Engineering Commons^™

First-Principles Investigations Of Iron-Based Alloys And Their Properties, Krista Renee Limmer

Doctoral Dissertations

"Fundamental understanding of the complex interactions governing structure-property relationships in iron-based alloys is necessary to advance ferrous metallurgy. Two key components of alloy design are carbide formation and stabilization and controlling the active deformation mechanism. Following a first-principles methodology, understanding on the electronic level of these components has been gained for predictive modeling of alloys.

Transition metal carbides have long played an important role in alloy design, though the complexity of their interactions with the ferrous matrix is not well understood. Bulk, surface, and interface properties of vanadium carbide, VC_x, were calculated to provide insight for the carbide …

Elevated Temperature Mechanical Properties Of Zirconium Diboride Based Ceramics, Eric W. Neuman

Doctoral Dissertations

"Research presented in this dissertation focused on the mechanical behavior of ZrB₂ based ceramic at elevated temperatures. Flexure strength, fracture toughness, and elastic modulus were measured at temperatures up to 2300ºC for three compositions: monolithic ZrB₂ (Z); ZrB₂ - 30 vol% SiC - 2 vol% B₄ C (ZS); and ZrB₂ - 10 vol% ZrC (ZC). In argon, Z, ZS, and ZC had strengths of 210 (at 2300ºC), 260 (at 2200ºC), and 295 MPa (at 2300ºC), the highest temperatures tested for each composition. Fractography was used extensively to characterize the strength limiting flaws as a function of temperature. Strength of ZS …

The Structure And Properties Of Ternary Zinc Phosphate Glasses For Optical Applications, Charmayne Elizabeth Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

"This dissertation focuses on the properties and structures of ternary zinc phosphate glasses that have recently been investigated as substrates for femto-second (fs) laser writing. Although these glasses have potential for use as optical substrates, their poor chemical properties limit their applications. In this work, ternary zinc phosphate glasses were studied to find compositions with enhanced chemical durability and the properties and structures of the investigated glasses are reported.

Paper 1 and Paper 2 include the first systematic studies of the properties, structures of zinc aluminophosphate (ZAP) glasses and phase relationships in the ZnO-Al₂O₃-P₂O₅ system, respectively. Adding alumina to a …

Improving The Oxidation Resistance Of Diboride-Based Ceramics, Maryam Kazemzadeh Dehdashti

Doctoral Dissertations

"Oxidation behavior has restricted the development of ZrB₂-based ceramics for aerospace and hypersonic flight vehicles applications. The research presented in this dissertation focuses on the effect of transition metal (TM) additives on oxidation behavior of ZrB₂ ceramics. In the first stage of the research, the effect of Nb additions on the morphology of the oxide particles and stability of the protective B₂O₃ glassy layer, which formed on the top surface during oxidation, was investigated. Addition of Nb increased the thickness of the glassy layer and, as a result, improved the oxidation resistance of ZrB₂ after oxidation at 1500⁰C. Next, the …

Phosphate-Doped Borosilicate Enamel Coating Used To Protect Reinforcing Steel From Corrosion, Xiaoming Cheng

Doctoral Dissertations

"Phosphate-doped sodium borosilicate glasses were developed for enamel coatings to provide corrosion protection for reinforcing steel in concrete. Phosphates have low solubilities in borosilicate glasses, generally less than about 4 mol%, and are incorporated mainly as isolated PO₄^3- and P₂O₇^4- anions, along with some borophosphate bonds. With the addition of P₂O₅, the silicate network is repolymerized and tetrahedral borates are converted to trigonal borates, because the phosphate anions scavenge sodium ions from the borosilicate network. The addition of Al₂O₃ significantly increases the solubility of P₂O …

Effect Of Solid Solutions And Second Phases On The Thermal Conductivity Of Zirconium Diboride Ceramics, Gregory John Kenneth Harrington

Doctoral Dissertations

"The research presented in this dissertation is focused on the thermal conductivity (k) of ZrB₂ ceramics. The goal was to develop a better understanding of how various solid solutions and second phases affect the thermal and electrical transport in ZrB₂, with a focus on the effect of C, W, and ZrC. The first study showed C additions improved densification and it was proposed that the reduction of boria was the impetus for this result. Boron carbide was formed by the reaction of excess C with reduced B and its formation was mitigated by the addition of ZrH …

Thermophysical Properties Of Reaction Processed Zirconium Diboride, Jason Michael Lonergan

