a numerical method based on the finite element method to compute the local electromagnetic properties. The homogenized constitutive parameters are expressed as a function of the macroscopic electromagnetic properties which are obtained from the local properties. The obtained results are compared to Unfolding Finite Element Method and Maxwell–Garnett formulas.     

Preparation and characterization by infrared emission spectroscopy and applications of new mineral-based composite materials of biomedical interest

New composite materials based on clay minerals had been prepared by reductive calcination. These materials exhibit very strong infrared (IR) emission at quite low temperatures. The structural properties and emission capabilities of the new materials have been studied by various theoretical and experimental methods. In addition, a brief overview of the medical and other practical applications of IR-emitting materials is presented. The basic principles of IR emission spectroscopy are discussed with special respect to low temperatures (close to human-body temperature). Furthermore, DFT calculations on a kaolinite structure of chemical composition of [Al₄Si₄ O₈(OH)₁₆]^4? have been performed. The calculated bond distances and IR spectrum are in good agreement with experimental observations. Structural and compositional characterization of the new composite materials have been performed by various structural analytical methods. An interesting effect on the IR phosphorescence of composite samples has been established. After 2 hours of IR light exposure at room temperature from the FT-IR spectrometer, the composite materials exhibited enhanced emission of IR radiation with relaxation time about 40 min. Finally, two practical applications of the composites have been investigated, namely polyamide-based fabrics and rubber preservatives.     

Effective thermal conduction in composite materials

The problem of determining the bounds and/or estimating the effective thermal conductivity (λ _eff) of a composite (multiphase) system given the volume fractions and the conductivities of the components has been investigated. A comparison between the measured data and the results predicted by theoretical models has been made for seven heterogeneous samples. The tested models include those of the effective medium theory (EMT), Hashin and Shtrikman (HS) bounds, and Wiener bounds. These models can be used to characterize macroscopic homogeneous and isotropic multiphase composite materials either by determining the bounds for the effective thermal conductivity and/or by estimating the overall conductivity of the random mixture. It turns out that the most suitable one of these models to estimate λ _eff is the EMT model. This model is a mathematical model based on the homogeneity condition which satisfies the existence of a statistically homogeneous medium that encloses inclusions of different phases. Numerical values of thermal conductivity for the samples that satisfy the homogeneity condition imposed by the effective medium theory are in best agreement with the experimentally measured ones.     

New composite materials based on fullerenes

New composite materials based on fullerenes are presented. To synthesize these materials, mixtures of polycrystalline C₆₀ powders with various hydrocarbon binding agents and dopants were exposed to high pressures and temperatures. As a result, strong insoluble samples were obtained. Halogens and sodium were used as acceptor and donor admixtures, respectively. In the latter case, a superconductor was prepared, which retained its properties in the course of long storage in air.     

Morphological and textural characterization of functionalized particulate silica xerogels

The functionalization of xerogels for use in chromatography and catalysis was carried out by solubilization of amorphous silica using a soxhlet extractor. Xerogels were prepared by sol-gel method using tetraethoxysilane, TEOS, ethanol, and water in a 1/3/10 molar ratio with HCl and HF as catalysts. The samples were prepared in monolithic form and dried at 70 °C and 550 °C for 1 h each. After functionalization, changes in textural and morphological characteristics of xerogels were investigated by means of nitrogen gas adsorption, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As the analysis methods are based on different physical principles, the results are complementary, leading to a good knowledge of the texture of the samples studied.     

Simulations of ferrite-dielectric-wire composite negative index materials

We perform extensive finite difference time domain simulations of ferrite based negative index of refraction composites. A wire grid is employed to provide negative permittivity. The ferrite and wire grid interact to provide both negative and positive index of refraction transmission peaks in the vicinity of the ferrite resonance. Notwithstanding the extreme anisotropy in the index of refraction of the composite, negative refraction is seen at the composite air interface allowing the construction of a focusing concave lens with a magnetically tunable focal length.     

Ultrasonic characterization of materials hardness

In this paper, an experimental technique has been developed to measure velocities and attenuation of ultrasonic waves through a steel with a variable hardness. A correlation between ultrasonic measurements and steel hardness was investigated.     

Microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si3N4 composite particulate

The microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. The SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate consisted of a-SiC core and a -Si₃N₄ outer shell. Two kinds of composite particulate were distinguished when the observed orientation of the SiC core was <110>. In one type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC | (102) -Si₃N₄ and (111)-SiC (114) -Si₃N₄ was identified; in the other type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC (001) -Si₃N₄, and (111)-SiC (101) -Si₃N₄ was observed.     

Air-coupled ultrasonic investigation of multi-layered composite materials

Air-coupled ultrasonics is fine alternative for the immersion testing technique. Usually a through transmission and a pitch-catch arrangement of ultrasonic transducers are used. The pitch-catch arrangement is very attractive for non-destructive testing and evaluation of materials, because it allows one-side access to the object. However, this technique has several disadvantages. It is sensitive to specularly reflected and edge waves. A spatial resolution depends on a distance between the transducers. A new method for detection and visualisation of inhomogeneities in composite materials using one-side access air-coupled ultrasonic measurement technique is described. Numerical predictions of Lamb wave interaction with a defect in a composite material are carried out and the interaction mechanism is explained. Experimental measurements are carried out with different arrangements of the transducers. The proposed method enables detect delamination and impact type defects in honeycomb materials.