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The increase in operating temperature contributes to improving the performance and fuel utilization efficiency of gas turbines. However, it also places thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in a more demanding working environment, requiring higher sintering resistance and better mechanical properties. In the present study, HfO2 was introduced into the dual‐phase LaYbZr2O7 system as a doping oxide to form the LaYb(HfxZr1−x)2O7 system. The research concentrated on its phase composition, mechanical properties, and thermophysical properties. The results show that substituting Hf for Zr does not alter the dual‐phase structure of the system. The mutual inhibition between the two phases and the inherent material‐binding capability of Hf further reduce the grain size compared to pure LYZO. Additionally, the presence of Hf reduces the tendency of Frenkel defect formation and cation migration frequency, effectively inhibiting ion diffusion and thereby suppressing the densification and shrinkage trends of the material. The system retains relatively high hardness, fracture toughness, and low elastic modulus of the LYZO matrix, with a decrease in thermal conductivity and an increase in infrared reflectivity. These results suggest that Hf doping enhances the sintering resistance of LYZO material, making them promising for high‐temperature TBCs. Our study presents a viable approach to enhance the sintering resistance of LYZO, and this methodology can be extrapolated to other rare‐earth zirconates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic fibers are an important thermal insulation material that are not only widely used in extreme conditions, but also play an important role in energy conservation and energy efficiency for sustainable development. However, the practical application of conventional ceramic fibers has a high thermal conductivity in high-temperature environments, which hinders their widespread application. Here, a novel lamellar structured porous SiTiOC/C composite ceramic materials was designed and prepared with excellent thermal insulating properties. The unique microstructure endowed the porous SiTiOC/C composite ceramic materials with a high IR refractive index (93.81%) and an ultra-low thermal conductivity (0.0562 W·m−1 K−1 at 600 ℃). In addition, the porous SiTiOC/C composite ceramic materials not only exhibited excellent mechanical properties (4.46 MPa at 800 ℃), but also demonstrated impressive oxidation resistance and thermal stability. In summary, the proposed porous SiTiOC/C composite ceramic materials provide a reference for the development of high-temperature insulation with good mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-power piezoelectric ceramics with superior piezoelectric properties and broad temperature usage ranges is vital for the thriving progress of electromechanical applications. However, achieving high piezoelectricity, high mechanical quality factor, and temperature stability often presents a trade-off. In this study, we present an advanced ceramic material with excellent high-power piezoelectric properties and superior temperature stability. The piezoelectric coefficient d 33 reaches 348 pC N−1, the electromechanical coupling factor k p is 54%, the mechanical quality factor Q m is 1501, the dielectric loss tanδ is 0.35%, and the d 33 variation is less than 10% within 25–210 °C in 0.05Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O 3 -0.05Pb(Mn 1/3 Sb 2/3)O 3 -0.9Pb 0.95 Sr 0.05 (Zr 0.48 Ti 0.52)O 3 ceramic. The excellent piezoelectricity is attributed to the enhancement of intrinsic ionic displacement and reversible domains wall motion because of symmetry-conforming short-range distribution of oxygen vacancy, while the high Q m is a result of increased domain size and oxygen vacancy. The outstanding temperature stability is related to the stable non-180°domains structure due to the oxygen vacancy pinning effect. These properties hold great potential for advanced applications, particularly for piezoelectric high-power applications requiring constant d 33 over a broad temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy carbide ceramic materials exhibited excellent thermal and mechanical properties, making them highly sought after in high-temperature applications. However, the oxidation resistance of high-entropy carbide ceramic needed to be further improved. This work unraveled the oxidation behavior and mechanism of high-entropy carbide ceramic by introducing the Cr 3 C 2. The results indicated that the oxidation rate of (TiZrTaNbCr)C initially decreased with temperature up to 900 °C, followed by an increased with further temperature rise up to 1100 °C. At 800 and 900 °C, the parabolic oxidation rate constants were 0.70 and 0.17 mg2cm−4min−1, respectively. And the minimum thickness of oxidized layer was 60 µm at 900 °C for 120 min. This unusual phenomenon suggested the formation of different oxidation products. Specifically, the CrNbO 4 and Nb 2 Zr 6 O 17 oxide layer were formed at 900 °C, leading to an increased resistance to oxygen diffusion. Subsequently, loose oxidation products of Nb 2 O 5 were formed after 1000 °C, hindering the oxidation resistance. In the current study on oxidation resistance of high entropy carbides, this work showed a competitive performance. Overall, this study illustrated the oxidation mechanism and behavior of (TiZrTaNbCr)C and proposed a new avenue for the design of high-entropy ceramic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management and recycling have led to numerous studies on particleboard production. This study attempted to use milled corncob (MCC) and waste ceramic tiles (WCTs) to produce particleboard. The MCC (100−70 wt.%) and WCT (0–30 wt.%) were mixed at different ratios, mixed and compressed at a pressure of 0.25 MPa using urea formaldehyde (UF) resin as adhesive. The physicomechanical and thermal properties of the particleboards produced were investigated. The physical properties (bulk density, water absorption, and thickness swelling) improved with composite particleboard compared to the 100% MCC particleboard. The increase in WCT yielded improved density and lowered the particleboard's water absorption and thickness swelling. The mechanical tests showed that MOE values were below the recommended standard, which makes them unsuitable for structural use. However, MOR revealed values above the recommended standard. The thermal conductivity of the particleboards was reduced with increased WCT, and the required standard was found to be met. Hence, the particleboards produced are found helpful as thermal wall insulators. Based on the experiments done, sample R7 (70% MCC and 30% WCT) was considered the most preferable since it achieved the most preferable physicomechanical and thermal conductivity performance. The particleboards produced are recommended for wall partitioning and other internal and external purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficient buildings, propulsion components and thermal protection systems require materials with high thermal protective properties. Traditional polymer composites or ceramic materials have limited comprehensive applications because of their poor thermal protective properties or poor processability. Herein, a novel fire resistant and thermally insulating polymer/ceramic hybrid ceramifiable composite was developed based on low temperature sintering principle and foaming on fire strategy. Specifically, the influences of raw materials of low temperature ceramics, such as glass frit, phosphate, etc, on the properties of ceramifiable ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) composites were investigated. Its fire resistance and thermal insulation properties were evaluated by simulating different sintering environments. The results show that the ceramifiable composite exhibits the highest improvement in fire resistance because a crystalline phase was formed at high temperatures. Gas evolution from the thermal decomposition of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and EVA contributes to the formation of the porous structure in ceramic residues. The optimal system can resist above 1000 °C flame for 30 min without disintegration, and the temperature of the unfired side was maintained around 200 °C. The reliability of the strategy was verified by the effective medium theory model. