Integrated valorization of silver mine tailings through silver recovery and ceramic materials production

Silicon nitride is one of the ceramic materials being considered for the components in gas turbine engines which will be exposed to temperatures of 1000 to 1400°C. Test specimens from hot-pressed billets exhibit flexural strengths of approximately 50 MN/m2 at 1000°C. However, the strength degrades rapidly to less than 20 MN/m2 at 1400°C. The strength degradition is attributed to subcritical crack growth phenomena evidenced by a stress rate dependence of the flexural strength and the stress intensity factor. This phenomena is termed slow crack growth and is associated with the onset of plastic deformation at the crack tip. Lange attributed the subcritical crack growth tb a glassy silicate grain boundary phase which decreased in viscosity with increased temperature and permitted a form of grain boundary sliding to occur.

Download Full-text

Stress-Induced Ordering in Y203-Stabilized Tetragonal Zr02

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100118035 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 222-223

Author(s):

J. Y. Koo ◽

M. P. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Electron Diffraction ◽

Ionic Conduction ◽

Electron Diffraction Study ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Bright Field Image ◽

Transformation Toughening ◽

Ion Milling ◽

Thin Foils ◽

Carbon Coated ◽

Convergent Beam

Tetragonal Zr02 has been used as a toughening phase in a large number of ceramic materials. In this system, complex diffraction phenomena have been observed and an understanding of the origin of the diffraction effects provides important information on the nature of transformation toughening, ionic conduction, and phase destabilization. This paper describes the results of an electron diffraction study of Y203-stabilized, tetragonal Zr02 polycrystals (Y-TZP).Thin foils from the bulk Y-TZP sample were prepared by careful grinding and cryo ion-milling. They were carbon coated and examined in a Philips 400T/FEG microscope. Fig. 1 shows a typical bright field image of the 100% tetragonal(t) Zr02. The tetragonal structure was identified by both bulk x-ray diffraction and convergent beam electron diffraction (Fig. 2. A local region within a t-Zr02 grain was subjected to an intense electron beam irradiation which caused partial martensitic transformation of the t-Zr02 to monoclinic(m) symmetry, Fig. 3 A.

Download Full-text

Analytical and High-Resolution EM Study of Crystalline Phases formed at Metal-Ceramic Interface

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100135733 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 426-427

Author(s):

N. Merk ◽

A. P. Tomsia ◽

G. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Cross Section ◽

Dissimilar Materials ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Electron Micrograph ◽

Scanning Electron Micrograph ◽

Structural Applications ◽

Metal Ceramic ◽

The Subject ◽

Ceramic Compounds ◽

Scanning Electron

A recent development of new ceramic materials for structural applications involves the joining of ceramic compounds to metals. Due to the wetting problem, an interlayer material (brazing alloy) is generally used to achieve the bonding. The nature of the interfaces between such dissimilar materials is the subject of intensive studies and is of utmost importance to obtain a controlled microstructure at the discontinuities to satisfy the demanding properties for engineering applications . The brazing alloy is generally ductile and hence, does not readily fracture. It must also wett the ceramic with similar thermal expansion coefficient to avoid large stresses at joints. In the present work we study mullite-molybdenum composites using a brazing alloy for the weldment.A scanning electron micrograph from the cross section of the joining sequence studied here is presented in Fig. 1.

Download Full-text

Analytical Electron Microscopy of Surface-Modified Ceramics

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100118291 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 276-279

Author(s):

P. S. Sklad

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Solute Concentration ◽

Second Phase ◽

Analytical Electron ◽

Implantation Techniques ◽

Lattice Damage ◽

Surface Modified

Over the past several years, it has become increasingly evident that materials for proposed advanced energy systems will be required to operate at high temperatures and in aggressive environments. These constraints make structural ceramics attractive materials for these systems. However it is well known that the condition of the specimen surface of ceramic materials is often critical in controlling properties such as fracture toughness, oxidation resistance, and wear resistance. Ion implantation techniques offer the potential of overcoming some of the surface related limitations.While the effects of implantation on surface sensitive properties may be measured indpendently, it is important to understand the microstructural evolution leading to these changes. Analytical electron microscopy provides a useful tool for characterizing the microstructures produced in terms of solute concentration profiles, second phase formation, lattice damage, crystallinity of the implanted layer, and annealing behavior. Such analyses allow correlations to be made with theoretical models, property measurements, and results of complimentary techniques.

Download Full-text

Interface structures in polycrystalline ceramic materials

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100143900 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 468-471

Author(s):

K. J. Morrissey

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽

Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽

High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Polycrystalline Materials ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Resolution Electron ◽

Interface Structures

Grain boundaries and interfaces play an important role in determining both physical and mechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. To understand how the structure of interfaces can be controlled to optimize properties, it is necessary to understand and be able to predict their crystal chemistry. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), analytical electron microscopy (AEM,), and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) are essential tools for the characterization of the different types of interfaces which exist in ceramic systems. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate some specific areas in which understanding interface structure is important. Interfaces in sintered bodies, materials produced through phase transformation and electronic packaging are discussed.

Download Full-text

Probing vacancies and structural distortions at individual defects in ceramics using EELS

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100165859 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 678-679

Author(s):

D. J. Wallis ◽

N. D. Browning

Keyword(s):

Structural Information ◽

Core Loss ◽

Nearest Neighbors ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope ◽

Real Space ◽

Atomic Scale ◽

Structure Property ◽

Scanning Transmission ◽

Key Issues

In electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), the near-edge region of a core-loss edge contains information on high-order atomic correlations. These correlations give details of the 3-D atomic structure which can be elucidated using multiple-scattering (MS) theory. MS calculations use real space clusters making them ideal for use in low-symmetry systems such as defects and interfaces. When coupled with the atomic spatial resolution capabilities of the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), there therefore exists the ability to obtain 3-D structural information from individual atomic scale structures. For ceramic materials where the structure-property relationships are dominated by defects and interfaces, this methodology can provide unique information on key issues such as like-ion repulsion and the presence of vacancies, impurities and structural distortion.An example of the use of MS-theory is shown in fig 1, where an experimental oxygen K-edge from SrTiO3 is compared to full MS-calculations for successive shells (a shell consists of neighboring atoms, so that 1 shell includes only nearest neighbors, 2 shells includes first and second-nearest neighbors, and so on).

Download Full-text