Tomography-based Monte Carlo determination of radiative properties of reticulate porous ceramics

A 3D digital representation of a reticulate porous ceramic (RPC) sample, generated by computer tomography (CT), is employed to determine its porosity, surface-to-volume ratio, and the minimum size of a representative elementary volume (REV) for continuum domain. Subsequently, the Monte Carlo (MC) ray-tracing technique is applied to calculate the extinction coefficient and scattering phase functions based on the probabilistic distribution functions of the extinction path-length and of the directional cosine of incident radiation. The methodology and governing equations are presented for diffusely and specularly reflecting surfaces. The isotropic assumption is justified by demonstrating that the extinction coefficient is directionally independent.     

Conductivity and dielectric properties of sol–gel derived porous zirconia

The 8-mol percentage Y₂O₃-stabilized Porous Zirconia was prepared using sol–gel method. Zirconium oxalate gel was prepared by the addition of appropriate amount of oxalic acid solution into the 1 M aqueous solution of zirconium-oxy chloride. A cubic phase zirconia powder was obtained by calcination and milling of the zirconium oxalate gel. Crystallization temperature was found about 450 °C from the Differential thermal analysis. The phase analysis by X-ray diffraction shows the presence of cubic phase. Pellets sintered at 1,350 °C were highly porous, and the electrical conductivity was found with lower value due to the porosity, and the hardness was about 8.0 GPa. Paper presented at the Third International Conference on Ionic Devices (ICID 2006), Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Dec. 7–9, 2006.     

Identification of radiative properties of reticulated ceramic porous inert media using ray tracing technique

The radiative properties of reticulated porous inert media are computationally identified using the real three-dimensional structural data of porous media. The computational grids data are reconstructed from three-dimensional computer tomography scans and magnetic resonance image scans of different reticulated porous media. A ray tracing algorithm is used to track the rays inside the grid structure. Statistically large numbers of rays are traced for their path length and incident angle, which are used to find the probability based equivalent extinction coefficient and scattering phase function. The equivalent extinction coefficients are found for porous media with different porosities and pore densities. The dependency of specular and diffuse scattering phase functions on the porous structure and surface reflectance are also studied.     

Near-infrared quantum cutting in transparent nanostructured glass ceramics

Quantum cutting downconversion involving the emission of two near-infrared photons for each blue photon absorbed is realized in transparent glass ceramics with embedded Pr3+/Yb3+: beta-YF3 nanocrystals. On excitation of Pr3+ ions with a visible photon at 482 nm, Yb3+ ions emit two near-infrared photons at 976 nm through an efficient cooperative energy transfer from Pr3+ to Yb3+, with optimal quantum efficiency close to 200%. The development of the near-infrared quantum cutting transparent glass ceramic could open a route to enhance the energy efficiency of the silicon solar cell by converting one blue solar photon to two near-infrared ones.     

Characterization of zirconia/mullite ceramics by cathodoluminescence technique

Characterization of mullite-ZrO₂ ceramics by Cathodoluminescence (CL) technique has been made. The analyses of the CL emission show complex spectra with broad and sharp bands. An attempt has been carried out to relate these bands to the main constitutive phases in the samples. Spatial distribution of the CL is found to be inhomogeneous.     

Tailoring silicon radiative properties

We study several schemes to enhance the emission of radiation of silicon surfaces in the infrared. First, we investigate the emission pattern of microscale lamellar gratings ruled on doped silicon which is substantially modified due to the excitation of surface plasmons. In addition to their remarkable spectral selectivity, those sources emit 50% more than a plane interface of bulk doped silicon. An interferential antireflection system similar to a Salisbury screen is also considered. This broadband emitter allows a significant enhancement of the total emitted power compared to the plane interface. These results may have broad applications in sensing and radiative cooling.     