Doctoral Dissertations

"This dissertation focuses on the thermophysical properties of high purity zirconium diboride ceramics. These ceramics have shown promise for potential applications such as leading edge materials for next generation hypersonic vehicles. The overall goal of this work was to improve the understanding of the thermal properties and maximize the thermal conductivity of ZrB₂. Four main areas were investigated in this work. First, the sintering kinetics and the intrinsic thermal properties of reaction processed ZrB₂ were studied and compared to ZrB₂ produced by hot pressing commercial powders. The reaction process produced ceramics with higher thermal conductivity and …

Dissolution Behavior Of Phosphate Glasses, Li Na Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

"The solubility of phosphate glasses in aqueous solutions can be tailored through compositional control to obtain a wide range of ion release rates required for a variety of applications. The principal objective of this dissertation is to advance the understanding of the dissolution behavior of phosphate glasses in aqueous environments.

Two families of glasses, sodium-iron phosphate (NFP) glasses and sodium-calcium phosphate (NCP) glasses, were evaluated. The dissolution behavior depends on the phosphate anions that constitute the glass structure and the associated metal (Me) cations. The phosphate glass structure, defined by the distribution and average size of phosphate anions and depending …

Bioactive Glass/Polymer Composites For Bone And Nerve Repair And Regeneration, Ali Mohammadkhah

Doctoral Dissertations

"Bioactive glasses have several attractive properties in hard and soft tissue repair but their brittleness limited their use, as scaffolding materials, for applications in load- bearing hard tissue repair. At the same time, because of their bioactive properties, they are being studied more often for soft tissue repair. In the present work, a new glass/polymer composite scaffold was developed for the repair of load-bearing bones with high flexural strength and without brittle behavior. The new composites have 2.5 times higher flexural strength and ~100 times higher work of fracture (without catastrophic failure) compared to a similar bare glass scaffold.

Also …

Development And Characterization Of Spiral Additions In A Ceramic Matrix, Andrea Lynn Els

Masters Theses

"A novel spiral architecture was formed using titanium diboride and silicon carbide ceramics as either the spiral or matrix phase. Particulate composites with the same compositions were fabricated to compare to the materials in this study. Spiral additions were formed using powder loaded polymers followed by a single and/or multi-filament co-extrusion. For 25 vol% SiC spiral additions to TiB₂, boron nitride was added to the SiC spiral to alter the bonding at the interface and reduce thermal residual stresses. All samples were hot-pressed to near full density at 1980 ⁰C. Hot pressed multi-filament co-extrusion of 2.4 mm / …

Zein Film: Effects Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Atmospheric Cold Plasma, Shashi Pankaj, Carmen Bueno-Ferrer, N. Misra, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen

Articles

Dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric plasma is a novel non-thermal technology for the food and packaging industry. The effects of dielectric barrier discharge plasma on the surface, structural, thermal and moisture sorption properties of edible zein films have been examined. Plasma treatment increased the surface roughness and equillibrium moisture content of the zein film in a direct relationship with the applied voltage level. No significant difference in the thermal stability of the zein film is also observed after plasma treatment. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatments of zein film lead to a change in the protein conformation which is confirmed by X-ray …

A Preliminary Study Of Deformation Behavior Of Friction Stir Welded Ti-6al-4v, Jiye Wang, Jianqing Su, Rajiv S. Mishra, Ray Xu, John A. Baumann

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A preliminary study of deformation behavior of friction stir welded (FSW) Ti-6Al-4V was performed using two different tools with cylindrical and stepped spiral pin design for the welding process. The nugget regions experienced temperature above β transus and the matrix transformed to fine acicular α during cooling of the nugget. By using stepped spiral pin design, a local region with much refined grain structure and significant tool debris particles were observed. Room temperature tensile test showed increased strength and decreased ductility in the material from this region. Fractographic analysis revealed that tool debris particles served as void nucleation sites. Tensile …

Environmental Fatigue Of Silicate Glasses In Humid Conditions, Zhongzhi Tang, Richard K. Brow

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Failure strains of commercial silica, soda-lime-silicate, and E-glass fibers were measured using two-point bending in room temperature humid air. Humidity dependence and dynamic fatigue behavior were studied, and the fatigue reaction orders in terms of humidity were determined. In the humidity range tested (~0.1% to ~100%), the dynamic fatigue parameters for silica and E-glass are found to be greater in lower humidity (~0.1% to ~10%), whereas the fatigue parameter for soda-lime-silicate is independent of humidity. The humidity dependence of failure strains for all three glasses was more pronounced in high humidity (~10% to ~100%) than in low humidity (~0.1% to …

