Mitigation of Electro Magnetic Interference by Using C-Shaped Composite Cylindrical Device

The extremely low-frequency (ELF) and its corresponding electromagnetic field influences the yield of CMOS processes in the foundry, especially for high-end equipment such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) systems, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) systems, focused ion beam (FIB) systems, and electron beam lithography (E-Beam) systems. There are several techniques to mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI), among which active shielding systems and passive shielding methods are widely used. An active shielding system is used to generate an internal electromagnetic field to reduce the detected external electromagnetic field in electric coils with the help of the current. Although the active shielding system reduces the EMI impact, it induces an internal electromagnetic field that could affect the function of nearby tools and/or high-performance probes. Therefore, in this study, we have used a C-shaped cylindrical device combined with an active shielding system and passive shielding techniques to reduce EMI for online monitoring and to overcome the aforementioned issues. In this study, the active shielding system was wrapped with a permalloy composite material (i.e., a composite of nickel and iron alloy) as a tubular device. A C-shaped opening was made on the tubular structure vertically or horizontally to guide the propagation of the electromagnetic field. This C-shaped cylindrical device further reduced electromagnetic noise up to −5.06 dB and redirected the electromagnetic field toward the opening direction on the cylindrical device. The results demonstrated a practical reduction of the electromagnetic field.

Influence of Different Carbon Content on Reduction of Zinc Oxide via Metal Bath

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is an important secondary resource for the zinc industry. The most common process for its recycling is the pyro-metallurgical treatment in the Waelz process. However, this process focuses on the recycling of the zinc, whereas the recovery of other metals from the EAFD—such as iron and other alloying elements—is neglected. An up-to-date version of reprocessing can involve multi-metal recycling by means of a metal bath containing carbon. The use of a liquid iron alloy requires a higher processing temperature, which enables the reduction and melting of iron oxides as well as other compounds occurring in the dust. Furthermore, the Zn yield is higher and the reduction kinetics are faster than in the Waelz process. This paper is only focused on the zinc reduction in such a metal bath. In order to determine the influence of the carbon content in the molten metal on the reduction rate, experiments were carried out on the reduction behavior of zinc oxide using a synthetic slag. This slag, with a basicity B2 = 1, was applied to an iron bath with varying carbon contents. (0.85%, 2.16%, 2.89%, and 4.15%) The decrease in the zinc oxide concentration was monitored, along with the reaction rates calculated from these data. It was found that the reaction rate increases with rising carbon content in the melt.

Identification of the main mixing process in the synthesis of alloy nanoparticles by laser ablation of compacted micropowder mixtures

Alloy nanoparticles offer the possibility to tune functional properties of nanoscale structures. Prominent examples of tuned properties are the local surface plasmon resonance for sensing applications and adsorption energies for applications in catalysis. Laser synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles is well suited for generating alloy nanoparticles of desired compositions. Not only bulk alloys but also compacted mixtures of single-metal micropowders can serve as ablation targets. However, it is still unknown how mixing of the individual metals transfers from the micro- to the nanoscale. This work experimentally contributes to the elucidation of the mixing processes during the laser-based synthesis of alloy nanoparticles. Key parameters, such as the initial state of mixing in the ablation target, the laser pulse duration, the laser spot size, and the ablation time, are varied. Experiments are performed on a cobalt-iron alloy, relevant for application in oxidation catalysis, in ethanol. The extent of mixing in the targets after ablation and in individual nanoparticles are studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and by cyclic voltammetry at relevant conditions for the oxygen evolution reaction, as model reaction. The results point at the benefits of well pre-mixed ablation targets and longer laser pulse durations for the laser-based synthesis of alloy nanoparticles. Graphical abstract

Enhancing the Lifetime of the Pneumatic Cylinder in Automatic Assembly Line Subjected to Repeated Pressure Loading

This study demonstrates the application of parametric accelerated life testing (ALT) as a procedure to identify design deficiencies and correct them in generating a reliable quantitative (RQ) specification. It includes: (1) a system BX lifetime that X% of a product population fails with a parametric ALT scheme, (2) fatigue design, (3) ALTs with alternations, and (4) judgement as to whether the design(s) secures the desired BX lifetime. A (generalized) life–stress model through the linear transport process and a sample size formulation are suggested. A pneumatic cylinder in a machine tool was used as a case study. The cylinder was failing in a flexible manufacturing system. To reproduce the failure and modify the design, a parametric ALT was performed. At the first ALT, the metal seal made of nickel-iron alloy (36% Ni) partially cracked and chipped and had a crisp metal sound. It was modified by changing the seal from a metal to a polymer (silicone rubber). At the second ALT, the piston seal leaked due to seal hardening and wear. The failure modes of the silicone seal in the laboratory tests were similar to those returned from the field. For the third ALT, the seal material was changed from silicone rubber to (thermoset) polyurethane. There were no concerns during the third ALT and the lifetime of the pneumatic cylinder was shown to have a B1 life of 10 years.

