Mechanical response of nanostructured materials

Magnetic Properties of Fe, Co and Ni Based Nanopowders Produced by Chemical-Metallurgy Method

This research study describes the magnetic properties of Fe, Co and Ni metallic nanopowders (NPs) and their ternary nanocomposites (NCs), which can be used as fillers in radio-wave absorbing composite materials and coatings, as well as for magnetic protection of banknotes and security paper. The nanopowders were prepared by the chemical metallurgy method. The desired properties of Fe, Co and Ni NPs and NCs were achieved by co-precipitation, the addition of surfactants and changes in reduction temperature and time parameters. Magnetic measurements showed that all samples of pure metal NPs are semi-hard magnetic materials. The added surfactants have distinct effects on the dimensional and magnetic characteristics of Fe, Co and Ni NPs. Ni–Co–Fe NCs are also mainly semi-hard magnetic materials. Fine-tuning of their composition and chemical reduction temperatures allows controlling the values of Ms and Hc in large ranges from 49 to 197 A·m2/kg and from 4.7 to 60.6 kA/m, respectively.

Enhanced piezoelectric and mechanical properties of AlN-modified BaTiO3 composite ceramics

BaTiO3-xAlN (BT-xAlN) composite ceramics were prepared by conventional solid state reaction sintering. The effects of the AlN content on the crystalline structures, densities, and electrical and mechanical properties of the BT ceramics were investigated. The BT-1.5%AlN ceramic exhibits a good piezoelectric constant of 305 pC N(-1) and an improved Vickers hardness of 5.9 GPa. The enhanced piezoelectricity originates from interactions between defect dipoles and spontaneous polarization inside the domains due to the occurrence of local symmetry, caused by the preferential distribution of the Al(3+)-N(3-) pairs vertical to the c axis. The hardening of the material is attributed to the improved density, and particle and grain boundary strengthening. Our work indicates that if a suitable doping ion pair is designed, lead-free ceramic systems prepared from ordinary raw materials by a conventional sintering method have a high probability of exhibiting good piezoelectric and mechanical properties simultaneously.

A Crossover in the Mechanical Response of Nanocrystalline Ceramics

Multimillion-atom molecular dynamics simulation of indentation of nanocrystalline silicon carbide reveals unusual deformation mechanisms in brittle nanophase materials, resulting from the coexistence of brittle grains and soft amorphous grain boundary phases. Simulations predict a crossover from intergranular continuous deformation to intragrain discrete deformation at a critical indentation depth. The crossover arises from the interplay between cooperative grain sliding, grain rotations, and intergranular dislocation formation similar to stick-slip behavior. The crossover is also manifested in switching from deformation dominated by indentation-induced crystallization to deformation dominated by disordering, leading to amorphization. This interplay between deformation mechanisms is critical for the design of ceramics with superior mechanical properties.

Phase transitions of hydroxyapatite coatings during post-heat treatment and their performances under ultrasonic tests

Highly or completely crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings can be obtained by post-heat treatment. We have developed a high-temperature (490 degrees C) and a low-temperature (125 degrees C) heat treatment to improve the crystallinity of HA coatings. Both methods transform entirely the amorphous phase into crystalline HA. However, the microstructure of the coating is dependent on the post-heating method. Nanocrystalline HA is about half of the component of the low-temperature heated coating while highly crystalline HA dominates the high-temperature heated coating, as detected by X-ray diffraction. The effects of both methods on the disintegration of the coatings were tested by ultrasonic treatment. The high-temperature heated coatings exhibited poor integrity while the low-temperature heated coatings exhibited better integrity, possibly due to their different microstructure. SEM revealed that the coatings disintegrated via different mechanisms: the high-temperature heated coatings failed via crack initiation and propagation while the low-temperature heated coatings failed via pit formation and subsequent widening.