Crystallographic Orientation Of The Ε → Α' Martensitic (Athermal) Transformation In A Femnalsi Steel, S. T. Pisarik, D. C. Van Aken

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The presence of a thermal ε- and α-martensite (α') in the as-cast structure of a Fe-_0.08C-_1.95Si-_15.1Mn-_1.4Al-_0.017N alloy has been revealed by electron backscattered diffraction analysis. The alloy exhibited two a thermal martensitic transformation described by γ → α' and γ → ε → α'. The Shoji-Nishiyama orientation relationship was observed between γ-austenite and ε-martensite, while α-martensite nucleated from γ-austenite exhibited a Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship. Six crystallographic variants of α-martensite consisting of three twin-related variant pairs were observed in ε-bands. A planar parallelism of {0001}ε || {110}α' and a directional relation …

The Environmental Performance Of Biobased Resin Within Phenolic-Urethane Nobake Binders: A Feasibility Study, Ian David Morgan Williams

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The objectives of this research were to investigate the discovery and development of a biobased nobake binder resin for use within the foundry industry toward improved energy efficiency and environmental performance. The performance of polysaccharides within biobased resins was evaluated using industry-accepted methods and standards such as cure rate, tensile-strength development, and casting performance based upon step cone core results. Biobased nobake resins comprised of polysaccharide raw materials cure at a rate that is comparable to conventional nobake sand binders. Upon reaching stripping time, the development of biobased resin reveals a rapid increase in tensile strength, reaching 80% of its …

Thermotropic Phase Boundaries In Classic Ferroelectrics, Tom T. A. Lummen, Yijia Gu, Jianjun Wang

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-performance piezoelectrics are lead-based solid solutions that exhibit a so-called morphotropic phase boundary, which separates two competing phases as a function of chemical composition; as a consequence, an intermediate low-symmetry phase with a strong piezoelectric effect arises. In search for environmentally sustainable lead-free alternatives that exhibit analogous characteristics, we use a network of competing domains to create similar conditions across thermal inter-ferroelectric transitions in simple, lead-free ferroelectrics such as BaTiO₃ and KNbO₃. Here we report the experimental observation of thermotropic phase boundaries in these classic ferroelectrics, through direct imaging of low-symmetry intermediate phases that exhibit large enhancements …

Recent Developments In Magneto-Optic Garnet-Type Thin-Film Materials Synthesis, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Mikhail Vasiliev, Viacheslav Kotov, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Magneto-optic (MO) garnets are used in a range of applications in nanophotonics, integrated optics, communications and imaging. Bi-substituted iron garnets of different compositions are the most useful class of materials in applied magnetooptics due to their excellent MO properties (large Faraday effect) and record-high MO figure of merit among all semitransparent dielectrics. It is highly desirable to synthesise garnets which possess simultaneously a high MO figure of merit and large uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. However, the simultaneous optimization of several material properties and parameters can be difficult in single-layer garnet thin films, and it is also challenging to prepare films with …

Growth, Characterisation, And Properties Of Bi1.8lu1.2fe3.6al1.4o12 Garnet Films Prepared Using Two Different Substrate Temperatures, Mohammad Alam, Mikhail Vasiliev, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We prepare highly Bismuth substituted iron garnet of composition type Bi_1.8Lu_1.2Fe_3.6Al_1.4O₁₂ by using low and high substrate temperatures (250°C and 680°C) during the deposition process inside the vacuum chamber of RF magnetron sputtering system. The crystallisation process of this garnet type thin film materials are performed by means of optimised high temperature oven annealing process and conduct several characterisation techniques to obtain and evaluate their properties. All the optimally annealed samples possess very promising and attractive properties. Comparatively low coercive force (below 15 Oe) is achieved in garnet films prepared at …

Localized Corrosion Behavior Of Sensitized 304 Stainless Steel By Scanning Reference Electrode Technique, Chen-Qing Ye, Rong-Gang Hu, Rui-Qing Hou, Xiao-Ping Wang, Rong-Gui Du, Chang-Jian Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

Based on a home-built setup of scanning reference electrode technique, and combined with conventional electrochemical measurements, the localized corrosion behavior of sensitized 304 stainless steel (304ss) had been investigated in this work. The results showed that, the non-sensitized 304ss or 304ss sensitized at 550 oC was susceptible to pitting; while 304ss sensitized at 650 oC or 750 oC suffered severe intergranular corrosion in 10% FeCl3 solution.

