Features of damage and modification of surface layers of Al and its alloys by powerful energy flows in a plasma focus device

The results of the analysis of damageability and modification of the structural-phase state of the surface layers of aluminum and its alloys by powerful flows of fast high-energy ions and high-temperature plasma in Plasma focus devices, as well as using pulsed laser radiation. Pure Al, an alloy of the Al – Mg – Li system, a duralumin alloy, and a composition of a ceramic coating Al2O3 on an Al substrate are considered. It is shown that in the regime of Al irradiation with a power density of q ≈ 106 – 107 W/cm2 in the nano- and microsecond range of pulse durations, ultrafast crystallization of melted surface layer occurs with the formation of a wavy surface relief and the structural fragments of sub-microcrystalline and nanoscale size. After the action of deuterium plasma flows on a duralumin alloy tube located along the axis of the Plasma focus device a modification of the structural-phase state of the alloy is observed: the initial two-phase state of an αAl-solid solution of copper in aluminum and inclusions of the second phase of CuAl2 became fine-grained and single-phase due to the dissolution of CuAl2 particles in the melt. Irradiation of an alloy of the Al – Mg – Li system containing (wt %) 2 % Li and 5 % Mg at q = 5·106 W/cm2, t = 50 – 100 ns after four pulsed impacts of fast ions and deuterium plasma led to the modification the structural-phase state of the surface layer of the alloy, associated with an increase in the content of magnesium oxide and a decrease in the crystal lattice parameter of the Al-based solid solution. The formation of spherical cavities due to the evaporation of lithium into the internal micropores of the surface layer was also found. The low damage and structural stability of Al2O3 ceramics on an Al substrate under beam-plasma impacts in plasma focus device with a radiation power density q ≤ 108 – 109 W/cm2 in the nano- and microsecond range of pulse duration is noted. At the same time, the Al2O3/Al composition was unstable to pulsed laser radiation in the free-running mode (q = 105 – 106 W/cm2, t = 0.7 ms) and Q-switch mode (q = 107 – 108 W/cm2, t = 80 ns). In both cases the coating peeled off from the substrate.

Analysis of plasma effect on ultrahigh-molecular weight polyethylene fibers’ surface energy on strength of fibers and fiber reinforced composites

Completely saturated chemical bonds in ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers — are a reason for their low surface energy (FSE), i.e. inert properties. Elongated crystal structure of UHMWPE molecules ensures high anisotropic tensile strength of the fibers. An inertness is a problem for utilization these fibers in high-strength composites production. Surface energy (SE) difference of the fibers and a binder in fiber/matrix system hinders chemical interaction at interphase boundary and worsens fiber wettability. Increase in their FSE is a topical task for this problem decision. Necessary condition of FSE increase is the integrity of molecule structure, lying under modified surface. Low temperature, nonequilibrium plasma (LTP) treatment in a medium of argon and argon/propane mixture, used in this work for plasma activation of fibers’ surface, permits to abide by this condition. However, plasma ion bombardment during a process of activation can modify interior crystal structure and, as a result, decrease their strength. The rovings SK75 (Holland) and D800 (China) were used for study of the properties of UHMWPE fibers after plasma treatment. Activation effect on FSE, strength, and fibers’ wetting by water and epoxy binder before and after ageing was studied. Capillary wetting of the fibers by distilled water used for FSE evaluation. The data of filaments surface structure and their diameter change at maximal load, obtained by optical microscope study, were used for the analysis of FSE and epoxy matrix effect on the strength of fiber/matrix systems. Essential distinction of SK75 and D800 fibers properties is ascertained. Negative effect of fibers’ and matrix’s stiffness, as well as increased FSE of stiff fibers on the strength of fiber/matrix system is revealed.

Electrical properties of aluminum oxide ceramics film on a metal

The work is devoted to the study of electrical properties (temperature dependences of conductivity, relative dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent for various frequencies) of an aluminum oxide ceramic film deposited on a metal substrate. The film was created by the original method of electron beam evaporation of a non-conductive target, consisting of a compressed alumina powder, using a plasma electron source, which is able to reliably operate in the fore-vacuum pressure range (5 – 100 Pa). Such increased working gas pressures ensures the generation of a dense beam plasma near the target, which neutralizes the charging of a non-conducting target and thereby provides its effective melting and electron beam evaporation.