Critical radius of zirconia inclusions in transformation toughening of ceramics

The paper presents a transformation toughening model of ceramics taking into account an energy barrier the overcoming of which results in phase transformation of zirconia inclusions. Methods based on experimental data analysis are proposed for estimating the energy barrier. The size range of zirconia inclusions in Al₂O₃ and WC matrices is defined depending on the energy barrier value, working temperature, and external load. It is shown that the introduction of an energy barrier enables an adequate estimation of the size range of inclusions at which transformation toughening occurs in ceramics. The elastic interaction of inclusions is shown to cause a decrease in their critical radii with the growing volume density, which agrees with experimental data.     

Fine crystal structure of porous corundum ceramics

The microstructure of corundum ceramics based on powders with a varying grain size has been investigated. Both commercial alumina powders and those fabricated by denitration of aluminum salts in a high-frequency discharge plasma were used. An increase in the plasma-chemical Al₂O₃ powder content in the sample was found to change the pore structure of the corundum ceramics from a high-porosity ceramic skeleton with a well-developed system of channel-forming pores to ceramics with isolated pores. The change in the pore structure was observed for 50% porosity and caused an increase in the level of crystal lattice microdistortions. An increase in the sintering temperature from 1200 to 1650°C is shown to be responsible for a two-fold increase in the average crystallite size and for annealing of lattice defects along grain boundaries.     

Propagation of ultrasonic waves in porous ceramics

Theoretical problems concerning the propagation of ultrasonic waves in a porous medium are outlined. The propagation velocity of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in an elastic medium with spherical gaseous inclusions is considered in detail. The calculation method adopted consists of determining equivalent elasticity moduli of the porous medium. The calculation of these moduli is based on the work of H. Mackenzie on media containing spherical gaseous inclusions of various diameters. The theoretical results obtained for the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves, are compared with those measured on electrical porcelain, the latter constituting a model of a porous medium. Also a method allowing for the effect of composition of the porcelain mass to be taken into account, is described. The results of measurements of the propagation velocity of a longitudinal wave are found to be in good agreement with theoretical data. This conformity allows for non-destructive tests of products containing spherical gaseous inclusions.     

AES/STEM grain boundary analysis of stabilized zirconia ceramics

Semiquantitative Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) on pure monophasic (ZrO₂)_0.83(YO_1.5)_0.17 was used to determine the chemical composition of the grain boundaries. Grain boundary enrichment with Y was observed with an enrichment factor of about 1.5. The difference in activation energy of the ionic conductivity of the grain boundary compared with the bulk can be explained by the Y segregation.When Bi₂O₃ is introduced into this material and second phase appears along the grain boundaries of the cubic main phase. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) on a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) shows an enrichment of bismuth at the grain boundaries of this second phase.     

Processing and microstructure characterization of ceria-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia powder and ceramics

Cubic stabilized zirconia is a promising material as target for the transmutation of actinides in nuclear reactors. In this concept, actinides are incorporated into an inert matrix (zirconia) to form a solid solution. The present work is focused on the synthesis of 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia doped with 10 mol% ceria (10Ce–8YSZ) in which Ce is used to simulate the incorporation of tetravalent actinides. A wet chemical route powder synthesis method was applied to make homogeneous single-phase ceria-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics. The synthesis as well as the characterization of samples by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray emission Spectrometry (EDXS) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) is presented.     

Thermal characterization of nanocrystalline porous CePO4 ceramics

A laser-induced photoacoustic technique was employed to investigate thermal transport through nanocrystalline CePO₄ samples prepared via the sol–gel route. Evaluation of thermal diffusivity was carried out using the one-dimensional model of Rosencwaig and Gersho for the reflection configuration of the photoacoustic method. Structural analyses of samples revealed that they are nanoporous in nature, possessing micron-sized grains. Analysis of results shows that thermal diffusivity value varies with sintering temperature. Results are explained in terms of the variation in porosity with sintering temperature and the effects of various scattering mechanisms on the propagation of phonons through the nanoporous ceramic matrix. Further analyses confirm that apart from porosity, grain boundary resistance and interface thermal resistance influence the effective value of thermal diffusivity of the samples under investigation.     

