Nickel nanopowders are obtained by the spark discharge method, which is based on the evaporation of the electrode surface under the action of the discharge current, followed by vapor condensation and the formation of nanoparticles. Nickel electrodes with a purity of 99.99% are used to synthesize the nickel nanoparticles in the setup. Nitrogen is used as the carrier gas with a purity of 99.998%. XRD, TEM, and EDX analyses of the nanopowders are performed. Moreover, HRTEM images with measured interplanar spacings are obtained. In the nickel nanopowder samples, a phase of approximately 90 wt% with an expanded crystal lattice of 6.5% on average is found. The results indicate an unusual process of nickel nanoparticle formation when the spark discharge method is employed.
Citations
Al2O3-SiC ceramic composites are produced using pressureless sintering, and their plasma resistance, electrical resistance, and mechanical properties are evaluated to confirm their applicability as electrostatic-discharge-safe components for semiconductor devices. Through the addition of Mg and Y nitrate sintering aids, it is confirmed that even if SiC content exceeded 10%, complete densification is possible by pressureless sintering. By the uniform distribution of SiC, the total grain growth is suppressed to about 1 μm; thus an Al2O3-SiC sintered body with a high strength over 600 MPa is obtained. The optimum amount of SiC to satisfy all the desired properties of electrostaticdischarge-safe ceramic components is obtained by finding the correlation between the plasma resistance and the electrical resistivity as a function of SiC amount.
Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3(OH)2 powders have been synthesized in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH using NH4OH as a chelating agent. The co-precipitation temperature is varied in the range of 30-80°C. Calcination of the prepared precursors with Li2CO3 for 8 h at 1000°C in air results in Li Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 powders. Two kinds of obtained powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, and tap density measurements. The co-precipitation temperature does not differentiate the XRD patterns of precursors as well as their final powders. Precursor powders are spherical and dense, consisting of numerous acicular or flaky primary particles. The precursors obtained at 70 and 80°C possess bigger primary particles having more irregular shapes than those at lower temperatures. This is related to the lower tap density measured for the former. The final powders show a similar tendency in terms of primary particle shape and tap density. Electrochemical characterization shows that the initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life of final powders from the precursors obtained at 70 and 80°C are inferior to those at 50°C. It is concluded that the optimum co-precipitation temperature is around 50°C.
Citations
As precursors of cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3(OH)2 powders are prepared in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH in the presence of NH4OH in air or nitrogen ambient. Calcination of the precursors with Li2CO3 for 8 h at 1,000°C in air produces dense spherical cathode materials. The precursors and final powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, tap density measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The precursor powders obtained in air or nitrogen ambient show XRD patterns identified as Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3(OH)2. Regardless of the atmosphere, the final powders exhibit the XRD patterns of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM). The precursor powders obtained in air have larger particle size and lower tap density than those obtained in nitrogen ambient. NCM powders show similar tendencies in terms of particle size and tap density. Electrochemical characterization is performed after fabricating a coin cell using NCM as the cathode and Li metal as the anode. The NCM powders from the precursors obtained in air and those from the precursors obtained in nitrogen have similar initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life. In conclusion, the powders co-precipitated in air can be utilized as precursor materials, replacing those synthesized in the presence of nitrogen injection, which is the usual industrial practice.
Citations
Poly-methylmetacrylate (PMMA) is mainly applied in the plastic manufacturing industry, but PMMA is weak and gradually got discolor. The strength of PMMA can be improved through organic-inorganic hybrid nano composites with inorganic nano particles such as, SiO2 or ZrO. However, inorganic nano particles are mostly agglomerated spontaneously. In this study, the zeta potential is controlled using different types of organic solvent with different concentrations, dispersibillity of SiO2 nano particles on the PMMA particle are analyzed. When 3 M acetic acid is used, absolute value of the zeta potential is higher, SiO2 nano particle is well attached, and dispersed on the PMMA particle surface. Results indicate that the absolute value of the zeta potential affects the stability of SiO2 dispersion.
Citations
Ti alloys are extensively used in high-technology application because of their strength, oxidation resistance at high temperature. However, Ti alloys tend to be classified very difficult to cut material. In this paper, The powder synthesis, spark plasma sintering (SPS), bulk material properties such as electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are systematically examined on Ti2AlN and Ti2AlC materials having most light-weight and oxidation resistance among the MAX phases. The bulk samples mainly consisted of Ti2AlN and Ti2AlC materials with density close to theoretical value were synthesized by a SPS method. Machining characteristics such as machining time, surface quality are analyzed with measurement of voltage and current waveform according to machining condition of micro-electrical discharge machining with micro-channel shape.
Citations
Titanium alloys are extensively used in high-temperature applications due to their excellent high strength and corrosion resistance properties. However, titanium alloys are problematic because they tend to be extremely difficult-tocut material. In this paper, the powder synthesis, spark plasma sintering (SPS), bulk material characteristics and machinability test of hybrid Ti2AlC ceramic bulk materials were systematically examined. The bulk samples mainly consisted of Ti2AlC materials with density close to theoretical value were synthesized by a SPS method. Random orientation and good crystallization of the Ti2AlC was observed at 1100°C for 10 min under SPS sintering conditions. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated a homogeneous distribution and nano-laminated structure of Ti2AlC MAX phase. The hardness and electrical conductivity of Ti2AlC were higher than that of Ti 6242 alloy at sintering temperature of 1000°C~1100°C. Consequently, the machinability of the hybrid Ti2AlC bulk materials is better than that of the Ti 6242 alloy for micro-EDM process of micro-hole shape workpiece.
Citations