Thermal properties of pressure sintered alumina–graphene composites

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The work concerns the alumina–graphene materials sintered by two different pressure methods. The different particle sizes of graphene were used....     

Anisotropy of elastic properties and thermal conductivity of Al2O3/h-BN composites

The presence of h-BN phase in the composites, in which it is fulfilling a role of a solid lubricant, causes the appearance of the anisotropy of the elastic properties and thermal properties. In order to assess the extent of the phenomenon, velocity changes of ultrasonic wave propagation were measured and thermal conductivity changes were researched. Measurements were carried out on composites of alumina matrix, which had h-BN introduced in an amount of 0–30 vol.%. The study included measurements of the speed of propagation of ultrasound waves and thermal conductivity, which were made in two directions, namely, perpendicular and parallel directions to the axis of compression. Strong dependence of the thermal conductivity anisotropy of the phase composition of materials was revealed.     

Diamond Synthesis in Cool Plasma

The conditions of low pressure autoepitaxy of diamond are analysed and theoretical concepts concerning the plasmochemical method of diamond synthesis put forward. The experimental method used is described. The obtained results have demonstrated the utility of the plasmochemical method for obtainment of diamond and confirmed the validity of the presented theoretical concepts.     

Morphological and X-ray study of SiC crystals grown from gas phase

SiC crystals obtained from the gas phase were investigated in order to characterize their morphology and polytypic modifications. Specific X-ray patterns showed the occurrence of one-dimensional disorder in some of α-SiC crystals.     

TiC Working Electrode. Voltammetric Characteristics and Application for Determination of Lead Traces by Stripping Voltammetry

The TiC working electrode was tested as a novel, potential electrode for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of lead(II) ions traces. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the TiC electrode, an underpotential deposition/dissolution (UPD) phenomena system in electrolyte without removal of oxygen was tested. The electrode was constructed be means of mounting a TiC disk (Ø=3.5 mm) in a resin body. Three compositions of TiC were tested differing in stoichiometry, namely TiC_0.6, TiC_0.8, and TiC_1.0. The key problem is the method of electrochemical activation of the TiC electrode. No or improperly activated electrode is not polarized and is unsuitable as a voltammetric sensor. The TiC electrode was used for the determination of Pb²⁺ in concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 nM. The instrumental parameters, composition of supporting electrolyte and procedures of the electrode activation were optimized. The repeatability of DP ASV runs in synthetic solutions covering the entire concentration range is better than 3%. The calibration curve is characterized by a correlation coefficient of at least 0.999. The detection limit was 2 nM for an electrodeposition time of 30 s. The method enables determination of Pb²⁺ in the presence of, among the others, high excesses of Cd, Cu, In, Sb, Se, and Tl ions as well as surfactants, Triton X‐100 and humic acids. The analysis of Pb²⁺ in synthetic solutions with and without surfactants, certified reference material and natural water samples have been performed. The voltammetric data were associated with the structural characterization of the electrode surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF).     

Thermal stability and conductivity of hot-pressed Si3N4–graphene composites

This study concerns new Si₃N₄–graphene composites manufactured using the hot-pressing method. Because of future applications of silicon nitride for cutting tools or specific parts of various devices having contact with high temperatures there is a need to find a ceramic composite material with good mechanical and especially thermal properties. Excellent thermal properties in the major directions are characteristic of graphene. In this study, the graphene phase is added to the silicon nitride phase in a quantity of up to 10 mass%, and the materials are sintered under uniaxial pressure. The mixture of AlN and Y₂O₃ is added as sintering activator to the composite matrix. The studies focus on thermal stability of produced composites in argon and air conditions up to the temperature of 1,000 °C. The research also concerns the influence of applied uniaxial pressure during the sintering process on the orientation of graphene nanoparticles in the Si₃N₄ matrix. The study also presents research on anisotropy of thermal diffusivity and following thermal conductivity of ceramic matrix composites versus the increasing graphene quantity. Most of the presented results have not been published in the literature yet.