Using of mechanoactivation for preparation of cerium-containing solid solutions based on zircon

Solid-phase synthesis of cerium-containing solid solutions based on ZrSiO4 was described. The synthesis was carried out using mechanical activation of a mixture consisting of zirconium oxide and hydrated amorphous silica with the addition of cerium oxide at a molar ratio of ZrО2:SiО2:CeО2 equal to 0.95:1.00:0.05. The mechanically activated in a centrifugal planetary mill mixture of reagents was calcined in the temperature range of 1200–1600 °C for 3 hours, which was accompanied by the essentially complete synthesis of zircon. The cerium content in the zircon structure was calculated from X-ray powder diffraction data.

Influence of cerium content on the microstructure and thermal expansion properties of suction cast Al-Cu-Fe alloys

Low-expansion alloys are of great importance and can be used for the development of new aerospace materials. Herein, we report diverse rare earth quasicrystal alloys fabricated by the vacuum suction casting process. The effects of the addition of cerium (Ce) on the microstructure, thermal expansion properties and microhardness of the Al-Cu-Fe alloy were systematically investigated. This study discovered the tiny Al-Cu-Fe-Ce microstructure. A uniform distribution could be achieved after Ce addition amount is elevated. At the Ce addition amount of 1 at%, the lowest alloy thermal expansion coefficient was obtained. The alloy exhibited the maximum microhardness under these conditions. The microhardness of alloys containing 1 at% of Ce was approximately 2.4 times higher than the microhardness exhibited by alloys devoid of Ce additives. The coefficient of thermal expansion decreases by approximately 20%. The use of the suction casting process and the addition of an appropriate amount of Ce can potentially help design and develop Al-Cu-Fe-Ce alloys.

Direct microalloying of steel with cerium under slags of СаО–SiO 2 – Ce2O3– 15 % Al2O3 –8 % MgO system with additional reducing agents

An assessment of the possibility of steel direct microalloying with cerium was performed using thermodynamic modeling of cerium reduction from slags of CaO– SiO2– Ce2O3 system containing 15 % Al2O3 and 8 % МgO, additional additives of reducing agents (aluminum or ferrosilicoaluminium), at temperatures of 1550 and 1650 °C using the HSC 6.1 Chemistry (Outokumpu) software package. Depending on the additional additives of aluminum or ferroglycoaluminium, metal temperature, slag basicity and content of cerium oxide, 0.228 to 40.5 ppm of cerium transfers into the metal. With an additional additive of aluminum from slag (Y1) containing 1.0 % of cerium oxide, 0.228 ppm of cerium is transferred to the metal at 1550 °C. An increase in the system temperature to 1650 °C is accompanied by a slight increase in cerium content, reaching no more than 0.323 ppm. When added to ferrosilicoaluminium metal, cerium content in the metal is higher and amounts to 0.402 and 0.566 ppm at 1550 and 1650 °C, respectively. When concentration of cerium oxide in the slag (Y2) increases to 7.0 %, more signifcant increase in cerium content in the metal is observed, reaching in temperature range of 1550 – 1650 °C, 1.65 – 2.31 ppm with aluminum additives and 2.90 – 4.05 ppm with ferrosilicoaluminium additives. The most noticeable increase in cerium content in the metal is observed with an increase in slag basicity. During formation of slags with basicity of 2 – 3, containing 1 – 7 % Ce2O3, the equilibrium concentration of cerium in the metal varies from 0.5 to 4 ppm with aluminum additives and 1 – 7 ppm with ferro­silicoaluminium additives at 1550 °C. Slags transfer to the increased (up to 3 – 5) basicity is accompanied by an increase in the equilibrium content of cerium in the metal to 4 – 12 ppm with aluminum additives and 7 – 20 ppm with ferrosilicoaluminium additives at Ce2O3 content of 3 – 7 % and, as a result, an increase in efciency of cerium reduction process.

Development of Combined Rolling-Extruding Modes for Producing Longish Deformed Semi-Finished Products from Aluminum Alloy with Low Cerium Content

The paper presents the data obtained in the course of experimental studies on the production of rods from the Al-0.5% REM alloy using combined processing methods, such as combined rolling-extruding (CRE) and combined casting and rolling-extruding (CCRE). The variable parameters were the temperature of the ingot or melt, the degree of deformation and the strain rate. With the help of strain gauge equipment, experimental data were obtained on the forces acting on the rolls and the die of the CCRE-200 combined processing unit in the process of obtaining rods with a diameter of 5 and 9 mm. The estimation of the dependence of the mechanical properties of the rods on the variable factors has been carried out. The highest strength properties are possessed by a bar obtained by the CRE mode at a temperature T = 550 oC and a strain rate ξ = 0.74 s-1. When comparing the temperature of pouring the metal, the highest strength properties are possessed by a rod with a diameter of 9 mm and 5 mm and a strain rate ξ = 0.74 s-1. If compare in terms of the deformation rate, then the highest strength properties are possessed by a rod with a diameter of 5 mm and a deformation rate ξ = 1.49 s-1. The plasticity of deformed semi-finished products in all modes is at a high level, which allows further processing.

AMPEROMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CERIUM (III) USING 2,7-DINITROZO-1,8- DIHYDROXYNAPHTHALENE-3,6-DISULFONIC ACID SOLUTION

Cerium and its compounds are widely used in the production of electronic devices and semiconductors, which is why these substances will enter the environment more often in the future. There is a need for effective express methods that can determine the trace amounts of cerium and other rare earth elements with high accuracy to control and study the possible negative impact of cerium compounds on the ecosystems. The objective of this research paper was to elaborate on an express method capable of producing accurate and reliable results on the content of cerium in wastewaters in the presence of other rare earth elements. The elaboration of the express method was carried out based on the amperometric titration method studying the effect of various buffer solutions on cerium determination. Moreover, the effect of strontium, lutetium, iron, yttrium, samarium, niobium, holmium, praseodymium, gadolinium, and erbium ions on acquisition accuracy of the cerium (III) ions in samples of process water was studied. The research results presented a method for the amperometric determination of cerium (III) applying 2,7-dinitroso-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid on a rotating platinum disk microelectrode. The extraction-amperometric method of analysis was proposed for the analysis of process water. The optimal concentrations of background electrolytes and buffer mixtures and the voltage values, were determined; the stability constant of the complex was calculated; the lower limit of the determined cerium content was defined. No interfering influence of foreign ions on the determination of cerium (III) ions was observed. The developed method for determining cerium (III) has a simpler hardware design than the previously described method of pulsed direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry but has a higher detection limit.

Effect of Cerium Content on the Evolution of Inclusions and Formation of Acicular Ferrite in Ti-Mg-Killed EH36 Steel

Ce has been widely used in oxide metallurgy for modifying inclusions and refining microstructure. Effect of Ce contents on the evolution and characteristics of non-metallic inclusions and the formation of acicular ferrite (AF) in Ce-treated Ti-Mg-killed EH36 steel was investigated. The results showed that the main type of inclusions in Ti-Mg deoxidized steel was MgO·Al2O3-MnS. After 0.014%, 0.024% and 0.037% Ce were added into the steels, dominant inclusions became CeAlO3-MgO-MnS, Ce2O2S-MgO-MnS and Ce2O2S-MnS, respectively. The precipitation of pure MnS was suppressed in the steel with 0.024% Ce, while the number density of total inclusions increased significantly in the steel with 0.037% Ce, causing the inclusions distributing densely. Ce addition refined the microstructure of tested steels by promoting AF formation and polygonal ferrite distributing evenly. Dispersive distribution, low lattice mismatch against α-Fe, as well as lower number density of pure MnS caused the highest number density of effective inclusions (nucleus of AF formation) in 0.024% Ce-treated steel.

Totally-green Fuels via CO2 Hydrogenation

Hydrogen is the cleanest energy vector among any fuels, nevertheless, many aspects related to its distribution and storage still raise serious questions concerning costs, infrastructure and safety. On this account, the chemical storage of renewable-hydrogen by conversion into green-fuels, such as: methanol, via CO2 hydrogenation assumes a role of primary importance, also in the light of a cost-to-benefit analysis. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of chemical composition on the structural properties, surface reactivity and catalytic pathway of ternary CuO-ZnO-CeO2 systems, shedding light on the structure-activity relationships. Thus, a series of CuZnCeO2 catalysts, at different CuO/CeO2 ratio (i.e. 0.2-1.2) were performed in the CO2 hydrogenation reactions at 20 bar and 200-300 °C, (GHSV of 4800 STP L∙kg∙cat-1∙h-1). Catalysts were characterized by several techniques including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, single-pulse N2O titrations, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Temperature-programmed Reduction with H2 (H2-TPR). Depending on preparation method, the results clearly diagnostics the occurrence of synergistic structural-electronic effects of cerium oxide on copper activity, with an optimal 0.5 copper-to-cerium content. The rise of CuO loading up to 30% drives to a considerable increase of hydrogenation activity: C2Z1-C catalyst obtains the best catalytic performance, reaching methanol yield value of 12% at 300 °C. Catalyst activity proceeds according to volcano-shaped relationships, in agreement with a dual sites mechanism. Copyright © 2020 BCREC Group. All rights reserved