Ultra-High-Temperature Ceramic-Doped Inorganic Polymers for Thermo-Structural Fiber-Reinforced Composites.

New inorganic nanostructured matrices for fiber-reinforced composites with enhanced high-temperature stability were developed from alkali aluminosilicate polymers doped with different ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) particles. The alkali aluminosilicate matrices were synthesized at room temperature with a high SiO:AlO ratio and then further functionalized by doping with 4-5 wt % of micrometric SiC, ZrB, ZrC, and HfC powders and finally thermally stabilized as glass-ceramics at 750 °C. The different UHTC-doped matrices were characterized according to their dimensional and microstructural changes after thermal cycling in air flux at 1000 °C.

Investigation on the Thermodynamic Stability of Nanocrystalline W-Based Alloys: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Approach.

The stability of nanostructured metal alloys is currently being extensively investigated, and several mathematical models have been developed to describe the thermodynamics of these systems. However, model capability in terms of thermal stability predictions strongly relies on grain boundary-related parameters that are difficult to measure or estimate accurately. To overcome this limitation, a novel theoretical approach is proposed and adopted in this work to identify W-based nanocrystalline alloys which are potentially able to show thermodynamic stability.

Titania nano-coated quartz wool for the photocatalytic mineralisation of emerging organic contaminants.

Many emerging contaminants pass through conventional wastewater treatment plants, contaminating surface and drinking water. The implementation of advanced oxidation processes in existing plants for emerging contaminant remediation is one of the challenges for the enhancement of water quality in the industrialised countries. This paper reports on the production of a TiO nano-layer on quartz wool in a relevant amount, its characterisation by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and its use as a photocatalyst under ultraviolet radiation for the simultaneous mineralisation of five emerging organic contaminants (benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and triton X-100) dissolved in deionised water and tap water.

Lifetime estimation of a zirconia-alumina composite for biomedical applications.

Objectives: In this work long term stability of a zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) composite was investigated.

Methods: Accelerated aging tests under hydrothermal environment, in autoclave and hot water, at different temperature, was conducted on material sample. Tetragonal to monoclinic transformation was evaluated by XRD analysis and the monoclinic content was plot as a function of the exposure time.

Use of zirconium oxychloride to neutralize HF in the microwave-assisted acid dissolution of ceramic glazes for their chemical analysis by ICP-OES.

The use of a zirconium compound (ZrOCl(2)) to neutralize HF in the microwave-assisted acid dissolution of ceramic glazes for their chemical analysis was tested. Zr is a strong complexing agent for the fluorine ion and permits the determination of those elements which would form insoluble fluorides. The use of Zr implies strong spectral interferences and a high salt content; however, we found that at least 27 elements can be measured with low detection limits, and satisfactory precision and accuracy.