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlN is regarded as a promising ceramic material for high performance structural and high temperature applications due to its superior properties such as high thermal conductivity, excellent stability and wear resistance. However, challenges remain in fabricating AlN ceramics with high strength and high thermal shock resistance. In this work, AlN/YAlO 3 composites with different YAlO 3 contents (3–10 wt%) were prepared by a simple pressureless sintering method, and the impact of YAlO 3 content on mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of AlN/YAlO 3 composites was investigated. Results show that the grain growth of AlN is inhibited and the densification is improved with the addition of 3 wt% and 5 wt% YAlO 3. Hence, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of AlN/YAlO 3 composites are improved due to the grain refinement and compactness enhancement, and the highest value, 369 MPa and 3.84 MPa m1/2, are reached by the AlN-5 wt% YAlO 3 composite. Moreover, the thermal shock resistance was assessed through theoretical forecast and cyclic thermal shock tests over a temperature range between 1000 °C and 1600 °C. Comparing with pure AlN, the thermal stress damage resistance parameters (R IV ) of AlN/YAlO 3 composites were increased, while their residual strengths and retention ratios after 10–50 cycles of thermal shock tests maintained a higher level as well. Microstructure analysis revealed that the thermal shock resistance of AlN/YAlO 3 composites was evidently improved attributing to various strengthening mechanisms such as crack deflection, crack branching and microcrack toughening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clays from Alhabia (Almería, Spain) have been investigated in this work using several analytical techniques: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), thermal analysis (Thermogravimetry, TG, and its first derivative, DTG), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Texture characteristics (granulometry) and plasticity have been examined. The main ceramic properties (firing shrinkage, water absorption, bulk density, open porosity, flexural strength and thermal conductivity) have been determined using pressed and fired clay samples. Thus, the mineralogical, chemical, textural and ceramic features of these clays have been evidenced for the first time. The mineralogical analysis by XRD indicated that the clay samples are constituted by a mixture of chlorite and illite, as main clay minerals, being quartz and other minerals in lower relative proportion (calcite, gypsum and hematite). This finding is important because the investigations on chlorite-illite-calcitic clays are very scarce. The chemical analysis by XRF showed that silica and alumina are predominant, as expected by the mineralogy, with medium contents of calcium oxide, from calcite, and alkalis, from illite, being ∼8 and ∼5%, respectively, besides iron and titanium oxides (∼8%). The particle size analysis showed 71.76% of "clay fraction" (<2 μm) and 21.66% of silt fraction (2–50 μm). The plasticity index (Atterberg) was 14.3%, with acceptable moulding and extrusion properties. Thermal analysis by TG/DTG indicated a weight loss associated to dehydroxylation of structural water of the clay minerals and decarbonation of calcite by progressive heating. After the characterization of raw clays, the next step was the determination of ceramic properties of mixed and ground clays after firing using pressed bodies. For this purpose, two firing temperatures were selected (900 and 1100 °C) for 1 h. The examination of the resultant fired bodies indicated that porous ceramic materials (∼36% open porosity and ∼22% of water absorption capacity) can be obtained by firing at 900 ᵒC, with small variations in dimensions (<0.8% at 1100 °C). The porosity changed at relatively lower values by firing at 1100 °C (∼34–35%), being associated to the presence of decomposed calcite. Bulk density was found almost constant from 900 to 1100 °C, with a maximum value of ∼1.67 g/cm3 at 1100 °C. Flexural strength reached a maximum value of 34.47 MPa at 1100 °C for the ground sample. Finally, thermal conductivity after firing the clay bodies was found almost constant at 900 and 1100 °C (0.457 and 0.479 W/mK, respectively). Taking into account these results, the main applications of the Alhabia clays have been evaluated. These clays can be used for the fabrication of porous ceramic supports and tiles by firing at 900 °C. Firing the clays at higher temperature (1100 °C) is of great interest for the fabrication of ceramic tiles and ceramic bricks of higher flexural strength with variable porosity and practically constant in dimensions. It is economically important although at higher processing costs. Finally, it can be emphasized that this work is a contribution of a better scientific knowledge of chlorite-illite-calcitic clays as ceramic raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) with good mechanical properties and thermal physical properties, including high melting point (>30000C), high conductivity, high thermal conductivity, high thermal shock resistance rate, provides a sharp leading edge and smooth surface of a new generation of aerospace vehicle design to the aerospace industry; Due to ultra-high temperature ceramic materials with high strength, oxidation resistance and thermal shock resistance, it can be applied to extreme environments such as hypersonic flight, atmospheric reentry and rocket propulsion system, and have been widely used in key components of aircraft front cone, engine, wing and engine hot end. Based on the application of ultra-high temperature superconducting materials in practical application, the solid modeling of ultra-high temperature superconducting front-end components of ultra-high speed aircraft wing is carried out by using ABAQUS software, the ultra-high temperature thermal field of loaded aircraft flying at ultra-high speed is simulated, the stress-strain field at the flange is obtained, and the thermal mechanical coupling analysis is carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

h-BN is a two-dimensional ceramic material with a lamellar structure, known for its typical orientation characteristics on mechanical and thermal properties. By optimizing the size and arrangement of h-BN grains in the matrix, the anisotropic characteristics of h-BN ceramics can be fully utilized to obtain ceramic materials with high thermal conductivity or high strength. In order to study the effect of grain orientation distribution on the mechanical and thermal properties of materials, the index of orientation distribution (IOP) was used to quantitatively characterize the orientation degree of h-BN grains and analyzed the effect of h-BN grain size on material properties. The results show when the initial h-BN size is 13.50 μm, the ceramic has the highest orientation degree/-507, and the mechanical and thermal properties show obvious anisotropy. While the related properties of BN-YAG ceramics varies significantly with the decrease of initial h-BN grain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-entropy ceramic materials (Zr 0.25 Ce 0.25 Hf 0.25 Y 0.25)O 1.875 (H-0) and (Zr 0.2 Ce 0.2 Hf 0.2 Y 0.2 RE 0.2)O 1.8 (H-RE) (RE = La, Nd and Sm) with fluorite structure and homogeneous element distribution were prepared. With fluorite structure, fine grain size and high density, the H-0 and H-RE ceramics displayed low thermal conductivity, suitable thermal expansion coefficient, high hardness and fracture toughness. The effect of La, Nd and Sm on the