Electrodeposition of Ni–Fe alloy from solutions based on deep eutectic solvent ethaline

The kinetics of сodeposition of nickel and iron in an electrolyte based on a deep eutectic solvent (ethaline) was studied by voltammetry method. It was established that the partial voltammograms of iron ions reduction during alloy electrodeposition correspond to the region of electrode potentials, which is more than 100 mV positive in comparison with the electrodeposition potentials of pure iron. It was shown that the acceleration of iron ion electroreduction is associated with the gain in energy due to the alloy formation and a decrease in the overvoltage of iron electrodeposition during alloying. The change in the kinetics of iron electrodeposition can be explained by both a change in the mechanism of its electrodeposition in conjunction with nickel and a change in the state of the electrode surface in the potential region of the alloy formation. Comparison between the ratio of the content of the alloy components in the metal and the corresponding ions in the electrolyte showed that nickel and iron electrodeposit into the alloy in quantities that are proportional to their content in the electrolyte. Thus, electrodeposition of nickel-iron alloy from ethaline with a water content of up to 3% occurs by the so-called normal mechanism.

Surface Phenomena at the Interface between Silicon Carbide and Iron Alloy

The paper discusses a potential composite produced using the casting method, where the matrix is gray cast iron with flake graphite. The reinforcement is provided by granular carborundum (β-SiC). The article presents model studies aimed at identifying the phenomena at the contact boundary resulting from the interaction of the liquid matrix with solid reinforcement particles. The scope of the research included, primarily, the metallographic analysis of the microstructure of the resulting composite, carried out by using light (LOM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The occurrence of metallic phases in the boundary zone was indicated, the contents and morphology of which can be optimized in order to achieve favorable functional properties, mainly the tribological properties of the composite. In addition, the results obtained confirm the possibility of producing similar composites based on selected iron alloys.

Rotary Engine Rotor Side Seals Using New Machining Processes

The study has developed a new machining process for the side seal components of gray cast iron alloy of rotor engine, which is different from the traditional WEDM (wire electrical discharge machining) process. The new manufacturing process (milling + grinding process) will save 78% of the cost and 83% of the time for making each side seal component, and the accuracy of the average surface roughness of the component will be 2.1 times that of the traditional manufacturing method. If the components are polished with a self-made polishing rod, the accuracy will be increased by almost 20 times compared with the new manufacturing process.

An Experimental Study on the Properties of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene

Recycling of plastic materials has become more environmentally important than recycling of other materials. The most important problem during recycling is the presence of oil, dirt, dust and metal particles that are mixed with plastic materials. These mixtures can change their its mechanical and physical properties and it is quite costly to remove them completely. Removing iron alloy particles from plastic is possible by using the magnetic method. However, removing non-metallic materials requires extra processing. In this study, the use of recycled High-Density Polyethylene (rHDPE) without an expensive cleaning processes has been investigated. Different amounts of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) were added to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) to simulate the effect of non-metallic material involved. The effect of these contamination rates on the mechanical and physical properties of HDPE was examined in detail. For this purpose, recyclable materials were produced by mixing rHDPE with 1%, to 7% Al2O3 . The results show that up to 7% of the mixture has acceptable effects on the properties of HDPE. When the results of the experiments are examined, it is observed that there is a 3.74% change in the elastic modulus of the material. This means, that up to 7% non-metal contaminated rHDPE material can be used without any costly recycling process.

Analysis on the Properties of NC30Fe alloy for U-bend tubes of Steam generator

The Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy (NC30Fe), which is an austenitic nickel-based alloy as the ideal material for U-bend tubes of steam generator in PWR nuclear power plant because of its good strength and corrosion-resistant and used widely in domestic and abroad. The manufacturing requirements of NC30Fe alloy of steam generator U-bend tubes for Hua-long Pressurized Reactor (HPR1000) and Advanced Passive PWR (AP1000) were compared and the heat treatment process, chemical composition, mechanical properties, metallographic structure were analyzed and studied.