Nacre-like surface nanolaminates enhance fatigue resistance of pure titanium.

Fatigue failure is invariably the most crucial failure mode for metallic structural components. Most microstructural strategies for enhancing fatigue resistance are effective in suppressing either crack initiation or propagation, but often do not work for both synergistically. Here, we demonstrate that this challenge can be overcome by architecting a gradient structure featuring a surface layer of nacre-like nanolaminates followed by multi-variant twinned structure in pure titanium.

Ultra-high performance humidity sensor enabled by a self-assembled CuO/TiCT MXene.

An ultra-high performance humidity sensor based on a CuO/TiCT MXene has been investigated in this work. The moisture-sensitive material was fabricated by a self-assembly method. The morphology and nanostructure of the fabricated CuO/TiCT composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectra.

Collaborative Enhancement of Humidity Sensing Performance by KCl-Doped CuO/SnO p-n Heterostructures for Monitoring Human Activities.

In this study, a high-performance humidity sensor based on KCl-doped CuO/SnO p-n heterostructures was fabricated by a ball milling-roasting method. The morphology and nanostructure of the fabricated KCl-CuO/SnO composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen sorption analysis. The results showed that the humidity sensor had a high sensitivity of 194 kΩ/%RH, short response and recovery times of 1.

Creep-Fatigue Crack Initiation Simulation of a Modified 12% Cr Steel Based on Grain Boundary Cavitation and Plastic Slip Accumulation.

High-temperature components in power plants may fail due to creep and fatigue. Creep damage is usually accompanied by the nucleation, growth, and coalescence of grain boundary cavities, while fatigue damage is caused by excessive accumulated plastic deformation due to the local stress concentration. This paper proposes a multiscale numerical framework combining the crystal plastic frame with the meso-damage mechanisms.

Effect of ultrasonic surface deep rolling combined with oxygen boost diffusion treatment on fatigue properties of pure titanium.

Ultrasonic surface deep rolling (USDR), oxygen boost diffusion (OBD), and their combination (USDR-OBD) were all used to improve the surface hardening of pure titanium. The microstructure, microhardness, and fatigue life of pure titanium treated by USDR, OBD, and USDR-OBD methods were analyzed. USDR treatment induced a severe deformation area, while OBD treatment produced a brittle oxygen diffusion zone.

Brazing Coupling Performance of Piezoelectric Waveguide Transducers for the Monitoring of High Temperature Components.

Piezoelectric waveguide transducers possess great potential for the online monitoring of high temperature critical components, in order to improve their operational safety. Due to the use of a waveguide bar, the sensory device is not susceptible to high temperature environments, which enables the long-term service of the piezoelectric transducers. However, the coupling between the waveguide bar and the high-temperature component has been proven to be the most important part of the monitoring system.

Characteristics of high-temperature equipment monitoring using dry-coupled ultrasonic waveguide transducers.

Dry-coupled ultrasonic waveguide transducers enable the long-term monitoring of the critical mechanical components working in high temperature environment. In these systems, waveguide units are applied to isolate the vulnerable piezoelectric elements from the harsh measurement zones. However, the disturbance cannot be overcome, which may arise from inevitably temperature fluctuation and the indirect measurement in long term monitoring.

Optimal Design Methodology of Tapered Waveguide Transducers for Thickness Monitoring.

For the purpose of providing transducers for long-term monitoring of wall thinning of critical pressure equipment in corrosion or high temperature environments, the optimal design methodology for tapered waveguide units was proposed in the present study. Firstly, the feasibility of the quasi-fundamental shear horizontal (SH0*) wave propagating in the tapered waveguide units was analyzed via numerical simulations, and the transmitting limitations of the non-dispersive SH0* wave were researched. Secondly, several tapered waveguide transducers with varying cross-sections to transmit pure SH0* wave were designed according to the numerical results.

Lipids extraction from wet Chlorella pyrenoidosa sludge using recycled [BMIM]Cl.