mechanical, heat conductivity and heat expansion properties of high entropy ceramics were discussed. The single-phase high-entropy ceramic materials in this work are very suitable for application as thermal barrier materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly optically transparent polycrystalline fluorapatite ceramics with hexagonal crystal structures were fabricated via a liquid-phase synthesis of fluorapatite powder, followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of sintering temperature, as observed using a thermopile, on the optical transmittance and microstructure of the ceramics was investigated in order to determine suitable sintering conditions. As a result, high optical transmittance was obtained in the SPS temperature range of 950–1100 °C. The highest optical transmittance was obtained for the ceramic sample sintered at 1000 °C, and its average grain size was evaluated at only 134 nm. The grain size dramatically increased with temperature, and the ceramics became translucent at SPS temperatures above 1200 °C. The mechanical and thermal properties of the ceramics were measured to evaluate the thermal shock parameter, which was found to be comparable to or slightly smaller than that of single-crystal fluorapatite. This transparent polycrystalline fluorapatite ceramic material should prove useful in a wide range of applications, for example as a biomaterial or optical/laser material, in the future. Furthermore, the knowledge obtained in this study should help to promote the application of this ceramic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way to achieve better energy efficiency in buildings is to improve their thermal insulation properties. This can be done by increasing the porosity of the ceramic materials by introducing pore-forming additives to the clay for production of lightweight ceramic panels. Compositions and properties of lightweight ceramic panels from marl clay and rice husks as lightweight aggregate were investigated. The lightweight ceramic panels from marl clay and rice husks with sizes 5x5x1 cm were produced by dry pressing and following firing at 1000°C. The influence of the amount of rice husks of 15, 30, 50 and 65 mass % on the properties of light ceramic samples fired at 1000°C has been established. Apparent density, apparent porosity, thermal conductivity and compressive strength were measured. The thermal conductivity is reduced from 1.0 W mK-1 (in ceramic panels without rice husks) to 0.6 W mK-1 (ceramic panels with 30 mass % rice husks) at standard compressive strength of 10 MPa. This quantity of rice husks is recommended for the composition of light porous ceramic materials for heat isolation in intelligent house. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon‐fiber‐reinforced carbon–silicon carbide (C/C–SiC) composites were prepared by impregnating carbon fibers with ethynylphenyl‐terminated poly(silylene–acetylene) (EPTSA) as a single‐source precursor with subsequent hot pressing and pyrolysis. The structural evolution, crystallization behavior, and graphitization of bulk C–SiC ceramics, as well as their mechanical properties and ablation behavior, were investigated. The EPTSA precursor starts to transform into inorganic SiC ceramic materials at 800°C, which is characterized by an amorphous structure with weight loss, shrinkage, and densification between 800 and 1000°C. The formation of SiC crystals inhibited the growth of the graphitic structure between 1000 and 1200°C. As the temperature was raised, both graphite and SiC crystals continued to grow, and the crystalline forms became more complete. The carbon‐fiber cloth (T300CF)‐reinforced C–SiC composite (T300CF/C–SiC) prepared using polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) exhibited excellent mechanical properties. After five PIP cycles, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and interlaminar shear strength of the T300CF/C–SiC composite reached 169 MPa, 32.5 GPa, and 9.38 MPa, respectively. In addition, the chopped‐carbon‐fiber‐reinforced C–SiC composite fabricated using the PIP process demonstrated good oxyacetylene‐torch ablation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of ceramic materials containing high amount of porosity with controlled size and structure is a critical factor for various applications. In this study, porous alumina ceramics were prepared by addition of 5–30 vol% carbon black (CB) powders with different specific surface area (SSA) into the alumina matrix as a pore forming agent and application of partial sintering via spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. After removal of CB particles from the ceramic structures, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the porous alumina ceramics were investigated. The open porosity level was detected between 38.48 and 59.81% depending on the type and amount of CB removed. The compressive strength of the sintered samples was measured as ∼150 MPa, which is ∼3 times higher than that of the conventionally sintered samples thanks to the strong neck formation between grains. The large pores formed by removal of CB agglomerates in case of using CB powders with SSA of 107 and 254 m2/g resulted in a change in thermal conduction mechanism from lattice vibration to thermal convection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The additive composition of an AlN ceramic substrate material was optimized to achieve high strength and thermal conductivity. MgO-CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 (MCAS) glass and Y 2 O 3 were used as basic additives for improved sintering properties and thermal conductivity, thereby allowing for AlN to be sintered at a relatively low temperature of 1600 °C without pressurization. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was added (0–3 wt%) to further improve the strength of the AlN ceramic. YSZ and Y 2 O 3 reacted with AlN to produce ZrN, Y 4 Al 2 O 9 , and Y 3 Al 5 O 12 secondary phases. The formation of these yttrium aluminate phases improved the thermal conductivity by removing oxygen impurities, while ZrN formed at the AlN grain boundaries provided resistance to grain boundary fractures for improved strength. Overall, the AlN ceramic with 1 wt% MCAS, 3 wt% Y 2 O 3 , and 1 wt% YSZ exhibited excellent thermal and mechanical properties, including a thermal conductivity of 109 W/mK and flexural strength of 608 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CeO 2 and Sc 2 O 3 co-stabilized ZrO 2 ceramics have attracted much attention as potential thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) materials for applications above 1300 °C. In this study, a series of Sc 0.04 Ce x Zr 0.96-x O 1.98 (SCZ, x = 0.08, 0.10, 0.12, 0.16) ceramic materials were synthesized with the solid-state method and their phase stability, microstructures and thermo-physical properties were systemically investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal dilatometer, laser flash apparatus (LFA), and Vickers hardness tester. The results showed that Sc 0.04 Ce 0.12 Zr 0.84 O 1.98 (4S12CZ) and Sc 0.04 Ce 0.16 Zr 0.80 O 1.98 (4S16CZ) ceramic materials still maintained stable tetragonal phase structure after 100 h high temperature treatment at 1500 °C. SCZ had a high thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), low thermal conductivity, and high fracture toughness. The TEC of the ceramics increased with CeO 2 addition because lattice energy reduced with increasing substitution of Zr4+ by bigger Ce4+ while thermal conductivity decreased due to the increase of lattice distortion. Compared with 4S12CZ, 4S16CZ exhibited a higher fracture toughness of 6.48 ± 0.04 MPa m1/2 and showed the better anti-sintering property. Besides, the thermal conductivity, TEC and thermal cycling lifetime of 4S16CZ were optimal. The comprehensive performance of 4S16CZ suggested it could be explored as a promising TBC material for high-temperature application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study investigates the potential use