Application Of Synchrotron Radiation Based Electrochemical In-Situ Techniques To Study Of Electrode Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Zheng-Liang Gong, Wei Zhang, Dong-Ping Lv, Xiao-Gang Hao, Wen Wen, Zheng Jiang, Yong Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Due to its merits of high brightness and high intensity, high level of polarization and wide tunability in energy, etc., synchrotron radiation technique provides an unique platform for analysis of the relationship among composition–structure–performance of materials for lithium ion batteries, especially for in-situ, real time dynamic investigation of the electrochemical reaction mechanism, aging process and failure mechanism during charge-discharge cycling. In this paper, we review the latest developments in application of synchrotron based electrochemical in-situ experimental methods to studies of lithium ion batteries. The paper mainly focuses on the application of electrochemical in-siu XRD and XAFS techniques to the investigations …

Controllable Synthesis Of Dispersed Spherical Fe3O4 Nanoparticles As Lithium-Inserted Materials, Hong-Li Zou, Wei-Shan Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Dispersed spherical Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The influences of odecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) concentration on the morphology and particle size of the as-prepared Fe₃O₄ were studied. Electrochemical performance of the as-prepared sample as anode materials of lithium ion battery was investigated. It is found that the as-prepared sample exhibits superior rate performance and cycle performance. The nano-sized materials provide structural stability and favor the transfer of lithium ions.

Study On Hydrogen Bubble Template Fabrication Of Porous Biomaterials Coatings By Electrochemically Induced Deposition, Hui Wang, Chang-Jian Lin, Ren Hu, Ke-Qin Zhang, Hong-Ping Duan, Xiang Dong

Journal of Electrochemistry

So far, the pore architecture in biomaterials plays a critical role on the cell response and integration between the biomaterials and implanted environment. In this study, porous calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings and CaP/protein composite coatings have been successfully constructed on titanium substrate by using an electrochemically induced deposition technique. The shape, size and pliability of CaP crystals are controlled by electrolyte concentration, temperature, current density, time and protein additive in preparing process. In addition, the formation mechanism of the porous structure is discussed based on the “hydrogen bubble template” model. It demonstrates that the growth velocity of CaP crystals should …

An Investigation On The Solid Electrolyte Interphase Of Silicon Anode For Li-Ion Batteries Through Force Curve Method, Jie-Yun Zheng, Hao Zheng, Rui Wang, Hong Li, Li-Quan Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Non-aqueous electrolyte has been widely used in commercial Li-ion batteries. Optimized choices are proceeding among the various types of salts and solvents in an effort to achieve higher performance of electrolyte. However, the electrolyte will be reduced in low potential and the reductive product will be deposited on the surface of anode to form a passivating layer, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein an atomic force microscopy (AFM) based method was introduced to study the structure and mechanical property of SEI on silicon thin film anode during the first cycle. Silicon has been known as the most potential candidate anode for …

Preparation And Electrochemical Properties Of Flake-Like Liv3O8 By Soft Template Assisted Sol-Gel Method As Anode Material For Aqueous Li-Ion Battery, Shuai Tan, Dan Sun, Hai-Yan Wang, Tian-Li Hou, Zhong-Xing Xiao, You-Gen Tang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Composite electrode of CuF₂/MoO₃/C was fabricated through high energy mechanical milling. The properties of CuF₂/MoO₃/C were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the grain sizes of CuF₂ and MoO₃ after milling were 200 ~ 300 nm, and the initial discharge capacity of CuF₂/MoO₃/C was 647 mAh·g^-1 at room temperature and at a current density of 10 mAh·g^-1. However, the …

Synthesis And Electrochemical Performance Of Nano Licopo4 By Polyol Method, Fei Wang, Yang Jun

Journal of Electrochemistry

High potential LiCoPO₄ cathode material was synthesized by polyol method. Carbon layer of ca. 3 nm thick was coated on the LiCoPO₄ surfaces by chemical vapor deposition from methylbenzene. Crystalline structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of the sample were studied by XRD, SEM, TEM, CV and galvanostatic charge/discharge curve. The synthesized material via polyol method showed a pure phase of LiCoPO₄. The LiCoPO₄/C electrode delivered a high discharge capacity of 132 mAh·g^-1 and maintained 78% of the initial capacity after 50 cycles at 0.1C rate. The two-step extraction/insertion behavior of Li⁺ in …