In this study, experiments on pretreating one species of microalgae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) using one kind of ionic liquid (IL) of [BMIM]Cl were conducted. The aim of this work is to evaluate the recycling efficacy of expensive IL solvent for effective cell disruption. It was indicated that the molecular structure of IL was stable during the recycling test.

Critical Excitation of the Fundamental Quasi-Shear Mode Wave in Waveguide Bars for Elevated Temperature Applications.

The safety of critical pressure equipment in elevated temperature is increasingly important. Moreover, the on-line monitoring method is potentially useful to improve their safety. A waveguide bar system can enable monitoring of critical equipment working in elevated temperature using reliable ultrasonic technology.

Design of Waveguide Bars for Transmitting a Pure Shear Horizontal Wave to Monitor High Temperature Components.

Guided wave technique could be a possible method for monitoring components working in high temperature above 350 °C. However, this would require the design of an appropriate waveguide bar to transmit the wave, so that its sensing part is not influenced by the high temperature. In the present study, the shape of waveguide bars is designed based on the analysis of wave source characteristics.

An Improved Metal-Packaged Strain Sensor Based on A Regenerated Fiber Bragg Grating in Hydrogen-Loaded Boron-Germanium Co-Doped Photosensitive Fiber for High-Temperature Applications.

Local strain measurements are considered as an effective method for structural health monitoring of high-temperature components, which require accurate, reliable and durable sensors. To develop strain sensors that can be used in higher temperature environments, an improved metal-packaged strain sensor based on a regenerated fiber Bragg grating (RFBG) fabricated in hydrogen (H₂)-loaded boron-germanium (B-Ge) co-doped photosensitive fiber is developed using the process of combining magnetron sputtering and electroplating, addressing the limitation of mechanical strength degradation of silica optical fibers after annealing at a high temperature for regeneration. The regeneration characteristics of the RFBGs and the strain characteristics of the sensor are evaluated.

A novel double loop control model design for chemical unstable processes.

In this manuscript, based on Smith predictor control scheme for unstable process in industry, an improved double loop control model is proposed for chemical unstable processes. Inner loop is to stabilize integrating the unstable process and transform the original process to first-order plus pure dead-time dynamic stable process. Outer loop is to enhance the performance of set point response.

Development of on-line monitoring systems for high temperature components in power plants.

To accurately detect deformation and extend the component life beyond the original design limits, structural safety monitoring techniques have attracted considerable attention in the power and process industries for decades. In this paper an on-line monitoring system for high temperature pipes in a power plant is developed. The extension-based sensing devices are amounted on straight pipes, T-Joints and elbows of a main steam pipeline.

A modified analysis for thermal-mechanical properties of staggered structure in biomimetic materials.

The thermal-mechanical stress distributions and equivalent coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the staggered arrangement of mineral platelets wrapped by soft matrix are analyzed, which exist in numerous natural biological and biomimetic materials. Two analytical models, 'Stress model' and 'Displacement model', were established from the ways of stress and displacement solution based on the modification of classical shear-lag model. Complementary finite element analysis (FEA) was used to verify the analytical models.

A simple route for synthesis of PbSe nanocrystals: shape control by ligand and reaction time.

The shape controlled synthesis of high quality colloidal lead selenide (PbSe) nanocrystals (NCs) was achieved through a simple solvothermal process. By using oleic acid (OA) as a ligand and activating agent for the Pb precursor, the evolution of the NCs from nanospheres to nanoflowers and finally to nanocubes was achieved by increasing the reaction time. Further, the shape variation from nanospheres to polyhedrons was readily realized through the increase of OA concentration in the stock solution.

One-step synthesis of cubic FeS2 and flower-like FeSe2 particles by a solvothermal reduction process.

In this paper, for the first time a simple batch process was utilized for the facile synthesis of cubic FeS(2) and flower-like FeSe(2). By adjusting the amount of solvents and surfactants added, pure pyrite FeS(2) with a defined crystalline structure was obtained. It was found that the reaction temperatures and iron sources had significant influence on the purities and morphologies of FeS(2) and FeSe(2) particles.

