In this study, we analyzed the effect of silicon oxynitride matrix on the optical properties of Au nanoparticles dispersed on composite film and explored the effectiveness of the silicon in fine tuning the refractive index of the composite film for applications in optical waveguide devices. The atomic fraction of nitrogen in SiOxNy films was controlled by varying the relative flow ratio of nitrogen gas in reactive sputtering and was evaluated optically using an effective medium theory with Bruggeman geometry consisting of a random mixture between SiO2 and Si3N4. The Au nanoparticles were embedded in the SiOxNy matrix by employing the alternating deposition technique and clearly showed an absorption peak due to the excitation of surface plasmon. With increasing nitrogen atomic fraction in the matrix, the surface plasmon resonance wavelength shifted to a longer wavelength (a red-shift) with an enhanced resonance absorption. These characteristics were interpreted using the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory. The formation of a guided mode in a slab waveguide consisting of 3 μm thick Au:SiOxNy nanocomposite film was confirmed at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm by prism coupler method and compared with the case of using SiO2 matrix. The use of SiOxNy matrix provides an effective way of controlling the mode confinement while maintaining or even enhancing the surface plasmon resonance properties.
Temperature dependency of resistivity of the carbon black-polyethylene composites below and above percolation threshold is studied based on the electrical conduction mechanism. Temperature coefficient of resistance of the composites below percolation threshold changed from minus to plus, increasing volume fraction of carbon black; this trend decreased with increasing volume fraction of carbon black. The temperature dependence of resistivity of the composites below percolation threshold can be explained with a tunneling conduction model by incorporating the effect of thermal expansion of the composites into a tunneling gap. Temperature coefficient of resistance of the composites above percolation threshold was positive and its absolute value increased with increasing volume fraction of carbon black. By assuming that the electrical conduction through percolating paths is a thermally activated process and by incorporating the effect of thermal expansion into the volume fraction of carbon black, the temperature dependency of the resistivity above percolation threshold has been well explained without violating the universal law of conductivity. The apparent activation energy is estimated to be 0.14 eV.
Inorganic oxide colloids dispersed in alcohol were applied to a stainless steel substrate to produce oxide coatings for the purpose of minimizing emissive thermal transfer. The microstructure, roughness, infrared emissive energy, and surface heat loss of the coated substrate were observed with a variation of the nano oxide sol and coating method. It was found that the indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, magnesium oxide, silica, titania sol coatings may reduce surface heat loss of the stainless steel at 300˚C. It was possible to suppress thermal oxidation of the substrate with the oxide sol coatings during an accelerated thermal durability test at 600˚C. The silica sol coating was most effective to suppress thermal oxidation at 600˚C, so that it is useful to prevent the increase of radiative surface heat loss as a heating element. Therefore, the inorganic oxide sol coatings may be applied to improve energy efficiency of the substrate as the heating element.
Optical characteristics and structural changes depending on CuO content in phosphate glasses that are used in near-infrared (near-IR) filters were investigated. With phosphate glasses that contain 1-9 mol% CuO, changes in optical transmittance, optical absorption, and color coordinate were measured with a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. An XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analysis was performed to determine valence of copper ion that influences optical characteristics in near-IR filter glasses. Structural changes in glasses depending on CuO content were also analyzed by FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) and Raman spectrophotometers. From the UV-VIS spectrophotometer results, strong absorption peaks at 220 & 900 nm were found and transmittance was decreased. The color coordinates of the glasses were shifted to the green color direction with CuO addition for increasing absorption of long wavelength range spectra, in spite of the amount of Cu2+, which gives a blue color to glasses, and which was increased in XPS results. Also, structural de-polymerization of glasses with CuO addition were found by FT-IR and Raman results.
Froth flotation has been carried out in order to produce roasting-molybdenite concentrate from molybdenite ore in the Shin-yeomi mine. In our study, roasting-molybdenite (Mo 0.43%) from Shin-yeomi mine was recovered by varying the conditions of regrinding time, dosage of collector and alkalinity. Liberation and flotation efficiency more were effective at regrinding time of six minutes than at single grinding. Mo recovery curves increased considerably as dosage of kerosene increased, whereas Mo grade curves decreased gradually. The separation efficiency of molybdenite was effective when the dosage of collector (kerosene) was adjusted to 300 g/t. The molybdenite concentrate was agglomerated in the range of pH 5-7 and its separation efficiency increased to pH 9-10. The concentrate of 49.5% Mo grade (MoS2, 82.6%) with 81.5% recovery from Shin-yeomi molybdenite ores was obtained under conditions of 20% pulp concentration, 300 g/t kerosene 325 g/t frother (AF65), 2.5 kg/t depressant (Na2SiO3), pH 9-10 and four cleaning times. In the future, a trial run that can separate up to 50% Mo grade from Shin-yeomi molybdenite ores will be performed.
