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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Design Of Functionally Graded Materials Using Transient Nonlinear Simulations And Genetic Algorithm Optimization, Senthil Vel Oct 2008

Design Of Functionally Graded Materials Using Transient Nonlinear Simulations And Genetic Algorithm Optimization, Senthil Vel

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

The objective of this research is to develop a robust methodology for the design of functionally graded materials (FGMs). FGMs are advanced composite materials that are engineered to have a smooth spatial variation of material properties. This is achieved by gradually varying the relative volume fractions and microstructure of the material constituents during fabrication. FGM components typically exhibit smaller stresses and higher factors of safety than discretely bonded monolithic materials. The aim of this research project is to create a unified framework for the simultaneous optimization of structural shape, compositional profile and microstructure of metal/ceramic FGMs that are subjected to …


Effects Of Yttria Concentration And Microstructure On Electric Breakdown Of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia, O Jongprateep, V Petrovsky, F Dogan Jul 2008

Effects Of Yttria Concentration And Microstructure On Electric Breakdown Of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia, O Jongprateep, V Petrovsky, F Dogan

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Ceramic materials have great potentials for capacitor application. However, low breakdown strength of the materials remains a key challenge for development of high performance capacitors. In this study, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) were fabricated and tested for breakdown strength. YSZ samples with 3, 8, and 10 mol% yttria were carefully processed to control grain size and porosity level. Experimental results revealed that breakdown strength as high as 2 MV/cm could be achieved. The breakdown strength was not significantly affected by porosity level, but it was by yttria concentration. Relationship among yttria concentration, residual porosity and breakdown strength is discussed in …


High Performance Zno Varistors Prepared From Nanocrystalline Precursors For Miniaturised Electronic Devices, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack, John Kelly, Raghavendra Ramesh Jan 2008

High Performance Zno Varistors Prepared From Nanocrystalline Precursors For Miniaturised Electronic Devices, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack, John Kelly, Raghavendra Ramesh

Articles

An industrially viable solution-based processing route using minimal amounts of solvent has been used to prepare bulk quantity nanopowders (average particle size 15.3 nm) for the fabrication of ZnO varistors. The xerogels, calcined powders and sintered materials were fully characterised. The preparation of varistors from nanopowders has been optimised by studying the effect of temperature on grain growth, densification and breakdown voltage. The varistors are prepared by sintering at 1050 C for 2 hours, a temperature that is significantly lower than that used in the current industrial process. Highly dense varistor discs prepared from the sintered material produce devices, with …


Progress In Effect Of Jominy End Quench On The Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Cast Aluminum Alloys, Qingcai Liu, C. Lu, Joseph William Newkirk Jan 2008

Progress In Effect Of Jominy End Quench On The Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Cast Aluminum Alloys, Qingcai Liu, C. Lu, Joseph William Newkirk

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this review, the current knowledge related to the relationship between the heat treatment process and the microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 aluminum alloys are summarized. The review also examines the use of the Jominy end quench (JEQ) specimen and its application to the examination of the effects of quench rate and subsequent processing. Using the design of experimental methods combined with the Jominy end quench technique, desired changes in microstructure and mechanical properties of alloys can be obtained. So, the experimental technique of the Jominy end quench was concerned in this work.


A New Method Of Synthesizing Black Birnessite Nanoparticles: From Brown To Black Birnessite With Nanostructures, Shizhi Qian, Marcos A. Cheney, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Sang W. Joo, Wensheng Hou, Joseph M. Okoh Jan 2008

A New Method Of Synthesizing Black Birnessite Nanoparticles: From Brown To Black Birnessite With Nanostructures, Shizhi Qian, Marcos A. Cheney, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Sang W. Joo, Wensheng Hou, Joseph M. Okoh

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

A new method for preparing black birnessite nanoparticles is introduced. The initial synthesis process resembles the classical McKenzie method of preparing brown birnessite except for slower cooling and closing the system from the ambient air. Subsequent process, including wet-aging at 7◦C for 48 hours, overnight freezing, and lyophilization, is shown to convert the brown birnessite into black birnessite with complex nanomorphology with folded sheets and spirals. Characterization of the product is performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N2 adsorption (BET) techniques. Wet-aging and lyophilization times are shown to …