Aqueous Solution-Evaporation Route Synthesis And Phase Structural Research Of The Li-Rich Cathode Li1.23Ni0.09Co0.12Mn0.56O2 By In-Situ Xrd, Chong-Heng Shen, Shou-Yu Shen, Zhou Lin, Xiao-Mei Zheng, Hang Su, Ling Huang, Jun-Tao Li, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Li-rich Li_1.23Ni_0.09Co_0.12Mn_0.56O₂ material was synthesized via aqueous solution-evaporation route. The structure and morphology of the material were characterized by means of XRD and SEM. The results indicated that the single particle of the product was polygonal with the size of 330 nm and the structure was layered solid solution with a certain amount of Li₂MnO₃. Electrochemical tests showed that the first discharge capacity of the Li-rich layered material was 250.8 mAh·g^-1 at 0.1C, the capacity retention was 86.5% after 40 cycles. Through in-situ XRD study …

Cmk-3/Sulfur Composite (CXSY) And Room-Temperature Na/S Battery, Qing Zhao, Yu-Xiang Hu, Kai Zhang, Li-Jiang Wang, Zhan-Liang Tao, Jun Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

A series of ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3)/sulfur composite (C_xS_y) with different sulfur contents were synthesized via a melt-diffusion method. XRD, Raman, BET, SEM, and TEM techniques were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the as-prepared composite. The electrochemical performance of CMK-3/sulfur composite as the electrode of Na/S battery was tested at room temperature. Cyclic voltammograms show that one obvious reduction peak was located at about 1.61V, which is corresponding to the formation of Na₂S_x (x=2~5), while two oxidation peaks were displayed at about 1.82V and 1.95V, which are belonging to the …

Preparation Of The Particle Size Controllable Lifepo4/C And Its Electrochemical Profile Characterization, Ming-E Wang, Jing-Yuan Liu, Meng-Yan Hou, Yong-Yao Xia

Journal of Electrochemistry

We adopted an effective route to prepare the particle size controllable core-shell structure carbon-coated LiFePO₄ from different sized FePO₄ precursors, varying from 80 nm, 200 nm and 1 μm by an in situ polymerization method integrated with a surface modification technology. The discharge capacities of the three sized LiFePO₄/C are, respectively, 162 mAh·g^-1, 142 mAh·g^-1 and 92 mAh·g^-1 at 0.1C rate. The nano-sized LiFePO₄-a/C (80 nm) delivers a discharge capacity as large as 100 mAh·g^-1 even at 30C, while the macroscopic LiFePO₄-c/C (1 μm) exhibits a much …

Preparation And Electrochemical Properties Of Amorphous Znsno3/C By Hydrothermally Carbonization Method, Guo-Qing Fang, Rui-Xue Zhang, Wei-Wei Liu, Bing-Bo Xia, Hong-Dan Sun, Hai-Bo Wang, Jing-Jing Wu, Shinko Kaneko, De-Cheng Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The amorphous ZnSnO₃@C composite was synthesized via a simple glucose hydrothermal and subsequent carbonization approach. The structure, morphology and electrochemical property of the composite were characterized by XRD, TEM and electrochemical measurements. Compared to bare ZnSnO₃, the ZnSnO₃/C composite exhibited markedly enhanced lithium storage property and cycle performance, delivering a reversible capacity of 659 mAh·g^-1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g^-1.

Synthesis And Electrochemical Property Of Li2Fesio4/C Cathode Material By Solid State Method, Jiao-Li Sun, Zhi-Jiao Chen, Yi-Xiao Li, Hu Cheng

Journal of Electrochemistry

Li₂FeSiO₄/C cathode material was synthesized using Li₂SiO₃ and FeC₂O₄ as raw materials by solid state method. The structure and morphology of the material were characterized by XRD and SEM. The electrochemical properties of the material were studied by constant-current cyclic testing. The results show that Li₂FeSiO₄/C has a good electrochemical performance. The first discharge capacity of Li₂FeSiO₄/C cathode material at 30oC reached 167 mAh∙g^-1 when cycled at 10 mA∙g^-1 between 1.5 and 4.8 V.