Sodium sulfate, as a commonly used early strengthening agent, has been widely used in different areas. Because of its sulfonic acid group, sodium sulfate is also used as a cement capillary crystal waterproof material. However, temperature has a significant effect on concrete mixed with sodium sulfate. The effect of sodium sulfate on the early hydration rate at different temperatures was studied by conducting a time and hydration thermal analysis. The effects of sodium sulfate on the mechanical properties of concrete at different temperatures were studied through compressive strength experiments. Impermeability at different temperatures was studied by testing resistance to chloride ion penetration and resistance to water penetration. The effect of resistance to sulfate attack was also experimentally. The hydration products were analyzed by electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The experimental results showed that at low temperature, sodium sulfate can accelerate the early hydration reaction rate, and the effect becomes weaker with increasing temperature. At low temperature, the addition of sodium sulfate can effectively improve the degree of hydration, and enhance the permeability resistance and ion erosion resistance of the matrix.

In this paper, the changes of the uniaxial tensile mechanical properties of the ETFE film after the uniaxial pre-stretching stress exceeds the first yield stress and the second yield stress was investigated. The ETFE film is first pre-stretched uniaxially along the MD direction or TD direction. After the pre-stretching loading stress exceeds the first yield stress and the second yield stress to cause the ETFE film to undergo plastic deformation, rectangular uniaxial tensile specimens are cut from the pre-stretched film along the MD direction and the TD direction for subsequent uniaxial tensile tests, thereby determining the uniaxial tensile mechanical property parameters of the ETFE film after uniaxial pre-stretching, including yield stress, tensile strength and elongation at break, and discussing the changes in its uniaxial tensile mechanical properties.

As global greenhouse gas reduction regulations are strengthened and the demand for eco-friendly energy increases, renewable energies, including offshore wind power, are growing rapidly. Unlike onshore wind power generation, offshore wind power is located in the ocean. As a result, the offshore wind power substructure is exposed to low temperatures, corrosion, and continuous fatigue loads. Therefore, selecting appropriate materials and welding techniques is crucial for durability. In this study, FCAW welding was performed on S355ML steel (EN10025) for offshore wind power applications. After the welding process, the mechanical properties of the welded joint were evaluated through tensile, low-temperature impact, and hardness tests to assess the welding condition. The study revealed that the tensile and yield strength of the welded joint were superior to those of the base material. Additionally, the impact strength at low temperatures was confirmed to exceed the standard.

A cold roll-bonding (CRB) process is applied to fabricate an AA1050/AA5052 layered sheet. In the process, commercial AA1050 and AA5052 sheets of 1 mm thickness, 40 mm width and 300 mm length are stacked onto each other, and then reduced to a thickness of 0.5 mm through a 2-pass cold rolling process without lubricant. The roll-bonded AA1050/AA5052 layered sheet is then annealed for 1 h at various temperatures from 200 to 400 °C. The specimens annealed at temperatures below 250 °C showed a typical deformation structure in which the grains were elongated along the rolling direction. However, the specimens annealed at temperatures higher than 300 °C exhibited recrystallization structures in both the AA1050 and AA5052 regions. All the roll-bonded and subsequently annealed specimens showed an inhomogeneous distribution of hardness in the thickness direction, in which the hardness in the AA5052 regions was higher than that in the AA1050 regions. As the annealing temperature increased, the tensile and yield strengths decreased and the elongation increased gradually. The mechanical properties were compared to those of commercial AA1050 and AA5052 materials and CRBed AA5052-2L materials from a previous study.

Battery electrodes, essential for energy storage, possess pores that heavily influence their mechanical properties based on the level of porosity and the nature of the pores. The irregularities in pore shape, size, and distribution complicate the accurate determination of these properties. While stress-strain measurements can shed light on a material’s mechanical behavior and predict compression limits, the complex structure of the pores poses significant challenges for accurate measurements. In this research, we introduce a simulation-driven approach to derive stress-strain data that considers porosity. By calculating relative density and the rate of volume change under compression based on porosity, and applying pressure, we conducted a parametric study to identify the elastic modulus (E) in relation to the rate of volume change. This information was utilized within a material modeling equation, generating stress-strain (S-S) curves that were further analyzed to replicate the compression behavior of the electrode material. The outcomes of this study are expected to improve the prediction accuracy of mechanical properties for porous electrode materials, potentially enhancing battery performance and refining manufacturing processes.