of traditional raw materials to synthesize new ceramic composite materials that can be used in different industrial applications. The composite materials were developed through mechanical activation, carbonization, and reactive sintering techniques. Natural zeolite from Tokaj region, alumina from Motim, and sawdust were used as starting raw materials. Stoichiometric amounts of the raw materials were mixed and milled in planetary ball milling followed by uniaxially pressing to produce cylindrical ceramic discs. The produced green ceramics were then sintered in an electric laboratory kiln under an oxygen-free environment at 1200 °C. In-situ carbonization of the sawdust was confirmed via X-ray diffraction. The thermal properties were also investigated by derivatography. The produced ceramic specimens were tested on microstructural characteristics, porosity, density, and water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research studied a set of phyllite clays from several deposits in southeast Spain. These phyllite clays have traditionally been used as sealing material to impermeabilize roofs, embankments, ponds, construction and waste landfill, with recent applications in the preparation of new mortars. However, studies on thermal behaviour and ceramic properties of phyllite clays have been scarce. The present research showed a summary of previous characterization studies on representative phyllite clays from these deposits with additional results. Mineralogical, by X-ray diffraction, and chemical, by X-ray fluorescence characterization of these samples were summarized. Thermal analysis methods (DTA–TG and thermal diffractometry) were applied to achieve a more complete mineralogical characterization. Several phyllite clay samples were selected for a ceramic study by firing pressed powdered samples up to 1300 °C. Sintered or vitrified materials, with porosities almost zero, were obtained from these phyllite clays after firing at 1100–1200 °C, with apparent densities between 2.1 and 2.4 g cm−3. Higher firing temperatures (> 1250 °C) produced deformation and expansion of the ceramic bodies. These results allowed obtain the vitrification temperature (Tv) and the temperature of the maximum bulk density (Td). According to the previous mineralogical and chemical characterization and the values of these parameters, the phyllite clay samples were classified in three varieties, as follows: (1) Micaceous, characterized by predominant layer silicates, mainly muscovite or illite, alkaline elements (mainly K2O higher than 3.5 mass%) and lower values of both Tv and Td, (2) Quartzitic, with predominant quartz and SiO2 and intermediate values of Tv and Td, and (3) Carbonaceous, characterized by predominant dolomite, medium contents of CaO and MgO and higher values of both Tv and Td. These results are interesting for the application of these phyllite clays as ceramic raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal energy storage (TES) has been identified as a breakthrough concept in development of renewable technologies. However, the main challenges are related to the development of competitive heat storage materials. Despite the number of studies on heat storage materials, the determination of new alternatives for next generation technologies is still open. In this regard, this paper presents the results of an experimental study of the physical, thermal and mechanical properties of SiC-doped ceramics as potential materials for TES applications. Two kinds of SiC additives (high and low densities) were incorporated with different percentages into the clay matrix in order to produce ceramics via the extrusion process. The addition of low-density SiC (true density 3.16 g cm−3) led to the increasing of porosity with large pore sizes and the decreasing of bulk density. Therefore, the thermal and mechanical properties are decreased up to − 50% for flexural strength and − 15% for thermal conductivity when 20 mass% of low-density SiC was used. On the other hand, when high-density SiC (true density 3.42 g cm−3) was used, properties of the clay ceramic were strongly improved: i.e., increase in the bulk density, decrease in the porosity, increase in the thermal conductivity and increase in the flexural strength. The best material was found with the addition of 20 mass% of high-density SiC which had a thermal conductivity of 1 W m−1 K−1, a specific heat capacity of 0.62 kJ kg−1 K−1 and a mechanical strength of 19.6 MPa. It also showed a high thermal stability after 20 successive heating/cooling cycles. Hence, this study provided a useful insight into how the SiC modified the microstructure and properties of fired clay ceramics. Thus, the current results suggest that clay ceramics with high-density SiC addition are promising materials for thermal energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospects for using ceramic composite materials in place of metallic materials in heat-loaded units in advanced aircraft are examined. The manufacture of silicon carbide based ceramic composite materials, reinforced with filamentary crystals (whiskers), by means of hot-pressing and spark plasma sintering using oxide and nitride sintering additives was investigated. A complex of physical-mechanical and thermal properties of composites was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coating (TBC) system is an essential technology in many fields associated to high temperatures. The main function of these TBCs is to protect the metallic parts against high temperatures over 1000 °C. However, degradation occurs both in thermal and mechanical performances during service. Thus, understanding the underlying degradation and failure mechanisms of TBCs is significant to assess and further enhance the durability and reliability of TBCs. Regarding the durability of TBCs, this paper reviews different failures mechanisms of TBCs caused by residual stresses, phase transformations, sintering, hot corrosion attack and oxidation. Subsequently, some methods are summarized to alleviate the undesirable effects of the causes, so as to extend the lifetime of TBCs. Regarding the thermal barrier performance of TBCs, the neoteric advances to resist degradation in thermal conductivity of TBCs are reviewed. In addition, some new ceramic materials with superior intrinsic properties are introduced for ultra-high temperature applications. In brief, this review correlates the microstructure and properties of TBCs for finer interpretation and degradation-resistant design on their thermal and mechanical properties, which would benefit the advanced TBCs in future engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic goal of this article was thermal diffusivity characterization of ceramic materials used in thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems for depositions of the insulation layer and characterization of the materials' morphology and remanufacturing process. The base material was oxide 8YSZ (ZrO2 × 8Y2O3), which is usually dedicated to deposition of an insulating top layer in TBC systems. The data related to thermal properties such as thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity are widely presented in the literature, but there is lack of information about the morphological form of investigated materials, and the presented results vary widely. Data on thermal properties based on the literature sources are inadequate for the real morphological form of materials used in the experiment (e.g., massive or single crystalline material vs. plasma-sprayed coatings), which consequently gives an unsatisfactory accuracy of the obtained numerical simulations by MES methods. This article presents the characterization of thermal diffusivity of the commercial 8YSZ ceramic material synthesized or remanufactured by different routes, which is investigated in the forms of pressed powder pellet (two commercial nano-sized powders with different morphologies), sintered pellets (one commercial powder, solid-state co-precipitated reacted powder of 8YSZ type), and