Continuous synthesis of CdSe(x)Te(1-x) nanocrystals: chemical composition gradient and single-step capping.

A capillary microreactor was firstly utilized to continuously synthesize near-infrared emitting CdSe(x)Te(1-)(x) nanocrystals (NCs). By using trioctylphosphine oxide and trioctylphosphine as the solvents for anion precursor as well as oleic acid and oleylamine as the solvents for cation precursor, high quantum yield zinc-blend CdSe(x)Te(1-)(x) NCs with a chemical composition gradient internal structure and tunable emission from 634 to 783 nm were synthesized. Thus, the nonlinear relationship between the composition and the emission energies were verified.

Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil catalyzed by TiO2-MgO mixed oxides.

Mixed oxides of TiO(2)-MgO obtained by the sol-gel method were used to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel. Titanium improved the stability of the catalyst because of the defects induced by the substitution of Ti ions for Mg ions in the magnesia lattice. The best catalyst was determined to be MT-1-923, which is comprised of an Mg/Ti molar ratio of 1 and calcined at 923 K, based on an assessment of the activity and stability of the catalyst.

Measurement of temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients using a confocal Raman microscope with microfluidic chips considering laser-induced heating effect.

Conventional methods for measuring diffusion coefficients (D) are complex and time consuming. This study presents a method for the continuous measurement of temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients using a confocal Raman microscope with microfluidic chips. Concentration information was collected by a Raman microscope to extract D values.

Active carbon-ceramic sphere as support of ruthenium catalysts for catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of resin effluent.

Active carbon-ceramic sphere as support of ruthenium catalysts were evaluated through the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of resin effluent in a packed-bed reactor. Active carbon-ceramic sphere and ruthenium catalysts were characterized by N(2) adsorption and chemisorption measurements. BET surface area and total pore volume of active carbon (AC) in the active carbon-ceramic sphere increase with increasing KOH-to-carbon ratio, and AC in the sample KC-120 possesses values as high as 1100 m(2) g(-1) and 0.

Intensification of biodiesel synthesis using zigzag micro-channel reactors.

Zigzag micro-channel reactors have been fabricated and used for continuous alkali-catalyzed biodiesel synthesis. The influences of the main geometric parameters on the performance of the micro-channel reactors were experimentally studied. It has been found that the zigzag micro-channel reactor with smaller channel size and more turns produces smaller droplets which result in higher efficiency of biodiesel synthesis.

Facile Synthesis of Monodisperse CdS Nanocrystals via Microreaction.

CdS-based nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted extensive interest due to their potential application as key luminescent materials for blue and white LEDs. In this research, the continuous synthesis of monodisperse CdS NCs was demonstrated utilizing a capillary microreactor. The enhanced heat and mass transfer in the microreactor was useful to reduce the reaction temperature and residence time to synthesize monodisperse CdS NCs.

Synthesis of Monodisperse Nanocrystals via Microreaction: Open-to-Air Synthesis with Oleylamine as a Coligand.

Microreaction provides a controllable tool to synthesize CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) in an accelerated fashion. However, the surface traps created during the fast growth usually result in low photoluminescence (PL) efficiency for the formed products. Herein, the reproducible synthesis of highly luminescent CdSe NCs directly in open air was reported, with a microreactor as the controllable reaction tool.

Synthesis of nanocrystals via microreaction with temperature gradient: towards separation of nucleation and growth.

By utilizing the symmetrical temperature distribution in a tube furnace chamber, a capillary microreactor was designed with the microchannel passing two well-controlled, stable temperatures in steep temperature gradients. The two-temperature microreator, first developed and implemented by this research team, provides an opportunity to separate the nucleation and growth of semiconductor nanocrystals, leading to better control of nucleation and growth kinetics. For the synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals as a model system, we demonstrated the improved size uniformity achieved by the two-temperature approach, confirming the success of the use of high temperature to burst nucleation and low temperature to promote growth.