The electrocatalytic characteristics of oxygen reduction reaction of the PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been evaluated in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts with a Pt : M atomic ratio of about 3 : 1 were synthesized and applied to the cathode of PEMFC. The crystalline structure and morphology images of the PtxM(1-x) particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that the crystalline structure of the Pt alloy particles in Pt/MWNTs and PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts are seen as FCC, and synthesized PtxM(1-x) crystals have lattice parameters smaller than the pure Pt crystal. According to the electrochemical surface area (ESA) calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis, Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs catalyst has higher ESA than the other catalysts. The evaluation of a unit cell test using Pt/MWNTs or PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs as the cathode catalysts demonstrated higher cell performance than did a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among the MWNTs-supported Pt and PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts, the Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs shows the highest performance with the cathode catalyst of PEMFC because they had the largest ESA.
Yttria stabilized zirconia single crystals show plastic deformation at high temperatures by activating dislocations. The plastic deformation is highly dependent on crystallographic orientation. When the samples were deformed at different orientations, stress-strain curves changed by operating different slip systems. The strength of samples was also highly dependent on crystallographic orientation, i.e., samples without yield drop showed higher strength than that of samples exhibiting yield drop. The slip systems in the sample deformed along<112>,<111> and<001> agreed with the theoretical values of the plastic deformation, following Schmid's Law. Dislocations play a major role in the plastic deformation of this crystal. At the early stages of plastic deformation, all samples exhibited dislocation dipoles and, in the later stages, dislocation interactions occurred by forming nodes, tangles and networks. In this study, three different orientations, [11-2], [111] and [001] were employed to explain the plastic deformation behavior. A microstructural analysis was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the plastic behavior of this crystal.
Using a polyurethane foam replica method, porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds (PHS) were fabricated using conventional and microwave sintering techniques. The microstructure and material properties of the PHS, such as pore size, grain size, relative density and compressive strength, were investigated at different sintering temperatures and holding times to determine the optimal sintering conditions. There were interconnected pores whose sizes ranged between about 300 μm and 700 μm. At a conventional sintering temperature of 1100˚C, the scaffold had a porous microstructure, which became denser and saw the occurrence of grain growth when the temperature was increased up to 1300˚C. In the case of microwave sintering, even at low sintering temperature and short holding time the microstructure was much denser and had smaller grains. As the holding time of the microwave sintering was increased, higher densification was observed and also the relative density and compressive strength increased. The compressive strength values of PHS were 2.3MPa and 1.8MPa when conventional and microwave sintering was applied at 1300˚C, respectively.
The effects of thermal properties on the crystallization behavior of CaMgSi2O6 glass-ceramics were investigated as a function of sintering temperature from 800˚C to 900˚C. The crystallization behavior of the specimens depended on the sintering temperature, which could be evaluated from the differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. With increasing sintering temperature, the thermal conductivity of the sintered specimens increased, while the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the sintered specimens decreased. These results could be attributed to the increase of crystallization, confirmed from the estimation by density measurements. Also, the thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of the sintered specimens were discussed with relation to the sintering temperature. Typically, a thermal conductivity of 3.084 W/m˚C, CTE of 8.049 ppm/˚C, thermal diffusivity of 1.389 mm2/s and specific heat capacity of 0.752 J/g˚C were obtained for CaMgSi2O6 specimens sintered at 900˚C for 5 h.
Inconel 718 alloy has excellent mechanical properties at room temperature, high temperature and cryogenic conditions. UTS of base metal is about 900MPa at room temperature; this is increased up to 1300MPa after heat treatment & aging-hardening. Mechanical properties of Inconel 718 Alloy were similar to those shown in the the results for tensile test; mechanical properties of Inconel 718 alloy's GTAW were similar to those of base metal's properties at room temperature. Mechanical properties at cryogenic conditions were better than those at room temperature. Heat-treated Inconel 718, non- filler metal GTAW on Inconel 718 and GTAW used filler metal on Inconel 718's UTS was 1400MPa at cryogenic condition. As a result, the excellent mechanical properties of Inconel 718 alloy under cryogenic conditions was proved through tensile tests under cryogenic conditions. In addition, weldability of Inconel 718 alloy under cryogenic conditions was superior to that of its base-metal. In this case, UTS of hybrid joint (IS-G) at -100˚C was 900MPa. Consequently, UTS of Inconel 718 alloy is estimated to increase from -100˚C to a specific temperature below -100˚C. Therefore, Inconel 718 alloy is considered a pertinent material for the production of Lox Pipe under cryogenic conditions.
Due to the importance of the SiGe/Si heterostructure in the fields of thermoelectric and electronic applications, SiGe/Si heterostructures have been extensively investigated. For practical applications, thermal stability of the heterostructure during the thermoelectric power generation or fabrication process of electronic devices is of great concern. In this work, we focused on the effect of thermal annealing on the defect configuration in the SiGe/Si heterostructure. The formation mechanism of planar defects in an annealed SiGe/Si heterostructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Due to the interdiffusion of Si and Ge, interface migration phenomena were observed in annealed heterostructures. Because of the strain gradient in the migrated region between the original interface and the migrated interface, the glide of misfit dislocation was observed in the region and planar defects were produced by the interaction of the gliding misfit dislocations. The planar defects were confined to the migrated region, and dislocation pileup by strain gradient was the origin of the confinement of the planar defect.