a two-layered coating system of In625 + NiCrAlY/8YSZ type. The range of analysis included morphological investigations of different types of powders in initial conditions and after remanufacturing (sintering, thermal spraying) as well as the thermal diffusivity analysis by the laser flash method. The obtained data were corrected by porosity factor and compared to each other. The best similarity for obtained thermal diffusivity data was found for commercial powers of HOSPTM type after pressing and sintering processes and calculated (2-layered model) value of thermal diffusivity for two-layered system of In625/8YSZ TBS system. The results showed that there are significant differences in thermal diffusivity values for materials with different morphological forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ceramic cutting tools is limited due to their inherent brittleness. In this paper, metal phase Co is considered to strengthen Si 3 N 4 based ceramic tool materials. The effects of Co on room-temperature and high-temperature mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of the material are studied. Compared with the composite without Co, the addition of Co can improve room-temperature fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 based ceramic material at the cost of reducing its hardness. The flexural strength decreases a little in accordance with the reduced relative density. As the testing temperature increases, the fracture toughness first increases gradually and then decreases sharply while the flexural strength decreases gradually. Due to the oxidation inhibition effect, the Co-containing composite maintains higher flexural strength and fracture toughness than the Co-free composite at the specified test temperatures. The critical thermal shock temperature difference of the composite with Co is higher than that without Co, although before reaching the difference its residual bending strength is lower due to pores and thermal mismatch effect. The addition of Co can also inhibit the growth of thermal shock microcracks and improve the thermal fatigue resistance of Si 3 N 4 ceramic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A series (1-x)ZrO 2 - x TaO 2.5 ceramics are synthesized by solid state reaction. • The final product of 0.72ZrO 2 -0.28TaO 2.5 is mainly composed of TaZr 2.75 O 8. • TaZr 2.75 O 8 has good mechanical properties and excellent phase stability. • Thermal conductivity of the TaZr 2.75 O 8 bulk is lower than that of YSZ. • TaZr 2.75 O 8 has a moderate thermal expansion coefficient, around 9.14 × 10−6 K−1. A series of TaO 2.5 -doped ZrO 2 (1-x)ZrO 2 - x TaO 2.5 (x = 0.08, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.28) ceramics were synthesized by solid state reaction at 1600 °C for 20 h. XRD results reveal that no tetragonal ZrO 2 phase forms in the TaO 2.5 –ZrO 2 system. Instead, a mixture of monoclinic ZrO 2 (m -ZrO 2) and orthorhombic TaZr 2.75 O 8 can be detected for (1-x)ZrO 2 - x TaO 2.5 ceramic within compositions x ≤ 0.2. As the doping content increases, the content of m -ZrO 2 decreases and the final product in the composition of 0.72ZrO 2 -0.28TaO 2.5 is primarily composed of TaZr 2.75 O 8. Microstructure together with the thermophysical and mechanical properties of TaZr 2.75 O 8 ceramic were investigated for possible applications as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The thermal conductivity with a minimum value of 1.65 W/m·K at 800 °C for TaZr 2.75 O 8 ceramic is ∼30% lower than that of dense YSZ and the dense ceramic also has a moderate average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), about 9.14 × 10−6 K−1 from room temperature (RT) to 1300 °C. Besides, TaZr 2.75 O 8 exhibits a high microhardness (11.85 ± 0.42 GPa) and fracture toughness (3.15 MPa·m1/2). These preliminary results indicate that TaZr 2.75 O 8 can be used as an alternative material for the ceramic layer in TBCs system with respect to its superior thermal and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba(Sr 1/3 Ta 2/3)O 3 (BST) ceramic was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The phase stability, microstructural evolution, and mechanical and thermal properties of the BST ceramic were investigated and characterized to evaluate the potential application of BST as a top coating material for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The results show that BST can maintain a stable hexagonal perovskite structure up to 1600 °C. Anisotropic growth of the grains above 1400 °C was observed. Its low elastic modulus and high fracture toughness suggest a high damage tolerance for the BST ceramic. In addition, the moderate coefficient of thermal expansion and superior heat insulation capability of the BST ceramic provide this ceramic the potential to serve as a top coating material of TBCs at higher temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Thermal stability of PCM is enhanced by the porous nanoceramics. • The prepared FSPCM has a desirable latent heat and phase change temperature. • Thermal conductivity of FSPCM is about 7 times higher than that of pristine PCM. Abstract This work aims at preparing a novel form-stable composite phase change material (FSPCM), by loading stearic–capric acid (SA–CA) in porous nanoceramics which are employed as the supporting materials. The morphology and microstructure, chemical compatibility, thermal properties and thermal stability are analyzed. The results indicate that the prepared FSPCM freezes at 24.56 °C with latent heat capacity of 73.92 J/g and melts at 22.50 °C with latent heat capacity of 76.40 J/g. The as-prepared composite is demonstrated to reveal good physicochemistry stability and an acceptable absorption ratio. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of FSPCM is nearly 7 times higher than that of pristine PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two different SiC ceramics with a new additive composition (1.87 wt% Y 2 O 3 –Sc 2 O 3 –MgO) were developed as matrix materials for fully ceramic microencapsulated fuels. The mechanical and thermal properties of the newly developed SiC ceramics with the new additive system were investigated. Powder mixtures prepared from the additives were sintered at 1850 °C under an applied pressure of 30 MPa for 2 h in an argon or nitrogen atmosphere. We observed that both samples could be sintered to ≥99.9% of the theoretical density. The SiC ceramic sintered in argon exhibited higher toughness and thermal conductivity and lower flexural strength than the sample sintered in nitrogen. The flexural strength, fracture toughness, Vickers hardness, and thermal conductivity values of the SiC ceramics sintered in nitrogen were 1077 ± 46 MPa, 4.3 ± 0.3 MPa·m1/2, 25.4 ± 1.2 GPa, and 99 Wm−1 K−1 at room temperature, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ultra‐high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) exhibit a unique combination of excellent properties that makes them promising candidates for applications in extreme environments. Various UHTCs are needed due to diverse harsh conditions that UHTCs are faced with in different applications. Due to structural similarity to ZrB2, possible high melting point and possible protective oxide scale formed in oxygen rich and water vapor environments, REAlB4 (RE: rare‐earth) is suggested a good candidate for UHTCs. In the present work, temperature‐dependent mechanical and thermal properties of both α‐YAlB4 (YCrB4 type, space group Pbam) and β‐YAlB4 (ThMoB4 type, space group Cmmm) were investigated by first principles calculations in combination with quasi‐harmonic approach. Due to the structural similarity between α‐YAlB4 and β‐YAlB4, their properties are very similar to each other, which are approximately transverse isotropic with properties in (001) plane being almost the same and differing from properties out of (001) plane. The results reveal that resistance to normal strain in (001) plane (~460 GPa) is higher than that along [001] direction (~320 GPa) and thermal expansion