Magnesium alloys, among various non-ferrous metals, are utilized in diverse fields from the automotive industry to aerospace due to their light weight and excellent specific strength. In the previous Part I study, fiber laser BOP experiments were conducted to derive basic welding characteristics and appropriate bu竹 welding conditions. Subsequently, in the Part II experiment, butt welding was performed, and through tensile tests, hardness tests, and cross-sectional observations, it was found that at laser power of 2.0 kW and welding speed of 50 mm/s, 93% of the base metafs tensile strength and 63.4% of its elongation could be achieved. In this Part III experiment, the microstructures of the base metal and the center of the weld were observed in butt-welded specimens. Through this, laser power and welding speed, on the mechanical behavior and microstructure of magnesium alloys were analyzed

Aluminum-based composites are in high demand in industrial fields due to their light weight, high electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Due to its unique advantages for composite fabrication, powder metallurgy is a crucial player in meeting this demand. However, the size and weight fraction of the reinforcement significantly influence the components' quality and performance. Understanding the correlation of these variables is crucial for building high-quality components. This study, therefore, investigated the correlations among various parameters—namely, milling time, reinforcement ratio, and size—that affect the composite’s physical and mechanical properties. An artificial neural network model was developed and showed the ability to correlate the processing parameters with the density, hardness, and tensile strength of Al2024-B4C composites. The predicted index of relative importance suggests that the milling time has the most substantial effect on fabricated components. This practical insight can be directly applied in the fabrication of high-quality Al2024-B4C composites.

This review examines the microstructural and mechanical properties of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy produced by wrought processing and powder metallurgy (PM), specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and hot isostatic pressing. Wrought methods, such as forging and rolling, create equiaxed alpha (α) and beta (β) grain structures with balanced properties, which are ideal for fatigue resistance. In contrast, PM methods, particularly LPBF, often yield a martensitic α′ structure with high microhardness, enabling complex geometries but requiring post-processing to improve its properties and reduce stress. The study evaluated the effects of processing parameters on grain size, phase distribution, and material characteristics, guiding the choice of fabrication techniques for optimizing Ti-6Al-4V performance in aerospace, biomedical, and automotive applications. The analysis emphasizes tailored processing to meet advanced engineering demands.

In this study, a composite material suitable for flexible transparent electrodes was fabricated using Norland Optical Adhesive 68 (NOA 68), an ultraviolet (UV) curable polymer, and silver nanowires (Ag nanowire, AgNW). The mechanical behavior of this composite was then analyzed. A AgNW network structure was embedded in the NOA 68 polymer and cured using UV energy. The composite was prepared with an AgNW network structure formed approximately 4 μm from the top of the NOA 68 matrix. Tensile test specimens were prepared according to ASTM standards, and tensile tests were conducted at room temperature in air. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile tests were used to analyze the changes in mechanical behavior according to UV exposure time and the presence of AgNW. The results showed that as UV curing time increased, the yield strength of the composite increased while the elongation decreased. Regardless of the presence of the AgNW filler, the stress-strain curves of the ductile polymer exhibited the typical mechanical behavior of semi-crystalline polymers as UV curing time increased, characterized by strain softening. It was also confirmed that the composite impregnated with AgNW exhibited higher strength in response to changes in mechanical properties due to UV curing.

This study investigated the optimal process conditions and mechanical properties of Cu-10Sn alloys produced by the powder bed fusion (PBF) method. The optimal PBF conditions were explored by producing samples with various laser scanning speeds and laser power. It was found that under optimized conditions, samples with a density close to the theoretical density could be fabricated using PBF without any serious defects. The microstructure and mechanical properties of samples produced under optimized conditions were investigated and compared with a commercial alloy produced by the conventional method. The hardness, maximum tensile strength, and elongation of the samples were significantly higher than those of the commercially available cast alloy with the same chemical composition. Based on these results, it is expected to be possible to use the PBF technique to manufacture Cu-10Sn products with complex 3D shapes that could not be made using the conventional manufacturing method.

As the demand for electric vehicles increases, the stability of batteries has become one of the most significant issues. The battery housing, which protects the battery from external stimuli such as vibration, shock, and heat, is the crucial element in resolving safety problems. Conventional metal battery housings are being converted into polymer composites due to their lightweight and improved corrosion resistance to moisture. The transition to polymer composites requires high mechanical strength, electrical insulation, and thermal stability. In this paper, we proposes a high-strength nanocomposite made by infiltrating epoxy into a 3D aligned h-BN structure. The developed 3D aligned h-BN/epoxy composite not only exhibits a high compressive strength (108 MPa) but also demonstrates excellent electrical insulation and thermal stability, with a stable electrical resistivity at 200 °C and a low thermal expansion coefficient (11.46×ppm/°C), respectively.

This study explored the process-structure-property (PSP) relationships in Ti-6Al-4V alloys fabricated through direct energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing. A systematic investigation was conducted to clarify how process variables—specifically, manipulating the cooling rate and energy input by adjusting the laser power and scan speed during the DED process—influenced the phase fractions, pore structures, and the resultant mechanical properties of the samples under various processing conditions. Significant links were found between the controlled process parameters and the structural and mechanical characteristics of the produced alloys. The findings of this research provide foundational knowledge that will drive the development of more effective and precise control strategies in additive manufacturing, thereby improving the performance and reliability of produced materials. This, in turn, promises to make significant contributions to both the advancement of additive manufacturing technologies and their applications in critical sectors.