Adhesive properties of aluminum-containing functionalized polymer composites obtained in the process of mechano-chemical modification

The influence of the concentration of finely dispersed aluminum and compatibilizer on the resistance to peeling of aluminum foil from the surface of a composite based on low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene is considered. To improve the compatibility of the filler with the polymer matrix, a compatibilizer was used, which is a graft copolymer of polyethylene of various grades with methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride. Copper and aluminum foil was used as a substrate. It is shown that the introduction of a compatibilizer into the composition of aluminum-filled composites improves their peeling resistance. It has been found that if an aluminum filled compatibilizer is used directly as an adhesive, then the peeling resistance of copper and aluminum foil is significantly increased. Graft copolymers of polyethylene with maleic anhydride have the highest peel resistance values. The results of the study of the influence of the pressing temperature on the type of adhesive failure are presented. It is shown that with an increase in the pressing temperature, a mixed type of adhesive destruction is observed. It has been experimentally proved that, in percentage terms, the cohesive type of fracture prevails in composites where graft copolymers are used as a polymer matrix. It was found that a 100 % cohesive type of fracture is observed in foil-clad composites pressed at a temperature of 190 °C, where a graft copolymer of polyethylene with methacrylic acid or maleic anhydride is used as an adhesive.

Changes in the electrical conductivity of glass, quartz, Au, C, and MoS2 films under influence of continuous proton injection

Changes in the electrical conductivity of a wide range of materials with different crystal-chemical types and electrophysical properties (quartz, glass, molybdenum disulfide, graphite, gold) under continuous proton injection are studied. Film samples of layered MoS2 and graphite compounds were obtained on rough surfaces of glass or quartz by mechanical rubbing of powder. Gold films are formed on glass substrates by magnetron sputtering of a gold target. To create a continuous stream of protons injected into the test sample, a stationary ion source with a cold cathode and a magnetic field forming an ion beam of relatively low intensity was used. The current in the ion beam is up to 1.2 mA, the pressure of hydrogen in the chamber is ~10 – 2 Pa, the energy of hydrogen ions is from 1 to 4 keV. The experimental results indicate that under conditions of continuous proton injection, the electrical conductivity of thin films with a layered structure (MoS2 and graphite) increases sharply (by 4 – 5 orders of magnitude). This effect increases when the temperature decreases from ~ 293 to ~ 77 K, as well as when the number of charges supplied to the sample increases. In the case of continuous injection of protons into massive dielectrics (glass, quartz) and thin films of gold, no noticeable change in electrical conductivity was detected.

Ceramic composite membranes based on Bi3Ru3O11 – Bi1,6Er0,4O3 for obtaining of oxygen

Using hot uniaxial pressing in an argon atmosphere with a stress of 35 MPa and with a holding at 800 °C for 1 hour, ceramic composites of Bi3Ru3O11 – 50, 65 wt % Bi1,6Er0,4O3 were obtained. It was found that phase composition of the composites does not change during gas chromatographic testing at 800 °C and well corresponds to the specified one. Microstructure of the obtained composites was tested and the formation of dense composites with a total porosity of less than 1% and with a uniform distribution of the Bi3Ru3O11 and Bi1,6Er0,4O3 components in bulk of material was demonstrated. Transport properties (total conductivity, oxygen fluxes and selectivity of separating oxygen over nitrogen) of the obtained composites at 600 – 800 °C had been investigated. Thus, at 800 °C the electrical conductivity of Bi3Ru3O11 – 50, 65 wt % Bi1,6Er0,4O3 was about 200 and 50 Ohm–1∙cm–1, respectively, while the metallic nature of their temperature dependence of conductivity is correlated to that for the Bi3Ru3O11. The value of oxygen permeability for the obtained ceramic composites of about 7∙10–9 mol·cm–1·s–1 at 800 °C, which is compared to other membrane materials based on bismuth oxide, demonstrated the potential of their further use in the tasks for obtaining of pure oxygen from air.