in (001) plane (~10 × 10−6 K−1) is lower than that along [001] direction (~17 × 10−6 K−1), which is because the stiff boron networks are parallel to (001) plane. The average thermal expansion coefficient is around 12 × 10−6 K−1, which is fairly high among UHTCs and compatible with metallic frameworks. The combination of high thermal expansion coefficient and protective oxidation scale forming ability suggest that REAlB4 is promising for practical applications not only as high‐temperature structural ceramic but also as oxidation resistant coating for alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaMnO 3 -based materials are very attractive among n-type thermoelectric oxides for high-temperature applications when they are appropriately doped. The main drawback of these materials is the cost associated to the necessary rare earth cations. This work aims decreasing the amount of these materials through a partial substitution of Ca 2+ by an equimolar mixture of K + and Yb 3+ , Ca 1-x (K 0.5 Yb 0.5 ) x MnO 3 , with x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20. XRD studies have confirmed that the thermoelectric phase is the major one in all samples. Microstructure has shown the formation of large crystals, and an increasing porosity when the substitution is raised. This evolution has been confirmed through density measurements. Electrical resistivity has been drastically decreased for the 0.10 substituted samples, compared with the 0.05 ones, slightly increasing for higher substitution. On the other hand, absolute Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity are lower when the substitution is raised. The best ZT values have been achieved for the 0.10 substituted samples, which are around the typical reported in the literature for higher doping level. These results clearly point out to a decrease of the necessary rare earth dopant content to achieve similar performances in CaMnO 3 ceramics, which is of the main economic significance for their industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to prepare new economical thermal resistant coatings containing white sand (WS) and kaolin (K) fillers, which are cheap natural ores in Egypt and are sources for ceramic materials such as SiO2 and Al2O3.Design/methodology/approach This paper investigates the effect of heat at 500°C on the durability of mild steel samples coated with silicon coatings. The coated plates were exposed to elevated temperatures according to ASTM D 2485 to determine their stability. Thermal gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the thermal stability of the modified films.Findings It was revealed that the composite fillers can enhance the thermal stability of silicon coatings. Another advantage of using the prepared composite fillers is promoting the dryness of silicon resin without heat.Research limitations/implications Different natural ores were used as ceramic filler to enhance the thermal stability of silicon coatings.Originality/value New economical thermal-resistant coatings containing white sand and kaolin were prepared to replace the expensive thermal coatings; also, they can be used in industries other than coatings, e.g. paper, rubber and plastics composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral emissivity of surface materials has a strong impact on thermal properties of systems that are exposed in the ambient environment. While the solar spectrum heating up the surface ranges from 200 to 2,500 nm, the atmospheric transmission spectrum allowed for infrared cooling ranges from 8 to 14 µm. However, conventional surface materials have emissivity values that are either high or low throughout the spectrum. For example, ceramic materials are typically emissive and metallic materials are typically reflective and not emissive. Here, we show that surface materials with artificial periodicities can have a selectively controlled emissivity and that the surface morphology can transform ceramic materials to be reflective or metallic materials to be emissive. As a model system, we use microscale tree-like structures, or briefly micro-trees, to demonstrate wide variations of morphology-driven emissivity spectra. Our computation based on the rigorous coupled-wave analysis shows that optimal designs of micro-trees can act as a nearly perfect reflector or a black body depending on the spectral range and offer radiative cooling or heating capabilities beyond the limits of conventional materials. For cooling, metallic micro-trees provide a surface temperature 10 K lower than that of bare metallic surfaces in a normal ambient condition, and for heating, ceramic micro-trees provide a surface temperature 8 K higher than that of bare ceramic materials. The morphology-driven emissivity of micro-trees can offer a net cooling power of 136 W/m2 or a net heating power of 12 W/m2 depending on the application without requiring any active devices, and these results guide optimal designs of artificial materials for thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Са 3 (VO 4 ) 2 -based compositions are considered as promising multifunctional materials combining ferroelectric, optical nonlinear, and Ca 2+ -ion conductive properties. Their ferroelectric Curie points stretch from minimal for β -Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 -type compounds temperatures of about 800 K to very high. Investigated in this paper lead substitution for calcium is as a factor controlling ferroelectricity, ionic-conductivity and non-linear optical activity in Ca 3 (VO 4 ) 2 -based materials. Polar phase containing powders and ceramics in Ca 10.5- x Pb x (VO 4 ) 7 system are synthesized for 0 ≤ x ≤ 9.5 by the solid state method, and structurally characterized with X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Dielectric properties, differential thermal analysis and second harmonic generation (SHG) evidence that Ca 10.5- x Pb x (VO 4 ) 7 solid solution (0 ≤ x ≤ 4.5) belongs to whitlockite-type ferroelectrics. SHG activity strongly increases with x up to its maximum at x = 4.5, where it has a record value among all studied before Ca 3 ( X O 4 ) 2 -related compounds ( X = P,V). Ferroelectric Curie temperatures of Ca 3 (VO 4 ) 2 drops from its known value T c = 1368 K ( x = 0) to 770 K ( x = 4.5). Crystal symmetry at T c changes from R 3 c to R 3 ¯ c . After this, one more phase transition to the symmetry R 3 ¯ m takes place, its temperature bringing down from 1387 K ( x = 0) to 804 K ( x = 4.5). Ferroelectric and non-ferroelectric phase transitions in the Са 10.5- x Pb x (VO 4 ) 7 are separated by a broad interval Δ T = 20–50 K and both classified as first-order transformations going in the sequence: R 3 c ↔ R 3 ¯ c ↔ R 3 ¯ m . Structures of Са 10.5- x Pb x (VO 4 ) 7 compositions with x = 0.5–4 were refined by the Rietveld method and peculiarities of the Pb 2+ cations distribution in the M 1 - M 3 and M 4 sites of β -Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 -type structure are discussed regarding the optical nonlinear, ferroelectric and ion-conductive properties. Manifold increased Ca 2+ - ion conductivity of Са 10.5- x Pb x (VO 4 ) 7 in vicinity of 1000 K at x = 4–4.5 in combination with their ferroelectric and optical nonlinear properties extends applicability of ion-exchange technologies to new promising materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As polymers have the ability to be easily molded in to any shape, they have a wide range of applications in industry. Composites prepared by dispersing ceramics in to polymer matrix have higher thermal conductivity than the original polymer, and they still retain their high electrical resistance. In this work, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is chosen as the polymer matrix. Ceramic nanoparticles like boron nitride (BN), zinc oxide (ZnO) and silicon carbide (SiC) are used as fillers. Polymer composites with different filler loading ratio (wt %) are prepared and their thermal and electrical properties are analyzed. FT–IR, XRD and TGA