氙气中辐射激波的发光特性

本文模拟研究了氙气中X射线加热产生辐射激波的发光特性.辐射激波采用Zinn模型计算,并在模型中输入氙气的辐射不透明度和状态方程参数.研究发现,辐射激波伴随着丰富的光学演化过程,激波对外辐射强度表现出两个明显的亮度峰值和一个亮度极小值,辐射光谱也经常偏离黑体辐射光谱.对氙气不同位置光学特性的分析可知,激波和内部高温区的辐...     

Ultrasonic waves in porous ceramics with non-spherical holes

Formulae describing the effective elastic moduli of a porous ceramic medium are derived using Eshelby's solution and Maxwell's approximation. The ceramic medium is considered as an infinite matrix, which has uniform elastic properties and encloses non-spherical pores. A numerical evaluation of the velocity of an ultrasonic wave in the ceramic, as function of the porosity and pore shape, is presented. The theoretical results were combined with those obtained experimentally for different firing temperatures of the ceramic.     

Optical percolation in ceramics assisted by porous clusters

We investigated optical transparency in ceramics assisted by disordered porous clusters. The structure and statistical properties of three-dimensional (3D) well porous ceramics is studied. Theoretical model based on the percolation theory and numerical simulations are applied to interpret the observed phase transition from an optically opaque state to a transparent state. The porous ceramic samples were fabricated by the technique of slurry casting. The transmission of optical radiation (optical percolation) over the entire porous samples is observed since the critical concentration of porosity was exceeded. We explain this effect by the rising of the spanning cluster inside of the porous structure that produces a network of porous voids. Our experimental results are in good agreement with the numerical simulations.     

Thermal radiative properties of phenolic foam insulation

Thermal insulation has long been an important subject in engineering. Foam insulations have become the most widely used insulations due to their low cost and ease of procesing. In recent years, phenolic foams find increasing applications because of their fire retardation. This paper presents experimental results of thermal radiative properties of phenolic foams, with or without activated carbon. Transmittance spectra were first taken using FTIR for samples of various densities. Extinction coefficient spectra were then obtained by applying Beer's law. Finally, by using the diffusion approximation, the Rosseland mean extinction coefficients and radiative thermal conductivities were obtained for various temperatures. Results show that the extinction coefficient increases with sample density. The addition of activated carbon increases the extinction coefficient slightly.     

ZrO2薄膜微观结构和光学性能的研究

无论是在300℃或室温下,用PVD方法淀积的ZrO_2薄膜,达到一定厚度后都出现晶相非均匀性,在基底侧为四方相,空气侧为单斜相.本文给出了ZrO_2薄膜中四方相存在的原因,并用晶体生长过程中的择优生长特性讨论了薄膜柱状体结构的成因,从而解释了薄膜的折射率非均匀性.     

Elastic properties of HTSC ceramics

Elastic properties of ceramics of various high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) types are considered based on experimental data. The effect of porosity of HTSC ceramics is analyzed.     

Calculation of radiative properties of nonequilibrium hydrogen plasma

A computer program called NEQRAP is described that calculates the radiative properties of nonequilibrium ionized hydrogen. From the given electron temperature, electron density, and atom density values (which do not necessarily satisfy the equilibrium relationship) and intensities of incident radiation, the non-Boltzmann populations of electronic states are computed by solving the equation of quasi-steady- state population distribution. Emission and absorption coefficients are determined as functions of wavelength by invoking the principle of detailed balance between the upper and lower states of each radiative transition. Radiative transport through the medium is computed assuming a one-dimensional uniform slab. The rate of ionic reaction is also computed. When used on a sample case, the program shows that there is a large difference between the calculated intensities of radiation emitted by a bulk of equilibrium and nonequilibrium hydrogen. Accuracy of the program is estimated to be better than 10%.     

Thermal diffusivity measurements in porous ceramics by photothermal methods

Received: 16 September 1996/Accepted: 6 January 1997