Neutron diffraction study of the kinetics of low-temperature martensite decomposition in medium-carbon steel

It is found that the low-temperature decomposition of martensite in quenched medium-carbon steel occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the rate of decomposition is higher than that in the subsequent stage. Application of the neutron diffraction method allows the identification of two stages of transformation in the first stage of martensite decomposition. It is shown that the first stage is associated predominantly with carbon segregation at dislocations, and the second, with the outdiffusion of carbon from the supersaturated solid solution with the formation of dispersed particles of metastable carbides. It is shown that the change in the concentration of carbon and, accordingly, the degree of tetragonal lattice of martensite at aging and low tempering occurs to a certain limit, independent of the cooling rate during quenching and tempering temperature. This is due to the establishment of a relative equilibrium between a supersaturated solid solution and fine particles of metastable iron carbide. It is found that the determining process, which leads to a change in the microhardness the low-temperature decomposition, is the out diffusion of carbon from the supersaturated solid solution.

Copper-containing nanocomposites on the basis of isotactic polypropylene and butadiene-nitrile rubber

The influence of additives of nanofillers (NF) containing nanoparticles of copper oxides stabilized by a polymer matrix of high-pressure polyethylene (PE) obtained by the mechanochemical method on the structure and properties features of metal-containing nanocomposites based on isotactic polypropylene (PP) and butadiene-nitrile rubber (BNK) is studied by X-ray phase (XRD) and differential thermal analyses(DTA). The improvement of strength, deformation and rheological parameters, as well as thermal-oxidative stability of the obtained nanocomposites was revealed, which, apparently, is associated with the synergistic effect of interfacial interaction of copper-containing nanoparticles in the PE matrix with the components of the PP/BNK polymer composition. It is shown that nanocomposites based on PP/BNK/NF can be processed both by pressing method and by injection molding and extrusion methods, which expands the scope of its application.

Microwave carbonization of cotton fiber for the production of carbon materials

This article presents the results of comparative studies of the structural and physico-chemical features of cotton lint samples carbonized by the microwave method and the standard (thermal) method. The dependences of the temperature change of the samples during the microwave carbonization process are obtained. The heterogeneity of the morphology of the fiber surface along the cross-section of the microwave carbonized sample was revealed. It is shown that the structure of the surface layers is characterized by two mechanisms of fiber destruction: numerous brittle transverse fractures and coloring of the fibers in places of swellings (a sharp increase in their diameter) and fluffing of the surface into convoluted fibrils with a transverse size of 50 – 300 nm due to the destruction of the outer layers of the secondary fiber wall. In the central region, the destruction of fibers occurs by the formation of longitudinal interfibrillary slits and the delamination of the secondary fiber wall, which leads to the formation of pores with dimensions of 50 – 200 nm. It is established that during the microwave carbonization process, the central part of the sample is almost completely freed from impurities that are deposited on the fibers of the surface layers. It is shown that the integral adsorption capacity of the microwave carbonized sample is higher than the adsorption capacity of the sample carbonized by the thermal method (126 mg/g and 47 mg/g, respectively). It was found that during microwave exposure more than 10 minutes, regions with an adsorption capacity of ~ 350 – 450 mg/g appear in the carbonized material, that is comparable to the capacity of samples activated by the standard method.

Study of a highly porous composite material based on an aluminum matrix with an ordered cellular structure formed by hollow copper-graphite spherical granules

The structure and properties of a highly porous cellular composite material based on a framework of hollow spherical granules with a thin copper-graphite coating impregnated with an aluminum alloy have been investigated. Highly porous composite composite casting with molten form, filled with expanded polystyrene spherical granules with a thin copper-graphite layer applied to their surface. When the polymer core of the granules burns out in the casting, a highly porous cellular composite material is formed with an aluminum matrix filled with spherical pores ∅ 4 – 8 mm, adjoining the metal matrices through a thin (300 – 500 μm) copper shell. The density of the porous composite material obtained in this way is 1.67 g/cm3. In order to fill the space between the granules with aluminum melt, their surfaces were coated with a thin layer of titanium, molybdenum, or chromium borides, which positively affected the strength characteristics of the composite material as a whole. Estimated calculation of the shock absorber index of a new highly porous structural material based on aluminum matrices with a cellular structure made of spherical hollow granules regularly distributed over the volume proved the prospects of its subsequent use as an absorber of shock energy in shock-absorbing devices.