characterizations are also performed on the composites. The results indicated that PVB composite with hexagonal boron nitride (h–BN) showed the best improvement in thermal conductivity up to 0.5194 W m −1 .K −1 which is an increase of 131.87%, and volume resistivity of composites remained high, above the 10 10 Ω–cm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification behavior, mechanical and thermal properties of ZrC 1 − x ceramics with various C/Zr ratios of 0.6–1.0 have been investigated by two-step reactive hot pressing of ZrC and ZrH 2 powders at 30 MPa and 1500–2100 °C. The two-step reactive hot pressed ZrC 1 − x ceramic has a higher relative density (> 95.3%) than that (91.9%) of stoichiometric ZrC sintered at 2100 °C. A cubic Zr 2 C-type ordered phase forms in the ZrC 1 − x sample obtained at a ZrC/ZrH 2 molar ratio of 0.6 at a relatively low temperature of 1100 °C. The decrease in C/Zr ratio is beneficial to densification of ZrC 1 − x ceramic, however, excess grain growth occurs after sintering above densification temperature. The elastic modulus and Vickers hardness decrease with decreasing the C/Zr ratio. With decreasing the C/Zr ratio, both thermal conductivity and specific heat decrease due to the enhanced scattering of conducting phonons and electrons by carbon vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate a thermally robust green-yellow color converter for high-power solid state laser lighting applications. LuAG:Ce translucent ceramics (TCs) were synthesized via the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique and LiF was used as additive. The as-prepared ceramics show remarkably superior thermal and luminescent properties: a high external quantum efficiency (77%), a low thermal quenching (4.1% drop at 200 °C), a good thermal conductivity (6.3 W m −1 K −1 ), and a high reliability (only a 1.9% drop after 1000 h, at 85 °C and 85% humidity). A prototype lamp using the TC (and a 450 nm laser diode), with the increasing driving power (up to 8.7 W), shows increasing luminous flux (238–472 lm) with stable luminous efficiency (54.3-56.6 lm/W). This indicates that the translucent ceramic can be used for high-power laser-lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study on a clay ceramic used for building applications. The thermal and mechanical properties of the clay ceramic were improved by addition of organic additives. The organic additives consisted of Olive Stone Flour (OSF), with round-shape particles of 55 µm, and Wheat Straw (WS), with 877 µm particles in the form of fibers. It was found that the combustion of OSF and WS resulted in a porosity formation during the firing process. The morphology of these pores corresponded to that of the organic additives. Therefore, the addition of small OSF particles decreased the median pore size of the clay ceramic. It improved the mechanical strength of the clay ceramic by 12% for an 8 wt% addition of OSF. On the other hand, the WS fibers increased the clay ceramic anisotropy. This resulted in a 41% improvement of the thermal conductivity using an 8 wt% addition of WS. Finally, a model was developed from these experimental results to predict the thermal conductivity and the mechanical strength of the clay ceramic with other organic additives. They were predicted from the parameters of the organic additives (i.e., true density, swelling degree, particle size distribution, particle shape factor). The predictions indicated that the thermal conductivity is improved by 50% with a 25% improvement of the mechanical strength using small organic fibers, which is a step forward in the development of fired clay bricks that can be used for both insulation and structure purposes in building applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch aerogels were prepared via dissolution in water (thermomechanical treatment), retrogradation, solvent exchange, and drying with supercritical CO2. Amylose content in starches was varied from 0 to 100%. The aerogels' bulk density, morphology, specific surface area, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties under compression were investigated. Pea starch aerogels had one of the highest specific surface area and lowest density and thermal conductivity (0.021-0.023 W/m·K), with the latter indicating that a new thermal superinsulation material was obtained. A detailed study of the influence of processing parameters on pea starch aerogels properties showed the importance of retrogradation time which decreases specific surface area and increases mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. Finally, a comparison of starch aerogel thermal conductivity with that of other bioaerogels is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macro/mesopore SiOC ceramic monoliths of anisotropic structure were prepared by freeze casting, using methy phenyl polysiloxane (H44) or methy polysiloxane (MK) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as precursors. Influence of pyrolysis and testing temperature on compressive strength was investigated. Monoliths pyrolyzed at 700 °C had the highest compressive strength both at 77 K (14.0 ± 4.3 MPa) and 293 K (7.7 ± 1.8 MPa), regardless of precursors. Compressive strength of monolith in parallel direction is around twice as much as perpendicular direction. Compressive strength of both monoliths in liquid nitrogen (77 K) was around twice of that in air (293 K) probably due to low temperature and liquid resistance. Anisotropic expansion was observed, and the shrinkage in parallel direction was almost twice of that in perpendicular direction, which can be verified by the Schapery equation. Monolith made from H44 showed a much higher coefficient of thermal expansion at 77 K than monolith made from MK and APTES, probably due to difference in composition and measurement condition. Thermal conductivities and specific heat capacities displayed an upward trend from low to warmer temperature. The minimum and maximum values for thermal conductivity are 0.2 and 1.2 W m − 1 K − 1 . The maximum heat conductivities might be determined mainly by the macroporosity and the thermal conductivity of the hybrid material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the PPS/MWCNTs/AlN composite was prepared with poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS), covalent functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs), and aluminum nitride (AlN) via melt-blending techniques. The AlN is a fascinating non-oxidizing ceramic material having the highest thermal conductivity among the ceramic materials. In order to introduce the functional groups on the surface of the AlN particles, a silane coupling agent was used as it is able to graft with the functional groups on the covalent functionalized MWCNTs. The silanization reaction of the AlN was confirmed qualitatively and quantitatively by FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). The grafting reaction of the AlN particles on the MWCNTs was confirmed using UV-Vis (Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy), FE-SEM (Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) and FE-TEM (Field-Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy) images. The grafting reaction was accomplished by observing the change of the transmittance, the morphology of the AlN particle bonded to the MWCNTs. For the morphological changes of the fractured surface of the PPS/MWCNTs/AlN composites by FE-SEM, the hybrid filler was homogeneously dispersed on the PPS matrix when the AlN particle was grafted on the MWCNTs. The homogeneous distribution of the hybrid filler acts as a heat transfer path, which led the higher thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, and melting temperature than those of not grafted MWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, anisotropic heat dissipation and its management have drawn attention as a promising technique for highly integrated electrical devices. Among many potentially challenging materials such as carbon nanotube, graphene, metal