이 연구는 셀룰로오스 또는 실리카를 포함하고 있는 목재, 왕겨 및 축분 바이오차로 시멘트 또는 잔골재를 대체한 콘크리트 의 강도시험을 통하여 역학적 특성을 파악한 것이다. 시험결과에 따르면, 바이오차 종류에 따른 강도는 왕겨 바이오차 혼입 콘크리트가 가장 크고, 다음으로 목재 바이오차였으며, 축분 바이오차가 가장 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 시멘트 또는 잔골재의 대체율에 따른 콘크리트 강도는 왕겨 바이오차의 대체율이 증가할수록 강도가 감소하였으나, 목재 및 축분 바이오차의 경우에는 대체율에 따라 강도 가 증가 하였다. 또한, 바이오차를 혼입하지 않은 보통 콘크리트와 비교하여 왕겨, 목재 및 축분 바이오차 순으로 최대 강도가 90%에 서 99%까지였으며, 압축강도로 추정하는 휨강도 또는 쪼갬인장강도 또한 보통 콘크리트의 상관 계수와 비슷하였다. 이와 같은 시험결 과를 근거로, 바이오차를 혼합한 콘크리트의 역학적 특성은 대체율에 따른 차이에도 불구하고 보통 콘크리트와 비슷한 강도를 확보할 수 있으므로 바이오차를 콘크리트의 새로운 혼화재료로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Carbon fibers of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) type were coated with nickel nanoparticles using a chemical reduction method in alkaline hydrazine bath. The carbon fibers were firstly heated at 400 °C and then chemically treated in hydrochloric acid followed by nitric acid to clean, remove any foreign particles and functionalized its graphitic surfaces by introducing some functional groups. The functionalized carbon fibers were coated with nickel to produce 10 wt% Cf/Ni nanocomposites. The uncoated heat treated and the nickel coated carbon fibers were investigated by SEM, EDS, FTIR and XRD to characterize the particle size, morphology, chemical composition and the crystal structure of the investigated materials. The nickel nanoparticles were successfully deposited as homogeneous layer on the surface of the functionalized carbon fibers. Also, the deposited nickel nanoparticles have quazi-spherical shape and 128–225 nm median particle size. The untreated and the heat treated as well as the 10 wt% Cf/Ni nanocomposite particles were further reinforced in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer separately by melt blending technique to prepare 0.5 wt% Cf-EVA polymer matrix stretchable conductive composites. The microstructures of the prepared polymer composites were investigated using optical microscope. The carbon fibers as well as the nickel coated one were homogenously distributed in the polymer matrix. The obtained samples were analyzed by TGA. The addition of the nickel coated carbon fibers to the EVA was improved the thermal stability by increasing the thermal decomposition temperature Tmax1 and Tmax2. The electrical and the mechanical properties of the obtained 10 wt% Cf/Ni nanocomposites as well as the 0.5 wt% Cf-EVA stretchable conductive composites were evaluated by measuring its thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electrical resistivity by four probe method and tensile properties. The electrical resistivity of the fibers was decreased by coating with nickel and the 10 wt% Cf/Ni nanocomposites has lower resistivity than the carbon fibers itself. Also, the electrical resistivity of the neat EVA is decreased from 3.2 × 1010 to 1.4 × 104 Ω cm in case of the reinforced 0.5 wt% Cf/Ni-EVA polymer composite. However, the ultimate elongation and the Young’s modulus of the neat EVA polymer was increased by reinforcing with carbon fibers and its nickel composite.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have been reported to have better properties than conventional materials; however, they are more expensive due to the high cost of their main components. Therefore, research is needed to reduce manufacturing costs. In this study, CoCrFeMnNi HEAs were prepared using metal injection molding (MIM), which is a powder metallurgy process that involves less material waste than machining process. Although the MIM-processed samples were in the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase, porosity remained after sintering at 1200°C, 1250°C, and 1275°C. In this study, the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process, which considers both temperature (1150°C) and pressure (150 MPa), was adopted to improve the quality of the MIM samples. Although the hardness of the HIP-treated samples decreased slightly and the Mn composition was significantly reduced, the process effectively eliminated many pores that remained after the 1275°C MIM process. The HIP process can improve the quality of the alloy.

In this study, the aromatic carbon content of epoxy resin (EP) increased via carbon tar pitch (CTP) modification, and the CTP occurred self-polymerization reaction. The carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of CTP and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of EP occurred chemical cross-linking reaction. CTP and graphitization treatment promoted EP CF carbon crystal growth. The graphitization degree of pure EP CF and 40 wt% CTP modified EP CF are 8.42% and 44.21%, respectively. With the increase CTP content, the cell size, ligament junction and density of graphitization modified EP CF gradually increased, while the number of pores and cells gradually decreased. The cell size, ligament junction size and density of 40 wt% CTP modified graphitization EP CF increased to 1200 μm, 280 μm and 0.5033 g/cm3, respectively. EP CF exhibits entangling carbon ribbon and isotropic amorphous carbon. The 40 wt% CTP modified EP CF is composed of evenly distributed amorphous resin carbon and graphite domain CTP carbon. The graphitization modified EP CF improved electrical conductivity, and the electrical conductivity of 40 wt% CTP modified EP CF is 126.6 S/m. The compressive strength can be decided by EP carbon strength and its char yield, and graphitization 40 wt% CTP modified EP CF reached 4.9 MPa. This study provides some basis for preparation and application of CTP modified EP CF.