particles, and inorganic ceramics commonly used for high thermally conductive fillers in a composite form, nanoscale ceramic fillers are considered ideal candidates due to their thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and low thermal expansion coefficient. However, enhancing the thermal conductivity of a randomly dispersed ceramic-polymer composite is limited by its discontinuous filler contact and thermal expansion coefficient mismatch. Thus, recent research has focused on how to assemble and generate highly networked filler contacts to make effective pathways for heat flow, with minimized concentration of the filler in the composite. In this review, we will introduce several essential strategies to assemble fillers with a two- or three-dimensional networked composite for highly enhanced anisotropic heat dissipation. Moreover, this review elucidates filler alignment effects compared to randomly dispersed ceramic composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conventional solid-phase sintering process was used to fabricate the (1 −x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-xBaTiO3ceramics (x= 0, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1). X-ray measurements showed that all samples have a perovskite structure. The bulk density of the obtained samples exceeds 95% of the theoretical density. The thermal (DSC, dilatometry) and dielectric properties of these ceramics were investigated in a wide temperature range. Anomalies of the thermal expansion strain were observed at the temperatures which are not related to any phase transitions. The transition temperatures observed by means of thermal measurements are in good agreement with those obtained from dielectric studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Novel ZrO 2 -fiber-reinforced porous Y 2 SiO 5 ceramic nanocomposites were fabricated by a simple pressureless sintering process. Y 2 SiO 5 nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel method, and the effects of sintering temperature and ZrO 2 fiber content on the microstructure, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of the porous Y 2 SiO 5 nanocomposites were studied. The mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of porous ZrO 2f /Y 2 SiO 5 nanocomposites were improved substantially with the introduction of ZrO 2 fibers. Compared with the specimens without added fibers, the composites with 10 vol% ZrO 2 fibers exhibited the optimum strengthening effects, including a high bending strength (i.e., 65.7 MPa), a low thermal conductivity (i.e., 0.55 W/(m·K)) and good machinability. The present work provides a simple procedure for improving the toughness and thermal insulation characteristics of porous ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present GeTe 4 -AsTe 3 -AgI glasses extend the optical window to up to 25 μm and its glass-forming region has been explored for practical applications. Their structure, glass-forming ability, thermal stability, infrared transmitting properties were investigated. The results reveal that the GeTe 4 -AsTe 3 -AgI glasses exhibit a large glass-forming region situated around the GeTe 4 -rich domain. Raman analysis confirms the formed [GeTe 3 I] and [AsTe 2 I] units are mainly responsible for the improvement in glass-forming ability. The optimum 40GeTe 4 -30AsTe 3 -30AgI glasses exhibit a large optical window extending from 2 to 25 μm while being stable enough toward crystallization to permit the preparation of fibers and molded lenses. Under proper annealing at 150 °C, 40GeTe 4 -30AsTe 3 -30AgI glass-ceramics, with high mechanical and thermal properties while still keeping the IR transmittance unchanged, were obtained for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new lightweight and thermal insulating material was successfully prepared by impregnating Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 aerogel into a porous mullite–zirconia fiber network with a quasi-layered microstructure. The microstructures, thermal and mechanical properties of the porous mullite–zirconia ceramics were investigated before and after the impregnating of Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 aerogel. It was observed that the mullite and zirconia fibers combined well with aerogels. Compared with fibrous porous mullite-zirconia ceramics, the Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 aerogel/porous mullite–zirconia composite exhibited higher compressive strength (i.e. 1.36 MPa in the z direction) and lower thermal conductivity (i.e. 0.052 W/(m·K)). The present work provides an efficient way to fabricate highly porous ceramics with high strength and ultra-low thermal conductivity, which find potential use in high-temperature thermal insulation materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel lightweight needled carbon fibre felt/phenolic resin (NCF-PR) aerogel composite was fabricated through vacuum impregnation using NCF as matrix and PR aerogels as filler. The PR aerogels was synthesized through polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS), accompanied by solvent exchange and ambient pressure drying, from a resin mixture of PR with ethylene glycol (EG) as the porogen and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as the catalyst. A homogeneous microstructure without macroscopic cracking and agglomeration was achieved in the composite, and the macropores between the fibres in the NCF were fully and uniformly filled by PR aerogels with high porosity and with large amounts of mesopores. The resulting NCF-PR aerogel composites exhibit low densities between 0.270 and 0.370 g/cm 3 , relatively high compressive strength, ranging from 0.83 to 11.02 MPa, and low thermal conductivities of 0.093–0.230 W/(mK) at room temperature. The thermal ablative properties of the aerogel composite were studied under arc jet conditions at a heat flux of 1.5 MW/m 2 for 33 s. The ablation results demonstrate that the NCF-PR aerogel composite could deliver good thermal ablative and insulative properties (linear ablation rates as low as 0.029 mm/s and internal temperature peaks below 90 °C at 38 mm in-depth position as the surface temperature exceeded 2000 °C). Therefore, this lightweight carbon/phenolic composite is an excellent heat-insulation and thermal-protection material with applications in the fields of energy-saving and aerospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies gaps in the present state of knowledge and describes emerging research directions for ultra-high temperature ceramics. Borides, carbides, and nitrides of early transition metals such as Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta have the highest melting points of any known compounds, making them suitable for use in extreme environments. Studies of synthesis, processing, densification, thermal properties, mechanical behavior, and oxidation of ultra-high temperature ceramics have generated a substantial base of knowledge, but left unanswered questions. Emerging research directions include testing/characterization in extreme environments, composites, computational studies, and new materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) aerogels were prepared with sol-gel ambient pressure drying method by using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) as precursor and tetraethoxysilane as modifier, calcinated at different temperature and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering. The results showed that the TiO2 aerogels remained amorphous under 500 °C, changed to anatase from 600 °C and further changed to rutile from 900 °C. Between 60 °C and 500 °C, the primary particles within the samples concentrated mainly upon small sizes, enlarged and diverged remarkably above 600 °C. The crystalline grains grew and agglomerated with the rise of the calcination temperature. The TiO2 aerogels at a temperature higher than 800 °C have better stability than anatase because of the formation of partial Ti-O-Si bonds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]